With their latest album, Freak Out!, Teenage Bottlerocket has assumed total control of the modern day pop punk throne. While their sound is undeniably influenced by The Ramones and some of the classic Lookout! Records bands of the ‘90s, this time around they’ve diversified their songwriting and basically improved on all aspects of what they do. Everything from the vocals to the musicianship has been kicked up a notch, and such enhancements are evident on each of the record’s 14 tracks. Songs like “Necrocomicon” and “Maverick” incorporate topical and clever humor in their lyrics, as the first deals with zombies taking over the San Diego Comic-Con and the second pays tribute to the hit 1986 film Top Gun. Things take a more serious turn on “Done with Love,” when singer/guitarist Kody Templeman laments a failed relationship with considerable honesty and vulnerability. It’s definitely one of the album’s top songs, if not one of the finest he’s ever written. Templeman again succeeds on “Summertime,” a sugary love song that’s best enjoyed while driving with the windows down and the volume all the way up. Not to be outdone, singer/guitarist Ray Carlisle contributes a contemporary-sounding gem called “Never Gonna Tell You.” It finds the band navigating unfamiliar musical territory with great success, and the same goes for the record’s final entry, “Go with the Flow.” This Sludgeworth-inspired tune is also sung by Carlisle and it fittingly concludes the album on an introspective note. Freak Out! will likely be remembered as Teenage Bottlerocket’s defining full-length. It’s certainly one of the most memorable pop punk releases to come along in recent years and one that needs to be heard by any and all fans of the genre. Take a listen below to “Done with Love.”
[audio:http://www.jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/06-Done-With-Love.mp3|titles=Done With Love]
Bill Solleder, former Blue Meanies singer and formerly known as Billy Spunke, recently unveiled a new band called Holy Shakes. The group is based out of Hot Springs, Arkansas and also includes guitarist Bobby Missile, bassist Brian Lee and drummer Justin Castleberry. Last month they released their debut full-length, Feast or Famine, via Thick Records. We spoke with Bill and talked about how the band formed, what they sound like, where the new album was recorded and more. Click here to view…
After an eight-year hiatus, Gainesville, FL’s Hot Water Music has reemerged with a new full-length, titled Exister. What’s immediately evident is that the band is determined to break new ground and has little interest in revisiting the past. That alone is admirable, but the fact that they achieve their goal with ease is even more impressive. Singer/guitarist Chuck Ragan incorporates many of the styles from his successful solo career, while fellow singer/guitarist Chris Wollard shares what he’s learned in his other band, The Ship Thieves. Together they lead a group that sounds nothing short of revitalized. Ragan strikes first with the song “State of Grace,” which is a gruff call to arms that is sure to be a fan favorite at shows. Ragan again shines on “Drag My Body,” one of the album’s most dynamic and lyrically powerful tracks. The song also spotlights what is arguably punk rock’s finest rhythm section, and enough can’t be said about the talents of bassist Jason Black and drummer George Rebelo. Wollard dominates the second half of the record and makes his mark with a Foo Fighters-like entry called “Wrong Way.” It marches along with a haunting melody before giving way to a monster chorus that’s instantly memorable. He also takes charge on a tune called “The Traps,” a straightforward rocker with passionate vocals and intricate guitar leads. Exister is a great-sounding album, thanks to producer Bill Stevenson, and one that benefits from the band experimenting with different genres. After spending nearly a decade apart, Hot Water Music has returned in top form, sounding enthused, recharged and ready to craft more influential music for years to come.
