Photos and Review by Stephen Bloch

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. One step further is taking something you love, researching it ad nauseum and putting your own spin on it while still making it 100% recognizable.

This is exactly what Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy have been doing with the music of R.E.M. the past three years. Beginning with Murmur, then Fables of the Reconstruction, and now it’s Life’s Rich Pageant. The band has absolutely done the deep dive in the nuances of the album and then some. It helps to have an all star group of musicians that includes John Stiratt, Jon Wurster, and Dag Juhlin. They have the sound and the vibe down pat.

They don’t end their R.E.M. affinity there. On Thursday at Chicago’s Metro, they went on an exploration of the entire catalog. Deep cuts alongside veritable indie anthems like “Crush With Eyeliner”, “Radio Free Europe”, “Nightswimming”, “Pilgrammage”, and “Star 69”.

Next up for this band is presumably the 1987 release Document. The only thing that was missing from Thursday’s show was drop ins from the band members they certainly adore. Some stops have gotten that. Maybe next time.
Maybe next time it will even be the band that inspired them.