Chicago, Illinois — November 6, 2026
This past chilly Friday night in the Loop, Basement brought their North American “Wired” tour to Chicago, and with a line stretched down the street, eager fans showed up early to catch every band on the bill. First on stage of the four was Lowertown, who came prepared with a killer set that warmed fans up for the long night. They opened alongside English rock band High Vis and hardcore band Big Boy from California’s Bay Area.
Lowertown is an indie alternative-rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, though they don’t particularly fit in a box. Formed by high school best friends in their sophomore year, Avsha Weinberg and Olivia Osby planted their roots in Atlanta’s DIY scene. Over the past 8 years, they have built a loyal fanbase, some of whom stood at the House of Blues barricade.
The band casually strolled onto stage. Olivia wielded her forest green Fender, decorated with scrap lace and keychains, including a plush of Dale, the main character on the cover of their latest album, Ugly Duckling Union (UDU). Bassist Sean Henry and drummer Immanuel Pennington have toured with Lowertown for the past few years, and tonight is no exception. The lights shifted to bright red, bathing the stage in a warm glow, and the band kicked off the set with “I Like You A Lot,” a single off UDU. Olivia’s gentle, melodic vocals open the song, then Pennington’s cymbals crash in alongside Avsha’s punching vocals, and the song transforms into something raw, aching, and full of force.
Olivia described the next song, “Scum,” as one of her favorites to play. Between her unfiltered shrieks tearing through the room, Avsha’s sharp, speedy riffs fill the short gaps.
Next up, “(I Like to Play with) Mutts” is Olivia’s moment to make the stage hers. She slips on white gloves, a fur collar, and black sunglasses like she’s stepping into character, and the band tears through the song. Then comes “Big Thumb,” another single from UDU, where Pennington grabs a tambourine, and Olivia trades her guitar for a harmonica. Olivia skips and floats across the stage, breathing a twangy tune that drifts over the crowd.
Ending the set with their biggest hit, “Best Person You Know,” there’s no doubt Basement fans became entranced with the powerhouse band. Through the six-song set, they surely left a lasting impression and brought an electrifying energy to the crowd. Lowertown has two shows left on Basement’s Wired tour, for which tickets can be purchased here, and stream their latest album Ugly Duckling Union.
