There is something to be said for honest music. True, honest music is a rarity in a business filled with big names that flood the scene with pop hits. The number of bands willing to take the route of solid, honest rock has become an elite group. Sea Wolf can now add their name to that list. Technically the second band of the night, Sea Wolf went on after the very soul-inspired Bronze - a huge band that played some great music this evening as well.
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All Smiles, Sea Wolf & Bronze
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 Entertainment
Art
The Empty Bottle
Chicago, Ill.
May 19, 2007
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With almost no delay between acts, Sea Wolf took the stage around 10:30 p.m. to one of the most relaxed audiences I have seen in awhile. One distinct element of seeing a band, or multiple bands, at the Empty Bottle is that unless you know the faces of the people about to play it is almost impossible to tell the patrons from the musicians. Given that there were three bands playing there was a relatively good chance that the guy across from you joking with his friends will go on stage in just a couple of minutes. Empty Bottle is anything but pretentious.
Sea Wolf consists of lead singer Alex Brown Church on acoustical guitar, as well as two electrical guitars, a wonderful cellist and a keyboard. My first impression was that they were going to be a very rootsy but the result was anything but. Wolf’s use of the cello as a major instrument built tension within the music and got the audience more drawn into their sound. Though technically classified as indie rock Wolf’s music runs the border between country, alternative rock and folk music.
My only complaint of the night involving Sea Wolf was that the sound system used by the Empty Bottle seemed to actually work against them. Given the range of their instrumentation they need to be in a place that will cater to each of their individual sounds. The Empty Bottle’s sound system seems more specified for louder, more in your face bands.
After playing a rather short set Sea Wolf was replaced by All Smiles, a band that failed to impress. Dressed rather darkly, All Smiles headlined almost double the number of songs played by both Sea Wolf and The Bronze. Normally this would be a good thing, saving the best band for last is common, but All Smiles was completely forgettable.
Much of their work reminded me of a Coldplay style cover band that just wasn’t getting it right. The audience seemed to be feeling the same vibe too because after two or three songs they seemed genuinely uninterested. All Smiles consists of a keyboard, two electric guitars and a drummer.
The main problem with All Smiles actually seems to lie with their lead singer. Jim Fairchild. A former member of the band Grandaddy, he seems to lack real range in his voice and musical style. The band played around 10 songs and I had trouble distinguishing one from another.
The crowd started to filter out about halfway through their set which did not seem to bother Fairchild at all. Onstage the clean cut, well dressed Fairchild apparently wanted to give off the impression that he was a bit of a badass by talking about how intoxicated everyone should be and how they have some “shit” to sell, half mocking his own band in the process. It didn’t work. By that time everyone was in the side room playing pinball and/or Pac-Man with the members of the previous bands.
When a bill is entirely indie rock bands it’s always hit and miss. The first two bands of the night were absolutely amazing and I can only hope that this is not the last we hear of either The Bronze or Sea Wolf. All Smiles on the other hand needs to go back to the drawing board and find an original style. Better luck next time guys.
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