chicago, illinois

Kai Slater feeling the music as Sharp Pins rocks Lincoln Hall’s main stage.

Sharp Pins is the solo project of Chicago-based musician Kai Slater, who through the blending of dapper 1960s fashion, as well as sounds from the 60s and 70s rock and roll scene, makes his live performances a standout in Chicago’s indie music scene. Sharp Pins recently played Chicago’s Lincoln Hall for the opening set of Indie rock artist Kate Bollinger’s ”Songs From a Thousand Frames of Mind” Tour. With jokes being thrown at the crowd, cheers ringing out between each indie rock and roll track, and some serious talent ringing out from drummer Peter, Bassist Joe, and Kai himself on guitar, Sharp Pins rocked Lincoln Hall’s stage.

As the well-dressed audience flooded the floor and the doors behind were shut, Sharp Pins started their set.

Slater’s 12-string electric guitar rang out over the crowd as the band performed some of their best-performing tracks from albums old and new. A few notable tracks played, if you aren’t familiar with Sharp Pins’ discography, are “You Turned off The Light” and “Bye Bye Basil” from the band’s 2023 album Turtle Rock, and “Lorelei” from their most recently released 2024 album, Radio DDR.

Sharp Pins took the audience on a ride through their discography and explored different energies throughout; laid-back, energy-filled, and intimate moments kept the experience fresh and lovely, to say the least. Drummer Peter, bassist Joe, and lead vocalist/ guitarist Kai were dressed in a 60s formal-inspired wardrobe, with clear fashion influences coming from early rock and roll artists such as The Beatles, The Kinks, and The Beach Boys. Even the way the band carried themselves on stage, from simply playing their instruments to dancing around, was reminiscent of the super pop culturally influential decade that was the 60s. Each of these elements complimented each other seamlessly to tie together the brand that is Sharp Pins.

When Sharp Pins takes the stage, they connect to the music in such an authentic way, which is visible through the band’s giddy attitude, dress code, lyrics, and overall vibe. I actually had the opportunity to photograph one of Sharp Pins’ shows earlier this year, when Slater was performing the opening set for Francis of Delirium, an indie rock band from Luxembourg. Now opening for Kate Bollinger, it’s clear that Slater’s music is growing exponentially which is super inspiring.