Concert Captures: Dada

THE GIG: Dada

THE PLACE: Park West Chicago

THE DATE: June 15, 2024

Dada was one of those bands that snuck up on me. I got a kick out of their tune “Dizz Knee Land” (from the album Puzzle) when I heard it on alternative radio in the nineties. But the follow-up single, “Dim,” was the tune that hooked me.

The song contains one of my favorite song lyrics. “Can’t this car go any faster/‘Cause I can still see where I am.” I’ve always been able to relate to that. So, I went ahead and bought the album. That’s when I heard a third song I liked even better than the first two called “Posters.” It was just good old fashioned rock and roll. “Dorina,” the album’s opening track, also wormed its way into my musical consciousness. Puzzle rapidly became one of my favorite albums of the nineties.

Alas, I never got a chance to see Dada live. I’m sure they visited near me, but this is before I realized I could go to concerts by myself. Lucky for me, Dada paid a visit to Chicago, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Puzzle. I’m in!

The show was at Park West, a Chicago venue I had yet to visit. So, this was a bonus! As always, I got there stupid early so I could get up front. Once again, I was leaning on the stage.

Dada puts on a terrific no-frills show. They came to rock and that’s exactly what they did. Guitarist Michael Gurley made repeated trips to the edge of the stage, making the most of his instrumental talents. I was close enough to him that the headstock of his guitar came within six inches of my head at least three times. Works for me!

My apologies to Phil Leavitt. I was at a tough angle and couldn’t get a good shot.

I even got to lend Michael a hand when his guitar cable snagged on his effects pedalboard as he walked backward toward his amplifiers. I was divided on whether or not to reach out since you should NEVER cross the invisible barrier between fan and musician. But I knew this would end badly if I didn’t do anything. So, I reached out and freed the cable.

And I thought I used a lot of effects pedals.

I braced myself for Michael’s irritation, because he saw me fix the cable. Instead, I got a sly smile and a nod of gratitude. I returned the gesture and things went forward. When the song ended, Michael came to the front of the stage, stood in front of me, and handed me the guitar pick he had been using. Cool! (It’s also one of the picks I’ve used over my time as a guitarist. Go figure.)

At times the band was so close they actually seemed to be *behind* me!

Anyway, I got to hear all my favorite tunes along with some others I didn’t remember. It was a terrific show. And I got to hear all my favorite tunes! There’s not much more for me to add, so enjoy a few more photos from a magical night! All of them were taken with my iPhone.