Last Friday night we had the unique chance to not only witness, but also interview the Grammy-nominated band Highly Suspect at Chicago staple venue the Double Door.
The Brooklyn-based group composed of Johnny Stevens and twin brothers Ryan and Richard Meyer hit our city as part of their headlining tour and they sold out their show at the Wicker Park venue. Fresh off an appearance at the Grammys, Highly Suspect hit the stage with an energy that absolutely lit up the place and they played every hard song with such fury and intensity that you could feel why fans were compelled to hop around, hoot, and throw their fists in the air. The slower tunes were performed with as much conviction as the foot-stompers, but these hit you in just the right spot.
There were many highlights there throughout the night, many of which were spearheaded by the antics of lead singer Johnny Stevens. I must also point out how much it really helps when a band has such a diverse catalog to pull from, and Highly Suspect’s pool has a little of everything to satisfy all kinds of fans, from the headbangers, to the dancers, to the drinkers and everything in between. Some of the best performances of the night came during songs like the crunchy “Fuck Me Up,” the emotive roller-coaster that is 70’s Rock anthem stylings of “Serotonia,” and of course the hit song everyone sang along to, “Lydia” (below). My favorite moment of the night came as the show was coming to a close, and the group played a song that I still can’t figure out what its name could be. The lyrics featured the lyric “down in Georgia,” with a structure that loosely reminded me of Delta Blues. During that song the band really showed what they’re made of, playing with guitar pedals and tripping us out with the effects, manipulating the feedback like a snake charmer. At one point Johnny and Rich switched guitars-bass, mid song, allowing Rich to show off his flair on the 6-string, like how MJ would dish it to Scottie, and he would show you he’s a killer too. Spectacular stuff
#MCID @Highly_Suspect in Chicago! pic.twitter.com/t5mX9akx19
— Pursuit of Dopeness (@PursuitDopeness) February 27, 2016
We also got to interview Ryan and Rich before the show, and in our conversation we talked about the band’s early days, where they go now after being nominated for a Grammy, and what covers they would like to play in the future. Check that out, along with pictures taken by Rosario Edwards for Pursuit Of Dopeness, below.
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