Show Review: Desmond Jones and The Hacky Turtles

Alycia Grace January 12, 2018 0

When I entered into the Tonic Room I immediately found myself between a cheerful, captivated crowd and the opening band for the evening, The Hacky Turtles. As a newbie to the Chicago music scene, I was enthraled by the personality of the place . The low, “L” shaped stage hugged the front window of the building and wrapped around the adjacent wall, right up to the bar corner. Centered above the bar was a framed sheet of paper that read ” Wagon Wheel” with a thick sharpy line through it. Posters of future and past bands covered the rest of the walls. I was home.

The Hacky Turtles started off last Saturday evening with high energy. The good-natured band of Marc Kanitz on Vocals/Bass , Austin Spencer on Guitar/Potato, Alex Rushlow on Guitar/Zucchini and Erik Krueger on Drums/Vocals is based in Chicago with roots in Traverse City, Michigan. The band brings a taste of folk, funk and rock to the stage and describe themselves on their website by saying,

“They are the brothers of the lake water, notorious tamers of the tapping toe, wranglers of the funky feet movers, minions of the night and embracers of the day”.

Fun loving smiles were slapped on each members face as they played their hearts out for the dancers swinging each other around on the floor. The band wrapped up their set with a banjo and just the right amount of cowbell.

Desmond Jones took to the stage next. Chicago was the third stop on the bands tour and the first one outside of Michigan. The band members attended college together at Michigan State University and had their first show in 2012. In 2017, they released their first studio recorded album, self titled “Desmond Jones” and kicked off 2018 with a tour. The band consists of John Nowak, Isaac Berkowitz, Chris Bota, John Loria, Caleb Elzinga and George Falk.

As the show went underway, the crowd got more and more friendly. Long time friends and fans of the band shouted for “Dirty Mike and the Boyz”, the bands former name, between tracks. The intimate space allowed all the energy to bounce back and forth between the band and audience.

For saxophonist, Caleb Elzinga, this was his first time playing in Chicago. Elzinga plays with the group on occasion, especially if Falk is unable to attend. He shared how he had always heard to the infamous Tonic Room and looked forward to playing there. Upon conclusion of the show, it wasn’t a large stage or fancy lighting that made the venue a Chicago gold mine, it was the feeling of intimacy and being one with the crowd.

Drummer and lead vocals, John Nowak, described the feeling as “home away from home”. The band commonly finds a good amount of support in the large city, only about three hours away from their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Their catchy lyrics and melodic mix of folk and funk tunes left everyone cheering for an encore, which the band happily obliged too. They wrapped up their set with tracks “Good Song” and “Sylvia” then said good night.

The groups next three stop on their tour will be in Ohio and then bouncing down to Tennessee. To find out where else Desmond Jones is going and to get “Good Song” stuck in your head for days straight, check out the bands Facebook page.