North by North

Just in time for Halloween, Chicago duo North By North are here with a massive, 17-track double LP filled with lots of guitar, in-your-face vocals, plenty of groove, fervor for days, and spooky, Stephen King-inspired elements that feel just right for the season. Last Days Of Magic not only has some of the greatest album art of the year, but front to back it’s simply one of the best albums of the year as well. Putting out a 17-song album that isn’t packed with skits or interludes is both ballsy and ambitious; you run the risk of boring the listener with lackluster filler, but North By North keep it consistently exciting with an interesting concept and intriguing songwriting that always feels fresh and theatric. Quoting myself from a previous mention of the band, North By North’s music “begs to be blasted at high volumes and sounds better and better the higher you crank the knob.”

“Like on our first record, we wrote studio-only introductions to each side of the double LP,” explains keyboardist Kendra Blank, “but each intro is more fleshed-out, with more instrumentation and song components than you’ll find on Something Wicked. Writing and recording these intros was one of my favorite parts about tracking the album because it allowed us to not only step a bit outside of our comfort zone musically but also to delve into the back story of some of the characters a bit more than the full songs allow for. For example, ‘Dastardly’ describes the circumstances that lead to the haunting events in ‘Stone Too Sour,’ and ‘Dark Star’ personifies the getaway-car-turned-sidekick used by the femme-fatale frontwoman of ‘Quick Rick.'”

If you’re a fan of good, solid rock ‘n’ roll music, you really should make time for this album, especially if you’re into bands like the Dead Weather, Portugal. The Man, and the Veils. Last Days Of Magic will be released this Friday, October 14 through Double Hex Records (pick up a copy). - Substream Magazine

Today, Punknews is pleased to debut the new song by North By North.

"Silver Tooth and Shadowplay" is a merging of fringe cultures. Rooted in mid-60s garage rock, the band swings forward like the Sonics. But then, they take the acid-bend of the 60s rockers and cloak the whole thing in a bit of blackness, adding some straight up goth keyboards and cobwebs to the tunes. Remember that Hanna Barbara cartoon that had a guy that drag raced in hearse? This is the soundtrack to that.

The song is off their double-LP, Last Days of Magic, out Oct. 14 via Double Hex Records. Check out the new tune below. - Punk News

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of seeing North by North play. They had dynamic chemistry. Their rock had grit and powerful energy. Seeing them once was not enough, but lucky for me (and all of us in KC) they will be playing here tomorrow (Thursday September 14, 2017) at Californos. I was able to pick their brains and find out a little bit more about them and their band. Check it out.

Kimmy: How long have you been playing?
North by North: Nate's been playing guitar since he was 16, Kendra has been playing keyboard since she was 19 and drums since late 2016. We've been playing together as North by North since fall of 2011.

Kimmy: What drew you to your instrument?
North by North: My (Kendra) dad is a drummer, so I've been around a drum set most of my life, and it just made sense to switch from keys to drums so we have more flexibility for touring and for experimenting with additional instrumentation.

Kimmy: You're out on "The Never Ending Tour." How long have you been on the road?
North by North: Almost 8 months, since January 25. Phew!

Kimmy: What we surprising items you discovered you needed when on the road for a long time?
North by North: Don't skimp on the pillows and blankets! We always bring ours everywhere we go, including when we stay with people. Also: air mattress, extra socks, vitamin supplements, Lysol spray and wet wipes, water bottle, extra phone chargers/cables/etc. Also extra deodorant stored in odd places in the van, Cliff bars for when you don't get a chance to grab dinner before a gig, and plastic utensils.

Kimmy: How has being on tour for a long time and working as full time musicians changed your music?
North by North: It has slowed down our writing process quite a bit, but has allowed us to really laser focus in on each part of each song. Also, we're able to market test each iteration of a new song, which definitely helps keep us pushing in the right direction.

Kimmy: What are some of your favorite shows you've played? What make them stand out for you?
North by North: The best shows are ones where we feel a connection to the crowd or to the fans and other bands during/after the show. Or if everyone gets really drunk and starts a dance party! The best cities, though, are the ones that feel like there's a community centered around the music - members from other bands are in the audience, other bands' fans are at the shows, bands and fans are receptive and open to outsiders (us!). Some notable spots recently have been Asheville and Charlotte, NC; all of Texas (we even wrote a song while we were there recently!); Chicago (of course!); and always Kansas City. Some other recent high points include Vancouver, BC; St. Mary, MT; Providence, RI; and Columbus, OH.

Kimmy: What is your writing/creative process like?
North by North: Nate writes the guitar parts, and then Kendra writes the drum and keyboard parts. The lyrics are always the last thing to get written, and we collaborate on those.
8. What music (or books, etc) is inspiring your music right now? Queens of the Stone Age, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, horror movies.

Kimmy: What do you hope to say with your music?
North by North: We hope to prove that hard work and dedication will lead to success, and that you can make a living by making art.

Kimmy: One of the best parts of love music for me outside of the music is the community that is created at the show. Is this something you work to create intentionally? Do you have any practices to help create this at your show?
North by North: We want to be friends with everyone we meet! We make a point to mention that on stage, and we strive to bring our friends together as often as possible.
Kimmy: Well, you definitely succeeded with me.

Kimmy: What role do you see musicians have in their community as citizens of this world?
North by North: Musicians need to support other artists and musicians; if we don't support one another, how can we expect others to do so?

Kimmy: What shows do you have coming up?
North by North: So many! All our Never-Ending Tour Dates are listed at http://bandsintown.com/northbynorth
Kimmy: KC readers, you can catch them tomorrow (9/14/17) at Californos. Show starts at 9pm. Also playing is Trapper and Tandem. - I Love KC Music

CALGARY – Quitting their jobs and leaving home, North by North is the Chicago born riff and grit band travelling coast to coast following their hearts. Starting just after high school, frontman and riff master Nate Girard paired with keys and bass expert Kendra Blank to form a band a bit like The White Stripes or Queens of the Stone Age, but with more chomp and pop. Driven by their need to create and express, the two-piece put music in the driver seat and let it take them wherever the next show is.

“[The best part about playing live] is the immediate connection you make with people,” says keys queen Blank. “Music creates this unique opportunity to bring people together.”

After putting music on the backburner for too long in Chicago, the two piece claims they have no regrets about making it their first priority and letting themselves be pushed by the spontaneous power of music. Venturing into new cities and new bars almost every night, the audience affirmation given through the connection and enjoyment is enough to keep them creating and performing. Playing loudly, filled with fire and ecstasy, the crunch rock duo continues to surprise audiences along the improvised North American tour.

While continuing to write and create new sounds, North by North’s most recent album entitled Last Days of Magic presents a fitting showcase of its members’ talents. The two construct songs with guitar and keys while experimenting with whatever sounds they can add into the mix. The two progressively build each song with magnetic drums, anchoring bass, and at times even cello or trumpet just to add more fire to the explosive sounds of North by North.

