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By Dave Miller

Sunday afternoon isn't exactly prime time to rock, and playing outside in broad daylight doesn't make for an ideal atmosphere for a concert.

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It can be difficult for a band to step out of a rock club and into a street festival. Something usually gets lost in translation. The energy that's contained in an indoor venue often dissipates in an outdoor setting, unusually early show times can test a body's clock, and casual crowds can fail to provide sparks. Throw in the good chance for substandard sound and even the best performers can be thwarted outdoors.

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The Handcuffs and the Wanton Looks had no such problems Sunday afternoon at the Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival. They swatted away the potential issues like flies and rocked the outdoor stage with back-to-back performances that were better than even their seasoned, concert-going fans had a right to expect. For a change, playing outside was actually an advantage thanks to a break from the string of record-breaking 100-degree days. Temperatures dropped a good 20 degrees. Everyone at the fest including the bands seemed to relish being able to return outdoors in comfort.

"Isn't it a great day to be outside since it's no longer hell?" Handcuffs singer Chloe F. Orwell asked appreciative attendees.

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One of the many great things about the Handcuffs is they always come to play, starting with the stylish way they dress. Their wardrobe matches the glam in their rock. Orwell and bassist Emily Togni wore black boots/heels worthy of a dominatrix and keyboardist Alison Hinderliter sported white go-go boots. Colorful skirts, dresses and scarfs completed their high-fashion look. Not to be outdone, drummer extraordinaire Brad Elvis donned a Stones t-shirt with a polka-dotted tie and pinstriped coat. If you didn't know any better, you'd guess the Chicago band hailed from the Sunset Strip, New York City, Paris or Milan.

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Guitarist Ellis Clark didn't get the fashion memo (though even his white French Connection t-shirt and brown bucket hat were a cut above), but he more than made up for it with sharp playing that made every note count. Elvis pounded big hooks into his songs, which stay in your head. The drummer supreme, who recently played his 4,000th gig, showed why is one of Chicago's music treasures. Orwell was on top of her game as a likeable lead singer with rock-star moves and a down-to-earth presence. Stage bookends Hinderliter played effortlessly on the left and nonplussed Togni thumped nimbly on the right. Add everyone up and the Handcuffs are a pack of cool.

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The Handcuffs know how to build a setlist. This one featured a half-dozen songs from their latest fine album, Waiting For the Robot. "I Just Wanna Be Free, Man" featured colossal drums. Elvis and Ellis locked in on "Vinyl Isabella." Diehard fans were tossed a couple bones -- "Mickey 66" from their first album, Model For A Revolution, and "Baby Boombox" from their second LP, Electroluv. A couple well-chosen covers, Pulp's "Common People" and Mott the Hoople's "All the Way from Memphis," sweetened the winning set.

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The Wanton Looks preceded the Handcuffs with a performance that threatened to burn up the stage. The black-clad rockers blitzed through 14 songs in 54 minutes in the quartet's longest designed setlist to date. (Only their album-release show in March at Schubas was longer when they tacked on two additonal numbers after the crowd demanded an encore that ultimately stretched that song total to 15.)

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This is a band that surprises moment to moment. You've never known what lead singer/bassist Traci Trouble is going to do or say onstage, or if she will even stay onstage, and drummer Meg Thomas sneaks in all kinds of interesting rhythms while keeping the beat. Lead guitarist Inga Olson and rhythm guitarist Susie Q have become more assertive in their playing and stage presence to where they're now going toe-to-toe with Trouble and Thomas.

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The set started with the Wanton Looks exposing their pop side with Bangles-like harmonies on "Worst Side of Me." Then they ignited into the exploside rock of "See You Again" with Olson twisting sounds out of her Gibson, Trouble jumping into the air, Susie Q wielding her axe like a weapon and Thomas dropping bombs. Their big sound filled the fest the rest of the way, demonstrating they're more than ready for their first tour that is currently taking them to Indianapolis, Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh and New York City.

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In the middle of the set, beers placed at the foot of the stage were finally passed out. "We're getting a late start drinking today," Trouble said. "You guys are head of us. We've got to catch up." A benefit of that was hearing Trouble in top voice. In fact, the whole band sounded terrific. Susie Q surmised part of that might have been due to her using a Fender amplifier with her normal Marshall one tucked away in the group's rehearsal space. That could have been part of it, but a great mix by the soundman deserves a lot of credit for showing off the fuzzy guitar interplay between Olson and Susie Q.

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It wasn't the first time the Handcuffs and the Wanton Looks played on the same bill and thankfully it won't be the last. The Handcuffs' cool glam and the Wanton Looks' hot rock complement each other. You can see for yourself at Northalsted Market Days on Aug. 11 and Double Door on Aug. 15. The double play is hard to beat, indoors or outdoors. 

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The Handcuffs setlist:

 

The Handcuffs

July 8, 2012 @ Lincoln Park Arts & Music Festival

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