If You’ll Be My Trailer Park, I’ll Be Your Tornado…

March 10, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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In a era when everyone seems to be trying to out-alternative each other sometimes the simplicity just getting back to the basics becomes a lost art. The folky pop sound of Chicago’s In Miniature brings it all back home, honest heartfelt songwriting, sweet as angels vocal harmonies, all surrounded by a tasteful two guitar, bass, and drums mix accented perfectly with accordion here or a xylophone flourish there.  At times they’re reminisicient of the female fronted bands like  Salem 66 or even 10,000 Maniacs that were around in the early days of the college rock explosion that launched bands like REM and U2. Keep an eye out for them as I’m sure this EP is harbinger of many more great things to come.

If you like what you hear you can download the entire Hey, Marsupial EP for free via a link on their myspace page. And, if you’re in and around Chicago you can check them out live as they have a few shows coming up over the next month.

Here’s a couple of my favorites from the EP.

In Miniature – Tornado
In Miniature – Call It In The Air

In Miniature is:
Erin Frisby: vocals, guitar, piano
Stefanie Kohn: vocals, guitar, banjo, accordion
Sarah Sterling: vocals, drums, xylophone
Philip Rabbitt: bass, banjo, xylophone

Upcoming Shows
Mar 26 2009 Quenchers Saloon w/Khupera Tum and Amelia Glass Chicago, IL
Apr 6 2009 Ronny’s bar w/ Ppapermoons Chicago, IL
Apr 25 2009 Humboldt Studios w/Pezzettino and Joe Robinson Chicago, IL

[MYSPACE]

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New Music : Chicago’s The Dogs

January 25, 2009 by · Leave a Comment
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Some of my favorite music of the past couple years has dropped rather non-descriptly into my inbox with a simple note along the lines of “Hi, My name is (insert band member name here) my band (band name here) just finished recording our new album and thought you might like to check it out.”  My number one record of this past year, Mono In VCF arrived this way, as did last year’s number one pick, The Swimmers. Bands that aren’t afraid to let their music speak for itself, believe in what they are doing, and hope you may too. Back around Christmas time I received a similar note from Peter Walters of Chicago’s The Dogs pointing me in the direction of their debut album which they are giving away free. It’s been in the heavy rotation ever since, an addicting stripped down folk gem, chock full of acoustic guitars and simple percussion, that’s more about capturing emotion than studio perfection. While their sound has drawn comparisons to artists like Neil Young and Fleet Foxes, they never sound derivative or like they’re jumping someone else’s train. The band is composed of three core members Peter Walters on guitar and vocals, James Krivchenia on guitar and percussion and Matt Bachmann on bass, but augments it’s sound live and on record with additional musicians and instruments like banjo and female backing vocals.  From a record with no real low points here’s a couple of my personal highlights.

The Dogs – Useless Me
The Dogs – Headed For The Mountains

You can download the whole album for free at http://www.thedogsmusic.net/

[WEBSITE] [MYSPACE]

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