Glory In The Sound Of Zeus

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 29, 2014 6:00PM

Photo by Derek Branscombe

Zeus cranks out timelessly catchy tunes with a constancy of high standards that is almost scary. This is even more impressive when you realize the band has three primary songwriters and still manages to release material that sounds like it all comes from just one super-brain, powered by an encyclopedic knowledge of classic rock and pure power-pop. So credit Mike O'Brien, Carlin Nicholson and Neil Quin for either being able to read each other's minds or each have unique strengths that so perfectly complement the others' that the outcome is created by numerous perfect intersections of talent. And drummer Rob Drake is able to tie the whole package together with limber rhythmic lines that know when to quietly slink along and when to rumble and thrash. They're the kind of band people we play them for instantly fall in love with. And though a number of members serve as the live band for Broken Social Scene's Jason Collett and may be recognizable to readers who have seen him tour, as an entity Zeus is largely unknown in these parts—and that is an injustice.

The band's sound draws heavily from the '70s, but it's an alternate vision of that decade that seems built more on the concept of Big Star and Badfinger having become superstar arena touring acts, and less on the DNA of the flabbier rock of that decade. If Apple Records had actually stayed in the black we imagine they would have signed Zeus in about 1977 … had, you know, the members of the band even been in a band at that time. Big riffs, multilayered harmonies and brainy melodies for miles would have charted high in this alternate reality. We won't get into a whole dialog about the authenticity of one type of music over another, but Zeus' songs hum with an analog warmth and shine with just enough gritty soul overlaid the swagger to create an experience that just feels so fulfilling ever time we cue up one of their albums or singles.

Zeus is playing in a handful of cities right now and luckily for us one of their stops is at Schubas tomorrow night. Their last album, Busting Visions, came out in 2011 but the band is finally at work on a follow-up so we suspect this short tour will include Zeus working out some of that new material on the road. In that light this appearance should hold surprises for older fans and be a perfect in production for new ones.

Wednesday, April 30, at Schuba's, 3159 N Southport, 9 p.m., $10, 21+