Desiring to be on tour until October, the two have only a few desires to guide them along their way. Wanting to pass through each town three or four times a year, the goal is to create a name for themselves and have more people come out every time. Alongside the ambition to continue touring coast to coast, the goal is to continue making new sounds and playing them for audiences to experience. Not to mention a music video at some point along the way.

Eager to see where they go next, North by North aims to project an attitude and a sound that inspires everyone to make some noise. “Music exposes the most vulnerable parts of you on a physical and spiritual level,” says Blank. “It’s great getting to create life long friends from a 20 to 45 minute set.” - BeatRoute

We’re pleased to bring you the premiere of North By North’s new song “Stone Too Sour” (listen below). The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming album Last Days of Magic, which is scheduled to be released on October 14th through Double Hex Records.

Chicago garage duo North By North’s surf-inspired rock & roll conjures images of catching waves off the Hawaiian coast all day before chasing the sun and sand with a swanky cabaret-club nightcap. They start from a foundation that channels bands like The Black Keys & The White Stripes, but quickly set themselves apart by adding adventurous, esoteric instrumentation—from cello and trumpet to tack piano. Their uncanny ability to blend blues, surf and cabaret into a heady rock & roll stew has scored them shows with Eagles of Death Metal, Tegan & Sara, Nikki Lane, Wussy & more, not mention heavy rotation at radio throughout the Midwest, including influential Chicago station WXRT.

Not many artists have the sense of purpose and ambition to release a double album for a debut. And even fewer have the audacity to release yet another double-length as a follow-up. But North By North aren’t your average twenty-somethings slamming down three-chord anthems between bong rips. Their new album Last Days of Magic is a Stephen King-inspired, femme-fatale-filled concept album that investigates the space where science-fiction and fantasy meet modern society. “These stories exist in our world and explore how magic plays into superstition and society,” says singer-guitarist Nate Girard. “But this particular story takes place in a time where magic is on its way out.”

Last Days of Magic was produced by Don Bates, who was also at the helm for North By North’s 2014 debut Something Wicked. Bates traveled to Chicago to track instruments with the duo, then brought them down to his hometown of Nashville to cut vocals. “Recording in two different cities really allowed us to step back and reflect on what was and wasn’t working,” Girard says. It was this reflection that led Last Days of Magic to become the heavily textured, genre-defying blend of ‘70s psychedelia and pop-infused lo-fi garage rock that it is.

“We were experimenting with a more theatrical and orchestral writing style,” keyboardist Kendra Blank says. “We focused more on different instrumentation and new guitar tones this time than we did previously.”

Girard and Blank met in high school and have played in various groups together, off and on, since 2007. But it wasn’t until 2011 that North By North officially formed. The two musicians immediately fell in sync, with Blank’s classical piano training taking Girard’s self-taught approach to new levels, and with Girard guiding Blank to go beyond the rigid structure to which she was accustomed. Almost immediately, the two began writing the material that would eventually become Something Wicked. Before releasing their debut, however, the duo was already hard at work on a follow-up. “Some of these songs on Last Days of Magic were written back in 2013,” Blank says. The duo was named one of Chicago RedEye’s “Bands to Watch” following the release of Something Wicked. The early success led them to hire a touring drummer and hit the road on a series of shoestring budget DIY runs, as the band battled its way back and forth from Chicago to Texas, building a devoted cult fanbase along the way.

In support of the forthcoming Last Days of Magic, North by North have a thirteen-week nationwide fall tour planned during which they’ll hit every major U.S. market from New England to the West Coast. True to form, the duo already has some material in the works for their next record, but right now the focus is on the upcoming release and tour. “We’ve been working hard to surprise people by how full our live sound is since it’s just the three of us,” says Blank. With their focus, dedication and dogged work ethic, North By North are poised for a breakthrough.

Tour Dates:
10/12 – Bend, OR – Volcanic Theatre Pub
10/14 – Portland, OR – Valentine’s
10/15 – Vancouver, BC – Fairview Pub
10/16 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
10/18 – Seattle, WA – LoFi
10/19 – Spokane, WA – The Pin
10/22 – Denver, CO – Lion’s Lair
10/25 – Omaha, NE – Dr. Jack’s Drinkery
10/26 – Lincoln, NE – Duffy’s Tavern
10/28 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar
10/29 – Eau Claire, WI – House of Rock
10/30 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10/31 – Madison, WI – Mickey’s Tavern - New Noise Magazine

More About North By North – Last Days of Magic
Chicago garage duo North By North’s surf-inspired rock & roll conjures images of catching waves off the Hawaiian coast all day before chasing the sun and sand with a swanky cabaret-club nightcap. They start from a foundation that channels bands like The Black Keys & The White Stripes, but quickly set themselves apart by adding adventurous, esoteric instrumentation—from cello and trumpet to tack piano. Their uncanny ability to blend blues, surf and cabaret into a heady rock & roll stew has scored them shows with Eagles of Death Metal, Tegan & Sara, Nikki Lane, Wussy & more, not mention heavy rotation at radio throughout the Midwest, including influential Chicago station WXRT.

Not many artists have the sense of purpose and ambition to release a double album for a debut. And even fewer have the audacity to release yet another double-length as a follow-up. But North By North aren’t your average twenty-somethings slamming down three-chord anthems between bong rips. Their new album Last Days of Magic (out Oct. 14 on Double Hex Records) is a Stephen King-inspired, femme-fatale-filled concept album that investigates the space where science-fiction and fantasy meet modern society. “These stories exist in our world and explore how magic plays into superstition and society,” says singer-guitarist Nate Girard. “But this particular story takes place in a time where magic is on its way out.”

Last Days of Magic was produced by Don Bates, who was also at the helm for North By North’s 2014 debut Something Wicked. Bates traveled to Chicago to track instruments with the duo, then brought them down to his hometown of Nashville to cut vocals. “Recording in two different cities really allowed us to step back and reflect on what was and wasn’t working,” Girard says. It was this reflection that led Last Days of Magic to become the heavily textured, genre-defying blend of ‘70s psychedelia and pop-infused lo-fi garage rock that it is.

Girard and Blank met in high school and have played in various groups together, off and on, since 2007. But it wasn’t until 2011 that North By North officially formed. The two musicians immediately fell in sync, with Blank’s classical piano training taking Girard’s self-taught approach to new levels, and with Girard guiding Blank to go beyond the rigid structure to which she was accustomed. Almost immediately, the two began writing the material that would eventually become Something Wicked. Before releasing their debut, however, the duo was already hard at work on a follow-up. “Some of these songs on Last Days of Magic were written back in 2013,” Blank says. The duo was named one of Chicago RedEye’s “Bands to Watch” following the release of Something Wicked. The early success led them to hire a touring drummer and hit the road on a series of shoestring budget DIY runs, as the band battled its way back and forth from Chicago to Texas, building a devoted cult fanbase along the way.

In support of the forthcoming Last Days of Magic, North by North have a thirteen-week nationwide fall tour planned during which they’ll hit every major U.S. market from New England to the West Coast. True to form, the duo already has some material in the works for their next record, but right now the focus is on the upcoming release and tour. “We’ve been working hard to surprise people by how full our live sound is since it’s just the three of us,” says Blank. With their focus, dedication and dogged work ethic, North By North are poised for a breakthrough.

