Chaz Bundick is not an iconic name. It doesn’t resonate with stardom, and I’m not sure how far it will go down in history. But for about an hour last Saturday at Lincoln Hall, it was chanted, shouted and praised. The front man of lo-fi rock craze Toro y Moi didn’t even mind the crowd clashing with the vibes of his band’s grooved-out style. He just smiled and carried on his sold-out Chicago show in class.
The mellow “Ava Luna” and ‘70s rock inspired “Unknown Mortal Orchestra” accompanied Toro y Moi. These seemed strange choices because unlike many of the smaller shows I’ve seen the acts had just about nothing in common.
“Ava Luna,” seemingly the most amateur of the group, played soulful pop with a touch of digital flair. Other than three talented female backup vocalists and a lead singer who can’t dance, the performance failed to hold anyone’s attention.
Coming off the boring set, “Unknown Mortal Orchestra” shocked everyone. Completely changing the feel of the show, they roared through a set with loud songs and a number of shredding solos that shook the crowd.
Channeling much of what the ‘60s and ‘70s taught us about rock, “Unknown” commanded the room like a headliner. My guess is that sooner than later they’ll be one. A hefty number of loyal fans sang along in the audience, and their stage presence alone was praise worthy. With songs like