Concert: 100 gecs in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom on April 20th 2023

CHICAGO, IL - On a night thick with anticipation, 100 gecs cemented their reputation as avant-garde leaders of the hyper-pop movement. Gracing the stage of the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, the duo of Laura Les and Dylan Brady delivered a spellbinding performance that lived up to, and surpassed, the buzz surrounding their innovative blend of electronic, experimental, and hyper-pop sounds.

The evening kicked off with the equally enigmatic Machine Girl, a solo project by Matt Stephenson, whose frenzied beats and glitchy samples set the tone for the night. But it was 100 gecs that truly stole the show, as they unfurled their distinctive tracks in front of a 5,000-strong, spellbound audience.

From the onset, with the entrancing “Dumbest Girl Alive," continuing with "757" and "Hollywood Baby" the duo set the energy bar sky-high. Their stage presence – Laura’s wild thrashes and Dylan’s power stances – coupled with their impeccably rendered vocals, mirrored the meticulous yet chaotic nature of their studio recordings.

Yet, it wasn't just their on-stage dynamism that left an impression. The larger-than-life streaming visuals ensured fans from every corner of the venue felt the intimacy of their performance. Disturbingly memorable visuals – like the nightmarish twisting teeth during “I Got My Tooth Removed” or the animated frogs for “Frog on the Floor” – underscored the duo’s love for the quirky and unexpected.

Not ones to rely solely on their latest tracks from "10,000 gecs", the pair expertly navigated their extensive discography, thrilling fans with classics like “Money Machine” and “800db Cloud”. The unexpected treat was the unreleased remix of “xXXi_wud_nvrstøp_ÜXXx”, hinting at more innovation in the wings.

The encore, featuring the iconic “bloodstains” from their debut EP and “gec 2 Ü”, encapsulated what makes 100 gecs so magnetic: their ability to blend the irreverent with the groundbreaking.

While the duo's eclectic style may be polarizing for some, the Chicago concert proved that 100 gecs isn’t just a fleeting sensation but a powerful force shaping the future of music. Their performance at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom wasn't just a concert; it was an immersive experience that melded music, visuals, and raw energy into an unforgettable evening.

Find out more about 100 gecs on their website or stream on Apple Music or Spotify.