Chi-Tunes Archives

LIVE
Todd Kessler and the New Folk
When: 8 p.m. Nov. 24
Where: Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave.
Tickets: $12 at schubas.com


By Matt Kuhnen
For RedEye

Northbrook native and singer-songwriter Todd Kessler began his music career in 2007 with a handful of songs and a couple of hired musicians.

Kessler's new studio project, Todd Kessler and the New Folk, boasts a roster of nine musicians, each of them bringing something different to the smorgasbord of sound.
"The new songs have developed quite differently than the old material," Kessler told RedEye. "I sort of give everyone the chance to let their [musical] instincts take over when a song is first conceived and build the song upon whatever happens naturally in the moment."
Kessler chatted about the direction of New Folk's tunes and the group's upcoming live debut.

"Dare we go" by Rob Nicholas

By Matt Kuhnen
For RedEye

Chicago native Rob Nicholas has been writing music since the tender age of 13, and with his new EP, he finally has found his niche in the competitive music business.

"When I got out of school I just tried to dive into the music business, which is not easy to do," Nicholas told RedEye. "It took a couple years to develop this EP, but I feel I've finally accomplished a certain sound that I was trying to do for a few years and hopefully it can take me to the next level."

Nicholas talked about his newfound sound, upcoming show and why he loves good singer-songwriters.

The Hallow
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.
Tickets: $11 at metrochicago.com



By Matt Kuhnen
For RedEye

Despite their edgy sound and Marilyn Manson inspired concert look, members of The Hallow do not take themselves too seriously.
"Outside of music, we don't take anything seriously," lead screamer Bobby McLean said. "We think it's funny to scare people with some of our T-shirts and photos depicting images of Satan and pentagrams. We're just a bunch of goof balls who love to rock!"
Currently, The Hallow is busy touring the Midwest and recording demos with former Rise Against guitarist Dan Percision for their forthcoming album. RedEye caught up with front McLean to play a round of "5 Questions".

The Moves
When: 6 p.m. Sept. 12
Where: Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.
Tickets: $11 at metrochicago.com



By Matt Kuhnen

For RedEye

For rock trio The Moves, what started out as a home recording project has developed into a well-oiled rock machine fueled by '80s pop sensibility.

"I tend to say we're a mix of early U2, INXS and The Clash ... pop music with an early '80s vibe to it. Those [bands] are definitely some of our biggest influences," singer-guitarist Dave Spaulding said.

The Moves--Spaulding, Bryan Piper and Max Shreffler--are moving up the ranks of the gritty Chicago music scene and have been hitting stages all across the Midwest. RedEye got the chance to talk to front man Spaulding about the band, dreams of a future record deal, gay rights and mosquito bites.

By Michael Schmitt
For RedEye

Calling itself a "rock band from the future," dance-rock outfit Gemini Club says it reflects the times.

"Everybody's lives have been invaded by computers," the band's electronic mastermind, Daniel Brunelle, told RedEye, "and a rock band's should be, too."

The classically-trained Brunelle, singer/songwriter Tom Gavin and DJ Gordon Bramli mash up all their influences--and sometimes feed their songs into a computer--to create Gemini Club's dynamic mixture of straight-ahead rock and dance floor electronica.

Members, who just released a new EP, "Future Tidings," talked with RedEye recently about their sound, influences and experiences.

By Michael Schmitt

For a band that lists Jimi Hendrix, My Bloody Valentine and Broken Social Scene as influences, it's odd that Wyatt doesn't have a guitar player.

How can the Chicago band do justice to the memory of "Loveless" or "Are You Experienced?" without an ax man onstage? But that's just what the group does.

"We're guitarless, but it still feels like there's a guitar in there. Except we're doing it all with keyboards," said the band's frontman, Samuel Wyatt, who lends his last name to the group. "It's pretty aggressive for a non-guitar band. ... It's a whirlwind."

By Kent Green
For RedEye

Chicago band Glasko started 2009 on a high note.

The group won a band competition to play the South by Southwest festival. Its first full-length album, "Madrigold," was issued as a private release. Two songs got play on hundreds of college radio stations.

Then founding guitarist Mike Scheiman left in May to pursue a job in Cleveland.

"We're having regular attendance at our shows, our name's out there, people are talking about the new album, and then to lose a very key player in the middle of that, it screws with your momentum," singer Eric Michaels said, adding that he didn't begrudge Scheiman's decision.

By Michael Schmitt
For RedEye

Brian McDonnell of Chicago rock quartet Twilight Revival doesn't like being labeled.

Ever since his band released its 2007 EP, its sound often has been called "Americana."

"Does nobody call anything 'rock music' anymore? It's all about these narrow subgenres," he said. "Really it's just rock 'n' roll. We get called Americana because we're Midwestern and use acoustic guitars sometimes, but I think there's as much pop and garage rock in our sound as there is folk or Americana."

Photo by Thomas Fennell IV

By Matt Kuhnen
For RedEye

When Tim Williams answered a Craigslist ad searching for a drummer, he never expected to meet the guys who were keeping him up at night.

"Their practice space was directly behind my apartment at the time and I would constantly hear them jamming at all hours of the day," said Williams, now the drummer for On The Run.
"After exchanging messages I realized they were the band interrupting my sleep."

RedEye got the chance to chat with Williams about the band's upcoming EP release party and what lies ahead.