The UR Chicago’s Amplify New Music Series - Sissy Mena, Save the Clocktower, and Inchworm Schubas Chicago, IL January 20, 2010

Aside from the people, I was ready to hopefully hear some good music being fully equipped with my trusted Earlove earplugs. The sound was good, it was clean, it was balanced, but don’t expect to have a conversation. The back is for music, the front is for conversation… and food and alcohol. The highlight of the night, depending on who you are, was between Save the Clocktower and Inchworm.

I hate to compare two completely different styles against each other, especially when each was delivered very convincingly. Save the Clocktower was mellow, dreamy, melancholy, electronic, folksy sweet, introspective and thoughtful. Inchworm was hard, aggressive, and all over the stage. They struck me as sort of the Kinks meet Wilco down to the look of large rimmed glasses, and sweater vests. They were basically high energy and very very loud!!! I was especially happy that I had my earplugs then, and as a musician and music writer, I’m going to take this opportunity to tell why it is so important to protect your ears.

I was talking to a friend of my Carolynn Travis earlier in the week who actually gave me these high-fidelity Earlove earplugs. I have to say, the experience was amazing. I remember trying to pry my way in on a conversation with one of the guys from Save the Clocktower, but I couldn’t hear anything outside of all the people talking around me. Having Inchworm playing their guts out in the background didn’t help the situation either. I put on these earplugs, and everything was crystal clear. How do they do that?

Carolynn has been a DJ most of her life and now is working with a video trip-hop and strings ensemble called Deep Blue Field. Carolynn also happens to be legally deaf in one ear from all her thirty plus years as a DJ in loud clubs and bars. I appreciated her looking out for my ears with these new earplugs, and I wondered how badly my ears must have been since all my years at rock concerts without them.

Save the Clocktower was still able to give me a memorable experience, so I’m sure I still got a lot left in me. Simple lyrics paved the way for their lush sometimes shoe-gazing textures. Repeated simple choruses like “They’re gonna say what they say, anyway,” or, “Oh, you got it, ok,” don’t really mean anything, but manage to speak to your heart in their simplicity.

For those of you that don’t know how difficult it is to incorporate electronics, it’s difficult, especially when it is done well! The drummer was humbly performing out of his bunker of electronics. All together on stage, there were: electronic beats, singing in voice effects, synths, Midi drum pads and an Ableton Live all delivered with a sensitive, dry, confidence. Save the Clocktower did it well with the help of Schubas mixing all the levels evenly!

As for Inchworm , they were high high high energy with a country voice. Not only did everyone in the band naturally stand at like 8 feet tall, but watching them from the audience made them seem even bigger. It was so raw and in your face, with two guitars, a bass, and drums. They were the complete opposite of the more sensitive and subtle sounds of Save the Clocktower. Their stage presence almost hauntingly sticks in my mind.

These are two local bands seem to have established themselves on the local scene, however as with every artists, there is still much room for them to grow. It will be interesting to see where they go next, but I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more of them. Just remember your earplugs on your way out to see them!

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