*SOLD OUT* THE SOFT MOON with BOY HARSHER & THE PIRATE TWIN DJs
The Empty Bottle Chicago
Sat 3/31/18

The dark and hypnotic sounds from the one and only Luis Vasquez and his band the Soft Moon from the Empty Bottle in Chicago.
With Luis Vasquez and his band The Soft Moon- it’s a constant and dark battle to face your demons head on, and do justice to bring forth the anxiety and cathartic emotions of self hatred amicably.
Luis Vasquez does this in spades- not just from his past work, but even more so on his new release “Criminal”, which obviously brings him to Chicago’s Empty Bottle on this short and yet magnificent tour.
First off- how this guy and his band The Soft Moon aren’t more popular is insane.
Not only is Luis Vasquez so forward thinking in embracing all things Industrial and Dark Wave, he’s also a perfectionist when recording and yet playing his music live.
This is not mamby pamby fill in bleeps and swooshes where there’s empty space and such in the creation of these songs by Luis.
On the contrary- Luis Vasquez is clearly developing and producing a style that is all his own.
Surrounded by two competent musicians to help with the live sound are Luigi Pianezzola on Bass Guitar and Matteo Vallicelli on Drums.
They’ve been with Luis performing live for a couple of years now- and provide a hefty backbeat and punch that is unflinching and so in your face- which allows Luis to proceed accordingly with utter abandon.
This three piece rocks.
A special thank you to William Faith and Sarah Rose for turning me on toLuis Vasquez

and The Soft Moon back in the day.
These are two people who provided brilliant background music before / during and after the show- otherwise known as The Pirate Twins.
Augustus Muller and Jae Mathews of Boy Harsher opened the show-  a dark and eerie electronic duo who provide gritty and gnarly dance beats that make you swing with the pulsing synths.
Loved these two last year when they performed at Cold Waves in Chicago.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – Music Photographer