It’s back to school time in Chicago and fans who attended class at Metro – which is celebrating 40 years of unforgettable live music – on the evening of Aug. 21 were reminded of the many lessons learned through Peaches’ seminal 2000 album, The Teaches of Peaches.
As part of the second leg of The Teaches of Peaches Anniversary Tour, the evening was a celebration of sex-positive pop music with a stage show that could have even made John Waters blush. As the night progressed, it became clear that in the over two decades since this game-changing album was released, Peaches’ lesson plan is still an important part of the societal syllabus.
Peaches took the stage using a walker which she quickly kicked away as she removed a few articles of clothing to make herself a bit more comfortable.
“Yes Chicago. I did play here for The Teaches of Peaches way back, 20 years ago,” she said feigning a grandmotherly voice. “I’m back, better than f*cking ever. We’re gonna have so much fun tonight.”
She proceeded to “Set It Off” before her band members joined her for “Hot Rod” and “Cum Undun.” Another wardrobe change proceeded “Diddle My Skittle” during which Peaches walked out to the center of the crowd as fans gleefully lifted her well-above the audience sea level. After crowd surfing back to the stage, she revealed a new fashion statement in the form of a leotard with bold print reading, “Thank God for Abortion.”
Before “Sucker,” guitarist Bláthin unleashed a gnarly solo that put any hairband misogynist to shame all while displaying incredible feats of flexibility. The punk party continued with “Rock Show” and, later, Peaches revisited fans in the front row during a raucous take on “AA XXX.”
“This is a good one. You’re gonna like this one. You know why? ‘Cause I f*cking like this one,” said Peaches when introducing “Lovertits.” Along with every song from The Teaches of Peaches, the setlist also included a few tracks from the special edition’s bonus material as well as hits from Peaches’ entire career.
Of course, this story included a champagne-soaked happy ending in the form of a venue-wide sing-along of the album’s most iconic single, “F*ck the Pain Away.”
The human body is a thing of beauty. Bigger is better – at least when it comes to prop-filled stage shows – yet less is more in regards to minimalist drum machine beats. Feminism is to be celebrated, stereotypes are to be obliterated, and the patriarchy must fall. These are but just a few of the enduring lessons of The Teaches of Peaches.
The Teaches of Peaches Anniversary Tour continues through the end of this month. Check out photos – including the evening’s opener Sophie Powers – from the Metro Chicago stop below and click here to pick-up tickets to see Peaches perform live in a city near you. More information can be found at Teachesofpeaches.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