CHECK OUT NORTH BY NORTH ON TOUR
Oct 7- San Francisco, CA @ Milk Bar

Oct 8- Sacramento, CA @ Starlite Lounge

Oct 14- Portland, OR @ Valentine’s

Oct 22- Denver, CO @ Lion’s Lair

Oct 29- Eau Claire, WI @ House of Rock

FOLLOW NORTH BY NORTH ONLINE
doublehexrecords.com/northbynorth

https://www.facebook.com/northbynorthmusic

https://twitter.com/nxnmusic

https://www.instagram.com/northbynorthmusic/

https://soundcloud.com/northbyorthmusic/sets/last-days-of-magic - Performer: The Musician's Resource

It's a creepy new track from the Chicago-based garage psych outfit.

Dive into the fantasy world of North By North on "Babes In The Wood." The retro single from the duo's upcoming Stephen King-inspired sophomore record melds Nate Girard's haunting vocals with fuzzed-out guitars and dark house organs.

""Babes In The Wood" is essentially about the last two people to have "good" supernatural powers in the world. In the song, the couple uses their powers to become immortal so that they may continue to wage war against Mama Gold and her gang (who symbolize the "bad" supernatural power of the world)," says keyboardist Kendra Blank.

"However, this immortality comes with a high price: 'On the day you find mortality... the last days of magic will be.' Should this couple ever be killed by MG, all the magic in the world — good or bad — will be eliminated."

Find the rockers' entire sci-fi journey on Last Days Of Magic, a double-LP that comes out October 14 via Double Hex Records. - Myspace

Following the footsteps of some of the loudest bands in the scene such as The Dead Weather and Ty Segall, garage-psych duo North By North are back with their new single “Into the Haze”, a dark, riff-heavy psych rocker full of soaring vocals and moody keyboard textures. Last Days of Magic, the band’s latest record, is a concept album that investigates the space where science-fiction and fantasy meet modern society to the soundtrack of the duo’s fusion of ‘60s psychedelia and modern lo-fi garage.

Chicago garage duo North By North’s surf-inspired rock & roll conjures images of catching waves off the Hawaiian coast all day before chasing the sun and sand with a swanky cabaret-club nightcap. They start from a foundation that channels bands like The Black Keys & The White Stripes, but quickly set themselves apart by adding adventurous, esoteric instrumentation—from cello and trumpet to tack piano. Their uncanny ability to blend blues, surf and cabaret into a heady rock & roll stew has scored them shows with Eagles of Death Metal, Tegan & Sara, Nikki Lane, Wussy & more, not mention heavy rotation at radio throughout the Midwest, including influential Chicago station WXRT.

Not many artists have the sense of purpose and ambition to release a double album for a debut. And even fewer have the audacity to release yet another double-length as a follow-up. But North By North aren’t your average twenty-somethings slamming down three-chord anthems between bong rips. Their new album Last Days of Magic (out Oct. 14 on Double Hex Records) is a Stephen King-inspired, femme-fatale-filled concept album that investigates the space where science-fiction and fantasy meet modern society. “These stories exist in our world and explore how magic plays into superstition and society,” says singer-guitarist Nate Girard. “But this particular story takes place in a time where magic is on its way out.”

Last Days of Magic was produced by Don Bates, who was also at the helm for North By North’s 2014 debut Something Wicked. Bates traveled to Chicago to track instruments with the duo, then brought them down to his hometown of Nashville to cut vocals. “Recording in two different cities really allowed us to step back and reflect on what was and wasn’t working,” Girard says. It was this reflection that led Last Days of Magic to become the heavily textured, genre-defying blend of ‘70s psychedelia and pop-infused lo-fi garage rock that it is.

“We were experimenting with a more theatrical and orchestral writing style,” keyboardist Kendra Blank says. “We focused more on different instrumentation and new guitar tones this time than we did previously.”

Girard and Blank met in high school and have played in various groups together, off and on, since 2007. But it wasn’t until 2011 that North By North officially formed. The two musicians immediately fell in sync, with Blank’s classical piano training taking Girard’s self-taught approach to new levels, and with Girard guiding Blank to go beyond the rigid structure to which she was accustomed. Almost immediately, the two began writing the material that would eventually become Something Wicked. Before releasing their debut, however, the duo was already hard at work on a follow-up. “Some of these songs on Last Days of Magic were written back in 2013,” Blank says. The duo was named one of Chicago RedEye’s “Bands to Watch” following the release of Something Wicked. The early success led them to hire a touring drummer and hit the road on a series of shoestring budget DIY runs, as the band battled its way back and forth from Chicago to Texas, building a devoted cult fanbase along the way.

In support of the forthcoming Last Days of Magic, North by North have a thirteen-week nationwide fall tour planned during which they’ll hit every major U.S. market from New England to the West Coast. True to form, the duo already has some material in the works for their next record, but right now the focus is on the upcoming release and tour. “We’ve been working hard to surprise people by how full our live sound is since it’s just the three of us,” says Blank. With their focus, dedication and dogged work ethic, North By North are poised for a breakthrough.

www.doublehexrecords.com/northbynorth

https://www.facebook.com/northbynorthmusic
https://twitter.com/nxnmusic

https://www.instagram.com/northbynorthmusic/

https://soundcloud.com/northbyorthmusic/sets/last-days-of-magic - Vents Magazine

As with every year in the past, there were thousands of amazing, must-hear and under-the-radar indie music releases in 2014. If you’ve been following IRC, you’ve heard some of the most promising and unique, many that were not featured anywhere else online before being profiled on IRC. And, in the coming weeks, we’re going to be posting more great releases from 2014 that are worthy of your time from bands you’ve probably never heard of before. We also hope to put together a posting of the bands and songs in 2014 that all of you liked the most.

Also, don’t miss Vol. I and Vol. II of the Top DIY of 2014 series; there’s plenty of great bands to watch and amazing tracks to listen to.

Throughout the year, we post obscure but talented artists and bands in series like DIY Bands to Watch, 5 Bands That Rock; 7 Bands You’ve Gotta Hear; In Dee Mail and Artist of the Week, to name just a few of our long-running, popular playlist series. Many of you have asked what happened to the Top Ten Songs playlists – we’ll do our best to revive them in 2015.

north-by-north-garage-rock

North By North – Something Wicked
Chicago’s North By North rock it out on their 2014, 18-track LP debut, Something Wicked, channeling the magnetically electric ferocity of Jack White’s guitar playing, and mixing it with the shadowy dark pop influences in the vein of Queens of the Stone Age to create their own mysterious, raucous hard rock sound.

The trio’s mix of thrashing garage rock with 70’s-styled psych and 80’s arena rock on songs like “Burn It Down,” “Blood & Glitter,” and “Her Name Was Vengeance” set them apart from many of their DIY contemporaries. And yet to see them walking down the street you’d never guess they were the musicians behind such awesome, riff-heavy rock. In fact, the album is so good, it was hard to pick just a couple of songs to highlight. It’s too bad that – even after this posting – so many people will never know about one of the best under-the-radar rock albums of 2014.

