Chicago Tonight

[TishA-Spirit]

JOMARTY CALLED ME

I got to hear call of distress one offfffffffffffffffff my fav songs as well as rain on the brain...

I heard marty talking thanking everyone

[kellysgirl]

Keep the cellcert going. Hope the LH's are getting a lot of love from their hometown.

[TishA-Spirit]

no meet and greet in chicago...

[lyrics]

Phenominal concert tonight. Lovehammers were outstanding, an absolute blast to see live for the first time. Marty was an excellent showman and his voice, movements and energy were great. My favorites were Riddle, Trees and Ring of Fire, and the set list was pretty consistent with the other venues.

I was pleasantly surprised to be blown away by JD and INXS. JD's voice was solid, and really strong, and the guys were having a ball. For their encore, Don't Change, JD pulled someone's little son (maybe 5yr old) on the stage, and was very sweet with him, getting him to boogy a little, and then Andrew came over with maracas for the little guy to shake. Very impromptu and touching. They told the Chicago crowd we were amazing and the best audience they've had (maybe they say that to all the pretty cities).

I brought my sixth grade son as a reward for making honors, and as we walked toward the parking garage, my son announced it was the best night of his life. Yah!

Then, just to make it a little bit better, I cruised by where the tour buses were parked, and SAW THE LOVEHAMMERS BUS DOOR WAS AJAR WITH PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE. I promptly parked illegally and we both ran over to say hi to Marty, Dino and Bobby. They were talking with some fans, probably 20 people in all in small groups saying hello and taking pics or autographs. We were able to say hi, and Marty was soooo cool to my son, congratulating him on making honors and getting to see the show. Marty asked him if he played an instrument, and he said yes, Marty asked which one, he said trumpet, and Marty took my son's head in his hands and said, that's great because it will make your brain smart! EVERY MOTHER'S DREAM!!!! Guess whose night of his life just got even better?

More later...good night.

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhh Marty

I just love that man he is so sweet.

Thanks for sharing your story lyrics. ;D

Sharon

[Gail]

Great review and what a nice story with your son. I was hoping someone would report late tonight. Thanks.

[xsiveone]

I just got back from the show. I would've been home sooner, but I had to stop off and get something to eat on the way home because I hadn't had any dinner. It was much more important to me to be there when the LH hit the stage instead of eating.

No meet and greet tonight. I saw a few people in the rows in front of me with the signed copies of the new cd. It looked like they signed the cellophane, so I don't know how people are going to open the cd to play it. That's what it looked like anyway. They might've signed the booklet or even the jewel case. It was hard to tell from where I was sitting.

It was great to see everyone at the show early and on their feet when Marty and the boys took the stage. Marty was very thankful for it too. They switched up the set order a bit and played Trees and then Ring Of Fire as the closer. INXS switched up their setlist as well. So much for making an mp3 disc of the songs on the setlist and playing it in order to prepare me for the show. I was totally confused. Wink

I don't know if it was my seats or if I'm just used to better sound, but the sound was pretty bad in the Chicago Theatre. I've heard much better sound in that theater. A lot of feedback and distortion. INXS did sound better, but their sound wasn't that great either. I was a little disappointed with it.

I think that the LH did a great job considering that they had a little postage stamp section on the stage in front of the curtain and no lighting or anything to speak of. It was like the LH were playing on a kids toy piano and INXS came out and played on a grand piano. Big differences in set and sound, so I hope that the JD fans that are comparing the two bands are realizing that it's apples and oranges from the opener to the headliner.

I'm so thankful that I got to see Lovehammers at the Metro. If any of you have a chance to see them in a smaller venue, by all means do it! The sound was so much better. The vibe of the show was so much better. The setlist was longer. I'm sure that things will be much better when they headline a show.

I like JD enough as a performer and I was looking forward to seeing him with the band, but I must admit that it bothered me that JD was singing all the old INXS songs. Maybe if I hadn't seen Michael Hutchence perform with INXS, I would've been less irritated with it. To me, it felt like I was watching a tribute band instead of the real thing. The problem is that JD is too much like Michael Hutchence. I think that the band would've been a lot better off in the long run by changing things up and going with someone like Suzie McNeil. It would've been different enough, but similar in a way.

Anyway.. That's just how I feel about the whole JD/INXS situation. I probably won't see them again because of it. At least not until JD gets enough of a catalogue of his own with the band, so they aren't playing all the old INXS songs.

