Alli Klein: Family of Noise writesKiller Moon, Rabble Rabble, Creepy Band, and Plastic Crimewave Syndicate at Double Door (6/7/13)

The Double Door, a rock club rich in Chicago history, welcomed four local groups last Friday night for an evening of music that can only be described as heavy.  Wicker Park’s Double Door housed a bunch of transplants from a neighborhood a little farther north west, as all four bands have at least a few members (and fans) from the Logan Square area.  Competing with a number of summer Chicago street festivals this weekend, I was pleased to see Killer Moon, Rabble Rabble, Creepy Band, and Plastic Crimewave Syndicate playing to an ample sized crowd.

Steve Krakow (Plastic Crimewave Syndicate)

Plastic Crimewave Syndicate opened the show with their semi-impromtu jams, immersing the crowd in a sonic swimming pool of sound.  Talking with drummer Karissa Talanian after their set, she seemed to think it didn’t go over well, stating they rarely have time to practice.  I can tell you as an audience member, you wouldn’t have picked up on that.

This 3 piece have been friends for years, playing together in various incarnations, and they gel really well.  Talanian and bassist Andrew Kettering are also the rhythm section in another Chicago band gaining in popularity, Les Strychnine, so they hold it down on stage whether they’ve practiced or not.  Pair that with Chicago pysch legend Steve Krakow, aka Plastic Crimewave, shredding on guitar and you really can’t go wrong, or feel they’re the slightest bit ill-prepared.

Karissa Talanian & Andrew Kettering (Plastic Crimewave Syndicate)

Next up was Creepy Band. This was my first time experiencing their show, but I had always heard good things so I was anxious to see what they’re all about.  Think Misfits meets Black Sabbath. Donning hoods and druid like cloaks, their frightful presence did not overshadow their level of engaging fun.

Singer Dave Henderson leapt into the crowd a few times and stomped around on stage like he owned the place.  My one complaint would’ve been the organ was not loud enough. Creepy Band could not have picked a more suitable name, as their sound evokes all that is eerie with their haunting dissonance.

Ralph Darski & Andrew Kettering (Rabble Rabble)

Rabble Rabble has gone through some changes in recent past, but I would say they’re all positive ones. Ever since guitarist/bassist Andrew Kettering replaced Todd McCafrey, the direction Rabble Rabble has taken makes it seem like they’ve finally hit their sweet spot. They are now a force to be reckoned with. Although I loved what McCafrey brought to the band, that dancey, angular post punk vibe (which to be honest I do kind of miss), Kettering’s musicianship is unparalleled.

Imagine if you can heavy drone metal infused with world music influences and you’ll understand where the Rabblers are headed. They are a wall of sound, sans creepy Phil Spector. I was thoroughly impressed with their third from last song, “Material Lies” which has clear undertones of dub. The band is taking a hiatus from performing for a while to focus on a new upcoming full length, but keep your ear to the ground about a “secret” show they might be appearing at on June 22nd!

Rabble Rabble

Then the main event took the stage. This was Killer Moon’s record release party for their album Tunnel Vision, which you can download for free by visiting this link.  Awash in the vibrant stage lights, the warmth of Killer Moon’s tones transcend their obvious influences, like Black Sabbath, The Doors,  Zeppelin, and Hendrix into something fresh and new.  Anyone else (cough *Wolfmother * cough) would make that revival sound tired and boring, but not Killer Moon.

Bassist Amaris Aviles holds it down, balancing out powerhouse drummer Alejandro Santoyo and singer/guitarist Jesse Garza. Tracks like “Set You Free” and “Heavy Trip” send you to a place where you don’t even need psychedelic drugs (though they wouldn’t hurt).  Not only are Killer Moon good at what they do, all three are incredibly nice people and each one separately came up to me to thank me for attending the show. You don’t find that a lot these days in the realm of rock and roll.

Keep all four of these bands on your radar, Chicago!

Jesse Garza (Killer Moon)

Amaris Aviles (Killer Moon)