Residing in both Chicago and Nashville, the rapidly rising Andrew Belle has begun to find his place among the playlists of all cardinal directions for his sounds perfect marriage of southern twang and pop influences. Debuting with the EP All Those Pretty Lights in 2008, Belle’s earnest and melodic crooning caught the attention of networks across the board, and since it’s release multiple tracks from the EP have appeared on such shows as One Tree Hill, 90210, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Real World, and Ghost Whisperer. Keeping with that same vein of television popularity, Belle was also named MTV’s ‘Chicago Break Out Artist’ in the 09’ VMA season.
More recently Belle’s first full-length, The Ladder, was completed, making it’s debut just this past Tuesday. Ten songs and entirely infectious, The Ladder is an album well suited for someone on the cusp of their mid-twenties like Belle, delivering tales of soul-searching by way of love, redefining friendships, and experiencing self-doubt. Though we feel he has been rightly compared to such musicians as Coldplay’s Chris Martin and John Mayer, we also think it’s unfair to just leave it at that. Belle’s voice is one of those rarities that both fits into the stream of what is already working in the music world, and stands on its own. With the same smoky and crackling qualities of a campfire, Belle’s vocals come across as organic and understated in every track - there’s no gimmick or apparent tweaking in these songs, just simple, honest music.
With such radio ready songs as “The Ladder”, “Tower”, and “Static Waves” (featuring Katie Herzig), it’s no wonder that Andrew Belle is an artist already found on such stations as Chicago’s WXRT as well as other major city stations like WRLT Nashville, KCRW Los Angeles, and WXPN Philadelphia. Poppy yet twangy, Belle reminds us of another up and comer we have featured on Reviewsic- Floridia native Matt Hires. Both these twenty-something’s play their pop in a southernly sincere manner that is impossible not to be charmed by.
Not all of The Ladder is derived from Andrew’s Chicago-Nashville environment however. Tracks like “Add It Up” stray from the country vibe carved out earlier in the album and deliver straight indie-folk pop with string accompaniment and production effects that remind of us Midlake’s The Trials of Van Occupanther. Along those same lines comes “Reach”, which does stick with the southern sensibility Belle has learned to harness so well, but is more lyrically simplistic than his other tracks, allowing the actual music and melody to take command. We’re big fans of hearing this quick track’s conflicting tempos play cat and mouse until they begin to meld via Belle’s beautifully formed vocal pattern. The Ladder has captured the feeling of heartache without coming across as angst-y, giving off a mature understanding of how sometimes these things just don’t work. From lines like, “Don’t blame yourself cause I know that you’ll try/ but you need someone to be someone better than me in your life” in the aptly titled, “Don’t Blame Yourself” to the chorus of “Make it without You” where Belle sings out, “oh I’ll make it without you and though my bodies laying here/ it’s my mouth that must be lying now” Andrew’s simple stated lyrics give us an honesty that is relatable and open to interpretation- one the keys to making a successful song.
Playing on that same simplicity is “Open Your Eyes”, in which not only we did enjoy such sincere lines as “it’s time to see/if you still believe in me/open your life now/ I’ll try to be all that you need me to be” but we also found a compositional similarity to Death Cab For Cutie in it’s metered crescendo and rephrased repetitions.
Our only qualm with the singer/songwriter is his lack of enunciation in some tracks, which causes the words to get lost in a sort of muddled rasp. None-the-less, as far as our complaints go Belle is pretty free on that front, and for most tracks not being able to decipher every consonant really is beside the point when there’s so much going on in the way of melody and accompanying instruments.
All in all The Ladder is without a doubt a wonderful addition to the world of folk-pop, helping create the bridge between the previously separate camps of truly popular music and down home folk. Belle has once again created a set of songs that are both catchy and purposeful, playing a synthesized stones throw away from Andrew Bird ala Armchair Apocrypha, which should be enough to peak the curiosity of those who have not already taken a moment to explore what this talented young musician has to offer.
Check out Andrew in a more intimate setting as the singer/songwriter does what he does best in the back of the tour bus during his participation in the Ten out of Tenn tour.
Chicago’s own folk flavored musician Kevin Andrew Prchal gave show go-ers at Subterranean a taste of what he can do last week, as he played the Wicker Park venue along with Rego and Ha Ha Tonka. Having fondly spent a lot of time listening to Prchal’s full-length Eat Shirt & Tie, but never having seen him live before, we were eager to see what Kevin could bring to the stage. We’re happy to report that our high expectations going into Sub-T were not only met, but also greatly exceeded.
Prchal kicked off his set with ‘Soul Shaker’, a track that comes off light on the album despite its lyrics calling out the soul-shaking perpetrator. Jaunty and mildly attitudinal with it’s accompaniment, standing alone on acoustic ‘Soul Shaker’ has a much more raw, aching feel to it when heard only with Kevin Andrew Prchal’s oaky resonance and the strumming of a guitar. ‘Terrifed’ following the stripped down track, and while we did miss the organy-accordion from the album, this song was, once again, just as solid live as it is on the album. Note has to be taken of Prchal’s awareness of his own voice as he seamlessly belted and receded through the song, knowing just when to lean back from the microphone without ever sounding anything but pitch perfect. We were waiting with bated breath for the whistle portion of this song, anxious to know: Can he do it live? The verdict? Why, yes. Yes he can. Kudos to you Kevin, because as anyone who’s ever tried to whistle unaccompanied can vouch, staying in tune and on beat via pursed lips is no easy feat.
Prchal’s live set continued to impress as he charmed his way through songs ‘The Settling Cliches’, ‘Peace Not War’, and‘Heavy Clothes’. A Bob Dylan cover Prchal has previously played along with the Marky and Heather Hladish was included in the roster, along with a rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Reason to Believe’, for which AM Taxi’s Adam Krier joined Prchal on stage. The cover is something the two recorded together in order to commend the efforts of those helping in Haiti, and is up for free download on Prchal’s website. The night was wrapped up with ‘Another Fool (In Love With You)’, which was carried out nicely, even if we did find ourselves missing the graceful vocal contributions from Company of Thieves’ Genevieve Schatz that are included on the album version.
