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London band Saint Etienne debuted in 1990 when grunge groups ruled the airwaves this trio went against the norm and made electronic music. Saint Etienne consists of Sarah Cracknell, Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs named after a French football team.

Bob and Pete were music journalists who made an album using different vocalists until settling on Sarah as a permanent member. Their music has always been influenced by past decades of the sixties and seventies. Throughout their career they have worked with legendary Kylie Minogue and DJ Paul van Dyke. They were featured on films like Volver and the television show Grey’s Anatomy as well.

The trio’s latest album is called Words and Songs by Saint Etienne and they are on tour with it landing in Chicago this week at Lincoln Hall.

Sarah entered the stage wearing a sparkle dress and boa. With that one length long blonde hair whipping around she launched into “Lose That Girl.” 

They played many familiar tunes from their long career including “Who Do You Think You Are” and “Burnt Out Car.”

New tracks were worked in to the set with “Popular” and DJ.” “A Good Thing” from the Pedro Almodovar movie Volver was played but it was hard for them to pronounce the movie title with an English accent.

Sarah complimented the area around Lincoln Hall as she said she explored it around lunchtime that day. “Sylvie” was a high point from the Good Humor album with its sixties vibe background video.

Cracknell vibed around slowly in her go-go boots keeping to a relatively lower alto range with “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” that is actually a Neil Young cover.

“Tonight” the latest single really fits in with their past catalogue and sounded smooth thanks to back up singer from the group Birdie. 

They returned for an encore where they switched up previous shows by singing “You’re in a Bad Way” before closing with “He’s On the Phone.”

Afterwards Etienne came out into the lobby pleasing fans and signing posters making the concert experience complete.

For more great shows visit www.lincolnhallchicago.com.