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Chicago music fans, you are in for a treat.
We served up an extremely competitive field of 10 of the city’s best local bands, and Metromix readers narrowed them down to these diverse four acts, all set to rock a free show May 7 at new downtown bar LaSalle Power Co. They’ve got costumes. They’ve got unbridled showmanship. They’ve got perfectly compact, hummable tunes. They’ve got Nintendo.
Who are these bands, you ask? Read on.
Cobalt and the Hired Guns
Base: Wrigleyville, Rogers Park
Experience: Double Door, Congress Theater, Martyrs’, Abbey Pub, Uncommon Ground
“It’s been such an exciting week,” raves Cobalt and the Hired Guns singer/guitarist Matt Hart, 25, of the constant attention gained and promoted by the band during the Rock ‘n’ Vote competition. Now the rowdy Americana-folk-punk foursome can’t wait to unleash their seemingly insuppressible energy on the crowd at LaSalle Power Co. In fact, Hart is glad the new bar’s layout doesn’t allow concertgoers to distance themselves from the performers. At least, not if they want a drink: “I [love] that the bar is next to the stage,” he says, “because you can’t go to the back and hide at the bar.” Once listeners get a taste of Cobalt’s pep—which has helped them land on an iGo Audio Emissions compilation alongside artists like Wilco and Kid Sister—they likely won’t have any inclination to slink away.
Listen: “You Left Your Sweater”
I Fight Dragons
Base: Lakeview, Wicker Park, north suburbs
Experience: Martyrs’, Elbo Room, Cubby Bear, Abbey Pub, Silvie’s
“We’re just going to kick ass,” says singer/guitarist Brian Mazzaferri when asked what fans can expect from I Fight Dragons’ set at the Rock ‘n’ Vote concert. We believe him: The hook-heavy pop-rockers have an undeniable point of curiosity—they incorporate Nintendo sounds into songs and actual Nintendo controllers into concerts—and the expertly devised material to prove the band isn’t a gimmick. Mazzaferri reiterates that the sextet’s concept came from within, and that his attitude towards the idea is simply, “If I saw someone doing that, I would think that was awesome.” In fact, the band name came before the band, originally devised by Mazzaferri as a t-shirt slogan for local clothing store Threadless. Now, citing the old-school, “Duck Hunt”-style NES gun recently added to the group’s live repertoire, I Fight Dragons is much more than a mantra.
Listen: “No One Likes Superman Anymore”
The Loneliest Monk
Base: Ukrainian Village, Pilsen
Experience: Hideout, Empty Bottle, Beat Kitchen, Whistler
“Cute meets badass” is the description one of The Loneliest Monk’s friends coined for the band. We certainly can’t think of a better summary for this costumed and heavily theatrical cello-and-drums experimental rock duo. Comprising vocalist-cellist-keyboardist Michelle Morales, 26, and drummer-vocalist Miles Benjamin, 24, the group—whose full-length debut comes out this summer—offers an undeniably unique experience on stage, Morales says. “There’s no one like us. We create a full sound without the use of a guitar.” To win their way onto the Rock ‘n’ Vote stage, the band reached out via all possible social networking sites, and Benjamin drew plenty of intrigued glances at last Friday’s LaSalle Power Co. Sneak Peek party by walking around in the trademark mask he wears on stage. But don’t think the eccentric band is all about visuals. This is heady, original and arty music. As Morales says, “Every single note we discuss millions of times.”
Listen: “You Don’t Have to Try”
Pet Lions
Base: Wicker Park, Lakeview
Experience: Metro, Subterranean, Beat Kitchen, Bottom Lounge
Ask Pet Lions singer/guitarist Karl Ostby to highlight what his band brings to the table and he’s reluctant to mention much other than the quartet’s smartly crafted tunes. Fortunately, with indie rock songs this memorable, Pet Lions can afford to be a no-fuss, no-flash sort of band. Ostby, 21, describes the band’s sound as “’60s pop as they would have envisioned it now,” adding “I think we play to a classic pop formula but it doesn’t really sound like ‘60s music.” Indeed, Pet Lions are both retro and current, emphasizing something snappy without ignoring the need for pop bands to maintain a little bit of mystery and edge. Surprisingly Ostby claims songs like “Propeller Plane” don’t get lodged in his head, but he can’t say the same for others. “I’ll see my friend the next week [after a show], and he’ll actually be humming the melody,” Ostby says. Consider yourself warned.
Listen: “Roman History”
Plus: The competition’s not over! Come to the show May 7 to text vote for your fave performance; the winning band scores a future headlining slot at LaSalle Power Co. and a Rock Star Rider Treatment Package, which includes access to the green room, food and beer.
Matt Pais is the Metromix music and movies producer.
mpais@tribune.com
