Shapers Shapeshift Sonic Directions On Debut LP

By Jon Graef in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 3, 2010 6:00PM

By now, you’re likely recovering from a drunken stupor because your boss decided that the best way to celebrate America’s birthday was to let you go home at 1:30 yesterday. Even still, you’re probably thinking about how to end your long weekend in the most explosive fashion possible. Fireworks-wise, you’re on your own, but if it’s music you’re jonesin’ for, then we’ve got you covered. Monday gives you to check out one of Chicago’s most intriguing supergroups: Shapers.

Consisting of former members of May or May Not and one current member of The Hood Internet, Shapers released their first full-length album, Little, Big, in March. It’s a startlingly eclectic record, especially for a debut. Big expertly touches on experimental touchstones, with spirited executions of rocks in the Kraut, post- and psychedelic vein coloring many Big songs. In fact, our one complaint of Little, Big is that, despite the diverse range of well-executed sounds, Big doesn’t quite feel a cohesive whole.

As a record, it succeeds strongly because the individual components are very much realized, but the band doesn’t seem to unite those points in order to create a true, original sound. Nonetheless, Shapers are excellent live, and the band’s free show opening up for Portland-based act Nice Nice is the perfect opportunity to check them out. After you light off some explosives, get ready for the real fireworks.

Shapers with Nice Nice and Call Me On The Allophone, Monday, July 5, 9:30 p.m., The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., FREE