the
JAB
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something we all have to do whether it’s
through alcoholism or it’s that you hate
your job.”
Still, the band’s overall ethos prevails.
“I’m just not playing music, in a band,”
Stukel said. “I’m doing so much more. And
that’s what’s really cool. The focus is on
this community. We are going to do what’s
good for the song. And what’s good for the
song is good for the community.”
Herrick met Alker at a songwriter’s
showcase at the Cubby Bear. After the two
bonded over their mutual love of Alice In
Chains and meditation, Alker asked
Herrick to contribute lead guitar tracks for
Sophrosyne (Greek for “excellent character
and sound mind”). You could say he’s
been there from the start.
“First and foremost, this is conscious
music,” Herrick said. “There aren’t a
whole lot of rock bands out there who are
willing to wear their emotions on their
sleeves.” Alker agreed. “[There are] lots of
bands that do what would be considered
conscious music but are maybe a little bit
more granola or earthy,” he said. “But as
far as a hard-rocking band, we aren’t talk-
ing about girls and drinking. We are talk-
ing about real issues and real things that
are going on in the world.”
The band was back in their northwest
side studio on August 26, playing together
for the first time since recording their
album in Lexington. They ripped through
“Riot” before taking on the more melan-
choly melody of “Genuflect.” The song
features Byrne on piano, Herrick on elec-
tric guitar, and Jam on acoustic, singing
about a “high, high, beautiful high.” Later,
they listened to the final mixes of a few
tracks.
”[‘Genuflect’] appears to be a love song,
but it is really a song about unhealthy co-
dependence,” Alker explained. Compared
to the demo version, the studio recording
of “Analeeza” is even more soulful, with
richly layered guitar production and a
Hammond B3 Organ. The song jumps
right into the catchy chorus of “Oh
Analeeza, tell me the reason.” Jam’s emo-
tive vocals, at times delivered almost scat
style, are further augmented by a gospel
chorus near the end.
The band played some new songs live
for the first time in front of an audience at
the House of Blues Chicago on September
19. In addition to songs from Alker’s solo
debut Sophrosyne, they played “Riot” and
title track “Consume,” to the crowd’s
approval, ending the 45-minute set with a
spirited cover of Mountain’s “Mississippi
Queen.”
Now, it’s all about the healthy relation-
ships the band has forged, especially given
the intense studio time they spent together
in July. “The investment [in the band’s mis-
sion] is deeper by everyone,” Alker said.
“This whole process over the past couple
of years has really been this evolution for
me doing my first album as a solo artist, to
this really becoming a band. So this is
everybody’s project rather than just mine,
with four guys behind me helping me
make this happen.”
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