© Ian Rook 2009

The temperature has risen, clothes are coming off, and restaurant windows are opening up to signify the return of summer in Chicago. On a hot, steamy, and sweaty night last Sunday I found myself standing in line with 100 other punk rockers from around town, most of them in their mid-40s, waiting to see the band that changed their life in high school. Instantly noticing that I was the youngest in attendance at the Double Door, I wondered if the fellow punk-rockers next to me were curious on how I found myself outside this venue tonight. But on this sultry summer evening, once the first note rang out over the loud speakers in that sweaty club all inquires were forgotten.

The questionable opening act before the Buzzcocks took the stage in front of a packed, sold out crowd. The Dollyrots, left little to be desired from a female-fronted trio on Joan Jett’s record label Blackheart. The singer’s blonde curls and high-pitched voice squealed through the voices in a crowd less than interested in what this twenty-something had to offer.

Finally, after waiting two hours since the show was listed incorrectly online, the Buzzcocks took the stage. Hailing from Manchester, UK, the foursome known as the Buzzcocks hardly look like the troublesome, angry punk-rockers from their heyday of 1976. Lead singer Pete Shelley mumbled and stumbled through the lyrics and even missed a sentence or two throughout the night. His right hand man, Steve Diggle, kept the crowd engaged with continuous fist pumps and cheers, but the overall performance was sloppy and off-par with their classic sound. Maybe I am just 30 years too late to catch my first Buzzcocks performance, but the highlight came after the first half of their set (an impressive 15 songs) to catch “Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t've” one of the Buzzcock’s most noteworthy songs written long ago by this aging foursome.

The Buzzcocks rounded off the hit with another 14 songs, an impressive feet for any band, young or old, to pull off a 30-song set in less than 2 hours. The consecutive power chords, simple melodies, and fierce energy created by the Buzzcocks will always have a soft spot in my heart, even on their next tour where hip replacements may keep them from putting on the show of a lifetime.

We just updated all our servers and we are looking forward to a complete redesign coming in June. We will update regularly and be back with a force to be reckoned with!

In the mean time, my new job requires me to sit in rush hour traffic for up to three hours a day. I will try to post a weekly playlist of my rush hour music for your enjoyment. Also, if you have new music you want me to check out over my loud speakers please feel free to e-mail it over (ashley@familiarizeyourself.com or ashbrw@gmail.com if the server is still down).

Keep an eye out for the magic on it’s way.

Best,

AB

After sampling songs on Canasta’s MySpace I was excited for the show but I wasn’t expecting just how great it turned out to be. Canasta performed songs in a variety of styles, ranging from Billy Joel-esque rock (think “It’s Still Rock ‘n’ Roll to Me”) to Ryan Adams-esque country-tinged melodics (think “La Cienega Smiled”) to Spoon-esque pop. The band’s eclectic sound can be attributed in part to their numerous and varying instruments which include piano, keyboard, horns, trombone, and violin in addition to guitar, bass, and drums.

Every member of the band with the exception of their drummer contributed vocals, giving their performance a robust, rich sound (if you’ve seen Ha Ha Tonka live you know what I mean). In particular, Elizabeth Lindau’s hypnotic vocals lent a mystical vibe to their moodier songs while her violin provided melancholy, country-inspired elements. Meanwhile, Matt Priest’s leading vocals were smooth and flawless as he navigated his way through the songs.

What impressed me most was the content of their music, which is not composed of cheap rhymes and simple chord progressions, but seems to be crafted thoughtfully in a way that is best suited to tell the story of each song. It is for this reason that I can really see this band getting huge, not in a band-of-the-moment kind of way but in a national-cult-following kind of way, because they don’t rely on trends and gimmicks to beef up their show or music; they possess real musical talents.

At Schuba’s it was apparent that this band is not just about the performance. That is not to say that they lack stage presence, but that they were there to share music with their fans, not to present a show. This approach was recognized by the nearly-full room of fans who cheered excitedly at the start of each song recognized, both old and new. Priest reciprocated the enthusiasm, jokingly admitting, “All night long I’ve been very appreciative of everything all the time. It’s not very rock ‘n’ roll.”

The band closed their set with a jazzed-up version of Blackstreet‘s 1996 hit “No Diggity” including a three-piece live horn section, over which Priest rapped expertly with an exaggerated southern twang and the attitude to back it up.

All in all it was a fantastic performance and I am eager to listen to The Fakeout, The Tease and The Breather, which you can stream in its entirety on their website’s audio page.

Also, be sure to check out their FREE live performance at Reckless Records on May 16.

Reckless Records | 3126 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 | 5pm | Free in-store performance

It’s songs like Derek and the Darling‘s “Hustler with a Rescue Plan” that cause me to dance on the train. I try to keep it quiet so as not to disturb the people around but that’s me you’ve been giving weird looks on the red line every morning as I jam out to Ke$ha and 3oh!3 on my iPod. This song has a good catchy chorus, fun synth pieces, and deep poppy male vocals.

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Unfortunately none of the other five songs featured on Derek and the Darling’s MySpace make my list. “Suddenly” is a relaxing lighthearted electronic track a la Owl City, but not as good as Owl City (or the Postal Service for that matter but I’m hesitant to even bring the talent that is Ben Gibbard into this article).