“Burn it Down” – North By North from Something Wicked

Lurching into the cafe speakers with ringing, blazing guitar work by Nate Girard, the unforgettable and passionate vocals of Kendra Blank (who also plays keyboards) and the energetic and ferocious drum work of Dylan Andrews, this Windy City band has managed to release one of the best, yet largely overlooked, debut rock albums of 2014. And that’s not just the consensus in the cafe; check out what others are saying about North By North and Something Wicked.

Once you’ve listened to this double album a couple of times, you’re likely to see why it has garnered such praise with rock and rollers. And some of you will be as baffled as we are about why this band hasn’t broken through as one of the best new rock bands of the year. Not surprisingly, the band’s top musical influences are The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, Black Keys, and The Kills. North By North have shared the stage with alternative and DIY bands such as The Ivorys, Swimsuit Addition, The Cunning, Inspector Owl, and All Eyes West.

“Her Name Was Vengeance” – North By North from Something Wicked

In May, the band released a double single, “Mama Gold/Break Some Bones,” that offers more hard-hitting rock and roll for, as the band says, “the intellectual,” or, “the thoughtful individual whose ears require more than four chords and a chorus to get them off. ” For those who bemoan the alleged decline of rock, North By North are one of many bands we’ve feature since 2007 that demonstrates that under-the-radar, DIY indie rock is alive and well. That’s what Indie Rock Cafe is all about; we don’t just regurgitate what dozens and dozens of other blogs are posting every week. Instead, we’re committed to documenting the rarely heard, but amazingly good, music that would otherwise go unnoticed, and unrecorded, in the annals of DIY rock history. - Indie Rock Cafe

North By North, “Last Days of Magic” (Double Hex). Chicago male-and-female duo supplemented by other players as needed follows its double-LP debut with another double LP, allowing room for unusual instrumentation, frenetic pop rock and concepts drawn from noir and fantasy.

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Bell X1, “Arms” (Belly Up). Producing its seventh studio full-length itself and supposedly taking more time than ever before with the process, Bell X1, a non-traditional and easygoing Irish band, hones razor points amid a soft-rock meld of Talking Heads and Dire Straits.

The Flat Five, “It’s a World of Love and Hope” (Bloodshot/Augiedisc). Five busy Chicago singer-songwriters, including the supremely talented Kelly Hogan, sync their schedules long enough to handle a dozen songs by member Scott Ligon’s brother Chris, whose positivity infects the harmonies and hopping rhythms of this LP.

Conor Oberst, “Ruminations” (Nonesuch). Bright Eyes frontman and aging enfant terrible Oberst, after huddling with a piano, a guitar and a harmonica last winter in his old hometown of Omaha, emerges with a very lonesome seventh solo album that ponders bad patches and dark days.

Ablebody, “Adult Contemporaries” (Lolipop). Christoph and Anton Hochheim, identical twins who have played with bands like the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, have also been putting out savvy indie music as Ablebody, which now has an introductory full-length.

Nils Bech, “Echo” (DFA). Softly experimental Norwegian pop singer, actor and performance artist Nils Bech has already made three albums, but his latest puts him together with a DJ and producer known as “Drippin’” who surrounds Bech’s captivating voice with harder beats.

Blackberry Smoke, “Like an Arrow” (3 Legged Records/Thirty Tigers). Heavy-touring country-rock band from Atlanta comes out with a fifth studio long-player that continues the honky-tonk energy of the chart-topping 2015 release “Holding All the Roses.”

David Bromberg Band, “The Blues, the Whole Blues, and Nothing But the Blues” (Red House). Philly-born Vermont-resident fiddler and guitarist doesn’t violate truth-in-advertising laws on a country-blues disc that shows his several decades of earned experience.

Busman’s Holiday, “Popular Cycles” (Joyful Noise Recordings). Bloomington, Indiana indie-pop sibling twosome works near home and at the Arcade Fire’s Montreal studio to give fluent musical elaboration to its third LP’s stories about the long littleness of life.

Sabrina Carpenter, “EVOLution” (Hollywood). Actress, 17, currently in “Girl Meets World” is also a singer and songwriter, and her second full-length of unsurprisingly well-produced modern pop ought to find a slot somewhere in the vicinity of Justin Bieber.

Paul Cauthen, “My Gospel” (Lightning Rod). Cauthen went solo from the Texicana band Sons of Fathers three years ago and now makes his introductory full-length with a voice that Presley might’ve appreciated and songs that fans of old-school C&W will put in heavy rotation.

Tom Chaplin, “The Wave” (Island). The lead singer of the internationally popular, Coldplay-reminiscent UK band Keane is now living in Kent with his wife and daughter and, on a well-crafted debut long-player as a man on his artistic own, getting more personal.

Cherub, “Bleed Gold, P*** Excellence” (Columbia). Two Nashville roommates who started out as college buddies continue as Cherub, a dance-music duo that, while not quite so funky or groovy as Chromeo, tries to party as if it’s 1979 through 2009 on its latest full-length.

Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker, “Overnight” (Rough Trade). Much-awarded UK folk duo makes more ambitious, more complex use of Clarke’s lovely voice and songwriting and Walker’s guitar and arranging skills.

David Clayton-Thomas, “Canadiana” (Independent Label Services, Inc.). Lead vocalist for Blood, Sweat & Tears nods many times to the songwriters of his Canadian homeland with this record covering songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Rush and more.

Cure for Gravity, “Cure for Gravity” (Cure for Gravity). An Oakland/Berkeley band that refers to its style as “synth rock” is not wrong about that on a homonymous introductory full-length that doesn’t skimp on guitars or volume.

Darkthrone, “Arctic Thunder” (Peaceville). Norwegian band has shifted from death metal to black metal to traditional heavy metal and, with its 16th studio album, indicates a shift back toward angry black metal blended with angry punk elements.

Dawg Yawp, “Dawg Yawp” (Old Flame). The Cincinnati rock ‘n’ roll community doesn’t get much attention, but the first LP from the Dawg Yawp duo might change that for a while, thanks to a serious stomp and Tyler Randall’s sitar mastery.

Dead Light, “Dead Light” (Village Green). Ed Hamilton and Anna Rose Carter, left London in 2014 for the countryside, and their very first full-length as Dead Light reflects that move in music that utilizes experimental techniques to add roiling depth to ambient accessibility.

Deadships, “The Darkness That Divides Us” (Stay Sick Recordings). Despite some genre-standard Cookie Monster vocals and shifts into sung choruses, the new disc from this Chicago five-piece modern-metal group has some solid headbanging moments.

The Dillinger Escape Plan, “Dissociation” (Party Smasher Inc./Cooking Vinyl). One of the most intense and avant-garde bands in the last 20 years of heavy music has announced that its sixth studio album will be its last, and the album itself is an adventurous goodbye.

