What began as a brief set at The Burlington became the defining highlight of my Sunday evening. Mr.
Softheart delivered a short performance, but every minute resonated with the kind of experience that immediately brought me back to the new wave, post punk sounds that first captured my imagination years ago and is so unique these days.
The band's sound felt both nostalgic and incredibly present, with Nick Fisher's distinctive vocals rising above the atmospheric haze with haunting clarity, while Halen Becker's crisp backing vocals and acoustic guitar work provided the perfect counterpoint, adding organic warmth to the electronic foundation, (I can't say I've seen synths play so nicely with an acoustic) which she also threw down with when needed.
John Fisher's synths provided slightly industrial undertones that weaved through 80s cinema-worthy synthesizer work that could have scored a many a movie back then, while Charlie Patterson's guitars added another layer of texture, completing their immersive sonic effort.
The artists maintains an enigmatic presence that I can't explain. Despite being neighbors from Iowa (next door in Midwest terms), they maintain an air of mystery that rivals any band I've photographed. Maybe because of the inherent moodiness of their music, or their relative newcomer status to Chicago's music scene, or even their somewhat understated social media presence that keeps them just out of reach, always leaving you wanting to know more. Hoping I caught a tiny bit of their intangibility Sunday night.
That mystique is precisely what will draw me back to their next show. In a world where artists often overshare and demystify themselves, Mr. Softheart understands the power of remaining just slightly out of focus, present enough to captivate and distant enough to intrigue. Their brief set, set the tone for my Sunday, but left me looking out for their early return.