Distracted

BY MARIA SCHROEDER

If you’ve listened to Don Bloom before, you know that he has a signature sound – both genre bending and emotionally raw – that just demands to be heard live. For his first solo live show at Beat Kitchen this past Friday night, opening up for The Fundamental Kinks, he certainly delivered a stellar performance to the intimate Chicago stage. Before he even played the first note, the energy was undeniable, with friends, family, and fans alike gathered at the iconic Lakeview venue an hour before he was even set to perform. Hanging around the bar, Don Bloom – or Isaac Rodriguez as his friends and family know him – was all smiles (and maybe just a little bit of nerves) as he waited for his slot. This clearly set the tone for the entire night, with everyone ready to enjoy a drink or two before gathering around the small stage to see his inaugural performance. 

His live band, made up of guitar, bass, drums, saxophone and his signature synth sounds, commanded the stage the moment they started setting up. Moments into the show kicking off, Isaac threw on his sunglasses and became Don Bloom, starting off his set with “Satisfied (Lemonade)”. Anyone standing towards the back of the crowd instantly moved forward, a sea of bobbing heads as fans recognized the words to one of Don Bloom’s recently released singles. 

 With only a handful of songs released so far, he made sure every song resonated with the audience. Backed by both punk sounding yet refreshing melodies, he had an audience that impressively sang along to every word given how new of an artist he is. They were clear in delivering amazing live instrumentation, emotional lyrics, and even some vibey dance moves from Don Bloom himself once his standout first single “Free From U” began. Definitely a crowd favorite, and a song that immediately had him moving, one can see that his music connects with the audience. Even his guitar player, who had been in a motorcycle accident two days before the show, was dancing alongside him. 

With a stacked lineup of Chicago punk bands, Don Bloom made sure to deliver a refreshing take on the genre, with the sounds of Spanish corridos, indie rock, and electronic beats influencing the sound of each one of his songs. The crowd of day one fans and others discovering his sound for the first time truly came together around his performance.

For his two final songs, Don Bloom grabbed his electric guitar, kicking off the heavy riffs of his song “kneel n pray”. His raw vocals accompanied the grungier sounds of his live band, and his personal lyrics hit with a striking clarity that clearly enticed the audience – not a single person was focused on anything but his stage presence. 

Not one to shy away from the crowd’s attention, Issac introduced his newest single and final song for the night, “Don Julio.” A celebration of the iconic luxury tequila, he makes it through the first verse of the song before reaching into a bag onstage and bringing out a brand new bottle of the liquor. Hearing the cheers of the audience, he passed the bottle to his guitarist, his bassist, and then to a few members of the audience, where even I managed to take a hefty sip, all the while the catchy beats and his authentic lyrics reverberated through the venue. Clearly a standout original song that earned a hefty applause once his set finished. 

Don Bloom’s performance this weekend truly exemplified the magic of hearing an up-and-coming artist live for the first time – bringing a special level of authenticity and talent within his music that only Isaac could create. Whether you’re a devoted fan or only now discovering his amazing music, seeing Don Bloom live definitely leaves a lasting impression and anticipation for what’s to come.