4 rockers. 3 Days.  3 Shows. 1 Music Video.

The assault began last Saturday at the famed Double Door.  The Steps’ Chicago debut was on a stage that has hosted The Rolling Stones and Kings of Leon.  After the cheers subsided, the band stole few hours of sleep before heading to Fig Media studios to shoot a music video for upcoming single, “Out Tonight.”

After the initial invitation from Fig CEO James Gustin, the band sat with Fig director Tim Musho, who developed a simple and brilliant concept.

Building on the branding that Jon Pattillo at FC+ originated on the Take It All In EP art, the members were shot individually on a white background.  The footage will be supplemented with live shots and a cute girl TBD, the lyrical focus of the song to which singer Will Thompson swoons “Way uptown in the middle of the night/ we free ourselves and touch the sky/ Can I take you out tonight?”

After wrapping the shoot, The Steps performed in the adjacent courtyard under the train tracks, blasting the sound out into the quaint neighborhood and into the train station across the street.  The response was almost immediate.  Pony-tailed moms with sport strollers of newborns, businessmen on vespas, Ray Ban-ed teens, and hunched older gentlemen alike flooded the tiny space and cheered The Steps through multiple encores.  The wildly successful guerilla gig ended with barbeque and a special set from Fig’s own DJ Erik

On Monday, The Steps staged the main event of the University of Illinois : Chicago’s “Transportation Day” with the help of local production wizzes Soundtronix.  The show was sponsored by UIC’s Office of Sustainability and National Wildlife Federation’s “Chill Out” campaign.

UIC won the concert in a contest put on by NWF, and promoted with a theme song written and recorded by The Steps.  Local Chicago band, Athens, opened up the show. Thanks to UIC’s Kate Yoshida and team, NWF’s Jennifer Fournelle, Shell Rumhor, and Carey Stanton, the concert went off without a hitch, and The Steps helped kick off UIC’s Green Week in style.

The short flight back to Austin left us all missing deep dish, hotdogs, and the fresh-faced fans.  Next up is a double dose of  New York City October 7 (Webster Hall) and October 9 (Crash Mansion) followed by the CMJ Music and Media Conference late October.

The Steps on Taylor Street

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