Shake It For Grandma at the Empty Bottle

Now this is going to be an awesome show.
Shake It For Grandma, my favorite crazy-shiny-dancey electro-unicorns, are FINALLY playing at the Empty Bottle tomorrow. I'll be there, dancing in a shimmering jumpsuit.
In case you haven't heard them, click here to hear their latest EP, Delirium Tremendous. You really don't want to miss the live show.
Cover is $8, but if you RSVP here, it's free.

(Did I mention I'll be dancing in a jumpsuit?)

Love & Radiation, Home Body, and Architecture open. Show starts at 9pm.

Shake it for Grandma

In an undisclosed Chicago loft on Saturday night, Shake it for Grandma suited up for their show. They were the last of four acts - The Bomb Sawyers, Bob and Barbara Cobra, and Architecture had already graced the stage, while our heroes, being deemed the danciest, waited it out until late at night.

I, dear readers, had been called upon to join them.  I soon found myself covered in neon face paint, zipped into a shiny blue jumpsuit, preparing myself to dance like I was from outer space.

Your neon warrior narrator and Ian Reynold of Shake it for Grandma

My fellow dancer and I hid in the wings until our cue, and then burst out dancing as Ian and Ashley tore off their clothes to reveal shiny orange jumpsuits underneath.  Half the audience seemed shocked and put off by the display - the other half laughed and danced along. We drew lipstick symbols on peoples' faces - we danced with them - we gave them glowsticks.

Like I said before, Shake it for Grandma is an experience that's best enjoyed live. The performance is planned and executed with a vision in mind, a vision that changes and evolves with each new show.  It's meant to blur the line between audience and performers, which makes some people uncomfortable.

It's not for everyone, but it's safe to say that no one who was there, whether they loved it or hated it, will forget Shake it for Grandma's performance.

Shake it for Grandma - Delirium Tremendous

How does one even begin to try to use words to attempt to vaguely explain Shake it for Grandma?  It's impossible.  Here is a picture instead:

Ashley Wylde and Ian Reynold

The Chicago synth sunshine duo just released their new EP, Delirium Tremendous, and its four tracks are wildly danceable (which is my favorite thing) and completely insane (which is my other favorite thing).
Shake it for Grandma is the musical project of Ian Reynold and Ashley Wylde.  They majored in classical guitar and percussion, respectively, and it comes across in the EP.  No shoddy musicianship here. They know what they're doing, which is why it's really refreshing that they took their musical training in this creative direction.

Make sure you read the lyrics included with each track. They're an insane mix of witty wordplay and irreverent insanity.  At points the lyrics get too crude for my tastes, and sometimes I can't help but wonder if they are trying a bit too hard to cause a stir (all the sacrilegious banter, etc.).

NEVERTHELESS,
I love them.

I think that Shake it for Grandma is best enjoyed live, so keep your ears open for their next show.  This group knows what it means to perform, not just get up onstage and play songs and mumble into a microphone.  Shiny jumpsuits and feather boas are just two things that you can look forward to.

Download their EP here.