Latter Climbs Their Way to Thalia Hall Debut
Chicago, Illinois - December 12th, 2025
To conclude a successful year including an EP release and coinciding tour for What Lives Inside Me, Chicago based noise-rock band Latter took the iconic Thalia Hall stage for the first time, opening for The Armed’s EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED tour alongside Prostitute this past Friday.
Opening their set with “Callous,” the first song off My Body Is My Sickness, frontwoman Meredith Haines’ roaring vocals suddenly strike the building crowd, bringing murmurs to a halt. Red strobe lights illuminate the theatrical stage, reflecting the anger behind the lyrics with Haines standing front and center shredding her ruby red telecaster, while drummer, Jon Alvarado, brings the hard-hitting beat. Before continuing down the LP with “Hole for a Home,” Haines introduces the band, mentioning being from Chicago and giving thanks for showing up early, resulting in an eruption of welcoming cheers from the crowd.
As the lighting shifts to a dark blue, Haines takes a moment to explain that she was notified that an old college friend who was in the music industry program would be at the show, though she didn’t start playing music until 23 years old. Reflecting on that now at 36, she dedicates a song from the new EP— “Expiration Date”— to him. Punching vocals sent vibrations from head to toe, with lyrics that detail resisting feelings of running out of time and being too old to be what you aspire to be.
Haines exclaims, “This next song’s about my ex!” leading to subtle side comments that quickly become silenced by the first chords struck of “I Don’t Owe You,” the LP’s second single that kicked off the band’s quick success in Chicago’s hardcore scene. Continuing the setlist, Latter plays the rest of the new EP including lead single, “Hope You Love Her,” followed by “Bloodline,” and “Left to Waste.”
Audience members gasp in awe as Haines returns to the stage in a hospital gown wielding a hand saw. After expressing gratitude to be sharing the stage with Prostitute and The Armed, she asks those who are chronically ill to raise their hand, and dedicates their last song of the night, “My Body Is My Sickness,” to fans who share the struggle. To end the performance, Haines screams, “No vices!” and begins aggressively sawing the gown until it’s almost completely torn in half, all with an expression of pure agony. Haines ritualistically pulls off this performance at the end of every show as a symbol of reclaiming the pain of being continually dismissed by the healthcare system according to an Instagram post.
It’s safe to say Latter left a lasting impression on show goers with their unforgettable performance that warmed up the crowd for what was to come for the rest of the night. With this being their last show of the year, there’s no doubt this was an establishing moment for the band as this is the biggest stage they’ve taken on together. During their break from shows, Latter will be recording an album heading into 2026. Stay up to date with future releases and show announcements by following Latter on Instagram, you won’t want to miss it.