However, Prchal’s lack of female accompaniment aside, the song, like this set was an utter delight, and we found ourselves feeling a little chill despite the crowded room as he delivered the same seamless strumming and ear tingling solidity in his vocals that we found in Eat Shirt & Tie. Honestly, had it not been for the tinkling of glasses and bawdy conversation from the bar, we wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between this live set and the mastered version of the record- that’s how solid of a musician Kevin Andrew Prchal is. This Chicagoan officially has our stamp of approval as a talent on all fronts, and we urge anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of Prchal to head out and see him soon.
Paul Sipio is not a name unfamiliar to the program of posts here on Reviewsic. From the review of his his 2008 album, Learning to Let Go, under the moniker Paul Sipio Dectet to the hand he had in Dany Wythoff’s Reviewsic reviewed 2008 release Now Departing. More recently we’ve mentioned this Philadelphian for his involvement in Dan’s summery sophomore release, aptly titledThe Sunscreen EP. We know that much about him, as well as that his extensive catalog of projects and albums is a decent gage for determining his talents. But as is true behind any great producer or personality, there’s more to Paul than just those few posts on our humble blog, so we set out to find out a little more about this great up and coming musical figure.
Telegram Sam: What is your personal background in music?
Paul Sipio: Aside from some private piano instruction as a child, I’m a self-taught musician. From there, I kind of became a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type guy, playing a host of different instruments - bass, guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trombone, drums, et cetera.
T.S: How did you and Dan start working together?
P.S: Dan and I met when we were very young, probably around the age of twelve. At that time, we formed a band that actually ended up sticking together for almost six years. When we both ventured off to college, I was aware that Dan had intentions to try and do some type of ‘solo’ endeavor. I offered my services as a co-writer, producer, and engineer, and based on our relationship, it was a really good fit.
T.S: Having already produced with Dan before, did you have specific plans for this new album going into it?
P.S: I knew Dan had begun writing more organic and stripped down material. He spoke of how he wanted the production to reflect that honesty, and we went for just that. The Sunscreen EP was recorded very quickly; probably in four or five sessions. It was much of a quicker process than Now, Departing, which took three months.
T.S: What most drives you as a producer?
P.S: The artist! If I see that dedication, commitment, and sincerity in their personality and work, it drives me to deliver the best representation possible of that artistry.
T.S: What are a few of the albums you’re listening to the most right now?
P.S: Miles Davis - The Complete In a Silent Way Sessions, Jethro Tull - Thick As a Brick
T.S: Best and worst moment from your music career?
P.S: Best - I’ve had the incredible opportunity of performing with a variety of artists and bands in a host of different genres, and those serve as my favorite moments.
Worst - As any band or artist knows, shows that end up with a low turnout serve as a real kill to one’s motivation and drive, but I try not to let those moments deter me.
T.S: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
P.S: Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, It’s a King Thing, and Algernon Cadwallader.
T.S: If you were to choose three bands to share with someone who had zero musical knowledge, would you introduce them to and why?
P.S: I feel the need to answer this question in two forms: Artists/Bands and Composers:
Artists/Bands: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Michael Jackson.
Composers: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart.
I feel that if I could ‘do it all over again’, I’d want to be exposed to the above music because of its influence and ability to reach out to millions of people, crossing boundaries and still to this today remaining to be what I consider ‘good’ music.
T.S: What can we look forward to seeing your name on in the future?
P.S: Currently, my main gig is with an up and coming Philadelphia area retro pop/soul group called Cheap Seats. We just finished working with production team Truth & Soul (credits include Adele, Amy Winehouse, Lee Fields and the Expressions) in Brooklyn and producer Jerry Duplessis (credits include The Black Eyed Peas, Wyclef Jean, and The Fugees). Aesthetically and stylistically, it’s a combination of early Motown and sunshine pop and British invasion of the mid-to-late 1960s.
Chaotic, cute, and catchy are all words that come to mind when trying to describe Chicago musicians Glittermouse. Formed in 2007 through the collaboration of friends and past projects, this rock/powerpop-plus-so-much-more pack of players delivers music not far off the same stream of sound that Boy Least Likely To and The Flaming Lips give us, with heavier elements from their individual influences of bands the likes of Smashing Pumpkins and Muse.
Having grown up and matured musically from their initial ooey-gooeyness, Glittermouse has begun churning out songs with even more technicalities and proof of the serious musical chops that exists between their members. Around this time last year Telegram Sam reviewed their EP Super-Tactical Turbo Ultrascope, when the band was existing as a larger unit of multimedia performances and accompanied their main vocals with a pair of female crooners. The band still delivers an enthusiastic and interactive live show, as well as a male-female vocal combination, but the circus that once was Glittermouse has been whittled down to seven as the band continues to assert their own sound.
Recently they’ve been hard at work putting together another EP, music from which was recently featured on Local Q101 along with an interview between the band and Chris Payne, and continuing to play out as much as they can. Fans of the radiant rodents can look forward to the release of these songs in the coming year, as well as seeing the band hit the road on tour. But more immediately, they can check them out tonight at The Boiler Room alongside an eclectic collection of Chicago talent.
Glittermouse took some time out this week to answer a few questions for us, about their musical history, major influences, and just why you should come out to their show tonight.
T.S: How did you get you personally get your start in music, and what’s the story behind the band’s formation?
Jeremy: I started playing in grade school, I picked up a bass and started teaching myself. I just fell in love with performing and creating my own techniques. Michael and I started playing together in this group called “Soft Soft Silver Bang”, after some creative conflicts with the other members, Michael and I decided to start something we could really have fun with. We recruited Rob who we had actually just met weeks before, and a bunch of friends we knew from previous projects. The band has evolved into a very professional group all while trying desperately with success to keep it fun and exciting for us and the crowd- That’s the short of it.
Michael: My first band formed in middle school, and I was in several subsequent bands, the first one that played out was in high school. Once I moved to the city, I formed Glittermouse with a friend I’d played with in a band previously. We decided to just start playing music heavily dependent on the audience. It started just trying to put something together that would make for a fun gig.
Rob: I’ve always wanted to play music, but i didn’t start listening to music regularly until 7th grade, after that I’d wanted to be in a band ever since.
Emily: I was born into a family that embraced music, with my father being a bass player and a working musician. Since birth, I’ve been going to his gigs and eventually grew interested in the performance aspect. At a young age, I learned that playing an instrument was not what I was interested in, but singing was. So, I took vocals lessons and eventually became interested in the local music scene back in my hometown, where I also got into the business side of music. Now, I collaborate with both mediums.
