Midwest progressive-indie musicians The Felix Culpa have launched a site featuring demos and lyrics open to the public for download from their latest release Sever Your Roots. The band has also written up a blurb about each song, giving their listeners some insight on the writing process, and creation of these wonderful tracks.
Visit www.severyourroots.com to download the demos and get to better know what makes the Culpa tick.
Having already toured around the world with their two past releases “Let Me Introduce My Friends” (2006) and “Who Killed Harry Houdini” (2008) the members of I’m from Barcelona recently took on the task of and completed their latest release,“27 Songs from Barcelona”. The album, which is inspired by Kiss’ simultaneous release of four solo albums back in 1978, features one solo song from every member of I’m From Barcelona, and will be released as a triple vinyl, as well as for free online. As of January 27th, one song per day is available for download at imfrombarcelona.com
Singer/songwriter Kevin Andrew Prchal and Adam Krier of AM Taxi recently recorded and posted a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Reason to Believe’ for free download online in hopes of commemorating the efforts of Haiti relief volunteers, and garnering further attention to the post-earth quake devastation being dealt with. Visit kevinandrewprchal.com for the download.
“This song is free. No money is being made from it, therefore, no money is being raised from it. It is simply our response to the recent tragedy in Haiti and the overwhelming outpour of good-hearted people who came together at such a critical time. The objective is to show our appreciation to all those working around the clock to reshape the lives of the people and fallen cities of Haiti.
We chose the song “Reason To Believe” by Bruce Springsteen, not only for its brilliance, but mainly for its significance in the way the world took form and found hope out of an otherwise hopeless situation. This song is for the tireless doctors, the relentless volunteers, the steadfast soldiers and the separated families who continue to search for their loved ones. They, like the rest of us, at the end of every hard earned day find some reason to believe.”
Most aptly described by the band them selves, Otter Petter “is the four-piece rock outfit you’d hate to take off.” Coming together as a band through their pre-existing friendships in 2005, drummer William Pritchard and front man Michael Pritchard had already been bandmates all their lives, “driving their mother crazy practicing in the basement for hours and hours.”(Otter Petter)
Releasing their first EP in the same year as their formation, the self-titled five track quickly picked up steam, and in 2006 the lutrinae loving musicians were chosen along with nine other bands by the Chicago Tribune to compete in the Metromix Rock ‘n’ Vote contest, in which the band won the opportunity to play a show at the Metro along with three other contestants. Since then the indie-pop players have had a slew of publicity, being featured on CLTV, WXRT radio, The Chicago Sun-times, and the Chicago Reader, just to name a few. They’ve even had Thax Douglas write and perform a poem about them, a right of passage for Chicago bands that any city musician knows is a definite sign that you’ve arrived.
With so much positive press it’s no wonder that the band has performed across the Midwest and Eastern Seaboard, following up their EP with the 2008 full-length Fireflies and Lamp Lights. New City called the release “devastatingly infectious” and we couldn’t agree more- Otter Petter delivers definitive indie-pop that takes a shine to the likes of Weezer, The Shins, and early Death Cab for Cutie. Catchy choruses from singer Pritchard and bass player Amy Anderson coupled with buzzing keys by Raphael Dussaussoy make up a sound that is absolutely charming and mostly lighthearted, cloaking lyrics that are sometimes slightly less so, such as “In that motion picture sky I saw a thousand clouds that I/ Knew would only pass across our screen/And every single one reminded you that everyone/That you had ever held or love will leave/ I’m somewhere in between” The band, having spent the fall on a number of small Midwestern tours and performing at the CMJ Festival in New York, is currently in the midst of putting together their second full-length, for which they anticipate an early 2010 release.
Otter Petter took their noses from the grindstone long enough to answer a few questions for Telegram Sam earlier this month, sharing their favorite venues, Chicago bands, and musical influences.
Telegram Sam: Top three favorite venues to play?
Otter Petter: Schubas, Empty Bottle, Subterranean
T.S: Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process?
Otter Petter: The process for writing and developing songs usually starts with Mike brining an idea to a rehearsal. Then everyone puts their personal touch on it and eventually the idea becomes a song. The song a lot of times ends up very different from what the original idea was. We do all of our own recording - we self recorded and released 2008′s Fireflies and Lamplights as well. Bill is the recording engineer of the band and makes sure everything sounds good and does all of the mixing. Many of the tracks on the upcoming release were recorded in a cabin at Thunder Lake in northern WI.
