Ice Palace, Say Hi and Cloud Cult drew a big crowd to the Bluebird last night. Ice Palace seems much edgier live. They got the crowd amped with the energetic "Thoughts/Facts." Cloud Cult drummer Arlen got on stage with them to play tambourine and sing.

Say Hi (Eric Elbogen has a curly mini-fro and beard now!) played songs new ("Maurine," after someone kept shouting it out over and over!) and old ("Northwestern Girls.") A tiny group was moshing down next to drummer Alex Westcoat, who was thrashing on his kit even in the steamy room.

Cloud Cult put on a show. They've built up quite a following here after playing at Monolith Festival and some associated shows, and the crowd was singing along. Images were projected on a movie screen overhead, and the two painters started working on their canvases early while the music played. As is custom, the paintings were up for bid at the end of the show. Last I heard, bids for Connie's painting (melancholy portrait in pastels of two people with downcast eyes) were in the $200 range and bids for Scott West's blue and green figure with flaming red hair was about $500ish. So glad they played "Take Your Medicine."

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Meiko playing tonight 5/20 at the Walnut Room