Review and Photos by Victoria Wai
21 packed-out and sold-out venues for a North American tour celebrating the album Big Sigh were all wrapped up for Marika Hackman with a final sold-out date at Chicago’s Sleeping Village.
This tour started with half of Marika’s band absent due to visa problems so those dates were stripped back and from social media footage they sure looked very special but the band were fully reunited to give us the tour that was intended and with added Art School Girlfriend on keys and percussion and also as main tour support, we were in for a treat.
Most of the SOLD OUT crowd were in place when the night got underway with adopted Chicagoan Oyeme, bringing an awesome solo electro guitar performance. The set was mainly Oyeme’s band’s own material, which included some yet to be made public tunes, and a cover of Dave Mattews Crash Into Me was added to the superb mix.
There was a buzz when Art School Girlfriend, AKA Polly Mackey, stepped on stage. It seems ASG has quite a strong American following already that one person travelled from Nashville and another even from Newcastle, England, for this double whammy ticket of ASG supporting Marika. It’s been a while since Polly performed as Art School Girlfriend solo, with the exception of a few DJ sets. She curated a more electro-heavy set for this tour, which had the audience in their element. We were spoilt with songs from the first EP ‘Measures’ and both albums ‘Is It Light Where You Are?’ and ‘Soft Landing’ and even got a new song which went down fantastically. For such a short set it, ASG really did give us everything.
With one of the quickest changeovers ever, it was time for an extra special end of tour date. As if this night couldn’t get any more exciting, Marika and the band held a raffle which included a hamper, DVDs to signed AMAZING goodies of a football (or soccer ball), signed drumsticks and a signed bass guitar. Raffle or not, this was a hot and excitable night in Chicago with Marika returning for the first time to US shores in 5 years. For the most part, the crowd were just standing in awe, and the huge whoops and cheers came at what I would say were the right moments. Literally one of the most respectful crowds wanting everyone to enjoy what was right in front of them.
Marika and the band were just simply sublime and we started with the thumping tune of No Caffeine into I’m Not Where You Are. Each member had their own space to go wild on a very decent size stage and at times Jelly Denniston and Bill Waylor did just that along with Marika. And together their harmonies our spines were tingling. Some of the best I have heard especially over Gina’s World and Blood. I was probably in most prime position of also seeing drummer Jessica Batour that at times I was taken by the laid back but brilliant drumming. A worthy mention goes to Jessica and Polly for some fine percussion especially on Hand Solo. Oh and those harmonies on this track too were special.
There was a beautiful section were all the band quietly go off stage and Marika is there solely in the spotlight to give us Cigarette, Claude’s Girl, Skin and the wonderful cover of Elliott Smith’s Between The Bars. Talking about beautiful moments, Marika then told the sold out crowd that Slime was written for Polly and the interaction between them was for all of us to witness. For those not in the know, Marika and Polly married earlier this year. In fact the odd glances between all five on stage was adorable to see. You could feel how tight the chemistry is between them all and it reflected onto the audience. I’ve seen Marika live quite a few times now and this might have been one of the best performances. I guess it was also the best for those who won the raffle, but after this wrap up party end of tour date of North America, we all went away as winners with such a packed out setlist of the early EPs to the current album which definitely left us with a Big Sigh of wanting more til the next time.
