| « Michigan Attacks! | (Mini) Lusophone Invasion » |
Concert Mon Oct 15 2007
The Sharks
Sometimes I think indie rock has gotten way out of hand. A random list of indie band names reads like an exercise in hipster one-upsmanship (see Architecture in Helsinki, TV on the Radio, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir) and albums frequently receive a gross amount of over-production that gets in the way of the actual music. Oftentimes the simplest approach to rock’n’roll is the most expressive and exciting.
Take the Sharks, for example. On their first official release, Bridget Quits, these Logan Square locals blast through 16 minutes of loud, noisy, and loose rock’n’roll. The songs are about girls, and getting high, and staying out late—all the important shit. A browse of their website reveals a perversely hilarious “backstory” detailing their humble beginnings as an Islamic terrorist cell turned conventional rock band (so it’s nice to see they’re not taking themselves too seriously). And on first spin of the EP, it’s clear that they’re big fans of Pavement and Weezer, as they straddle the line between indifference and sincerity, while incorporating a healthy amount of vocal flourishes over top of some charming, reverbed guitar licks. But rather than acting as a tired retread of the mid-90s, the Sharks can stand on their own. “I am a man” is a refreshing little ditty that sounds like it was actually recorded in someone’s garage, and “blues call” is a stripped-down jam that features improvised soloing over a rumbling and jagged bass riff. And even though I can tell what the Sharks listened to when they were eighteen years old, their work is fresh and creative and tons of fun. They might only be playing rock’n’roll, but it’s refreshing to hear this kind of music again (frankly, I kinda missed it) and I hope they’re able to kick out the jams for years to come.
The Sharks celebrate the release of their first EP, Bridget Quits, this evening with a free show at the Empty Bottle. The release also marks the first offering from newly minted Chicago label, Comptroller Records. Doors open at 9pm. The Sharks play first followed by A Tundra and Scottish band Frightened Rabbit.
