Familiarize Yourself

Sub T is my favorite small venue in Chicago. There’s something about it. The sound isn’t particularly amazing, the lighting isn’t exactly perfect for photography, but it’s cozy and intimate and some super legit bands make their way through that place. On Friday  I went to see my friends in Carbon Tigers play there. I was half expecting to head home after their performance but they convinced me the last band was worth sticking around for. Had the fellas in Carbon Tigers not been so insistent that the girls in the last band were bad fucking ass, I might have missed out on my new band du jour.

© Megan Holmes 2009

Claudia Meza, Lisa Schonberg and Heather Treadway of Explode Into Colors took the stage and ripped it. Gently. They didn’t get the crowd thrashing about but their music was infectious and for a first time listener, I was blown away and compelled to dance. Their minimal instrumentation of drum, guitar, some keys was just the scratch I’d been itching for. The guitar, which I later learned was a baritone guitar, sounded more like a bass and I loved every second of it. The sound was danceable but allured to something darker with the heavy guitar and two drums. It was to my disappointment that the audience decided to play it lame and merely bob their heads and sway their bodies.

It came as no surprise that the two standout tracks during the show from my perspective (Sharpen The Knife and Eyes Hands Mouth), also turned out to be two on their Myspace. They were standout tracks even among the live set and the energy of the audience seemed to peek when they were performed. While their stage presence wasn’t exactly exciting, you could tell they enjoyed being up there and their energy was completely on the music. It was a refreshing and satisfying show and my only regret is not having brought more cash to purchase a vinyl, a CD or some sort of merch. It’s safe to say that Explode Into Colors has made it past the du jour status and into my permanent library as they are just as riveting in their recordings as they are live.

Enjoy.

The Skallywags are not casual hobbyists. They are group of hard-working, skilled, driven, passionate young musicians. As full-time musicians they have gained a loyal following and as full-time students they are perfecting their talents. Their brand of guitar-driven rock hints at classic rock, ska, country and 90′s pop-rock (à la Third Eye Blind). I had the opportunity to interview Skallywags vocalist and Columbia College student Kristine Spieldmann. Here’s what she had to tell us about her band.

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About a week ago I took another adventure to visit The Wanton Looks, but this time to a safer neighborhood. The ladies were headlining the Girls Out Of The Garage showcase presented by NoVo Arts at Lincoln Hall. Having only seen them perform in their dimly lit practice space with some burnt out cables, and not quite to their full potential, I was excited to see them in all their glory.

© Gali Firstenberg