Best Sets with Brook Anderson
This is Best Sets: A deep dive with some of your favorite people on their favorite concerts.
Brook Anderson is a DIY event curator, self-taught chef, and founder of Second Helping Supper Club — dining experiences with unique menus rooted in connection. Fresh off celebrating the club’s two-year anniversary, she’s entering an exciting new chapter in a new space, teaming up with Chicago’s exciting culinary talent, and launching a summer dinner series bringing even more people to the table.
Three things Brook wants you to know about her and life in general: 1) She’s from a town of 385 people in Minnesota. 2) Starting every day with a hot coffee is mandatory. 3) She re-discovered her love of cooking by going to the Logan Square Farmers Market and creating 9 layers breakfast sandwiches for fun.
Look out for upcoming Supper Clubs, but until then, get put onto some new music...
1) What is the best set of live music you’ve ever seen? There are a few shows that come to mind, but I think that if I really had to choose, it would be The Last Dinner Party at Lollapalooza. I bought the Sunday ticket just to see them. It was on one of the stages where there was a hill so we could just see directly into the stage. They're such performers and such a fucking girl group getting after it.
2) Who is doing live music better than anyone right now? I was absolutely blown away by the Maria’s set. It was the sexiest, hottest show. They have such chemistry on stage and you can feel that radiating off of them.
3) What is your favorite venue to see live music in? Thalia Hall for sure. The vibes are so good and the bars around it are really nice. I’ve seen so many good shows there. I haven’t had any bad experiences there.
4) Who do you think should have more eyes on them but don’t? I definitely have to plug my partner. Hollyy is his primary band, but with his side project Tanner Dane, I think he’s truly doing heartfelt work and a lot of songs that he feels so deeply about. I think he’s such an amazing musician.
5) Who would you want to see live that you haven’t seen yet? Big Thief. I really want to see them live. I think Adrienne Lenker is the duality of a woman. She has this super soft music and then she presents totally opposite of that.
6) Is there a dream festival you’d like to attend one day? I really want to go to Outside Lands in San Francisco. It seems like the perfect place to see live music.
7) What’s the best piece of concert merchandise that you own? I honestly don’t know that I have any merchandise that I bought at a concert. I skip the merch line every time. I see that line and I’m like “nope”. But I do have a Tyler, the Creator sweatshirt that I love so much. I thrifted it, it was an amazing find.
8) Have you ever had an experience with someone you’re a stan of? I did meet 50 Cent. I used to work at a gym in Dallas. These two definitely security guard looking dudes came in and said, “Hey how much would it be for a day pass?”. My manager did actually charge him for a day pass, and then he came in and I checked him in. It’s so funny, he did his work out and was just on his phone the whole time.
9) What was your first concert? So I’m from a really small town in Minnesota. So I wouldn’t say I went to any real concert until college. I went to this weird suburb in St. Paul and saw Juicy J. It was a lot of fun, we were right in the front, and he put on an amazing show.
10) F***, Marry, Kill: the pit, the seated balcony, side stage? F*** side stage, marry the pit, kill the seated balcony. I don’t like the balcony, I feel very removed. The pit is where the fun happens. Its where you actually dance. Backstage is cool. You get to meet people.
Brook Anderson calls Chicago, IL home. You can find upcoming events with Second Helping Supper Club by clicking the link here.
