Reunited on their home turf, Chicago’s proverbial greatest band The Lawrence Arms celebrated their ninth annual “War on Christmas” concert series last weekend of December 8 and 9. This year’s installment scuttled North from The Chop Shop to the Metro (The heralded venue in which the band filmed their An Evening of Extraordinary Circumstance in 2012). After the Falcon (an excellent, fitting decoy with 2/3 of The Lawrence Arms) filled in last year, deep consternation swelled the hearts and livers of fans worldwide.

As the band took the stage on the second night of the occasion, calm resonated through the room with a familiar chant echoing off of the walls.“Hennessy.” For those uninitiated, this may seem like a strange proclamation for cognac. Erase that obscure thought, however, for this is literally a love chant to the band’s drummer Neil Hennessy. He keeps beat excellently with brilliant punk fills. A true champion. When do the drummers get such limelight? It is an earnest, endearing chant every time.

The set list on this evening stitched the crooning alto approach of guitarist Chris McCaughan with the gruff, rasp approach of bassist Brendan Kelly. Each create a dynamic that weaves in and out of one another seamlessly. Songs of poetic praise and vulnerable moments. When do bands get such varied vocals? It is a provoking, satisfying serenade every time.

Are you picking up what I’m sharing here? Lest we be put into the perils of a linguistic limbo, we shan’t mince words. The Lawrence Arms are a delightful band. Two sold out shows of fans traveling from far and wide to sing along is undeniable proof. With each song that stretched from their 2002 album Apathy and Exhaustion to the latest album Skeleton Coast of 2020. On the first evening they celebrated 20 years of 2003’s The Greatest Story Ever Told by playing it in its entirety.

It’s incredible to see so many people emphatically howl word for word to every song. Sweeping tempos of raucous rippers like “The Devil’s Takin’ Names” transition to smooth songs of being present like “Quiet Storm” (I love this one so much), and the audience is 100% there for it. Sometimes you catch a band that switches tempo to slow things down and fans check out, dwindling away time on their phones. Not here. There is so much love for every track at these shows. So until next year, the tenth installation of War on Christmas, let’s keep our fingers crossed for new tunes—and to all a good night.

Restorations made the trip from Philadelphia, PA to support. Singer Jon Loudon led the band in a post-hardcore medley of hits with paramount glee in his every guitar strum. The band were stoked to be there, just as much as the audience was pleased to see them. It felt like another reuniting of dear, old friends.

Comedian Shane Torres of Brooklyn surprised concertgoers with a brief routine between Restorations and The Lawrence Arms. He was excited to share news of a new comedy special on YouTube. Fellow Chicagoans, Sweetie, warmed up the room to start off the evening.

The Lawrence Arms

Restorations, Shane Torres