Free Stinking Lizaveta Show at Cobra Lounge in Chicago, May 20, 2010

Stinking Lizaveta kicks your favorite band's ass. Fact. Few bands play with this much passion and skill, and even fewer bands can keep up that energy for 6 albums and 15 years full of non-stop touring. They're probably also the only band that has played at Jazz Festivals, Metal Concerts and "All Tomorrows Parties" and not sound out of place at any of them. The band is made up of brothers Yanni (guitarist) & Alexi Papadopoulos, who plays an electric upright bass, and drummer Cheshire Agusta. They play instrumental music that combine elements of Stoner/Sludge/Prog as well as countless other genres, and has even been labeled as "Doom Jazz."

That label seems somewhat accurate, if only to convey the sense of dread, drama and immediacy that emanate from their virtuoso musicianship. There's a kinetic quality to their playing that both moves you, and leaves you anticipating the unpredictable. Once during the middle of an extended solo Yanni gave a random audience member his guitar so he could finish the solo off, and the last time I saw them play they had Damon Locks from The Eternals sing a couple of songs with them (apparently Yanni & Damon was in a band together in High School.) You can practically get lost in the fervor of Alexi's upright bass playing, and the power of Cheshire's drumming can leave you both scared of the woman in a skirt making it and in awe of it's beauty. Every night is different for them, you can catch them rolling around the floor during a song one minute and screaming into their guitar pick ups in another, and just like the best Jazz you'll never know exactly what you're going to hear no matter how well you know their songs. And fuck are they heavy!

Some people may consider this maniacal style of playing "noodling" or self-indulgent, but there isn't a single note played that is uninspired or unnecessary and the trio are actually really down to earth and refreshingly humble. You would think that a band that's been together this long with such an intense touring schedule would be more cynical and burnt out. Stinking Lizaveta return to the Cobra Lounge in Chicago for a free show on Thursday May 20th after only just playing there last November. I never get tired of watching them live no matter how many times I see them, and every show at the Cobra Lounge is always free so I HIGHLY suggest that you go and pick up some merch in support (try their homegrown, organic garlic if they have any at this show.) Opening for Stinking Lizaveta will be Chicago's own "Killer Moon," an up and coming Prog/Psych trio who also have some metal leanings. What I've heard from them so far has been good and I'm anxious to hear them live. I'll leave you with an excerpt from Stinking Lizaveta's bio, a live video, links and their remaining tour dates:

"Born in the basements of West Philadelphia and tempered by fifteen years of American and European tours, Stinking Liz has built a reputation as one of progressive metal’s most unique and devastating live acts....Real rock and roll is not a video game. Real rock and roll is not the latest pass at this year’s formula. Real rock and roll is Stinking Lizaveta."

Stinking Lizaveta Website: www.stinkinglizaveta.com/

Stinking Lizaveta Myspace: www.myspace.com/stinkinglizaveta

Cobra Lounge
235 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60607-1401
(312) 226-6300

Remaining Tour Dates:
5/12/2010 Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, GA
5/13/2010 Saturn Bar - New Orleans, LA
5/14/2010 Sadie’s - Lafayette, LA
5/16/2010 Lounge on Elm Street - Dallas, TX
5/17/2010 Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS
5/19/2010 Frequency - Madison, WI
5/20/2010 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL
5/21/2010 31st Street Pub - Pittsburgh, PA