Dr. John, “The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac and His Music” (Concord). Mac “Dr. John” Rebennack, who brought the music of New Orleans to multiple generations did a 2014 concert at which he played with, among others, Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples and Jason Isbell. Here are two discs from that gig.

Mike Doughty, “Heart Watches While the Brain Burns” (Snackbar). While solidifying a move from NYC to Memphis, the former Soul Coughing frontman has also solidified a ninth long-player with his familiar growl backed by folk-rock strumming and hip-hop diversions.

C Duncan, “The Midnight Sun” (FatCat). Scottish son of classical musicians recorded his 2015 debut “Architect” for less than $100 and brings out a sophomore album that reportedly was even less expensive, although the dreamy electro-pop results don’t sound cheap.

Eden’s Curse, “Cardinal” (AFM). Glaswegian melodic-metal outfit obviously prefers hair-metal tunefulness and clarity of production to any attempts to be alpha-male heavy.

Carolina Eyck with American Contemporary Music Ensemble, “Fantasias for Theremin and String Quartet” (Butterscotch). The theremin is an especially difficult electronic instrument to master, which hasn’t prevented Eyck from expanding its eerie, heartbreaking voice on six new compositions she plays with, as noted in the title, a string quartet.

Rebecca Ferguson, “Superwoman” (RCA). An “X Factor” runner-up and Liverpool-born singer and songwriter has the slickness one might readily associate with reality-show singers and a restraint one might not.

Steve Forbert, “Flying at Night” (Rolling Tide). A “new Dylan” type who had a hit with “Romeo’s Tune” in 1980 issues his latest long-player, another set of folk and rock songs available only on his website unless you’re in Europe.

Fraternal Twin, “Homeworlding” (Ghost Ramp). Hudson Valley, New York native Tom Christie adds band members and supplementary collaborators to his indie-pop Fraternal Twin project for a second LP that has autumnal-leaf colors and the smiling sadness of a farewell to Indian summer.

French Horn Rebellion, “Classically Trained” (Ensemble). Originated in Milwaukee and resident in Brooklyn, the two-brother French Horn Rebellion self-produces its current album and thus can be held fully responsible for its super-sweet funk-pop good times.

Jonny Fritz, “Sweet Creep” (ATO). Also known as “Jonny Corndawg,” Mr. Fritz is an alt-country musician as indebted to Meat Puppets as to Merle Haggard, and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James produces his latest long-player with an ear toward each side of the man.

The Game, “1992” (eOne Music). The feud-happy West Coast rapper’s eighth studio LP almost entirely avoids features and guests, opting instead to look back to when he was 12 and thus rap about O.J. Simpson, the L.A. riots, and other events, people and places of the time.

The Gentle Good, “Ruins/Adfeilion” (Bubblewrap). Welsh folkie Gareth Bonello, a.k.a. the Gentle Good, draws heavily upon UK and U.S. folk traditions for his latest record, which nods to Woody Guthrie, 19th-century Welsh traditional numbers and field recordings.

Nessi Gomes, “Diamonds & Demons” (Baraka). Born to Portuguese immigrants on the Island of Guernsey in the English Channel, Gomes spreads roots wherever she can, and her introductory LP puts her near other musical wanderers like Feist and Kate Bush.

Great Apes, “California Heart” (Asian Man). A whole lot of punk rock could be about disaffected youth, but the newest album from San Francisco’s Great Apes is told directly through a fictional kid living in Fresno and not happy about teenage existence.

Gucci Mane, “Woptober” (Guwop Enterprises/Atlantic). After, in May, finishing up a 39-month prison sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm, rapper Gucci Mane is back with guys like Rick Ross to drop his second full-length since he got out of lockdown.

Gurr, “In My Head” (Duchess Box). With gentle bass and bits of jangle reminiscent of shoegaze-vicinity 1980s and 1990s college-rock bands, the two-female German act Gurr also has girlish enthusiasm that takes its music past nostalgia.

Joseph Hein, “AM Gold” (Yellow Year). If Albion, Wash., singer and songwriter Hein isn’t the first guy to use “AM Gold,” a radio format or K-Tel compilation title, as an LP name, then his California-breeze pop music backs up the term and then some.

Matt Hires, “American Wilderness” (Rock Ridge Music). Florida songwriter Hires, who became better at his calling after he moved to Nashville, drops his third full-length and signals he could be an intelligent alt-pop opener for Imagine Dragons or David Gray.

Jagwar Ma, “Every Now & Then” (Mom+Pop Music). For its second album, Australian dance and psychedelic act Jagwar Ma has spent time in rural France and North London to put together beats, synths and trebly vocals that seem to belong to no fixed abode.

Colin James, “Blue Highways” (True North). Juno-winning Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter turns his 18th overall long-player into a tribute to bluesmen like Freddie King, Jimmy Reed and even early Fleetwood Mac member Peter Green.

Johnnyswim, “Georgica Pond” (Big Picnic). Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez — married couple, parents, L.A. musicians — showcase their pop smarts, fussy craftsmanship, Sudano’s especially amazing vocals — possibly handed down from her mother, Donna Summer — and crowd-pleasing tactics on their latest Johnnyswim full-length.

JoJo, “Mad Love” (Atlantic). Free from a fight with her previous label that has put ten years between her second album and her third one, the actress and singer tries to push everything she’s learned, at the age of 25, into pop drenched with R&B.

Kings of Leon, “Walls” (RCA). Without its usual producer and outside of its home base of Nashville, Southern-rocking band of three brothers and a cousin try to get over squabbles with fame and within its membership on a seventh LP meant to get back some of that hit-making “Use Somebody” mojo.

Davy Knowles, “Three Miles From Avalon” (Davy Knowles). Born on the Isle of Man and based in Chicago, Knowles is not yet 30 but is already a famed six-string player in blues circles and a mixer of Chicago, Delta and Southern blues on his latest record.

The Lemon Twigs, “Do Hollywood” (4AD). Straight outta Long Island, the D’Addario brothers — Michael and Brian — are the core of the Lemon Twigs, whose introductory album paints watercolors of glam, baroque, lo-fi and other rock styles over one another until they are viscous with cleverness.

Jamie Lidell, “Building a Beginning” (Jajulin). Jumping away from his old label, English musician in Nashville keeps his latest LP soulful and also fairly simple, and his yearning to be Stevie Wonder is pleasurable to hear although of course he’ll never fulfill that yearning.

Lissie, “Live at Union Chapel” (Lionboy/Thirty Tigers). Recorded in London before the release of her third album, this year’s “My Wild West,” Lissie’s live, solo and acoustic set softly displays the Iowa-based folk, rock, blues and pop singer and songwriter’s co-existing sturdiness and volatility.

Lowlands, “Lovers Blessings” (Thrill Me). Punk gents from New York City and San Diego create common musical geography on the debut long-player from Lowlands, a combo of Nick Cave’s dark lusts, post-punk’s Gothic side and Iggy Pop’s sepulchral travels.

