Live Review: Young Fathers

Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

The Vic Theatre Chicago - Thursday April 11, 2024

Finally, Young Fathers are in Chicago.
So looking forward to this show- for months on end.
And they don't disappoint, even on a weekday / workday night, at The Vic Theatre in Chicago.

What's cool from the start, is the amount of real estate they use on The Vic Theatre stage- which is minimal.

The setup for gear, main floor mics, drums, floor wedges- that's all in the absolute center, recessed back from the main lip of the stage by about seven feet.
Same with stage left and stage right- total dimensions of the main stage floor setup looked like maybe ten feet to twelve feet deep, twenty feet or so in width.
And they utilized that space comfortably virtually for the entire show.
Large stage, small setup, making things more concise, more tight.

This works on many levels, especially for such a unique band as Young Fathers.
And they've been around for awhile, honing their craft in all aspects of renegade hip hop thought, with crafty beats, subdued emphasis on percussion, along with a walloping drummer to provide the necessary fills when needed.

Touring on the strengths of their latest release "Heavy Heavy"- from back in early 2023, the Scottish trio of Alloysious Massaquoi, on Vocals and occasional floor tom percussion, along with Kayus Bankole, also vocal duties and some percussion, and lastly Graham "G" Hastings, with vocal, percussion and other instruments- the three of them being together as Young Fathers since technically 2008- have constantly redefined their sound, all the while upping the ante in communal hip hop, shared vocal, heavy backbeat electronica, with a solid tribal feel.

A lot to take in in regards to description, sure, but meaningful, nevertheless.
You can't pigeon hole them, nor in my belief do they wish to be- let alone having a multitude of social subjects to talk about, to shout out about.
"Heavy Heavy" in particular, the strengths of that record alone- hit hard and deep.
Performed live, even more so, especially with the unique and concise floor setup, with songs such as "Rice", "I Saw", and "Drum" in particular.

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Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Young Fathers - Bobby Talamine (c) 2024

Especially for me throughout- the procedural and communal choruses, followed by shout out call and responses were just mesmerizing to witness live, stopping you in your tracks, and with a sonic punch that never wavered whatsoever.
Just so unique and raw, let alone the slow build from opener "Get Started", from "White Men Are Black Men Too"- in 2015, and then off to the races with "The Queen is Dead", and into "Get Up", which by all intent and purposes is a barnburner, with an oh so catchy buildup four to the floor beat.

And these first three on the set for tonight- not even from "Heavy Heavy".
Yes, their back catalog up to the present day equally up for the challenge, and still noteworthy and powerful.
Some seventeen songs total, ending with "Toy", all the while immersed in solid optimism, even for troubled times, and navigating though landmines which seem to be coming at you from everywhere.

Their blend of optimism, followed by deep rooted soul, added with raw emotions and a commitment to perform as if its your last day on earth...all of this leads up to the simplicity of the whole presentation, the layout of the band, that the songs matter, and the delivery thereof, with minimal lighting, mostly orange hues with the occasional white strobes- all of this is meant for the songs and delivery, not nauseating bells and whistles and flashy pizzazz.
The overall feel they present to you, just so damn heartfelt- they don't need all that extra bullshit whatsoever.
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Suffice it to say- easily one of the best shows, one of the most anticipated shows of the year.
So cool that the delivery  was from an intimate and awesome venue such as The Vic Theatre- where sound in an intimate listening room such as The Vic matters.
It matters lots, especially for a band as uniques and astounding as Young Fathers.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Young Fathers, Heavy Heavy Tour 2024, JBTV Music Television Chicago, Fiza Javid, Bobby Talamine, Graham "G" Hastings, Kayus Bankhole, Alloysious Massaquoi