Sweet Stuff!!

"Because shitty music leads to a shitty life style."

[sweetstuffchicago]

Varsity - "Thanks for Nothing"

Varsity write pumped up pop music for a summer day.  With distorted guitars and Stephanie Smith’s powerful voice, the music has a certain nostalgia to it that is reminiscent of a simpler time.  In a day of digital instruments and big electro beats, it is refreshing to hear a real Chicago pop rock band.  

    Varsity consists of Stephanie Smith (Vocals/Keys), Dylan Weschler (guitar), Pat Stanton (guitar), Jake Stolz (bass/drums), and Spencer Smith (drums).  Their most recent release, Thanks For Nothing EP, was recorded in Stephanie’s basement and engineered/mixed by Gehring Miller (The Welcome, Librariun).  “Fuzzy” is how guitarist Pat Stanton would describe it.  It is a raw and well thought out release with moments that feel a little like The Car’s early releases but with a powerful female voice right in front.  Layered with keyboards and synths, backed up by progressive drums and intricate guitar work, Thanks For Nothing EP goes beyond simple pop rock.  

    The first track, “Back & Forth,” starts heavy but moves seamlessly out of the haze into light guitar accented by Stephanie’s amazing vocals.  There are moments of progressive jamming, which only shows the diversity the band is capable of performing.  “New Wave” has a nice alternative rock sound to it, making it an easy sing along for fans.  Behind all of the distorted guitars there is the continuous melody of the electric keyboard, which really fleshes out the melody.  “Jackie” is a bass heavy nod to the synthy 70’s.  As the vocals kick in you remember that even bands today can have influences from the days of arena rock.  The song is laden with synthesizers and phased out guitar and rocks the whole way through (it’s my favorite song on the EP for sure).  “Silent E” has progressive drums, power riffage, and loud over driven vocals that make it a standout track and a total rocker at that.  Closing track, “Despite the Warning,” is upbeat, layered with synthy bells, and really showcases Stephanie’s powerful vocals.  This song really shows the talent of the band in every way.  

    With aspects of so many sounds, Varsity still makes the music original in so many ways.  There is a some seriously good songwriting on this EP and I expect this band to really grow.  Having only played their first show in July 2013, they’ve come a long way in taking the music they’re influenced by and making it their own.

“I don’t think there is one person or band you could point to because most of the songs are a collaborative effort. We’re all very influenced by very catchy, melodic music and I think that shines through in our work,” Stanton says. And the Chicago music scene has always been up on good melodic rock.  “The scene is great. There are a lot of really good bands here, and a lot of really cool places to play. There are so many venues and bars across the city and there’s something going on every day of the week. The DIY scene is really cool too.”

Be on the lookout for new music from Varsity, as they are currently finishing up writing their debut album.  

http://varsity.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/VARSITYtunes

[sweetstuffchicago]

Energy Gown: A Conversation About Evening Molasses

Psych Weirdos Energy Gown are getting ready to release their debut full length album "Evening Molasses."  Leaving out some of the drone that they are notable for from their previous release ("I Watch The Sun" 7'') and instead moving in the direction of lo-fi grooves and bluesy guitar leads, Energy Gown find themselves coming into their own world of sound.  What will likely be a challenging listen for some, may end up being psychedelic gold for everyone else.  The band consists of singer/guitarist Reno Squonk aka A. A. Lam, bassist E.B. Rivera, and drummer Maisie May.  I was able to talk with some of the members of the group to get a better idea of the weird wordly weirdness that is Energy Gown. 

Opener, "One Whig," starting off with whistles and hard hitting beats becomes what could be an anthem of sorts.  Energy Gown aren't droning stoned, but are groovy and alive.  It really sets the tone for the rest of the album.  "Ra.a.acing Snakes" is down and dirty.  Think Mick Jagger tripping out in Beefheart's swimming pool (with his favorite feather boa) while Syd Barrett sings sonic songs reverberating off your inner retinas. 

