Show review: The Postelles at Hideout, 10/23

Posted by Bobby

New York City's Postelles were in town for their first Chicago gig at a crowded Hideout Saturday night, playing the combination of an underground rock show and a sock hop without chaperones. It seems that many fans of rock and roll long to have been around when the culture was birthed from late-1950s attempts at perfecting modernity, so the Postelles’ stylistic connections to rock’s early days are irresistibly charming. Saturday night’s show was proof of that for local fans, and the NYC edge to the band’s material and looks allowed the crowd to enjoy it without having to feel uncomfortably innocent.

It should have occurred to me earlier that while I was listening to and mimicking the Strokes at 19, somewhere there were kids like the Postelles who were doing it at 12 - and you know, the earlier you get started the better. The young band performed as a confident unit at Hideout, seeming at ease on stage and at ease being cool. Lead singer Daniel Balk's delivery stretched between a croon and a squawk in a manner that made dancing seem urgent, and guitarist David Dargahi pulled off dynamics with one guitar that most bands need two to achieve. Also - and I can never stress enough how important this is - their songs were good. You can't fake that. I was among several in the crowd who had never seen the band, and they all left singing the songs. In a time when it’s so hard for musicians to get people’s attention, I'm pretty sure that's the desired effect.

There were a lot of big shows going on Saturday in Chicago, so it was nice to see so many folks show up and welcome these fellas. The will be returning to Chicago next year on the heels of their new album, and next time they may need a bigger room.