Almost Gone

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2008 5:47PM

Assassins and MarvelKind are/were two bands waaaay ahead of their time. Both groups trafficked in an ultra-catchy electro-rock hybrid, and both groups seemed poised at the tipping point, ready to plummet into the cauldron of fame. Both bands even moved from Chicago to California in hopes that would ultimately help. Unless you're Prince, though, being ahead of your time is rarely a good thing.

So it comes to pass that both bands have decided to call it quits. Sort of. They're playing Darkroom this Sunday night for a show that's being billed as they last time either band will play with their current configuration of members. Considering neither band has ever had any sort of "employee turnover," we're viewing this as the ending of an era. This particular era is marked by the turbulence left in the Major label feeding frenzy of the mid-'90s, and the extremely promising and talented groups thrown out of the game by its wake.

So head to the Darkroom Sunday night and sip one last glass of expensive champagne to two of the coolest bands that most of Chicago had the misfortune to miss when they were in their prime.

Assassins and MarvelKind play Darkroom, 2210 W Chicago, Sunday, May 25,8 p.m., $15, 21+

Photo by Joe Wigdahl from Assassins' MySpace page