Camera Obscura

45 minutes before showtime an event notification pops up on my phone. Two things I’ve been meaning to see, Camera Obscura at Thalia Hall. We rush to Pilsen, park without paying, speed walk to the venue, check in at guest list. Wrist stamped we leap up stairs, I hear Tracyanne’s undeniable voice kicking off “New Years Resolution”. Breeze through the doorway, made it. First thing I notice is the outright space of this place. High ceilings, balconies, spacious floor, almost as if inside an Arabian Castle. The design is gorgeous, the acoustics not so much. Scurry to the closest open spot on the floor, left of stage. Camera Obscura is a bigger band than I expect, 7 deep. Two of which at the time are shaking tambourines. I deem unnecessary until later when I realize they are equipped with trumpets and steel guitars. I’m complaining a bit about the drums and bass not transcending well thru the space and walls of the venue, but chalk it up to my mediocre position. The band is tight, as expected, creating a cool tidal wave for Tracyanne to ride on. She strums her rhythm guitar effortlessly while swooning the crowd with her crispy smooth vocals. Midway into set she admits to battling a cold, and jokes for the audience to throw cough syrup on stage, I would of never been able to tell. As I move deeper into the center of the floor my nose is overwhelmed with an abundance of floral perfume. It’s cascading off all the dancing bodies. I’m starting to come to terms with the acoustics, although it is miles apart of other Chicago Venues. As the last song approaches the crowd is in a trance, eyes glued to the stage. CO ends regulation with title track “My Maudlin Career”. Tracyanne apologizes for capping the show with two depressing songs, I don’t think she’s sorry. Bows bowed, hands waved, kisses blown, and thanks given. They walk off stage as the encore claps erupt. Without much hesitation the band is back to cap off the night with a more upbeat approach. They play 3 more songs. The final is a ripping jam session, Carey Lander shows off her keyboard chops as Gavin Dunbar tames his wild guitar. They thank the fans again and walk off for real. My experience was a success. I feared nostalgia would suffocate the newness of seeing this band for the first time at a new venue, but it didn’t. Maybe because Camera Obscura continue to put out fresh records with meaning.

If you feel like you haven’t seen too much live activity from Camera Obscura of late, I should point out that it’s nothing to do with the strangely tepid reaction that their terrific comeback record, Desire Lines, met with last year; instead, it’s more to do with the fact that several members have entered adulthood, particularly singer Traceyanne Campbell, who played a limited number of shows with the band last summer whilst pregant and has largely forced the band to stay off the road since giving birth, save for a recent run of regional UK shows. Around the time of Desire Lines’ release last June, they played a career-spanning set in Manchester, in one of the hottest rooms I’ve been in. They were a little rusty - they’d been off the road a long time, ever since wrapping promotional commitments for 2009’s My Maudlin Career but the crowd didn’t care, lapping up new cuts including ‘Troublemaker’ and ‘This Is Love (Feels Alright)’. With the live lineup expanded to include trumpets - essential for the Obscura back catalogue - the band didn’t do things by halves onstage, even if their schedule was far from fully-fledged; there’s a sense that, as far as Desire Lines is concerned, the Glaswegians have unfinished business, so don’t be surprised to see them add new dates in the near future.

This band is 100% about its music and musicianship. No fluff! Tracy Ann has a great voice and great phrasing. Excellent harmony and the keyboard player adds so much to the mix. World Cafe is a nice venue and the full house was an appreciative group of fans. Laura Cantrell was a terrific opener singing some older work and several songs from her excellent new album. Would highly recommend both and may try to catch them again if can work it out. FIVE STARS!