By Dave Miller

The Wanton Looks gave further evidence during a short weeknight concert why they're not your average rock band.

After playing for a half hour in a free show Tuesday night at LiveWire Lounge, the Wanton Looks wrapped up their set with a surprise. Instead of leaving the couple dozen people, who came to see them at the converted Polish bar where the bartender did double duty as the soundman, with a big finish, the band threw a curveball at the diehard rockers in attendance. It played a new song, "This Night Alone," a departure from the rest of the rock blast of a set. The new tune sounds like a modern version of a 1950s song. You might not guess it from the band's usual rock-and-sock-'em sonics, but lead singer Traci Trouble is a fan of rock and roll's big bang era.

"This Night Alone" was a nice change of pace and a worthy addition to the band's repertoire, though in the future it would be better served in a spot earlier in the setlist. That the band ended with it was an intriguing twist. It was just another example of how the Wanton Looks are compelling in everything they do onstage. A new song, "Cut Off," was a highlight with Trouble's singing and cathartic wailing. "Demons," a contender for the band's best song, was a thrill ride powered by drummer Meg Thomas' rapid-fire rumbling. Guitarists Inga Olson and Susie Q continue to play tougher and more aggressive, a welcomed progression.

A buzz is growing about the band. Chicago Tribune critic Greg Kot has written about the Wanton Looks a couple times and they've made a couple radio appearances, the latest one on Vocalo 89.5 FM the day after their LiveWire performance. Not bad for a band that hasn't even released an album yet. Trouble had lofty aspirations when forming the all-female group. "It was pretty much to just do something great that hasnt' been done in Chicago really, at least (not) for a very long time," she said on Vocalo.

An album is finally coming. The mastering of the band's debut CD was completed a couple weeks ago. The artwork is being finalized now. Look for the album to be released soon, either by the end of the year or at a Valentine's Day show booked at the Double Door. It promises to be worth the wait.

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The setlist:

Electromagnetic Force

Get Thru To You

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Demons

Cut Off

Neverending

See You Again

This Night Alone

Start: 10:32 p.m./Finish: 11:04 a.m.

Totals: eight songs, 32 minutes

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The Wanton Looks

November 1, 2011 @ LiveWire

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