T.S: What are your top three musical influences as a band?
Otter Petter: It’s too difficult to narrow it down to just 3. We all come from different musical backgrounds and have picked things up from everything from modern rock/indie bands to jazz, R&B, classic rock etc…
T.S: Who are 3 of your favorite Chicago bands?
Otter Petter: Again, too many to name - Chicago is loaded with great current and past artists. but here a 3 names
The Buckinghams
Material Issue
Neko Case (does she count?)
T.S: Best and worst band moment?
Otter Petter: The best (and definitely weirdest) moment might be when we were picked by some well-known television writers to appear in a pilot episode for NBC’s prime-time, Chicago-based comedy State of Romance (Universal). It was directed by Peter Sollet, of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. We appeared performing our songs in segments at Double Door and Millennium Park.
The worst might have been when we found out the show was not picked up for 2009-2010 and we didn’t even get copies of the show or see anything we shot because it wasn’t released.
T.S: What other projects have you been a part of as individuals?
Otter Petter: We’ve played in various other bands over the years including Redball (Raphael) - the highlight of which was opening for Big Star at Metro), Amy was in the Pillow Mints and the Venom Lords.
T.S: Ifyou could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Otter Petter: We had some mixed answers on this one.
Guided By Voices - Becasue we love their music and they might be willing to share some of their booze with us.
Silversun Pickups - This is another band favorite, and they have a girl in the band so it would give Amy someone to talk to while all the dudes are being sleazy or talking shop about their gear.
Big Star - getting a chance to see them as a full band with all the original members would have to be fantastic.
T.S: If you were to record a tribute album, whom would it be to?
Otter Petter: Maybe Sam Cooke - but wouldn’t him any justice.
After touring around the world with their two past releases “Let Me Introduce My Friends” (2006) and “Who Killed Harry Houdini” (2008) the members of I’m from Barcelona recently completed their latest release,“27 Songs from Barcelona”. The album, which is inspired by Kiss’ simultaneous release of four solo albums back in 1978, features one solo song from every member of I’m From Barcelona, and will be released as a triple vinyl, as well as for free online. As of January 27th, one song per day is available for download at imfrombarcelona.com
After touring around the world with their two past releases “Let Me Introduce My Friends” (2006) and “Who Killed Harry Houdini” (2008) the members of I’m from Barcelona recently completed their latest release,“27 Songs from Barcelona”. The album, which is inspired by Kiss’ simultaneous release of four solo albums back in 1978, features one solo song from every member of I’m From Barcelona, and will be released as a triple vinyl, as well as for free online. As of January 27th, one song per day is available for download at imfrombarcelona.com
No Sleep Records have released their latest label sampler, “No Sleep Till Death,” featuring unreleased songs from upcoming albums from Balance And Composure, Monument To Thieves (Keith Barney of Throwdown), Frontier(s) (Chris Higdon of Elliott / Falling Forward) as well as new(ish) tracks from The Wonder Years, La Dispute, Double Vision and Into It. Over It.
You can download the sampler by entering the code NSTILLDEATH and your e-mail address at here
In a Northwest Indiana Subway during the summer of 2007 three young men bonded over the baking of bread of assembly of submarines. Though previously connected through the shared shows of the two other respective bands they were part of, Native members Ed O’Neill, Nick Glassen, and Dan Evans didn’t really come together until their stint making sandwiches, frequently joined by soon to be fourth member Bobby Markos, who, though not a Subway employee, “was always around for a cheap sandwich.”
Since that fateful season of subs, Native has begun playing the Midwest scene, released their EP We Delete;Erase in April of 2008, and ventured on tour to Canada. Shortly thereafter the band began working with Sargent House Records and management, completing their first full length Wrestling Moves in 2009, recorded at Red Room Studios in Seattle. From there the band embarked on a number of tours both across the US and once again among our neighbors to the north. The band more recently finished a tour with La Dispute (Read our interview with La Dispute here), and has begun working with High Road Touring for their future booking. The band is also part of a sampler that’s been put out by Sargent House, with all proceeds going toward Haiti Relief. An 18 track download with a donation minimum of $5, featuring all the artists that work with Sargent House/Rodriguez Lopez Productions.