Danny: Well I wasn’t involved in Glittermouse the whole way through, but when I lost all hope in music, Michael found me and dusted off my shoulders and I am completely in love with Glittermouse.
T.S: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands/musicians, past or present, who would they be and why?
Michael: …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead ,The Cell Phone, Oingo Boingo. All of them are bands I love to listen to/watch perform. I think the mentality toward the music is similar with all of these bands as with us. I don’t really feel like music has to be the same type or even genre, I think what’s important is having a similar regard for the music and the performance. Plus I just wanna tour with Danny Elfman.
Rob: Trail of Dead, Cell Phones, Queen
Jeremy: I’d love to tour with the flaming lips because the shows would always be extremely fun. I’ve always wanted to tour with Prince, just because… it’s Prince! The Red Hot Chili Peppers would be a lot of fun as well. I guess it all boils down to who would be the most fun to watch 32 times in a row.
Emily: Muse/Save Ferris/Lady Gaga
Danny: Man Man, because they put on the BEST BEST shows, the drummer actually finds time to put a cymbal on his head during a song and finds time to hit it! Against Me! they have such catchy tunes and beautiful harmonies and a song that I can really connect to, and Nation of Ulysses, they had the best frontman in the united states, a dude who can scream while flipping is an A+ is my book.
T.S: What are your top three musical influences?
Michael: My problems, my audience, and Smashing Pumpkins
Rob: Muse, Led Zeppelin, Papar
Jeremy: Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse as a whole, Prince.
Danny: Thomas Erak from the Fall of Troy, The old singer Ben from Evil Empire (crazy, crazy man), Chris Conley from Saves the Day (the old band I was in used a lot of chords from the Sound the Alarm album)
Emily: Muse/Monique Powell from Save Ferris/Sufjan Stevens
T.S: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Michael: Piano! I feel like the piano is consistently the only instrument that doesn’t beckon for accompaniment.
Rob: Banjo.
Danny: The violin and the drums!
Jeremy: I wish I were a concert pianist.
Emily: All of them? I play the vocal chords; therefore, being multi-talented would be that much better.
T.S: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Michael: O.G. Original Gangster - Ice-T, A Tale of Two Cities - Mr Hudson & the Library, Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb - Tripping Daisy
Rob: Them Crooked Vultures, Embryonic by the Flaming Lips, Bjork Songs from the Volta Tour
Jeremy: Yes ’90125′ / Jamiroquai ‘Traveling without moving’ / Blond Redhead ‘Misery is a butterfly
Danny: Small Black, DD/MM/YYYY, Kiss Kiss (forever)
Emily: Them Crooked Vultures/MuteMath/Chromeo
T.S: If you could collaborate with one band/musician who would it be and why?
Michael: Rob Zombie! I feel like he knows how to make a good tune. He’s got a very strong grasp of how to manipulate something into being his own without alienating what it is to begin with. Especially in the realm of covers.
Rob: Silversun Pickups
Jeremy: Muse. It would be the most epic experience anyone would ever have. For certain.
Emily: Monique Powell because she has been an influence for me for most of my singing career. Not to mention, her intense stage presence combined with her immense vocals would be a great combo for me.
Danny: Chris Sutter from Truman and his Trophy all the way. But that could happen, so I’d have to say Eric Nally from Foxy Shazam.
T.S: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
Michael: I went to Lollapalooza in ’03. That was Jane’s Addiction, Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Incubus, Jurassic 5, The Donnas and Rooney.
Rob: Papar
Jeremy: Not sure… can’t keep track. I went to a lot of local shows growing up, of bands I didn’t know about until after they played.
Emily: My dad’s band – Hiline. If were talking real bands (no offense Dad), Hanson.
Danny: The Offspring, and I met Dexter! and didn’t care because I was 13, such a shame.
T.S: Who are three of your favorite local bands (past or present)?
Michael: The Cell Phones.The Locals.Sorry Sailor.
Emily: Elsinore/I Fight Dragons/Daniel Knox
Danny: Well, I love a lot of local bands, but I gotta say Hey the Maker right now, I always enjoy Bust! always always always. and I was completely in love with Victorian Halls when Johnny Shotwell was part of it.
Jeremy: Piglet / Dr. Manhattan / The Bullet conscience
Rob: Sorry Sailor, Cell Phones, The Locals
T.S: If you were to put together an album of cover songs, what are three songs you would just have to include?
Michael: Wasting Time by Zwan, Tuesday’s Gone by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bright Lights by Matchbox Twenty
Rob: Peaches - “Suckin on my Titties”, Scorpions - “The Sails of Charon”, Alan and Marilyn Bergman and Michel Legrand - “What are you doing the rest of your life?”
Jeremy: Muse ‘Hysteria’ / Prince ‘Fury’ / Placebo ‘Bruise Pristine’
Emily: “The Way” by Fastball/”Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” by The Flaming Lips/”Butterflies and Hurricanes” by Muse
Danny: I Still Love you Julie- Against Me!, Paparazzi- Lady Gaga, O Holy Kings- Truman and his Trophy
T.S: What would you say to someone who is on the fence about coming to the show this Friday?
Michael: There are too many fantastic bands at this show to miss it! And it’s only $6!
Rob: Get off the fence!
Emily: For all who know us well, this is the time to get your full first dose of Glittermouse! For those who have yet to experience Glittermouse, you will be missing out on a handful of Chicago’s finest. Not to mention, we have Danny – his favorite thing is to create chaos on stage and in the audience for your entertainment.
Danny: “Damnit Brandon L. Kerns, pulled pork and board games isn’t worth it!”
Jeremy: It’s a stacked line up in a very intimate venue, with your best friends, first show of the new year! Going to be awesome. ALSO it’s only $6.
T.S: What goes into your writing process? What drew you to the style of music you play?
Danny: The image of a grizzly bear with frosted tips flashes in my head. But I mostly take my anger and sadness and happiness plus emotions into my music. That’s right, I said that.
Michael: We usually start with an idea of a song. Not even music. Something like ‘We need a song that makes people pump their fist.’ And then we write it. I think our style is a hybrid of playing songs we have fun with and songs people can have fun hearing.
Rob: Time, a lot of time and trial and error. My influences and the influences of my bandmates.