Brendan Kelly & The Wandering Birds unveiled their debut full-length a short time ago, entitled I’d Rather Die Than Live Forever. It marks Brendan’s latest musical project and sounds distinctly different from his primary band, The Lawrence Arms. We spoke with Mr. Kelly about the album’s unique style, what inspired some of its lyrics, the manner in which it was recorded and more. Pictured above with Brendan is Nick Martin, who played a variety of instruments on the album. Click here to view…
Tim Barry recently released 40 Miler, his fifth solo full-length and first for Chunksaah Records. The album is filled with honesty, optimism and a sense of resiliency, as Barry continues to grow more content with age. The record also features added instrumentation, like violin and piano, but at its heart is what fans have come to enjoy most, and that’s Tim’s voice and his acoustic guitar. We spoke with Barry after his recent show at Beat Kitchen and discussed the meaning of the album’s title, what’s behind some of its lyrics, his upcoming shows in Australia and more. Click here to view…
The Sidekicks hail from Columbus, Ohio and formed in 2005. Their sound could be described as a mixture of indie rock and power pop, with influences ranging from Superchunk to early Weezer. However, on the band’s latest album, Awkward Breeds, they’ve definitely matured and developed their own unique style. We met with the group before their recent show at Beat Kitchen and discussed the new record at length, as well as their hometown, Red Scare Industries, touring and more. The Sidekicks’ lineup in comprised of singer/guitarist Steven Ciolek, guitarist Matt Scheuermann, bassist Ryan Starinsky and drummer Matt Climer. Click here to view…
Babylon marks the debut of Matt Skiba’s latest solo endeavor and the results are surprisingly positive. It’s definitely his best solo release yet and arguably the most memorable record he’s made in the last ten years. Also appearing on the album are AFI bassist Hunter Burgan and My Chemical Romance drummer Jarrod Alexander, both of whom do a skilled and dutiful job, but thankfully don’t get too flashy. This is imperative because they don’t overshadow what’s most important here, and that’s the exceptional songwriting. Babylon kicks off with of “Voices” and “All Fall Down”, which represent two of the record’s strongest tracks. Both are hyper-melodic and very much in the vein of Alkaline Trio’s From Here to Infirmary. They feature inspired lyrics and a renewed vocal strength from Skiba, and fortunately those characteristics are present throughout the album. “Haven’t You?” first appeared on Skiba’s 2010 full-length Demos, but here the heartfelt ballad is enhanced with the addition of keyboards and a rhythm section. Other high points include the haunting anthem that is “You” and the huge, infectious chorus of “How the Hell Did We Get Here?” Babylon concludes with a somber acoustic number called “Angel of Deaf”, and it ranks up there with Skiba’s best stripped-down closers, like “Sorry About That” and “Blue in the Face.” All in all, this is a catchy summertime record that doesn’t lose its appeal with repeated listens. Skiba’s voice sounds great and his writing is in top form, and hopefully that carries over to the next Trio album. Those searching for quality new music shouldn’t delay in checking this out.
Chicago’s Big Science has been together since 2007 and formed after the demise of a band that featured singer/guitarist Jason Hendrix and bassist Jason Richards. Over the years they’ve undergone several lineup changes, though their current arrangement is solidified by guitarist Bob Buckstaff and drummer Marcin Sulewski. Big Science has so far issued two EPs and in May they will release their debut full-length, Difficulty. We spoke with the band and discussed how the new album was recorded, what some of its songs are about, the record’s overall sound and more. Click here to view…
On 40 Miler, his fifth solo album and first for Chunksaah, Tim Barry sounds nothing if not confident. The music, which features a stronger country influence than in the past, complements the lyrics in a way that simply enhances the overall storytelling. His words often speak of economic hardships or passing trends in the music scene, but Barry injects enough humor into such topics that it keeps things from getting too serious. He’s also not afraid to look inwards and poke fun at himself, thereby adding to the authenticity of his already genuine songwriting. An example of this would be the song “Bankers Dilemma”, as it examines the brighter side of being unemployed. Barry talks about getting laid off, abandoning the mortgage and celebrating impending foreclosure with a “lingering sense of relief and a crap-ton of empty bottles.” In “Fine Foods Market”, he describes a line for lottery tickets as three blocks long and also depicts a segment of the crowd as “hipsters with ironic mustaches, who most definitely once were punk and now wear flannel.” He then proceeds to scrutinize his own musical upbringings and influences, as well as discuss his indifference to such fads. The title track reaffirms Barry’s devotion to his craft and emphasizes the importance of integrity. He says, “I’d rather stay broke and play fake-ass shows, move with heart, sing from your soul. If you can’t play then dance instead. Music should sound like escape not rent.” On the whole, 40 Miler is a positive record that finds Barry growing and benefitting from his life experiences. It represents some of his best solo material yet and is heads above the vast majority of his musical peers. Take a listen to the song “40 Miler” below and see why.
