Keith Morris needs no introduction. For nearly 30 years he has been at the forefront of punk rock. Last year he created the supergroup OFF! and many would argue it’s some of the best punk to be released in a long time. Keith was very candid in revealing how OFF! came together as a unit and what’s changed since he started out in his first band. OFF! is set to rock the Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, July 16th and they will also be playing a second show at Reggie’s the following day on Sunday, July 17th. Interview by Kevin Corazza. Click here to view…
Ninja Gun is a quartet from Valdosta, Georgia and this EP is the band’s first release since their 2008 full-length, Restless Rubes. Roman Nose finds the group focusing more on pop and country influences, as opposed to the southern/indie rock that dominated their last album. What’s surprising is how well this shift in style works. Few bands can experiment and mix varying genres with such success, but Ninja Gun’s exceptional musicianship allows them to do so with ease. In that regard, Roman Nose is the perfect record for someone in search of something new and different. The first song, “That’s Not What I Heard”, talks about corporate greed and the continued decline of America’s economy, and uses a sunny melody, tons of backing vocals and layered instrumentation to solidify what is an extremely catchy opening track. “Hot Rain” leans more in a country direction before seriously rockin’ out at its midway point, while “Lepers in Love” revolves around a huge riff that helps to shape a unique and memorable chorus. Lastly, the title track is a somber lament that appropriately concludes this EP with a haunting rhythm and piano/string accompaniments. If Roman Nose is any indication of what to expect from the next Ninja Gun full-length, then fans of original and creative music everywhere have a lot to look forward to. Don’t wait to check this out if you’re in need of a refreshing change of pace.
In the spring of 2000, we interviewed Dillinger Four before the release of their milestone album, Versus God. This full-length in particular found the band sharpening their sound and taking their songwriting to a new level. We spoke with singer/guitarist Erik Funk and singer/bassist Patrick Costello before one of their shows at Fireside Bowl. We talked from inside D4’s van about the record, including its lyrics and the motivation behind its title. We also conversed about the band’s relationship with Billie Joe from Green Day, a memorable appearance at South by Southwest, The Triple Rock and more.Click here to view…
With their latest album, Endgame, Rise Against has reached new levels of creativity and critical acclaim. It blends the various styles found on their previous records, ups the intensity and remains as passionate as ever with its lyrics. We spoke extensively with lead singer Tim McIlrath about Endgame, as well as the band’s relationship with producer Bill Stevenson, their experiences while touring with Bad Religion and more. Catch Rise Against on tour this fall with Foo Fighters and don’t forget to check out their new split record with Face to Face. Click here to view…
The Smoking Popes are one of Chicago’s most influential bands. They got their start in 1991, achieved widespread success with two albums on Capitol Records and this March released their latest full-length, This Is Only a Test. We spoke with singer/guitarist Josh Caterer about the new record’s concept, what it was like recording at Atlas Studios, the band’s relationship with Asian Man Records and more. Be sure to check out the Popes on tour this summer with Alkaline Trio and look for their classic album Born to Quit to be reissued later this year. Click here to view…
In February of 2001, Propagandhi released their third full-length, Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes. The following month, they played the Congress Theater and we met up with the band before the show. We spoke with singer/guitarist Chris Hannah, bassist Todd Kowalski and drummer Jord Samolesky, and talked about the record’s style and some of its lyrical content. We addressed topics like artificial borders, the prison system in the U.S., the departure of founding singer/bassist John K. Samson and more. Without question, Propagandhi is one of the most influential punk bands of the last 30 years and with each record they continue to progress their sound. Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes represents a pivotal point in the band’s history and it was definitely exciting to interview them just after the album came out.Click here to view…
Small Brown Bike formed in Marshall, Michigan in 1996. They went on to release two full-lengths with No Idea and another with Lookout! Records before disbanding in 2004. The band got back together three years later and just last month released their first new album in nearly eight years, entitled Fell & Found. We met with singer/guitarist Mike Reed after Small Brown Bike’s recent show at Subterranean and discussed the new record, the band’s relationship with No Idea, Krazy Fest and more. The band’s lineup also includes guitarist/singer Travis Dopp, bassist/singer Ben Reed and drummer Dan Jaquint.