And while "all the lyrics here were written especially for the wellness of uncanny Luciferians and all such other beasts in love with the sound of fuzz," the songs start off with the ideas of singer and guitarist Reno Squonk aka A. A. Lam.  "It's all fluid in the process. It's sort of difficult to talk about. But, certainly there is a lot of experimentation in lieu of specific moods that goes into the shape of the tune.  The process is usually Reno writing a song with melody and lyrics to give a direction for the band to shape. Some songs took months to evolve. Others were written and recorded fairly quickly and some were done on the fly in the studio. Some of the best recordings come when we obscure our thought process and go by way of pure will and intent. Directly influencing the sound are records by Skip Spence, Captain Beefheart, The Seeds, Lollipop shoppe." 

Listening through, you will find layers upon layers of music and sound, creating what could be old school like some 70s horror movie soundtrack, but could also be a statement on where rock and roll has come after all these years.  "I suppose we think rather locally with regard to an audience. Honestly, this stuff is for the initiated heavier psych head and there is no attempt to shy from that. I think we'd be satisfied if this record was sitting either next to your Seeds or Parson Sound records. But Rock n roll is the core essence - which is to say freedom - and that is a universally accessible to all."

The cover art itself picturing what appears to be a snake orgy, really sums up the total feelings of the album.  At one end it is rhythmic and moving forward, but on the other end it may just kill you (and by kill you, I mean change the way you perceive music). "The snake orgy comes from a photo (bassist) Rivera took while we were on tour. It is a spring image of urgency and illustrates a group effort for continuity. On the another hand, the snakes are each a song slithering pass each other repelling and commiserating in a coiled mass . It's hard to tell if they're poisonous or not, but each has a personality that needs to assert self."

But don't fret.  Energy Gown still maintain their core sound of psychedelic drone and occult ritual.  Songs "Free Dose" and "Round House" show how well the band has honed their sound and placed it in a larger vision of music.  This is an album that will be sitting next to many of the greats.  While the songs I mentioned here are currently the only ones available to stream, you can be sure to pick up a full copy when it is released on July 10th at The Owl. 

Stream:

http://energygown.bandcamp.com/album/evening-molasses

[sweetstuffchicago]

Heroin Chic "We Live In Clouds"

Heroin Chic’s new single “We Live In Clouds” is a post punk odyssey into droning melodies and psychedelia.  Consisting of Michael Heringhaus on guitars and vocals, and Aaron Joseph on drums, this two piece has a grasp on songwriting that not only fits the name of the band, but also offers something more.  It has an aspect of melancholia to it that is only underlined by the catchiness of the melody.

It was recorded at Two States Audio by Rob Majchrowski.  See them play this saturday at Young Camelot with ONO.  Let’s get weird.  

http://heroinchic.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HeroinChicband/

[sweetstuffchicago]

Closed mouths @ quenchers

[sweetstuffchicago]

Shiloh @ quenchers

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Bodhicrow @ cafe mustache

[sweetstuffchicago]

The Bingers talk!

  Fuzzy, surfy, garage rock’n’rollers The Bingers have returned with a new EP titled “Blow It Away.”  Their previous release, “Rhymes w/ Fingers,” was a rock’n’roll laden blues EP that kept the tempo on the ballad end.  “Blow It Away” starts where “Rhymes w/ Fingers” left off, opening up the sound to more energy, more rock, and more of that terrifying surf-ness we’ve come to love from The Bingers.  Shimby had his hands on both recordings so you know the recording quality is great.  

“Blow It Away” is the type of EP that gets the party started.  Starting right off the bat with fuzzy rocker “Fuzzy,” the energy starts high and moves through some upbeat rock’n’roll on Creeper and Sizzler, ballad Love Go Wrong, blues rocker Pleaser, and soft love song with My Darling.

These guys have really started to hone their recording sound (as their live shows are always fantastic).  I really like this EP and think that it’s great on many levels.  It comes highly recommended.  But let’s hear what the band themselves have to say about the EP..

SSC:  Describe the EP in 1 word.

Teddy: Better.

SSC:  Why did you choose Shimby again for the recording?  

Teddy:  We chose to work with Shimby again because we liked the results of when he mixed our last two EP's, and we recorded those ourselves in our basement.  We thought if we let him in on the process from the beginning, he wouldn't have to backtrack through as many of our mistakes on the way to getting the kind of sound we wanted. As a band with three different singers, and no bass, we thought it'd be more streamlined to work with someone who already was familiar with our dynamic. At the same time, he seems to prefer a cleaner sound than what's almost expected of garage rock these days, so it was nice to have a little pull out of our comfort zone. He's also super smart, has a ton of old recording gear that he rebuilds himself, and he lets us smoke joints in the studio.

