❖Bladee: Cold Visions Tour ❖Chicago 2024 Review
- Brenda Medrano
- Nov 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Thursday, October 24th, 2024 - BLADEE took the stage at the Morton Salt Shed Venue in Chicago. A rescheduled date on the artist's COLD VISIONS tour. I attended the concert and here are my thoughts:
Originally Scheduled for August 1st, 2024, this show was intended to be a Lollapalooza after-show. It was rescheduled due to Bladee, and his team, having some issues with clearing work visas to perform in the U.S... But fortunately for us Drainers, Bladee is known to love the intricacies of government documentation. Once this all got sorted, it was a go...
Ty and I arrived around 9pm, and met up with two friends who drove from Indiana for the weekend, Andrew and A.J.
The line wrapped around the front of the venue, but moved quickly. Entry was standard and once inside, the Salt Shed venue was spacious and vibrant. Well-organized, and easy access to the merchandise booth, bars, and bathrooms. It's the little things, but I appreciate them.
The crowd was pretty young, (or just younger than me lol- I'm 28), but definitely charged up with anticipation. I'm always fascinated by how his fans express their admiration through their outfits and accessories, decked out in dedication with the art works of current and past projects of his. The fits came in every color- as long as it was a shade of black. Sincerely, I appreciate fans that are authentically unapologetic in their dedication to aesthetic, music and self.
We found our way to the GA floor, and while I believe the show was sold out, it didn't seem entirely full. Regardless, a sizable crowd stood at the stage, hyped and ready.
Whitearmour's opening set lasted about one hour. Somehow through the mostly chill and euphoric melodies, at least five people were pulled from the crowd (something largely discussed amongst fans in the r/sadboys page). I can only speak on one of these instances: My group got pushed forward in the crowd- Not a huge deal, but when we turned around, there were two in attendance that may have truly checked out for a moment, if you know what I mean.
In a heavy lean on each other, the duo the floor and security quickly came for them. Weirdly, the only thing left the duo left behind was a wet, fat, copy of the book... Arabian Nights?
They' were fine, I saw them back in the crowd later...
The crowd was amped for Bladee, who respectively opened with Paranoia Intro, the debut track on the Cold Visions album. The crowd went hard in moments like when he performed: I Dont Wanna Hang Out into I Dont Like People into End of The Road Boyz, back-to-back. Red Cross and King Nothingg were also hype. At one point I saw a pair of pants flying through the air and over the crowd, which prompted some questions, but made me laugh, nonetheless. The lighting effects were a nice touch, complementing the ethereal vibes of his music while illuminating the grand industrial rafters of the historic Salt Shed's ceiling, above.
After the show, apparently Bladee came out to greet his fans. I was already long gone by then- I had a DrainTrain to catch to Uptown, and it was already pouring DrainRain.
Overall, I had a lot of fun. I loved the show and the Cold Visions album. It's chaotic, it's filthy, it's experimental and a monster of its own. The concert was a testament to Bladee’s growth as an artist. He successfully created a surreal experience that felt both personal and expansive. The combination of his unique sound, captivating visuals, and engaging performance made for a memorable night that I won't soon forget. If you have the chance to see him perform live, don’t miss it!
Bonus Photo: Here's a pic I took of Ty and some friends with Yung Lean. We Met him in Denver in 2018 outside of the BlueBird theatre, where he had a performance that evening. There was no mistaking him... Chucky-Red Hair and an oversized pinstripe pants, we just had a feeling....
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