November 8, 2016 was a weird day. November 8, 2016 was a dark day. November 8, 2016 was also just like most days - I saw live music.
The day began innocently enough. I voted then went to work and it seemed like we might be on the verge of finally electing a woman to run shit...but as the day went on, I couldn’t shake this feeling that we might be fucked.
As watching the news that evening went from surreal to thoroughly depressing, my friend and I briefly considered staying in to watch the results thud across the screen. After a few more minutes it was clear how horrid an idea that was, so we set off to noted happyplace(/cocktail bar/venue/gallery/record label/etc) @whistlerchicago to see Swiss trio Schnellertollermeier.
Inside we found a handful of other antsy people who thought that liquor and odd time signatures were a better idea than watching the train wreck unfold in real time. The band began and eased into a mathy hypnotic zone, people were drinking and nodding along. We would get through this...right?
By the start of the second jam however it became clear that we were, in fact, fucked. For the next ~20 minutes people checked their phones, quietly chatted, stared idly into the questionable future...and eventually paid attention as those three brave foreigners threw the fuck down, trying their best to overpower and distract with every twist/turn. It worked, at least for me.
Schnellertollermeier ended the set with two killer brand new tunes and I had successfully avoided cable news for an hour/a few drinks. I later found myself at the bar with the guitarist and felt compelled to apologize for the “weird night.” I didn’t really know who I was apologizing on behalf of (everyone?), but it seemed like the move. Dude said it was fine...just kinda odd for their first ever show in the US.
You read that correctly - their first show in this massive, occasionally excellent, country was November 8, 2016.
I realize I blather a lot on here about how live music more or less keeps me sane, but it’s the damn truth and that shitass evening was no exception.
So without further adieu...here’s Schnellertollermeier’s debut gig in the US, recorded the night we fucked up.
Schnellertollermeier
11.8.2016 @ The Whistler
Chicago, IL
Rights
Round
[untitled]
[untitled]
Manuel Troller - Guitar
Andi Schnellmann - Bass
David Meier - Drums
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