Live! Makeshift Prodigy @ Lasalle Power Company (Chicago, 4/9/10)
“Shame on you!” was what I was told by Anthony Bagnara from Makeshift Prodigy after pronouncing that I had not yet seen a live Makeshift Prodigy show. I had my usual run of excuses as to why, but the truth is I really had wanted to see the guys play since I first saw live footage from their Enclave show last year. After hearing from Rikki and Amy at the merch table that the guys have since improved their lights display I was even more anxious to see if the guys could live up to the hype.
Most unsigned live local acts that I’ve seen just get up on stage, plow through a thirty minute set as quickly as possible and send you off with a request to please visit the merch booth to help them pay for their van repairs so they can get home. Right off the bat I could tell that this band was different, and the pressure was on as they were the only band on the bill.
MP’s new album sounded like a more polished version of their previous album, (Welcome To The World) and I wondered if they’d be able to replicate such a performance in a live setting. Hearing from the guys that they’d like mirror the career of bands such as U2 and 30 Seconds To Mars sets the bar quite high especially for a group that isn’t signed to a major label yet, and I was skeptical as to whether or not I’d be making a fool of myself by recommending seven of my friends to come with me to see them with me since the majority of them not only don’t particular care for the usual local blend of rock and roll that I do, but after two songs they were just as into it as I was.
Between hanging off the ceiling, and switching between singing, and playing the piano, Anthony Bagnara is one of the most energetic live performers I’ve seen since I saw Jeffrey Moreira of Poison the well climbing on the scaffolding at the Metro years ago. Joe Bauer’s programming and drumming coinciding with the light setup and sampling makes for a perfect mesh between a traditional rock show, and explosive trance/DJ dance party.
“We always know we’re going to come through, and that’s the big thing–the bigger the challenge, the harder it is to come through, and we always come through. That’s us in a nutshell.” -Anthony Bagnara
Jake Foy’s lead guitar was just as good as I expected live even after a few drinks of whiskey and shots of Rumplemint’s with friends at the bar just before hopping on stage. Brandon Fox’s rapping on the song Clockwork was at first one aspect of the new album that I felt was a bit out of place, but upon seeing a more hyped-up version of it live from Brandon makes me believe it works a lot better in person–especially when it comes from standing atop the Lasalle Power Company’s bar. Dave Fister the bassist also got in on the fun by running offstage to play parts of the some songs from the crowd.
Thinking I’d finally pull away the title of ultimate street teamer from Amy/Rikki I purchased a handful of CDs to give away to friends, but as it turned out that a good portion of the people in attendance already had one. (Luckily I beat a few people to the punch and was able to give away just enough of the CDs to save one for myself.)
The guys ended the the show with their flag ship song off their new album Mathematica, which had Bagnara hitting a huge drum held up by people in the front row so hard that I thought it was going to break in half. Thankfully the night wasn’t quite over yet, as the guys began to exit the stage as the crowd hadn’t had enough. Two more songs to finish off a night that easily exceeded my expectations had me glowing like I just saw Rise Against for the first time.
If you haven’t seen the guys yet, or at least listened to their new album I promise you won’t be disappointed. If you’re still not convinced, check them out over the next coming weeks at The Rave in Milwaukee, Reggies, The Boiler Room, and Lincoln Hall.
Makeshift Prodigy
- Listen to the new album stream for free!
- MySpace
- Official Website
- Interview with “Third World” Timmy
Makeshift Prodigy’s bands/people to watch
- A Hero Named Hope
- Empires
- Everett Thomas
- Future Nostalgia Photography
- Company of Thieves
- AM Taxi
- Big Science
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About the Author
Tim is the co-owner of Assault, and tends to think he can party twice as hard as anyone. Follow him on twitter @assaultEmail this Author | All posts by tim
[...] Makeshift Prodigy is giving away a single off their freshly-released album Mathematica! According to Third World Timmy this band is one of the best new bands in the city of Chicago, and is his pick to click to break out in the next year or two. Check out our review of Mathematica, as well as our live CD release show review, and interview with the guys. [...]