A single, brief strum while a guitar tuned hinted at a Cure cover I knew so well. I felt a familiar rush of recognition and confusion, before the Knee-Hi's started up in full rendition. The Cure has always been up there with The Clash for me, two of those bands I hold with deep reverence.
When the full song came, it felt entirely natural, with Alice taking the lead, giving it her familiar tone that fit the band and the room, a familiar melody and riff that carried the moment, while the room leaned in as if remembering something they'd always known.
From there, their homecoming in Chicago moved with an easy rhythm, their collective hug to all friends in attendance. The glam aesthetic ran through the night alongside the garage punk foundation that has always shaped the band's sound. The house quickly filled with the calm energy of a crowd, and the set flowed through covers, older songs, and newer material in a steady arc. The Cure cover and "Kissing Booth" lingered, holding small moments that shaped the night without pulling attention from the other songs. The artists' catalogue has grown steadily to a point when a new song expected missed the cut. Oh My.
And Oh my, they're bound for a 90 minute set soon.
I've always wondered why the bands I followed over the years never covered Boys Don't Cry. The night couldn't be more of what I expect from the KHs, but the unexpected turn to nostalgia from two bands I love, was a homecoming-of sorts for me as well.
I don't think I've ever posted a band's live photo set in IG, without using their own music before, but I'm sure they get it when I layer the Cure over their images. Amazing what a song does, eh?