During the encore for INXS, JD was talking to the audience and telling us that this was the best show so far. I wonder if there is any truth to that. A few people in my section were shouting for Marty when JD was talking. I thought that it was in pretty poor taste. I wouldn't do that.

I didn't hear or see any of the INXS fans bashing the LH. Where were they? I'd like more info about this because I didn't see it or hear it.

JD did do a cool thing during the encore and brought a little kid up on stage to stand next to JD while he sang Don't Change. Andrew then came over and handed the kid maracas. The kid started shaking them out of rhythm, so Andrew was showing the kid how to shake them in rhythm. JD then picked up the kid and handed him back into the audience. It's going to be a very memorable moment for that little kid.

JD sounded good too. His voice definitely sounded rested. He sounded good on just about everything except for the song when they started the encore. Maybe taking a short break before the encore didn't help his voice much.

I hate this whole nasty JD and Marty competition thing. I wish it would all go away. We didn't want Marty to win the job, even if we thought that he might've brought something different to the band. Actually, like I said, I would've preferred Suzie. I loved the way that she belted out songs like Never Tear Us Apart and Mystify on the RS: INXS show. She wouldn't have been so much like Michael Hutchence and INXS wouldn't have seemed like an INXS tribute band. At least not for me it wouldn't have.

I'm definitely babbling now. It's really late and I'm really tired. I wanted to post something before I went to bed. There wasn't really anything ground breaking that happened at this show that didn't happen at other shows, so I don't what else to add to my review.

Oh.. I wanted to mention one other thing. When I entered the theater, I got a patdown and the lady asked me if I had a camera. I told her that I did and she said that I have to check it where they check the coats. I told her that I wasn't going to use it in the theater, but she said that I had to check it anyway. I was planning on just using it for the meet and greet after the show. That if they saw me with it, they'd take it from me. Whatever.. Instead of checking just my camera, I checked it with my coat and I'm glad that I did because it got a little warm in there and since the seats aren't that large anyway, it would've been a pain to have my coat with me. You guys in warmer climates really have it made not having to lug your coat around. BTW.. The camera rules sure didn't keep people from using camera phones. There were a lot of people around me using camera phones and the security didn't seem to do anything about it.

That's about all I can think of at the moment.

One last thing. For the girls out there. Marty was nearly losing his pants towards the end of the set. He likes them low, doesn't he?

PS.. I'm really kicking myself for not heading down to Joe's the other night instead of going to this show. If I wouldn't have gotten tickets to this show, I definitely would've gone to Joe's instead. As luck would have it, this is the busiest time of the year for work for me, so I had to make a choice and since I already had $80 (with fees) tickets for the Chicago Theatre show, that's the show that I went to.

So.. The point to my story is that for those of you that went to the show at Joe's because you couldn't get tickets to this show, count your blessings. If the Joe's show was anything like the Metro show or even better, you definitely got the better deal!

[xsiveone]

lyrics said:

Phenominal concert tonight. Lovehammers were outstanding, an absolute blast to see live for the first time. Marty was an excellent showman and his voice, movements and energy were great. My favorites were Riddle, Trees and Ring of Fire, and the set list was pretty consistent with the other venues.

I was pleasantly surprised to be blown away by JD and INXS. JD's voice was solid, and really strong, and the guys were having a ball. For their encore, Don't Change, JD pulled someone's little son (maybe 5yr old) on the stage, and was very sweet with him, getting him to boogy a little, and then Andrew came over with maracas for the little guy to shake. Very impromptu and touching. They told the Chicago crowd we were amazing and the best audience they've had (maybe they say that to all the pretty cities).

I brought my sixth grade son as a reward for making honors, and as we walked toward the parking garage, my son announced it was the best night of his life. Yah!

Then, just to make it a little bit better, I cruised by where the tour buses were parked, and SAW THE LOVEHAMMERS BUS DOOR WAS AJAR WITH PEOPLE STANDING OUTSIDE. I promptly parked illegally and we both ran over to say hi to Marty, Dino and Bobby. They were talking with some fans, probably 20 people in all in small groups saying hello and taking pics or autographs. We were able to say hi, and Marty was soooo cool to my son, congratulating him on making honors and getting to see the show. Marty asked him if he played an instrument, and he said yes, Marty asked which one, he said trumpet, and Marty took my son's head in his hands and said, that's great because it will make your brain smart! EVERY MOTHER'S DREAM!!!! Guess whose night of his life just got even better?

