Review: Avantist at The Hideout 2/25/2022

Avantist members pictured left to right, David (Guitar), Luis (Drums), Fernando (Vocals), Erick (Bass)

Avantist is a local post-rock band from Chicago, consisting of four hermanos; the frontman and lead singer Fernando, Erick on bass, David on guitar, and last but not least Luis on the drums. Together these guys make up Avantist, which was formed in 2008. After realizing that they had all the tools they needed to make amazing music in the basement of their house they got to work. Their music is some of the most creative and raw stuff I’ve heard in a long time. Each of the brothers synergizes with one another to create something different and unique that’s hard to put down once you start listening. Their most recent single Dead was released on February 22nd, it’s a really fun track to check out.

David (Guitar)

Avantist recently played at The Hideout on February 25th, which is a small hole-in-the-wall bar/venue that has a great atmosphere to it. The Hideout is located near Wicker Park in Chicago and is about a 30-minute walk from the Damen blue line stop. 

Erick (Bass)

Avantist gave their all Friday and didn’t leave anyone disappointed at the end of the night. Their demeanor demanded immediate attention along with their really fun outfits. Fernando’s energy right off the bat was insurmountable on vocals, screaming and putting every single ounce of his powerful voice out there for everyone to enjoy. His stage presence was also something else, with him jumping and dancing around the stage, effortlessly keeping the sold-out crowd engaged for the whole duration of the show. Erick’s bass playing was astounding, you could tell that he was having a great time, and it’s honestly great to see that in a performance. David’s guitar skills were breathtaking to say the least, as well as Luis banging away on the drums. 

Fernando (Vocals)

An issue a lot of bands have is breaking through to a dead crowd, but the music played was so energetic and captivating that a dead audience was something Avantist didn’t even need to think twice about. It was hard to tell at times who was having more fun, Avantist or the crowd themselves. There was a constant clash of energy between the two that was beautiful to witness. The crowd was there for the whole performance, and not once did they lose interest in Avantist. 

Luis (Drums)

This concert was a breathtaking experience and I would without a doubt recommend Avantist to anyone that’s interested in the local Chicago rock scene at all. They are definitely a hidden gem of a band. Hopefully, they come out with a new album soon following the release of their single Dead, as they don’t allow themselves to be ignored.

Setlist:

this_could_be_it

Human Driver

Work it Out

Violence

Bomb

Dead

Veneno

Red Bible

*Encore*

Hexagon

Tidalwave