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The Lawrence Arms
In July of this year, The Lawrence Arms released their seventh full-length and second for Epitaph, titled Skeleton Coast. We recently spoke with singer/bassist Brendan Kelly and talked about the album in detail. We discussed how it was recorded in a remote part of Texas, as well as what inspired some of the songs and the record’s overall concept. Skeleton Coast is undeniably one of the band’s top albums and features a matured sound yet still retains their classic characteristics. In short, very few bands are able to produce a record of this quality after being together for over 20 years. Additionally, this Friday, The Lawrence Arms will continue the proud tradition of their annual War On X-Mas show. This year’s edition will be an online festival with many notable guest appearances. The show starts at 7:00 PM Central and tickets can be purchased here.
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Kali Masi
Earlier this month, Kali Masi played Chop Shop and we caught up with the band before the show. We spoke with singer/guitarist Sam Porter, guitarist/singer Wes Moore and drummer John Garrison, (bassist/singer Anthony Elliot unfortunately couldn’t be present). We talked about the band’s recent touring experiences, including opening for Less Than Jake for several weeks and their current European tour. We also discussed their latest record, Wind Instrument, in regards to how it was written and recorded. The album combines various genres and progressive songwriting to create a sound that’s genuinely distinctive. It also captures their continuing drive to evolve as musicians and push beyond the boundaries of their previous work. In addition, we addressed their plans for the rest of the year, as well as random topics like Simon & Garfunkel, The Lord of the Rings and more.
Still Alive
Last month, Still Alive released a new EP, called Assemble. We caught up with singer/guitarist Dan Alfonsi and discussed the band’s decision to put out the record themselves, as well as how recording went and the meaning behind some of the songs. We also talked about the EP’s cover art, the origins of its title and what else Still Alive has planned for this year. Assemble finds the band, (also consisting of guitarist/singer Dom Burdi, bassist Bryan Schroth and drummer Mikey Cervenka) experimenting with the boundaries of their sound and embracing a heavier tone. In addition, there’s still a wide range of influences present, but also increasingly intricate songwriting and a greater sense of overall cohesion. Be sure to check out the EP in its entirety here. Continue Reading…
SuJah Ray – “High”
Last month, SuJah Ray released their debut, self-titled EP. The project was conceived of several years ago by Justin Yates, (audio engineer Atlas Studios/Metro). He explained, “I was wrapping up a Fireside show and playing Sugar Ray over the PA at the end of the night. My buddy Dan Wallach and I joked around, changing some words here and there and then it hit me that it could actually be a cool, totally ridiculous idea. About five years later Dan Tinkler, (engineer Atlas Studios) some other very talented homies and I finally brought it to life.” He continued, “We’re all fans of Jahbreaker, (Brian Moss’s Jawbreaker reggae cover band that made all the lyrics weed-related) and thought Sugar Ray songs would be perfect to do a similar reggae/dub thing with.”
Assisting Yates in making this endeavor a reality were several noteworthy Chicago musicians. Ronnie DiCola, (The Arrivals) played drums, Aly Jados, (Blood People) provided harmonies, and Dan Alfonsi, (Still Alive) channeled deejay Super Cat and did some additional vocals. Tinkler played guitar, while Yates sang and played keyboards and synth bass. When asked to describe what recording was like, Tinkler said “We did the majority of tracking at Atlas, but added some bits and pieces at our apartments. It was stretched out over a long time, mostly due to my dumb scheduling, but it was always fun. I think that was a really important part of it; when we worked on it we had to have fun and be silly. Of course we had to get good performances, but we were focused on it being fun. Justin and I always have a blast working together.”
In terms of the possibility of someone from Sugar Ray ever hearing these songs, Yates said “I hope they get a good, guttural laugh out of it! Maybe they’ll be jealous that we told stories via songs that they always wanted to. Mark McGrath seems like a super caring, charismatic, fantastic guy. I’d love it if he reached out or mentioned SuJah Ray somewhere someday. Or maybe they’ll hear it and think that everything we’re doing is too close for comfort and shut us down with court orders and stuff. I would get a huge LOL out of that!” Check out “High” below and take a listen to the other songs here.
The Lawrence Arms – We Are the Champions of the World
Fat Wreck Chords – Release Date: 3/30/18
The Lawrence Arms (TLA) need no introduction. Rather, I’d like to emphasize that the band has evolved with an impressive consistency since 1999; including writing and musicianship, down to its primary engineer through the years: Matt Allison of Atlas Studios. A steady captain behind the scenes gives the recording quality and process a consistency of its own. The trio comprised of bassist/vocalist Brendan Kelly, guitarist/vocalist Chris McCaughan and drummer Neil Hennessy hand-picked 29 songs to showcase on its new best-of collection titled, We Are the Champions of the World.