SSC:  Where did you record at?

Teddy: We recorded all six of these songs at Shimby's apartment.  He has an attic/studio full of all sorts of musical and recording goodies from the 40's till now.  It's kinda like an episode of American Pickers or some show like that.  We'll tell him what kinda sound or vibe we're looking for, and he'll pull out a handful of mics, tube compressors, etc. "This one is actually from a radio out of a tank in WWII. That one is what Michael Jackson used on Thriller..."

SSC:  Were you trying to do something different with this EP that you didn’t try to do on the last one?  

Teddy:  We wanted to capture the feel of playing live, and so this is the first of our three EP's that was recorded with all three of us playing together in the same room. On Creeper, we ended up not even using a metronome, and that is another first. You can kinda feel that song getting lazy in some parts and hyped up in others, but trying to play it to a click track made it seem kinda robotic and sterile feeling.  This EP also has a cleaner overall production than our last two. We didn't set out with that in mind, but it's the natural result of using better gear and having someone on board who actually knows what they're doing.

SSC:  What is your favorite song on the EP?

Teddy: "Fuzzy"  I don't think it sounds any better than the other 5 songs, but I think the way we arranged it keeps the energy going.  It's still just two guitars and a relatively simple drum beat, but it stays interesting.  I think that kind of playing around with arrangements, getting different results from the same familiar ingredients, is something I'd like to explore more in the future. "Pleaser" is a close second.  Ronnie so far has the least experience on drums, but he nailed that take live.  It was fun and funny to experience, and having it captured on this EP makes me smile whenever I hear it.

Ronnie: I really like how Pleaser came out. I think it's just a rowdy badass song. But, I think Love Go Wrong was a lot of fun to work with. That was an earlier song I wrote for the band. The first version was just guitar and a really mellow crooner. We never played it out because of the lack of energy... So we started playing a more upbeat version of it. A lot faster, a lot more pop. Some people might remember seeing us play it at earlier shows. After a while it kinda started to suck... Ideally in that "fast" version a bass would have definitely helped... Same with a horn section and like 3 chic back up singers... But... When it came time to record the song we all kind of wanted to restructure it to make it a better fit with the other songs, and the band. It ended up coming out more like how I had originally wrote it. Shimby threw out the idea of a duet and got in touch with Mary McKane of Outer Minds and The Runnies. We were stoked on the idea, and after hearing it we were sold, it definitely added to the song. Collaborating is always fun too. Maybe we'll play it live again someday, someway.

Jackie:  "Fuzzy" has been a favorite song of mine for a while now and works as a great opener for this EP. It has a great bouncy groove to it and represents the EP and our band pretty well. But "Love Go Wrong" is a special song for me because of how it was recorded. As Ronnie said, that song has been played a couple different ways over the last few years and we weren't settled on how we would record it when the time came. We weren't even sure if we were going to try and record it...Anyway, we sat down, tried it slow, Shimby was thankfully recording our rehearsal, and it sounded rad. It was great to try something new sonically with the guitars and use a more minimalist approach to the drums. It's also fun to say we did it in one take.

SSC:  It seems to be everyone in The Bingers makes a good front man.  Who sings what on the new EP?

Teddy:  Teddy sings "Fuzzy" and "Creeper"  Ronnie sings "Love Go Wrong" and "Sizzler" and Jackie sings "Pleaser" and "My Darling"

SSC:  Nice and balanced, I like it.  I actually want to ask about the song My Darling.  It is a great way to end the EP.  Who or what is My Darling about?

Jackie: “My Darling” is about a couple of guys hanging out drinking white russians in February while one of their girlfriends is in the process of moving to Hawaii. We've all had our hearts stepped on and talked about what we would do differently the second time around; I suppose My Darling is about that.

SSC:  I want to thank you guys for answering some questions.  While you’re here, do you want to give a bump to any of your favorite local bands that you think other people should listen to?

