Through the fog of a smoke machine and the twinkling laser show-esque lights breaking its haze appeared a formidable looking man and his accompanying band of melody makers. Standing proudly front and center, brandishing a tennis racquet and shamelessly flaunting what his momma gave him in a sinful suit of sport appropriate attire, was Blane Fonda frontman Mark Wetzel-giving the crowd something to pay attention to even before the music kicked in. With a sound akin to the likes of contemporaries like Fozy Shazam, Hot Hot Heat, and The Blood Brothers, but that also dabbles in the style of Queen and The Police, Blane Fonda is an emerging Midwestern band to keep an eye on. Praised by blogs aplenty and heading to SXSW for RedGorilla Fest, the reshaped group
of musicians are already making a stance in this incarnation, most of them previously being part of another Chicago favorite, The Sapiens.
Even after the insane amount hype we heard before the show, these boys did not disappoint us in the least. Though the eccentricities of their front-man and stage effects may seem like a horse and pony to show at first glance, this five piece had the serious wherewithal to back up all that flash. From the scathing falsetto to belting jumps made by Wetzel to the perfectly in sync rhythms of their trumpet and bass, Blane Fonda kept our bodies moving and our attention on the stage. Our one suggestion after seeing this performance is that the boys rethink the size of their venue before busting out that smoke machine- it got to a point where most of the band had vanished and we began to wonder if we were really seeing lights or starting to pass out from inhalation in the small setting of Schuba’s music room. The band also debuted some new material that was so catchy, it just cemented our earlier statement that Blane Fonda is a band to keep tabs on- they just might hit the big time.
Next up were Philadelphian’s Pattern is Movement, a creative and enchanting two-piece we urge you to look into if you haven’t already. Though they’ve diminished in size since their inception, they’ve done anything but lose that certain je ne se qua. With a drum kit and elaborately wired table full of synth and keys, these two delivered a mesmerizingly off-tempo brand of math rock that definitely was one of the more interesting acts we’d seen as of late. By the looks of these two bearded and burly men you wouldn’t expect them to 
be the purveyors of angelic harmonies, but that’s exactly what comes through the looping done by this group. A dreamy falsetto gets harshly contrasted with quick percussion, and at first listen seems like incongruent noise- but with a focused ear the intricacies shine through, and we can guarantee that seeing these two live will have you hooked. Most may not be into this style as casual listening, but it’s definitely something that needs to be seen. Theatrical projection makes up most of the vocal style, no more present than in the band’s playful rendition of Destiny’s Child’s ‘Say My Name’, with hints of musicians like Ohtis, Sufjan Stevens, and Midlake.
Headlining the night were New Yorker’s Via Audio, who were celebrating the release of their new album, Animal Lore. The first thing that comes to mind after seeing this group is to share them with anyone who has ever been a naysayer of female fronted bands. Jessica Martins exudes a sense of confidence that literally just washes over the entire room. Her subtle smile, smooth body rolls, and infectious charm got all the jaded aging hipster types who refused to move an inch earlier in the night to the center of the room and got them dancing.
Labeling this band with a certain sound comparison is a tough job, but if we had to narrow it down we’d say they fall somewhere along the lines of Blondie, Nightmare of You, and a less tech dependant Bird and the Bee. The ability to rock out as well as sing
sweetly is one Jessica has honed, and the men backing up this front-woman were just as apt of performers as she was. The band implements a contrast between soft femininity and vulgarity that is just right, giving the impression that they’re the kind of people you can have a wild night with, but count on to use their best manners the next morning. Via Audio closed out the night with a few covers, showing off their penchant for 80’s pop with a more modern flair.
