Due to the last-minute failure of our digital camera's battery pack, we were unable to get any pictures during the show. In place of our own live photos, we present this photo by Chris Floyd. Just try to imagine them doing something on stage. Sorry.

As many fans will agree, it’s about goddamn time that Dan "the Automator: Nakamura got off his duff and brought one of his concept hip-hop opuses to life in the live arena. Until now, scarcely anybody ever knew what the man himself looked like, as he and his hand-picked supergroups -- Deltron 3030, Handsome Boy Modeling School and the Gorillaz -- rarely set foot outside a studio long enough to have a photo snapped. But now, after months of speculation, the traveling circus that is Lovage has finally planted its beat-happy big top within the cozy confines of Chicago’s House of Blues.

After short opening slots from local hip-hop crew The Family Tree and IDM-hopper Dalek, a huge video screen was lowered and the full-weight of the Lovage experience was now thrust upon the audience -- who, it must be noted, were an intensely odd mix of beatheadz, indie rockers, Mike Patton freaks and curious onlookers. As the faux-porno opening film Lady Chatterly’s Secrets wound to an abrupt close, Kid Koala hit his decks to deliver the spoken-word intro "Ladies Love Chest Rockwell", while the rest of Lovage's silk-clad cast of characters took the stage.

The audience roared with delight as Jennifer Charles, Dan the Automator and Mike Patton took the stage and launched into their first selection, "Pit Stop (take me home)". From there, Patton, Charles and the rest of the group flirted and floated their way through the full compliment of Lovage tunes, which included delicious readings of "Anger Management", "To Catch a Thief" and "Book of the Month", as well as kitschy Koala and Automator-led instrumental interludes like "Lies and Alibis" and the sultry "Koala’s Lament". Aside from the regular cast of characters, the group employed a live bass player and guitarist to help bring songs like "Sex (I’m a)" and "Strangers on a Train" to life. As the show progressed, it became abundantly clear that Patton was indeed its star, his pliable voice and handy gong-work taking center stage -- which, on a stage like this, is quite an accomplishment.

After the regular set ended, Patton, Charles and Automator returned to play "Pin the backstage pass on the guitar player’s ass". Three ladies from the audience were blindfolded and assigned the task of slapping a backstage pass upon the ass of the group’s Spiderman-clad guitarist. A triumphantly drunken final run through "Archie & Veronica" followed, which, suffice it to say, nearly brought the house down. With that Lovage were gone, off to create carnage and elicit sexual encounter in other cities and other times.

Article by Jason Jackowiak.