Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Few tracks defined the 1990s to the degree of Deep Blue Something’s “Breakfast At Tiffany’s,” yet by the end of the decade, the beloved alternative rock/jangle pop band went on way too long of a break.

Though original singer/bassist Todd Pipes, his brother/guitarist/vocalist Toby Pipes, fellow guitarists Clay Bergus and Kirk Tatom, plus drummer John Kirtland would perform on occasion, outside of an under the radar EP, their latest long-player “Lunar Phase” marks its first in 24 years.

It was also the subject of a stop at the North Shore Center For Performing Arts’ newly repurposed North Theatre in Skokie, an intimate performance space boasting appealing acoustics and aesthetics, which by all accounts appeared to be Deep Blue Something’s first Chicagoland appearance in nearly three decades.

Thankfully, the headliners’ 90 minutes focused not only on the current collection and the gold-certified “Home,” but at least a sample of everything that came before or in between, beginning with “Daybreak And A Candle End” from the overlooked “Byzantium” release after the initial mania simmered down.

“Don’t Stop” and the other newer tunes were intentionally crafted to mirror the ’90s rather than attempting to appear overly contemporary, although considering the decade is making a Gen Z comeback, they all served as a welcome companion to say “Halo.”

“Will You Wait,” “Parkbench” and “Saint Morrissey,” the latter dedicated to the former singer of The Smiths, were a few that followed, demonstrating Deep Blue Something retained its chops, in spite of previous dormancy.

The guys returned to their independent beginnings for “7 A.M.” and it was fitting their international breakthrough “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” followed, featuring the medium but mighty crowd singing along at the top of its lungs.

Those who remembered INXS did the same come a cover of “Don’t Change,” maintaining the super-charged mood into an encore of “Home” and “War Song” when the North Theatre continued welcoming Deep Blue Something back while hoping for no more hiatuses.

For additional information on Deep Blue Something, visit DeepBlueSomethingOfficial.com.

Upcoming shows at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts Theatre include “West Side Story” (Aug. 19-30); Ally Venable Band (Aug. 22); Jim Messina (Aug. 28); Revelator (Aug. 29); Bill W. and Dr. Bob (Sept. 3-6); Ronnie Baker Brooks (Sept. 16); 10,000 Maniacs (Sept. 18); Monkeys On A String (Sept. 18); CTU Fall Festival (Sept. 19); The Petty Kings (Sept. 19); Knorrwood (Sept. 23); Head East (Sept. 24); Nefesh Mountain (Sept. 24); Don McLean (Sept. 25); The Wellermen (Sept. 25); Gromkie (Sept. 26); Reed Timmer (Oct. 1): “Swan Lake” (Oct. 2); Leonid & Friends (Oct. 3); “Ghostbusters” In Concert (Oct. 7-8); “Escape To Margaritaville” (Oct. 8-Nov. 1); Face 2 Face (Oct. 10); Feast A Da Funny (Oct. 16); Toad The Wet Sprocket (Oct. 17); La Diosa (Oct. 23); Maria Bamford (Oct. 24); Bill Blagg (Oct. 25); Vitamin String Quartet (Oct. 26) and The Sinatra Experience (Oct. 30). For additional details, visit NorthShoreCenter.org.

Related Articles

Deep Blue Something serving up “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” for Skokie’s rebooted North Theatre North Shore Center finds former Barenaked Ladies co-leader Steven Page stripping down as a duo North Shore Center “Lucky,” “Could Not Ask For More” from “I’ll Be” troubadour Edwin McCain Hard Rock Live might as well “Jump” over the original Van Halen singer “Diamond” David Lee Roth For the first time in a whopping 50 years, the English art pop of 10cc pleases Park West House Of Blues “Meant To Live” for two decades of Switchfoot’s landmark “The Beautiful Letdown” Blink-182: “Reunion” Tour at United Center Reggae, ska and punk is “What I Got” during Sublime with Rome’s “Farewell” to Hard Rock