Of the 29 tracks, 24 were culled from the band’s prolific discography – an evenly distributed retrospective spread, providing existing fans with the ultimate TLA mixtape, while simultaneously creating a perfect pool of songs for those just jumping in. The biggest perk of this release are the five previously unreleased tracks featured on this collection, all taken from the 2006 Oh! Calcutta! sessions, recorded at Atlas Studios in Chicago.
The tracks were scrapped because they “just didn’t fit in the structure of that album, which ended up being very focused and thematic,” Kelly said. “I hadn’t heard these songs in over 10 years,” McCaughan said. “I’d basically forgotten they existed at all, so listening back to a few of them was initially like stepping into some strange portal.”
“The Rabbit and the Rooster” was featured as an iTunes bonus track to O!C! It’s an anthemic, triumphant song that almost-comically borrows its bridge from Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time.” It’s an unapologetically upbeat tune about living for today, with plenty of nods to drinking and paying no mind to regret.
“Catalog” is short and fast, over before the 1:30 mark. Kelly and McCaughan trade vocal duties on this one. Interestingly, this was the first song Kelly wrote for the O!C! sessions. For a demo, the quality is superb.
McCaughan’s “Black Snow” is perhaps the most dynamic of the unreleased tracks. Backing vocals were never added, and it was abandoned about halfway through its completion. It captures much of what McCaughan felt in 2005 in Chicago. Thematically and sonically, it’s restless and echoes a Holden Caulfield-esque perspective. “I need a better way, another day, a different time/This liquor sheen smiles in my eyes/I’m searching for an anchor in this empty night/Walking home on the same street/it never used to look like this/the skeletons are secretly living in all these condominiums.”
“Laugh Out Loud” was another one of the earlier songs written for the O!C! sessions by McCaughan and exists now only as a demo. “It’s so easy to be jaded,” he sings. “Warped Summer Extravaganza (Turbo Excellent)” is a much faster take of the song that made the cut on O!C! This perhaps is the fastest song TLA has in its catalog, and it’s a perfectly succinct track to end the retrospective on, bringing it full circle in a way.
– Jason Duarte
The Falcon
Cover photo by Katie Hovland and Layout by David Holtz
Next month, The Falcon is set to release its first album in nearly a decade. We met up with singer/guitarist Brendan Kelly at the GMan Tavern to discuss the record in detail. We talked about the band’s new guitarist, Dave Hause, and how his contributions helped to shape the album’s sound. Original members Dan Andriano, (Alkaline Trio) and Neil Hennessy, (The Lawrence Arms) are of course still onboard for the ride. We also spoke about how the record was written, what it was like recording with Dan Tinkler at Atlas Studios and how the album’s cover came to be. Additionally, we conversed about the record’s dark lyrical content and how it mirrors the style of the music. Longtime fans will be eager to find the band exploring new sounds, but at the same time retaining the characteristics that they’re best known for. By all accounts, Gather Up The Chaps finds The Falcon sounding very much revitalized and ready for take-off. Continue Reading…
Still Alive
In August of last year, Chicago’s Still Alive released their latest record, Choices. We recently spoke with singer/guitarist Dan Alfonsi and talked about what recording the album was like. We also discussed some of the record’s lyrics and its general theme. In addition, we conversed about how the band has continued to progress its unique sound, which integrates genres like metal, ska, hardcore and more. While Still Alive may defy easy classifications, they’re certainly a band deserving of increased attention. They’ve got a lot planned for the year ahead, and with any luck their persistent work ethic will result in an expanded audience. Continue Reading…
Turnspit – “Lamplighters”
Chicago’s Turnspit formed in 2014 and features singer/guitarist Jason Douglass Swearingen, (Love & Squalor) singer/guitarist Gillian McGhee, bassist Jason Duarte and drummer Dan Tinkler, (Dog & Wolf). Despite only having played a handful of shows, the band is set to open for The Lawrence Arms at Double Door on Friday, December 11th. The night will also serve as a record release show for Turnspit’s debut EP, I Wonder If They’re Happy. It was recorded by their drummer at both Atlas Studios and in his home. Check out a song from the EP below called “Lamplighters” and for those attending the sold-out show on 12/11, plan on getting there early to catch this new and emerging act.
[audio:http://www.jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/03-Lamplighters.mp3|titles= “Lamplighters”]
The Suizos – “F*ck Work”
The Suizos formed in 2011 and feature singer/guitarist Darren Vorel, (That Lying Bitch) and singer/guitarist Chris Mason, (Super Happy Fun Club). Their name is inspired by the suizo burritos found at Taco Burrito Palace #2 in Lincoln Park. Mason lives nearby and after late night writing/drinking sessions, the duo would often find themselves indulging in the fine cuisine at said restaurant. The band recently recorded a four-song EP at Atlas Studios with Matt Allison, and “Fuck Work” is the second single from the release. Mason handled drum responsibilities on the recording, while Dave Tirio, (Plain White T’s) played bass. According to Vorel, the basis for many of The Suizos’ songs is “stuff we don’t like,” and this song certainly falls under that category.
To coincide with the song’s debut, The Suizos also created a video for the track, which Vorel and Mason co-directed. The concept for the video came to the band while on a recent road trip to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to witness Green Day’s induction. When asked what filming the video was like, Vorel said “It’s always fun to do music videos. I wanted to be an actor when I was a kid, so this is as close as I’m going to get. Chris and I managed to rally a lot of amazing people to be part of this. We had a high school kid named Spencer help us with camera this time, so we could focus more on our roles. Corttanie, (our lead) is someone I met while doing the Mancow show with my other group. She is totally amazing, foxy and has a fantastic potty mouth that livened up the set. Chris was like ‘What if we got Matt (Allison) to play the boss man?’ I was like ‘That’ll never happen.’ And then it did. That was my favorite part. The guy’s a natural and had us all in stitches on his shoot day. We have an hour of bloopers that are just terrific.” The Suizos don’t have any upcoming shows booked as of yet, but do plan on releasing the remaining two songs from their EP very soon. Check out the exclusive premiere of the “Fuck Work” video above and buy the song on iTunes here.
Textbook – All Messed Up
Torture Chamber Records – Release Date: 10/28/14
Last fall, Chicago’s Textbook released their fifth full-length, entitled All Messed Up. The album finds the band continuing to push the boundaries of the melodic Midwestern rock that they’re known for. Produced by Matt Allison at Atlas Studios, the recording packs a punch but also underscores Textbook’s meticulous songwriting. All Messed Up opens with “Everything I’m Not,” a catchy and concise song that’s loaded with impressive guitar riffs and a surplus of soaring backup vocals. “Looking After Me” is a mid-tempo tune that builds to an anthem-like chorus, which is anchored by a guest vocal appearance from Naked Raygun’s Jeff Pezzati. “Change My Mind” is one of the record’s more punk-leaning tracks and pleasantly reminiscent of ‘90s emo/punk act Walker. Further highpoints include “Just One of Those Things” and “We’ll Get Old,” both of which feature Dan Schafer, (Screeching Weasel, The Riverdales, The Methadones, etc.). All Messed Up is recommended for fans of The Replacements and Husker Du, as well as those that enjoy pop/rock bands like Gameface. Its lyrics often talk of heartbreak, but there’s also an underlying sense of optimism, thanks in part to a plethora of sunny-sounding melodies. Having been together since 1998, Textbook has spent many years honing their craft and this record is decidedly their strongest release yet. Take a listen to the album’s first song below, called “Everything I’m Not.”
[audio:http://www.jadedinchicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/01-Everything-Im-Not.mp3|titles= “Everything I’m Not”]
The Smoking Popes
Photo by Katie Hovland
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. Continue Reading…
Dirty Tactics @ Atlas Studios
Photos by Katie Hovland
Atlas Studios
Growing up in a musical family from Rockford, Illinois, Matt Allison began his path to becoming a producer while playing guitar and bass in various high school bands. He later moved to Champaign, Illinois to pursue an English degree, yet his passion for music remained. Allison continued playing in bands, but also took interest in recording demo tapes for his and his friends’ bands alike. “I kind of realized you could really exercise a lot of whatever creative urges you had via recording music, while at the same time making a much better living than you possibly would as a musician,” he said. “In some ways it was like hedging a bet, career-wise, but on the other hand I never have been interested in being a touring musician. Working in a studio is something I really enjoy doing.” Allison and a friend eventually constructed a small studio in the attic of the home where they were living, though it soon became apparent that Champaign was simply overcrowded with studios and under-populated by bands. This revelation is what ultimately led Allison to migrate to Chicago. Continue Reading…
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