Donny McCaslin, “Beyond Now” (Motéma Music). Renowned saxophonist who found further renown by playing with David Bowie, particularly on the late man’s final album, 2016’s “Blackstar,” dedicates his latest LP to Bowie’s memory, covers Bowie and other interesting artistes and uses “Blackstar” personnel to explore intriguing jazz.

Big Dave McLean, “Better the Devil You Know” (Black Hen Music). Juno-winning, long-lasting Canadian bluesman proves that the Great White North has guts on a disc that adds country, gospel and Americana to his Delta and Chicago guitar, voice and harmonica.

Katie Melua, “In Winter” (BMG Rights Management). London-based musician originally from European state of Georgia returns there to construct a DIY studio and, with an exquisite women’s choir, to record her most wide-ranging alt-pop LP yet, with songs from the Ukraine and Joni Mitchell.

Mile Me Deaf, “Alien Age” (Old Flame). A rock band from Vienna, Austria, seems almost like a novelty, and Mile Me Deaf’s fractured alternative pop certainly isn’t the usual rock even for that country, but frontman Wolfgang Möstl is a persuasive weirdo.

Mike Mills & Robert McDuffie, “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and Orchestra” (Orange Mountain Music). Mills, the bassist and occasional singer for R.E.M., composes his first classical work for, and performs it with, his childhood friend, admired violinist Robert McDuffie, plus, as the title notes, a rock band and a string orchestra.

Moby & the Void Pacific Choir, “These Systems Are Failing” (Mute). At 51 and on his 15th long-player, Moby discards the ambient and chill-out associations of most of his popular electronic-based music in favor of post-punk and conscientious belligerence, albeit with his catchiness intact.

Muddy Magnolias, “Broken People” (Third Generation). Kallie North and Jessy Wilson, the two women of Muddy Magnolias, make classicist connections between gospel, soul and rock that go from oldies-radio obvious to folk-club subtle on their first full-length.

The Naked and Famous, “Simple Forms” (Somewhat Damaged Ltd.). From New Zealand but based in Los Angeles since 2012, the Naked and Famous deals with electro-pop music on its third album but adds dark colors and sharp edges to the glistening accessibility.

Olivia Newton-John, Beth Nielsen Chapman & Amy Sky, “LIV ON” (OBA). Australian pop star of “Grease” fame, country singer-songwriter Chapman and Canadian singer-songwriter Sky team up for collaborative songs meant to comfort those dealing with cancer within themselves or within their families and friends.

North By North, “Last Days of Magic” (Double Hex). Chicago male-and-female duo supplemented by other players as needed follows its double-LP debut with another double LP, allowing room for unusual instrumentation, frenetic pop rock and concepts drawn from noir and fantasy.

The Orb, “COW/Chill Out, World!” (Kompakt). London twosome that helped pioneer the ambient side of house and EDM music issues its 14th studio full-length, using field recordings captured while on tour to facilitate the process of making what its members call its most ambient full-length yet.

Oval, “Popp” (UOVOOO). Markus Popp, the primary man of Oval these days, and thus one of the key artistes in the tech failures and tech mistakes that make up “glitch” music, starts a new label with Oval’s and his attempt to make club tracks sound organic.

The Peep Tempel, “Joy” (Wing Sing/Redeye). It would be hard to hear the third LP from the Peep Tempel, a trio from Melbourne, and not peg it to tumultuous punk fury of the 1970s and 1980s, which probably won’t bother the band as it delves into the state of the human mind.

Powell, “Sport” (XL Recordings). London-based EDM producer and DJ Oscar Powell, who prefers to go by his surname as a show-biz entity, is a former ad-agency employee who, on his introductory LP, turns his chosen genre into a series of dance floor jokes for ravers and punks alike.

Purling Hiss, “High Bias” (Drag City). The sixth full-length from Philly man Mike Polizze’s continuing tribute to blown speakers and well-used distortion pedals — that is, Purling Hiss — is rock ‘n’ roll fun of many facets viewed through fuzz.

Real Numbers, “Wordless Wonder” (Slumberland). Minneapolis band recording in St. Paul lives up to some promising EPs and cassettes with a first long-player of tinny pop-rock shimmying that sounds as though it’s been waiting to be discovered for 51 years.

Red Fang, “Only Ghosts” (Relapse). Listeners have been discovering that Portland, Oregon’s Red Fang has the melodic undertow of Foo Fighters and the hard-rock dynamics of Queens of the Stone Age, so its playful fourth album might rope in more people who want to rock without losing their sense of humor.

André Rieu & His Johann Strauss Orchestra, “Waltzing Forever” (UMe). A Dutch violinist and conductor who’s also known, or billed, as the “King of the Waltz” plays to such a nickname — which has helped him sell some 35 million records worldwide — with Strauss, Shostakovich and an American medley for his U.S. fans.

Justin Roberts, “Lemonade” (Carpet Square). Definitely remaking the Beyoncé long-player, this newest disc from an alt-rock singer-songwriter who’s been nominated and awarded much for his children’s music stays sunny and tart, with help from Robbie Fulks and others.

Jeff Rosenstock, “WORRY.” (SideOneDummy). Affiliated with ska-punk and indie-rock bands, Rosenstock is semi-solo these days, and his latest album in that direction is a raucous, loud, often-fast pop-tinged punk shout at the world.

Shadow Child, “Connected” (Food Music). English DJ, sometimes on the radio as well as onstage, and music producer Simon Neale resumes his Shadow Child persona and releases a new long-player rife with collaborations and a house-music vibe.

Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, “Seeing Is Believing” (Severn). Harmonica player and singer Sugar Ray Norcia’s been running for decades with his band the Bluetones, and neither he nor they are stopping even after every player has received a Blues Music Award nomination.

Super Unison, “Auto” (Deathwish Inc.). Following a short, sharp EP last year, an Oakland punk trio drops its first long-player, and singer Meghan O’Neil Pennie is such a powerful motive force on it that the guitars and rhythms have to sweat just to keep up with her.

Swet Shop Boys, “Cashmere” (Customs). British rapper and actor Riz Ahmed — soon to be seen everywhere in the world in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”— joins former Das Racist member Heems and producer Redinho on the Swet Shop Boys’ introductory album of casually great and global hip-hop madness.

Tenth Avenue North, “Followers” (Reunion). Florida CCM quintet whose fourth studio LP, 2014’s “Cathedrals,” topped Christian-music charts now comes out with a fifth pop-rock LP with a theme about being followers of the faith.

Trophy Eyes, “Chemical Miracle” (Hopeless). For its second full-length, a rock band from New South Wales, Australia, shows notable care in balancing its fondness for pop-rock loveliness against the teeth-baring noise and riffs of punk.

Tuff City Kids, “Adoldesscent” (Permanent Vacation). Gerd Janson, who runs the label Running Back, and Phillip Lauer, a German producer and DJ, grab guests like Norwegian electro-pop singer Annie and Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard for an introductory long-player that loves modernizing disco.

Two Door Cinema Club, “Gameshow” (Glassnote). Irish rock three-piece drops its third album, on which it layers synth-pop buzzes over indie-pop melodies and Alex Trimble’s vocals echo the sweetest, least angst-ridden moments of Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.

Tyketto, “Reach” (Frontiers Music Srl). Since reforming the hard-rock act Tyketto in 2008 after some sputters between then and its initial ’87-’96 run, founding frontman Danny Vaughan sounds ready for rock radio circa 1990 on his band’s new full-length.

Unwill, “Past Life” (eOne Music/LifeBlood Inc.). Rochester, New York quartet welds the overdriven parts of 1990s alternative rock to the well-controlled blast furnace of modern metal, inside which this debut long-player and lead singer Rocco Silvio’s voice burn.

Frankie Valli, “Tis the Seasons” (Rhino). Although the frontman of the Four Seasons did issue a holiday full-length with that band in the 1960s, the 82-year-old Valli has never before issued a solo holiday full-length, so now he takes care of that oversight.

Various artists, “Dear Jerry: Celebrating the Music of Jerry Garcia” (Rounder). Drawn from a Maryland concert last May, this CD/DVD set bows to the late Grateful Dead frontman and features Grace Potter, Buddy Miller, Eric Church and quite a few jam bands along with Garcia's fellow Dead members.

Various artists, “Feel Like Going Home: The Songs of Charlie Rich” (Memphis International). The magnificent, maverick country musician who had a huge hit with “Behind Closed Doors” in 1973 receives his due as a songwriter from Shooter Jennings, Jim Lauderdale and many more.

Various artists, “Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith” (American Laundromat). More than a decade after his death in 2003 at the age of 34, the simultaneously reclusive and expansive singer-songwriter Smith is honored by many contemporaries, including Tanya Donnelly, Juliana Hatfield, Lou Barlow and J Mascis.

Suzanne Vega, “Lover, Beloved: Songs from an Evening with Carson McCullers” (Perpetual Sounds). The durable and artsy folksinger Vega bases her latest long-player on her play about Southern Gothic novelist McCullers, with songs Vega wrote with Duncan Sheik.

Virgin of the Birds, “Secret Kids” (Abandoned Love). Currently in Seattle, this indie-pop trio has a chamber sound behind songs influenced by the tuneful side of the Velvet Underground and the straighter side of Jonathan Richman on its second full-length.

Chris Young, “It Must Be Christmas” (RCA Nashville). Native Tennessean and “Nashville Star” winner in 2006 makes his sixth long-player a yuletide collection with the usual chestnuts, two new songs and guests like Boyz II Men and Brad Paisley.

Zeds Dead, “Northern Lights” (Deadbeats). The guest list on this debut album from a Canadian electronic-music twosome is so full—with Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo, Twin Shadow, Dragonette, etc.— that Zeds Dead has to manifest considerable personality to be recognized at the heart of things.

— Jon M. Gilbertson,
Special to the Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

North By North, "Mama Gold"
Chicago-based musicians Kendra Blank and Nate Girard record as North By North, and under that moniker, they weave together bits of surf-inspired pop genius with feral DIY rock predilections. The duo ends up offering a buoyant but dense assortment of sounds that play to their influences while still forming an insular and astonishing aesthetic all their own. There's a slightly polished sheen to their songs, but that doesn't keep them from having an emotional bite—which they certainly do. They ramble through a heady rock 'n' roll brew that owes as much to classic rock as it does to the garage rock revival of the early '00s.

With recent single "Mama Gold," the band lifts the playful pop punk serration of Hot Hot Heat and mixes it with the rhythmic oscillations of psych garage purveyor Ty Segall. The resulting mass of noise and emotion reveals that there are still pockets of mystery left to explore in this inclusive collection of sounds. And while there are hints at their traditional garage rock foundations, Girard and Blank never allow the music to rest in one groove for very long before picking up and rushing off to rearrange some other aspect of this fierce and complex approach to their influences. - Nooga.com

RECOMMENDED
If the buy local movement has any bearing on the music industry, then it’s fair for Chicagoans to substitute the Black Keys and Jack White with North by North. The local trio’s Ray Bradbury-referencing debut is a double album; two mint-green records split between individual sleeves, in contrast to the gatefold packaging customary for a pair of LPs. Bonus points are awarded for the beautiful artwork, courtesy of guitarist/vocalist Nate Girard... The music itself owes much to the garage rock revival of the early aughts, rarely bending too far out of shape from a pop-songwriting sensibility. It may be garage rock, but this garage is clean. All the better for it, the affair sounds cohesive and realized, especially with respect to obvious singles like “Hex. X. O.” Girard’s vocals really do recall Jack White, and while his guitar technique lacks some of White’s wild intensity, Girard’s accompaniment smartly picks up the slack. One would expect a rock trio to have a bassist, but it’s Kendra Blank’s keyboards that anchor the effort, while she oohs and aahs the band’s way to real rock ‘n’ roll craftsmanship. Dylan Andrews’ drums sound carefree and natural, understated enough to make the listener wonder how he sounds when let loose from his leash. At eighteen tracks, “Something Wicked” is an ambitious undertaking for a band just beginning. North by North writes songs with a clarity of vision that, if nurtured and diversified over the long haul, may mature into a mainstream presence. Buy now, they won’t stay local for long. (Kenneth Preski) - Newcity Music

Artist: North By North
Album: Something Wicked
Original Release Date: 11/16/13

I stumbled across Chicago’s North By North on Bandcamp back in November as I was initially drawn in by their newest album’s excellent artwork, and luckily, their music was just as unique and enjoyable. Something Wicked boasts a whopping 18 raw garage jams with stellar production spanning various areas of blues and rock & roll that will certainly appeal to fans of Portugal. The Man, The White Stripes, and The Black Keys.

In addition to the digital download option that’s been available since the album’s initial release date, the band recently released Something Wicked on limited edition vinyl and we’re happy to have a copy to give you the details on.

Pressing Info

This is the first pressing of North By North’s Something Wicked that originally released on November 16 of last year. The album is limited to only 250 copies and is pressed on two mint green, 160-gram discs with each disc containing its own exclusive artwork which when put together forms one long gatefold-like image. The album is priced at a reasonable $20 in the US with an additional $3 for shipping. Something Wicked can be purchased at North By North’s Bandcamp.

Packaging & Presentation

The band could have easily chosen to go with a standard double LP gatefold for the packaging but they chose a more unique option in releasing the album’s two discs in their own separate jackets. I’d imagine some to consider this unnecessary but I really do like the fact that you can lay the two side by side to create the full cover image with title in tact. If it weren’t for Something Wicked‘s excellent artwork done by the band’s own guitarist/vocalist, Nate Girard, this easily could have been a lot less appealing, but the art style and vibrant colors really pop and draw your attention. Again, this is why I originally found myself drawn to the release. To accentuate the colors in the artwork, the band made the wise choice of going with a mint green variant for both discs which are slightly above a standard weight at 160 grams a piece and protected in standard, white paper, inner sleeves.