The Treasure Fleet is a new Chicago band that consists of Isaac Thotz and Dave Merriman of The Arrivals, Neil Hennessy of The Lawrence Arms and Smoking Popes, Eli Caterer of Smoking Popes and Mike Oberlin of Sass Dragons. We spoke with Isaac and Neil and talked in detail about how the band formed, their unique sound, their upcoming album for Recess Records and more. Click here to view…
The Menzingers recently issued their debut album for Epitaph, titled On the Impossible Past. The Scranton, Pennsylvania band has toured extensively over the last several years, releasing a significant amount of quality music along the way, and as a result have become one of the most popular bands in independent punk rock. Their new record features improved musicianship and experimentation with different genres, yet simultaneously encompasses all the things that fans have come to love about the band. We spoke with singer/guitarist Greg Barnett and discussed the group’s new label, what recording the album was like and what some of its songs are about. We also talked about their recent shows in Australia, the various tours that they have scheduled later this year and more. Click here to view…
Dead Ending is a punk rock supergroup of sorts, featuring bassist Joe Principe, (Rise Against) drummer Derek Grant, (Alkaline Trio) guitarist Jeff Dean, (The Bomb, Noise By Numbers, All Eyes West) and singer Vic Bondi, (Articles of Faith). We spoke with Grant, who kindly agreed to the band’s first-ever interview, and discussed how the group got together, what they sound like and where their name comes from. We also talked about recording at Million Yen Studios, their newly formed partnership with Alternative Tentacles and some of Dead Ending’s future plans. Click here to view…
Township is a new music venue/restaurant that’s owned by Brian Peterson of MP Productions and Tamiz Haiderali, former chef/owner of Treat Restaurant. The two acquired the space at 2200 N. California Ave., which was once occupied by Pancho’s, after the previous owner decided to retire. The partnering of Peterson and Haiderali in this business venture is significant for several reasons. For starters, Township is the first venue owned by Peterson after nearly 20 years of him booking shows at various Chicago clubs. Also, this is the initial culinary project for Haiderali since the closing of his celebrated restaurant last year. Although it’s barely been two months that Township has been in business, much of the groundwork has already been laid for what promises to be a uniquely positive concert going and dining experience. Click here to view…
This month Cheap Girls will release their third album and first for Rise Records, entitled Giant Orange. It was recorded by Against Me! singer/guitarist Tom Gabel at Total Treble Studio in Elkton, Florida. The record sounds polished yet full of energy, and displays a band that’s improving at an impressive rate. They continue to redefine their own unique mix of power pop, alt rock and melodic punk, and the end result is sure to please old school fans and newcomers alike. We spoke with singer/bassist Ian Graham and discussed how the album was recorded, their new label, touring, the band’s hometown of Lansing, Michigan and more. Click here to view…
Billy + Joe is comprised of Smoke or Fire singer/guitarist Joe McMahon and Vancouver-based singer/songwriter Billy the Kid. The recently formed duo began 2012 by covering one song per day for the month of January. They created both a Facebook and a YouTube page to document their work, and have since covered songs from bands such as: The Descendents, Rancid, Jawbreaker, Face to Face, Hot Water Music, Samiam and more. The pair has also written some original material and played a few shows, and plans to continue doing so in the future. Take a look at one of their videos above, a cover of Billy Bragg’s “To Have and To Have Not.”
Originally a printed zine from 1998 – 2004, our goal is to provide coverage of Chicago’s expansive independent music community, and to occasionally highlight some of our past work. National and international bands will be featured as well, but above all, we hope to create lasting content for music fans everywhere.
