what he said

I can't forget the door guy at the Hexagon calling Airiel "loud ass rainbow shit". They are loud, yes. Does that make me doing visuals the "rainbow shit"? I hope so. The Hexagon had the vibe of the Hideout but 2 rooms and a corner triangular stage that reminded me of the Empty Bottle.

Next show: Darkroom, Chicago. Lollapalooza After Party wih Brian Jonestown Massacre. July 24th, 2005.

About Airiel (from their website): Airiel is rapidly becoming one of Chicago's best kept secrets. Formed in '97 by Jeremy Wrenn, initially a solo project supported by various drum machines, Airiel is now a solid 4-piece determined to be heard. The addition of guitarist Zeeshan Abbasi, bassist/vocalist Cory Osborne, and drummer John Rungger have taken the prior format of warm-as-a-blanket guitar soundscapes and injected a post/pop-rock energy and verve that heralds the coming of a new shoegaze archetype. Many bands try to emulate the sounds of My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, The Verve, Slowdive and others, but Airiel build off of the foundation of their influences, seeking to push the genre forward. A strident combination of reverb, distortion and sweat, they are advancing the art of sheer sonic energy while utilizing the power of a good melody to provide a basis for the effects, never forgetting the innate human desire to shake one's ass. In short, it's loud, it's beautiful, and you can dance to it.