G.O.L.D @ Subterranean

G.O.L.D at Subterranean 10/28/07
By Steven Gould
Photos by Lee Klawans

A Chicago band consisting of Jess Northup, Vocals and guitar, Michael McSherry, guitar and backing vocals, Nick Sherman, drums.
Jess Northup used to be in Van Allen Belt.

G.O.L.D is a rock band, with an experimental, groovy sound.
This band is just two guitars and drums, now I say "just " two guitars because you won't believe me when you hear them. I am so tired of seeing two guitar bands, that have players playing the same 3 or 4 chords in sync, up and down the neck over and over. My eyelids droop and I put in my earplugs after two bars. When you see G.O.L.D, and you should see G.O.L.D, you will be looking around for the other guitar player and you will think you hear a bass player as well. Northup and McSherry are the guitar players. These guys don't play the same lines together, they play complimentary, seemingly unrelated chops that weave in and out of each other perfectly. Northup sings while keeping a bass line going with the bottom end of his guitar, while playing rhythm and taking the lead on and off. He does this all at once. His singing is an appropriate scream, that compliments the music. This band is about guitars, the vocals are secondary.
The second guitar player, Mike McSherry is mostly lead and mostly amazing. They are great together. It is a super tight wall of guitar sound that seems to require 4 or at least 3 players.
The drummer, Nick Sherman, not pictured, is very good. There is no boring 2/4 beat here. He is all over the place on his kit adding and subtracting fills constantly and it suits the music.

VEE DEE at The Hide Out

Vee DEE at The Hideout
by Jose Gomez
Photos by Lee Klawans

Vee Dee is a great rock band.

Here is the line up (from their MySpace page) ok, so I forgot to ask their names.
I was busy watching this super hot girl dance!

RYAN-DRUMS

DAN -VOX,LEAD BASS

NICK -LEAD VOX, LEAD GUITAR, PSYCHEDELIC CAVEMAN

We don't know their last names, we don't care if they are orphans. We want to hear them play!
A hard driving rock machine. These guys know what they are doing. Nick plays a sweet old old white thin body solid Gibson (Firebird) from the 60's. He is a skilled guitar player, all by himself, he is throwing down a scorching lead and rhythm line. The rest of the band is equally up to the task.
Dan plays another strange guitar, a Gibson SG Bass. It's a weird looking thing, and he pounds the crap out of it, right on the beat! I really liked his playing. I have caught the Vee Dee and I like it.

Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra at THE HIDEOUT

Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra at THE HIDEOUT
by Steven Gould
Photos by Lee Klawans

Miss Alex White explodes upon the stage and does not stop. She dances, kicks, tumbles and flips all while rocking her ass off. Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra consists of Alex singing and bopping with a guitar, Wesley Kerstens on guitar, Edward Altesleben on drums, & Eric Villa on bass guitar.
This is a hard rocking band that does not mess around. They are spot on, very tight with a great rhythm section. Alex sucks in the crowd instantly with her disarming charm. Get ready for a fun ride. You can't take your eyes off of her as she serenades you while dancing, jumping, singing, screaming, and playing the guitar.

Miss Alex is a good singer, a good rock singer. You won't hear any lilting melodies, but she is not about that. She is a straight up gritty rocker and her voice suits her perfectly. Space and time stand still as Alex rocks the house. Go see her, she won't be round here for long!