Next is “Lucky Lola,” a darker rock song backed by a “I Love Rock N Roll”-esque stomp stomp clap instrumental. Again, let’s not even compare this band to Joan Jett except to say that this song made me want to turn it off and put on some Jett.

I could swear that “You” came straight out of the 90s. Like a weak Alanis Morisette or Meredith Brooks rip off.

Last is “Alabaster Sky,” a soft song that sounds like it belongs in a musical. Enough said.

So there you have it. One fantastic song and four that I’d rather not listen to. Nothing original in this band’s music but man do I love “Hustler With A Rescue Plan”. And I must say it’s nice once in a while to appreciate one song alone and not have to love or hate a band based on their whole catalog. (Kinda like the ONE Nickelback song I like. Yikes!)

Working one’s way up the local band totem pole is rough, and it’s something with which The Moves’ singer Dave Spaulding is familiar. In an interview this February with Chicago Sun-Times writer Kyle Koster, Spaulding said, “There are times — and not to sound overly dramatic — that it seems like everyone is against you. Your favorite club doesn’t want to book you, you’re writing letters to your favorite bands and they’re not writing back and you don’t have any money … it seems like the biggest uphill battle in the world. [You have to] take situations like that… and make the best of them, turn them into positives.”

That optimistic attitude is paying off, as the band has been noticed by such Chicago radio stations as Fearless, Q101 and XRT, all of which have given The Moves some spins. Additionally, the band had the opportunity to perform at a two-day gay rights rally – the GLSEN Night of Noise – to 400+ people each night. They’ve made the rounds through Chicago’s local venues such as Beat Kitchen, The Abbey, Metro, and Bottom Lounge.

You can download their new wave-y, The Killers-inspired “Song of Passing” for FREE by clicking HERE (download will start automatically).

Their song “Revolution Bound”, while not their strongest song, holds a message I wholeheartedly get down with. Written around the time of the Prop 8 debate, Spaulding decided to express his feelings about gay rights. “I couldn’t think of another song that explicitly calls for equal rights for gays and the whole gay marriage issue”. Check out “Song of Passing”, “Revolution Bound”, and other punk-pop-rock tomorrow night at Metro.

Metro, 3730 N. Clark | All Ages | Doors: 6pm | $9

Today is day eight of the Everyone Everywhere MP3 Blog Tour, which means that the 8th song, “Fld Ovr,” from their upcoming, self-titled release is now available for download via Familiarize Yourself! The more I listen to this album,  the more I love it, and if you are at all interested in anything reminiscent of ’90s emo or indie rock/punk…i’m sure you’ll love it too. So, without further ado, here is “Fld Ovr” by Philadelphia, PA’s Everyone Everywhere:

“Fld Ovr” by Everyone Everywhere

Make sure you check out all the other “tour dates” and pick up all the tracks from this awesome album!

Side A:
Monday, April 19th: The Ripple Effect “ Tiny Planet”
Tuesday, April 20th: Can You See The Sunset From The Southside “ Raw Bar OBX 2002″
Wednesday, April 21st: Built On A Weak Spot “œFrom The Beginning To The Tail”
Thursday, April 22nd: Dryvetyme Onlyne “(That’s me!) “ Tiny Town”
Friday, April 23rd: Battle Of The Midwestern Housewives “Tiny Boat”

Side B:
Monday, April 26th:Deckfight “Music Work Paper Work”
Tuesday, April 27th: The Album Project” “Blown Up Grown Up”
Wednesday, April 28th: Familiarize Yourself “Fld Ovr”
Thursday, April 29th: Reviewsic “I Feel Fine”
Friday, April 30th: Clicky Clicky Music “Obama House, Fukui Prefecture”

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The band describe their sound as “an eclectic synthesis of psychedelic grunge and classic rock”. Their album was recorded live using analog equipment and vintage instruments.  It’s being released in limited edition vinyl, in addition to unlimited modern technology. The exclusive 7″ pressing will include a B-side track available only on the record.

Model Stranger is coming off of an 18-day tour during which they are scheduled to play 18 shows in 8 states. Despite their packed schedule I was able to get their attention long enough to answer some of my questions.

You just got through spending endless hours together in the studio, parting for only 3 or 4 hours to sleep at night, and followed it by immediately hopping in a van together for a tour. Are you ready to kill each other yet?

Is it a relief to have it all done or do you wish you had more time to tweak things?

SF: It’s definitely great to be done recording, however to quote Sting, “A record is never truly complete, you just abandon it”. We’re ready to move forward and write even more new music.

Why did you decide to record the whole album live?

What do you find unique about Chicago’s music scene compared to other cities/states?

Who are you listening to these days that our readers should be familiar with?

VJ: Man Man, The Calamity Cubes (who we played with a few days ago in Topeka)

Catch Model Stranger at the Cubby Bear this Saturday, April 24. If you can’t make it, at the very least check out their comedic video series, “A Moment With Model Stranger” on YouTube.

