Even though drummer Maya Miller claimed that the show was The Pack A.D.’s first in Chicago, you would never be able to tell. The British Columbia duo played with such ferociousness and intensity that they seemed like seasoned veterans use to the daily touring grind. On Thursday July 17, The Pack A.D. played for a paltry, but interested PBR swigging crowd at the appropriately named The Hideout. Becky Black’s fiery guitar playing set the mood for the night while Maya Miller’s powerful drum machine backbeat held the songs together. After their first couple of songs, it is obvious The Pack A.D. are much more than your neighborhood blues bar band. Their amps are set far past 11, and their less is more approach to the blues is refreshing in a time of analog synthesizers and digital processing. The songs themselves were reminiscent of the White Stripes in terms of style but different in execution. While Jack White tries his hardest to create memorable hooks and choruses, Becky Black sings straight from the heart. Her Janis Joplin like soulful howl is emotionally piercing. Unfortunately the crowd slowly wandered out by the end of the show leaving only a few left including drummer Maya Miller’s family. However, The Pack A.D. didn’t seem to mind or care for that matter. They were up on stage doing their best, delivering ‘I don’t give a fuck’ rock and roll at it’s finest.
– Richard Giraldi
The Pack A.D.: www.thepackafterdeath.com