The Bingers:  Local band fist bumps to The Sueves, Uh Bones, Magic Milk, Slushy, Flesh Panthers, Today's Hits, Negative Scanner, Spike and the Sweet Spots, Rainbow Gun Show, Hollow Mountain…

LISTEN TO THE EP:

http://thebingers1.bandcamp.com/album/blow-it-away

[sweetstuffchicago]

Interview with Oblio & Arrow

Oblio and Arrow is the music project of Chicago native Matthew Kopecky.  It started in 2008 and has since grown into a 7 piece band.  With a sound shaped by a lone writer among many talented musicians, and a new album coming out, Oblio and Arrow have a lot going on right now.  I was able to speak with Matt about the project and their current goings ons of Oblio and Arrow

SSC:  “Thank God For Photons” is the name of your debut album.  As with all debut albums, those tend to take the longest to write and record.  How was the process of recording this album?  

Matt:  The recording of this album was a lengthy but purely organic process.  All the songs for the record were originally written on the acoustic guitar, with no real fully formed or pre meditated ideas of how the tunes should or would end up sounding. This allowed for much experimenting and toying with ideas during the recording process. Adding to the length of the creation of this record was the fact that there was no real "band" until well after the album’s completion. I wound up writing and recording all the parts and instruments for the album. The sessions began with the rhythm guitar then to drums, bass, keys and so forth. The tracking of each of these instruments helped to form or change the direction of the songs as well as provide the ideas for the following instruments to be recorded. For the tracking of the backing vocals, I called in the help of some friends to add to the small choruses frequently heard throughout the album.

SSC:  As a singer songwriter and drummer, do you tend to write the parts for all the songs or do you leave it up to the members to write those parts?

Matt:  For the 'Oblio And Arrow' project I have written all the songs and parts that have wound up on any recordings of ours. However, while adapting the tunes to a live setting, the other members in the group certainly add a little of their individual flavors and are totally free with any solo sections etc.

SSC:  I see that you have a new album coming out.  What will it sound like?  Are there any major themes that you see running through the album?

Matt:  Our next album is titled 'Steps'. We hope to have it ready to be released before the new year.  I believe it sounds like a natural progression from our first album. In that, the songs are maybe a little more mature and minimal in their approach. I have found it easy in the past to continue to just keep adding tracks and layers to songs, so I wanted to be a little more strict in my approach with leaving some breathing room on this next record.   It will sound similar to our last album in that it will be slightly hard to define 'rock music' that is heavy on the percussion and backing vocals. The tunes for this record were also written on the guitar and tracked much in the same respect as our last album, "Thank God For Photons".

SSC:  Who is recording the new album?  Where is it being recorded?

Matt:  As with most aspects of the 'Oblio And Arrow' project, most things are kept 'in house' where we can afford to.  Both the "Thank God For Photons" album and the upcoming 'Steps' record have been recorded and mixed by myself by the help of a friend, "Thank God For Photons" with Matt Opal and 'Steps' with Michael Krieglestein.

SSC:  While influences come from everywhere, what would you say has had a direct influence on the songs you write?  

Matt:  Though I could be being totally genuine in answering that I do listen a wide range of genres and eras of music, that might sound a little too generic so without mentioning the common icons of the 60's. Stylistically, I think the songwriting and the completed sound of our albums has been heavily influenced by artists and groups like Wilco, Paul Simon ( mainly "Rhythm of the Saints", "Graceland" and his other more 'percussive' works) Broken Social Scene, Orchestra Baobab, Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, etc. I"m not really sure if I could confidently say that we sound like anyone of these groups though and I have to think that is a good thing?

SSC:  What do you tend to write songs about?

Matt:  For better or for worse, almost none of the songs are really any sort of story being told and sometimes aren't even one continuous thought but are more or less lyrical phrases that are just vague enough to leave ample room for any listeners own interpretation and making connections within them and just specific enough for me to feel like I'm "getting something out" during the writing process.  Jokes aside, the songs focus mostly on time, the passing of and reflecting back on it as well as projecting it forward. I am weary of songs and lyrics that have a strong 'woe is me' feel.  Sincerity trumps all but for the most part, I try to maintain a warmth or optimism of sorts to our music.