A band that faces an undeniable comparison to the 90’s post-hardcore of Jawbox and Fugazi, Native manages to take that something borrowed and couple it with something new, implementing further intricacies in their use of math rock and post-punk, fused with more 90’s influences like American Football and Braid. These additional elements are most apparent in their sophomore release, Wrestling Moves, which plays with a distinct progression and musical maturity from their past EP. The familiar hoarse vocals of Bobby Markos come coupled with both the Minus the Bear-esque minimalist instrumentals from We Delete;Erase and a heavier, much more aggressive range of guitar and drums than heard from the band before. You can hear the progression for yourself as the band plays Chicago’s Subterranean this weekend, alongside Into it. Over it., Bob Nanna, Lauren Lo, and Castevet.
Click the flier for more details about Native’s show at Subterranean this Saturday, January 30th
Reviewsic had a chance to talk to Native as they returned from their tour with La Dispute about Wrestling Moves, dream shows, and what else is to come for the band in the coming year.
T.S: Elaborate on the creation of your most recent release, Wrestling Moves.
Native: As far as Wrestling Moves, a lot of our attitudes about music and life in general had drastically changed. Wrestling Moves has a much more aggressive feel to it, as we had grown pretty tired of the more “happy sounding” EP we had previously released. The lyrical content changed a great deal as well, with the songs being about more issues dealing with realizing both the positives and negatives around you and trying not to focus specifically on just one side.
T.S: Is there any specific concept or muse behind your band?
Native: I would say that the relationships between the four of us are the inspiration behind our music. We all drive each other to try and write songs that we are all happy with, and can agree on.
T.S: What are your plans as a band for 2010?
Native: For 2010, we are heading to Austin for SXSW in March, and then Culture Shock Festival in Bloomington, IN in April. We are planning on touring all summer, and early fall, and trying to hit every possible part of the U.S. that we can.
T.S: What is the most memorable show you’ve ever played?
Native: Every show we play at the Lemp Arts Center in St. Louis is always a great time, as well as our friend’s house in Chicago called Summer Camp. Both places have literally always provided the rowdiest shows I have ever been to.
T.S: If you were playing your ultimate show, who would you share the bill with?
Native: In all honesty, our ultimate show is one that would involve all of our friends at any of the aforementioned venues. Last New Years we played St. Louis with a lot of our friends, and I find it hard to believe it can get any better than that.
T.S: Who are your top three musical influences?
Native: Eiffel 65. That’s pretty much it.
T.S: How did the last tour go?
Native: It was a total blast. La Dispute are the best guys we’ve ever met, and it was great to go on tour with them again. All the shows had really great turnouts, and we couldn’t have asked for a better tour.
Record releases, benefit shows, and a Battle of the Bands make up this weekends roster of rock n’ roll. Check out what’s happening at just a few of Chicago’s many venues, and support local music.
Migrashun and Border Community Welcome… Fairmont (AKA Jake Fairly)
Mathis Matthew
Ariel Frank VS Derek Fox
Metro- Smartbar $10 before midnight, $12 after, 21 & over
Doors: 10pm / Show: 10pm
Did we miss something? Bands and Fans alike leave a comment about other shows this weekend, and of course, email us each week at [email protected] to let us know about your upcoming events.
Chicago darlings Canasta recently debuted the music video for “Mexico City,” their latest single from The Fakeout, the Tease and the Breather. Conceived and directed by the brilliant Eduardo Cintron, “Mexico City” combines sharp, modern camera work with good old fashioned lyrical storytelling. Check it out below and if you find yourself falling in love, download the song [...]
Record releases, reunion shows, poetry slams and school of rock benefit shows make up this weekend’s list for some of our favorite venues. Pick your poison, head out to support the local scene and check back with us Monday for your weekday shows list.
Release shows, local favorites, touring acts and lots of jams this week in Chicago. Scope out the list and check back with us Friday for your weekend shows.
Free shows, much loved locals and badass school of rock chicks make up our weekend line up- get out there and enjoy your music metropolis, Chicagoans! Check back with us Monday for you weekday list.
2pm CT The Mongoloids New Jersey straight edge band The Mongoloids go live from Sound and Fury to answer your questions! 4pm CT Smoking Popes Chat with Chicago pop-punk band Smoking Popes while they take a break out of their summer tour with Alkaline Trio to go live via webcam from Los Angeles! 8:30pm CT Brother Bear Live chat [...]
