Bound Stems preview

Bound Stems
Empty Bottle, Chicago
Friday, January 20, 2006

Despite occasionally getting lost in Bound Stems’ varied song structure, the intricate complexity and diverse arrangements showcase a brim musical forte of ambitious experimentation.

The local five piece, which formed in 2002, recently released a seven track EP, The Logic Of Building The Body Plan (Flameshovel), in anticipation of their full-length Appreciation Night, which will come out this summer. Both were recorded at Chicago’s Studio Ballistico with the EP featuring a couple preview tracks from the full-length; the rest are exclusive to Logic.

The tunes on Logic begin with a standard cohesiveness before stirring into a muddled jumble of shifting time signatures, experimental guitar dissonance, and divergent vocals, resulting in a fusion of zestful, clinkered pop rock. Even with all these changes occurring, the tracks actually are catchy. Especially with lead singer Bobby Gallivan belting out the melodies and Janie Porche‘s occasional sprinkling of hushed, female harmonies lingering in the background.

Bound Stems are branching out of Chicago, playing at this year’s South By Southwest festival in March. They also garnered recognition by Spin.com as the “Band Of The Day.” If you miss Friday’s show, they’ll also be at Schubas on February 9th.

Opening at Empty Bottle will be local art-punk quartet I Need Sleep. They exhibit a fun, quirky sense of humor in their music, especially on the energetic songs “Pervert Like Herbert” and “Dance Like An Idiot.” Starting off the night will be musical storytellers Romona Cordova, who share the fairytale about a boy named Giver on their album, The Boy Who Floated Freely.

— Jill Haverkamp

Click here to download Bound Stems’ “Crimes And Follies.”

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly