The Future Laureates

7.8.15

(View video footage of The Future Laureates performing live on WGN by clicking link). - WGNTV.com

5.15.15

After corralling its passionate and incredibly supportive friends, family and fans, local folk-rock outfit the Future Laureates has won RedEye’s Rock ’n’ Vote 2015.

Earning a grand total of 605 votes, more than 50 more than the second-place finalist, the Future Laureates mobilized to win the hectic, 36-hour final voting period. “We basically had a lot of people who were rallying behind us and told them thanks and to help us in this final round,” said co-frontman Danny Surico. “It was kind of a comprehensive team effort. We worked hard and asked people for help and they helped us. It was awesome.”

Strangely enough, the group has also made Rock ’n’ Vote history—the Future Laureates will play Taste of Chicago’s Bud Light Stage twice this year. First at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9 and later with its Rock ’n’ Vote 2015-winning slot Saturday, July 11 at 6:40 p.m. “I think we’re ready to play two shows. We’re up for the challenge. I think it’s going to be a great couple of sets,” said Surico.

Surico also revealed that the band is currently writing songs to follow-up its 2014 EP “Here and After.” But the first thing on the Future Laureates' docket is touring. In addition to the Taste of Chicago shows, the band will also play Metro, Thursday, June 5 supporting Jeff Brown and the New Black.

Of course, this competition wouldn’t have been so exciting and close without the immensely talented other finalists, including rapper/poet Phenom, indie rockers Stereospeak and soul singer Krystal Metcalfe—bright futures ahead for all.

Below, revisit the Future Laureates’ excellent single “Sinners and Saints” one last time.



jterry@redeyechicago.com, @joshhterry - RedEyeChicago.com

10.28.14 Chicago pop-rock folksters The Future Laureates' are set to drop their forthcoming EP, Here and After,soon, and it's really going to be the cat's pajamas. Find me a cat, by the way, wearing said pajamas and I'll buy you a Coke. In any event, the band, whose album was produced by Chris Grainger (Wilco, Switchfoot, Sixpence None the Richer, and Kopecky Family Band), played CMJ and played a track for A-Sides. You will enjoy it, yes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QsTzZvb3H0 - HuffingtonPost.com

9.18.14

Track Premiere: Future Laureates – “Down”

Here And After drops September 23

Chicago’s Future Laureates have been making solid pop-rock for a while now, even sharing stage credits with the likes of Dawes and Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes. Now the five-piece is gearing up to carve out their own space with the release of a new EP, Here And After. Today we’ve got the premiere of a new album single, Down, which pairs high-gloss vocals with slick guitars that go down easy.

Here’s what the Future Laureates frontman Danny Surico told us about the song:
Musically, the song pulls from our influences in rock and R&B—for example, Frank Ocean was an artist I listened to quite a bit who helped inspire the musical direction of the song. Lyrically, I drew initial inspiration from the upcoming nuptials between my sister and my soon to be brother-in-law.
In a broader sense, however, the song is speaking about the current gay rights movement and the shifting cultural landscape in our country. As a band, we have a lot of GLBTQ friends and family who are paving the way for social change, and specifically fighting for the right to marry. This is one small way of showing our support for marriage equality and the many brave people championing equal rights.
You can stream “Down” below and check out the band’s upcoming fall tour dates, including a stop at CMJ Music Marathon.

Tour Dates For The Future Laureates:
09/25 – Champaign, IL – Cowboy Monkey
09/26 – Morton Grove, IL – Oktoberfest

09/27 – Chicago, IL – Martyrs’ **Album Release Show**

10/03 – Hamtramck, MI – New Dodge Lounge

10/22-24 – New York, NY – CMJ Music Marathon

11/14 – Dayton, OH – Canal Public House

11/15 – Nashville, TN – Venue TBA

11/21 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Acoustic Underground presents @ Mayne Stage

11/22 – Minneapolis, MN – The Fallout - CMJ.com

10.14.14

The Future Laureates "Sinners and Saints" Live Acoustic Video — Exclusive Premiere

When a song gets stripped down to its basic elements, you can tell its true genius.

And that’s what comes to mind with this live acoustic version of “Sinners and Saints” by Chicago pop-folk-rock group, The Future Laureates.

Playfully performed in an intimate couch-filled setting, the boys deliver this clever song packed with multiple hooks.

The interplay of the guitars, ukulele and cajon along with the catchy melodic phrases make this a gem of a tune. Yes, it’s stuck in my head right now!

The original track appears on their recently released EP, Here and After

Lead guitarist Andrew Bockelman shares, "The challenge that I enjoyed for this song was translating the guitar from an already written electric part to an acoustic arrangement. The limitations of playing an acoustic force me to think more simply, in turn influencing my performance when I switch back to electric. The result is a continuously evolving guitar part, which can keep things interesting for the rest of the band and for myself.”

The band teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Chris Grainger, best known for albums with Wilco, Switchfoot, and Sixpence None the Richer (including hits "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes").

To the band's co-frontman/ guitarist Danny Surico, Here and After represents the band's most honest form of music. "We feel like this record is a more accurate representation of our live sound," explains Surico. "The songwriting and our performance plays to our individual and collective strengths and pulls from varied influences like The Beatles, Otis Redding, and WALK THE MOON."

Along with Surico, The Future Laureates are Matthew Daigler (vocals and ukulele), James Hyde (bass and vocals), Andrew Bockelman(lead guitar and vocals) and Rob Durkee (drums).

On Here and After, the band delves into a variety of new subject matter, ranging from an apocalyptic escape, to modern love songs, to a eulogy of Don Quixote, told from the perspective of his loyal servant. They also flex some new musical muscles, pulling from their influences in modern rock, classic pop, rhythmic folk, and 60's soul.

The Future Laureates officially released Here and After today, September 23rd. For more information, visit thefuturelaureates.com. - Guitar World

9.2.14

Premiere: The Future Laureates Get "Sinners and Saints"

Chicago pop-folk-rockers the Future Laureates are in town at Pianos this Thursday, and before they deliver the live goods there, they've gifted us with this exclusive listen of their new track "Sinners and Saints." The song, according to Future Laureate Danny Surico, is "set on the brink of the apocalypse, two characters are presented the opportunity to escape the conventions of heaven and hell," and despite that dark-ish description it manages to be a sweeping, jaunty uplift of a song, complete with big, swinging hooks. That's due in part, perhaps, to the track's producer, Chris Grainger, whose work with Old Crow Medicine, Wilco, and (HELL YEAH) Sixpence None the Richer has been nominated for Grammys in the past. Dude knows what he's doing, and so too do the Future Laureates. Check them out at Pianos Thursday and stream "Sinners and Saints" after the jump. - VillageVoice.com

1.19.15

Hello! If you were to tell me less than ten years ago that I was going to grow up and be a drummer, I likely would have thought you were insane. There was not a musical bone in my body, I had never taken lessons or even expressed interest in doing so, and was getting along just fine without them.

When I was a freshman in high school, a great friend of mine convinced me to join choir with him for fun. I went in with low expectations, thinking I would hate it, and what followed was a meteoric rise to loving music more than anything else. I stayed in choir, did musical theatre productions, taught myself to play the drums, and even picked up the trombone in band class. When it came time to graduate, I couldn’t see myself doing anything other than music; my father was briefly a drummer, so it must have been in my blood somewhere.

I owe most of my current ideas, skills, and musical mentality to a little place in Chicago called VanderCook College of Music. While attending VanderCook, two men in particular shaped me into the player I am today—Kevin Lepper and Bret Kuhn. Without them, I am nothing. So many of my listening habits, gear choices, and even fill orchestrations are directly linked to what they taught me, despite the fact that I play lefty and presented a huge hassle to them in every lesson. I left VanderCook in 2012, thinking I could take on the world from behind a drumset.

And that is exactly what I’ve been doing since! I have had some wonderful opportunities since joining up with the Future Laureates in late 2012, and we’re not slowing down. From multiple appearances at SummerFest and SXSW to several Midwest and East Coast tours yearly, there is never a dull moment, and I am always feeling the pressure to push myself and try new ideas and sounds to keep our music fresh.

Our most recent record, Here and After, was an incredible collaboration with renowned Nashville producer Chris Grainger (Wilco, Switchfoot, and many more). Chris has a very keen ear for drum sounds and also really knows how to articulate what kinds of grooves he feels work well for specific sections of songs. Between the two of us, we came up with some great material, and this was by far my best studio session to date.

Drumming is and forever will be my greatest passion, and I can’t wait to keep playing, learning, and meeting others who feel the same. A quick shout out to some of my biggest influences—Bryan St. Pere of Hum, Chad Sexton of 311, Erin Tate of Minus the Bear, and Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie.

One final word to the wise—don’t forget to flow. Cheers!



