Motoblot, the annual motorcycle-focused street festival in Chicago, continued its blast of rockabilly, punk, and rock ‘n’ roll on Saturday, June 25th. The festival featured seven bands that delivered the rock on an excellent outdoor stage next to Cobra Lounge. The crowd was treated to a mix of local and international acts that kept them entertained and energized throughout the day. The first band to kick off the event was The Bama Lamas. Unfortunately I was unable to arrive early enough to cover them this time. However, I’ve written about them in the past and they are a fantastic act. I definitely did myself a disservice in my tardiness.
Up second was Aweful, a gritty post-punk trio from Chicago. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them play at least 10 times now. Traci Trouble, Lucy Dekay, and Izzy Price all performed on point as I’ve come to expect. Aweful delivered a raw and powerful set that showcased their catchy hooks, snarling vocals, and punk attitude. They played all the old favorites as well as new tracks that will appear on their upcoming record. Their set was spiced up but not upstaged by the lineup of motorcycles in front of the stage, revving their engines to take a lap in the spirit of the festival. It was no surprise Aweful once again displayed that they are anything but awful (that was terrible, I apologize) and that they are one of the most exciting bands in Chicago right now.
Next up was Sabbatha, an all-female tribute band for Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and Dio. The band hails from Chicago as well and consists of four talented ladies who share a love for heavy metal legends. Sabbatha rocked the crowd with their faithful renditions of classics like “Bark at the Moon”, “Paranoid”, “Crazy Train”, and “Holy Diver”. It’s always interesting to hear familiar songs with a different voice, and their voice worked extremely well with their setlist. Justice was done to every song they played. Sabbatha impressed the audience with their skills and passion, and made everyone feel like they were witnessing the real deal.
The fourth band to take the stage was The Surfrajettes, a four-piece instrumental combo from Toronto, ON, Canada. The band charmed the crowd with their clever breed of reverb-drenched surf music. They also sported sky-high beehives, go-go boots, and eyeliner, completing a fitting, unified look and vibe. The Surfrajettes played songs from their debut LP Roller Fink, as well as some covers of surf classics. I admit I did not know the names of the covers, but the melodies were instantly recognizable. The band had the audience dancing and grooving to their fun, catchy tunes.
Up fifth was Tiger Sex, a wild and raucous punk rock band formed in Las Vegas but hailing from Cincinnati, OH. With Kelly’s voice leading the charge, Tiger Sex assaults their listeners with Kei on guitar and Troy on drums. The band unleashed their fierce and frenetic set that included songs like “I’m Not Your Baby”, “Bad Boy”, and “Tiger Walk”. Per usual, they had some antics on stage, such as Kelly bringing an audience member up to do their interpretation of the tiger walk dance. Later she brought Tracie from Aweful up to help her use a dirty old traffic cone off the street as a beer bong. Tiger Sex coated the stage with intense energy, giving everyone a wild ride. Not to be confined to the stage, Kelly brought the mic into the crowd showering the audience members with all of her intensity.
The second to last band of the fest was The Delta Bombers, a Las Vegas quartet that has been tearing up stages since 2008. The band pulled no punches with their high-octane blend of rockabilly, blues, and garage rock. They delivered a memorable selection of songs from their catalog spanning 14 years of recordings. The crowd devoured their energetic and charismatic showmanship, as the band radiated their vibrant breed of sonic power. All and all The Delta Bombers proved once again that they are one of the best rockabilly bands around
It is with further shame that this photographer was unable to stay for Supersuckers, but I have it on good authority they provided a commanding end to a fantastic lineup of bands. Day two of Motoblot 2023 was a spectacular day of music that showcased the diversity and quality of the bands that played. The festival was a celebration of the culture and lifestyle of riders, drivers, and spectators alike. It was another year to remember for everyone who attended.
Check out some photos from the day below. And Check out MerGold‘s coverage of day one here!
