What happens when you put members of some of the biggest jam bands in the country together, 1,300 feet above the ground? Who knows, and that’s what makes it so intriguing.
For the third time, Otter Presents is bringing music to the 99th floor of the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower in Chicago on Sunday, April 17 with this year’s lineup featuring an opening set from the SkyDeck All-Stars followed by two sets from Electron, a supergroup in their own right. Electron is also playing two sets late Saturday night at the Hard Rock Café in the River North neighborhood.
Otter Presents is committed to bringing together unique musical experiences in some of the most interesting and diverse places inside and outside of Chicago, including their memorable concert cruise with the Summer Camp All Stars and other big events.
Electron, comprised of Aron Magner and Marc Brownstein of The Disco Biscuits, Mike Greenfield of Lotus and Tom Hamilton of American Babies and Joe Russo’s Almost Dead fame play an eclectic mix of songs from each of their own bands with choice covers and exploratory jamming thrown in for good measure.
With Conspirator—another one of Magner and Brownstein’s side-projects—mostly on the sidelines, Electron has played dozens of shows since coming back together in 2013, getting tighter and tighter over that time while still improvising with the best of them. At a recent two-night run at the Brooklyn Bowl, Electron dusted off an entire set of Pink Floyd covers.
To add to the excitement of the evening, the SkyDeck All-Stars brings together a veritable who’s who of the jam scene. With Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee, Clay Parnell of Particle, Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff and Eric “Benny” Bloom of Lettuce as well as Allen Aucoin of The Disco Biscuits playing an opening set, one can only imagine the possibilities of what they’re going to play.
With a limited number of tickets available, these shows will sell out and you won’t want to miss either of these two shows. Saturday’s show at the Hard Rock still has tickets available here while Sunday’s show at the top of the Willis Tower still has a limited number of tickets available here.
Doors open to Saturday’s show at 11 p.m. with two sets from Electron while Sunday’s show has the doors open at 8 p.m. with an opening set from the SkyDeck All-Stars before two sets from Electron.