For more information on Rob and the band, please visit www.thefuturelaureates.com. - Modern Drummer

7.7.15

Five artists will perform as the headlining acts for each day of the Taste of Chicago food festival, beginning July 8 and ending July 12.
The five acts are, in order: Weezer, Erykah Badu, The Chieftains, Spoon and Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly.
The 35th annual Taste of Chicago will take place in Grant Park, and festival-goers can watch the headlining musical performances at the Petrillo Music Shell. Other music performances will take place at the Bud Light Stage.
Tickets for the seating area at the Petrillo Music Shell range from $15 to $50. You can purchase tickets at www.TasteofChicago.us.
Below is the complete schedule for the musical acts.

Wednesday, July 8
Headliner: Weezer, with Saint Motel opening
Contrabanda
Lowdown Brass Band
The Brazilionaires
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Thursday, July 9
Headliner: Erykah Badu, with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue opening
Robbie Gold Band
Jamie Lono & Noble Heart
Blah Blah Blah
Ryan Powers & The Secret Weapons
The Future Laureates

Friday, July 10
Headliner: The Chieftains
The Golden Rule
Sam Crossland and the Side Effects
Mike Golden & Friends
White Mystery
Tall Walker
Mike Mains & The Branches

Saturday, July 11
Headliner: Spoon, with Houndmouth and Madisen Ward & The Mama Bear opening
Pert Near Sandstone
Aniba Hotep & The Sol Collective
Po'Boy Special
The Chicago Six
Jesse de la Pena
Antony + The Tramps
The Future Laureates

Sunday, July 12
Headliner: Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, with DJ Duane Powell opening
The Soul of James Brown
The Chicago Rat Pack
Infinity
American English
Reginald Torian, Sr. - NBCChicago.com

6.22.15

When we held this year’s RedEye Rock ’n’ Vote competition, one of the prizes was a coveted evening slot at Taste of Chicago. When the Future Laureates handily won, we thought that’d be the end of it.

However, due to some behind-the-scenes creativity thanks to the Future Laureates, all four finalists will appear onstage together for a three-song medley. That means if you voted for soul singer Krystal Metcalfe, rapper-poet PHENOM or indie rockers Stereospeak, you still have a chance to see them perform with the Future Laureates Saturday, July 11 at Taste of Chicago's Bud Light Stage.

Because Rock ’n’ Vote has always been more about highlighting the Chicago’s incredible music scene rather than being an actual competition, the Future Laureates’ decision to enlist the other three finalists truly embodies the spirit of the event.

While we’re not going to spoil the songs these acts are going to use in their medley, revisit the songs that made them Rock ’n’ Vote finalists.

The Future Laureates - “Sinners And Saints.”



Krystal Metcalfe - “To Be Loved.”



Phenom - “Heist.”



Stereospeak - “New Kid.”



jterry@redeyechicago.com, @joshhterry - RedEyeChicago.com

3.23.15

The Future Laureates perform in the Panhandle PBS studios
On the way to South By Southwest, The Future Laureates stopped by the Panhandle PBS studios to perform three fabolous tunes from the groups album, "Here and After." The set was aired live on Amarillo College's FM90.

Watch all three songs The Future Laureates performed below.

The Future Laureates- Sinners and Saints

The Future Laureates - Angela

The Future Laureates - Waterslide - PanhandlePBS.org

10.28.14 The Future Laureates:

These young guys were the first folks I got to speak to at The Living Room. They were the most care free of the bunch and extremely relaxed. I was able to chat with 3 of the guys and they elaborated with me the journey of their name origin and how it came to fruition via a fan/friend Facebook thread. Got to admire keeping it simple people, the name game is always the hardest thing in music. True Chicagoans and feeling the love of being in New York, we hit it off right away amongst our shared obsession for the band Guster. It is always a pleasure meeting fellow Gusteroids. These guys also seemed the most interesting to me as they noted in several instances that their sound is varied in genre specificity. “We started out trying the folksy sound which immediately changed to a more bluesy soul tune,” said Andrew. “We try to combine chunks of everything,” replied Matthew who then started sharing various musical inspirations such as The Beatles, Ben E. King and Guster, who have all contributed to their unique taste as musicians.

We all shared lots of laughs as we compared our fondness, or lack thereof, of the Chicago and Finger Lakes weather. As a Buffalonian, I know the perils of lake effect winters all too well. Despite the rain in Brooklyn that night, the fellas were excited and exclaimed several times that, “this is happening,” with anticipation and excitement for the show to come. I see a bright musical future for them after CMJ. - Punchland.com

9.24.14

Review: ‘Here and After’ by The Future Laureates a rollicking good time

After an extensive fundraising campaign, Chicago’s own The Future Laureates released the band’s latest EP Here and After. The band's latest effort is sure to please both long-time fans and those who are just discovering the band. Here’s what we liked about the new album.
The five-song EP starts off with the strong “Sinners and Saints,” complete with instantly memorable lyrics and a distinct rock sound with some pop undertones. It’s got a concert vibe to the song, and you can easily picture this piece being performed in front of a full house at a concert venue in town. It was absolutely the right choice for the first track on the album, as it hooks the listener.
Things get even better with “Angela,” the second song on the EP. The song veers close to becoming just another love song, but it edges back at just the right moment. It also comes across more as a love anthem, and less as a love song. Whoever Angela is, one thing is certain: She’s a lucky woman.
The album slows down with “Make Believe,” but in a good way. The song has a distinct rock sound and includes a great portion where the guitar takes center stage.
“Down,” the fourth song on the EP, has just the right mix of compelling lyrics, great vocals and a strong musical style. It’s got a 1980s music vibe that this reviewer digs.
Here and After ends on a satisfying note with “Take It as It Comes.” It’s a hopeful song that’s fast-paced with strong lyrics. The violin in this song is a subtle addition, but when you hear it, it’s fantastic.
Overall, the album has a clean and precise sound that showcases the band’s rock and folk roots and reveals the extent of The Future Laureates’ musical range. Each song has its own distinct sound, which makes this album a refreshing addition to your playlist. Here and After is a fun and rollicking ride, and the band’s fans will find it lives up to expectations.
Here and After was released Sept. 23, 2014. The band is currently touring throughout the U.S., as previously reported on AXS.com. The Future Laureates will next appear in the Chicago area at the Morton Grove Oktoberfest at Prairie View Park in Morton Grove on Sept. 26, 2014, at 8 p.m., and on Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. at Martrys’ (3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago).
This review was based on the exclusive EP stream available on the website ArtistDirect.com.
Song this reviewer has played on repeat: “Sinners and Saints.”
Final verdict: Definitely pick up this album.
Check out Chicago's music scene by taking a look at AXS.com. - AXS.com

5.12.15

Click link for...

Exclusive Video: RedEye Rock 'n' Vote 2015 finalist the Future Laureates - RedEyeChicago.com

9.22.14

Exclusive EP Stream: The Future Laureates, “Here and After”

Happy Monday, ARTISTdirectioners. It's officially fall and we are kicking off the first full week of the autumn season by teaming up with The Future Laureates to exclusively stream their new EP, Here and After, out tomorrow, September 23.

Guess who is on our VIP guest list for this listening party x listening sesh? Yep, that'd be you.

"Seven months ago, in the midst of yet another frigid February that we Chicagoans love to loathe, my bandmates and I were holed up in our coach house in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, recording our 5th studio record, Here and After. Inside our home, the recording experience was joyous and warm, as we found our groove in a pretty damn near-perfect balance of spontaneity and efficiency. Each of us in The Future Laureates, along with our sixth man, producer, and good friend, Chris Grainger, helped put our stamp on this EP by playing to our strengths in the writing process and the performance of these songs. We are unbelievably proud of this EP. We believe it is a big step forward for us, and we are excited to share it with our fans who have been with us since day one, as well as the many new fans and friends we've encountered along our journey. Today, we are ready to release it to the world. So here goes...," said The Future Laureate's Danny Surico. - ArtistDirect.com

9.12.14

Song Premiere: “Angela” by The Future Laureates

Chicago quintet The Future Laureates are Danny Surico (vocals, acoustic guitar), Matthew Daigler (vocals, ukulele), James Hyde (bass, vocals), Andrew Bockelman (lead guitar, vocals) and Rob Durkee (drums). The band is set to release EP Here and After on September 23 and they're giving us a taste of what's to come.
We have the premiere of their brand new song "Angela," a foot stomping, good time of a track. Ladies, it'll make you wanna change your name.
Have a listen and check out their upcoming tour dates below.















