Kooks debut new songs at private Chicago show

On Wednesday night, British rockers the Kooks played a private show for about 250 people at Sam's Wines & Spirits' new location in Chicago's South Loop. While it may seem like an odd locale, it actually worked. The chill event was a promotion for the wine superstore pulled together by WXRT radio, with free wine samples, Goose Island beer and great food (shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare with guacamole, lobster rolls, etc) by Shaw's Crab House. But it was really the Kooks that brought the people. The guys – on a mini holiday tour for various radio stations around the country, played about 12 songs, mostly off their two million-selling (worldwide) debut Inside In/Inside Out, including "Ooh La," "She Moves in Her Own Way," "See the World" and the balls-out rocking encore "Jackie Big Tits." But it was also the addition of new tracks "Disappear" and another whose name I'm spacing right now that hinted at the band's new sound on their forthcoming sophomore album, Konk, scheduled to street April 15. The Kooks recently wrapped recording at former Kinks frontman Ray Davies' legendary Konk Studios (hence the name of the album) and flew to LA to tighten it up with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Belle & Sebastian). Based on "Disappear," the track they played at Sam's, the Kooks seem to be building on their radio-friendly pop sound and moving into a more mature aggressive rock feel (a la the Stones in the early '70s) but with a country guitar edge. After their 45-minute set, I spoke with lead singer, Luke Pritchard, who I interviewed just over a year ago for my blog, SomethingGlorious, and mentioned that they were likely popping over to nearby Buddy Guy's Legends to take in some quintessential Chicago blues. When in Rome... – Ari Bendersky



[photos courtesy of Will Byington Photography]