Jeremy: We didn’t want to use traditional song writing forms or influences when we write, we generally like to mash up everyone’s strengths to create something we all believe in and has unexpected sounds. We don’t try to fit into a genre, and we explore many different styles throughout our songs, sometimes throughout different parts of each song. We generally have one or two members concept the song, then bring it in, we all contribute some ideas, then it goes back for some structure, then back to polish it up. Writing this way sometimes leads to dead songs, but we progress leaps and bounds over writing in a traditional sense.
Emily: The style of music we play as a band comes from everyone’s musical backgrounds and interests, and you can even tell who throws in which influences. As an example, Rob is a huge Muse fan, and incorporates a lot of Muse-esque solos into his parts.
T.S: What are your top three favorite places to play? Does that change in terms of playing a show versus seeing one?
Michael: In order, it’s Metro, Subterranean, and South Union Arts (sadly it’s closed now). And yeah, I love seeing shows at the Metro, but I think my favourite venues are the bigger ones, Aragon for example.
Danny: In all honesty, I love playing shows in people’s basements the most, because they always have ice cold sodas prepared, like Dr. Pepper, a mixture of a whole bunch of unforgettable flavors which tickle my whole body from the trip of the tip of my tongue to the pit of my gullet which is why Dr. Pepper is my favorite soda.
Rob: South Union Arts, The Metro, SubT, I don’t know what it’s like to play the venues I like seeing shows in.
Jeremy: Metro / House of Blues / Sub-T. Playing shows and going to shows are completely different. When I play a show I generally like a large stage, good crews, and good sound. When I go to shows I look for a place I can experience the band the best. Sometimes it requires different things. I tell myself every time I go to a show that “This is the last show I will be on this side of the stage” I truly enjoy being a part of the work instead of the crowd, but then again I find myself going to concerts all the time.
Emily: Metro/Schubas/Subterranean – Would still choose these as my top three as far as seeing a show.
T.S: What are the best and worst music moments so far in your career?
Michael: The best moment was when we played the Metro last November. That show was just a lot of fun and it was our first with Danny. I think the worst was the gig that followed, our drummer was sick as a dog and couldn’t even sit up straight to play. But he’s a troopa.
Rob: Playing the Metro was the best, having been a part of the song “Dot Dah” was the worst.
Jeremy:Best: last metro show, glittermouse had an awesome time and we could literally feel how great the crowd was enjoying it. It’s the best feeling in the world to see a sea of people caught up in your music/performance.
Worst: a combination of mishaps and broken equipment makes it difficult to perform, and puts a damper on my performance. Luckily we have the best fans in the world who step up and enjoy the show regardless. Those days would be really hard if it weren’t for them.
Emily: In terms of Glittermouse: The best moment was walking out onto the Metro stage with 100+ people chanting our name and screaming in excitement for us to play. I have never felt so good before. The worst moment was during one of our first performances at Clearwater Theater, when my mic went completely dead for an entire two songs before I had even realized it, among various other technical errors.
Danny: When I was playing in Sorry Sailor, I beat my head with the neck of my guitar, it was so bloody and the best moment. The worst moment was having a bassist break 2 strings during our first show in Dekalb, then when he was given another bands bass, he broke a string before we could get into another song.. longest ten minutes on stage ever.
Though a number of shows this weekend have sold out (Our deepest sympathy to Alkaline Trio, Joe Pug, Screeching Weasel, and Portugal. The Man Fans who missed out) there is still plenty of great music to be had this weekend. Check out our round up and head out to support your Chicago venues.
How does an up and coming young band in America keep their sound fresh and their spirits up? “We arm wrestle daily…hourly, really.” (Frank Porcaro) Suburb born and now Chicago housed, Truman and His Trophy is a plucky group of four musicians doing their best to bring a good time and just a hint of music nerdy-ness to our local scene.
Formed through the classic story of “We met in high school” that fills VH1 band profiles every day (or would if they covered people who weren’t once part of the Mickey Mouse Club) combined with a go-getter attitude, Truman has been bringing beats brimming with fun and quirk since roughly 2007. “One day Chris came to my house and said, “I’ve got two new songs that I want to record.” And I had some equipment, so over a weekend we recorded these two songs. By that Tuesday we were offered a show which we booked without having a band, and within a week called everyone we knew and were just like, “Hey, we’re starting this band out of no where.” We ended up with six members.” (Frank Pocaro)
Since then the band has been whittled down to include a quartet comprised of the aforementioned keyboard and guitarist, Frank Pocaro, bass and little bit of everything-ist Jake Levinson, drummer Ryan Wizniak, and frontman-guitarist Chris Sutter. This past summer Truman released their debut full-length, Springinsguth- an eleven track tribute to all that is dancey in the world of pop-punk, with just the right amount of slightly reckless “we’re young, let’s have fun” attitude to make sure no one takes it too seriously.
As an album we can comfortably say that Springinsguth is the most fun we have had in a long time- and finding these songs in the stout center of winter could not have been more perfect timing. To anyone who hasn’t heard the infectious intonations of Truman yet, we’d like to suggest you nab the record, grab your head phones, and stomp your way through some slush with the sense of unbridled blitheness it is guaranteed to deliver. From the get go the songs on this album have a zeal for the eccentric, delivering dancey sort of powerpop/pop-punk that we put in the same category as Piebald, Say Anything, and early Weezer.
But behind the fast paced fun of songs like “Tomato Feet” (“You may not throw /tomatoes up at me /you may not make me feel/so inferior/I’m no jester /I will not be made a fool”) and the synthy-shout filled “Beardy Tastes” (Back and forth through my mind/automatic see-saw of the greatest times/sea and air its all the same/ we’ll lose our innocence but who’s to blame?), lie lyrics of a well thought out and relatively clever proportion, taking a shine to the beauty of subtle rhyme and use of alliteration that such lyrical greats as Ben Gibbard tapped into early on.
One of Springinsguth’s great strengths is it’s cohesiveness in it’s style- an uneasy feat for any musician, let alone a group making their debut. While all these songs have an element of happy-go-lucky-good times to them, Truman slows things down with tracks like “Whale”, where they implement what sounds like some flute, horns, and accordion along with an acoustic. As well as the more subdued “No Forks, No Spoons” who’s slow bass line and random tinkling are eventually replaced by a hard hitting combination of drums and yells, which we found to be impeccably paired with it’s lyrical content.
