Meet Marrow, The Newest Project From Former Members Of Kids These Days

By Katie Karpowicz in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 18, 2013 8:00PM

The members of Marrow from left to right: Lane Beckstrom, Matt Carroll, Macie Stewart, Liam Cunningham/Photo credit: Charles Nolis Anderson

If there's one thing we can say for certain about Chicago's music scene its that there's a close sense of community. So you can imagine the collective sigh of disappointment musicians and fans alike breathed earlier this year when local favorites Kids These Days announced they were parting ways.

Considering the fact that most of the band members were just barely out of there teens when the R&B and indie rock crossover act broke up, it was only a matter of time before we began hearing about new beginnings from various members.

On Thursday, Marrow—an indie rock project from three of the former band members (plus one newcomer)—plays its first ever headlining show at Schubas. Marrow's relative newness on the scene still didn't stop them from selling the show out.

"I'm really pleased and happy with the support from Kids These Days fans" Marrow's guitarist and vocalist Liam Cunningham told Chicagoist. "It's totally different music so it's really cool to us that the same people still dig it."

"Totally different" it is. Whereas KTD's tunes had horns, soulful rhythms and raps a la now solo hip hop artist Vic Mensa, Marrow offers a more rock-steady approach to Cunningham and keyboardist Macy Stewart's (also a former Kids These Days member) songwriting. Cunningham listed bands like Grizzly Bear, Thundercat and Deerhoof as major influences. Being in a band is nothing new to the members of Marrow but Liam admitted the shift in musical direction feels like "starting from square one."

Cunningham and Stewart were fresh graduates of Whitney Young High School when they hit the road with KTD. Now, at just 20 years old, they're celebrating another successful, and ambitious, release under their new moniker. Marrow released its debut two-song EP TWO earlier this month along with a single music video encompassing both songs.

Liam admits TWO was just "out of necessity" so the band had material to tour behind, but with plenty of unused KTD material at their disposal, Marrow is already prepared to record an album early next year.

If you were lucky enough to snag tickets to Marrow's show tomorrow night, have fun! If not, stay on the lookout for future shows and releases. We predict there's still plenty to come from these talented young Chicagoans.