It’s Friday night in the Chicago suburbs. Traffic crawls along Interstate 290, creating a river of steel as workers head home, hoping to get out tonight and blow off a little steam after a hard week’s work. The Great American Struggle, the newest release from the Broken Robots, is set to debut tonight at a bar in the very suburbs where it was inspired.
The LiveWire sits on a diagonal street, smack dab in the center of a neighborhood. Houses, apartments, and shops surround the bar, which looks like it came out of a detective novel. Inside, the bar is cramped, with a small stage at the far end. As I arrive, the Broken Robots are completing sound checks. Fans meander in and out of the bar for a smoke or to cool off—the crowded interior is like an oven.
The first act, Sunvolume, hits the stage and lights up the bar. Their high-energy garage/metal sound fills the room, pulling the crowd back inside. Justin Sanetra (guitar, vocals), Jimmy Russell (bass), and Brett Sassetti (drums) waste no time setting the tone for the night—upbeat and rocking.
They launch into “After Forever” (Black Sabbath), “Upside of a Downside,” “Tear Gas Tornado,” and “Down the Rabbit Hole” without a break. The music is tight and powerful, igniting the crowd. They continue with “Crystallizer,” “Fever in the Funkhouse,” and “Conditioned Too” before wrapping up with an amazing cover of “Behind the Wall of Sleep” (Black Sabbath). After the set, the two bands switch out gear in record time.
The Broken Robots open with two fan favorites, “Paisley Dress” and “Bad Habits.” The room comes alive with the sonorous tones of Tony, Elix, Ari, and Anthony, while Kat weaves her alluring tales.
Now the band is ready to unveil their latest project, The Great American Struggle. One of the most nerve-racking times in an artist’s life is when they share their art with the world and must stand back as it’s critiqued. The first song, “Circles,” is a big hit with the fans. The band sounds fantastic—vocals and instruments right on cue.
The night unfolds with the album performed in order. Fans are fully engaged and supportive. The bar buzzes with energy as Tony announces each song and shares a bit of insight. He’s a natural-born entertainer, and the crowd relishes this intimate time with the band.
When they reach “Going Places,” the band extends the song into a jam that transitions seamlessly into “Rat Fight.” The juxtaposition is striking. Singing about moving ahead and dealing with life, then circling back to their roots, the band offers a musical seven-layer cake—so much richness wrapped up in one performance.
The fans are having a blast, and the band would gladly play all night, but eventually, the show must close. They end with “Potential,” the crowd singing along in unison. Though the band says goodnight, the audience isn’t ready to let go. Cheers and chants bring them back for one more classic—and one of my personal favorites—“Sunshine.”
It’s been a wonderful kickoff for a great release. The band rides high on the hugs and goodwill from their fans who came out to support them. The Great American Struggle is now available on most streaming services and deserves a place in your collection.
