I got to check a show off of my 2022 bucket list AND see my first Banded sticker make its way onto a road case in Chicago a few weeks ago with Ceramic Animal at Beat Kitchen, a small bar venue in the heart of Roscoe Village.
After having seen them open for The Black Keys in St. Louis in July, I was already planning on going to see them, but I lucked out and won myself free tickets and a pre-show hang in the green room (big shoutout to Sam for taking good care of us!). We chatted about the making of Sweet Unknown, their favorite things about Nashville and their home turf of Philadelphia, but this isn’t an interview piece (this time!), so let’s jump forward to the show.
Something I love about these small venue shows is the openers. They are so often bands I might not have found any other way, and I like to consider myself one of the biggest proponents of opening act support and encouragement. Spirit of the Bear and Trash Panda didn’t disappoint, bringing indie rock and funk to the party, respectively. They brought equally as much energy to the room and hyped up the crowd almost as much as Ceramic Animal did. They took their respective sets seriously, and it was evident as each of them left the stage that they had converted the crowd into fans.
If there’s one thing about Ceramic Animal’s live show that always translates from being an opening act in a huge amphitheater while it’s still daylight out to headlining a small, vibey room at 10pm at night, it’s that they own the stage like no other. All five of their unique personalities shine through during their shows, and this was especially evident from the very front of the room at Beat Kitchen in Chicago. They were electric, making a small stage feel huge with their never-ending energy, but still keeping a lot of that intimacy that I love about small venue shows by interacting with the crowd and getting right up in our faces.
Their demeanor onstage, with both the crowd and with each other, is indicative of a band that takes itself seriously, but not too seriously. They play their music and they play it very well, but they know how to have fun. There was an air of lightheartedness in the room, excitement and humor present through the duration of their set.
One of the biggest qualifications of a “good” band for me is how good they sound live. It’s one thing to be a good studio band, but it’s another to be able to replicate those sounds live, and Ceramic Animal checked every box on that front. I even found myself enjoying some of the songs more live than I do their studio versions (“All My Loving” live supremacy). The mix was fantastic, everyone was on point and brilliantly in sync – everything sounded fantastic.
The crowd ate up every second, singing and dancing along to every song. The energy in the room was high; the band feeding the crowd and the crowd feeding the band in this remarkable roundabout kind of way. Even when the tempo slowed, there was still a buzz in the air. The vibes couldn’t have been better.
The Sweet Unknown Tour is over, but no doubt you’ll be able to find these guys on the road again soon. When new dates drop, do NOT hesitate. I can promise you it’ll be one of the best shows you’ve ever seen, and one of the most fun nights you’ve ever had. Get them on your bucket list, now.