Something Erie Comes This Way ...

By Lizz Kannenberg in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 11, 2007 4:14PM

Every once in a while a band rolls across Chicagoist’s desk with just the right combination of reverence for their influences and clarity of vision for their own work. Erie Choir is the recording name for Eric Roehrig, a Chapel Hill, NC, native with a crisp indie-folk sensibility and a lot of patience. Roehrig spent five years writing and recording Slighter Awake, a tight, classically constructed 38 minutes of lovely, embellished pop recorded for North Carolina’s burgeoning Sit-n-Spin Records. The record aches like like a lost excerpt from Elliott Smith's catalog; its heart beats gently, but the soul of the songs has teeth. Now ready to bring the cello- and piano–snaked gems to the good people of the land, Roehrig has assembled a crack ensemble of musicians to perform as Erie Choir, touching down in Chicago tonight at Ronny’s.

Chicagoist Short Attention Span Sidebar: What is Ronny’s? The no-frills Humboldt Park establishment has been around for 30 years, but just now Chicagoist has been noticing decent bands making it a stop on tour or promoting hometown shows there. The place has no phone other than the pay phone in the main bar, no food service, and only 10 or so bar stools, yet the atmosphere seems ripe for solid shows this summer. Stand by.

Headlining the show is Probably Vampires, who have made a name for themselves around Chicago in the past couple of months by kicking out warm ’n’ fuzzy throwback indie rock with a playful edge. Though the band has been together for five years, a series of higher-profile shows in 2007 have raised awareness of this 5-piece around their hometown, and the buzz only promises to grow as warmer weather inspires rock ’n’ roll dance parties.

Probably Vampires and Erie Choir play Ronny's, 2103 N. California, tonight at 8 p.m. The Nothingheads open, cover is $5.

Photo by Jenn Prenda