Chris McKay brings the rock back around!

Oh, exam time! With all these presentations, projects, and tests, I barely have a second to breathe. But, you know, even all this insanity won't keep me from the amazing shows that fill the final days of the semester! Forgive me if these next few reviews are a little late, but, no matter what, I can't resist sharing the awesomeness!

Last Thursday night, it was the band Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings that brought my blogger's ears full circle with a healthy dose of their classic rock. Shockingly, it had been exactly a year and a week since I last saw the band that helped inspire the blog. A year! Can you believe it's been that long? I'm so glad they've finally returned!

It's been quite a year for the Darlings, though. Most tragically, their drummer Josh Harrison had to bid adieu to the band recently when he relocated to Texas. Luckily, original Critical Darlings' beat keeper Josh Couillard was happy to step back into the role! Then they brought another old friend, this time Andy Ainsworth from Chris's old band Q-sign, to complete the quartet for this show.

Apparently, the four of them only had time for one practice together before their set. Wow, really? These guys made it look so easy! And Chris was back to his crazy tricks again, rocking and writhing in the floor with more energy than a kid full of sugar. Ah, I love it! They played a full set of the lovely tunes I've missed so much, and the band gave each song a bit of a new spin too. Way cool! I've got to say, though, I think that a little something was afoot during the show because every so once in a while a substantial gust wind would blow out from the instruments to the audience. It was like getting blasted by the rock! Crazy, indeed.

I'm definitely not going to let another year go by before I see these guys again!