Live Review: Secret Bad Boy (5/26) @ The Empty Bottle

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Live Reviews, Music, Reviews and tagged Ben Joseph, Chicago, Chicago music, Daphne Willis, Ezra Furman, Happyness, I Fight Dragons, Jennifer Hall, listen live and local, live music, live reviews, lreview, Mat Roberts, Mild High Club, Parent, Paul Cherry, Schubas, Secret Band Boy, The Empty Bottle, Vulfpeck.

On May 26, Secret Bad Boy played their first hometown show at The Empty Bottle, opening for Chicago’s Parent and London’s Happyness. The Chicago stop took place toward the end of their week-long tour in support of their new recordings.

The members of Secret Bad Boy are undeniably talented, featuring a variety of recording members from successful musical groups such as Vulfpeck, Mild High Club and I Fight Dragons. Fronting the electronic punk band on vocals, guitar and keyboard is Chicago’s Ben Joseph of Ezra Furman and His Boyfriends. While the recordings of Secret Band Boy feature a number of musicians, including Ezra Furman, the live trio features drummer Mat Roberts and bassist Paul Cherry, a group of young men whose professionalism and musicianship on stage are equally matched between each member.

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.