Saturday night, one of alternative’s most promising bands, Manchester Orchestra (see our review of Mean Everything To Nothing,) played to a sold-out audience (thanks to headliners Brand New) at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. After Sybris warmed up the crowd, Andy Hull & gang took to the stage for a blazing set focused primarily on the new album with a track or two from I’m Like A Virgin Losing A Child. Unfortunately, they didn’t have much time to dig into the back catalog since their set was only 35 minutes (They were, after all, opening for Brand New!). And while the show was nothing like their previous headlining gigs at the Subterranean, Hull still managed to get down and dirty, even from the stage’s towering heights. That being said, the shortened set and a less-personable show left many yearning for more.

Hull closed out the set with a nice medley that started with him alone on stage adding Chris Freeman on vocals/tambourine who switched to the drums when Jonathan Corley came back on bass. Afterwards there were more than a few people who were surprised by the set. I overheard a number of previous nay-sayers that were won over thanks to the new album. Here’s a few photos from the show:

10/08 – Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium *
10/09 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Salt Palace Convention Center *
10/13 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre *
10/15 – Bakersfield, CA @ Rabobank Arena & Convention Center *
10/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium *
10/20 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues *
10/21 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues *
10/22 – Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Amphitheatre *
10/23 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues *
10/25 – Lubbock, TX @ Lonestar Amphitheater #
10/27 – Austin, TX @ Stubb’s BBQ #
10/29 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom #
10/31 – Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom #
11/01 – New Orleans, LA @ Voodoo Experience
11/04 – Lake Buena VIsta, FL @ House of Blues #
11/05 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz #
11/07 – North Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues #
11/09 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore #
11/10 – Richmond, VA @ The National #
11/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar #
11/13 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa #
11/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory #
11/15 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory ^
11/17 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues ^
11/18 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues ^
11/20 – Montreal, QC @ Olympia De Montreal ^
11/21 – Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus ^
11/22 – Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus ^
11/24 – Rochester, NY @ Main Street Armory ^
11/25 – Wallingford, CT @ Chevrolet Theatre ^
11/27 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum ^

% = w/ Coheed & Cambria
* = w/ Manchester Orchestra
# = w/ Thrice
^ = w/ Glassjaw