And The Feature Of This Evening Is...

By Scott Smith in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 3, 2005 6:42PM

Don't you love it when you go to see some heavily hyped band play live only to have them blown off the stage by an opener you've never heard of? That's exactly what happened to Chicagoist when we saw The Features open for Razorlight a few months ago.

The Features' sound is a mixture of Southern Stomp and Motown soul, which while an intriguing combination would be nothing without the energy blazing outward from the group's songs. On record the tunes fly by and explode whilst popping merrily along. Live, the band takes these songs, straps them on and beats the hell out of them. There are times that we were certain the drummer was going to fly off the stage last time we saw them. Seriously.

Singer and guitarist Matt Pelham looks like he's either trying to exorcise demons or he's been drinking way too much Jolt cola and whichever it is it totally works for him and we thank him for that. There is not a trace of smugness in his delivery. There is no false posturing. There is only the evangelical fervor that comes with doing something you completely believe and doing it right. And man oh man does he do it right.

So do yourself a favor and don't miss them when they play The Double Door tonight. Opening are the 22-20s, but unlike Razorlight before them we think they'll compliment The Features just fine.

See, yet another great concert at The Double Door. Do you really want this place to go away? We sure don't.

Thanks, Tankboy!