The Concord Music Hall in Chicago was abuzz this past Saturday, April 11th, with artists, music lovers, spiritual warriors and everything in between during the unique music and art event known as RE:Vision. With the talent accumulated for this show, there is really no surprise for the immense turnout. Artists Alex Grey and Allyson Grey came along for the ride as keynote speakers as well as artists performing their craft to the tunes of some mind-bending, live music. Sharing the bill with Alex and his wife was Papadosio, Thriftworks, Desert Dwellers and Psydell; all bringing their unique sound to the table.
The night began with an exploration of the venue. Downstairs from the stage there was a little area harboring a myriad of artists and their work, many of which were for sale. There was a lot of different, psychedelic-esque clothing and tapestries that fit right in with the vibe of RE:Vision. There was also a nice little art gallery with some truly amazing work available for purchase. Most of the work coincided with the theme of the event–trippy.
NORML was there, pushing their beliefs and garnering a lot of attention from patrons. All of the artists were super stoked to be at this show and were more than happy to answer any question about their work. I even received a few stickers and some merch for free, just from being friendly and striking conversation. This laidback, family vibe was perpetuated throughout the evening through musicians and artists alike.
By the time I made it upstairs, Psydell had already begun his set and the place was heating up rather quickly. Psydell, a Peoria-based musician brought some serious heat with his mix of glitchy electro and bass-driven beats. The perfect catalyst for the insanity the rest of the evening would hold.
After Psydell, Alex and Allyson Grey took the stage and began giving a brief history lesson on the use of psychedelic sacraments in spiritual practices of yesteryear. They explained their stance on the current state of spirituality and how psychedelics could play a huge part in folk’s spiritual awakenings. The crowd was so warm and receptive of these two; I was in awe at the reactions they received and love these people had for them. It was quite inspirational and uplifting as well as informative.
Soon after “church” as many were referring the speech to, came Desert Dwellers. These guys were on point! They definitely brought a different vibe to the room, mixing world rhythms with downtempo and bass-heavy beats, no one on the bill sounded like them and that’s what made the experience so noteworthy. Prior to the show I had not heard of this group, but I can tell you now that I will be seeing more of them in the future, their performance was definitely top tier.
Following Desert Dwellers was my favorite act of the night, Thriftworks. Thriftworks can only be described as hip-hop beats with glitch-ridden accents that convey a message of confusion, style and just plain weirdness. If I had to compare them to another act, I would say Prefuse 73 is the only thing remotely close. Their sound is incredibly unique and fun and they played an awesome set for this event.
As it seemed like the night was winding down, Papadosio took the stage at the ripe hour of 1:00 a.m. and immediately treated guests to an old staple, “Magreenery.” The set would consist of many Papa classics like “Cue,” “Find Your Cloud” and “Polygons.” They also peppered the set with some newer tracks and even gifted us with a RATATAT cover. Of course, watching Alex and Allyson Grey paint to the band was just icing on the cake. The band played into the wee hours of the morning, not stopping until 3:30 a.m.
After Papadosio left the stage, I left the venue feeling enlightened, refreshed and new. RE:Vision had given me something rarely achieved on a night out on the town, perspective. All of these magnificent artists coming together to advance their particular brand of art or music and embracing so many different facets of the art world showed me just how important sharing art with others is an just how much time and effort goes into mass events like these. I left rejuvenated, a feeling that I think has can be echoed by anyone in attendance.