Upcoming Tour Dates:

9.25 - Champaign, IL @ Cowboy Monkey

9.26 - Morton Grove, IL @ Oktoberfest

9.27 - Chicago, IL @ Martyrs' **Album Release Show**

10.03 - Hamtramck, MI @ New Dodge Lounge

10.22 -10.24 - New York, NY @ CMJ Music Marathon (showcases TBA)

11.14 - Dayton, OH @ Canal Public House

11.15 - Nashville, TN @ Venue TBA

11.21 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Acoustic Underground presents @ Mayne Stage

11.22 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Fallout - CultureCollide.com

10.8.14

The Future Laureates released their latest EP, ‘Here and After,’ on Sept. 23. Full of high-spirited and energetic songs that blend rock, pop and folk into one catchy groove, ‘Here and After’ is, to put it simply, a whole lot of fun. And we want to do our part to make sure everyone is having fun, so we’ve partnered with the Chicago outfit to premiere their brand-new music video for ’Sinners and Saints’ above.
It doesn’t take long for the exuberant ‘Sinners and Saints’ to take hold of fans’ attention; not only does the song instantly sound familiar, but the video feels like one big party.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLqh2JV2vEs

“Shooting ‘Sinners and Saints’ was a lot of fun and hopefully that comes across,” vocalist and ukulelist Matthew Daigler tells us. “We got to cruise around the Chicago River and drink with a bunch of our friends all night. I think it is safe to say a good time was had by all.”
The Future Laureates are known for their enthusiastic live performances — fortunately for those who have yet to catch them, ‘Sinners and Saints’ is a great introduction, both visually and audibly. They have a few concerts scheduled through November; you can get their full tour itinerary here. - Diffuser.FM

9.3.14

REVIEW: THE FUTURE LAUREATES – ‘HERE AND AFTER’ EP

Here and After, the new EP from The Future Laureates, is one that I am approaching with an arched eyebrow and a tuned ear…

“Sinners and Saints” starts off with beats that remind me so much of “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” from Fall Out Boy. However, there is a more folksy vibe that kicks in as the song continues. The folk-punk fusion already has me entranced, as I’m sure most listeners will find themselves. Of course, there is also a build-up to the bridge, which brings the song full circle. If this is any indication as to what we can expect from The Future Laureates, than sign me up! “Down” follows later with a similar beat-centered sound, with a style all its own that I’ve found to quite enjoy on repeat. Once again, the bridge steals the show, especially this one, with a vocal harmonies, and the concept of tearing everything down to build it all back up. I daresay that “Down” is my favorite track on the EP, just because of the raw power it contains throughout. I could play it again and again…and I did.

Just looking at the name of the track (“Angela”), I was convinced I was about to sit through an ode to someone’s girlfriend…and I was kind of right. Thankfully, it’s not all slobbery and sad, but quite upbeat, with a fusion of eclectic styles that make the song pretty catchy. While it doesn’t hit quite the same with me as its predecessor, I wouldn’t be quick to dismiss it, as it certainly shows how versatile The Future Laureates can be.

“Make Believe” has a dreamy quality to it with a story that pulls listeners in. I love how original each note and line feels/sounds. The vocals are also fantastic, with an edgy quality to them that almost remind me of Jason Lancaster (Go Radio, Mayday Parade). Hands down, one of the most notable tracks on the EP, brining to mind the visual of people swaying at a show, all feeling the music, because the bluesy sound featured is not one you hear, but feel.

“Take It As It Comes” is as light as its name hints at. If you want a truly carefree, “don’t stress,” tune, this is it. I motion that this song be played every Monday morning before the stress begins! Filled with honey-sweet instrumentals, soft vocals, and a quirky style that will make even the grumpiest of people smile, who can resist this song?

I had no idea what I was getting into when I hit play on Here and After, but to say I didn’t enjoy each track would be a lie. The Future Laureates have left a lasting first impression that, hopefully, is a great indication of where they are headed as a group. There is a charming acoustic-driven, almost rustic quality to their creation. With their versatility and originality, there is no doubt that we could be hearing some great things from this band very soon.

For more on The Future Laureates, please click HERE. Here and After will be released on September 23rd. - PlanetStereoLive.com

12.30.14

The Future Laureates played a show at The Living Room Brooklyn on October 22 as part of the Big Picture Media showcase during CMJ 2014.

The Future Laureates are on the verge of breaking out. Having been playing together since 2008, the band has released several EPs and albums together. They have opened for big name artists such as Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Hellogoodbye, Parachute, and more.

The Future Laureates played a show at The Living Room Brooklyn on October 22 as part of the Big Picture Media showcase during CMJ 2014.
Elise Yablon
In September, the band released their latest EP, Here and After. The band’s sound on the EP is both bluesy and folky at the same time. With the help of some underlying ukulele strumming, the EP does not get bogged down in heavy blues. Single “Sinners and Saints” maintains a sunny feel despite its bleak lyrical subject matter. Songs like “Angela” and “Make Believe” show off singer Danny Surico’s soulful vocals among their uplifting indie lightness. The chorus of “Down” is a slow jam with a straight-forward beat that you can groove to. “Take It As It Comes” is the most folky, livened up by its ukulele and violin driven melody, which give the song a sweet, honest feel.

A video for “Sinners and Saints” was released in October. The video, which features the band and a number of their friends partying on a boat, is their first official video since 2012’s “Kingston Blues.”

The Future Laureates is Danny Surico (guitar, vocals), Matthew Daigler (vocals, ukulele), James Hyde (bass, vocals), Rob Durkee (drums, percussion, vocals), and Andrew Bockelman (lead guitar, vocals).

I had the opportunity to talk with band members Andrew Bockelman, Rob Durkee, and Matthew Daigler before their set at The Living Room Brooklyn during CMJ 2014 to discuss the band’s origins, their new EP, “Sinners and Saints,” and memorable tour stories.

How did the band form?

Matthew: Three of the four guys who started the band are still in the band. We started in college. We played one show, then one of us studied abroad and the other three of us studied abroad the next semester. So we had a show, then a year, and then we started playing again right at the end of college, the end of our second semester. How it kind of started… there was a benefit show and they asked myself and James, who plays bass… We were playing together. Then they asked Danny as well to play, and we grabbed our friend John, who he and Danny used to play together. The four of us… That’s how we started playing. And then years on the road…you know, we added drummers, we added guitarists, so… That’s how that works.

You just released an EP. What was the songwriting process like for the EP?

Matthew: Our bandmate Danny does a big portion of the songwriting. We all usually… So generally one person brings an idea…

Andrew: …Maybe an acoustic demo and he plays it for us and we build upon it: we add the drums…

Matthew: …flesh it out…

Andrew: …See what happens. From there, we sent our demos, that we recorded ourselves, to our producer Chris Granger, who gave us feedback on those demos and suggested we change maybe a ukulele part, maybe a guitar part. And from there we just finished the record.

Matthew: A lot of back and forth over the course of a few months, wedeling down to our five songs that we chose from ten or twelve or fifteen, and then figuring out what was what. Even up into the booth, I mean, we’re in the booth tweaking, picking parts, and that kind of stuff.

Andrew: …And some lyrics were finished five minutes before recording…

Matthew: It’s like ‘No, that doesn’t flow quite right, let’s try this,’ while someone is standing in the booth. ‘Word it this way!’

Rob: Then at the end of the day we came up with a couple songs that sound alright.

Andrew: Now we’re selling them…

How did you narrow it down to these songs?

Matthew: We worked with our producer Chris Granger in Nashville. So we met with him in Nashville and we played a show down there. And then…

Andrew: …He came to see us. He told us to came up with twelve to fifteen and he whittled it down to five demos, which we recorded.

Matthew: So, there are also ones that we liked a lot that we didn’t record, just because we only wanted to do the five songs. So some of them we still play live. Some, because they weren’t completely done, we’re like, ‘Oh, we can go back to this, maybe we can change this part,’ and have something new to work with. So that will be fun to do as well. Go back and tweak the stuff we didn’t record yet.

Andrew: There were no bad ideas, only better…

Rob: Pretty much. We’re not a band of bad ideas…

Matthew: It’s true…

Andrew: Now we’re scrapping the barrel…

You guys just released a video for “Saints and Sinners.” What was it like making the video?

Matthew: Awesome…

Rob: It was a lot of fun. It was basically just us hanging out with our friends and someone filming us…

Matthew: …On a boat mind you…

Rob: Yeah, we just kind of tossed around ideas and, I forget who had the idea of being on a boat, but once we put that out there, we realized that would be a pretty practical possibility because one of the guys worked at an architecture cruise company in Chicago and through them he was able to find a boat and… The last video that we did that was really successful was for our song “Kingston Blues,” and we incorporated our family and friends into that one, and we wanted to stick with that theme. So we just had a bunch of people come on a boat and hang out and have a good time with us recording it and… It’s a high-energy song too, so it kind of lent itself to people jumping up and down and being goofballs and I think that kind of fits our characteristic sound also. So it was a good idea for us at the end of the day.

Matthew: Yeah, it’s pretty indicative of our live shows; people will come in and have a good time and go wild and that’s kind of what we did for the video.

Andrew: We’re laureates that let loose.

Could you tell me a little about the song “Sinners and Saints”?

Matthew: So, it has almost nothing to do with the video at all. The song is sort of about Armageddon, if you will, the end times. So, what happens is there’s a guy and a girl, or two people, doesn’t have to be a guy and a girl, could be just two people, and they miss their call, they’re supposed to come up, it’s time to figure out where they’re supposed to go, and they miss it and they decide to opt out of that and they go to space and choose a different option. Pretty, ah…

Rob: There’s more to life than just the black and white answers usually.

Matthew: That’s what I was getting to, that it’s not ‘yes or no,’ you don’t have to choose one thing. You can sort of choose your own path and make your own life and it will be alright.

Rob: One of the lines is “We’ll make our own way,” and that’s kind of like a philosophy that we share as individuals, is that we’re not gonna let pre-existing conditions decide our path for us. We’ll figure it out on our own. We’re pretty proud of that.

You guys have played on the same bill as some top names like Edward Sharpe and…

Andrew: There’s an Edward Sharpe story if you want to tell it [Matthew], I wasn’t there…

Matthew: We played a festival with them and… It was a thing called the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, and they were headlining. And the thing is, it was like a summer festival, but it was in the winter and they had it inside this huge old theater, which I believe is now closed, called the Congress Theater. And he was just wacky. First of all, it was packed! I’d never seen so many people in that venue ever, it was packed. And he started playing and he was wearing long johns and it slowly started to come off. By the end he was just…he had the long john pants on and the other part, they were hanging around his waist… It was a lot of fun.

Andrew: I heard he came out and asked Danny ‘Is it okay if I go out on stage wearing seal skin?’…

Matthew: Oh yeah! I forgot about that. Danny was backstage and he was like ‘uh, I guess…’

Rob: Danny is the resident fashion expert. He’s got a variety of outfits that are very colorful and interesting, and apparently one is made of seal skin…

So we shared the stage with Edward Sharpe… I haven’t been in the band that long, so what are some of the groups that we’ve collaborated with…

Matthew: Well, who do have on the list?

I just put a few down, Edward Sharpe, Drive-By Truckers, Hellogoodbye…

Matthew: Hellogoodbye was a lot of fun, we opened directly for them…

Rob: Parachute also…

Matthew: Parachute we opened for as well. So, those were both at University of Dayton, and it was really cool. Hellogoodbye was so fun because… So, we got into this school and we worked with them to get a show there and we got a show there. It was fine, we opened for Hellogoodbye. So cool, Hellogoodbye’s going to be a lot of fun. We get there and it’s like this cool little venue thing. It looked like what I imagine sock hops were held at in the 50s. It was, like, basketball hoops on the side with a raised stage. And we get in there and we do our soundcheck and stuff and its cool. And then… The capacity of the place is 250 maybe, and it’s like, they opened the doors and kids just poured in. And it was raining outside so they’re soaking wet and they’re all pumped up. So then they announce us and we walk out onstage and there’s 200 kids going bananas. It was so fun. We didn’t know these kids, they were going ballistic. It was a lot of fun. So that was really cool.

And Parachute was a similar thing… a college gym just full of kids.

And I’m sure that was really good exposure too…

Matthew: Yeah…

Andrew: Absolutely.

Matthew: …except that when we played with Parachute… What was that other guy who played before us? Maybe he played after us, I forget… He was so pretty…

Rob: He was a heartthrob.

Matthew: He was so pretty. So after the show, we’re at our little booth, and there was a line of maybe 100 girls lined up to take pictures with this dude. And we were like ‘Hey guys! Wanna buy a CD?’ Completely ignoring us…

Rob: So we’re working on the looks department… to hug this total heartthrob. Yeah, that was funny. He was a good musician too…

Matthew: Yeah, his music was alright…

Do you have any bands that you would dream of playing/touring with?

Rob: Well, we’re working on building a time machine to resurrect the Beatles so we can play with them. I mean, two of them are still alive, so that makes it a little easier…

Andrew: If we could play with the Beatles that would probably get us some good exposure. There are usually quite a few people around them.

Matthew: People have heard about them.

Andrew: They had a good following, so, we’d like to play with them.

Matthew: Current bands… It’d be really cool to play with Fitz and the Tantrums. That’d be really fun. Their music is a little bit pop-ier than ours, but their live show is… I saw them live one time and it was real fun. We try to create that feeling of people being excited, having a great time, and jumping up and down and dancing, and they definitely are able to create that pretty effortlessly it seems. So that would be a lot of fun, I think, to play with them. - Examiner.com/AXS Entertainment

9.10.14

The Future Laureates Jam Out at Pianos in NYC [Review]

If there's one thing The Future Laureates wanted from their audience at Pianos in New York City, it was to dance and have an awesome time. But it didn't take much cajoling—the Chicago rock band's creative songs and head-banging ukulele sound lit up the stage. After a pair of rather lackluster opening acts, the emergence of The Future Laureates was a breath of fresh air on stage. In front of a packed room in the back of Pianos Bar, Matthew Daigler on ukulele led the show with a wide range of songs from soulful folk and blues to bouncing rock. His instrument was by no means a gimmick, and proved just how versatile the ukulele can be.

The band started with a few familiar songs, but quickly moved into new material, including new song “Make Believe” off their upcoming EP Here and After and recent single “Sinners and Saints.” Their cover of “When My Time Comes” by Dawes was a big hit with the audience, as was their clever reinterpretation of the Appalachian Irish folk tune “Moonshine.”

“Lovely” from 2012 album Fortress Sessions was another big favorite, a song with sweet, crooning lyrics but a heavy, dance-worthy beat. Each of the band members was announced and featured throughout the concert, including vocalist and lead guitarist Andrew Bockelman who wrote most of their diverse range of songs.

The band concluded the evening with another new song of the soon-to-be-released EP, “Angela,” to enthusiastic cheers from the audience. It was a fantastic evening with plenty of new music that has yet to be released and solidly strong performances throughout. If The Future Laureates' goal was to get people excited to hear their new EP, mission accomplished.

The Here and After EP drops on September 23, so keep a look out.

Want great tickets but hate paying fees? Check CHARGED.fm to find tickets for less and NO FEES! - Charged.fm

6.8.15

Friday night Metro held a local showcase featuring Jeff Brown & The New Black headlining. Common Shiner opened the concert, playing their last big set as a band before they go their separate ways. The Lauren Wolf Band, a great blues band worth checking out, was there as well. And of course our friends The Future Laureates, who we’ve seen play live a whole bunch of times, played right before the final act. It was a good collection of bands that fit well together.

The crowd was pretty slim when The Future Laureates started setting up, and I thought to myself “Oh geez…a few more people better show up.” But worry was not needed, as three songs into the set I looked around and noticed that the place had filled up quite a bit. People were cheering and yelling and it was a lot like every other Future Lauretes show I’ve attended. Dancing, clapping, singing along to every word; the band has cultivated a great, loyal following around Chicago. The only thing that’s really changed for the recent RedEye Rock N Vote winners is the music.

They continue to grow as a band, and it’s never more apparent than their live show. Matthew Daigler’s voice has improved (and I thought it was already pretty good). Danny Surico’s lively onstage persona goes up to 11, and he seems like he’s getting more used to playing the hype man role. James Hyde, consummate professional, lost the shades but not the rhythm as he grooves the band along on bass.

Rob Durkee and Joe Haggenjos on drums and lead guitar aren’t part of the songwriting trio, but when it comes to playing live the band would be lost without these two. Haggenjos seemed to be taking his game to the next level, shredding through solos and making me wish (if only momentarily) that the band would do more electric blues.

My favorite song from their set actually was a blues tune. Matt wrote “My Baby” for his wife, and it’s straight out of the Chicago Blues Handbook. The music is great, and the vocals even get a little growly and it sounds fantastic.

As this was Common Shiner’s nadir, Future Laureates brought the whole band back on stage for a song, and then Michael Brooks stuck around to kick off “Sleepwalking” with some big “OH!” shouts. A nice moment for everyone involved and a lot of fun for the crowd.

You can check out most of their songs going all the way back to 2008 on Bandcamp by clicking here. - Music-Defined.com

3.6.15

Indie band Sirsy will perform March 24 at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. Like dozens of other bands on the venue's schedule in March, Sirsy is playing at The 806 on its way from Austin's SXSW Music Festival.
Indie band Sirsy will perform March 24 at The 806, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. Like dozens of other bands on the venue's schedule in March, Sirsy is playing at The 806 on its way from Austin's SXSW Music Festival.
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By CHIP CHANDLER
Amarillo Globe-News
Dozens of mostly indie acts heading to and from one of the country’s biggest music festivals will make a stop in Amarillo in the next month.

SXSW Music Festival runs March 17 to 22, with more than 2,000 acts performing in official concerts and thousands more at unofficial showcases all around Austin.

Most of the acts heading this way will take part in The 806’s annual SXSWhat? festival, running Friday through March 25 at the coffee shop, 2812 S.W. Sixth Ave. Other venues will see an influx of bands as well, though they’re not grouped into one concert series.

“It’s the biggest live music event in town, every year,” venue owner Jason Barrett said. “And (it’s) a chance to see some great bands headed to SXSW in Austin, without all that hassle and $200 wristbands.”

The festival pays dividends down the road for the venue and music fans, too, Barrett said.

“It really puts Amarillo on the map for a lot of traveling bands that we might not otherwise have the opportunity to host, and most return to play regularly,” he said.

Here’s the lineup for the SXSWhat? festival:

o Friday: Foreign Sons and Twin Cities

o Saturday: Rob Larkin

o Monday: Minor Birds and Gayle Skidmore

o Wednesday: The Jack Kerowax

o Thursday: 3 Guys You Like Poetry, Tattoo Money and We Are the Wilderness

o March 13: Band of Lovers, Bobby Dunne and Ponder the Albatross

o March 14: Todd Allen and The Patti Fiasco

o March 15: Night School and Radiator King

o March 16: Indigenous Robot, The Cabin Project and Slow Caves

o March 17: Sioux City Kid

o March 18: The Autumn Electric and Vehicles

o March 20: Bo DePena and Yeahman Yeahman

o March 22: Charles Johnson, Galvarino and Mandy Rowden

o March 23: Ryan M. Brewer

o March 24: Sirsy and Jackson Emmer

o March 25: Accosta Noir and Tail Light Rebellion

Show time is generally 9 p.m.; doors open at 8:30 p.m. There is no cover charge, but a $5 suggested donation will be accepted. For information, call 806-322-1806 or click here.

Look also for Austin-bound acts to perform at Leftwood’s, 2511 S.W. Sixth Ave., among other venues. Bar manager Cameron Hodge said many of the 20 acts scheduled to play at the bar in March are heading to or from SXSW.

Among them are Mothership on March 13, The Future Laureates on March 15, The Mondegreens on March 16, Mars and the Massacre on March 17, Vehicles on March 19 and Young Creatures on March 24.

Cover charges will vary, and shows generally begin about 9:30 p.m. For information, call 806-367-9840 or visit www.leftwoods.com.

Plus, New Mexico rock band The Strange will perform Friday as part of a rap and rock lineup at Yellow City Bomb Shelter, 6007 E. Amarillo Blvd. Cover is $7; doors open at 7 p.m. For information, visit www.facebook.com/ycbombshelter. - LubbockOnline.com/Amarillo Globe News

3.2.15

We at Gapers Block try to cover the SXSW Music Festival in Austin as if it were a local festival — because every March, Chicago sends dozens of acts and hundreds of fans down to Texas, making sure our city's music scene stays well represented. This year's festival runs March 11-16, and will feature a broad swath of Chicago acts both young and old.

Chicago at SXSW 2015

OFFICIAL SHOWCASING ACTS FROM CHICAGO
BJ The Chicago Kid
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
Crucial Conflict
J.R. Donato
Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta
DJ Earl
Empires
J Fernandez
Gant-Man
Gemini Club
Lil Herb
In Tall Buildings
Mick Jenkins
Jon Langford
The Lemons
Mile High Club
NE-HI
Sicko Mobb
Spike and The Sweet Spots
T.S.O.
Twin Peaks
Veil of Maya
Waco Brothers
Alex Wiley
Yawn

In addition, Yorkville's The Giving Tree Band is performing, and former Chicagoans Brenmar, Genevieve (singer for Company of Thieves) and DJ Spinn are on the bill.

NEIGHBORING STATES
The region made out fairly well this year, too. Here are official showcasing acts from states bordering Illinois (plus Michigan).

Iowa
Max Jury (Des Moines)

Indiana
Freddie Gibbs (Gary)
Houndmouth (New Albany)
Austin Lucas (Bloomington)
Amanda Perez (Fort Wayne)
Sedcairn Archives (formerly Jookabox, DMA) (Indianapolis)
Tiara Thomas (Indianapolis)

Michigan
The Accidentals (Traverse City)
Black Milk (Detroit)
Clareta Haddon (Detroit)
DeJ Loaf (Detroit)
Heaters (Grand Rapids)
Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers (Lansing)
Pity Sex (Ann Arbor)
Tasha Page-Lockhart (Detroit)
The Spits (Kalamazoo)
Fred Thomas (Ypsilanti)
Daniel Wilson (Detroit)

Missouri
Cho'zyn Boy (St. Louis)
Ryan Corn (Cape Girardeau)
Erica Danea (Kansas City)
J'son (St Louis)
Madisen Ward and The Mama Bear (Kansas City)
Thi'sl (St Louis)
Alexis Spight (Kansas City)

Wisconsin
Count This Penny (Madison)
Group of the Altos (Milwaukee)
Hugh Bob and the Hustle (Milwaukee)
Jaill (Milwaukee)
Livin Epistlez (Sheboygan)
Maritime (Milwaukee)
Novela (Milwaukee)
Vic and Gab (Milwaukee)
Wave Chapelle (Milwaukee)

As always, thanks to Eamon Daly for help analyzing SXSW's artist list.

UNOFFICIAL SHOWCASES
In addition to the official SXSW showcases, there are plenty of shows and parties where official showcasing artists perform -- often alongside acts who are down there unofficially. Plus, there are always a couple of shows up here in Chicago for groups heading to the festival. Announcements are still rolling in, but here's what we've heard about so far.

In Chicago

The Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., hosts a 17-and-over SXSW Send-off Show on Saturday, March 7, featuring Molehill, The Future Laureates, Vintage Blue and Steve Stone. Doors open at 7:30pm, show's at 8pm. Tickets are $10.

The Noise FM and Archie Powell & the Exports kick off their SXSW tour with a show Thursday, March 12 at Emporium Arcade Bar, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., at 8pm. Joplin, MO's Me Like Bees opens. No cover, 21 and over.

The annual SXSW Send Off Party at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., is Saturday, March 14, beginning with a group photo at 1:30pm. Jon Langford, Tom Schraeder, Todays Hits, The Lemons, Modern Vices, Running, MAMA, My Gold Mask, Psalm One and Sidewalk Chalk will perform, followed by a dance party DJed by Glass Lux. The DönerMen food truck will be there for awhile beginning at 4:30pm. Tickets are $10 at the door, with proceeds going to help the artists make their way down to Austin. 21 and over.

In Austin

Sunday, March 15
The Inventors are playing Dirty Fest at the Dirty Dog Bar, 505 E. 6th St., on Sunday at 3pm. The fest features more than 40 bands over three days, March 15-18. It's possible more local acts will end up in the lineup, but so far the details are very loose. 21 and over.

Monday, March 16

The Inventors are also playing at 4pm at The Onion A.V. Club Manic Monday party at Red 7, 611 E. 7th St. Entry is free with RSVP. 21 and over.

White Mystery begins their marathon SXSW tour with American Icon's Heavy Metal Cage Match at Beerland, 711½ Red River Rd., along with American Sharks, Eagle Claw, White Mystery, Duel, Green Beard and more. Doors open at 4pm. $12 at the door, 21 and over.

The Noise FM and Archie Powell & the Exports play at the Resolution Media Happy Hour at Cheers Shot Bar, 416 E. 6th St., from 5 to 11pm. Open bar and free barbecue; RSVP to attend. 21 and over.

Tuesday, March 17

Following last year's success, the City of Chicago will once again present Chicago Made tradeshow booth and music showcase. The music showcase is Tuesday night at 8pm at the Main, 603 Red River Rd., and will feature Vic Mensa, Twin Peaks, Gemini Club, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Dos Santos: Anti-Beat Orquesta and Leather Corduroys, and will be hosted by Psalm One (aka Hologram Kizzie). It's free and open to the public.

Chicago Made is also running a a performance series in the tradeshow booth. Today Sidewalk Chalk performs at 3pm and Prob Cause does a quick 15-minute show at 5pm.

AyOH play at 3pm in the Big Picture Media Showcase at The Blind Pig Pub, 317 E. 6th St. Admission is free, but 21 and over.

White Mystery is somewhere in the lineup for the Hot Burrito St. Patrick's Day Kickoff Party at Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th St. Doors open at 2pm.

Wednesday, March 18

Bloodshot Records's official SXSW showcase is at 8pm Wednesday at the Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave., and features Scott H. Biram, Bobby Bare Jr., Luke Winslow-King, Banditos, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound and the Waco Brothers. The show is primarily open to badge and wristband holders, with just a few public spots available at the door.

At the Chicago Made tradeshow booth in the convention center, Psalm One performs at noon and Glass Lux plays at 1pm.

White Mystery and the Lemons are playing Weiner Records' Weinermania 2015 Wednesday from 2pm to 2am at Spider House, 2908 Fruth St. The Lemons are on at 5:55pm, and White Mystery plays at 10:45. Free, but RSVP on Ticketfly.

AyOH performs at 12:30pm at The Dizzy Rooster, 306 E. 6th St., as part of the RedGorilla Festival, a four day unofficial showcase, March 18-21, at various locations. Admission is free, but 21 and over.

Jacob Thomas Entertainment and Kristian Eliz present "Special Delivery," an official showcase at Roosevelt Room, 307 W. 5th St., from 8pm to 2am. Freddie Gibbs is the headliner, rest of the lineup TBA.

Thursday, March 19

Saleem Music Group and Urban Grind TV once again present the We Are Chicago Showcase at Peckerheads, 402 E. 6th St., at noon Thursday. Lineup TBD. Admission is free with RSVP.



Day one of the Audiotree Showcase at Licha's Cantina, 1306 E. 6th St., starts at noon and streams live online. Chicago featured artists include Sidewalk Chalk, P.M. Buys, ProbCause and Psalm One.

Friday, March 20

The 20th annual Bloodshot Records Yard Dog Party is Friday at the Yard Dog Gallery, 1510 S. Congress Ave., from noon to 6pm. Luke Winslow-King, Bobby Bare Jr., Banditos, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Waco Brothers, Rosie Flores and Water Liars perform -- plus a surprise guest. It's free and open to the public, and is sponsored by Lagunitas.

The Metro is once again partnering with Etix and concert venues First Ave in Minneapolis and Majestic Live in Madison to present the Midwest Showcase at Holy Mountain, 617 E. 7th St. The O'My's, Xoe Wise, Lili K. and J.Fernandez perform. Doors open at noon. No cover, 21 and over.

Day two of the Audiotree Showcase at Licha's Cantina, 1306 E. 6th St., starts at noon and streams live online. The only Chicago act in the Friday lineup is MUTTS.

Archie Powell & the Exports are playing Downwrite Does Austin at Rooftop on 6th, 403 E. 6th St., at 1:40pm. Admission is free, and it's all ages -- but there's free Lonestar beer if you're over 21.

Reggies is hosting the "Official Reggies Unofficial Showcase" Friday at The Lodge, 411 E. 6th St., from noon to 7pm. The lineup will feature The Coup, Truckfighters, Heymoonshaker, Monokino, MUTTS, the Magnetic Reels, Empires, Wax TV and the Wild Family. Admission is free and so is the beer. 21 and over.

FeelTrip Records hosts FeelTrip Fest from 5pm to 2am at 1-35 and Slaughter (4424 Brandt Rd.). Twin Peaks, Meatbodies, White Mystery, YAWN, Strange Faces, Silk Rhodes, Sexy Fights, Dam Gila, Blind Moon, Pleasure Hammer and Paul Cherry perform. It's all ages and free with RSVP.

White Mystery is on the bill for day two the She Shreds + Tom Tom Magazine SXSW Takeover at Zen Fit, 2200 E. 7th St. Doors open at noon. Free, all ages.

The Noise FM performs at 11:15pm on day three of the Midwest Takeover, a four-day showcase of mostly bands from Kansas, at Shangri-La, 1016 E. 6th St. March 18-21. Admission is free.

The Noise FM also performs at 2pm at the RedGorilla Festival at Touche, 417 E. 6th St. Free admission, 21 and over.

Saturday, March 21

Twista presents MWSXSW, a showcase of hip hop from Chicago and the region, Saturday from 9pm to 2am at Old School Bar & Grill, 401 E. 6th St. The lineup so far includes Do Or Die, Crucial Conflict, Lil Durk, Dreezy, Murphy Lee, D Low, Montana of 300, Tru, Wave Chapelle, YK Wildend, Bandman Kevo, Triple S Slang, Cossetti, ANSCR, Dima Kash, Abuv Ave, Phor, Money Mannish, Tim Ned, Candace Price, Newara, Bruze the General, Young Mogul Chi, Da Small Town General, Swisher, SPRKS, Body, Dwolo and Lil Dred -- and of course Twista himself.

Archie Powell & the Exports play the Good Land Records & Friends South By Midwest Party at
at Freedmen's Bar, 2402 San Gabriel St., at 4:30pm. Doors open at 2pm. Free PBR and brats while supplies last. 21 and over.

Burgerfest IV at Hotel Vegas, 1502 E. 6th St., features White Mystery at 4:15pm, Twin Peaks at 5:30pm and The Lemons perform at 11:45pm. Doors open at 2pm. No cover, 21 and over.

White Mystery performs at 9pm at the Panache SXSW Rager II at Spider House, 2908 Fruth St., Doors open at 11:30am. $5 cover, 21 and over.


There are no doubt unofficial shows we've missed and Chicago artists heading down that we haven't heard about. Give us a heads up in the comments below to add to our list.

CONFERENCE CONTENT
SXSW isn't just a music festival, of course -- it's also a conference, and there are several Chicago music folks doing panels and other stuff besides performing.

On Tuesday, March 17 at 11am, ex-Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin -- now CEO of LiveOne, a live streaming service -- is on a panel about Live Music Streaming as Means for Brand Engagement.

On Wednesday, March 18 at 12:30pm, industrial music pioneer Martin Atkins does a talk titled Band:Smart: 50 Ideas to Make $100K More This Year . At 2pm, attorney Brian Rosenblatt co-presents Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...Breaking Contracts!, and Neumeta president Nicolas Sincaglia joins a panel on Valuation of Data In Music Transactions. At 3:30pm, Tim Windish of the Windish Agency is on a panel called Touring Tips and Tricks of the Trade. Also at 3:30, Earlove founder Carolynn Travis participates in Be Hear Now: Hearing Protection Is Music's Future.

On Thursday, March 19, Heather West of Western Publicity and Tim Kolleth, director of radio promotion for Alligator Records, are doing mentor sessions at 12:30pm, and Billions Corporation marketing and media manager Ardie Farhadieh is on a panel titled Which Way Do I Go? Marketing Your Tour Correctly. At 2pm, Diane Andreoni, senior creative director at McDonald's, and Eric Sheinkop, CEO of Music Dealers, talk music and brands at Why You Matter to Brands/Why Brands Matter to You.

On Friday, March 20 at 12:30pm, Marc Lipkin, publicist for Alligator Records, does a mentor session, and Leo Burnett Director of Music Chris Clark is on a panel telling The Truth About Music Supervision. At 2pm, Pitchfork Creative Director Michael Renaud co-presents I Shot The Serif: When Musicians Become Designers with Michael Hendrix of IDEO, discussing the good and bad of album cover design. - GapersBlock.com

1.3.15

(Note: See TFL's "Here and After" listed under "Expats.")

Readers familiar with this column know I check in each year with a look back at some of the best local releases of the past 12 months.
I’m always faced with an embarrassment of riches, and this time out was no exception. In fact, there were so many great albums, EPs and singles that I not only cover the top album releases from local acts but also have segments on 7-inches, EPs and releases by Dayton expatriates.

+Best local releases of 2014 photo
Lab Partners released the flawless “Seven Seas” in 2014 on Chicago-based Pravda Records.
This list only touches on some of the great selections from 2014, but it’s a good place to get a sense of the rich music this area has to offer.

Top 10 albums

1. Lab Partners, “Seven Seas”: This long awaited full-length from the local shoegaze band doesn’t disappoint. “Seven Seas” is filled with the enthralling twin-guitar work of Mike Smith and Mike Volk. The songs are buoyed by dreamy organ lines and propelled by the dynamic drumming of Jim Macpherson (The Breeders, Guided by Voices).

+Best local releases of 2014 photo
Buffalo Killers (from left) Joey Sebaali, Sven Kahns, Zach Gabbard and Andy Gabbard, had a productive 2014, with the full-length, Heavy ... Read More
2. Buffalo Killers, “Heavy Reverie”: Zach and Andy Gabbard have been knocking out a steady stream of ’70s-influenced albums for nearly a decade now, drawing influences from acts as disparate as Mountain, Big Star, Blue Cheer and Neil Young.

3. Guided by Voices, “Motivational Jumpsuit”: Bob Pollard once again pulled the plug on this endurable indie darling in 2014, but thankfully he left us with plenty of great music before he did. The final album, “Cool Planet,” was good, but there is something special about the songs and the flow of “Motivational Jumpsuit.” It is one of the best albums made during the reunited band’s recent run.

4. Starving in the Belly of the Whale, “Missionaries and Imposters”: Ricky Terrell has been fine tuning his fragile folk sound over a handful of strong releases, but he outdid himself with this exceptional new concept album about modern religion. Much credit should be given to bandmates Lacey Terrell (vocals, percussion) and Scott Loy (cello, saw, vocals), who contribute some of the album’s most chilling moments.

+Best local releases of 2014 photo
Swearing at Motorists is Dayton expat Dave Doughman (left), who now lives in Hamburg, Germany, and Martin Boeters. CONTRIBUTED
5. Motel Beds, “These are the Days Gone By”: It’s a bit unfair to place this remastered greatest-hits collection on the list. However I’m including it since it’s the group’s only 2014 release and its first mass-distributed album thanks a recent deal with Misra Records. This vinyl full-length is a must-have for fans of original Dayton rock.

6. The Boxcar Suite, “Across the Vast & Deep”: Tim Pritchard is one of the city’s most underappreciated songwriters but that’s likely to change as this recently released album gains traction.

7. Abertooth Lincoln, “Osteoferocious”: Still one of the most extreme bands in town, this crew creates a modern brand of progressive rock fueled by punk fury and a provocateur’s need to challenge audiences. The results, depending on your tastes, are either horrifying or overwhelmingly satisfying.

8. Circus Devils, “Escape”: This project has long served as the musical playground for longtime Guided by Voices leader Robert Pollard and musical collaborator Todd Tobias. Where GBV songs cover a lot of stylistic ground they always come with certain expectations. Pollard and Tobias don’t have that concern with this anything-goes project. That can mean challenging listens at times, or mellower terrain like “Escape,” but Circus Devils always offer up some of Pollard’s most unexpectedly brilliant songs.

9. JT Woodruff, “Field Medicine”: The Hawthorne Heights frontman has released a few acoustic solo projects over the years. However, this batch of rootsy, Midwestern pop songs allowed him to stretch out more than ever.

10. Speaking Suns, “Vanishing Country”: The sky is the limit for this up-and-coming band.

Top 5 EPs

1. Buffalo Killers, “Fireball of Sulk”: Signing to Warner Music Group subsidiary Sun Pedal Recordings didn’t slow down this industrious crew led by the brothers Gabbard. This outstanding EP is the ’70s-style rock band’s second release of 2014 and it’s bursting with the grooves, hooks and riffs that have become the band’s calling card.

2. The Story Changes, “Never in Daydream”: After a decade together, this punk rock duo is operating at top form.

3. The 1984 Draft, “Bo Jackson Up the Middle”: After years of fronting acoustic acts and playing solo dates, leader Joe Anderl is rocking again.

4. Tony Herdman, “90 Miles to Nashville”: The local songwriter traveled to Nashville to record this EP with a collection of talented Daytonians.

5. Trey Stone & the Ringers, “Sing About Christmas”: It takes a special kind of holiday release to make a best of list. but this EP fits the bill. You get five original tunes such as the irreverent “I’m a Scrooge” and “3-Pack of Underwear” more emotional material such as “Christmas Alone with Me.”

7-inch singles

1. Kim Deal, “The Root” b/w “Range on Castle”: It’s been two years since Kim Deal (The Breeders, Pixies) launched her solo series of limited edition 7-inch singles. In that time she has self-released five two-song slabs of vinyl, including this blast of short but addicting indie rock. The follow-up, “Biker Gone” b/w “Beautiful Moon,” is solid, too, but I find myself returning to this one more often.

2. The New Old-Fashioned, “Ladies” b/w “Indie Movie Scene”

3. The Raging Nathans, Jukebox Records 7-inch series

4. The New Regrets, self-titled: The first official release from this newish punk group is a 7-inch EP featuring five no-frills punk nuggets.

5. Stark Folk Band, “Modern Times” b/w “Ode to a Legend”

Expats

1. Vertical Scratchers, “Daughter of Everything”: John Schmersal kept a low profile after Enon ended in 2011, but he came back strong in late 2013 and 2014 with albums from two different bands, Crooks on Tape and Vertical Scratchers. While Crooks on Tape’s “Fingerprint” seemed like next logical step after Enon, “Daughter of Everything” reflects Schmersal’s love of no-frills indie rock with short songs featuring hook-filled verses and sing-along choruses punctuated by unexpected dynamic shifts.

2. Swearing at Motorists, “While Laughing, the Joker Tells the Truth”: This is the first album in eight years by my former bandmate Dave Doughman. Despite our friendship and musical history, I can still objectively say this is a great album and one fans have been anxiously awaiting. It doesn’t disappoint with plenty of confessional songs, clever turns of phrase and Doughman’s impeccable melodic sensibilities, varying between stripped down solo numbers and dynamic rockers backed by drummer Martin Boeters.

3. David Poe, “God & the Girl”: This is the Los Angeles-based musician’s first proper LP since 2005’s “Love Is Red.” Thankfully not much has changed for the former member of local acts such as the Scam and Glee & Beak, which means ringing acoustic guitar accompaniment, evocative lyrics and cascading melodies delivered in Poe’s hushed vocal style.

4. Wil Cope, “Mañana” EP: It was Dayton’s loss and Austin, Texas’ gain when this modern troubadour left Ohio for Texas nearly a decade ago.

5. Brat Curse — self-titled: I’ve been a fan of Brian Baker’s work in previous acts Jet Kid Committee, Grizzzzy Bear and Astro Fang. Full disclosure: He is my bandmate in Smug Brothers, but even if he wasn’t I still couldn’t get enough of this album from this Columbus-based band of Dayton expats. Seductive pop goodness lurks below the surface of this no-nonsense trio, which specializes in a smoldering brand of indie rock.

6. Connections, “Into Sixes”: This rising Ohio band is another Columbus-based act with local ties. Three fifths of the band hail from Troy, and two of them were part of 1990s stalwarts 84 Nash.

7. Distant Thieves, “You Go First”: When Nick Tertel moved to Denver a couple of years ago I was afraid it was the last we’d heard of the talented singer and songwriter behind such beloved local groups as Ape the Ghost and Sleepybird. Those fears, luckily, were unfounded. Tertel collaborated via the Internet with his Cincinnati-based buddy Jon Williams, and the results are this delicious digital-only collection of roots-rock nuggets.

8. Giant Claw, “Dark Web”: Keith Rankin is a true musical iconoclast touring in support of releases like this intricate musical soundscape. “Dark Web” draws from elements of musique concrete, hip-hop, techno, new wave, dubstep and krautrock all funneled through Rankin’s perspective.

9. Michael Malarkey, “Feed the Flames” EP: This former Yellow Springs resident may best known now as the troublemaking Enzo on the CW hit series “The Vampire Diaries” but music has always been a part of his life. Forget he’s an actor and just enjoy the intimate collection of sparsely-adorned acoustic songs, which runs the gamut from finger-picked folk tunes and rootsy pop to “Everything’s Burned,” which recalls gypsy folk-punks Gogol Bordello.

10. The Future Laureates, “Here & After” (EP): This Chicago-based original rock outfit is led by former Dayton area residents Danny Surico and James Hyde.

Best not local

For the curious, my top nonlocal album of 2014 was, hands down, “Sunbathing Animal” by Parquet Courts. It got way more spins than anything else out of the following list. Others, in no particular order, include Spoon’s “They Want My Soul,” “Pop Does Not Mean Popular” by Hussalonia, Run the Jewels’ “Run the Jewels 2,” “Turn Blue” by The Black Keys,” Ty Segall’s “Manipulator,” “Mosaics Within Mosaics” by Circulatory System, Mac DeMarco’s “Salad Days,” “The Take Off and Landing of Everything” by Elbow and Drive-By Truckers’ “English Oceans.”

Contact this contributing writer at donaldthrasher8@aol.com. - Dayton Daily News

10.1.14

Bright outlook for The Future Laureates

Chicago pop-folk-rock group The Future Laureates have made the road their home for the last six years hitting SXSW, Milwaukee’s Summerfest and regional venues with their honest, Midwestern sound.

At a recent hometown stop at Chicago’s Martyrs, the band celebrated the release of their latest creation, the Here and After EP.

For their fifth release, the band teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer Chris Grainger, best known for albums with Wilco, Switchfoot, and Sixpence None the Richer.

“Chris did a phenomenal job allowing for deliberation and discussion and input, which makes everyone feel involved and part of the process, but he’s able to balance that with an efficiency that doesn’t let anyone get bogged down in the details,” adds co-frontman/guitarist Danny Surico. “In our opinion, it’s the quickest and best sounding record we’ve made to date.”

Along with Surico, The Future Laureates are Matthew Daigler (vocals and ukulele), James Hyde (bass and vocals), Andrew Bockelman (lead guitar and vocals) and Rob Durkee (drums).

To Surico, Here and After represents the band’s most honest form of music. “We feel like this record is a more accurate representation of our live sound,” he explains. “The songwriting and our performance plays to our individual and collective strengths and pulls from varied influences like The Beatles, Otis Redding, and WALK THE MOON.”

The recent EP release show at Martyrs displayed the varied strengths of their maturing songwriting, most notably during Sinners and Saints, the opening track on Here and After, and the set opener, Hanging, from 2013’s Everything at Once. The former uses vocal harmonies, a hardened drum beat and a parallel use of guitar lick and vocal line that complied with the sinners and saints of Martyrs while the latter strummed through a nonplussed opening segment into a crushing chorus that would make Adam Duritz proud, and maybe even a little jealous.

The band members shared their appreciation for the venue and the fans, both old and new as they tore through the remainder of their set with the chugging Angela, the overly sensitive Make Believe, the dampening Down and the countryside leisure of Take It As It Comes, all from the Here and After EP.

The Future Laureates continue to cut their teeth both on the road and in the studio. Their live presence is energetic, genuine and clearly merrymaking as was evidenced by the Martyrs crowd. This band has talent, drive, connections, and plenty of material to expel, but they’ve yet to hit the mark…that’s what the future is for.

Martyrs // Chicago // September 27, 2014
Set list:
Hanging
Lovely
Make Believe
Sleepwalking
The Afterlife
Happy Together
My Baby
For Debbie
Sinners and Saints
Moonshiner
Down
Take it as it comes
When My Time Comes
Angela
FYI - RockWorldMagazine.com

9.12.14

Interview – The Future Laureates

Who are you and what are you doing here? (what is your name, what is the band and what is your role in the band?)
My name is James and I play bass in The Future Laureates

How did you start?
Danny, Matthew, and I met at University in Chicago. We had all been playing in acoustic duos and decided we needed a fuller sound–so we made a band. When we started out we weren’t really that good, but we had so much fun playing shows that we kept at it. At this point, the people in the audience seem to be having as much fun as we are, so we must be doing something right!

How would you describe yourself as an artist?
We are folk-pop-rock musicians singing our songs to the people.

If you had to choose one song you’ve written to best describe your music which one would it be?
I would say “Sinners and Saints,” because it has a very upbeat energy, but also takes on serious themes like the end of the universe. Conveniently, it is also our new single!

Where are people able to hear your songs?
http://thefuturelaureates.com as well as all the usual suspects: iTunes, Spotify, Bandcamp, CDBaby, etc.

Are you playing any shows anytime soon?
We are! This fall is the release tour for our new EP, Here and After. We will be playing shows all across the Midwest and Northeast United States. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have anything planned for Australia. That tour is yet but a twinkle in our collective eye.

What is your proudest moment/greatest achievement as a singer/songwriter?
Honestly, one of the greatest experiences as a singer/songwriter is to hear people singing along at a show. That is a very warm and validating feeling.

If you could have a dream tour with 3 other bands/artists who would they be?
The Beatles, Lead Belly, and Jack White

Anything else you’d like to add?
Stay cool and have a neat summer! - CoolTry.com.au

9.6.14

The Future Laureates

QRO: Can you tell me your names and what you do in the band?

Danny Surico: My name is Danny. I play guitar and sing.
Rob Durkee: I’m Rob and I play drums.
Andrew Bockelman: My name is Andrew and I play lead guitar.
James Hyde: James, and I play bass.
Matthew Daigler: Matthew. I sing and play ukulele.

QRO: Now I know you guys have been together for seven years. How did you meet and form the band?

DS: James, Matthew, and I all went to school at Loyola University, Chicago and we actually formed the band kind of on a whim. James and Matthew initiated it and we played for a talent competition at the school.
JH: ‘Loyola’s Got Talent’
DS: That’s true.
MD: They were raising money for Hunger Week.
DS: We played that and we got second place. We got a gift certificate to a local restaurant, which was awesome. We ate the food and the band has continued since then. Andrew and Rob have joined us more recently.

QRO: Did you guys have any other names for the band before deciding on FL? What was one of the names you guys kind of debated over?

We got a gift certificate to a local restaurant, which was awesome. We ate the food and the band has continued since then.
JH: The was a whole extensive discussion; Hot Vinyl.
MD: The very first name was Polyphemus.
JH: We were originally called Polyphemus, but that name ended up being taken. So we discussed several possibilities including Hot Vinyl.
MD: Attack Planet R…
JH: But we settled on Future Laureates. It seemed right and has served us well.
DS: I don’t think it was necessarily the favorite or least favorite…
JH: It just stuck because everyone could agree on it. Here we are.

QRO: Being together for seven years, then adding new members, how has your sound evolved?

DS: A lot. Each player that comes into the band brings a different set of influences and a different skill set and just different things they like or attach to musically in song writing process. What’s nice is having the continuity with James, Matthew, and I. That core has always been in the band, and we are fortunate to have that, but Andrew listens to The Beatles religiously and so a lot of bridges of our songs are strongly influenced by that. Rob, what are your influences?
RD: I listen to stuff that is a little heavier so my drumming is more aggressive than in the past so it has a little more influences stronger rock ‘n’ roll sound than that of pop.

QRO: So in the show when you said you were going to switch to some blues, I totally didn’t expect the ukulele for the blues. That was pretty amazing.

MD: It’s a pretty versatile instrument. It can do lots of stuff.

QRO: You have been working on you EP, Here and After, which was crowd-funded. How has crowdfunding changed the way bands are able to make records?

DS: Crowdfunding as an industry is really booming. I mean it’s really taking off. My day job is actually working for a crowdfunding company in Chicago, so it was nice being able to take some of the things that I coach other users on to be successful with crowdfunding. I think the biggest difference is it’s more socially acceptable. It’s not perceived across the board as, “Why are you asking me for money?” It’s almost like okay this is a way, like a really practical pragmatic way to raise funds in a short amount of time with people geographically all over the map. For us it’s been hugely successful.
MD: Yeah, it too depends on the person who is going to be donating or not. If it’s a band you really like a lot, it’s nice. It feels like you are helping them and investing in them. There have been other bands we played with who bought our records and paid extra because they said we are good people, I like the music, and I want to see you do well so that’s helpful. I’m sure some people are annoyed by us reaching out but…
RD: It’s a really good way for fans to feel directly involved also because it would haven’t happened without them. It gives them a sense of community with the bands that do it. It makes us feels really good for them to get involved with the process. It’s like a group effort kind of thing.
DS: What’s really cool is we did it for the release of the record so it actually served as kind of a marketing campaign, too, because people are really aware of it so it was a double win. We actually helped raise funds to help release it and also people are exposed to it and excited about it.

QRO: Was the record a collaborative effort?

DS: This is the most collaborative record we have ever written and it speaks to kind of the chemistry among this group of the five of us. Historically, I have written a lot of the music, but we all write. We all arrange our parts and we are all involved in the writing process. So this is all very spread out across the board I think and I think it’s stronger because of that. It’s made by different influences and different people having the ability to express those influences is cool.

QRO: I read some reviews on the band and it and you have been described as gracious, very thankful to your fans, and very welcoming. I did see that on stage. You have a lot of positive reviews. What advice do you have to new bands starting out that might not get these type of reviews? How would you tell them to handle negative feedback?

MD: We never get those so uh… [everyone laughs]
RD: You gotta anticipate that they will happen and then just focus on the things you do well and the things you have been praised for in the past. You kind of put that in the front of everything you do. You need to realize you can’t please everybody.
MD: It’s something you have to think about. The first person says you do something wrong you call them a jerk, second person does it, then the third person is telling you the same thing you really need to start thinking about it. But other than that if you feel good about what you are doing and what you are putting out then usually that is the right way to do it.
DS: On top of that it’s also in a weird way a compliment. It’s a sign of relevancy. Right? So if people care enough about you to criticize your music, it’s not fun to hear that, but your relevant enough to warrant it.

QRO: What can your fans expect over the next year?

MD: We will be playing lots of shows in the next few months. There won’t be shows every weekend, but pretty close.
RD: Like 90%
MD: We will be playing shows throughout different cities in the Midwest mostly, and I think we will have more internet and media presence that isn’t Midwest so they can see that as well.
DS: More radio play.
MD: Definitely more radio play.
DS: It’s going to be a big growing year for us and we are excited for that. - QROMag.com

3.11.13

The RecPlex reverberated with the sounds of live music and students cheering as three bands took the stage to raise awareness for Consciousness Rising Friday night.

Parachute, Steve Moakler and The Future Laureates were featured at the concert to the delight of the students.

The Future Laureates, a folk-infused rock group based in Chicago, performed some of their own ballads, such as “Kingston Blues,” and some classics, like “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

“We’ve done a handful of fundraisers since we’ve been a band,” said Danny Surico, acoustic guitar player for The Future Laureates. “I think part of it comes from when we went to Loyola in Chicago. It’s a Jesuit school, so there is a focus on social justice. If there is an opportunity to play and give back, then we are about that.”

Following The Future Laureates were Steve Moakler and Parachute. Moakler runs a charity called Free the Birds, which “funds freedom and restoration for women and children who have been exploited by human sex trafficking,” according to his website.

Parachute, the pop-rock band from Charlottesville, Va., pumped up the crowd with some of their Billboard hits such as “Kiss Me Slowly” and “She Is Love.”

“It’s always nice to play for a good cause,” said Will Anderson, lead vocals for Parachute. “If that good cause is one that can throw a good show and have a good party, then we are always about it. That’s the best of both worlds.”

The concert was the result of collaboration between Campus Activities Board and Consciousness Rising.

“We were looking for bands and artists who affiliate themselves with social justice and use their music to promote it,” said Colin Franklin, junior education major and CAB performers chair. “Steve has his obvious ties with his Free the Birds campaign, Parachute has ties to issues with clean water in Africa and The Future Laureates organize social justice benefit shows.”

The concert ended with smiling students and an overall feeling of accomplishment.

“We love playing for a good cause, love Dayton, Ohio, and love the University of Dayton,” said Anderson. - UDayton.edu