John C. Reilly
12/6/7 Cubby Bear in Chicago
It’s always a little surreal to see the actors you’ve watched on screen standing two feet in front of you to begin with. John C. Reilly’s performance heightened this father as an over the top and frequently lewd escapade that left the audience guessing what he might say or do next. Coming off as a southern musician singing throughout the decades, Reilly performed in the character of Dewey Cox. The performance was a promotion for this new film (Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) but Reilly took it to a level of wondering where reality ends and meets with something made up in show.
No doubt this show at the Cubby Bear was very special. Although he has committed to other tour dates and venues, Reilly’s Chicago roots make this stop closer to home. While singing in various styles, sometimes Elvis and Dylan, Reilly proved he had a decent singing voice. The tight backing band filled in whatever gaps were left from his guitar playing. Mainly, Reilly attempted to woo the audience both during and between the songs. As a highlight, Inara George came out and sang with him on one of the songs.
Of course, one always wonder what is acting and what is real. In this case, John C. Reilly fully acted the part of Dewey Cox so much so that he joked, “I heard they’ve got an actor by the name of John C. Reilly to play my part in the movie.” While it’s true that I’m much more of a fan of his dramatic vs comedic roles, especially Magnolia, Reilly played his part adeptly. I started wondering what other bands I’d seen where perhaps the people on stage were merely acting or playing a part vs. striving to create something vital and different….