Cate Le Bon with Mega Bog @ Thaila Hall - Chicago, IL
Photos & words courtesy of Alyssa Leicht | February 14th 2022
“Hello, Chicago.”
That’s how the wryly grinning, soft-spoken Cate Le Bon greeted the crowd at Thalia Hall on Valentine’s Day. Le Bon, the Welsh songwriter signed to the independent label Mexican Summer, played a set skewed mostly toward her superb new album “Pompeii,” but also included many favorites from 2019’s LP, “Reward.”
The crowd was intensely focused and energetic for hits “Miami” and “Daylight Matters” from “Reward,” which had Le Bon stepping out from behind her fluorescent orange guitar to command the stage. Singles “Moderation” and “Remembering Me” from the 10-days-old “Pompeii” also matched that energy, culminating with Le Bon side-winding while playing a reverby psych-noise guitar solo.
The night was dotted with signs of romance for the holiday, beginning with Erin Birgy, singer of the opening act Mega Bog, placing a pink rose in a vase at the front of the stage. Mega Bog, offering up a spectacular stripped down two-piece set reminiscent of Laurie Anderson and Kate Bush, felt right at home opening for Le Bon.
Le Bon also gestured toward the air of love in the room several times. “Some sage advice for you all…” she said softly, as she and the band, sans bass player, returned to the stage for the encore the crowd demanded. She then began a sweetly sincere rendition of Paul McCarntney’s love song Waterfalls, which goes:
Don't go jumping waterfalls
Please keep to the lake
People who jump waterfalls
Sometimes can make mistakes
And I need love, yeah I need love
Like a second needs an hour
Like a raindrop needs a shower
Yeah I need love every minute of the day
And it wouldn't be the same
If you ever should decide to go away
