Profile: The Flips

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged A Harm Deep but Shinning, Annette Nowacki, band profile, Better Days, Chaos is a Color, Chicago, Chicago music, DIY music, DIY recording, Dustin Martin, Engines, I'm Okay, Lettering, live music, Mac Kelem, Mike Carlson, music videos, New Music, Nick Sintos, Pelafina, profile, punk, rock, Subterraean, The Flips, Troy Sennett, Weakened Friends.

The “ah-ha” moment: for a band, it’s a time when everything comes together. It’s when all the struggles from nights of pouring over lyrics, drafting guitar riffs and the countless auditions are all justified. For The Flips, that “ah-ha” was the reaction from their 2015 album Better Days, a raw record exploring the struggles of mental health, depression and suicide. The songs are darkly beautiful conversation starters, drawing audiences to connect with the band on personal levels.

Profile: Like Language

Posted on December 15, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Aaron Green, alternative pop, band interview, band profile, Bandcamp, Chicago, Chicago music, dark pop, Ego Mechanics, Elbo Room, Kristen Donnelly, Like a Drug, Like Language, listen live and local, live band, live show, local music, Marc McClusky, Matthew Murray, One More Moon, pop, Pretty Beggar., profile, Spotify, Wilder.

Major changes for bands, such as a new name, often mark a step in rebranding. It’s a chance to set new goals, build a new foundation and prepare for a new adventure. While new endeavors are definitely a desire for Like Language, formally known as Wilder, their name change had less to do with an extreme evolution and more to do with differentiating themselves from other artists.

“We changed our name because there are too many Wilders,” says Matthew Murray, one half of the Chicago-based pop duo. “When we chose the name [Wilder], we wanted one word, something simple. As time went on, I was on Spotify browsing an indie new artist playlist and I saw Wilder was on there and I was like, ‘Oh man, this is the best day of my life. People are noticing us!’, and then it ended up being the another Wilder.”

Profile: Elk Walking

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Between Us, Chicago, Chicago band, Elk Walking, indie music, indie rock, listen live and local, profile, rock, rock music, Schubas, songwriter.

One of the upsides to attending an art college as a dedicated artist is being surrounded by other talented individuals who are willing to indulge in creative projects. It’s a great place to build working relationships, and sometimes those relations grow into solid professional structures. As Savanna Dickhut and Julian Daniell of Elk Walking share before their performance at the SubT Lounge, it was a chance meeting during college that pushed the two songwriters to pursue a career in Chicago’s music scene.

Profile: Wild Skies

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Americana, band profile, Chicago, Chicago band, Chicago music, country, Far From Below, folk, folk music, Glory, GMan Tavern, I.V. Lab Studios, Mile of Music, Please Take Me Back, pop, profile, Rax Trax, Wild Skies.

The Midwest’s largest city may not seem like the ideal hotspot for up-and-coming folk bands but through the thicket of Chicago’s noise, Wild Skies is making an impression on the city’s local music scene. Just months ago, the four-piece band buckled down at I.V. Lab Studios with Chris Harden to record their debut full-length album Far From Below. It’s a compilation filled with rich folk instrumentation, lyrical hooks, catchy grooves and vocal harmonies; a creative step forward from the band’s 2015 self-titled EP.

Profile: Ryan Herrick

Posted on September 7, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Black Snake, Chicago, Chicago music, Chicago musician, Conscious Alliance, folk music, folk singer, hunger relief, kingsize sound labs, Lakota, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, profile, Ryan Herrick, songwriter, Standing Rock, The Wounds of Whiteclay, White Clay, youth empowerment.

Staying silent during a politically charged state strums many artists as difficult, especially when they view surrounding actions of their government and peers as immoral. After the pipeline crisis in Standing Rock and spending time on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Chicago-based folk singer Ryan Herrick saw an opportunity in his art; to use his music as a catalyst for change. On Earth Day 2017, Herrick buckled down for a day at Kingsize Sound Labs with engineer John Abbey to record his third album Sagitta, out for release on Friday, September 15 with a show at Edgewater’s Uncommon Ground.

Named after the Latin word for “arrow”, Herrick views the songs making up Sagitta as arrows; arrows of thought to be directed at people in power or people under the illusion that they are in power. Herrick explains that these songs, or arrows, can also be a light on into the world, a moment of intention.

Profile: Localpalooza

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged ALS, ALS research, Bad Bad Meow, benefit concert, charity festival, Chicago, Elle Casazza, Honey & the 45s, Lincoln Hall, listen live and local, Localpalooza, music festival, Namorado, profile, Rich Jones, Sayers, Simpleton & Cityfolk, The Dyes, The Fox & the hOUNDS, The Ivorys, The Patrick Grange Memorial Foundation.