“Elmaira” offers a more straight up pop feel to it, with a slightly beach rock vibe in it’s guitar and background vocals, while “Peach Tree” feels like a premonition for what Vampire Weekend was going to do with Contra- which at the time of Truman’s debut was still unreleased. None the less, the rolling surfer drums, twitchy guitar and vocal pattern would not have been misplaced alongside tracks from the XL-Recordings group.
Of course Truman and His Trophy offer nonsensical sounding songs as well, like the clubby “Flower Man Party”, who’s lyrics we aren’t even going to question- this song is just too rhythmically infectious for us to want to analyze why the government would care about their living room parties. “Plain Brains” let’s us know the bands feels “monstrous/like a monstrous being/like what you see on your ceiling when you’re home at night, alone/just be fearful of /the nightmares you’ve dreaded the ones that stay in your head and/never let them go” which may seem neither here nor there, but listen closely and you’ll fall in love with the true rock and roll riff rolled under it’s ending chorus and drums.
Though there have been some naysayers about certain aspects of this band, and more specifically this album, with them, we have to disagree. Truthfully, yes, we could go ahead and find weaknesses, like the fact that if it were up to us, we might rearrange the song order or omit the quirky sound bites following a few tracks, lest they dissuade the listener who doesn’t appreciate their free-spirited DIY-ness. Perhaps we could say something about how we’d prefer it if the jumbled, raucous ending of “Beardy Tastes” were just a 5 to 10 seconds shorter (though we do give the band points for tying their roughly recorded intro song in with a track ending in the same rowdy manner), or point out the albums short comings when compared to this band or that.
But what we feel is so important when listening to this album is that the listener realizes that not all music is meant to be a grand or epic artistic gesture. Sometimes a good record is just a good record because of the way it makes you feel, and there’s no denying that Springinsguth worms it’s way into your most thoracic of cavities and starts to rewire your inner rhythms until the only information being passed through the synapse is “Go have fun”.
Three of the four that make up Truman and His Trophy met with Reviewsic to talk shop earlier this month. Check out what Chris, Frank, and Jake had to say about their musical influences, best band moments, and the plot of the inevitable Truman biopic.
Reviewsic: How did you get your start in music as individuals?
Frank: I started to play guitar when I was 10 because I had no friends. I had to figure out what would make me cool, and I thought guitar would do that. It didn’t, unfortunately, but I did learn how to play guitar.
Jake: I started on saxophone in 8th grade, so I’m probably the only classically trained one in the band. One day I was sitting in the band room, just a lowly freshman, and this kid Pete, who actually engineered our record, is sitting on a stack of chairs and has this red, shiny, Washburn guitar and is playing “Enter Sandman” and I was just like, “Holy Crap, I want to be that guy.” So that’s how I got started on guitar, but I played saxophone all through college, so that’s kind of my first love.”
Chris: When I was 9 or 10 I wanted to play the drums…and I still want to play drums. My Dad got me an acoustic guitar as a gift, and along with it an AC/DC tablature book, which sounded AWESOME on the acoustic…so really I guess our influences should say AC/DC, Metallica: unplugged.
Reviewsic: What goes into your writing process?
Jake: Chris usually writes the lyrics and chord progression-he’s our little songwriter. Sometimes it’s a more collaborative effort, like with “Nails”. But usually it’s that Chris frames out the skeleton and we add on our own parts. With this album there were five or six songs we just tossed out because they’ were…well…embarrassing. I think Springinsguth has a certain poppy cohesiveness to it- the other songs were too dark or punkish, just not fun.
Frank: Brooding drone metal…
Jake. Yes. 17 minute, Dreamtheater, Chris just soloing.
Frank: I wish that were true.
Jake: There were two that we wrote IN the studio, “Peach Tree” and “Whale”, that turned out to be two of our favorite on the record.
Reviewsic:Who are your biggest musical influences?
Frank: When we first started we were listening to Of Montreal quite a bit, and Troubled Hubble- Everything Truman came out of was almost directly influenced by those bands. It’s kind of grown and changed but those are the initial ones. Personally, I grew up on a lot of punk, but I also really like jazz and early 20th century blues- but mostly punk.
Jake: One of the first things Frank and I bonded over was the fact that we were the only people in our school who knew and loved bands like Yo la Tenga and Pavement. I listen to a lot of different music, but when I’m writing for Truman I think a lot of The Kinks because I think Chris’ writes in a style that is similar to them. I really like Tegan and Sara, they’re one of my guilty-ish pleasures and influence my guitar playing. And KaKi King, I don’t really do anything like her in the band, but I do stuff on my own that tends to sound like her.
Chris: I don’t really know…I guess my personal influences are bands like Spoon or Pixies. Lately I’ve been writing this really weird music and I’ve been influenced by bands like Deerhoof, Talking Heads… and Smokey Robinson, actually.
Reviewsic: If you were to make an album of strictly covers, what are some of the songs you’d have to include?
Pillar of Salt- The Thermals
I Want You Back- Jackson 5/Sly & The Family Stone- Every Day People medley
King of Carrot Flowers- Neutral Milk Hotel
Debasser- Pixies
Reviewsic: What is the best show you’ve ever played?
Jake: There’s this band from Elmhurst, IL, called Pisces at the Animal Fair that are real DIY and always playing these crazy house shows. This one show we were invited to play was Asian Fest, in this guy’s basement that had a dropped ceiling. It was winter so the heat was turned up to be like…70, and on top of that, you’ve got all these sweaty 16-18 year olds dancing and jumping into one another, just being really enthusiastic. So eventually the ceiling absorbs so much moisture between the heat and the kids that it just collapses. And these kids just kept…dancing, even though a ceiling had just caved in.
Chris: We also had the pleasure of playing another Elmhurst show, and that time I was wearing footy pajama’s and Frank was mostly naked, just in his tighty-whities.
Frank: I wear really nice underwear.
Chris: And I got my tooth got chipped that show because I was singing and these kids sort of rushed up and hit the mic. Also, recently my other tooth got chipped at Sub-T. But that, was my favorite show ever.
Jake: That show was so tight that I was literally standing against the wall. Not like tight- cool, but tight packed. That’s how many kids were at that show.
