The Arrivals and The Brokedowns helped a jampacked Reggie’s Rock Club crowd close out 2022 and ring in the new year. They were supported by Time Thieves, and a collective of musicians calling themselves C.O.M.A. for this specific event. There was sparkling wine, goofy New Year’s swag on fans, terrific performances, and a bit of Auld Lang Syne.
The Arrivals is a pretty good band name to have as a headliner for welcoming the arrival of the New Year. Of course, the Chicago quartet, comprised of “Little Dave” Merriman, Isaac Thotz, Patrick Costello, and Ronni Dicola is not good in name only. In fact, they are pretty damn good and have been for a long time.
Merriman and his wife Lyndsey Anne Wollenberg-Merriman welcomed their first child, a daughter named Josephine, earlier in the year so 2022 was already one for his memory books. He told me post-show:
“It was the best one [year] yet“
The Arrivals helped add another entry in the memory books for those in attendance as well. Merriman described the event:
“The show was a hell of a lot of fun and all the bands were great.”
Leading the crowd with Auld Lang Syne as the clock struck midnight, the band then launched into a set including, “Two Years,” “I’m Sorry For Saying I’m Sorry,” “The Ballad Of Lon Stokes,” “Elise,” and “Last Lullaby.”
Chicago’s The Brokedowns finished their set shortly before the midnight hour, meaning they were the last band to play Reggie’s in 2022. So it was especially important that the band members Jon Balun, Kris Megyery, Eric Grossmann, and Mustafa Daka make it an unforgettable performance. They Brokedowns delivered with a frenzied set which included “Wizard Symptoms,” “I’m A Ritual,” “Life Is A Breeze,” “Pardon The Light,” and “Born On The Bayou Too.”
Mustafa Daka reflected on the show, not quite a fortnight later, and the meaning it held for him:
“The NYE show was very special to me because we all loved The Arrivals for more than 20 years and have lots of great memories touring with them and watching them play amazing sets night after night, especially at Fest! And all the bands were amazing and we’re all friends and friendly, it was a blast! To start the early hours of 2023 playing a show like that and with all the people there, I’m hoping for a year of fun and creativity! And travel!”
C.O.M.A. (Christy, Orion, Monica, and Austin) is actually a collective of two solo singers, Monica LaPlante, and Christy Costello, and their bandmates in Extraterrestrials, Orion Treon and Austin Cecil. All three acts are from Minneapolis and play in each other’s bands.
For their set, the musicians rotated the three identities, and in the combinations, performed “VCR Guy” (Extraterrestrials), “Compression” (Monica LaPlante), “Uranium Baby” (Christy Costello), among others. It was a unique and fun way to introduce themselves to Chicago.
Time Thieves is from Chicago and is comprised of Jonathan Pool, Tim Reynolds, Annie Saunders, and Mike Oberlin. The band played a more than solid set which included “Road,” “Night,” Message,” “Flicker Of Light,” and a lovely cover of the INXS classic “Don’t Change.” It was an enjoyable start to a night meant to mark the end of the year.
Check out more photos from the celebration!
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