#1 Best of All Time - Mamalarky returns to Chicago
show review by Melissa Bruckman, photos by Ally Iseminger
Mamalarky, a four-piece alternative indie rock band, returned to Chicago and played a diverse set featuring songs from their new album, Hex Key, as well as other familiar hits and deep cuts.
Local Midwest artist Josephine opened the evening with a moving, emotional set.
Opener Kennedy Mann followed. Her rhythmic guitar filled the space as if a full band supported her gentle vocals.
After a brief break for set up, the audience welcomed Mamalarky to the stage. The band started their set with “Feels So Wrong,” “How to Say,” and “Hero” back to back to back.
“Feels So Wrong” from Hex Key immediately showcased the band’s impressive rhythmic abilities. Lead singer Livvy Bennett mentioned in a TikTok that this particular song is special to her because it was recorded by the full band, live, at the same time. The band’s communication and rigor throughout the concert confirmed this.
The following pieces nodded to one of the many genres that Audiotree identified Mamalarky as: Nintendocore. “Hero” evoked images of a tropical video game with its synth keyboard tones and playful mood shifts.
Following a short break and introduction, the group played “Broken Bones,” another track from their most recent album. The rhythm section executed clean and impactful rhythmic hits while being sure to highlight the vocals and melodic elements of the song.
When introducing “Shining Armor,” Livvy humorously told the audience that the song was an ode to online haters who claim she plays the guitar incorrectly. The band combined complicated riffs across all instruments while also performing effortful vocals and vocal harmonies.
Equally impressive and played later in the set was the fast-paced “#1 Best of All Time.” Drummer Dylan Hill led the band through the piece along with the persistent bass line performed by Noor Khan. The boasting, matter-of-fact lyrics floated on top of the busy rhythmic base.
The playful “Mythical Bonds” followed. As a happy and comforting song, “Mythical Bonds” is deceptively difficult. After the concentration that went into performing “Shining Armor,” the band had to continue to stay focused to make the piece sound lightweight and effortless.
Songs “Hex Key” and “Nothing Lasts Forever” showcased sweeping keyboard soundscapes in the form of organ and synthesizer tones. Michael Hunter on the keyboard led the group through the stylistic transition to the intimate and emotional performance of “It Hurts.” Its western-sounding march flowed into melodic interludes and ended on an eerie major chord.
Returning to a math rock and jazz-influenced sound, “Schism Trek” featured unique musical scales and smooth transitions. As the song went on, the bass and keys became increasingly intricate, building up the tension of the piece.
Next, the band played a few more songs from Hex Key. “Blow Up” featured sing-yelling, pitch bends and slides, and a bouncy shuffle on the drums. The bright song seemed to light up the crowd. “MF” leaned into the group’s alternative, punk, and grunge characteristics with a drone foundation and ample dissonance. “Anhedonia,” meaning the inability to feel pleasure, highlighted a melodic bassline and impactful vocal harmonies that felt more romantic than sad when performed live. “Won’t Give Up” marched on with an electronic motif under determined vocals that seemed to be telling the audience a story.
To close out their set, Mamalarky performed “You Know I Know” and their most popular song, “You Make Me Smile”. Livvy’s calm vocals contrasted with the blunt rhythmic stops in the background. As the piece settled into a groove, the band moved and danced together to the rhythmic hits and beats, and closed out their show on a serene note.
Their third stop on their East Coast tour, Mamalarky brought an incredible precision and genre-bending variety to the Chicago music scene. You do not want to miss the chance to see them perform live this spring!