Frank: My favorite show ever, it was our third to last day of the tour we went on this past summer, and we were playing in Howell, Michigan. It was the strangest thing because, people don’t really know us outside of Chicago, but we’re in Howell, Michigan and the place is just packed. It was in this 120-year old Opera house, just a huge room, and we’re playing, everyone’s getting really into it and the thing that freaked me out more than anything else is that we start playing one of our songs, a song called “No Forks, No Spoons” and some kid just yells out the name of the song. Then as we get farther into the set kids are singing along, and it was like “…How?” That’s just a show that sticks out in my memory because it was so unexpected, and it just feels good when stuff like that happens.
Reviewsic: Would you count those shows as your best band moment?
Chris: Well I think maybe playing the Metro would be the best one, right?
Jake: Which time?
Chris: I don’t know…anytime!
Reviewsic How about the worst? Chris: Well, we took this little, 3-4 day tour and ended up at a venue in a little town outside Detroit. Initially, it looked awesome, it was this thrift/record store and they had a pretty big room for bands. Before we even got there though, our drummer was pretty sick, I think he had food poisoning.
Frank: We get to the venue and we’re about an hour early, so we knock on the door and someone just opens it up and snaps at us “We’re closed!” and we’re just like “um..we’re playing tonight? We just got here from Chicago.” They shooed us away and said to come back at 6pm, so we just went to this Meijer and killed time. Then we came back and essentially no one at the venue talked to us, it was us, our friends Pisces, a local band, a band that never showed, and this other band that had come from a couple hours away real last minute. The local band brought a couple people, but in all honesty there was literally no one there. All in all it was just a really unpleasant experience, the people at the venue just kind of stared at us as we packed up, looking at their watches, and really weren’t very pleasant themselves.
Jake: The one good thing that did come out of that night was doing Where’s Waldo? books in the Meijer, that was fun.
Reviewsic: Who are your top three favorite Chicago bands?
Frank: Dr. Manhattan, Troubled Hubble, Brokedowns. Chris: I’m going to have to agree with Frank on this one. Jake: Those three yes, but I also have to say Gaberdine and Buddy Guy.
Reviewsic: If you could work with anyone in the music industry, who would it be and why?
Jake: I think this might be because of Jookabox, but I think Asthmatic Kitty is a cool label, and they’ve got Sufjan there too. If I could, I’d say Circa-1992 Look Out, because Kerplunk! Is one of Frank and mine’s favorite albums.
Frank: I would want to work with Look Out Records because some of my absolute favorites of all time are on that label. I’d also like to work with Steve Albini.
Chris: Maybe with the label Kill Rock Stars, they do Deerhoof and The Thermals, two of my favorite bands. If I could I’d like to work with Radiohead or Deerhoof too.
Reviewsic: What if you could tour with any three bands, who would those be?
Chris: I have to still say Radiohead and Deerhoof. Oh and St. Vincent for sure.
Jake: Neko Case because she does really cool things with her live band, Frightened Rabbit because they’re jus awesome live, and Kaki King-she’s got an amazing voice.
Frank: Greenday in 95’ right before Dookie came out, so the songs were written, but they were still playing small clubs. Built to Spill, The Thermals and maybe Lemuria.
Reviewsic: If Hollywood were to make a movie based on your band, whom would you cast as yourselves and what would the plot be?
Frank: Well I would have to cast myself as Chris, first off.
Jake: Then Nick White as everyone else haha- Nick’s a friend of ours that’s been in a lot of videos we’ve done. But really though, Joe Pantoliano (Frances, from the Goonies) as Frank.
Frank: Or Ringo Starr. Chris, even though you’ve grown out of your Michael Cera looks, I still think you are him.
Chris: Yeah, I get that a lot. Jake would have to be Richard Grieco.
Jake: Who would Ryan be?
Chris: haha SEAN PENN. The plot would be Frank’s adventure to try and buy the Pete & Pete house. We’d play a benefit show…no, we’d rob a bank.
Frank: If Ryan were here it would involve sea monsters.
Chris: Oh, okay get this: We would befriend a sea monster, then ride the sea monster to New Jersey from Chicago. Buy the house. But, the house gets repossessed. We sold our house in Chicago, we have to nowhere to go. We die. The sea monster lives.
Jake: And enrolls in Princeton.
Reviewsic: Is there any specific creative direction Truman is headed toward?
Frank: As a band we’re really goofy overall, but we do try to focus on being very personable, we like when we get to talk to people, people come up and say hi and all that. A lot of what we do is based on energy, just having a good time. Bands try to hard to create a persona, and I think that can be attributed to the online persona people are tempted to make on all these networking sites, where they put on certain airs about who they are and what they do. What we want to portray and what we’re kind of all about is just being sort of…anti-that, and pro-real human being.
Chris: We just like to have fun, that’s what it’s all about.
Jake: Our music really is like our individual personalities, I think. Chris plays really simple guitar lines that let the lyrics come through, with the occasional AC/DC riffs, like in Elmaira. Frank’s keyboard is really quirky and sometimes a little obnoxious, but work in the larger context. Ryan’s drums are really busy and energetic, and most of the time totally unpredictable, which is Ryan to a T.
Frank: Definitely. And when I listen to Jake I hear his knowledge of music theory. He’s probably the best actual musician out of all of us-there’s just a serious logic behind every thing he does.
Reviewsic: What are your plans for Truman in the next year?
Frank: Well, The Cure will be opening for us soon. Tomorrow, actually.
Chris: For now there aren’t really any big plans. We’ve been writing a lot, and would like to have at least an EP by the summer, before we head out on tour. Right now we have more than an albums worth of new music, it’s just a matter of figuring out what to do with it. The new music is definitely different, but we really like where it’s going. Besides that we’ll just be playing a show or two a month probably, and keep writing.
“All we’re really looking to do is expose some amazing bands that we love to a wider audience” (Tiny Engines.net)
Independent label Tiny Engines is doing exactly that this week with the announcement of their release from Philadelphia band Everyone Everywhere. The band’s debut full-length, a Self-Titled album is due out in vinyl and digital formats May 4th, and up for pre-order as of today. Tiny Engines will press 500 12-inches on maroon and off-white colorways (350 / 150). To secure a physical copy of the record, go here.
