Why We Stay: Winter with White Mystery's Francis White and Miss Alex White
By Michele Lenni in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 26, 2011 8:00PM
White Mystery at the Gapers Block Metro Show, Photo Credit: David Schalliol
Today in our "Why We Stay" series, where we talk to notable Chicagoans about what they love about winter in Chicago and why they stay in the coldest months of the year, we talk to Francis White and Miss Alex White of one of Chicago's most talked about buzz bands: White Mystery.
Chicagoist: Why do you like winter in Chicago? What appeals to you most about the season here as opposed to anywhere else you've traveled to in the past?
Francis White: I like how dark it gets, be it the sun setting early or the people becoming isolated and weird. It makes the parties more intimate and the songs written more dynamic.
Miss Alex White: Cold air blasts the terrain and cleans everything up for spring. It's a nice natural cycle to partake in. There are hummingbirds sipping nectar in San Diego, California as we speak.
C: When winter-time rolls around, what are things that you usually do inside and/or outside? Is there a particular activity that you associate with Chicago winters?
FW: I also love sledding down Mt. Trashmore, the gnarliest sledding hill in the Midwest. It is also the best time of the year to get stoned in your basement and play video games.
MAW: It's an awesome time to write songs and enjoy your home. White Mystery wrote, recorded, and completed a new album this winter. It's called Blood & Venom with release in spring, on April 20, 2011, when the world comes alive again.
C: What is attractive about Chicago during this time of year (aesthetically and otherwise) that other cities just don't have? What makes a Chicago winter unique?
FW: It's brutal and it makes you appreciate Chicago's lovely spring and summer.
MAW: It's amazing how frozen moisture encases the entire city, creating icy ruts and freezing cold exoskeletons for the streets, trees, your toes.
C: How do you respond to folks who complain about Chicago winters?
FW: It builds character. Bear down.
MAW: "Chill out."
You can catch the power-house, garage rock duo that is White Mystery for FREE tonight at Beauty Bar, 1444 W. Chicago Ave., 10 p.m., 21+