Grails has a singular sound that brings to mind many descriptions: psychedelic, cinematic, atmospheric, textured. The kind of music perfectly suited to small clubs and dimly lit bars, where, separated by mere feet, the musicians and audience can spend 90ish minutes getting lost in sound. That is exactly what took place at Chicago’s Empty Bottle on July 10th, the last show of the Grails 2024 summer U.S. tour.
This was Grails first show in Chicago since 2019, and 2023 brought us a new Grails record – Anches En Maat – and a re-visitation of their debut, The Burden of Hope, for its 20th anniversary. Their set list covered a variety of their catalog, from the contemplative sparseness of early albums, through to the electronic infused meditations of recent work. Let’s hope their next return is soon! Check out some photos from the show below.