More later...good night.

Wow!! That's awesome for your son! Great story!

Where was the bus parked btw?

[Rusalka]

Thanks for the review ! Sounds like another great show. Can't wait until mine !! Hope they don't have to cancel all the Meet & Greets now. I was planning on getting there early to scope out the tour bus anyway. I agree about the bashing-I don't care that much for JD but I'm not going to go to one of his concerts & spout off about it. I hope I don't hear any LH bashing in NY or I might not be able to keep my mouth shut !

[lyrics]

We saw INXS' tour buses (I think they must have been, two white/silver big and shiny ones) and Lovehammers green bus and pull behind thing (that I recognized from Jodie's LA adventure pictures and the 77 on the license plate) just around the corner from the Theater on Lake Street under the el tracks. We stood by them at 7pm before going in, and a guy twice opened the door and came out (their driver?), once with an older guy and once by himself. Then, after getting our car, after the show, probably about 30 minutes after the show ended we saw Marty and guys by the bus.

I've read a lot of posts here, and thought I'd never be lucky enough to see him, but we were!!! BTW, my son informed me he's cutting me out the picture with him and Marty that he's framing for his room. LOL. I told him it's cool. But I'm saving one of the three of us for his scrapbook!

[itsfreezinghere]

guys,
sorry if i am missing an update here, but dying for some info on the virgin gig? can someone post on it or point me to where the update is?

what we the set like, did you get a lot of time during the autograph sessions?

[natasha]

Awesome reviews!!!

[shuckra]

itsfreezinghere said:

guys,
sorry if i am missing an update here, but dying for some info on the virgin gig? can someone post on it or point me to where the update is?

what we the set like, did you get a lot of time during the autograph sessions?

I put a review of the Virgin gig in my Joe's review in the LH's rock Joe's Bar thread in the tour talk section

[itsfreezinghere]

thanks so much for your great reviews particularly at virgin - i was hoping that there would be a great turnout to what i was sure would be an aweome acoutic show.
you guys, rock!

[angelshadow]

I love reading reviews !! I get such great pictures in my head from all the descriptiveness!! YAY FOR SHARING THE LOVE!!!

[albrmo]

We had so much fun!!!

It was me and my hubby and we had a blast!!!

LH totally rocked. I was so happy b/c there were a lot of LH fans around us so everyone was up and dancing. We had great seats, we were about 10 rows back and to the left of the stage. I was able to walk up to the front for a few songs, but then security made us walk back to our seats--no big deal.

I tried looking for LH during INXS, but couldn't find them anywhere. My hubby thought I was crazy that I wanted to look for the bus, and now I see that is where I should have looked--hubby is in big trouble--just kidding.

I do have to say that INXS sounded very good. We were totally dancing at the end for Devil Inside and Pretty Vegas. I was surprised at how little JD looked. Hubby says it was b/c he had on a huge leather jacket and huge sunglasses. I still think he is just short. JD did slap Kirk's ass and almost licked his cheek during the show. I thought that was kind of interesting--hmmmmm.

Besides all of that I think others covered the rest of the show. I'm looking forward to March/April--I hear LH will be having more concerts:)

[chifan]

albrmo said:

I was so happy b/c there were a lot of LH fans around us so everyone was up and dancing.

Hi albrmo! My sister and I were sitting behind you and your husband on Saturday.....you guys were so much fun, we had a blast! Lovehammers were awesome as usual, quite a change to go from seeing them at Joe's on Thursday to the Chicago Theater on Saturday.

Last week was a great week. Now we have post-concert depression! Can't to hear when and where the new shows will be!

[albrmo]

HI Chifan,

You guys were so fun and so nice.

Thanks for dancing w/me and being so nice!!

I hope to see you guys again soon

[radioclash]

Thanks for all the reviews! lyrics that is a really touching story.....

[Remus]

albrmo said:

I was surprised at how little JD looked. Hubby says it was b/c he had on a huge leather jacket and huge sunglasses. I still think he is just short.

Actually, JD and Marty are very close in height. You can see that on Rock Star INXS when they are standing side by side. It's been reported that JD is about 6 ft 1 in while Marty is about 6 ft 2 in.