Chicago Gives Park A Warm Welcome Back

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 1, 2013 6:30PM

Park performs at Reggie's Rock Club/Photo by Katie Karpowicz by Chicagoist

Whether or not you believe in the existence of the much debated emo revival, one thing is for sure: it's a great to listen to melodic, slightly poppy, riff-heavy post-punk music. Which also means it's an ideal time for Springfield, Ill., four-piece Park to resume its career.

You know that giddy feeling you get when you hear the opening notes to songs you haven't seen performed live in ages? We got that a dozen times over last night at Park's first Chicago show since reforming this past May. Sure, they sounded a bit rusty—endearingly so, actually—but we were actually surprised at how cohesive the band was on stage. [Considering Park has only played one-off shows, no full touring, since getting back together.]

Furthermore, we didn't mind the modest crowd—likely due in part to the holiday and the slew of other excellent shows this weekend. We'll take half a room's worth of ear-to-ear grins over a packed house of half-interested stares any day and grins were exactly what we got last night at Reggie's.

The show was a fun ode to nostalgia and the music we'll never really outgrow; however, we were surprised that Park didn't debut any of its new material, scheduled to drop early next year. We guess we have no other choice but to let the anticipation continue to grow until then.