Dig ‘in: Snocaps, The Cords, People Mover
Check out what the No Wristbands team is listening to and what’s in our show calendars this month on our latest Dig ‘in.
INCOMING
Snocaps - S/T (Anti- Records LP)
Being a twin has to be such an interesting experience. On the one hand, you have a built-in best friend—someone who you are tethered to from day one, who gets it. On the other hand, you have someone whom you (probably unwillingly) measure yourself against. There has to be some built-in push-pull dynamic that exists there. Katie and Allison Crutchfield, I am sure, know this dynamic well.
They’ve been playing music together since early high school, and until recently, they hadn’t played together since P.S. Eliot’s last tour, which occurred nine years ago. What’s happened to the sisters in the interim is remarkable. Katie continued to expand on Waxahatchee (her solo project)‘s sound and has crossed the divide into indie country with two masterpieces this decade in Saint Cloud and Tigers Blood. She’s amassed an Avengers-level list of collaborators from drummer Spencer Tweedy (friend of the pod!) to her trusted producer Brad Cook, and more recently, indie guitar god MJ Lenderman.
Not to be outdone, Allison fronted the indie-punk band Swearin’ across four fantastic albums, released one solo album, and then transitioned to a successful career in A&R for Anti- Records.
Something was missing for them, though. That twin feeling that only they could understand—the need to collaborate and make music together again. They wanted to return to their raw indie roots, recording an album rapid-fire together with friends close by, plucking Lendermen and Cook to round out the new band. They dropped the album the same day they announced themselves as a band. What we have here are 13 songs that trace back to their indie-punk roots with split vocals between The Crutchfields. For those of us who rode for P.S. Eliot, this was a big deal!
The songs kick off with lead vocals from Allison on “Coast,” where the tension builds for the first half before opening up to a cathartic ending. Katie takes over lead vocals on “Wasteland,” which touches on wanting to be better and not be seen as in need of help—a defiant anthem of self-worth. These songs all sound great on record, and with the forthcoming tour, it’s easy to see how these songs would open up in a live setting. Luckily for us, the Crutchfields, despite not being from Chicago, love Chicago. Waxahatchee’s record release show for Tigers Blood was at the Empty Bottle in March of 2024, with a backing band comprised of Tweedy, and members of Chicago’s very own Twin Peaks. Snocaps very first tour with limited tour dates kicks off at Thalia Hall, spanning 3 nights (November 30th, December 1st, and 2nd). These shows are not to be missed, as again, these songs will undoubtedly expand and there are sure to be surprises in the setlist. -Mark Joyner
The Cords - S/T (Slumberland Records LP)
There’s a tangible sense of joy that pervades The Cords’ debut album by the Scottish teenage sister duo of Eva and Grace Tedeschi. The kind of joy that begins with absorbing their parent’s hip record collection followed by the giddy pursuit of learning how to play their own instruments that leads to writing and performing music that captures their unique creativity.
The origins of their sound resides with the ’80s indie pop from artists like Shop Assistants, The Flatmates and Talulah Gosh. The jangle pop strumming and dulcet tones that opens the record on “Fabulist” would slot in seamlessly with any highlight mixtape from that era. “Just Don’t Know (How To Be You)” is cut from a similar cloth; registering a simplicity that doesn’t require extraneous window dressing. An eruption of intermittent guitar frenzy from Eva drives “You” down an exhilarating trail that has me wanting to retrace its steps immediately after it comes to an end. “Yes It’s True” is hard-hitting—a maximum effort workout with Grace’s forceful drumming setting the pace. “When You Said Goodbye,” the closing track among the baker’s dozen, makes for a perfect conclusion; a bittersweet parting and a longing sense to discover what’s yet to come. -Bruce Novak
People Mover - Cane Trash (Little Lunch Records LP)
As siblings, guitarist/vocalist Lu Sergiacomi and and drummer Dan Sergiacomi have a connected history of growing up in Australian’s Brisbane region that provides the framework for their debut album. As their label so colorfully details: “Shaped by the Queensland heat permeating throughout childhood homes and share houses, Cane Trash captures the messiness of being in your twenties through melodies that stick like a seatbelt in summer.”
The record’s opener, “James St,” finds the pair recollecting about one such beloved share house that’s met its demise, as Lu ruefully observes, “nothing’s built to last.” On the title track, she equates a gradually deteriorating relationship with the the slow erosion of the debris that’s left behind from the ecological-friendly approach to sugarcane harvesting.
