CSS @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago, USA, 8 May 2024

CSS

CSS @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago, USA, 8 May 2024,

May 15, 2024
By Candace McDuffie

Web Exclusive

When Brazilian side CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy) released their self-titled debut album in 2005, they struck a chord in the cultural zeitgeist with soulful guitar anthems and feminist venom. The all-female group – Lovefoxxx, Ana Rezende, Carolina Parra and Luiza Sá – felt like a breath of fresh air when they burst onto the indie rock scene in the mid-2000s.

Their lyrics were cheeky, sometimes spontaneous and always fun. “Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above” combines bouncy disco synths with apt phrasing and an epic guitar breakdown. “Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex” was so catchy that it ended up in an Apple Ipod commercial in 2007, signaling a seemingly simpler time.

The latest CSS album, Planta, released in 2013 – leaving fans to feast on sonic remnants of previous works from the past decade. Their limited short reunion tour – which is the group's first in 11 years – is aptly called 'PASSING A NUMBER OF YEARS PERIODS 2024'. The ladies made a stop at Chicago's Lincoln Hall on May 8, and it was well worth the wait.

“I often DJ and have fans come up to me telling me how much we've helped them understand themselves, shown them a way out of societal norms and even inspired them to be who they are which melts my heart because most of these fans they are sensitive queer creative people,” Lovefoxxx said in a press release.

“CSS has always had this attitude of not taking itself too seriously and it still does. We first got together because we wanted an excuse to live and work at the right time. We are deeply united by our sense of humor and deep brotherhood and friendship. It's so nice to know that we touched some people and we're still collecting that love 20 years later.”

CSS are as lively as ever, with their chemistry palpable from the very first moments they hit the stage. Lovefoxxx commented that he barely did any promo for this tour and was happy to see Lincoln Hall full of people excited to be in attendance again.

The band's arsenal of hits is impressive. The quartet opened with “CSS Suxxx” before delving into the aforementioned “Music Is My Hot Hot Sex” and “Hits Me Like A Rock.” The singer (semi-)jokingly wished Michelle Obama breathed into “Move” right before she performed it, saying the song could be in an exercise commercial and the former first lady starred in it.

They slipped into other tracks like 'City Grrrl', 'Teenage Tiger Cat' and, of course, 'Let's Make Love and Listen To Death From Above'. CSS briefly left the stage before returning with gusto for an encore consisting of “I Wanna Be Your J. Lo”, “Art Bitch” and “Alala”. Once they finished the performance, the women took a collective bow on stage and were thoroughly enjoying the moment.

CSS have a few North American tour dates, including Kilby Block Party and Just Like Heaven festival. The future of the musicians remains unknown – but whatever they do will be highly anticipated.