Concert Review
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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By Dave Miller
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My eyes bugged out when I came across the Northalsted Market Days lineup and saw Cherie Currie on it. As a longtime fan of the Runaways (with bootlegs on cassette to prove it), I was thrilled. I never even entertained the thought that I'd ever have a chance to see her. She hadn't toured since she fronted the legendary all-girl band in the 1970s.
X
But it wasn't long before I started feeling apprehensive about the opportunity. What if the show sucked? The odds are against anyone being any good after not performing for decades. The last thing I wanted to see was a rock revolutionary reduced to an embarrassment.
X
Ha, silly me.
X
Currie blew my fears to smithereens from the moment she stepped on the festival stage early Saturday evening. She tore into the Runaways' "American Nights" in glorious rock voice with confidence. Looking and sounding better than anyone had a right to considering all she went through during her Runaways days as well as the long layoff that would have rendered many performers impotent, Currie commanded the stage with assertive authority while backed by a serviceable band of young guns that included her son, Jake Hays, on guitar.
X
It wasn't so much that Currie performed as much as let rock and roll course through her veins. Every hip thrust, head sway, arm wave and fist punch came naturally. For all the raunch inhabiting the Runaways sound, Currie also worked the stage with an innocence, her strides often breaking into mini-hops to the beat like a little girl. Flashing smiles as wide as the Chicago River, she was excited to be in the city for the first time since the Runaways played here in 1977 -- on a bill I later learned included the Ramones at the Aragon. "My mother was born here," Currie said. "My heart belongs in Chicago."
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While the Runaways were bigger in Japan than in America with many here wrongly dismissing the teenaged girl group as merely jailbait in the '70s, there's no denying Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford and the late Sandy West were pioneers as girls breaking barriers by showing they could rock with the boys. Beyond that influence, the music not only holds up, but has increased in stature over the years even if the band hasn't played since breaking up in 1979. "Cherry Bomb" is the group's big bang. Currie singing, "Hello daddy, hello mom, I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!" is an iconic statement in rock history. "The Runaways fucking rock," Currie said proudly. "I gave up on the Runaways, but the fans kept them alive...I'm so blessed to be able to sing for you after 40 years."
X
In addition to singing a handful of Runaways songs, Currie also covered "Rock & Roll" by the Velvet Underground, "Roxy Roller" by Sweeney Todd and "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie. She showed off her t-shirt featuring a picture of the latter and gave props to Bowie. "Got to pay homage to my hero," Currie said. "If it wasn't for David Bowie I wouldn't have been spit. I saw him on the Diamond Dogs Tour and that was it."
X
The show was short, clocking in at 33 minutes, but that can be written off to Currie's long layoff and her makeshift band simply not ready to play more. Currie has called the tour a hello and goodbye, and immediately after ending with "Cherry Bomb" she met with a large group of fans off to the side of the stage, happily signing autographs and taking pictures with everyone who wanted them.
X
From here, a goodbye would be premature. Currie is an electric lead singer. It's promising to hear that Currie has recorded, of all things, a Christmas song with Ford, and they've talked about doing some shows together. That leaves Jett as the last piece of the puzzle to a Runaways reunion, which seemingly remains a complicated possibility. Jett has never embraced the idea, and for some reason, her manager, Kenny Laguna, has thus far flexed his contractual muscle and inexplicably shelved a new solo album Currie recorded under his management in 2010 that Currie wants released. Matt Sorum produced the album, which contains contributions from Billy Corgan, The Veronicas, Juliette Lewis, Slash and Duff McKagan.
X
I don't know what the chances are for a Runaways reunion, but I do know two things: I want to hear more from Currie and she should be heard more.
X
X
The setlist:
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American Nights
You Wreck Me
Rock & Roll
Roxy Roller
Is It Day or Night?
C'mon
Rebel Rebel
Cherry Bomb
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Start: 6:28 p.m./Finish: 7:01 p.m.
