Warm Up With The Record Low

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 18, 2009 7:20PM

Sure, it’s cold outside, but we can’t sit home in our Snuggies all weekend. Luckily, the soothing sounds of two-man indie band The Record Low are sure to give you that warm, comfy feeling. They’re not Chicago natives, but they’ve built their music career here and established themselves as local favorites. They’ll be playing the Empty Bottle tomorrow night, bringing their rich sound, a few new songs and hot cocoa for all. Alright, we made up that last part.

The band hasn’t made a new album since the release of Here to Stay in 2007, back when they were still a foursome, but lately they’ve been hard at work writing new songs for a future album. Naturally, down to half the band members, their sound has changed a little. But it hasn’t thinned out like you might expect. Their music still retains its lush, dreamy quality marked by reverberating guitar and feedback, except now they’ve got the crisp, cutting click of a drum machine to contrast their tender sound. The lyrics are mostly inaudible, but the gentle, romantic vocals give you the feeling he’s singing about love. Basically, it’s the kind of music you’d want to make out to.

You can sample some of their new songs on their official site, but they’ll be debuting even more fresh material at the show. Tickets are $8 at the door, or buy them in advance and save yourself $3 - enough for a beer or two if you don’t mind the cheap stuff. They’ll be supported by local punk band Bully in the Hallway and the psychedelic duo Mr. Gnome. It should be an intimate evening of passionate performances, so bundle up, brave the cold and maybe bring along a date to cozy up to on the chilly ride home.

The Record Low plays tomorrow, December 19 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 9 p.m., $5 advance / $8 at the door, 21+