Chicago’s Best Kept Secret, a genuine Indy gem cover band that performs chart-topping pop extravaganzas a la carte and off-the-menu, Broadway show tunes, acoustic country, golden eighties, seventies disco, Disney classics, and everything in between, is getting the post-pandemic deserved recognition.
Since its inception in 2008, the band’s premise was to entertain and enjoy; Rod Tuffcurls & Bench Press has done this and much more. Their musicianship, exhilarating, over-the-top performances sprinkled with comedic song introductions and animated interaction with audiences and each other guarantee a memorable night. Their shows prove there is no need to stand in the queue for hours emptying the credit card funds to have a good time. Rod Tuffcurls is a gift that keeps giving to audiences across the Midwest. Suppose any occasion needs to be lit up with music, whether it is a college campus event, a family celebration, a venue, a local park, or a block party. In that case, the friendly neighborhood band will show up dressed in their party workout uniform to secure an evening of enjoyment most of the time, free of charge, courtesy of gracious hosts or townships.
Recently, Arlington Heights and Elmhurst Northwest suburbs featured the band as the main attraction for their summer festivals, and what a treat it was. The last time I saw the band was pre-pandemic, so when I eyed on Instagram that they were performing at “Frontier Days” and “Rock the Block” festivals, I connected with my friends, and off we went, ready to sing along and celebrate as always they did not disappoint. Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press members are prime performers who take pride in their vocal capabilities, stage presence, and organic interaction with an audience that ranges from families with young children to college-age students to aunties and uncles, grandmas, and grandpas. Energetic and crowd-pleasing, they cover Les Miserables, Cher, Morgan Wallen, Taylor Swift, Queen, and Journey’s songs in addition to Disney Duck Tales, Karaoke staple Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”. The attendees groove from classics to contemporary sounds, including a refreshment break while enjoying Super Mario Bros Music Theme. Their music catalog has plenty for all tastes in music and moods. The fun is guaranteed, and good spirit and participation are part of the starting package of the band’s concertgoers.
Their energy is off the charts, and the positive vibe is palpable. It’s a gift for the soul and a workout for the body. The unforgettable, pleasant experience is guaranteed under the summer moonlight or the colorful lights the night at the band concerts. It is an out-of-the-ordinary experience of traveling across decades of music and zip codes from Broadway to Los Angeles, From Chicago to Nashville, all through the magic of a cover band unparagoned that is a must-see Midwest entertainment. This cover band, da rling, will light up the place lively.