PHOTOS BY LAURA GRAY

Winnipeg's sometimes quartet, sometimes sextet the Weakerthans was actually a quintet at Chicago's Metro last night (Oct. 25) as they strutted through tracks from all four of their releases, including most recent studio effort, Reunion Tour. Kicking the evening off with the procrastination anthem "Psalms for the Elks Lodge Last Call" from 2003's Reconstruction Site, the five fellas all donning button-up shirts seemed to be prepping the Windy City for a mellow show, but later, with a flicker of the stage's large circular lights, the evening shifted into overdrive.

Bassist Greg Smith and guitarist Stephen Carroll seemingly battled it out for the most energetic on stage, and during the reflective lyrics of crowd favorite "Aside," the two rockers jumped and jerked in an attempt to mimic the audience's enthusiasm, shouting, "Get clobbered on by courtesy / In love with love and lousy poetry." By the time lead singer John K. Samson uttered the line "I swear I'm going to bite you hard," from the feline perspective "Plea From a Cat Named Virtute," the tables had shifted and the crowd seemed unable to keep up with the Canadian frenzy onstage. Five encore songs later, including a solo Samson leading a collective chant of "I hate Winnipeg" from the song "One Great City," the Weakerthans were unable to keep up with themselves, ending an intense 90-minute set of music mania. 

We asked: The Weakerthans are known for lyrics that are almost like short stories. If you could have the band turn any tale into a song, what story would it be?

Name: Joe Bolokowicz
Age: 27
Hometown: Mokena, IL
Occupation: Advertising
"Puff the Magic Dragon."

Name: Tonya Ditez
Age: 18
Hometown: Elgin, IL
Occupation: CNA
"Sula by Toni Morrison."

Name: Jacob Wojduila
Age: 18
Hometown: Elgin, IL
Occupation: CNA
"The Bell Jar."

Name: Stephanie Johns
Age: 25
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Occupation: Bartender
"Esther from the Bible."

Name: John Weber
Age: 28
Hometown: Waukesha, WI
Occupation: Sales manager
"The sprawling of urbanization"

Name: Chad Szopinki
Age: 28
Hometown: Waukesha, WI
Occupation: Sales
"Any Dr. Seuss book."

Name: Emily Vester
Age: 19
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Student
"How about, my ex-boyfriend had a baby with his new girlfriend and the baby was born on your birthday? Yeah, that's true."

Name: Sarah Vester
Age: 21
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Occupation: Student
"Sanctuary by Faulkner."

Guitarist Stephen Carroll / Photo by Laura Gray

Samson with bassist Greg Smith / Photo by Laura Gray

Give it up for the Weakerthans / Photo by Laura Gray

The Weakerthans at the Metro / Photo by Laura Gray