Welcome To Ashley Entertainment Art Double Door Chicago, IL July 8, 2008

With vocalist Coley Kennedy’s stage presence, a multitude of sounds coming from Pete Javier’s guitar and a tight rhythm section, a dimension that is muted on their recordings came through. In the interview, the band expressed their love of touring and being on stage. This showed, as they blasted off on the first song, quickly got everyone’s attention. There was a passion in Kennedy’s stage moves, with his habit of swinging the mic stand back and fourth followed by a walk to the edge of the platform, holding a grimy note while bowing.

“Trust in Me” was the first tune played off April’s Absent Man. That, followed by “Nothing But Grey Skies Ahead” off the same EP, drove the set into a darker area compared to songs off their debut of popier material. with lyrics: “I’m particularly lonely. I think I’ll drink myself to bed.” For the latter, think The Hold Steady’s “Constructive Summer” from Stay Positive, but slightly more sprawling and much more self-analytical.

2007’s The Catbird Seat EP’s title track showed off their Chicago roots, “It’s just another Saturday night and I am making my way through the city, the second city.” The offbeat-accented song had just enough guitar flash to add variation, but wasn’t overdone. The snappy “Wild Blue Yonder”, also off Catbird, started off with a head nod-inspiring riff, went through a brief-but-fitting guitar solo and ended with trailing vocals and well-harnessed reverb.

This band can go from dark to cheerful in an instant, staying propulsive all the while. They’ve honed their sound over an LP and two EPs, and are constantly writing new material. A terrific full record is surely in their future, as is a growing legion of fans.

Here’s to their success. Cheers!

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