On her MySpace page, Chicago instrumentalist
Alison Chesley declares, “Aggravate the cello.” That pretty much seems the ethos behind Helen Money, her debut solo album. The 11 cello-powered songs range from unnerving to downright menacing (titles like “I’ll See You in Hell” and “Iggy” should give listeners an indication of what’s in store). Chesley was a founding member of Verbow, an alt-pop group that released a pair of albums at the end of the ’90s and toured with Morrissey, Liz Phair, and Counting Crows. Those gigs led to session work with artists as diverse as post-punk legend Bob Mould and mook-rockers Disturbed. On her own, the classically trained Chesley takes a more snaky approach to songs, filling spaces with foreboding string hums and finger-blistering virtuosity.
Fri., Aug. 10, 10 p.m.
