It is the contrast of loud and quiet that some band’s use show dynamics, but for Melkbelly that is only found in their stage banter. For Miranda Winter’s that contrast is sharp as she shyly announces that they are Melkbelly and they are from Chicago. The four-piece then launches into an explosive song and you see a whole new side the remarkable lead singer. There is an angry energy that bleeds through as screams and snarls through a fast paced set in front of an ever growing crowd.
Rain continued to fall, but Miranda told the crowd “Welcome to the Midwest” as chants of “No Coast” rolled through the crowd. The band blazed through the highlights of 2017 album No Valley with forcefulness that could not be captured by even the best engineer. What shown through the strongest in this set is the powerful drumming of James Wetzel. His steady but driving backbone was like a helping hand through the chaos that Winters’ create. This is a band that needs be seen live and what better a place than Pitchfork Music Festival.