Live Review: Viagra Boys - Cave World Tour 2022 - '23 with The Steens

2/27/2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

The Salt Shed - Chicago - Friday February 24, 2023

Viagra Boys.
All the way from Sweden (and a bit in California) - coming to a city near you, on their current "Cave World Tour".

Playing at the newly christened and ever elegant venue The Salt Shed in Chicago.

I'll explain the part about The Salt Shed in better detail in a bit- but as for now- we gotta talk Viagra Boys, and also lead singer Sebastian Murphy in particular.
Set list: some 17 songs total, including encore.

Not much differentiation between city to city, setlist wise.
Still- no matter.

Song titles such as: "Ain't No Thief" (The opener), into "Ain't Nice", into "Punk Rock Loser".
We can stop there for a bit.
Rudimentary, by their very nature, all intent and purposes- back to basics. A to B to C.
Easy to catch on and comprehend, for the low level uninitiated and inebriated.
And that's the whole point.

Sebastian Murphy has the look and feel and demeanor of being a little blitzed before taking the stage, during the performance, and also attempts at stage banter with the audience between some of the songs.
Can't really tell if it's deliberate, what with the occasional slurring of words and getting some thoughts together, or if its his ADD kicking in, or all of the above.
Nevertheless, all of it, as of now, is downright entertaining, catching them in the here an now before they might implode.
And, it could be all a big joke to all of us.
Who the fuck knows.

But this band- song after song after song, just are tight, crafty, and full of gnarly swing.
Things get funny during "Ain't Nice", when someone from the audience hand delivers to Sebastian a bong, which stuns Sebastian for a brief moment, taking it all in, turning it around in his hand to check out the sophisticated ceramics, with a big smile and "thank you" across his face, before patiently setting it on the drum riser.
That kind of night- a party crowd, at the sold out Salt Shed.

As for lyrics throughout- deliberately simple, delivered with bluntness from Sebastian, matching the beats and wayward sax from Oscar Carls, and propulsive bass and drums from Henrik Hockert and Tor Sjoden, along with keyboards and samples from Elias Jungqvist, and wicked guitar from Elias Hillborg.
Song after song, they delve deep into their creations, tightening the groove, tightening their noose around you even further.
Like the song suggests, "Ain't Nice" ain't nice. "Baby Criminal", well is a baby criminal. "It Ain't Enough" is ain't enough, and so on.
The lyrics reflect it- the demeanor of Sebastian reflect it, being brutally honest with no genuflecting.

Take it or leave it- they don't give a shit.
It's a twisted world we live in, with unsavory characters interspersed throughout, all wickedly coming and going, dodging and weaving.
And it's all drug stupor related, hovering around multiple blackouts and what the fucks, trying to piece together this and that.
Again, fiction, non fiction, maybe a mix of both.

I don't want to ask questions, that's for sure.
I just want to photograph these guys- all of them, and document the experience that's so evidently IN- YOUR- FACE, at least for the foreseeable future.
I love bands like this, kinda off the rails, but somehow keeping the whole godamned thing on track, surviving yet another show.
Also cool that Sebastian was taking The Salt Shed all in, observing things from the lip of the stage, all the way to the back in the grandstands, and stating matter of factly that he thinks The Salt Shed is the largest venue they've ever played in, with a gratifying smile across his face.

So coming full circle, each and every song is delivered with dark humor and satire, with a cast of unsavory characters taking shape and form, like fun monsters rearing their ugly head- fun for a minute, but scary nevertheless.
And all of it delivered to the faithful in attendance with a nod and a wink, and if given the opportunity, a couple beer soaked smothered hugs, with spit and saliva and sweat, followed by some slaps and serious head noogies that will leave a mark.
They all strike me like that, if push comes to shove,
Either you're in- or you're out.

Welcome to Viagra Boys and their wicked world we are aiming the attempt to live in, albeit temporarily.
Same holds true for openers for openers The Steens- who with the brothers Steen, with shredding guitars and howled from the gut vocals, all delivered with brashness and confrontation as all get out, with just enough angst to rev up the crowd caffeinated style.

Everything with them comes off crunchy, but delivered with tons of energy and finesse, to the point where towards the end, their drummer has to do a bit of bodysurfing to take it all in.

So, both bands delivered.

And they delivered in the second show ever at The Salt Shed, which is a magnificent addition to the live music Chicago scene.

Such a sophisticated venue throughout, from front to back, main floor to the top.
Everything is just so well thought out - The PA, the lighting, the sight lines, the stage, the amenities, the entrance, the staff- just the whole overall vibe and feel of the place.
More on all of this soon, with a better detailed observation with Tim Schoen, the Production Manager of The Salt Shed, and Bruce Finkelman, Managing Partner of the Salt Shed and 16 on Center.

Such a splendid and unforgettable evening throughout.
Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

Viagra Boys, The Steens, Bobby Talamine, The Salt Shed, JBTV Music Television, Jerry Bryant, Fiza Javid

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Live Review: Viagra Boys - Cave World Tour 2022 - '23 with The Steens

Viagra Boys, The Steens, Bobby Talamine, The Salt Shed, JBTV Music Television, Jerry Bryant, Fiza Javid

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