SSC:  You say that you like the idea of having flexibility in a live setting, sometimes playing as a 4 piece, sometimes with the full 7 piece.  How has playing in different formats affected the sound and direction of the band?

Matt:  The mentality of keeping the number of people in the group and arrangements for live performances flexible came mostly as a 'survival' tactic to allow this project to continue to have momentum despite whatever transitions might be taking place with the live arrangement. Given that the songs were all written on an acoustic guitar, I could strip the tunes back down to their core and do solo shows as well as performing the songs as arranged on the record with a much larger lineup, currently it's largest at 7 people in the group.  This has affected the group and direction of my writing in that I am able to write songs and parts beyond the traditional rock group type of arrangement as well as adding to my confidence and awareness of how fortunate I am to be able to know and call on the friends and musicians that have over time become involved with this group.

SSC:  I want to say thanks for answering these questions.  Do you have any friends bands you want to bump that you think others should listen to?

Matt:  One of the members of our group, Michael Krieglestien has a solo project under the name "K-Nein".  We are also friends with the super talented "Giving Tree Band". Also worth a listen are some of our friends from Aurora, "The Heavy Machine". They are a super raw rock trio with an amazingly unique and talented female lead singer and guitarist named Kristen Kridle.

www.oblioandarrow.com

www.youtube.com/user/OblioAndArrowMusic

www.facebook.com/4oblioandarrow/

[sweetstuffchicago]

Interview with MEAT WAVE

"Pure sex" by Katie Hovland

  In the latest installment in our “Know a local kick ass rock band,” I got to speak with local rockers MEAT WAVE.  These guys have been on the scene for over a year now and have been getting rave reviews on their most recent self-titled tape release.  Having already played a number of packed gigs around the city, Meat Wave are currently planning a tour to bring their rockness all the way to the left coast.  Let’s listen in...

SSC:  So, who’s who in the band?

MW:  Meat Wave is Chris, Ryan and Joe. We play in other bands too. We were just talking the other day how it would be pretty weird if one of us were to quit. If one person quits or dies it's over.

SSC:  What other bands do you guys play in?

MW:  Elephant Gun, Truman & His Trophy, Wide Angles (RIP), Pink Torpedo, Everything's Alright, GONG. There's more...

SSC:  Who came up with the name Meat Wave?  What does it mean?

MW:  The name was stolen from beloved newspaper the Onion. Funny story, we just played this mud wrestling show at Reggie's a week ago and after our set, I was in the crowd waiting for the wrestling to start and this guy next to me strikes up a conversation, turns out he works at Half Acre brewing. And he said he dug the set and so forth and mentioned that they had a beer called Meat Wave, which we were aware of. And i said "I hope you're not mad, we didn't steal the name from you or anything." And the guy said, "oh we're not mad, we stole the name from the Onion!" We found that pretty funny. We always wondered.

SSC:  What’s the latest news with Meat Wave?

MW:  We are almost finished booking our first tour. That's in August/September. We have a ton of new material that we'll be recording most likely at the end of July. We just bought a van. Already having problems with the gasket or something. Sucks. But it's super nice and comfy. Shout out to Pat.

SSC:  Let’s get some meaty history.  Where did the band play their first show?

MW:  We played in Tim Knight's basement in Elgin on Ryan's birthday with the Brokedowns and Elephant Gun. It was really fun. A Halloween show. We played a Hot Snakes cover. A friend of mine came as "the blob" which was just an umbrella with a black sheet over it. He would just sit there, you couldn't really talk to him.

SSC:  Where did you record your most recent release?  Who recorded it?  

MW:  Our bassist Joe recorded it at Todd and Heather's in Algonquin. We set up one day in their basement and tracked it all live in one day. Then we did overdubs and vocals separately in the city. Joe used to live in Billy Corgan's old house so I was trying to channel him while doing the vocals. There was a big earth painted on the wall in the garage (where we recorded/practiced). That had to have been from him.

SSC:  That’s awesome.  Speaking of local bands, who are some of your favorites?

MW:  The Brokedowns, Heavy Times, Paper Mice, The Funs, Geromino!, Rad Payoff

SSC:  What is your favorite venue in Chicago?

MW:  I really love the Empty Bottle. They're doing it right. Awesome staff, beer selection is great and cheap, and incredible sound! We saw Pissed Jeans there a while ago and they were brutal. Just raging through it.  We love Township too. Shout out to Vito. We love you.

