Words and Photos by Emmie Sweeting
Seems like joint tours are the new thing! Last week, Peach Pit and Briston Maroney made a stop at Huntington Bank Pavilion in Chicago on their duo tour, “Long Hair, Long Life.” Both artists are indie pop artists who have been in the game since the mid 2010s. Peach Pit, a band with 4 members led by singer Neil Smith and lead guitarist Christopher Vanderkooy who were friends in high school and from there formed a band. Briston Maroney, a singer/songwriter who started with independent releases and was later signed by Atlantic Records.
Starting right at sunset, Maroney captured the audience’s attention immediately by running out on stage to his starting song, “Real Good Swimmer.” From there, he ran around, danced, and in a comical moment handed out a “winner winner chicken dinner.” Yes, he literally handed a real, roasted chicken on a platter with decorative vegetables to the most energetic fan in the crowd. Later he completed the meal with an apple juice to the same fan. He ended his set with a crowd favorite called, “Freakin Out On The Interstate.”
Peach Pit came out soon after to complete the double headline with a smooth and exciting set. Starting with a dramatic entrance with a spotlight on each member, the band sang, “Magpie.” The audience was completely enamored, jumping like crazy, cheering on every guitar solo, and singing every lyric. The band switched between loud rock songs to slow and moody songs, each time, fans going crazy. After the band exited the stage, the crowd roared for an encore, to which Smith came back to the stage alone. He started telling the story of how Peach Pit came to be, which led into playing the band’s namesake song, “Peach Pit.” While sweet, the story was also humorous as Smith explains he was embarrassed to ask Vanderkooy to start a band as teens. It took going to multiple shows together, a local festival, and a touch with “special substances” for the band to be formed.
Leaving fans wanting more, the band left the stage after finishing the show with a fan favorite called, “Tommy’s Party.” Overall, the two artists put on an excellent show that any fan of music would enjoy. Whether you’re someone who likes to be up close or drink in the back of the crowd, there is no bad seat at a Peach Pit and Briston Maroney concert.
Loudspeaker Collective 