If you need a little convincing before you reserve your copy of Everyone Everywhere’s new album, let the pontificating from these people of the press help persuade you:
- Big crunching power chords interact with a rollicking bass and thumping drums to create the same kind of fun-loving tunes I vainly attempted to craft back in college. - DryveTymeOnlyne
- Standing above a lot of bands that attempt to emulate those near-perfect years of the Midwest, Everyone Everywhere is destined to turn more than a few heads. - ScenePointBlank
- Sounding like the spunky lovechild of Rainer Maria, American Football and Piebald, Everyone Everywhere is late 90s emo done right. - Punkbands.com
- Everyone Everywhere put their own unique spin on mid / late-`90s revival … ridiculously promising and occasionally brilliant.- Punknews.org
- Listening to Everyone Everywhere is like running into a totally rad old friend at a party and having the best time. - Exclaim
- This is road trip music, springtime music, vacation music, just good stuff in general. - Fistfight At The Arthouse
Nothing creates fun musical fusion better than friendship, and that’s just what Garden State dwellers, It’s a King Thing have been doing for years. Though the band has gone through some line up changes, having previously featured guitar by Into it. Over it. musican Evan Weiss, and spent time in other bands such as Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start, they’re proud to announce their first full album as the five-some they are today. Released to the World Wide Web just last week, It’s a King Thing’s Buffalo buffalo Buffalo, buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo is twelve tracks of infectious indie power pop done exactly the way it was meant to be. “I think the album benefits from everyone’s input. There’s a good chemistry between us and we have fun and it comes off great on the record.” (Brian Mietz)
Citing such influences as The Lemonheads, Weezer, and Weston, it’s no wonder that these five have the witty indie wherewithal that they do. The homonym- homophone inspired Buffalo… casually cloaks the bands satisfying instrumental compositions in humorous and lighthearted lyrics. “My life is one awkward moment to the next. Most songs are about those moments. Some are sweet and some are mortifying. I like taking something that isn’t a big deal and shining a light on it.” (Brian Mietz)
However, don’t let lines from songs like “Mush Mouth” (“Your S’s sound funny when you say Mississippi/ I couldn’t see you weren’t pretty”), its accompanying background of slushy s’s or the occasional scream filled outtakes between tracks fool you into thinking this band is nothing more than a good time. From the more sentimental “Everything Backwards”, the poppy “Old Hobbies” to the melodic and catchy “Bill Haverchuck”, It’s a King Thing has managed to be cohesive without being repetitive, and to take a shine to the indie pop sound we know and love without totally ripping off the bands we already have in our collections.
The balance between the silly and serious in the songwriting of this album shows a maturity that we plan to keep in our arsenal of defense for anyone who scoffs at the idea of power pop. Buffalo… is up for free on the band’s site, where it can also be streamed in its entirety. You can also follow the band’s progress as they create corresponding videos for all the songs on the album, a few of which are already posted on the band’s site, as well as youtube. With the ethereal easiness of Nada Surf, the high quality quirkiness of early Weezer, and the price tag of a Chipotle Halloween burrito, there’s not a single good reason not to own, love, and rave over these Haddon, Hills, and Heights housed New Jerseyans’ new album.
It’s a King Thing front man Brian Mietz took some time out of his busy schedule being startled by “fast moving shadows that he thinks are cats” and writing songs with the perfect blend of “ ‘I can’t believe my mom just caught me masturbating’ and winsome anti-folk vignettes” to answer a few questions with us this week about who he’d team up with in the industry and just what a comic book of It’s a King Thing Would read like.
Reviewsic: Can you give us a quick recap of what the band has been up to as of late?
Brian Mietz: One of the goals for this record was to do videos for all of the songs. We’ve been working on one for “Kira”, one for “Hangin’ Out” and another video is in the works that’s going to feature the most insane, drum set I’ve ever seen.
Reviewsic:What made you decide to put your album online for free?
Brian Mietz: We didn’t have any money put into the record. Steve and his business partner Dave Downham own a studio so we recorded for free. Putting it online for free made the most sense. This way we don’t charge up our credit cards to buy CDs and people get to download a great record for free. Everyone wins.
Reviewsic: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Brian Mietz: The Lemonheads (Atlantic Records Years), Weezer (Matt Sharp era) and Weston during the Chuck era. The songs those bands recorded during those times are imprinted in my brain and I’d love to see them played live every night.
Reviewsic: How did you get your start in music?
Brian Mietz: Santa Claus gave me my first guitar in 7th grade. My cousins showed me how to play and I would put CDs on and play along with them to get the hang of everything. I did that a couple summers ago for the first time in ages. It was a blast. From the past. A total gas.
Reviewsic: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
Brian Mietz: I saw Van Hagar at the Spectrum in 1995 with my brother and my Uncle Tom. I remember I wore a shirt that had Kermit the Frog dressed as Forrest Gump. This one…
Reviewsic: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Brian Mietz: I wish I could play the piano really well. I’d need bigger hands though. I have little girl hands.
Reviewsic: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Brian Mietz: The last 2 Dr. Dog albums, the new Juliana Hatfield album and I made a playlist of the Pavement “Quarantine the Past” retrospective that’s coming out soon. My boss also is playing My 106.1 Philly and it’s gross.
Reviewsic: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Brian Mietz: I wanna write a song with Tom Petty. He never writes a stinker.
Reviewsic: Who are three of your favorite local bands (past or present)?
Brian Mietz: Dixon Ward, Brooke McAleer and Ages. Dixon Ward was Steve’s old band. Brooke and I are in a band called The Not Fur Longs and she sings backups on a couple of the Buffalo songs. Her voice and songs are incredible. Ages is the best band in the South Jersey / Philly area, hands down.
Reviewsic: If your band were to be fictionalized into a comic book what would your powers be, who would be the villain, and what would be the plot/conflict?
Brian Mietz: My power would be the ability to morph into someone else so I could be them for a day, Steve’s power would be the ability to suppress his boner when he slow dances with his wife, Johnny’s power would be Pavement Power (any time an off-note/chord is played, it automatically corrects it. Not auto-tunes it, but just makes it sound “right”) Jay would be able to duplicate himself so he can be in two places at one time and Mike would have supersonic wit.
The story is sort of a Back to the Future, meets Angus, meets Beverly Hills 90210 Season 1. We’d all be attending a prom. Marvin Berry and the Starlighters would be performing. After arriving at the prom in 2 Chevy Malibus, we’d find that a band of misfits (not the actual Misfits) had broken Marvin’s hand and the head misfit had infiltrated the Prom King and Queen voting and was voted king. After Mike used his super wit and wisdom to find this information out, Jay would duplicate himself 1,000 times and rush the band of misfits, minus the head misfit, out of the prom. After all had returned to normal, Johnny and his Pavement Power would take over Marvin’s guitar duties. Jay would then re-enter the prom and pair off so there’d be 500 Jay Tagmire’s dancing with each other. During the announcing of the Prom Queen and King, Brian would morph into the king misfit and make fart noises into the microphone during his acceptance speech, thus embarrassing King Misfit into hiding . Steve’s powers would fail. Boners all night.