SSC:  If you could play anywhere in Chicago, where would it be?  You can select non-music venues...

MW:  I can't speak for everyone else in the band but my first thought is the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. That may sound lame, but a couple years ago Ryan and I saw the Besnard Lakes there, we were right in front and it was so amazing. That theater almost has 200 speakers. In a blue line car would be cool too.

SSC:  Lastly, who would win in a fight: Lemmy or God?

MW:  I don't know, can you win a fight against yourself?

Take a listen to their self-titled tape:

http://meatwavechicago.bandcamp.com/

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Graffiti on Milwaukee

[sweetstuffchicago]

American English

[sweetstuffchicago]

Tobacco/Oscillator Bug @ Logan Square Auditorium

[sweetstuffchicago]

A Sweet One with...Absolutely Not!

  This week in Sweet Stuff Chicago: Interviews, I was able to speak with the cool cats from high speed indie punk freaks Absolutely Not.  These ladies (and dude) have been playing all over Chicago for a while now and are gearing up to release a full length album this saturday at The Hideout!   Check out some new tunes after the jump.  Let’s begin...

SSC:  So, who is all in the band?

Donnie:  Donnie Moore (Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Percussion), Madison Moore (Bass on the keys, Synth, Vocals), and Jenna Horwath (Drums, Percussion)

SSC:  I see that you are dropping a new album soon.  Can you tell us about it?

Donnie:  The new album 'Mister Something' is my favorite Ab Not record to date, and I believe Madison and Jenna would agree, and we all had a blast recording it. Speaking of recording, I decided to record this record myself because I'M AN EGO MANIAC. Haha. Not really, I just think I/we just had a specific sound in mind for this album. And as far as the songwriting aspect, I recorded about 23 shitty demo songs, played them all for Madison and Jenna, and we all sat down and chose what we agreed were the '10 best tracks', re-tooled them a bit as a band, and played some of them live to gauge reaction, etc etc. After all of that was said and done, we birthed our beautiful baby, and called him 'Mister Something'.

SSC:  Who did the artwork?

Donnie:  Adam Osgood did the artwork for the new album, and the poster for our July 6th album release show at The Hideout. Both are amazing! He is a brilliant artist and we all love him.

SSC:  Who is going to release it?

Donnie:  Chain Smoking Records is putting out this 10 inch for us, and we couldn't be happier. Anthony is the man and a half. He gave us 100% creative control over the artwork, how the album sounded, etc. To us, not only does that show his faith in Absolutely Not, but also proves that he's the coolest of dudes.

SSC:  That’s really great to hear.  Sounds like you guys got it made!  So, let’s move on to some other fun questions.  Absolutely Not has played a bunch of different venues in the city.  What would be your favorite?

Donnie:  We all agree that The Burlington and Empty Bottle are probably our favorite venues in the city.

SSC:  Does anyone in the band play with any other groups?

Donnie:  Jenna is also in the band Heart Shaped Hate, Madison and Donnie are also in the band The Iceberg.

SSC:  Who are some of your favorite local bands?

Donnie:  This list could go on forever, but the first bands that came to our minds are : Velocicopter, Dumpster Babies, Football, Wide Angles, Sheep Numbers, Strychnine, Swimsuit Addition, Le Tour and POST CHILD, DUH!. But seriously, we know we are forgetting about 100 great bands, so if you want to hear the complete list, just ask us in person and be prepared to sit for about an hour.

SSC:  And finally, the most important question...if you could special guest appear on any 70s sitcom, what would it be and why?

Jenna:  Fuck the 70's! I want to be on 'Perfect Strangers' in the 80's!  

Madison: I'd like to be on Happy Days so I can kick it with the Fonz, and steal his leather jacket.

Donnie - Um, 'Taxi'. If you have to ask why that's my answer, you should go watch 'Taxi'.

Check out Absolutely Not drop Mister Something this saturday at the Hideout with support Strychnine, Swimsuit Addition, and Che Arthur!

Also listen to some new tunes from Mister Something: http://absolutelynotmusic.bandcamp.com/album/mister-something-2

[sweetstuffchicago]

Interview with The Peekaboos!

