Last weekend I headed to a small Chicago venue called the Beat Kitchen to see Yakuza headline the Forever Deaf Fest. Yakuza has been my favorite Windy City band for quite a while…long before the frickin’ pandemic started. Over the years three musicians have remained constant: Bruce Lamont (vocals, saxophone, clarinet); Matt McClelland (guitar); and, James Staffel (drums). At times Lamont sings with two microphones with one being hooked up to a device to create an echo of sorts. He also incorporates his sax and clarinet into the metal fray.
Here are other rocking tunes.
Here is a video with Lamont talking clarinet:
I really like McClelland and Staffel too. These guys along with a new bassist (five string) will not disappoint! Yakuza should not be missed if they ever tour outside of Chicago.
Lamont tours as Robert Plant in a band called LedZeppelin2. This band tends to tour the House of Blues venues located across our country. If you adore the Good Ship Zeppelin, LZ2 excels. If you are a millennial, maybe your parents would like tickets as an Xmas gift. A Zeppelin fix 4 U:
I had not heard of any other bands on the bill. Hunstmen immediately preceded Yakuza. Huntsmen’s unfocused music and underwhelming vocals had the crowd standing still. Speedfreak’s gig created a good mosh pit. Repentance also made the crowd come alive and mosh. I talked to Repentance after their performance to compliment them. Not much on YT from this band, but this nugget provides a glimpse of what I witnessed.
I caught all of Sun Crusher and missed Coyote Man.
I wore earplugs as I stood in the front row; I am too old to mosh! Live music is back!!
