‘I Fucking Love Playing Chicago:’ Julien Baker at Thalia Hall

Pilsen’s Thaila Hall hosted a three-night showcase for alternative indie powerhouse Julien Baker Sept. 23-25. Before Baker took the stage, British indie singer Katie Malco and alternative rock band Sweet Pill livened the crowd. 

Malco started the night with softer tunes featuring solo vocals and guitar. The crowd went silent upon the first strums of “Fatal Attraction,” her voice cascading across them. 

Without a backing band and only bringing one guitar, the singer had to tune her instrument between songs, providing the audience with comedic interludes. Malco said she almost didn’t have her visa to perform in the United States and wasn’t sure she would be able to join Baker on tour. 

“If I post a picture singing, fucking forget about it,” Malco said after telling the crowd she finally “went viral,” not for singing but for posting a video of a woman deleting photos on an iPad. 

After a 30-minute, five-song set, Malco left the stage and Sweet Pill set up. 

Shifting from Malco’s calmer sounds towards indie-rock bangers, Sweet Pill immediately commanded the crowd, inciting the audience to jump, head-bang and sing-scream along. 

“Starchild” kicked off the band’s set  — with a literal kick. 

Lead singer Zayna Youssef interacted with the crowd throughout their seven-song set, shouting, “Scream Chicago” and, “Come on, jump.” Even through flashing lights and the pulsing beats, Youssef shined through. 

Sweet Pill pulled audience members John and Moxie onstage to sing the final part of their song “Blood.”

After three more high-intensity tracks, the band closed with “Dog Song.” Just before the final few seconds, Youssef had one final request. 

“Bark, Chicago,” Youssef screamed.

For the third and final time, the lights in Thalia Hall dimmed, provoking an eruption of cheers. On stage, the sole silhouette of Baker appeared through golden lights and fog. The crowd fell into silence, gasping upon recognizing her melancholic song “Guthrie.”

Baker and her band, consisting of a drummer, violinist, guitarist and keys player, picked up the pace with “Bloodshot.” Baker’s voice merged with the audience singing along, encapsulating the familiarity of the singer-fan relationship. 

“There’s no glory in love / Only the gore of our hearts / So let it come for my throat / Take me and tear me apart,” Baker and the crowd sang. 

Night one at Thalia Hall was also the live debut of two songs, the first being “Conversation Piece,” Baker’s 2019 single, followed later in the set by the unreleased “Middle Children.” 

“The generous position / Is to make revisions to our history / It’s not only natural, it’s expected / But I wanna get it right,” Baker sang during “Middle Children.” 

The acoustics of Thalia Hall lent themselves well to the style of Baker’s songs — each starting out slowly, building slightly and never fully reaching a beat drop before fading out. 

“I fucking love playing Chicago,” Baker said, taking her in-ear monitor out to better listen to the crowd sing during “Ziptie.”  

When not focused on the main act, lights illuminated Baker’s intimate stage. Lamps to her left and right, dulled behind a sheer sheet, morphed the open venue into an intimate living room.

Baker’s candor enhanced the intimacy. The singer said she forgot some lyrics during her solo set, consisting of “Something” and “Song In E.” But was thankful to the crowd for maintaining the momentum. 

She also said her voice was hoarse due to her previous week in rehearsals. 

The candor continued as the synth-style beat of “Crying Wolf” reunited Baker with her band. Faintly playing behind her, the piano guided her hoarse, yet powerful voice through lyrics of struggling with substance abuse. During some of the lyrics, there was a slight break in her voice, the pain of the song fighting through. 

“​​Swallow the truth / Force the charcoal down my throat / Finally come to, maybe I’ll have something to show,” Baker sang. 

During the 90-minute set, Baker’s songs merged into one long-form version of her melancholic discography.

Baker ended the opening night of her self-titled tour with a three-song encore, including “Turn Out the Lights,” “Ringside” and “Hardline.”  

As the house lights turned on, Baker’s living room transformed back into the regular Thalia Hall. The audience soberly flowed out of the doors as the stage awaited night two.