I have quickly come to appreciate Lincoln Hall as one of my favorite music venues in Chicago. Despite being under a year old, Lincoln Hall is already known for its excellent calendar of musical acts, top-notch sound quality, and stylish decoration. Last Friday I stopped by after work to catch a late performance with JBM and Rogue Wave, both of whom I was vaguely aware of but not familiar with. Their sets were stunningly captivating and I found myself blown away by both of their talent.

The show opened with JBM a talented one-man band who blew me away. During his set he managed to play a kick drum with his right foot, a hi-hat with a tambourine attached with his left foot, guitar, and sing. His voice reminded me of M. Ward with a bit of a twang and a slightly more optimistic tone to it. His music was soothing and he had a tranquil demeanor, and I found my self closing my eyes and nodding off to the comforting sounds of his music.

When Rogue Wave took the stage their high energy instantly awakened the drowsiest of folks in the room. With wide smiles splashed across their faces, they went into performing old favorites and catchy new songs. They reminded me of what Band of Horses might sound like if they were from California instead of South Carolina. I loved the way they carried and presented themselves on stage with bashful appreciation and playful confidence, giving their all to the performance. The music evoked a warm and youthful sensation that kept me grinning and tapping my foot through the night; they were undeniably positive in their attitude and songs and I couldn’t help but be affected by it. With the show over, I left Lincoln Hall, satisfied yet again, with two new artists to add to my constantly growing list of favorites.

]]> http://familiarizeyourself.com/2010/04/23/2956/feed/ 0 http://familiarizeyourself.com/2010/04/22/everyone-everywhere/ http://familiarizeyourself.com/2010/04/22/everyone-everywhere/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:08:27 +0000 DanCase http://familiarizeyourself.com/?p=2931

Next week, Familiarize Yourself will be doing something we’ve never done before. We’re give away an exclusive track from Everyone Everywhere‘s upcoming self-titled LP. If you’re a fan of ’90s emo stuff like The Promise Ring and Braid or comtemporary stuff like Algernon Cadwallader, you’ll LOVE this band and record. We were enlisted by the fine gentlemen who run Tiny Engines to be a part of a tour of independent blogs in an attempt to provide people with a song-by-song introduction to Everyone Everywhere. Ten different blogs will each post a different song from the record, including the opportunity to download that song. This way, by the time of the album’s physical release date, people will have heard each track and will be so impressed by the music than they’ll scurry over to the band and/or label website and order the album. So, make sure to comeback here on Wednesday April 28th and download the 10th track off the album, “Fld Ovr.” We really stoked about being able to give stuff away on here, so please help us, Everyone Everywhere, and all the other blogs by checking out sites and downloading all the tracks.

Make sure you check out all the other “tour dates” and pick up all the tracks from this awesome album!

Side A:
Monday, April 19th: The Ripple Effect “ Tiny Planet”
Tuesday, April 20th:Â Can You See The Sunset From The Southside “ Raw Bar OBX 2002″
Wednesday, April 21st:Â Built On A Weak Spot “œFrom The Beginning To The Tail”
Thursday, April 22nd:Â Dryvetyme Onlyne “(That’s me!) “ Tiny Town”
Friday, April 23rd: Battle Of The Midwestern Housewives “Tiny Boat”

Side B:
Monday, April 26th:Deckfight “Music Work Paper Work”
Tuesday, April 27th: The Album Project” “Blown Up Grown Up”
Wednesday, April 28th: Familiarize Yourself “Fld Ovr”
Thursday, April 29th: Reviewsic “I Feel Fine”
Friday, April 30th: Clicky Clicky Music “Obama House, Fukui Prefecture”

^{Photo: © Gali Firstenberg}

When I was 17 – a Junior in high school – I met someone who is now one of the greatest influences in my life. I was attending a charity event benefiting an NFP called UnityShows, and I had a life changing discussion with the org’s president, Dann Saxton. It turned out that aside from being a philanthropist and my future mentor, Dann was (and is ) also a great musician. Since then, I have been waiting for Kill the Complex – the band for which Saxton is the lyricist and singer – to release a full-length album.

After many incarnations, the band has released Evolution. They were once known as Butane, with current guitarist Gabriel Herredia on bass and another guitarist. After losing that guitarist Gabe switched over to pick up the 6-string and they have since had two different bassists, neither of which stuck. Finally, Saxton, Herredia, and drummer Ted Barakat buckled down to record the album they’ve had building up all this time.

My favorite thing about Kill the Complex is that their music is not about unrequited love, lost love, or any kind of love. KTC delivers rock music about acceptance, inner peace, and living life to its fullest. “Everyone is on the defense / Assuming enemies doesn’t make much sense / How can we be unified when no one tries?” sings Saxton in “On the Outside”. The album as a whole is straight rock ‘n’ roll, which is rare for me. I tend to lean towards pop, pop-punk, and indie rock, but I can’t help but listen to Kill the Complex. With catchy rhythms, minor chords, and surprising melodies Evolution is a good album to throw on when you’re angry but too weak to punch the wall without hurting yourself. It will remind you why life is a wonderful thing and just might teach you how to enjoy it like there’s no tomorrow.

Download KTC’s Evolution for free HERE.