ALGIERS- From Ribfest in Chicago
with an appearance from the performance group ONO
4000 N lincoln Ave Chicago
Saturday 6/9/18

Chicago’s favorite food and music festival turns a big 2-0 in 2018, and they booked the incendiary and galvanizing band from Atlanta Georgia: Algiers.
Fronted by Franklin James Fisher, Lead Vocalist / Keyboardist / Tamborine and Maraca Shaker badass if there ever was one, also with Ryan Mahan on Bass and Synths, Lee Tesche on Guitars and percussion on wounded guitars (have to see it to believe it), and also Matt Tong on Drums.
This band defines the word BAND.
To play at a Ribfest before the sun sets down, to a crowd gathered with their kids in strollers, a devoted few fans, and some people that obviously had been drinking since the gates opened at noon…well- you get the picture.
That the band didn’t give a crap about all that, and came out gloves off swinging to the rafters just shows how you can get truly converted to all things rock n’ Roll.
Clearly, Algiers has a sound that is unclassifiable, throwing dark Southern Gospel into the mix, some heavy Post – Punk with underpinnings of Experimental and Avant Garde…well- you get the picture.
As they so eloquently state on their Facebook Homepage: They’re from the “Ol American South, where W.E.B. Dubois once saw a riot goin’ on, and where hell and highwater swirls ’round to the knees…”
That pretty much explains it in a nutshell- a performance that’s riveting from beginning to inevitable end.
How intense was their show?
Came up to Franklin James Fisher after the show, told him who I was and how much their performance was so kickass awesome, gave him a hug- and – he was soaked- I mean SOAKED from  head to toe.
To have local performance artists ONO- an Industrial – Avant Gospel group with members P Michael Ono and Travis Travis Travis come out to assist on a few songs made the night that more special.
These two members defy their age, and incorporate futuristic clothing (P Michael Grego in particular), what with his EDMish sunshield with strobe light attached under his hoodie, and of course Travis Travis Travis with multiple costume changes and banging the living shit out of a garbage can lid with chains.
These two unique dudes fit in so perfectly with Algiers’ set, enhancing the protest and righteous mood that- well things are not so cool in the state of the world, let alone in America.
Just goes to show what you can expect that is out of the ordinary when people are eating ribs and trying to relax a bit.
Not happening during this onslaught of an hour show. Not in the least.
These guys produce a sound that is so identifiable, and yet unclassifiable, if that makes any sense.
Algiers is oh so urgent and in your face and raw and honest.
All these guys take their performance to heart, all across the stage, banging and clanging on everything you can think of, and yet still stick to the melody that comes out the other end.
To say we’re gonna hear more from this band of brothers is an understatement.
As vicious and righteous as they come- the band Algiers.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – Music Photographer