The Chamber Strings live

The Chamber Strings
Double Door, Chicago
Saturday, January 20, 2007

Those wondering if The Chamber Strings have lost a step since their last gig are missing the point. Seeing how founder Kevin Junior was literally scrounging for heroin from a cardboard box in an L.A. slum quite recently, Saturday’s reunion wasn’t about gelling or marketing new songs — it was about affirmation. They say you gotta walk before you run; this weekend’s exercise was about balancing on two legs.

While not the majestic, backed-by-string-section quintet who filled the Metro nearly six years ago, the version of The Chamber Strings who crept into “Flashing Star” retained the gentle, AM radio glow that made their two studio albums so irresistible. A slight bite seethed through the “I’m watching you” chorus as the lanky, Ron Wood-ish Junior appeared nervous at first. (His pent-up energy would later resurface in a series of “Whoo!”s.)

But as the band — Tim Fowler (guitar), Anthony Illarde (drums), Carolyn Engelmann (piano), and Jason Walker (bass) — settled and found a way to eradicate the reverby rattle plaguing their rhythm, Junior seemed to grow in appreciation of the eyes upon him and dropped hints of swagger. The new songs from a forthcoming album weren’t quite on par with “The Fool Sings Without Any Song,” “I Can’t Lose,” or “Last Lovers,” though their familiar, George Harrison-meets-Big Star approach clearly showed Junior’s fondness for Beatlesesque pop hasn’t waned.

The titles of both the band’s albums — Gospel Morning and Month Of Sundays — are references to a previous night’s (or day’s or month’s or year’s) mistakes and indulgences. The Chamber Strings, with their history of choosing the wrong record label and tendency to implode, aren’t out of the woods yet. But once they get this “standing” thing down pat, at least they’ll have the opportunity to move forward again, something that wasn’t there but three years ago.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Live Reviews, Weekly