Thanks to Mike Vogus, organizer of the Annual Localpalooza Chicago Showcase, supporting a worthy cause as has never been so easy. Simply show up at Lincoln Hall on Saturday, July 22nd to enjoy seven Chicago bands, great beer and a chance to win kickass prizes. All proceeds from the event will benefit The Patrick Grange Memorial Foundation, a charity for ALS Research organized in the memory of a local college soccer player.

Patrick Grange was a former University of Illinois-Chicago and University of New Mexico soccer player who was diagnosed with ALS, a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function. In November 2010 at age 28, Grange’s diagnosis made him the youngest person to be diagnosed with the disease in his home state of New Mexico. In hopes of subsidizing medical costs, Grange’s teammates held benefits and fundraisers in Grange’s name. After Grange passed in April 2012, his former teammates were inspired to officially launched The Patrick Grange Memorial Foundation in January 2013. Today, the charity hosts a number of events to raise funds for research, awareness and support for families dealing with ALS.

Profile: Chicago Loud 9

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Chicago, Chicago artists, Chicago band, Chicago Loud 9, Chicago music, Digeometric, hip hop, live music, local music, New Music, profile, rock, water seed.

Imagine performing as a solo hip-hop artist, relying on nothing but vocals and backing tracks, when suddenly the show promoter announces the backing tracks have failed. At this point, there’s two options: walk on the show or recruit musicians from the night’s bill to back the performance.

Nearly six years ago when this situation happened to emcee Dhan Dee, he choose the latter; opting to share the stage with guitarist Chad Wynes and drummer Kyle Voivodas. Artistically, Dee had nothing in common with Wynes’ and Voivodas’ band. Dhan Dee was a poet, rapper and lyrist. Waynes and Voivodas were folk rock instrumentalist. Having never met or rehearsed, the three musicians took advantage of the serendipitous moment, having no idea it would lead to the creation of one of Chicago’s leading genre-mashing projects; Chicago Loud 9.

Profile: The Inventors

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged alternative music, band profile, Chicago, Chicago music, Ha Ha Tonka, indie music, listen live and local, local music, profile, rock music, Shirk Studios, SXSW, The Empty Bottle, The Inventors.

Band dynamics are a funny thing. As much as we’d like to believe our favorite bands are the best of friends on and off stage, that’s often times not the case. However, every once in awhile, a band comes along whose members genuinely enjoy each other’s company.

The level of comfort and admiration is apparent as soon as the three members of The Inventors gather around a small patio table outside of a Starbucks in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. Even with a show only a few hours away, their nerves seem at ease; an odd feat for such a new band with only two recorded singles and a drummer with less than a year of playing experience. Nevertheless, the boys hold their poise. They’re confident the show will go over well.

“Even though I’ve only been playing drums such a little time, we kind of know each others’ tics,” explains drummer and lead singer Joe Mango on why the band feels such ease on stage. “If someone is speeding up or they’re about to end, we know.”

Profile: Girls Rock! Chicago

Posted on March 30, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Bottom Lounge, Burlington Bar, camp for girls, Chicago, Chicago camp, female bands, Frontwoman Fest, Girls Rock! Chicago, Impossible Colors, Josephinum Academy, listen live and local, Metro, music, music camp, music programs, No Men, profile, school, So Pretty, Sports Boyfriend, sumer camp, Thalia Hall, The Cell Phones, The Empty Bottle, The Just Luckies.

Wouldn’t it have been great to spend a week of your childhood learning to be a rock star? A real, bona fide rock star with the necessary skills to not only play an instrument; but also to record music, promote a show and play a kick a$$ set.

Well luckily for the kids of today, Girls Rock! Chicago, a nonprofit organization, is offering just that with a variety of programs for girls, transgender and gender nonconforming youth.

Profile: Heavenfaced

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged alternative music, bass, Chicago, Chicago music, drums, guitar, Heavenfaced, listen live and local, music, profile, rock music, To Keep You Safe, vocals.

There is no lack of rock bands in Chicago. The alternative airways are filled with electric guitars and growling vocals fighting to be heard. They fight for the same audiences, and more importantly, they fight for the same shows. In theory, one would think this competition would create a rivalry, but the boys of Heavenfaced swear the scene is filled with nothing but respect and healthy competition.

“We all, as bands, have the same goal. We want to [make music] for the rest of our lives, but there is never that point in time where I would say ‘oh, they didn’t deserve it,’ or ‘that should have been us,’ says bassist Zac Wesoloski. “We all drive each other and I think healthy competition just creates great music versus creating grudges or bad blood between anyone.”

These feelings may not be mutual for every band clawing their way to success, but Heavenfaced proves their love by spending more time raving about friends’ bands than they do discussing their own achievements. Compliments and high praises for their comrades are tossed about their StoargeMart practice space. They can’t get enough of I Made You Myself’s new single “Blunderbuss” and love catching shows from Tiny Kingdoms. They are so happy for Ghost Key signing with InVogue Records and advice from The Howl is always appreciated.