The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

 

By Dave Miller

 

As the Handcuffs headed into the midnight hour Friday at Beat Kitchen, lead singer Chloe F. Orwell flipped her Gibson guitar and held it in front of her. The backside revealed an arrow pointing straight at the new member of the band, lead guitarist Susie "Q" Winn.

 

If you haven't seen the Handcuffs with Winn, then you haven't seen the Handcuffs. It hasn't taken long for Winn to make her presence felt. She puts the dirty in the glam band's glitter with her raunchy riffs and rock attitude. The 'Cuffs are better for it. They've always delivered good live shows, but Winn gives them a sharper edge. Now Brad Elvis' big-beat drumming has a strong counterbalance onstage.

 

If you saw Winn play when she was in the Wanton Looks, you might be surprised to hear her expansive playing in the 'Cuffs. She was clearly minding her musical place in the Wanton Looks as the group's rhythm guitarist. Now she has a license to unleash her playing as a lead guitarist. In the 'Cuffs first Chicago show since Winn came on board, she not only flashed her playing prowess, but she moved around the stage and engaged everyone in the band, and her bandmates responded.

 

The set included the usual highlights such as "Dirty Glitter," "Jet Baby" and "Everybody Waves Hello." Nuggets included the brand new "Love Me While You Can" whose invitation came to life thanks to Orwell's singing, Alison Hinderliter's keys and Winn's guitar, a reworked, shifting "I'm Not Laughing," and Orwell's Jagger-like "ooh oohs" on "Jet Baby." The only complaint is they played less than an hour. Such is life on a four-band bill.

 

These are exciting times for the Handcuffs. They've been recording a new album and hope to release it by the end of the year. With the addition of Winn, the band's best days are ahead of it.

 

The setlist:

 

Miss You on Tuesday

Love Me While You Can

Kiss This Goodbye

I'm Not Laughing

Everybody Waves Hello

Pretty Pretty

Dirty Glitter

All the Way from Memphis

Gotta' Problem with Me?

Jet Baby

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God is Sure One Funny Girl

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Start: 11:42 p.m./Finish: 12:28 a.m.

Totals: 11 songs, 46 minutes

 

 

Photo Gallery

The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen

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The Handcuffs

June 14, 2013 @ Beat Kitchen