Band of the Week

Over the weekend I had a conversation with a friend about what excites us about music, and I found myself saying that I value music makes me wonder how it was created. More times than not I want music that goes beyond the traditions guitar-bass-drums sound, and that is what first drew me to the sounds of Manchester's Fingathing. Back in the first part of the decade the group consisted of Peter Parker, a DMC Finalist, on the turntables and Sneaky (aka Simon Houghton)on upright bass. The sound these two were able to create was complex, part jazz and part hip hop, and filled with comic book samples. The launched their attack on music in 2000 backed by the approval Rae & Christian. They released albums before taking a break from music.

This Tuesday (Sept. 22nd) the Orange Alert Reading Series will join forces with The Nervous Breakdown and not only host four incredible readers, but turn over the stage to one of the hottest indie bands in Chicago. Raise High The Roof Beam has released two fantastic eps in the last twelve months and clearly have plans to continue to crank out tunes. They will close out the night at The Whistler and put a cap on a great night of literature.

The Chicago music scene is very dense and rich with talented musicians. There is consistent competition, not with each other, but with bands touring through town. Regardless, the best bands rise to the top and always find a stage and RHTRB is one of those bands. Their most recent ep, The Majestic Beast of the Flatlands, is now available through bandcamp.

Recently, the band was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

The word accessible can mean different things to different listeners, but the goal to reach a larger portion of the population really can't be faulted. In fact, I would hope that it would be a pretty common goal. You want to express what is within, you want share your experience, so isn't it a natural goal to want that expression to felt by as many people as possible? Chicago's Travis Lee Wiggins of Essex Chanel has been a prolific member of the local independent music scene for years, but for his latest project he felt compelled to set out to create an album that could be "played in Starbucks". What is unique is that he turned to a very universal emotion for inspiration and theme as he sat down and crafted a rather large collection of love songs.

Love is Proximity will be released by Sweet Goodness Records on September 29th, and as Essex Chanel prepares for a Fall tour, Travis was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

For me there is something pure and innocent about the memories of my childhood. This is especially true of the thoughts and visions that quickly come to the surface. I have to really focus on my past to find something negative floating around. I'm convinced that forming memories is primary purpose of youth, and on his sophomore album as Windmill Matthew Dillon uses these memories as a driving force. The setting is Epcot Center, but it is more about the mystical nature of space travel and fantasy in general. It is a magical journey through both space and time.

Musically, Windmill combines moments of instrumental grandeur with gentle and thoughtful bedroom recordings. Epcot Starfields will be released by Friendly Fire Recordings on September 15th, but recently Matthew Dillon was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

To accomplish something in music or in life you have to remained focus, be confident, and get out there and meet people. It's a cliche, but it's true... it really is about who you know and when you know them. As a musician the best way to get to know people is to tour and then tour again. The more audiences you can play in front of the more people will remember your name and tell a friend and possibly buy a shirt or an album.

Chicago's Shawn Roseblatt is the heart and soul of Netherfriends, and next month Emergency Umbrella will release their debut ep, Calling You Out. As you will see in the interview, Shawn believes strongly in touring, and continues to expand his fan base each time he hits the road.

Recently, Shawn was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): Your debut ep comes out next month on Emergency Umbrella, how did you get involved with EU and what has your experience been like?

With a solid background in classical piano, Kate Simko has managed to create a growing catalog of electronic tracks that seems to grow more intense and more interesting with each listen. She has released two eps, a single, and tremendously ambitious full-length album on Ghostly International. Music From The Atom Smashers acts like an album on it's own, but it was created as a sound track for 137 Films’ science documentary The Atom Smashers follows physicists at Fermilab, the most powerful particle accelerator in the United States, in their tumultuous search for the Higgs Boson particle, otherwise referred to as the “God Particle” and “The Holy Grail of Physics.” It is moving and at times beat driven look at one of the puzzling and mysterious places in the Chicago Suburbs.

It's your typical love story; the couple meets, they get married, they form a rock band, they record a tremendously forceful debut album and tour the country, etc. What? That is not your story, well if your name is Rachel Shindelman or Nick Kraska then that is exactly what happened. Post Honeymoon is a husband and wife duo that did not begin playing together until after they were married. Last month they released a debut album that magically combines raw energy with a darkness that may surprise some. Using manufactured and organic beats, keyboards, and bass, the duo leaves the guitar at home and still rocks the crowd. What appears to be a cute love story on the surface quickly gives way to a powerful sound.

The band just wrapped a cross country tour and are appearing tonight at The Empty Bottle (for free if just rsvp to rsvp@emptybottle.com with ‘midwest’ in the subject line) here in Chicago. Before they head to the stage they took time to answer a few of my questions.

Everyone views the word nostalgia a little differently. For me it's about hyper color shirts, pez dispensers, Saved by the Bell, and so on, but for the band The Grizzly Owls there is a whole other level of nostalgia. This Bakersfield band has chosen an era and a sound that is one part wandering folk, one part old gunslinger western, and one part '60's pop. It's familiar, but unique enough in its presentation to challenge and perhaps enchant the listener.

The bands latest ep, I Am a Shootist (available for free), features four tracks filled with the imagery and sound of a time now long past. Their fascinating and creative videos only further illustrate this point. The Grizzly Owls are a rare throwback band, and absolutely worth the free download and twenty minute listen.

Recently, Jenny Andreotti of The Grizzly Owls was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Crooks and Children formed in 2006 and over the last three years they have released two eps and they just released their full-length debut, Night Is a Good Child. Will Bulka, Greg Hayes, Ben Huey, David Polsky and Justin Scheck are all multi-instrumentalist and while on stage often switch places. With each member taking an equal part in the creative process is a valuable aspect of their songs and performances. It's that balance that allows the band to overcome the normal struggles of a band, and even a few added challenges that they may face.

Recently, Justin Scheck was kind enough to talk about the new album and the challenge that he faces every day.

Orange Alert (OA): Tell me a little about your new collection of songs, Night Is A Good Child.

The dynamic of band has to be challenging at times. True when everything is clicking and each member is contributing their unique perspective and style it can be incredible, but sometimes a musician needs a unique outlet to keep their contribution to the band fresh and engaged. Hence the abundance of solo and side projects, but it seems to be a vital part of the creative process.

Chicago's Rob Merz is a member of the band Ash Avenue, but we on his own writes and records under the name Static in Verona. This past January he released his debut album, Be Quiet As You Leave, and he recently released a free ep called Life-Sized Replica. He sound is gentle pop with electronica undertones, and it really goes down smooth on a warm summer night.

Recently, Rob was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.

Orange Alert (OA): Let's start at the beginning, where did the name Static in Verona comes from?