The Fold preview

The Fold
Metro, Chicago
Friday, July 20, 2007

This show, for which The Fold play in support of the disbanding Allister, probably shouldn’t seem so distant for the openers. The Chicago group barely survived a dissolution of their own — actually, they didn’t.

As the drummer for Showoff, Dan Castady was signed to Madonna’s Warner Bros. boutique imprint, Maverick Records, but when the label was reconfigured due to mismanagement, Showoff were dropped and their sophomore album was never released. The disappointment signaled the end, and The Fold were born.

Castady and Showoff mates Kyle Lewis and Magoo quickly formed The Fold, which would eventually evolve into the drummer (now singer/guitarist), Aaron Green (guitar), Keith Mochel (bass), and Mark Rhoades (drums). With experience, the faith-minded outfit unleashed two energetic, independent EPs before they turned to Tooth & Nail Records for last year’s This Too Shall Pass.

Without Madonna’s neglect to torpedo them, this time a chance for a second album did arrive, and Secrets Keep You Sick bursts with positivity. While its familiar emo dynamics keep it from transcendence (and its white-on-white liner notes annoy the bejeezus out of ya), Castady sounds comfortable throughout the 11 tracks. “Faster Still” is easily the highlight, a neo-emo/electronic adventure whose cadence eventually welcomes a waterfall of guitar and drums and strings. “Hey Rebekah” likewise bears an intelligent mix of digital and organic instrumentation.

Having finally found the support they need, The Fold’s only job now is to make sure they don’t seek themselves.

Allister, who headline, are playing their final show. Punchline and One Black Tooth also open.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly