Photos by Andy Argyrakis

With every passing season and album, word keeps on steadily spreading about indie pop, alternative rock and R&B-infused duo LANY, who’ve organically expanded beyond clubs into the larger likes of Credit Union 1 Arena.

Though it was always appealing to see the primary duo of singer/sometimes keyboardist/underrated songwriter Paul Klein and drummer/programming wiz Jake Gross in a smaller setting, their melodic and instantly memorable tunes would probably sound best being belted from the rafters, and a little over a decade later, there have plenty of choices.

The “Soft” World Tour comes on the heels of that very album, which was crafted in the aftermath of Klein getting hit by a car while riding his Vespa and the painstaking recovery process contributing to the all-around reflective nature of the material.

It was no wonder why LANY and a couple backers opened a near two-hour night with the title track, “Why” and “Make Me Forget,” each relatively new to the Windy City, but could’ve easily been mistaken as part of the preexisting cannon.

The power ballad “You!” was certainly part of the latter category, as were the bangers “If You See Her,” “I Don’t Wanna Love You Anymore” and “Thick And Thin,” none of which were singles in the traditional sense, yet yielded reactions like they were ubiquitous chart-toppers.

Whether or not LANY, who are often referred to as America’s answer to The 1975, ever breaks through to that degree remains to be seen, but fellow current tracks “Know You Naked,” “Stuck,” “Sound Of Rain” or “Good Parts” possess the potential.

Either way, the pair fulfilled faithful’s wishes and ventured to a secondary stage for stripped down renditions of “Last Forever,” “13” and “IIYSB,” frequently slapping hands and dancing with a lucky fan along the way.

It was “Pink Skies” onward as “Prettiest Thing I’ve Ever Seen,” “When Did You Stop Loving Me?” and “Destiny” prepared the masses for a monstrous stretch of sing-a-longs featuring gospel-style fervor, including the emotional “I Quit Drinking / Hericane,” “‘Cause You Have To” and “Malibu Nights,” followed by the romantic sugar rush of “XXL” as LANY’s much-deserved leap to the next level finally came to fruition.

For additional information on LANY, visit ThisIsLANY.com.

Upcoming shows at Credit Union 1 Arena include Keith Sweat, Joe, Dru Hill, Ginuwine and Kut Klose (Jun. 19); E-40, Juelz Santana, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Do Or Die and DJ Envy (Aug. 29). For additional details, visit CreditUnion1Arena.com.

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