May 31 – June 2, 2019
Chicago, IL
By: Jenafur Schlangen
Well, it is officially Street Fest Season here in Chicago and what better way to kick it off than with the wildly popular, “Do Division Street Fest!” Nestled within two full blocks of Chicago’s legendary Wicker Park neighborhood (dubbed, “Independent & Fashionable Neighborhood”), it is the fest for locals to see and be seen. Do-Division, like many other street fests in Chicago, does an awesome job of highlighting food, music, family, and FUN. Although, the difference between Do-Division and the other fests in the city is that Do-Division has a strong focus on fashion as well, complete with a cat-walk, running several fashion shows throughout the entire three-day event. But…let’s get to the music, shall we?
With more than 32 bands performing on two-stages over the course of this event, I have chosen two of them as my self-described “show stealers.” Bumpus and School of Rock – Chicago. And, lucky for me, both bands happened to be playing on the same stage (Subterranean West Stage), albeit a day apart:
Bumpus
Bumpus is the type of band wastes zero time in reaching out and slapping you [hard] with a lethal dose of funk. Believe me, they come out of the gate extremely strong and by the end of their set, they leave a packed house begging for more…..every single time. I witnessed this firsthand at DoDivision and it was an incredible sight. And, their horns section is just plain awesome. Honestly, I believe it is the horns section that totally completes this band. They are definitely unique and they most certainly add their own force within the rest of the group’s bluesy, funky, soul-filled rhythm.
Front and center (well…a little bit to the left of the center) is lead vocalist, Tina Howell and, trust me, this woman deserves every single bit of respect she commands. Her voice is so full of soul, it’s as if she is giving the most powerful of sermons….of which, everyone seems to soak in while they bob their heads in appreciation.
Bumpus hails from Chicago and believe me, Chicago loves them right back. I have zero doubt they will be performing on the national stage very soon. Until then, you can catch them again in Chicago on June 22nd, at Navy Pier, and they have 3 July shows in Michigan, respectively. If you’d like to learn more, please hit up their website: www.BumpusWeb.com.
School of Rock – Chicago
The School of Rock in Chicago is just as you think. It is a school that teaches kids how to rock! They provide lessons in guitars, vocals, drums, keyboards, and even lessons in the “music industry.” It is a hub for kids who want to learn everything there is to know about how to rock successfully in today’s world. Honestly, I just love the entire concept. I mean, talk about learning something cool, making new friends, and performing to the masses, all before being old enough to drive!
As the band took the stage, I immediately started smiling. They were just so damn cute…every single one of them. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much but I certainly wasn’t going to throw any shade their way because after all, they’re just kids. But, boy was I (and my doubts) WAY off base!
As the band took the stage, I immediately started smiling. They were just so damn cute…every single one of them. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much but I certainly wasn’t going to throw any shade their way because after all, they’re just kids. But, boy was I (and my doubts) WAY off base!
They started their set with “Killing Machine” by Judas Priest and holy crap, that girl could wail, not to mention the band behind her was 100% on point! I was completely floored! Also within their set, they performed tunes by Skid Row, U2, and some punk song I just couldn’t put my finger on but, I remember saying to myself, “I absolutely love these song choices!”
I noticed there were about 15 or so students who were performing in total, switching it up for each song. So, at the end of each song, a few kids would exit the stage and another few would enter. They would switch out after every single song so everyone could have a turn in this rock ‘n roll “arena.” I also noticed a few songs in that the rotation began to look the same however, when one of them would be playing the guitar on one song, that same kid would be playing bass or keyboards on their next turn. How cool is that? Talk about talent!
To learn more about the School of Rock in Chicago, including locations, programs, lessons, camps, and events, head on over to their website: www.SchoolOfRock.com. And, if you have a chance to check them out live, I swear your face will hurt from smiling and you will not regret it!
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