Walrus is extreme.
Well, at least their MySpace hint and jokes to that. I don’t really consider them extreme, but they are Review Chicago’s Artist of the Week.
Walrus has been around for a while in one various incarnation or another. The core of the band has been gigging around and about Chicago since they were just sixteen. Offering a nice blend of male/female vocals, it is easy for those who haven’t listened to the band to make the assumption they are following the mold of another successful Chicago rock band, The Hush Sound. This is not the case.
The first thing that struck me when I heard Walrus years back is singer/songwriter Aaron Goldschmidt has an instant knack for finding a great melody. Think Motion City Soundtrack. Before the addition of Kate Grube on vocals and keyboard, you could tell, even at age 16, that this band will develop into something formidable. Add Kate’s outstanding vocals and harmonies and they have not disappointed. With the lineup and core staying unchanged for years, they have developed an outstanding chemistry that belies their age.
After recording demo after demo, the band finally selected a producer and recorded their debut record ‘20,000 Leagues’. Since this is not a CD review, I will not spend much time talking about it but I implore you to give it a listen. It is one of the finer debut records I have heard from such a young band. Although it doesn’t drift too far from their initial influences, you can hear the obvious talent from a band that should be relevant for years to come, if they don’t burn out before they get there.
The time they spent nurturing their sound has paid dividends. The band, which started by playing basements, has graduated to headlining mid-sized clubs, such as Sub-T, and sharing the stage with other greats bands at larger clubs such as Metro. A self booked summer tour also indicates that this band will not be sitting around Chicago for very long.
So, go check out Walrus. They are extreme.
Walrus’ MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/walrus3
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