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The Return Of Light FM Brings Out Some Old Friends

By Tankboy in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 21, 2011 4:20PM

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Light FM photo by Abby Linne
In the late '90s and early aughts there was a coterie of bands that frequently played together. As time progressed, and it was only natural, those bands splintered, moved on and morphed into other groups. One of the central points of the local movement at that time was Light FM, a band full of talent and promise that was earmarked more than once to be "the next big thing."

Here's the funny thing about Chicago, we rail against the next big thing. We love our indie bands but the second they seem to, oh I don't know, want recognition that might carry them beyond a Thursday slot at The Bottle they tend to do one of two things: a) break-up or b) bolt.

Light FM bolted. For L.A. Possibly the only city less kind than Chicago when it comes to farming young bands in the music biz (we would say NYC but they have decent public transportation so L.A. wins the "sucktastic for bands" contest). Lead FM-er Josiah Mazzaschi basically broke up the band, uprooted himself and moved to the land of perpetual sunshine figuring that if he didn't make it big at least he wouldn't have to suffer through another Chicago winter.*

So, fast-forward a few years and Light FM is still not a household name despite their migration to La-La-Land. They've put out a few albums and an EP here and there but they have yet to "hit it big." Which is a shame because their music is just this side of amazing. Mazzaschi blends painfully confessional lyrics** with musical refrains you want to send to the rafters (or at least repeat in the perfect acoustics of your shower) and amidst a seat of alt-dreck his band's voice carries over the waves in a clarion cal that is as catchy as it is emotionally resonant.

Light FM's most recent album, the just released Buzz Kill City is a collection of killer songs. Do you miss the grandiosity of bands that were cheeky enough to feel they actually deserved to be on the radio in 1992 but would cringe at the "alternative" label. Do you hunger for a musical mixture that is as catchy as the Cars yet as aggressive as a pre-balding Billy Corgan's Smashing Pumpkins?** Do you have nothing to do this Sunday (and if you do you realize it's time to prioritize and reschedule so you can answer in the affirmative to the following question)? Wouldn't you like to be at Subterranean this Sunday to see just exactly what we're talking about re: Light FM's nigh irresistible charms.

Let's sweeten the deal.

Opening the SubT show is one Farewell Captain (FOC!) who counts amongst their members not one but two of the original Light FM line-up (not everyone could follow Mazzaschi to California). And the middle spot features a rare set by The Assembly (another FOC!) road testing tunes from their long percolating follow-up to The Tide Has Turned. In RIYL ters we can break down the show like this: punkish classic rock addicted to power chord opening band, Brit inflected stadium-sized middle band and "all of the above nice stuff we already said" headliner. Sounds like a decent (more than decent!) Sunday night to us.

Don't miss it.

MP3: Light FM "Mercy"

Light FM, The Assembly and Farewell Captain play Sunday, October 23, at Subterranean,2011 W North, 8:30 p.m., $8, 21+

*Pure speculation on our part but we're willing to guess we are 100% (98,6%?) correct on this.

**One of the catchiest tunes we have heard in our life was written by Mazzachi addressing a friend's suicide via willfully free flight from a fatal height.

***The Pumpkins reference was a gimme since Light F is actualy heading back to Cali following a stint opening for Billy and the boys (and girl).