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Farewell Captain Makes Believers Out Of Us

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 7, 2007 9:35PM

We were talking to a friend yesterday and they began to bemoan the fact that there were no “classic” rock bands anymore. We didn’t totally agree, since we believe there are MANY bands that “rock” out there, but we understood what they were getting at: It’s hard to find a band in the classic rock vein that plays with heart and familiarity while avoiding cliché.

2007_02_farewellcaptain.jpgFarewell Captain’s members have logged time in numerous notable groups like Light FM, Oblivion, Textbook, The Vindictives, The Siderunners, The Bon Mots, Nymb … to be honest, the list just goes on and on. It’s pretty impressive.

So what happens when you get a bunch of guys with such formidable chops, fill ‘em with beer, and stick ‘em in a basement? Well, they write a bunch of songs that suck out all the spare oxygen in the room and kick it like the Who or Neil Young in their loudest amp-shredding incarnations. Frontman Mark Ruggiero delivers melodies that sound as if he’s trying to blow out his vocal chords while always hitting the perfect notes. We’re almost willing to buy into that whole “creative consciousness” thing too, since the band writes songs we swear we’ve heard before. And loved.

The first time we heard the frenetic keyboard intro of “Out Of My Reach” our hearts skipped a beat as our breath hitched with excitement, and our blood ran flush with approval when the opening guitars crash in to deliver a perfect opening punch. And then the hook swoops in, delivered via Ruggiero’s distinctive pipes, and we knew we were in for a hell of a ride.

The band’s live show is filled with an exuberance we rarely encounter anymore. The group is like a bunch of five-year-olds cranked up on pixie-sticks just after nap-time. It’s the sort of contagion that sweeps through a crowd in seconds and makes one truly believe in, and fall in love with, the rock and/or roll all over again.

We are stoked they’re appearing on the Chicagoist CTRL-ALT-ROCK v2.0 bill at Double Door tomorrow night and we’re looking forward to converting a whole bunch of you into believers.

Also, don't forget to enter our contest for your chance to win a free pair of tickets to the show!

Photo by Dan Lutger