Totals: Eight songs, 33 minutes
XX
X
Photo Gallery
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Zo
By Dave Miller
X
My eyes bugged out when I came across the Northalsted Market Days lineup and saw Cherie Currie on it. As a longtime fan of the Runaways (with bootlegs on cassette to prove it), I was thrilled. I never even entertained the thought that I'd ever have a chance to see her. She hadn't toured since she fronted the legendary all-girl band in the 1970s.
X
But it wasn't long before I started feeling apprehensive about the opportunity. What if the show sucked? The odds are against anyone being any good after not performing for decades. The last thing I wanted to see was a rock revolutionary reduced to an embarrassment.
X
Ha, silly me.
X
Currie blew my fears to smithereens from the moment she stepped on the festival stage early Saturday evening. She tore into the Runaways' "American Nights" in glorious rock voice with confidence. Looking and sounding better than anyone had a right to considering all she went through during her Runaways days as well as the long layoff that would have rendered many performers impotent, Currie commanded the stage with assertive authority while backed by a serviceable band of young guns that included her son, Jake Hays, on guitar.
X
It wasn't so much that Currie performed as much as let rock and roll course through her veins. Every hip thrust, head sway, arm wave and fist punch came naturally. For all the raunch inhabiting the Runaways sound, Currie also worked the stage with an innocence, her strides often breaking into mini-hops to the beat like a little girl. Flashing smiles as wide as the Chicago River, she was excited to be in the city for the first time since the Runaways played here in 1977 -- on a bill I later learned included the Ramones at the Aragon. "My mother was born here," Currie said. "My heart belongs in Chicago."
X
While the Runaways were bigger in Japan than in America with many here wrongly dismissing the teenaged girl group as merely jailbait in the '70s, there's no denying Currie, Joan Jett, Lita Ford and the late Sandy West were pioneers as girls breaking barriers by showing they could rock with the boys. Beyond that influence, the music not only holds up, but has increased in stature over the years even if the band hasn't played since breaking up in 1979. "Cherry Bomb" is the group's big bang. Currie singing, "Hello daddy, hello mom, I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!" is an iconic statement in rock history. "The Runaways fucking rock," Currie said proudly. "I gave up on the Runaways, but the fans kept them alive...I'm so blessed to be able to sing for you after 40 years."
X
In addition to singing a handful of Runaways songs, Currie also covered "Rock & Roll" by the Velvet Underground, "Roxy Roller" by Sweeney Todd and "Rebel Rebel" by David Bowie. She showed off her t-shirt featuring a picture of the latter and gave props to Bowie. "Got to pay homage to my hero," Currie said. "If it wasn't for David Bowie I wouldn't have been spit. I saw him on the Diamond Dogs Tour and that was it."
X
The show was short, clocking in at 33 minutes, but that can be written off to Currie's long layoff and her makeshift band simply not ready to play more. Currie has called the tour a hello and goodbye, and immediately after ending with "Cherry Bomb" she met with a large group of fans off to the side of the stage, happily signing autographs and taking pictures with everyone who wanted them.
X
From here, a goodbye would be premature. Currie is an electric lead singer. It's promising to hear that Currie has recorded, of all things, a Christmas song with Ford, and they've talked about doing some shows together. That leaves Jett as the last piece of the puzzle to a Runaways reunion, which seemingly remains a complicated possibility. Jett has never embraced the idea, and for some reason, her manager, Kenny Laguna, has thus far flexed his contractual muscle and inexplicably shelved a new solo album Currie recorded under his management in 2010 that Currie wants released. Matt Sorum produced the album, which contains contributions from Billy Corgan, The Veronicas, Juliette Lewis, Slash and Duff McKagan.
X
I don't know what the chances are for a Runaways reunion, but I do know two things: I want to hear more from Currie and she should be heard more.
X
X
The setlist:
X
American Nights
You Wreck Me
Rock & Roll
Roxy Roller
Is It Day or Night?
C'mon
Rebel Rebel
Cherry Bomb
X
Start: 6:28 p.m./Finish: 7:01 p.m.
Totals: Eight songs, 33 minutes
XX
X
Photo Gallery
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Zo
Photo Gallery
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Zo
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Zo
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Zo
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Zo
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
Cherie Currie
August 10, 2013 @ Northalsted Market Days
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