Tyler Jon Tyler

As a fan of both the Ponys and Daily Void from Chicago, I had to add Tyler Jon Tyler to my list. Tyler Jon Tyler is a band featuring Tom Cassling (ex-Daily Void) on drums, Ponys drummer Nathan Jerde on bass, and Rebecca Valeriano-Flores on guitar and vocals. They played outside at the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Fest today. Walking down the avenue, I stumbled upon some really awesome art. Couldn't get a ticket for tonight's Paul McCartney gig at Wrigley Field. So this was the place to be.

The garage-punk-pop trio delivered some catchy and somewhat aggressive songs. Rebecca's jangly guitar stirs up an emotion that nicely accompanies her slightly hypnotic voice. Nathan's bass almost carries the songs as he throws out the rhythm to Tom, with Rebecca's guitar and vocals in the middle. It reminded me of the Luv'd Ones, the Cure, Bjork, and Joy Division.

 Much of Chicago's current music scene has gone retro '60s, '70s, and early '80s. However, only the good ones succeed at making it new again. Tyler Jon Tyler are one of those bands. Minimalist echos of '60s garage and post punk filter their sound, but in a new fresh package. Power pop and Brit pop type songs about anxiety and desire, resonated the artsy atmosphere on the avenue today. Amazing how just a few old amps and three instruments could create such a vibrant satisfying sound. It made me forget about Paul at Wrigley.

We Repel Each Other at the Mutiny

The Mutiny is an interesting little club on Chicago's north side. It has artwork on the ceiling and perhaps the town's largest urinal. On any given night, there will be an original band playing. The owner is a legend to many...well maybe. Half of folks that hang out at the Mutiny are in bands. Yes, it is definitely a "cutting edge" type of place.

Last night I witnessed one of the wildest bands I have ever seen. We Repel Each Other were pushing the threshold of spontaneous energy and innovation. Their sound reminded me of Steve Albini's Shellac. The singer-guitarist looked like a young Iggy Pop. They were maniacs!

I chatted with Izzy the drummer and he told me that he was sitting around one evening with a desire to play drums for the first time in two years. He got a call from an old friend Rob and within a few hours they were writing songs. "It all came out spontaneously and nobody told me what to play" said Izzy Price. The songs were created in the first take...spontaneous like '60s garage nuggets. "My Generation" by the Who was not overdubbed and done in a live type session and stands as a primitive example of rock's early energy. The best songs are ones that just happened quickly from a gut feeling.

Back in the day, Jimi Hendrix shocked people when he introduced the world to a new style of guitar distortion as art. The Velvet Underground was also venturing into this territory. Big Black and Yo La Tengo continued to do this type of music art. We Repel Each Other were all over the music map and all over the Mutiny. I thought I was in 1969 and Iggy Pop just surfed into the crowd. However, it is 2011 and this stubborn monster called rock 'n' roll will not lie down! Just come out to We Repel Each Other's next show, but be careful not to get too close to Rob, Eric, and Izzy!

New York Dolls shake, rattle, & roll!

Borrowing from the blues and the radical attitude of the MC5 and the Stooges, the New York Dolls created punk rock before there was a term for it. They created a new form of "angry and snotty white kid rock 'n' roll" that presaged both heavy metal and punk.

Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen assaulted the stage at Double Door in Chicago. Accompanied by a former Blondie member, these icons of rock 'n' roll delivered the goods! Opening with "Looking for a Kiss" and "Stranded in the Jungle." In the middle of the set, they went into a medley of '60s garage, Chicago blues, and bits of the Animals gem "I'm Crying." Then made their way back to "Personality Crisis" and some new songs, which are pretty damn good, considering they were recorded almost fourty years later. Rock 'n' roll never forgets its roots. This monster is indestructible and just needs to get in your face again!

The Sleepers put the roll back in rock!



David Johansen and Sylvian Sylvian
New York Dolls 
July 27, 2011

   In these days of "corporate controlled radio" and lame bands draining the moron music market, it is refreshing to see a vibrant and exciting band like the Sleepers. Hailing from Chicago, these ambassadors of "roadhouse rock" are an original example of a band that was meant to happen. Kevin, Tony, Chris, Tommy, and Johnny are lifetime friends that grew up together. They shared an interest in all that is great about rock 'n' roll. They had the awesome privilage of opening for the legendary New York Dolls at Chicago's Double Door. Lead guitarist Tony Manno later quoted that he really got a kick out of telling folks "we played with the New York Dolls!"

Tommy Richied

  





Tony Manno

   


  Borrowing from AC/DC, Ramones, MC5, Small Faces, Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy, and the Dead Boys, to create a new twist to a timeless sound. Tommy Richied's bluesy and grungy voice, Tony Manno's blazing guitar solos, Johnny Action's "machine gun style" drumming, Chris Cormier's "pistol pulse" bass vibe, and Kevin Bannon's clever songwriting all collide into a sonic blast of "in your face" rock 'n' roll! In 2004, I caught these guys at Double Door and was really moved by what I witnessed. They all were stomping their feet and determined to rock the crowd. They ended up blowing away all three bands that followed.

Chris Cormier and Kevin Bannon

  These guys joined me and Barb Wire at WLUW FM one night, and shared a great story about life on the road. It was an inspirational story about some good guy out in the country, who let them borrow his truck, while fixing their van. He was a complete stranger, who allowed the Sleepers to get to their next gig, make some money, and then return to the stranger with their van fixed. They broke down in the middle of nowhere, only to have a good samaritan come to their rescue. Kevin Bannon wrote the song "E.R.H.," which was the samaritan's initials, and is featured on their debut album "Push It Nationwide."








Johnny "Action" Fields

      "Detroit is gonna save my soul" is a phrase from one their songs that really got me. It made me think about how much I wanted to drive to Detroit to see the Stooges in 2003. DKT/MC5 had just started their reunion tour. That "Detroit ride" vibe was in the air, connecting the universe to rock 'n' roll's eternal flame! Too many bands try too hard to be modern, but what is modern anymore? The Sleepers just get up there and within a few notes, that monster called Rock 'n' roll is resurrected!