Q101 The Alternative
Q101 (formerly on Chicago radio @ 101.1 FM) The Alternative - Chicago's New Rock Alternative - Everything Alternative - Chicago's Alternative - Gen X - Generation X
“I started writing songs that wouldn’t fit on a Local H record,” Scott Lucas tells me over the phone shortly before going on stage in Dallas. “And it wasn’t just one song but, like, eight.”
That’s the origin of Scott Lucas and the Married Men. Most Q101 listeners probably know Lucas as the longtime frontman of Chicago rock vets Local H. His alt-country side project, the Married Men, played its first show in 2009 and released its first album in 2010. Now the Men are gearing up for the release of their second full-length Blood Half Moon.
When Lucas said the songs wouldn’t “fit” in with Local H’s catalog, he’s right. You’d be hard pressed to find cello or violin arrangements on a Local H record. Blood Half Moon kicks off with a twang-filled interlude that wouldn’t sound out of place in a 1960s-era Clint Eastwood movie.
It’s hard to tell where the country tunes end and the rock-steady grooves begin on Blood Half Moon, but what might be even harder to decipher for listeners is where Lucas drew his inspiration for this departure from his previous musical efforts.
Lucas says he listens to a bit of everything. His only rule for listenable music, regardless of genre: “It should be good.” Blues and country sounds might be new to his fans but they’re no strangers to Lucas.
“It doesn’t feel that crazy for me to do something like this for me, but it would be crazy if it was with Local H.”
Whereas his Local H gives Lucas the palette to paint his blue-collar rock-heavy rhythms, the Married Men showcases the softer, brooding side to his personality. No track off Blood Half Moon is a better example of this than the record’s emotional centerpiece, “Blood Half Moons.” Note the plural “moons” as opposed to the singular form of the word in the album’s title. Lucas claims he prides himself on never writing a record with a title track.
Named after the “half moons” that are left behind after clenching your fists, Lucas admits the non-title track is his favorite on the upcoming album. Though it was the first song written for Blood Half Moon musically, it was the last of the eight-track album with lyrics. It wasn’t until Lucas took a solitary drive through the desert in Joshua Tree National Park in California that he was able to pen the lyrics. Though he can’t quite put an exact meaning to the song, he sums it up by explaining it’s essentially about “serenely moving on.”
Even if he sometimes draws his inspirations from his national travels, Lucas has always stayed true to his hometown. Now three decades deep into making music in and around the Chicago area, he knows he’s not going anywhere soon.
“I’ve stayed in Chicago and not decide to pack up and move to Los Angeles,” he said. “The music that I really respond to comes from other places than Los Angeles and New York, like Minneanapolis and San Diego. Who goes to LA and changes LA? LA changes bands.”
True to his “I listen to everything” mantra, Lucas lists off quite the eclectic collection of bands when I ask who his favorite Chicago acts are right now. It’s a list that includes seven-piece metal act Bloodiest, party rocking mashup duo The Hood Internet and instrumental rockers Russian Circles.
Scott Lucas and the Married Men release their sophomore album Blood Red Moon on June 5. Catch them performing an acoustic set at the Logan Square Farmers Market on June 3 and June 9 at the Metro in support of Deer Tick.
Check out the first single from the disc and tell us what you think below! View Poll
There’s a lot of history at Q101. We’ve grown up watching a lot of incredible musicians come out of Chicago. But what we find truly flattering is finding out that some of those musicians grew up with us, too.
My first memory of William Beckett involves a snowy January, 2005 night and a club in my hometown of St. Louis. He was fronting a then little known band from Chicago called The Academy Is…
The Academy Is… went on to make three great albums and tour the world, all the while repping their Chicago roots. The band members announced last fall that they were breaking up. Lucky for us though, Mr. Beckett isn’t done with music. The singer took time out of his busy touring schedule to answer some of Local 101’s questions via email about his new solo career, recent EP and memories of Q101.
Local 101 - William, you put out Walk the Talk in April but it’s been awhile since we’ve heard from you, even before The Academy Is… announced their breakup last October. What else have you been up to?
WB - First of all, its great to be talking with you. I’ve listened to Q101 all my life and I’m very excited to see its soul living on the web. Anyways, to the questions.
Since I announced the end of TAI I’ve literally spent ninety percent of my time in the studio working on new songs, experimenting with my sound and honing in on my artistic direction. Thankfully it came very naturally and I continue to be in a writing groove. It feels incredible.
Local 101 - Now that you’re recording as a solo artist, is there less pressure to produce a certain sound when writing music?
WB - I wouldn’t say that there’s less pressure as much as there are less cooks in the kitchen. There can only be one executive chef in a successful kitchen, you know what I mean? Haha. Its been an extremely liberating experience being able to fully commit to my vision and my instincts without having to second and third guess myself.
Local 101 - The lyrics in your new single “Compromising Me” definitely read like you’ve changed your perspective on things lately. At what point in your life did you feel like you were compromising yourself? Did you feel like you were being compromised when it came to The Academy Is…? Did that have anything to do with the band’s decision to part ways?
WB - That song is absolutely a mantra for me and my perspective in my life and my music. I think that compromise is essential in a marriage or a relationship; business or personal. However, when it comes to art, unless everyone involved on your team shares the exact same defined vision, things can get muddled and the intentions clouded. I think there is a fine line between creative collaboration (which I excel with), and blind, forced compromise to appease the parties involved. That ended up playing a large part in my decision to part ways with my band.
Local 101 - You’ve seen a lot of Chicago bands that were in their hey day at the same time The Academy Is… was in its prime break up. Some of the guys from those groups, like Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy and Mark Rose from Spitalfield, even chose to go the solo route like you did, so, obviously, the love for making music is still there. Do you think pop punk bands have an expiration date and/or that the musicians in them have a tendency to outgrow the genre?
WB - I think it comes down to individual artists doing what feels right for them. Over time people change. Tastes change. Influences change. For me, music is the fabric of my soul, and to stop making it would be a giant disservice to myself and my fans.
Local 101 - Speaking of Chicago bands, the goal of Local 101 is to get the word out about awesome bands here in the city. Who are some of your favorite Chicago bands and musicians that are around right now?
WB - I love Local 101. Grew up listening to it. I just saw Gemini Club at Lincoln Hall a few weeks ago for the first time and they were really good. I actually went to high school with one of the guys and haven’t seen him since until that show. There is also an extremely talented singer named Jennifer Hall whose voice I adore. She is a diamond in the rough and it’s only a matter of time before she gets the exposure she deserves.
Local 101 - What’s the future looking like for you? More solo material? Maybe a new band? Either way, we’re looking forward to it.
WB - After the release of Walk The Talk I will be releasing a new EP every 3 months for the rest of the year. Each EP picks up where the last left off and, once you collect them all, reveals the full story. I just finished recording the second EP, and I am currently on tour as we speak. The tour ends in Chicago, where it all started, on May 29th at Schubas. Then the next morning I fly to Japan to perform on the Beyond the Blue Tour, then I drop by the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia on the way home. The second EP drops soon after that and I’ll be heading back out on tour to support that release as well. More on that soon…
Local 101 wants to thank William again for the kind words and taking the time to chat with us. Check out his new EP Walk the Talk out now and catch him performing Tuesday, May 29 at Schubas.
Rock fans, keep this in mind: there isn’t just one kind of rock, especially in Chicago. We’re lucky enough to live in a city with enough musical influence and diversity that it’s impossible to not find a local band to love. I dare you to prove me wrong.
Our featured Local 101 band this week, Mutts, rocks hard but their distinct blues influences give them a sound that surpasses your typical rock band.
Last week I got the chance to hang out with Bob Buckstaff, Mike Maimone and Chris Pagnani–the members of Mutts–following a hot and sweaty practice session at their Logan Square studio space. We sat outside enjoying the weather and chatting about the band’s two upcoming albums, blues rock’s rise to mainstream popularity and Chris’s recent accreditation as a drivers ed instructor. Listen to the full interview below.
Get a free download of Mutts’ latest album Pray For Rain on the band’s Bandcamp page and keep an eye out for upcoming tour and album release dates. Don’t miss their performance at the Do Division Street Fest.
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A Lull performs at Schubas on 4/20/2012 (Photo by Katie Karpowicz)
Here’s the thing about rock music: Just because a band’s songs are artistic, it doesn’t always mean that they lack edge or rock-ability. That’s the case with Chicago’s own A Lull. If you’ve ever listened to a song from these natives, you probably took note of the band’s percussion. It’s intense. By enlisting two drummers, A Lull creates a rumbling rhythm section for its fervent melodies to follow.
Mike Brown, A Lull’s guitar and keyboard player, phoned me the night before the band left for a short Midwestern jaunt with Gauntlet Hair this month. I wanted to chat with him about the busy summer he has coming up. With a new EP due out next month, tour plans, another release already in the works and a spot on the bill at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival, A Lull have a full calendar.
When I ask Brown if he’s excited about playing Pitchfork he responds with a flat, “No.” He’s kidding, of course. The festival appearance will be A Lull’s biggest U.S. show to date (The band played an even larger festival last summer in Quebec.). Though Brown admits in all seriousness that hometown shows always bring a little added pressure.
“If [Pitchfork] was in any other city it would be a lot more exciting,” he said. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. We all just get nervous playing in Chicago just because we have so many friends here. I’m going to see all of these people tomorrow, you know?”
Any live show with as many elements as A Lull’s must be at least a little nervewrecking—no matter the audience. Brown finds himself continually shifting from guitar to keys.
In addition to the dual drummers, there’s also always at least a couple toms and snares spread throughout the stage for the other band members to join in on at various times during the set. Brown admitted there’s just one simple piece of advice to follow when it comes to coordinating such elaborate live shows.
“Don’t fuck up…basically,” he said. “Honestly though, that’s probably the biggest focus because there’s many times where we’ve got so much going on and the slightest slip of the hand will just messed everyone else up. We try to be on par and you sort of fall in a groove when you’re on tour and you know you’re songs. Then it’s pretty seamless.”
Even though the complexity of A Lull’s song composition has always been one of the band’s most defining features, fans might be a little surprised by their newest release, a five-song EP titled Meat Mountain that drops June 26. Brown explained the new material—A Lull’s first since their 2011 full-length Confetti—is a lot “looser” than the last album and that “there’s just not as much going on.” But he also assured me Meat Mountain is still undeniably a product of A Lull and that the new EP definitely sounds like them.
Catch A Lull performing on Sunday at this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival and check out Meat Mountain on June 26. Pre-order the new EP here and listen to the band’s single, “I’m On Fire,” below.
Another Local 101 show is upon us, brought to you by Q101, and Fitz’s Spare Keys in Elmhurst, IL! Sunday night, April 22nd at 6pm, you can find yourself seeing Super Happy Fun Club, The Scissors, Glendenning and The Violet Eyes at Fitz’s Spare Keys, 119 North York Road Elmhurst, IL. Doors at 4pm, show starts at 6pm, with music spinning until close!
But wait! It may be cold Sunday! Don’t want to wait in line? You’re in luck!! Q101-ers’ can get their tickets here and save 20%, and skip the line!! Don’t miss this opportunity to be ahead of the game for what will be a great show! And be sure to come to our table and pick up Q101 gear, and show your love and support!
The tentative dates have been announced for Chicago’s heritage outdoor music festival known as Jamboree: Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd.
This two day outdoor festival of all things alternative has been held in Chicago since 1995. In the mid nineties, the Alt Rock Radio Powerhouse known as Q101 brought Bush, Collective Soul, Sheryl Crow, Duran Duran, Faith No More, The Flaming Lips, KMFDM, The Lupins, Phunk Junkeez, Sponge, The Stone Roses and others to Chicagoland.
The 2012 lineup for Jamboree has not been announced yet, but the Official Facebook Fanpage for Jamboree and Event page for Jamboree 2012 encourages fans to subscribe to Q101′s Youtube Channel (http://youtube.Q101.com).
No Doubt, team Q101 will push notifications out via Q101.com when the time is right.
Q101 and Local 101 came back to The Montrose Room this last Friday night, and we brought 2 Chicago bands with us, Stoop Goodnoise, and Local H. The doors opened at 8pm, and by the time yours truly spoke to the crowd for a few minutes, you coul hear the glasses clinking and see the beer flowing mixing with the chatter of an audience waiting for the music to start.
Stoop Goodnoise opened the show with their eclectic mix of punk and solid rock guitar. These guys are no strangers to us, with their single from their self-titled release in 2010 “First Names” getting airplay on Local 101. Adrian, Luis, Bella, and David hammered their set out with cohesion, smiles, and an air that was contagious to those within earshot. I spoke with Adrian on and off throughout the evening, and they take a lot of pride in what they do, and they certainly should.
These boys are ones to keep an eye on, and should be listened to on a regular basis. You can take the opportunity to do so, with their freshly out in the wild album, “Crash Me, Cloud” that was dropped onto us January 28th, which you can cheerfully pick up here.
After a break, we find ourselves with Chicago music royalty, Local H.
Scott and Brian brought a 90 minute plus set to the ears of all in The Montrose Room, with a few songs from their catalog starting up a small pit to the left of the stage, and culminating in Scott Lucas taking to walk into the middle of the crowd, much to the delight of everyone there.
