A few Fridays back, I got to catch Alison Wonderland’s Chicago stop of her LONER tour at the Aragon Ballroom. I lucked out because all three of the performers are artists I listen to on, at the very least, a weekly basis. Hats off to Alison Wonderland and her team for drafting a great opening ensemble. It was a banger set after banger set and I’m glad I had the opportunity to see it.
Quiet Bison set the tone as the first on the decks for the night. He was called up to open for the LONER tour coming off of the release of his 30-track debut album ‘Dawn’. Dancing around with his arms in the air and occasionally sitting down with his back to the crowd, Quiet Bison played a great set that stayed true to his sound. There’s a bright future on display and it was cool to catch a set so early in his career. Due to my familiarity with Flume, Quiet Bison’s music popped up on my radar a few months ago. ‘Hi This is Flume’ is my favorite album, and the similarities of sound in QB’s catalog is what drew me in, initially. Once the seed was planted, it was Quiet Bison’s unique perspective that ultimately made me become a fan.
Valentino Khan’s return to Chicago came with hip thrusts and dozens of much-appreciated WWE references. Khan knows exactly how to start a party and this time around he unsurprisingly did exactly that. His set featured songs from his newest EP ‘pkg’, a set of three songs that all make me want to throw my elbows, as well as the classics from the dearly-missed OWSLA days such as ‘Deep Down Low’. Valentino Khan will be making a quick return to Chicago in July for the recently-announced Lakefront Green. Check out the info for the upcoming Whethan-hosted event here.
Alison Wonderland was welcomed to the Aragon stage with massive roars from the crowd; an insane feeling that must be. Nearly everyone there was wearing her merch, and someone in the front row even showed me their AW tattoos. Alison’s influence alone brought the energy levels to the roof. Alison has been known to push the boundaries of live EDM performances, and this show was no exception. The Australian-born DJ brought out two live drummers to perform on industrial scaffolding on both sides of the stage, and she even featured her own live vocals within her set. It was a mix of a great party and sheer beauty. My favorite part of her set was when I heard “Lost My Mind”, her collaboration single with Dillon Francis. Once I heard the intro pads begin, I too, lost my mind. That deep wobble paired with the sub-bass during the drop is a chef’s kiss to hear live. I also loved experiencing the vibe that came alongside “Anything”, her recent link to Valentino Khan, who was also on stage with her at the time. Overall, it was one of the most exciting shows I’ve ever seen, and I’m looking forward to catching more of her sets in the future.
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Photos and Words courtesy of Arthur Siwek for Pursuit of Dopeness
