Urban Heat / Chicago, IL
- Raymond Kao
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
I’ll be honest - I was looking for shows to cover and saw that Urban Heat was coming back to town. I covered them back in Atlanta and walked away a new fan, so requesting the show was a no-brainer on my end. Little did I know, I was walking into Vampire's Ball.
The vibes were incredibly immaculate. The Epiphany Center for the Arts is a historic church that has been repurposed to become an events center, hosting NBA players and artists alike. That night, it was hosting Vampire’s Ball, an event self-described as “Vampire / Buffy Prom”, complete with multiple floors of live music and a costume contest. As someone who enjoys a good outfit, it was an amazing sight to see everyone show up in their best frills, lace, spikes, fangs, capes, and fake blood.
This mass of vampires and vampire hunters gathered in front of the dais for the arrival of Urban Heat, an Austin, Texas-based punk band consisting of Jonathan Horstmann (vocals, guitar), Kevin D. Naquin (synths, programming), and Paxel Foley (bass). Their synth-heavy sounds played well in the gothic church at the Vampire’s Ball, playing some of their bigger hits like “Have You Ever” and “Trust”. Jonathan played with energy, dancing and raging on the stage as he performed. Unfortunately, a fan had a medical incident and the set was cut short. The fans were understanding and gave Urban Heat a solid walk off.
Gallery and review by Raymond Kao