With 6, and soon to be 7 studio albums in their pocket, Local H runs strong and wild through the world of music, and energetic and positively electric live performances. Long sets, and live creativity is what the creators of songs like “Bound For The Floor”, and albums like “Pack Up The Cats”, and “As Good As Dead” are known for, and did not disappoint. Local H always brings such a good vibe with them, with a feel like you’re going to your buddy’s garage to see those guys that you know play for the neighborhood, yet their neighborhood is much bigger, and their presence can;t be contained in a garage. Keep your eyes peeled for their new album later this year “Hallelujah! I’m A Bum”.
After talking to members of both bands backstage, it’s good to see there’s still that love of the music, and legitimate gratefulness to the fans. We look forward to bringing you more shows like this, more memorable moments you can pass on to those that may not have made it, and more smiles like this from the fans, and the bands that we work with:
Thanks to Local H, Stoop Goodnoise, The Montrose Room, and the fans for making it another awesome Local 101 Show!!
Jim Ryan of ChicagoNow.com has a good review of this show HERE. Thanks for the plug Jim!
J.T. Morand brings a frank, and interesting interview with Scott Lucas of Local H to the pages of the Chicago Sun Times, and we’re more than happy to share it with you, what with our Local 101 show with them March 9th at The Montrose Room:
Local H makes a record only when they have something to say.
And, with the political divide in this country widening and the presidential election eight months away, they have something to say on their yet to be released 12th album, “Hallelujah! I’m A Bum.”
It’s been four years since the Chicago-based, two-man post-grunge band consisting of Scott Lucas (vocals, guitar and bass) and Brian St. Clair (drums) released a studio album — “12 Angry Months” in 2008.
Unfortunately, there’s no release date set for “Hallelujah!,” but the band finished mixing last month and Lucas said the album will be out before the November elections.
“We wanted to take this thing that goes on in the country, and the rest of the world, and figure out how it affects people and their relationships with each other and the relationships within their neighborhoods and their community,” Lucas said. “It definitely is a record that, in some ways, has an expiration date, and that expiration date would be November. But, in other ways, it doesn’t.”
To read the full interview with Scott Lucas, go to it on the Chicago Sun-Times website here.
Q101′s first Local 101 show of the year was a great notch on our belts (and yours!)-a sold-out show! Thanks to all who turned out! For those who were turned away at the door (and there were quite a few unfortunately), we look forward to seeing you at the show there with Local H March 9! Don’t wait to get tickets at the door-Click HERE!
The Montrose Room is one of the best-kept secrets in town, though it won’t be for long: It’s wonderfully intimate and has a very exclusive feel. It’s a classy place enscounced in the Hotel Intercontinental in Rosemont. How ritzy is this place? Well, let’s put it this way: it was a strange scene to witness the intermingling of the Q101 crowd and the stone-faced security minions of the Minister Louis Farrakhan who was staying the night there before his group’s annual convention at the United Center Sunday. So striking was the contrast between the two factions dominating the premises Saturday night-Q101 and Farrakhan rockin’ the same scene? Really?- that the steely demeanor and red bow ties favored by the Nation of Islam devotees may be the new required wear for the Q101 staff at future shows!
The openers of the show, Chicago’s Hear You Me did a great job onstage with their own songs, and others like The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”. Thanks to the guys in Hear You Me (Tim, Mike, Stefan, Dave) for performing, and showing what they’ve got!
Next up was the evening’s main event, Lucky Boys Confusion!
These west suburban boys have been around for 15 years, and have left their mark on the landscape with a well-versed discography, and not to mention the “Songs From A Scene” concert series. They brought the crowd into a fervor with some of their hits like “Atari”, “Hey Driver”, and “Fred Astaire”. It was a great performance, with a set that lasted approximately 80 minutes, going through 15 songs from their library. Their show even featured a small, but surprisingly fierce pit.
We’re great fans of Lucky Boys Confusion, and we have a very long history with them. It’s always good to see them, hear them, and the way they can get a crowd worked up! Thanks to The Montrose Room, Hear You Me, and Lucky Boys Confusion for helping us bring YOU, the fans, Local 101 as it should be. Fun, exciting, and packed full of people having a great time!
At least one of these guys will be selling their free shirt on Ebay. Can you guess? (Bonus points if you guessed “the guy not wearing socks!” Nice work!)
Join Q101′s Brooke Hunter for the first Local 101 Show of 2012.
Q101 Presents Lucky Boys Confusion at The Montrose Room. Parking is just $5 and there a limited tickets left.
Buy tickets here:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4215795
The Montrose Room is inside The Hotel Intercontinental in Rosemont. Next month, Q101 Presents the second Local 101 Show of the year at The Montrose Room with Local H. Tickets for Local H are on sale now here.
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