The buzz has slowly been building for UK band Daughter, who’s devoted fans gathered in Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on Friday night to hear the trio play new material from their debut album If You Leave, released on April 30th.

New York based WILSEN opened the evening charming the usually chatty crowd with their epic scope, creative instrumentation and dream-like melodies. Using everything from nail files to empty coffee cans to create the perfect sounds, WILSEN showed the utmost skill, giving beautiful layers to music that touches the sublime. This was their last show on tour with Daughter and they played their hearts out, priming the crowd for the treat to come.

Listening to Daughter for the first time feels like hearing the diary of a girl on the verge of pulling a Sylvia Plath. The band’s raw lyrics reverberate the universal chords of torment, stinging like a blunt razor across a partially healed wound. And yet, the sheepish girl that fronts the band is anything but. After being greeted with cheers and “I love you’s”, Daughter’s Elena Tonra whispers a bashful “Thank you” back to the crowd. With her pixie bowl haircut and black French inspired clothes, Elena moves to the mic with unexpected hesitancy and shyness.

Based on Daughter’s self-described depressive music, you’d expect an aloof singer with Daria-like monotone adhering to customary hello’s only. Instead that night Chicagoans met a timid, slightly awkward girl with a sweetness reminiscent of The Office’s Erin Hannon–only Elena Tonra is clearly cool. Over-excited fans squeal, “She’s so cuuuuuuuute!” in a way usually unseen outside of teen girl and boy bands. As Tonra periodically went to the mic, she’d smile sheepishly, making short quips before stepping away almost blushing. From first sight, you really just want to carry her around in your pocket.

However, as the band opens with “Shallows,” Tonra transforms into the forlorn author of her dark lyrics. The contemplative side of her emerges as she sings openly about thoughts usually reserved for diaries. The things you share in the utmost confidence to your bestest friend (if you’re lucky enough to have one), she uncovers for all. Lyrics range from depression, despair, heartache, break-ups and bitterness. In “Smother,” Tonra sings “I sometimes wish I had stayed inside my mother never to come out.” With mesmerizing melody and beats, enhanced occasionally by Jonsi-like violin-bowing to the guitar, Daughter’s music has a texture and ferocity which reverberates through your whole being.

Tonra exudes a type of “love-lorn yearning” as she almost revels in painful heartbreak and relational anger. The chorus to “Landfill” reads “This is torturous the electricity between both of us and this is dangerous because I want you so much but I hate your guts. I hate you.” Ironically enough, she sings this next to her long-time boyfriend, guitarist Igor Haefeli. Let’s hope the song’s about a previous relationship… Either way, the girl’s got balls.

As songs end, Tonra switches back to display her polar-opposite cheerful self. A silent crowd watches noiselessly trying to adjust between these personality extremes while the band (Tonra, Haefeli and drummer Remi Aguilella) tunes between songs. At one point Haefeli remarks smartly, “This is the quietest show we’ve had in a while. Thanks for making us feel nervous.” One fan responded summarizing the sentiment of the entire room: “It’s because we’re overwhelmed!”

Between songs, Tonra easily converses with the crowd, buying time as she tells the horror story of their last trip in Chicago–their car accident on the way to the show, running to the venue in the rain, arriving drenched and late, having to do their soundcheck in front of a full audience and ending with Haefeli breaking the neck of his guitar. “So,” she finishes, “it’s good to be back with you with all of our limbs intact.” “Although, we did bring the weather. Sorry about that,” Haefeli added, referring to the surprising English-like cold and rainy weather after the previous day’s warmth and sunshine. Later, Tonra almost knocks over her acoustic guitar and catches the neck just in time. Shortly after, her pick breaks mid-song and she manages to finish with the fragile pieces. “As I hold on to the remnants of my pick,” showing the crowd. To which Igor adds a comedic, “It’s happening again!”

Post set, Daughter return to the stage for an encore cover of their own creation using Bon Iver’s “Perth” and Hot Chip’s “Ready For The Floor.” Fans cheer and then wait several minutes as the band sorts themselves. Smiling slightly, Tunra breaks the silence with a jovial “Anticliiiiiiiiiiiimax,” before returning to tune the guitar.

Tonra’s performance and personality seem a contradiction in terms, and yet that’s exactly the depth needed to add potency to Daughter’s music. The band’s magic lies in this dichotomy. Tonra is a cheerful and quirky girl while Haefeli shows dry humor (though Aguilella remains silent), and they are all hugely relatable. You want to hang out with them. And yet, they share all of the depressing and secret thoughts we’ve all had.

The show had the most peculiar take-away. I left reflecting pensively and yet smiling as I remembered the entertaining moments. I never thought I’d define a show as overwhelming, depressing and…. cute. Weird but true.

Daughter finishes up their first North American stop over next week, visiting Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, San Francisco and LA before going back across the pond. Don’t worry, though. They’ll be back in the US in August.

*Review and Photos By Jessica Greene

Tour Dates:

16 May Seattle, Neumo’s
17 May Vancouver, Commodore
18 May Portland, Doug Fir Lounge
20 May San Francisco, Amoeba Music (in-store performance)
21 May LA, Troubadour
22 May Hollywood, Amoeba Music (in-store performance)

***More info on Daughter’s tour dates here.

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