Reviewsic: What are your top three favorite venues?
Brian Mietz: Maxwell’s in Hoboken and Johnny Brenda’s in Philly are my favorites to play. Seeing shows at both of those venues is lots of fun too. For me, Johnny Brenda’s is like the Bait Shop in season 2 of the OC.
Reviewsic: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Brian Mietz: My favorite moments were opening sold out shows for the Lemonheads and Weston. I had to poop real bad before a couple shows if that counts for bad moments.
Somewhere along the border of Missouri resides a band called Eagle Scout in a town called Greenville, IL. From their side of the dividing line they bring the “Illinoise” with their post/pop-punk Indie Rock vibe, smart lyrics, and tight sound. This time last week their exhilarating sophomore release, New Hands was released through Cavity Records, as a follow up to their 2008 EP Pandamonium!. Recorded at Glow in the Dark Studios with producer Matt Goldman (Underoath, The Chariot, Cartel) New Hands is now available in a digi-pack format through their label, via Absolutepunk, as well as offered as a live stream in its entirety via myspace or purevolume, if you haven’t heard New Hands yet, you’re running out of excuses for having not caught on to this infectiously good album.
These high energy musicians were in high spirits as synth-man Jeremiah Clark and drummer Kyle Collman answered a few questions for Telegram Sam about the new music, their influences, some of their local favorites, and much more.
T.S: Can you give us a quick recap of what the band has been up to as of late?
Kyle: As for the band, we just released our very first full-length album entitled “New Hands” on Cavity Records. We have been working hard on promoting the album and booking tours for the spring and summer.
Jeremiah: Individually, we are doing homework.
T.S: How did you each get your start in music?
Kyle: I took piano lessons in third grade, but I was blowing on the trumpet in kindergarten.
Jeremiah: I also took piano lessons, but in fifth grade. I then quit piano to learn the trumpet in junior high band.
T.S: What’s the back-story on how the band came to be what it is today?
Kyle: We met as freshman in college. The rest is pretty much history.
T.S: If you could book a tour with any 3 bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
Kyle: Latterman, Dr. Manhattan, and the Get-Up Kids
Jeremiah: Arcade Fire, Maps and Atlases, and International Superheroes of Hardcore.
T.S: What are your top three musical influences?
Jeremiah: The Temptations, Vince Guaraldi, and The Police
Kyle: CCR, Buddy Rich, and the Oskaloosa High School Marching Indians
T.S: Is there any instrument you don’t play, but wish you did?
Jeremiah: Well, even though I play keyboards, I wish I could play the piano. In particular, jazz piano.
Kyle: I wish I could play the blues guitar…or the harpsichord.
T.S: What are the last three albums or bands you listened to?
Kyle: Weatherbox, Balance and Composure, and Say Anything.
Jeremiah: Veckatimest –Grizzly Bear, The Faithful Anchor – Unwed Sailor, and Curse Your Branches – David Bazan
T.S: If you could work with one person in the music industry (musician, label, producer etc), who would it be and why?
Kyle: Donald Passman, author of All You Need to Know About the Music Business, because he knows all you need to know about the music business.
Jeremiah: I would have to say Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. He just seems like a really cool and down to earth guy, plus I love his music.
T.S: Who was the first band/musician you saw live?
Kyle: OC Supertones.
Jeremiah: Umm…I’m sure the first bands I saw were all local bands in junior high and high school. But for some reason, I feel like my first ACTUAL show was Fall Out Boy freshman year of high school.
T.S: Who are three of your favorite local bands?
Jeremiah: I have so many, but if I had to narrow it down, I would have to say Dr. Manhattan, Rodeo Ruby Love, and Nate Henricks.
Kyle: My choices are Renae, Ravenhill, and Wind and Sail.
T.S: Tell us about what this release means to you. How would you compare yourself as musicians now as opposed to at your first release?
Kyle: It shows both our musical and intellectual maturation. It does captures how our lives have changed since the last release. Musically, it has shown that we have grown up, but there is still room for us to mature.
T.S: What goes into your writing process?
Jeremiah: It just kind of happens. Sometimes it only takes a chord, and then it all falls into place. But most of the time, one of us has an idea or a riff or something, and then we just kind of go from there.
T.S: What are some of your favorite cities to play?
Kyle: Champaign, Illinois was really sweet.
Jeremiah: Peoria, Illinois is always a party.
T.S: What are the best and worst band moments so far in your career?
Kyle: The best was searching for the very first Wal-Mart in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Jeremiah: Worst was getting Charlotte (the van) stuck in the mud pit of death twenty feet from the venue.
Founded in 2007 by Rebecca Lopez, Betta Promotions has spent the last two years doing an outstanding job bringing bands new and old to such Chicagoland venues as the Metro, Subterranean, Beat Kitchen, Schuba’s…and really the list just goes on and on. Rebecca and the Betta team have been at it once again, this time putting together a show that will include the up and coming, but quickly rising Chicagoans, Suns.
Catching attention both as a new project by the much loved Mikey Russell (ex-Wax on Radio) and for the sound they’ve created, Suns made their debut just over a month ago in a packed performance at the Metro alongside The Felix Culpa, Robbers, and Loyal Divide. Using two drummers and a slew of other instrumentation, Suns delivers a sound that is both ambient and floating as well as intricate and tightly knit.
Also filling the bill are Chicago born muscians Mike Maimone and The Mutts, and Athens, Georgia band fire Zuave. Most likely seen out and about playing with his nationally exposed band, Company of Thieves, Mike Maimone also fronts and words hard for his solo project, and fans are sure to be in for a treat should they make it out this Wednesday. Southerners Fire Zuave have a few feathers tucked into their cap as well, having already opened for bands such as Fiery Furnaces and Of Montreal, garnering a reputation as a group of up and comers worth watching out for.
Be sure to head out to Lincoln Hall this Wednesday, February 24th to see Suns , Mike Miamone and The Mutts and Georgian band fire Zuave. Doors at 9pm, 18+
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 [...]