Sergiacomi’s voice and phrasing is reminiscent of Courtney Barnett’s at times, and like Barnett she expresses a wariness with veiled intentions and feelings of displacement in the midst of everyday crowds. Bassist Billy McCulloch completes People Mover’s trio and their lean and catchy rock approach mirrors that of Barnett’s outfit. In the soaring “Trying,” Lu confesses that she’s “been trying too hard” in her pursuit of an elusive companion—the results may not be immediately forthcoming but goodness knows that we can fault the effort. -Bruce Novak
UPCOMING
Ultra Lights / Deep Tunnel Project at Gman Tavern - Nov 21, 8:30 PM
Indefatigable indie booster Henry Owings is coming north from Atlanta to celebrate his 57th birthday and bringing Ultra Lights from his Chunklet Industries label along with him. Started by vocalist/guitarist John Robinson (Turf War, Illegal Drugs), Ultra Lights is a spirited quartet that includes Robinson’s spouse Leela Hoehn on guitar, Gus Fernandez on drums and Alex Wharton on bass. Their six-song self-titled EP that was released in the spring has their bullshit detector on high alert, combining Robinson’s acerbic observations with a forceful instrumental backing that doesn’t waste any notes.
Owings and Chunklet also partnered with John Mohr and Mike Greenless on a Tar box set and re-issues of their previous Amphetamine Reptile albums in 2021. Afterwards, the pair formed Deep Tunnel Project with Tim Midyett (Silkworm, Mint Mile) and Jeff Dean (Her Head’s On Fire, The Bomb). Their debut LP was one of my favorites from last year; an immersive take on the dynamics of Chicago that rightfully joins the legacy of metallic-strength sounds that have been birthed from this city of broad shoulders. -Bruce Novak
Brendan Kelly / Blake Cateris at Color Club - Nov 24, 8:00 PM
It has to be rare for someone like Brendan Kelly to have that many musical firsts left when it comes to playing shows in Chicago. However, the No Wristbands crew is here to help him achieve one more on Monday, November 24th at Color Club. I’m not sure he has played the room before, and has certainly not played a No Wristbands show before. We are excited to have Brendan come out and play his anthemic punk music with everybody. Most well-known (aside from our interview!) as the bassist and co-lead vocalist of Chicago’s very own Lawrence Arms, he has also had a successful career outside the band with various side and solo projects over the years. One can only hope we will get to hear and have “Shitty Margaritas” on the 24th. Kelly is known to not hold back, and I’m sure he will have lots of thoughts on what is going on in the world today.
Opening for Brendan Kelly will be Australian indie-folk musician Blake Cateris. Again, we are dealing with firsts here; this will be Cateris’ first U.S. tour and first show ever in Chicago. I can’t think of a better way to kick off Thanksgiving week; with two helpings of defiant punk music from these gentlemen. -Mark Joyner
Gouge Away at Metro - Nov 29, 6:30 PM
Expanding on their hardcore screamo origins from a decade ago in Fort Lauderdale, Gouge Away arrived at a more nuanced sound on their third album, Deep Sage, that arrived in spring of last year. Vocalist Christina Michelle still taps her inner rage, but her delivery is no longer full-on nuclear as evidence by the melodic-forward tracks like “Maybe Blue” and “Dallas.” With initial ambitions to just record a handful of songs and play a show, it must have been rewarding for the group to arrive at this juncture, but at the point that they started the writing process for Deep Sage in 2019 they were feeling spent from the constant grind of the band. The pandemic that followed seemingly sealed their fate, but ultimately provided a needed reset when they resumed the songwriting process nearly three years later. Now approaching the band as more of a source of joy than an obligation, the members of Gouge Away are in a good headspace and in turn producing heady music that portends a promising future. -Bruce Novak
UNCOVERED
Love Is All - Nine Times That Same Song (What’s Your Rupture? LP)
In a Pitchfork interview when asked about Love Is All’s influences surrounding the creation of their 2006 debut album, Nine Times That Same Song, bassist Johan Lindwall offered up Roxy Music and the Vaselines as possibilities. While seemingly disparate pairings, the reference was pretty on point. There are shades of Roxy’s rhythmic ballast and fuck-all art sensibilities coupled with the raggedly irresistible lo-fi pop approach of the Vaselines that gestate in their music. Vocalist/keyboardist Josephine Olausson’s admiration for the post-punk sounds of Kleenex and Essential Logic spurred the recruitment of saxophonist Fredrik Eriksson into the band—a final piece to the puzzle for the Swedish quintet.
For a debut record, Nine Times That Same Song displays an impressive range of sounds and textures. There’s the delirious bull rush of “Spinning And Scratching,” the shout-along pull of “Make Out Fall Out Make Up,” and the lilting beauty of “Turn The Radio Off” and “Turn The TV Off.” On “Busy Doing Nothing,” Olausson enumerates all the daily diversions (5 movie marathons, 9 times that same song, 10 hours in the bed, 4 hours on the phone, 1 hour in the shower, 2 hours trying shoes on) that have prevented her from accomplishing anything of substance—it’s a riotous confession that most listeners would likely relate to. For a band fixated on numbers (titling successive albums as A Hundred Things Keep Me Up A Night and Two Thousand And Ten Injuries), let me suggest one more for the list: a band reunion for a twentieth anniversary performance of Nine Times That Same Song! -Bruce Novak
We recommend listening along over at our Spotify page. Here’s this week’s content: