There are rare moments when life feels weightless, when you’re soaring without a care in the world. Riding an electric scooter down a quiet summer street, floating in a pool on a hot day, or seeing Mercury Rev live in concert. Touring behind their new album Born Horses, the legendary psychedelic indie band touched down at Chicago’s iconic Empty Bottle on April 22 and transported the crowd on a spellbinding sonic journey.
With a setlist spanning their eclectic career, Mercury Rev reminded everyone why they’re masters of both the epic and the intimate.
Just after 9 p.m., the lights at the Empty Bottle cut out. Projectors bathed the ceiling in surreal visuals as the band took the stage and launched into a shimmering soundscape. Frontman Jonathan Donahue arrived as the group opened with “The Funny Bird,” and from that moment, every track became its own dreamlike voyage. Each song, whether the haunting “Runaway Raindrop” or a surprisingly perfect cover of Blade Runner’s “Tears in Rain,” was performed with fresh energy and unique flair. There wasn’t a single lull. The audience was locked in. Nobody wanted the ride to end.
Though the music leaned heavily on synths and sweeping atmospheric textures, Mercury Rev transformed the modest confines of the Empty Bottle into something far grander. The band crafted an immersive sonic landscape that enveloped the room, making it feel far larger than it was. Shrouded mostly in shadow, they let the music take center stage. Donahue’s voice and guitar soaring, flanked by warm flute and saxophone melodies. Every note seemed to echo with intention, reverberating through the tightly packed crowd and washing over listeners like a wave.
Blending electronic elements with organic instrumentation gave the set a cinematic quality, feeling both otherworldly and deeply personal.
Chicago showed up in force. The Empty Bottle was packed, steamy, and electric. The air was thick like a punk show, but the mood was pure awe. As the night reached its emotional peak with “The Dark Is Rising,” a hush fell over the audience. The shimmering melodies floated through the space like a final blessing, and the crowd stood frozen, eyes fixed on the stage, absorbing every last note. It was a moment of collective stillness, rare and beautiful. With decades behind them, Mercury Rev proved that their music still holds a rare kind of magic. It’s timeless, transportive, and utterly their own. This wasn’t just a concert. It was a reminder of the quiet power of a band that continues to evolve while staying true to its singular, dreamlike vision.
All photography by Oscar De Leon