We recently spoke with local indie pop rock stars The Peekaboos.  We talk about the new album, artwork, time travel, and as always local Chicago music.  

Who’s who in the band?

The Peekaboos are:

SHANNON CANDY, Guitar

KOALA ROB, Bass

MATTHEW MUFFIN, Guitar

MICHAEL SUNNYCIDE, Drums

  Tell us about the new album? Any major themes or concepts?

Stay Positive is our first full length album as a band, so it's more of a collection of our own feel-goodery rather than a concept album-  it's hard not to have fun when you're spending those few hours a week you get away from work and errands in the studio with your best friends.  We started recording in November 2012 at Two States Audio and the record was mastered All City Mastering.  The subject matter can be pretty scattered, but we try to stay concise about HOW we deliver a point rather than what a point means objectively.

Who did the artwork?

  Matthew Muffin drew "Dr. Pladius" for the front cover. This is one of his good friend's favorite stuffed animals who always looked like he was having a good time, and it just really clicked as a cover for the band. It's marker, watercolor and Ink on paper. The back cover is a study of a 12 year old Ecuadorian soldier in a similar style with Marker, Watercolor, and Ink.

  Who is going to release it?

Lucky for us, we scrimped, saved, and begged our way to releasing it ourselves!  It sure can be expensive with no record backers, but owning everything you put out and owing nobody a debt for it sure is a great feeling.  We'd like this album to be a seedling for our own production company someday and we're trying to treat it as such.

That's quite impressive.  Planning on doing a tour in support?

We've got two short 4-day tours planned this summer where we'll be visiting all our Peekaboo's in Southern Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Kenosha, Milwaukee and other Midwest places of dis-interest.

This is early, but what will the next album sound like?

  Not as early as you'd think, actually. We have already started recording our second album and plan to release it next year, but you'll just have to wait and see like everybody else. What we can tell you is that we will be playing new material at shows this summer and the album will be recorded and mixed at Two States Audio.

  Does anyone in the band play with any other groups?

  Not at the moment, no. But we all have a long sordid past of playing in various local bands.

  Who are some of your favorite local bands?

  Oooh, ahh, a lot. Bad Bad Meow, Swimsuit Addition, The Clams, She Speaks in Tongues, Velocicopter, Bobcat Williams, Vamos, Summer Girlfriends, Kangaroo, Sexy Fights, Rambos, Prom Night to name a few. There are a lot but those are the ones that come to mind the quickest.

  If you could time travel to any era and play a show, what would it be and why?

  We’d go back in time to when you were right about to ask us this questions…then play a show to interrupt you so that you’d forget to ask it to us.  STATION!

BONUS QUESTION:

What has been one of the most memorable show?

We played Allan King Kahn’s Birthday show at Cole’s, which was also on Good Friday.  We dressed up as bunnies.  Then it was a Bunny Birthday Blowout.  But then we decided to also play in bathing suits.  Which became a Beach Bunny Birthday Blowout.

  Make sure to check out their record release saturday June 29th at Subt!

[sweetstuffchicago]

Interview with Dan Vapid

I recently got to speak with Chicago punk rock legend Dan Vapid, of Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Methadones, The Mopes, Sludgeworth, and Noise By Numbers fame.  Dan's current project Dan Vapid & the Cheats are currently prepping a follow up to their self-titled debut.  Dan talks about his influences, Humbolt Park, and also gives some advice to all you young punk rockers out there.   

SSC:  I see that you are in the process of recording another album.  Would you like to tell me a bit about it?  Are there any major themes you are working with?

DV:  Some of my songs talk about anger, and struggles with acceptance; the conclusion that some people in our lives need to go.  Some of them are a reminder that life is short and death is certain so we must live it fully. Other songs are fun and light hearted. So, there is a mix.

SSC:  Who will be releasing the album once it’s done?  

DV:  It will be released on our own label called Torture Chamber Records. We are aiming for early July as a release date.

SSC:  Where does your inspiration to write music come from?

DV:  Often a chorus or melody pops into my head and I flush out the rest. I write the lyrics around whatever words or thoughts are associated with it. I love the creative process so I always manage to come up with something. It's like a puzzle where I get to put the pieces together and see what comes out.

