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Tonight four local bands face off for the right to be named 2009 Rock ’n’ Vote champion. The Chicago music scene may never be the same.
OK, that’s probably an exaggeration. But there's no doubt we've got a totally awesome bill of diverse, homegrown acts. Before you come to LaSalle Power Co. tonight to cheer on the bands and text your vote for favorite performance (click here by noon to submit names for the waitlist to see the live concert on the third floor; the show will be broadcast live on TVs throughout LPC), now’s your chance to see a different, goofier side of the four bands Metromix readers voted onto the stage: Cobalt and the Hired Guns, Pet Lions, The Loneliest Monk and I Fight Dragons. See you at the show! (First, scroll to the bottom of the article to listen to an MP3 from each band.)
Describe your sound in five words or less.
Cobalt and the Hired Guns: Punky Americana indie rock 'n' roll. ?
Pet Lions: 1960’s pop as indie rock. ?
The Loneliest Monk: Cool, haunting, and sexual air. ?
I Fight Dragons: Nintendo pop rock madness robots.
Why are you going to win Rock ’n’ Vote? How will you celebrate?
CHG: Because we LOVE both of those verbs. We love playing live so much it flows right off the stage, floods the room and soaks the audience. Then we're going to spray everyone with cheap champagne.
PL: Hopefully we'll win by performing our songs well. It's [singer Karl Ostby's] birthday at midnight—so win or lose, we'll be celebrating.
TLM: We are going to win because the cello is the coolest instrument these days; even Jamie Foxx is playing it. We will celebrate by having a pizza party.
IFD: Because our fans are THE COOLEST. Seriously. We are nerds, and let me tell you, nerds rule. If we win, we'll be sure to make sure there's better lunches in the cafeteria, and to expand after-school activities budgets for all active clubs. Also, there will be no more homework.
If you could have a rider of any five items before a show, what would be on it?
CHG: Hummus. Natalie Portman. A new van to tour in. Seltzer water. Star fruit. ?
PL: Four pandas and a puppy.
TLM: Maker's Mark whiskey, Red Vines, chocolate chip cookies, sushi and Nag Champa.
IFD: One robot-hating zombie, one zombie-hating monkey, one monkey-hating robot, one camcorder, one time machine.
Would you rather tour with Britney Spears or Hannah Montana?
CHG: Hannah!!! No babies. No crazy exes. And Billy Ray looks like he knows how to party.
PL: Britney Spears, because "Toxic" and "Womanizer" are pretty great. ?
TLM: Britney Spears. She probably has a better caterer. ?
IFD: Well, as we all know, those two are both cybernetic robots posing as human entertainers as part of a galactic conspiracy to enslave all mankind. So I guess we'd theoretically want to pit them against each other in an all-out robot cage match and see whose programming is superior. Then we'd go on tour with the winner.
Better fest: Lollapalooza or Pitchfork?
CHG: It is much less hot in July than August, though Lollapalooza has a Green Street and recycling program! ?
PL: Pitchfork is pretty amazing from top to bottom, but it's hard to beat the sheer number of good bands at Lollapalooza. Also, Depeche Mode.
TLM: Lollapalooza, because it's freakin' Lollapalooza! ?
IFD: Whichever one would like to have I Fight Dragons play is clearly the empirically superior festival.
What should be the official theme song of Rod Blagojevich?
CHG: “It Wasn't Me,” by Shaggy. ?
PL: “I Fought the Law,” as recorded by The Bobby Fuller Four. ?
TLM: “Don't You Forget About Me,” by Simple Minds. ?
IFD: “Money,” by I Fight Dragons.
Cobalt and the Hired Guns
Listen: “You Left Your Sweater”
Pet Lions
Listen: “Roman History”
The Loneliest Monk
Listen: “You Don’t Have to Try”
I Fight Dragons
Listen: “No One Likes Superman Anymore”
Matt Pais is the Metromix music and movies producer.
mpais@tribune.com
