Girl at the Rock Shows

The opening act at the 7th Street Entry on Wednesday night said something that really stuck with me. The statement was something like, “This band is built off of imperfect people, but when you put them together, you get something pretty dang perfect, don’t you think?” I know that’s such a simple phrase and one that has been paraphrased by many bands before, but there was something about the way that the vocalist of Mr.Phylzzz said it. It was said with conviction and heart, and it really set the stage for the amazing Wednesday night show that took place.

My.Phylzzz is not a household name, nor do I think they ever will be, and that breaks my heart. Their music is chaotic and, to the passive music listener, makes no sense. This trio’s sound, to me, is what a day in the life of a bipolar or highly moody person would sound like. Ecstatic highs matched with angsty lows create a constant rollercoaster that seems to jerk and twirl around with other elements that pop in and out of their music. It’s quirky and definitely abrasive, but to me, there is something so beautiful about it. Wednesday was not a bad day in my life, but, like most days, it was stressful, and the work outnumbered the time I had in the day. I feel like I was able to let some of that tension, stress, and aggression out during Mr.Phylzzz’s set, even though, in all reality, I was just standing there. It was cathartic, it was energized, and it was perfect.

Things seem to be changing a bit in the Mr.Phylzz camp. The last time I saw them perform was when they opened for The Melvins at The Varisty in September 2023. That night, they were just “two idiots from Chicago.” Wednesday night, as mentioned, they came in the form of a trio. Although this would be a huge change for some bands, it seems not to have had a super huge effect on My.Phylzzz’s sound. Don’t get me wrong, it felt beefier than last time, and I definitely felt that there was a bit more intricacy put into their sound, but overall, it was the same vibe. I love that about this group. Although changes are happening, one thing will never change with this band: their quirky music, their quirky live show, and the feeling they drape over any crowd that gives them a chance. You should give them that chance. Believe me when I say that any night spent with Mr.Phylzzz is a beautiful night.

The only other band to play on Wednesday night at the 7th Street Entry was Wine Lips. I don’t entirely remember how I fell into this band, but I did, and I’ve been obsessed with them ever since I heard one of their songs. Sonically, Wine Lips is a grittier version of FIDLAR meets Teen Mortgage. It’s a garage-punk sound, but it leans into everything from psychedelic rock to surf rock. Like Mr.Phylzzz, the music of Wine Lips seems to be a bit all over the place, and although they definitely didn’t have the more noise-leaning vibe that Mr.Phylzzz did, Wine Lips filled the space with a high-octane performance that left the packed 7th Street Entry dancing and pitting with smiles all around.

I mean it when I say that Wine Lips was all energy. The members of this band were rarely standing still on stage, and that was mirrored by the fun chaos that had erupted in the audience. That being said, this band was clearly all business. I’m not sure how they did it, but Wine Lips didn’t miss a single note in all of the high-energy chaos, and every song came through the speakers as clear as a Wine Lips song should. I know this shouldn’t surprise me. Wine Lips is on tour from Canada, meaning they are doing something right to the point where they can do a tour across the border, but I feel like I underestimated it. I feel like bands in this genre either give you a great show or great music. Wine Lips gave me both, and it had me falling even deeper in love with this band.

This is an abnormally short review for me, I know, but please do not let that reflect on either of the acts that performed. They were both absolutely amazing, to the point where this is one of those reviews that, no matter how well I set the scene for you, if you weren’t there, you straight-up missed out. What were you doing that was more important than checking out some fresh live music?

Line Up:

Mr.Phylzzz

Wine Lips

Venue: 7th Street Entry

Smell-O-Meter: Nothing Notable

Average Age of the Crowd: 26

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Mosh-ability- 3 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None Noticed

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing

Fights- None

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Mr.Phylzzz – 2

Wine Lips – 0

Overall Score –8.4 out of 10

Show on Deck —Nur-D

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