![L99A6117](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A6117.jpg)
The prolific California band Thee Oh Sees released yet another fine album this year, Mutilator Defeated at Last, keeping up its run of catchy psychedelic-tinged garage rock records. Frontman John Dwyer completely changed the lineup of the band playing behind him a year ago, and the lineup had changed yet again by the time Thee Oh Sees came to Chicago for two sold-out shows this week at the Empty Bottle. The band’s current configuration has two drummers and a bassist backing up Dwyer, with the four of them arrayed across the front of the stage, Dwyer standing stage right instead of in the center, with a stack of amps behind him. As he usually does, Dwyer held his guitar high on his torso, with his eyes frequently shrouded in darkness; he stuck out his tongue and spat onto the stage many times. He sang nearly every note in reverb-drenched falsetto, and cranked out a series of searing guitar riffs. The two-drum lineup gave the music a driving intensity, especially on the last few songs, when the percussion seemed to take on more multilayered complexity. After playing more than 90 minutes — a fairly long set for Thee Oh Sees — Dwyer and his bandmates called it a night without an encore. It was a strong night from beginning to end, with noisy, energetic sets by two opening bands, the Blind Shake and Make-Overs.
Thee Oh Sees
![L99A6615](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A6615.jpg)
The Blind Shake
![L99A5699](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5699.jpg)
![L99A5760](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5760.jpg)
![L99A5852](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5852.jpg)
![L99A5863](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5863.jpg)
![L99A5872](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5872.jpg)
![L99A5960](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5960.jpg)
![L99A5983](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5983.jpg)
Make-Overs
![L99A5007](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5007.jpg)
![L99A5407](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5407.jpg)
![L99A5449](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5449.jpg)
![L99A5479](https://www.undergroundbee.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/L99A5479.jpg)