Windy City Watch
Oh Chicago, you give us a home - along with many great bands. This week Sharks hit the watch.
This week's Windy City Watch is technically a stolen find from our buddies at Chicagoist, who wrote about this band a few weeks ago; but why not share a good thing? Enter Sharks, a poppy, danceable outfit here in Chicago. Before I even gave their music a listen, I knew I'd be smitten. First, I have a slight love of sharks (have you ever seen Shark Week on Discovery Channel?). Second, take a gander at this gem of a bio from their Myspace; "The Sharks started their music career not as a band, but as an Islamic terrorist group. After several hilarious and ill-fated attempts to destroy the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the unpopular al-Qaeda attacks of September 11 forced the Sharks to re-organize as a conventional rock band." The terrorist only win if we stop making terrorist jokes people, so Sharks had my heart at jihad.
Not knowing what to except from the band/former terrorist cell, I was taken back at first when jittery and jingly pop music came pouring out of my speakers, and even more surprised when I was greeted with some synth action. After downloading "Promises," a track up for free to download on their Myspace. I popped it on my iPod, and at first I thought the song was just ok, but did it grow on me. I find myself scrolling to the song on my way to work in the morning; giving me the perfect beats for my early morning sunrise commute.
The band shares what so many other bands have in the Chicago area; infectious songs that stick in your head with their driven and frantic sound, yet still possess a rough around the edge appeal. They have a professional quality to their music, but don't lose that gritty, "I'm just jamming with my buddies in a garage" sound that I like to hear in music. Tracks like "I Am A Man" remind me of the energy and sound of Blue Album era Weezer, where other tracks give me a more dance worthy feeling similar to the likes of !!!. These songs just make my whole body want to shake, which looks a bit daft; but is pretty fun.
The band just had their record release show this past month at The Empty Bottle, and also have played a few shows around our fair state. Although no shows are scheduled at the time, I'm sure that they'll be rocking at some dive near you. This is the type of band where you take a few good friends; grab some cheap beer and dance till the lights come up and last call is long gone.
Chicagoist- Shark Attack!Posted by Lisa White on Oct 30, 2007 @ 12:00 am
