SOFI TUKKER bring Animal Talk tour to Chicago

Animal print and Mary Oliver set the stage

SOFI TUKKER brought their Animal Talk tour to Chicago's Huntington Bank Pavilion on September 25, opening the night to hyena cackles and tiger growls from the crowd. Zebra stripes and jaguar spots covered the venue, matching the stage visuals that featured animal cutouts paired with an excerpt from Mary Oliver's "Wild Geese." The poem's line—"You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves"—became a through line for the evening.

Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern emerged with two dancers and moved through a mix of recent and throwback songs including "Swing," "Barthelona," and "Best Friend." The duo linked the messaging of "Wild Geese" to the evolution of the tour's identity throughout the performance.

Pandemic livestreams and costume swaps

Midway through the set, SOFI TUKKER screened a compilation of clips from their COVID-19 pandemic livestreams, when the duo broadcast DJ sessions from their living room. Tucker described the series as one of his fondest memories. Sophie recalled one stream where they cosplayed as each other, prompting Tucker to leave the stage and return dressed as Sophie with an exaggerated impersonation. Sophie countered with a backwards cap and her own exaggerated persona while the two poked fun at each other.

The duo first met as college students in 2014 and wrote their debut single "Drinkee" during their final semester. The track earned them a Grammy nomination in 2017 and launched their professional career.

Brazilian Carnaval comes to Chicago

Near the end of the set, Sophie shared her affinity for the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture, influences that have led her to incorporate bossa nova elements and Portuguese lyrics into many of SOFI TUKKER's tracks. A wave of flags and musicians then transported the pavilion to the streets of Brazil as the duo performed "Brazilian Soul," turning the stage into a microcosm of the iconic Brazilian Carnaval.

The Chicago show marked the first live performance of "Tsunami," SOFI TUKKER's new collaboration with OneRepublic released on September 25. The Animal Talk tour continues through North America this month, with upcoming appearances at Austin City Limits and Las Vegas' EBC at Night.