On June 19th, indie-pop band, lovelytheband hit House Of Blues Chicago for a packed show with supporting acts New Dialogue and Flora Cash. The Finding It Hard To Smile tour was originally set for May 1st, but was postponed and moved to the 19th.
Starting off the night was alternative-pop group, New Dialogue. The band played a new song that they released earlier this year called “Neon Ocean.” On May 3rd, New Dialogue released their debut EP Teach Me How To Feel. They played other tracks off of it during their set, including “Loose Ends,” and “Are You Like Me.” The group also performed a cover of Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up.” When the band was starting up, they decided their goal would be to inspire listeners that they can be anyone. This concept is best reflected in their song “Pilgrims” where the chorus refrains the line “you could be anyone.”
Flora Cash was next to take to the stage. The duo, Shpresa Lleshaj and Cole Randall, originally started off as pen pals as Lleshaj is originally from Sweden and Randall from Minnieapolis. The two are planning to release an album in early August, and they played a song off the album. Along with the new song they also played “You’re Somebody Else,” “They Own This Town,” and “I Wasted You.” Unfortunately, Flora Cash was cut off midway through their last song due to the Chicago city curfew.
Finally, lovelytheband took to the stage. The band kicked off their set with “Make You Feel Pretty,” “emotion,” and “stupid mistakes,” all from their debut album Finding It Hard To Smile. The band even delivered their rendition of The Killers 2004 hit “Mr. Brightside” at one point in their set. Throughout the night, there were moments where the crowd would be singing louder than lovelytheband. Trying to look from a performer’s perspective, one can only imagine the feeling of writing songs to later have thousands of people singing them back to you.