SSC:What are some of your influences?

DV:  Lots. The Ramones and Naked Raygun made me want to play music and take it seriously. Their influences are ingrained in me. But, I love music from many genres like Late 50's, early 60's Rock-n-Roll, Doo-Wop, Girl Groups, Surf, 60's Bubblegum, early Punk Rock, some early glam, power pop, some pop punk, some post punk, some Hardcore, some Indie, some Alternative, New Wave, early Country, Some Soul/Motown, Some disco, some Heavy Metal, some Rock, all kinds of stuff.

There are novelists like John Fante and Charles Bukowski who's deceptively simple writing style I love. I also tend to like inspiring quotes a lot. Albert Einstein, Dalai Lama, George Carlin are some of my favorites.

SSC:  Do you have any other musical projects in the works?

DV:  I do not.

SSC:  Any comment on the end of The Riverdales?

DV:  We got back together in 2008 after many years, made two records that I was happy with. I'm always grateful to those who enjoy the music I make past or present. It means a lot. But, this band will never get back together. Ever. So, hopefully, you enjoyed it while it lasted.

SSC:  Do you get the chance to go out and check out local bands?

DV:  Not too often. I'm a stay at home dad so I don't get out that much anymore other than when I play a show.

SSC:  What are some of your favorite local bands?

DV:  Historically speaking my top 5 are the Smoking Popes, Naked Raygun, Alkaline Trio, Cheap Trick, Off Broadway.

Currently, i'm really digging this band called the California Wives. Great stuff.

SSC:  What are some of your favorite places to play at in Chicago?

DV:  Beat Kitchen and Cobra Lounge.

SSC:  Any good stories you want to share about playing shows in Chicago?

DV:  There are so many stories that lie within various venues throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs over the years. All of them have cool little pieces of history. I do often think about how much has changed over the years. So many faces, venues, bands that come and go. So many neighborhoods gentrified. Sometimes I can't help but feel nostalgic for what once was and try to imagine what might be in 20 years. Neighborhoods like Wicker park had punk shows in the mid 80's and they were scary to be in.  A few punks and artists move in for the low rent and change comes about. It's so strange but that's how I saw that neighborhood evolve into what it is today. Events like Riot Fest take place in Humboldt Park. When I was growing up that neighborhood was completely off limits. It was a war zone between rival gangs, Latin Kings and Disciples. It's violence was well known to the people of Chicago and can even be seen in documentary series like Gangland. Nobody I knew went anywhere near there. The thought of having a punk rock event in Humboldt Park was once downright laughable.

SSC:  You’ve been on the scene for quite a while now.  Any advice to up and coming bands?

DV:  You'll need to find people you get along with. People rarely change and their personalities never do.  If a person in your band is an amazing guitarist but a fucking tool you're best to let him go. You'll be spending a lot of time around him or her so choose your bandmates wisely.

Find bandmates with similar goals. Practice your asses off and honestly assess your strengths and weakness's. Capitalize on those strengths and be mindful of your weakness. Find what is unique about you and use it to your advantage. It's important to have fun and be comfortable when you play live. In my view, people in bands that excessively worry about making mistakes often make a lot more of them. Snowball effect. Their nerves made things worse. Sometimes laughing it off and going with it can be best. Trends always come and go. Know what roll you play in the band and don't overplay your hand. Tour, tour and tour…You'll have to live and breath this if you want to make a difference. Also, playing in a band can put a strain on relationships. Make sure your girlfriend or boyfriend really supports what you do. Not the "idea" of what you do. This is super important.

If you were given creative control over a music video for any song of yours without any budget constraints, what song would you do and what would be in the video?

Lately I've been watching East Bound and Down a lot. So, I think I'd want Kenny Powers (Danny McBride) Steve Little and Will Ferrill as the actors. The video would start with the three of them with Dan Vapid and the Cheats spinning a wheel with our song titles surrounding it. Whatever song was landed on would be the video. Cast and crew would have just 30 minutes to come up with the script. It would be fast and spontaneous. After our video debut we'd have our 30 minutes behind the music video.  

[sweetstuffchicago]

Killer Moon @ double door 060713

[sweetstuffchicago]

Creepy band @ double door 060713