The Tidbit

A few weeks ago when getting ready for bed, Keegan said, “Hey, I wanna show you this cool music video.” He went to his YouTube history and clicked on something titled “Famously Alive” by Guerilla Toss, and the screen transformed to a fast-paced and vibrant video featuring a woman traipsing the streets of Hollywood. 

The music and the visuals somehow felt both very 1990s and futuristic. I have to admit, I was a little tired so I pretty much just went, “yeah, that was cool,” and fell asleep. 

Some days later, Keegan told me Guerilla Toss was coming to Chicago and that he really wanted to go. I said I’d give them more of a listen and go to the show with him.

And, I’m so glad I did.

I quickly felt the power of their groove listening to their music on Spotify, and slowly learned some of the lyrics – enough that I’d be able to sing along at the show. When show night came, Keeg and I first stopped at Bacci’s for the biggest slice of pizza I’ve ever eaten and the best cannoli I’ve ever tasted.

We then went to the venue – Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village – and found our bearings. The first thing Keegan saw was the merch table, and he decided to go buck wild. We just happened to walk up to the table as the band’s lead singer, Kassie Carlson, was approaching, so we had the chance to chat with her a bit before the show. She was very kind and patiently listened to us rattle on about the music and her dog, Watley, who appears in some of the music videos. 

There were two openers for the show; local rapper Sharkula X Mukqs was the first to take the stage and blew everyone away with his sick rhyming abilities. He also had a great personality that kept everyone engaged.

Next up was Je’raf, a six-person band that blended ska, reggae, rap and pop. Their energy was unreal and we had a blast dancing to their unique sound. 

Finally, Guerilla Toss came up and, despite a few technical difficulties with the venue’s sound, they delivered one of the tightest performances I’ve ever seen (and I duly use “tight” as a synonym for “cool” and a description of their execution in performing). You could tell they enjoy their music, and the crowd did as well. 

I’ve since listened to and learned a lot more of their music, and even stuck a GToss/Watley sticker to the back of my phone case.

I’m fully on board.

And, I’m thrilled Keegan got to finally see them after five years of being a fan.

I’d certainly recommend checking them out. In addition to the newest album, “Famously Alive,” here are some cool tracks to check out:

“Can I Get the Real Stuff”

“Plants”

“Betty Dreams of Green Men”

“367 Equalizer.”