Bad Copy

I’ll admit it, I missed the Blood Brothers reunion tour in 2024. Not because I didn’t know about it… but because I was too sick to get out of bed and make it to the shows. I was crushed. I will never forgive my immune system for forsaking me. That is, until this year when my IG algorithm offered up something I actually was interested in for once, a new band called Evil Island. They are more supergroup than band really. The lineup consists of Blood Brothers veterans Johnny Whitney, Cody Votolato (vocals, guitar), and Mark Gajadhar (drums) along with Autry René Fulbright II on bass (OFF!, … And You Will Know Us By the Train of Dead) and ex-Glassjaw guitarist Todd Weinstock. As I said, supergroup.

From the moment “Tiger Baby,” the band’s first track crackled through my shitty iPhone speakers, I was hooked. The band steadily released a track every few months from May through August when they released their debut full-length album, Terraform the Afterlife. They announced a tour with very limited dates and cities, and I knew I had to go.

I strolled in to Lincoln Hall as Ms. Bvll Heather wrapped up their first song. Going to shows in Chicago is so bittersweet. I get introduced to new bands and artists which I love, but I also get upset because I stumble upon someone great somewhere down the line and I wish I knew about them since their very first show. This was one of those groups. Their live show was fucking incredible. Each member of the band radiated energy and you could literally see the crowd giving it right back to them. It’s a mix of new wave, glam, punk, and about a million other things, all wrapped up in a guitar solos and catchy beats you can jump around to. You will see me at one of your shows again soon. I am sold!

Next up was local Chicago hardcore band Snuffed. The four piece is known for their blend of hardcore and raw punk. They’re the kind of band that thrives on urgency rather than polish. The band needed no big production or fancy theatrics to solidify their stage presence. They just turned their amps and their energy up to 11 and let their raw intensity take over. Guttural screams and pacing and wailing guitars lead the set as heavy basslines and solid drumming framed each song. Heavy, loud, hardcore. Perfect.

By the time that Evil Island was set to play, the room had filled, pushing those of us standing near the stage even closer. Cody came out onstage and passed out stickers to everyone and anyone who wanted one. Got mine! The band took the stage and launched into their debut single, “Tiger Baby.” The crowd exploded into a moshing, messy, screaming heap of humans. Then Johnny rocketed off the stage. Arms shot up into the air to support him and carry him back to the stage. It happened over and over again; there was practically a crowd surf from a band member if not a crowd member on every song. The energy of the room never died down.

So… what do you do when you’re a relatively new band (supergroup) who just released their debut album? You play the whole thing, of course. The setlist consisted of 14 songs, 13 of them are on Terraform the Afterlife. The one remaining song was a cover of the Misfit’s “Halloween,” but the band instead sang it as “Evil-ween.” The crowd picked up on it quick and sang along until the end.

Of course there are undeniable audible similarities to The Blood Brothers. How could there not be? But Evil Island’s live show just hits so much differently. The whole set felt like a dance party, song after song, hit after hit, with just enough chaos to keep everyone on their toes. Their second single, “Animal,” has an almost cheerleader-like quality live, while “Termantrixxx” practically demands a mosh pit or, at the very least, some aggressive headbanging. “Moonlight Doomlight” is nearly anthemic enough to require hands in the air during the vocal slide in the chorus. Each Evil Island song is dynamic and distinct while still sharing enough DNA to tie the whole thing together. It’s a difficult balance to strike, but Evil Island makes it feel effortless. It’s a feat that only industry vets could pull off and it was a beautiful thing to stand back (somewhere outside of the very active circle pit) and watch in action.

The older I get, the more that I am finding that I need a different kind of show to fuel me. I no longer can go out to 5-7 shows a week, some mid, some great, just as a way to sponge up as much live music as I can handle. Because my show attendance is fewer and further between, I need each one to hit and last. From the moment I walked into the venue and caught Ms. Bvll Heather through the last ringing notes of the Evil Island setlist, I was floored. The room was chaotic and energizing. The bands were phenomenal. The fans were super nice. It was exactly what I show should be, just all in all fucking epic.

Check out my photos below: