Editor's Note
Hey Surfers! Welcome to #39. This week we caught Preoccupations and Protomartyr with the spectacular English drumming duo Rattle opening, and a night of local talent at The Empty Bottle with Campdogzz headlining and Reunion putting on an impressive first ever set after Wreath Of Hogs opened up the show. Releases always slow down in December leaving us room to include some great experimental stuff like Gayla Bisengalieva’s experimental violin compositions or the legend Jim O’Rourke’s collab project. Things we normally have to leave out for lack of space we can showcase now that the schedule has slowed a bit after the November release rush. There was still some quality stuff out this week: LP’s latest record, Ice Cube dropped an anger filled release and local rockers Good Brother put out their debut album. Check it all out inside and make sure to return next week for our Year In Review issue, which just so happens to be our #40 milestone! See you at the show Chicago!  

Keep Seeing Live Music!

KPL & JCB

Preoccupations / all photos by KPL
 

It was clear this was to be a special evening by the vibe that Nottingham, England-duo Rattle gave off as they strolled onstage with fists full of roses. They scattered the long-stemmed blossoms throughout their double-sided drum kit and confidently sat across from one another. Their mallets and sticks at the ready, they locked eyes before the two of them began a transportative rhythm machine that was four arms, four legs, two brians and one mouth. Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley moved as one in precise and deft form. Their rhythms blended and wove through each other as the song built and dropped, then built and dropped again; a long form composition of just drum and vocals that seems it should sound simple but is anything but. The complexity of the rhythms they create together is otherworldly, ethereal, and gorgeous. Creating the ten-plus minute compositions (it’s rather unfair to only refer to them as songs) from long hours of improvisation with each other, they have formed a bond that is altogether special. There is no other word for it. Pushing the boundaries of music and rhythm, Rattle is a band to really put on your radar. Check out their video from single “Signal” off Sequence, which just dropped in November.  

Knowing what was coming, some air was necessary between sets, and there was a notable sigh of relief as the crowd that headed outside hit the cold air. Needing to steel ourselves for the onslaught to come with the bite of December in Chicago. Back inside, Protomartyr was finishing their linecheck, and the thumps of Scott Davidson’s bass drew us all into the heat of the venue. All crowding as close as we could get as Joe Casey sauntered on stage in his signature black suit, a styrofoam cup gripped loosely in one hand. As Alex Leonard counted down and took that first stick swing, Casey grabbed the mic and bellowed in his deep speak-sing style alongside the droning guitar of Greg Ahee. A few tunes off new album Relatives in Descent started the set, warming us up to the swinging rhythms and jangled melodies of the Detroit foursome. Tunes as bleak and haunted as their hometown rolled out from stage as they launched into “The Devil In His Youth”. At that point the tide burst as a pit started center, and the rolling sea of humanity tumultuously threw themselves towards each other, crashing in the middle and turning into a dance of arms and heads floating around above the scuffle of shuffling feet. The set became a blur of beer-soaked, dance-the-night-away ecstasy, which is the only way to really enjoy their brand of post punk; it is as dark as it is compelling. Check out the full catalog, and prepare to get addicted.

Out of tragedy was born Viet Cong. When founding guitarist of the Calgary noise-rock band Women died— effectively ending their hiatus—bassist Matt Flegel formed a new band from the ashes. Preoccupations was born out of the controversy surrounding the name Viet Cong, and their self-titled 2016 album was the first released under the Preoccupations moniker. Along with the new title was a sound that dropped some of the noise-rock elements making Women and Viet Cong so compelling. In its place was a dark well of melody that brought up thoughts of a warped Smiths sound with some Nick Cave and Morphine spattered in. Synths and guitars from Scott Munro and Daniel Christiansen swirled around the driving bass of Flegel and former Women drummer Mike Wallace’s pounding downbeats. Gone was the swirling crowd as we were all trapped in the well of sonance washing through and around us all, making our feet heavy and our heads bob. Only when they reached a peak would the spell somewhat break and a few dancers were freed from the trance. But even the few danceable tracks from this year's record New Material, couldn’t dispel the calm their repetitive beats produce. As we exited in silence, slowly coming out of musical hypnosis, the hum of conversation gradually returned, and the lights of Pilson welcomed us back to reality and to the cold journey home.

-KPL

Campdogzz / all photos by KPL

Yet another great collection of local acts played a free Monday show at The Empty Bottle. There isn’t another series in town that brings this much local talent together—Sleeping Village dollar beer nights come close but haven’t hit the level that the EB brings every week—and there is no slowing down as Ethers (Dec. 17th), The Curls (Jan. 7th), and Engine Summer (Jan. 28th) are all set to play Free Mondays in the coming weeks! This night brought out new post-punk heavies Reunion, the 90’s influenced rockers Wreath of Hogs, and the sprawling folk rock sounds of Campdogzz.

The trio Wreath of Hogs started the night off with a tight set of tunes, many of which we expect to be on their forthcoming EP, and launched into a couple of Pavement style jams throughout that peaked our ears. But it was songwriter Andrew Rolfson’s narrative vocal style, in the vein of say Stephen Malkmus or Ted Leo, that really drew the crowd in. He tells of simple life moments instead of the grand sweeping gestures most songwriters try to capture. It makes for a more intimate experience as Rolfson (also Campdogzz bassist) brings you along into the song’s subject instead of merely presenting it as many musicians are apt to do. Ryan Hart on bass and Matt Evert on drums laid down a steady groove for Rolfson to explore with simple yet engrossing guitar licks that only accentuated his vocal storytelling. And those couple of jam-outs to round out a few of the tunes really brought it to another level. We can’t wait for their debut EP and will keep readers up to speed on any future dates from these guys.

First shows are always a gamble, but Reunion absolutely surpassed expectations. The post punk trio ripped into their set with gusto, complete with a very un-Empty Bottle style light show and fog setup that only served to enhance the musical intensity emanating from the stage. Combining driving rhythms and versatile inflections, along with a singing drummer, make for an impressive first performance from an act that will fit right into Chicago’s experimental scene. A few moments of transcendent, blasting jams shook the crowd as none of us were really expecting this propulsive sound that evening. Here’s to hoping they play again soon, because we just got to have more.

After catching Campdogzz open for Cursive last month, we were really stoked to get to see them headline. Jess Price is a quiet, fierce force of intensity on stage, and the band produces an evocative tone that is never forced. Their tunes are built of a simple dynamic drum beat from Chris Dye and a walking bass line from Rolfson, while each layer of guitar and synth is added to assemble a sprawling epic sound that produces images of the countryside rolling by as the highway stretches out ahead. Mike Russell shares some vocal and songwriting responsibilities, and the vocals of both him and Price blend to create a synergy that just doesn’t come about by accident; it’s the sound of destiny. But it’s really Nicholas Enderle’s slide guitar work that produces that dusty, dirty Midwestern vibe that makes their music tangible and vibrant. “You came to hear some sad songs tonight,” Russell commented early in the set. (he forgot the word “beautiful” in that description.) That is where Campdogzz resides, between the desolate and the enchanting. If you don’t believe us, give this years In Rounds a listen and you’ll immediately be a convert.

-KPL

ALBUM REVIEWS

WHAT WE'RE JAMMING TO THIS WEEK

THIS WEEK'S RECOMMENDED NEW RELEASES

MORE NOTABLE RELEASES

mxmtoon / Plum Blossom / mxmtoon

She is bringing her indie folk to Schubas on March 6th. Tix are $12.

Lubomyr Melnyk / Fallen Trees / Erased Tapes

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

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(There are tons of SOLD OUT shows this week that we did not include on this calendar)

See you at the show Chicago!