A passionate Chicago show proves the Heartless Bastards really do care

April 3, 2009, at the Bottom Lounge

By Selena Fragassi
Published: April 5th, 2009 | 11:40pm

Fresh off a noteworthy showcase at SXSW, the Heartless Bastards landed in Chicago, fueled by a near-perfect performance that showed these Austin rockers are ready to take off. Originally from small-town Ohio, the band — led by magnetic frontwoman, singer, and guitarist Erika Wennerstrom, and supported by reunited original members Dave Colvin and Jesse Ebaugh — has been angling for big exposure in recent months with powerful new material and a developed sound that draws on the best of its newfound southern roots.

The night’s show was mainly an opportunity to solidify the hearsay that has been surrounding The Mountain (Fat Possum), a release that took a risky climb after two unnoticed previous efforts and significant band shakeups. The most potent event was a departure from longtime member and Wennerstrom’s romantic partner, Mike Lamping, which had a considerable effect on the band’s growing architecture of sound and lyrics that meet in the crossroads of ’70s rock and early ’90s grunge.

The tangible emotion of songs like the title track, “Out at Sea,” and “Hold Your Head High” were downright gripping, especially with Wennerstrom’s strong vocal cocktail that mixes the growl of Janis Joplin and Melissa Etheridge with the bite of a 21st-century Robert Plant. Wennerstrom, dressed in a black blazer with little makeup and long, thick bangs, leaned gracefully on the edges of androgyny, which proved that even though she can sing about girlie issues, she can take it a step further with bullheaded masculinity.

Even more impressive was the power that such a petite person could muster, using every ounce to ignite her performance and leaving little in the way of crowd interaction, her meek voice a disconnect as she shied away from conversation. Although bashful with the crowd, Wennerstrom was a confident performer and allowed her passion for her songs to make up for lack of connection with her audience.

It was too bad her all-male bandmates couldn’t bring attention to themselves in this way, as they looked like they were playing in slow-mo compared to her inspired energy. Their purpose relied on crafting complicated arrangements that perfectly swayed to the rhythm of Wennerstrom’s limited vocal range, which made the band appear more versatile than they might have been without the swift composition.

The beauty of the Heartless Bastards is that they easily combine so many nuances of sound without the distraction of superfluous bells and whistles — country without the corniness, grrrl riot without the show, rock without the ego. Unlike other acts that rely on glamour tricks, Wennerstrom could care less about the pretty accessories, knowing full well that the genuineness of the band’s naked truth can speak for itself.
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For more photos from this show visit Venus Zine’s Flickr page
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Review of Heartless Bastards’ All This Time (Fat Possom)
Heartless Bastards feature