Best Chicago Garage Bands
The Ponys
MySpace.com/theponys
The Ponys started out in 2001 with guitarist Jered Gummere and his girlfriend, Melissa Elias, experimenting with postpunk and indie styles of music. They soon recruited drummer Nathan Jerde and began playing shows at Chicago clubs. To round out their sound with another guitar, the band took in Ian Adams (who later left and was replaced by Brian Case). After their first album, they began touring with The Fall and The Unicorns to promote it. Since then, they've taken their grungy, pulsing beats with guitar melodies on the road and have recorded another album. When they're in Chicago, you can see them at places like the Bottom Lounge (currently set for 11/5/10).
Song to hear: Double Vision
Smith Westerns
myspace.com/smithwesterns
Smith Westerns are living every teenager's dream: touring, playing music, and hanging out with the big stars—and they are big stars themselves. With all four members being between 18 and 21, they're young, successful, and have a knack for catchy indie music. They've an irresistible a raw sound that is paired with poetic lyrics that pack a powerful punch by the time they've hit the refrain. Smith Westerns have big plans this falls: they'll be playing a few shows with Florence & The Machines and then will hop over to Europe and tour with MGMT.
Song to hear: Girl In Love
MR RUSSIA combines the sounds of two basses with synthesizers, heavy drums, and vocals to a polished grunge-rock sound. They say that "2 basses + Drum – Guitar = All Rock" and using that equation, they're right. With driving bass lines, powerful melodies and clever lyrics they have catchy rock anthems that you want to sing with at the top of your lungs. They currently have two albums, Teething and Training for the Gameshow Host (Lens Records) and a single, "XOXO/Pretty Girls." You can catch Iven, R.L., Lindi and Rob at Chicago-area venues like The Cubby Bear, Empty Bottle, and Double Door.
Song to hear: It's True
For these last two bands, we're going to take a step into the Way-Back Machine.
Gaza Strippers
myspace.com/gazastrippersusa
This high energy band (and we mean "high energy") emerged in the late 90s with Rick Sims (of The Didjits fame) paving the way. There is a distinct punk influence in the music with some glam rock thrown into the mix. If you are feeling particularly rambunctious, loud, and exuberant, this is something you need to lend your ears to. They released four albums between 1999 and 2002 but, unfortunately, they are no longer playing. Here's a bonus YouTube link for you. Watch it…you won't regret it.
Song to hear: Missile Command
Shadows of Knight
shadowsofknight.com
We think that Shadows of Knight said it best: "The Stones, Animals and Yardbirds took the Chicago Blues and gave it an English interpretation. We've taken the English version of the Blues and re-added a Chicago touch." They got their start as the house band for The Cellar (Arlington Heights, Illinois) in 1964. Soon after, they were discovered when they played in support of The Byrds and performed "Gloria." It was this song that skyrocketed on the pop charts, but by 1967 the band had broken up and gone different routes. However, they are not quite defunct yet: in the 2000s, they made some small appearances and even released another album.
Song to hear: Gloria (of course!)
