British pop upstarts Sundara Karma are on the cusp of releasing their debut LP, Youth Is Only Ever Fun in Retrospect, next month on RCA’s Chess Club branch. In preparation, the four-piece group is currently in the midst of a sprawling US/UK tour that had a recent layover in Chicago. Paste photographer Sarah Hess spent a full day with members Oscar Lulu, Ally Baty, Dom Cordell and Hayden Evans as they each received the same tattoo (letters PMA for “Positive Mental Attitude”) at Taylor Street Tattoo, completed soundcheck and played a rollicking show at Bottom Lounge. Their van was unfortunately broken into, but nothing was stolen and the window was mended with tape, garbage bags and some DIY initiative. To close out the night, the band and openers Spring King and Izzy Bizu became honorary Chicagoans via some Malört initiation shots.
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Sundara Karma at JBTV Studios, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Taylor Street Tattoo, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Taylor Street Tattoo, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Taylor Street Tattoo, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Taylor Street Tattoo, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Taylor Street Tattoo, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.
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Sundara Karma at Taylor Street Tattoo, Chicago, IL, 11/23/2016.