Face to Face recently released a new album, their first in nine years, entitled Laugh Now, Laugh Later. The highly-influential band from Victorville, CA reunited in 2008 and has toured sporadically since. They’re currently on the road in support of Laugh Now, Laugh Later, and we met with lead singer/guitarist Trever Keith before their show at Bottom Lounge. We talked about the new record, Warped Tour, the band’s legacy and more. Keith offered insightful responses to all of our questions and we’d like to thank him for being exceptionally thorough. Click here to view…
Frank Turner is an English singer/songwriter whose solo career began in 2005. Since then he’s toured the world extensively, releasing three EPs and three full-lengths along the way. His new album is due out this June on Epitaph, entitled England Keep My Bones. We met with Frank before his recent show at Beat Kitchen to discuss the upcoming record, touring, songwriting inspirations and more. Turner is equally sincere and humble, and these characteristics translate seamlessly to his songs. Despite his success, he remains modest and focused simply on pursuing a lifelong career as a musician. England Keep My Bones will indeed allow him to do just that, as well as continue to find new listeners and perform in unfamiliar places around the globe.Click here to view…
For the last 15 years, Asian Man Records has been synonymous with do-it-yourself ethics and a fan-friendly approach. Such methods have earned the label a sizable and devoted fan base, as well as a reputation for prioritizing its ideals over any kind of business plans. Owner Mike Park founded Asian Man in 1996, after parting ways with his first band, Skankin’ Pickle. Along with Skankin’ Pickle’s other members, Park had previously run Dill Records, but after leaving the band the time was right for him to start his own label. Since its formation, Asian Man has grown significantly, issuing more than 200 releases and achieving both national and international acclaim. This June the label will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a five-day festival in San Francisco, which will encompass ten shows and over 40 bands. The event will not only celebrate Asian Man’s past accomplishments, but also serve as an affirmation of its plans to continue releasing music for many years to come. Click here to view…
Chicago’s Big Science is playing this Friday, May 6th at Subterranean, (2011 W. North Ave.). Color Radio and An Aesthetic Anaesthetic open the show, which starts at 9:30 PM, is 17+ and costs $10. Check out a brand-new, previously unreleased song from Big Science called “Loose Change Century” below.
Ratasucia is a new band that features singer/guitarist Dan Hanaway, (The Honor System, The Broadways, Slapstick) bassist Chris Carr, (The Honor System) and drummer Tim Scare. Their debut album, White Noise Pollution, is scheduled to be released this summer on Asian Man Records. Check out a song from the record below.
[audio:http://jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/08-Escape-From-Eden.mp3,|titles=Escape From Eden]
Spraynard is a relatively new band from West Chester, Pennsylvania. Funtitled is their debut full-length for Asian Man Records and comparisons could conceivably be made to pop punk greats like Weston and Digger. In terms of a more contemporary association, Spraynard sounds somewhat reminiscent of Broadway Calls, but to be fair they really have a sound that’s all their own. “The Denver Broncos vs. The Denver Broncos” is a prominent song that deals with abandoning adolescent endeavors in favor of pursuing more ambitious goals. It captures the youthful exuberance of Kerplunk-era Green Day and displays the band’s aptitude for crafting uniquely-structured songs with unconventional tempo changes. “We’re Pretty Nice Guys” spotlights the clever and competent drumming of Patrick Ware, which is evident throughout the entire record, but especially apparent on this track. “Homies Where the Heart Is” features the disc’s catchiest and most memorable chorus, and truly exemplifies what a great summertime record Funtitled is. There’s even a song called “Little Green Ghouls” that of course references the TV show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and that’s pretty awesome. Spraynard doesn’t take itself too seriously and above all is about having fun while making music. The three members work extremely well together and are adept at feeding off each other’s energy to get the most out of their songs. It may sound somewhat humorous, but a lot of young bands don’t know how to do that. So long as this trio stays together they will likely have a very bright future. Be sure to check out the band on tour this summer and listen to the song “Homies Where the Heart Is” below.
[audio:http://www.jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/09-Homies-Where-The-Heart-Is.mp3|titles=Homies Where The Heart Is]
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.
