Indignant, Longwave, Lucky Boys Confusion, Wu-Tang Clan
INDIGNANT
Chicago’s Indignant is “dead set” on delivering the “life-affirming” sounds of rock ‘n’ roll. If nothing else, the quintet is skilled in the art of biographical hyperbole. But it’s this die-trying-to-live attitude that the group carries throughout their straightforward guitar-laced catalog. The hook-laden tunes on the band’s second LP, The Good Fight, blend their hometown blues with down-home Midwestern aesthetics. Embracing all things Americana, the roots-rock revivalists riffle through sets of one hard-hitting bar-room anthem after another, splicing in the occasional stripped-down moody number such as “Lose These Blues” and “One for John Jameson.” Two years on the heels of their debut full-length, What Is & What Was, the sophomore effort tweaks the framework of that early hard-driving release by scaling back the snarling vocals and upping the atmospherics, delivering another solid dose of heavy-handed yet engaging rhythm and blues. (Appearing with Flatbed Orange and Brownline Fiasco at Bottom Lounge on Dec. 17) –text: Derek Wright
LONGWAVE
Longwave is one of those great under-the-radar bands you’ve probably never heard, but probably should. The quartet formed in 1999 after Rochester, New York, native Steve Schiltz moved to the Big Apple. With their first album, 1999’s Endsongs, Longwave made a splash with college crowds. The success of that album led to them to sign with major label RCA who released their sophomore record, 2003’s sleeper The Strangest Things. Their sound is best described as garage meets shoegaze, with a lot of introspection and anthemic guitar work in between. Whereas bands like The Strokes were helping to resuscitate NYC’s rock scene in the early 2000s, Longwave got swallowed up. During the recording of their third record, RCA dropped the band leaving them label-less. It took Longwave three years to regain control of the album and release their latest dreamy endeavor, Secrets Are Sinister. In the end, Longwave proves that nothing can keep a great band down. (Appearing with The Silent Years and The Color Radio at Double Door on Dec. 17) –text: Garin Pirnia–photo: Seth Smoot
LUCKY BOYS CONFUSION
In September of 2006, most people thought they had seen the last of Lucky Boys Confusion. Just short of their annual “Songs From a Scene” holiday performance at Metro that year, the suburban Chicago boys — a year after founding their own record label, Townstyle Records, in response to being dropped from Elektra in 2004 — announced a hiatus on Myspace. Band members divided themselves into various side projects such as The Insecurities, Shock Stars and American Taxi. But keeping their promise between the side projects, Lucky Boys Confusion did reconnect with each other for the annual holiday shows as planned — and lead singer Kaustubh (Stubhy) Pandav has begun the quest of finding bands worthy of playing at “Songs From a Scene” 2008. Interested locals may audition on Thursdays between now and Dec. 11 at Flatliners in Lincolnshire. Finalists will be contacted by Stubhy and asked to re-audition again on Dec 18, with winners slated to perform at the band’s Dec. 26 show. (Appearing at Metro on Dec. 26 & 27) –text: Jyn Radakovits
WU-TANG CLAN
The long and sordid journey of Wu-Tang Clan, from its conception in 1992 to the present day, certainly does not take away from the group’s phenomenal mid-’90s rise as hip hop legends. What began as a group of friends from Staten Island quickly morphed into a powerhouse empire that helped propel the careers of now-household names Method Man, Ghostface Killah, RZA, and Ol’ Dirty Bastard (RIP). Wu-Tang is well known for combining allusions to martial arts and Chinese culture while spitting spiritually-infused, hard hitting rap over dark and melodious beats. It’s been six years since Wu-Tang released an album, and 2007’s 8 Diagrams is reason enough for their current 30-city U.S. tour. Rumor has it that all eight remaining members of the group will appear on this tour, however — as is usually the case with Wu-Tang — this has yet to be confirmed. (Appearing at House of Blues on Dec. 14) –text: Elizabeth Aguirre
