Dig ‘in: The Smashing Times, Whelpwishers, Dead Roo
Check out what the No Wristbands team is listening to and what’s in our show calendars this month on our latest Dig ‘in.
INCOMING
The Smashing Times - Bloom (Meritorio Records LP)
If placed in the context of the west coast ’80s paisley underground era, Baltimore’s Smashing Times would align most closely with the Rain Parade. Their music is infused with a comforting psychedelia woven into trippy interludes and framed by requisite Rickenbacker guitars. Taking inspiration from a Television Personalities track for their name, Smashing Times follows a similar shambolic approach to crafting their songs—their comfort zone resides in their rehearsal basement instead of a decked-out recording studio. They leverage a bit of surrealistic songwriting akin to the Soft Boys, albeit without the colorful cast of characters that spill forth from the brain of Robyn Hitchcock. Listening to Bloom is like exploring a forest by abandoning the main path—at times meandering but full of unexpected returns with a bit of perseverance. -Bruce Novak
Whelpwisher - Cool Good (self-released EP)
Whelpwisher is the solo project of Ben Grigg, who also splits time co-fronting Chicago-based Babe Report with Emily Wrong. Cool Good is comprised of four tracks—one instrumental and three edgy pop compositions. Grigg’s material here is more aggressive than his last record, Eerie Dearie, released in 2021. The opener, “Universal,” sets the tone when the elastic bass collides with tensile guitar bursts that pull up abruptly when Grigg approaches the vocal mic. “Lloyd Have Mercy” seeks more expansive territory with a brief backwards guitar intro and slow burn lament before kicking it up a notch with a six string traverse that stretches out into the stratosphere. The record closes out “Juice 2” that shape-shifts in tempo and emits a shoegaze vibe that’s more reminiscent of the Eerie Dearie material. Cool Good takes the listener to a lot of different places over a short set of time, which makes the excursion a dizzying but delightful encounter. -Bruce Novak
Dead Roo - S/T (self-released EP)
Since forming in 2017, Adelaide’s Dead Roo have been fairly measured in their career trajectory—playing gigs largely on a monthly basis and putting out a split single in 2020 via the Swirl Records label that’s co-managed by their drummer Hamish Gibson-Smith. Alas, their debut seven song EP that arrived last month is an indication that their time has been well spent. Dead Roo’s music is unhurried, but doesn’t lack urgency. In the opening track, “Nick of Time,” Jason Katsaras intones “Everything’s falling apart / Should have known right from the start / Jobs are scarce and so am I / Everything’s up in the sky.”Katsaras and fellow guitarist Jess Johns compliment each other in playing style and tone, and their voices nestle comfortably side by side—each capable of taking the lead when needed to deliver a varied approach. During an initial pub encounter, the pair discussed starting a country band, but those formal elements have given way to a more pop-based sound that still sometimes emits a high and lonesome vibe. Despite the outward angst of being twenty-somethings in a recently shut-down society, the members of Dead Roo can take comfort in the realization that time is undeniably on their side. -Bruce Novak
UPCOMING
Girl K / OK Cool
Where: Lincoln Hall / Directions
When: January 19, 8:00 PM
During a slack period for shows, local concertgoers warmly welcome the arrival of Tomorrow Never Knows. which has been going strong since 2005. Lincoln Hall plays host to a pair of female-fronted Chicago opening acts on January 19 that just might free you from the grey sky doldrums.Kathy Patino started Girl K as a solo project with a confessional bent before hooking up with a fully formed band for a grander indie pop vision. While her background as a first generation Mexican-American doesn’t surface noticeably in her songs, a plucky stage presence underscores a determination not to be left behind. The band’s most recent EP, Girl K Is For The People, puts the pop firmly at the forefront of populism.In the same manner in which Patino and her bandmates hooked up, Haley Blomquist found Bridget Stiebris through Facebook when searching for like-minded musicians. The pandemic pause allowed time for their emergent sound to gestate and as a result their well-matched vocal interplay fuses harmoniously with the underlying tangle of guitar and bass. An activist mindset led the duo to donate the Bandcamp proceeds from their initial Anomia EP to Black Lives Matter Chicago and they are ardent advocates for LGBTQIA+ empowerment. With the opportunity finally arriving to take their music onstage over the past year, Blomquist and Stiebris have supplemented their line-up with an additional guitarist and drummer for a dynamic that plays well to their underlying strengths. -Bruce Novak
Elizabeth Moen
Where: Schubas Tavern / Directions
When: January 28, 6:30 PM
Elizabeth Moen’s Wherever You Aren’t was recorded around the globe (Ireland, Alabama, California, Chicago), and the diverse nature of its songs reflect this while still standing as a cohesive piece. Moen moved to Chicago only a few years ago, but has quickly become a revered member of its music scene. Her well-crafted songs pair beautifully with her voice on this album, along with timeless instrumentation and warm production. Hearing her at one of Chicago’s best listening rooms is guaranteed to help sustain you through another Chicago winter. As added incentive, Moen is appearing with a wealth of like-minded musicians in a benefit for Noise for Now that provides support for abortion funding, community and body autonomy. -Mike Moran
UNCOVERED
Rain Parade - Emergency Third Rail Power Trip (Enigma LP)
David Roback achieved infamy by co-writing “Fade into You” with Hope Sandoval on Mazzy Star’s 1993 album So Tonight That I Might See. A decade prior, he, along with the other members of Rain Parade, delivered a pièce de résistance with their debut album Emergency Third Rail Power Trip. It would be Roback’s only appearance with the band, who continued to release two additional studio albums after his departure.Of course the record is very much the sum of its parts. David’s brother Steven was also a principal songwriter, as was Matt Piucci. Of all the paisley underground groups, Rain Parade was the most ambitious in terms of orchestration. In addition to the twin chiming guitars of David and Matt, Will Glenn provided sophistication on keyboards and violin, pairing well with the sitar bits that were courtesy of Piucci. Because of budget constraints the recording session was carried out swiftly, but you’d never sense that based on the result.While the album maintains a dreamlike quality, it marked a dark period for the band members. Vocalizing that collective state of mind through the songwriting proved therapeutic in a music as healing capacity. After the pain of losing David Roback to cancer nearly three years ago, listening to this record gives me great comfort and remains utterly profound in its impact. -Bruce Novak
We recommend listening along over at our Spotify page. Here’s this week’s content: