DELUSIONS OF ADEQUACY
Spiveys- V
I knew the Spiveys as one of the best live bands in Chicago and
probably the most underrated. I couldn't understand why more people
weren't hip to what these guys were up to. By the same token, I
also secretly loved the fact that I could go to a party, and there
would be a good chance that the Spiveys would be bashing away in
the corner, two guitars and a drummer, making half of the crowd's
collective jaw drop and scaring the living shit out of the other
half. They're one of those rare breed of bands that just really
jelled well together. These guys all knew what moves their bandmates
would make before they even made them. They shared a brain. I once
heard the band make jokes on stage about not being able to find
a place to practice for weeks before that show. The crowd laughed
(mostly in disbelief, because it was a really tight set), but I
think the band was being serious. I don't think they needed to practice
much, the same way you and I don't need to practice breathing. It
just came naturally for them, and I was lucky enough to catch them
often.
I also heard that the Spiveys went into the studio in 2000 to record
some new songs, which piqued my interest because they never had
any recorded stuff available. Before I got a chance to hear the
recordings, word was that the band split. I was seriously bummed
that yet another one of my favorite groups had seemingly bit the
dust. Happily, the scenario has since changed for the better: DoublePlusGood
announced that they would release the recordings that make up this
album and distribute the record nationally, and the guys were getting
back together to tour. That's enough to make 2001 a year to look
forward to.
As far as high energy noise-punk goes, it doesn't get much rawer
than this. Take a listen to the opening track, "The New Ones
(Or A Single To Start The Inning)." J.W. Frederick, who functions
as the primary vocalist, doesn't take long to shout himself hoarse
under the din of the drums. There's no bass player, but seriously,
you won't miss one: the sound is thick and full of bass-y tones.
Drummer R.W. Wheeler is a maniac, a complete nutcase, handling the
breakneck tempos with ease and doing some truly Herculean fills.
In many ways, he is the centerpiece of this band, lending focus
to the barrage of slop guitars tossed at the listener. If you want
a quick lesson in noise-rock Chicago-style, check out "Happy,"
where the band calls out the Jesus Lizard and drinks them under
the table. The record is exciting, jubilant, spastic, and nasty
in all the right ways, and is an accurate document of what it's
like to see them live. Which is to say its damn good.
So, with one of Chicago's best kept secrets out of the bag (at least
among readers of this fine web site), its time for you to get with
the program, if you have not already. If you like it noisy and high-energy,
check this record out. Even if you don't like this type of stuff,
when they come to your town, for heaven's sake, tear yourself away
from that computer and go see them. They may just change your mind.
– Nathan
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