Words and Photos by Connor Hannan
On the third stop of his Smile You’re On Tour, Jutes took over Chicago’s legendary House of Blues. Fans were ready well before he ever hit the stage, with the line stretching down Dearborn Street and over the Chicago River, setting the tone for a sold-out night that also featured opening sets from Wilt and In Color.
Jutes has carved out his own corner of alternative music with a sound that pulls from trap-infused hip-hop, aggressive pop-punk, grunge and nu metal, with the darker, atmospheric weight of Deftones coming through. Heavy guitars and distorted textures filled the House of Blues without losing the hooks that make his music immediately accessible. Jutes’ stage presence is second to none, covering every inch of the stage while constantly connecting with fans throughout the night.
Opening with “Cry Wolf,” Jutes wasted little time turning up the intensity, following it with tracks like “SMUT,” “One of Us” and “Blink Twice.” The set moved easily between heavier moments and more melodic cuts, with “I Can Fix You,” “Obsessed,” “Smile, You’re on Camera” and “Vertigo” showcasing just how much ground his sound covers. The current tour has also been giving fans new material, including “Love Psychosis” and “Take Care of Her,” before closing out the main set with “Disassociate.”
With a crowd willing to wait in the Chicago summer heat just to get through the doors, it was clear Jutes’ audience is only getting bigger. Smile You’re On Tour feels like a fitting snapshot of where he is right now; heavy, melodic and unpredictable.
Catch one of his upcoming tour dates here.
Jutes
