Hardcore punk supergroup OFF! played a short stint of farewell shows to promote their studio album and movie of the same name Free LSD. Stopping in Chicago, New York City, and still to come in Los Angeles, consider yourself lucky if you manage to attend one of these legendary shows. If not, do not fret, we got you covered. Check out our recap of their first stop in Chicago on July 18th at Lincoln Hall!
Chicago’s own moody art-rock band FACS stepped in to open the show after Shellac was originally slated on the bill. Those are not easy shoes to fill but FACS did an amazing job, even dedicating a song to Steve Albini.
According to their Sub Pop Records page, “Chicago band FACS was formed in 2017 by Brian Case, Noah Leger, and Jonathan van Herik, following the dissolution of their previous band Disappears. Informed by stark rhythms, space, and minimal arrangements, the group has recorded five albums of dubby and dreamy art rock through the lens of 21st century Chicago. Named after the catalog numbering system for Factory Records, with a nod to present day facial action coding systems, FACS marries the energy and ideas immediately following the disintegration of punk with the uncertainty and tension of the modern world.”
Before OFF! starts, Keith Morris enters the stage, taping up a mile-long set list that could have been written on a CVS receipt. Great news for fans to see such a stacked set list.
Despite a rocky start with some guitar amp issues, attendees were unfazed and waited patiently while other band members played some jazzy music till everything was fixed. OFF! brought it right back from the start and it was like nothing ever happened.
A sea of people was constantly moshing, jumping, and enthralled to be a part of this sold-out show. During breaks in their set Keith Morris did spoken word, talking about the political climate, the strange times we are in and Free LSD.
Besides the kick-ass album we get an equally kick-ass movie. Now, I will not get into too much detail about it because we have some awesome Dying Sceners who are reviewing it, but here is a brief synopsis:
“Elderly sex shop owner, Keith, falls for a younger customer, but struggles with performance. Seeking help from a strange doctor, he discovers an experimental drug leading to renewed vitality and a journey into a parallel universe where he’s a rock star targeted by an advanced AI set on stopping his band’s album, crucial for human consciousness awakening.”
The punk rock comedic sci-fi movie is directed by OFF!’s Dimitri Coats and features performances by David Yow (Jesus Lizard), Davey Havok (AFI) and many others.
If you find yourself in California, you can see an advanced screening of Free LSD with a Q&A; you can also pre-order to stream on Apple TV.
Check out all the photos from the unforgettable Chicago performance below!