Slow Pulp’s headlining show at Thalia hall was a homecoming of sorts. Though the band hails from Madison, WI they all live in the windy city and tonight’s crowd certainly treats them as locals. Tonight’s show comes as Slow Pulp nears the end of their headlining tour accompanied by fellow Chicagans, the folksy soft rockers Free Range. Another local, Bnny hopped on to provide a set of reflective slow burners on these hometown dates. Throughout the night yells from the crowd hinted at more than fan relationships with the performers. Between songs inside jokes and sincere encouragement were being lobbed like roses to the stage.

Slow Pulp has been a fun band to watch break out of the independent scene here in Chicago. Led by singer Emily Massey, the band has been a stable quartet since 2015. This past year the group has added guitarist/keyboardist Javiar Reyes (Post Animal) as a fifth live member to bolster their sound. The now five-piece Slow Pulp sounded transformed and delivered a catalog spanning set; pulling songs from their EPs as well as albums Moveys (2020, Winspear) and Yard (2023, Anti-).

Slow Pulp at Thalia Hall in Chicago IL November 21st photo by Zach Caddy

Slow Pulp took the stage confidently and without saying a word opened the show with “Idaho”’s dead simple drum fill which lit the fuse for the evening. The first suite of songs was heavy hitter after heavy hitter. The second song Moveys track At It Again morphed my concept of the band. On record there is almost an understated quality to their music. The heft of these live distorted guitars subtract “indie” from my once held indie-rock concept of the band. Singer Emily Massey’s performance refracts her minimal lyrics into a lively spectrum. The colors continue to dazzle going into the fuzzy Yard cut Cramps. “I’m singing your summer hit” has never hit me like this. High – the band’s grunge-y soft to loud banger – went off like dynamite; with distorted guitars that called Hum and the Cranberries to mind. Slow Pulp has secretly been a heavy band this whole time and I can’t believe I didn’t notice sooner.

Gentle cuts like Yard’s title track went off like vocal recitals. Live, Massey drives the song’s dynamic with her stream of consciousness lyrics, peaking as she takes the blame for not being around like she thinks she should, and reassuring her sister that she is good enough. These quiet internal moments are given great weight with Massey’s performance. The crowd listens intently in these softer moments, but doesn’t hesitate to cheer on the singer when she shines. Chicago likes to prop its own high and Slow Pulp’s return is just such an occasion. For “Falling Apart” Massey brought out Free Range’s Sophia Jensen to provide flawless harmonies. There is a special energy to these hometown shows especially when a band starts to grow like Slow Pulp. These past couple years Slow Pulp have been doing proper arena-sized support stints with iconic indie idols Death Cab for Cutie and Pixies and they’ve brought that size to Thalia Hall. The feeling was palpable in Thalia hall, as much as it is as I’m writing this, Slow Pulp are on their way up.

Words by Blake Correll
photography by Zach Caddy

Order tickets for Slow Pulp HERE