Sound Quality

The band’s brand of gritty garage jams might as well have been tailored specifically for this format. The entire release across both discs sounds exactly as it should; their style may be raw but the album’s quality is crystal clear. Like any rock & roll, Something Wicked begs to be blasted at high volumes and sounds better and better the higher you crank the knob…until you blow the speakers.

Wrap-Up

$23 (shipped) is a completely fair price for a double LP, especially one that’s a great listen from beginning to end. Even if the record wasn’t that good, there are plenty of people that would pay the price just to use this record as wall art. If you haven’t had the pleasure of discovering North By North before now, do yourself the favor of listening through their newest album, especially if you’re a fan of any of the bands mentioned earlier in this review. Something Wicked has been out for a few months now but the vinyl is fairly new and as it’s limited to only 250 copies, give it a listen then decide sooner than later if you want to pick up a physical copy before you lose the chance to. However, I truly feel that anyone that enjoys solid bluesy rock music will love this album and should certainly add it to their collection. - Under the Gun Review

Residing in Chicago’s vivacious yet intimidating cityscape, is the dynamic trio North by North. The band fuses 70’s glittering psychedelia and its altering soundscape within the murky terrain of lo-fi garage rock, to bring us their first release Something Wicked. Whether via vinyl or digital download, the first thing that garners your attention on the album (before you even hit play) is the captivating cover artwork by vocalist/guitarist Nate Girard. Based off the peculiar yet interesting art, I was nervous North by North would be just another over-thought out, outlandish avant-garde band. Thankfully, Something Wicked was approachable while still being relatively original but more importantly, all eighteen tracks (yes, eighteen) were beyond riveting.

The album immediately abandons us in a labyrinth of haunting whispers on the introductory track “Run.” A light soon shimmers within the darkness as “Burn It Down” throttles into its energetic and enslaving driving hook with fuzzy guitar work that would make a wooly mammoth blush. The kinetic onslaught continues with the garage grooves of “Her Name is Vengeance” pummeling us into submission. Lead singer and guitarist Nate Girard has definitely mastered his craft by assimilating his shrill rambles for compelling story-telling in a methodical mess of influences and catchy hooks. An easy comparison would be The White Stripes’ fellow melodic wizard Jack White with the shriek vocal styling of Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother. “Creature Comforts” once again showcases Girard’s rants and vibrant guitar work though the pace is calculating, thanks to the generous helping of keyboard sprawls by Kendra Black. When highlighted throughout Something Wicked, such as “Animals on the Run,” Black’s keyboards have a flamboyant tendency to set pace and jaunt a track from its sludgy confines to a ravishing sound. “Soft Soul” berates the listener with a cascading chorus of thundering guitar riffs and drum bass pedals as a soulful serenade soars over the grim refrain. The track’s verses tip toe on an off-beat framework but throughout, the rhythm pounces fluidly on each diverse segment. The final track “The Terror” seems to incorporate every trick under North by North’s sleeve and then some. The album’s outro even sustains a complimentary horn section, as each interlude induces spaghetti western apparitions as Something Wicked finally fades to black.

Something Wicked is certainly raw in spots but is an immensely enlightening listen that only gets better with each spin as you dissect the layers. Beyond North by North’s bold ability to engineer enduring songs that stay firmly wedged in your brain, the production value is stellar. The meticulous studio work truly transforms this traditionally bare-bones sound to a boisterous arena level. This trio sounds like an orchestra as each throbbing guitar strum, jovial keyboard thud and drum snare wallop is amplified and saturate any possibly noticeable instrumental gap. Lastly, do not be afraid to turn this album up. The audio clarity and richness is oddly enhanced as the dial turns, another example of savvy studio work. Chicago’s North by North is a curious creature and I’m intrigued to see it evolve in the years to come. - Selective Memory

North by North are an ambitious rock trio from Chicago. Not many bands hit the scene with a 2LP. Something Wicked is a dark album, paying tribute to left field sci-fi author Ray Bradbury, a personal favorite of lead singer Nate Girard. In his books Bradbury mixes fear and humor, but the former prevails in this sprawling batch of songs. It is a maze of towering psychedelic guitar solos, heavy-handed drums and the occasional ray of light supplied by the keyboards.

It's a bleak picture of a dystopic society, with unruly creatures as an added bonus. Plenty of literary references to satisfy your inner intellectual. Recommended if you like the Queens of the Stone Age and Smashing Pumpkins.

North by North:
Nate Girard: guitar, vocals, art
Kendra Blank: keys
Dylan Andrews: drums

North by North: Something Wicked
Something Wicked is a self-released album. Buy it (2LP mint green vinyl, digital) from the band's website.

Tracks:
Run
Burn it Down
Her Name Was Vengeance
Catacombs
Blood & Glitter
Venomous Kid
Creature Comforts
Hex. X. O.
Animals On The Run
Is This A Dream?
The Matisse Eye
Marshall Hawthorne
Soft Soul
Pitter Patter
Something Wicked
Parts & Labor
Eye Of The Storm
The Terror - Here Comes the Flood

Chicago’s North by North, an innovative trio of Nate Girard (vocals and guitar), Kendra Blank (organ, piano, and bass keys), and Dylan Andrews (drums), are following the release of last years ‘Something Wicked’ with another stunning double vinyl LP, which is currently tentatively scheduled for a fall release this year!

As a special preview, you can hear two of the band’s anthemic new tracks, ‘Pistoletta’ and ‘Dark Star’, whose daring artwork, created by vocalist Nate Girard, matches the crisp, indie rock brilliance of the tracks.

Check out ‘Pistoletta’ above, and click here for ‘Dark Star’. - Anthem Review

Members: Nate Girard, 25, Kendra Blank, 24, Dylan Andrews, 24 Hood: Albany Park Why they could take off: The sound on the guitar-rock trio's debut effort, "Something Wicked," is nearly as ambitious and massive as the 18-song track list would suggest. Up next: The band celebrates the album release with a concert at the Empty Bottle on Jan. 23.

http://northbynorth.bandcamp.com/album/something-wicked - RedEye Chicago

Chicago trio North By North's first LP, Something Wicked, is an audio gauntlet thrown down with gusto unheard of for a band of their young age.

Influenced by the shadowy, dark pop majesty of Queens of the Stone Age and the downright possessed guitar work of Jack White, North by North have sweated it out in basements and clubs over the last four years, working up to just what Something Wicked turns out to be: a spastic, yet finely-honed journey to where garage rock, 70's psych and arena anthems meet. Once there, guitarist/vocalist Nate Girard, keyboardist/vocalist Kendra Blank and drummer Dylan Andrews sound completely at home, taking the listener through brave, literate tales of mystery that are painted with frantic guitar, whirring organ and heart-pounding rhythms.

Girard's soaring solos, Blank's haunting coos and the sturdy backbone of Andrews' percussion are jaw dropping, perhaps most when in an eerie, mid-tempo strut, like on Something Wicked standouts "Soft Soul" or the crushing "Her Name Was Vengeance." And the sinister music only adds to Girard's book-smart wordplay and pointed delivery. "I love songs that tell a story," he admits, "and because of that, many of my songs are my own creative spin on some of my favorite short stories by Ray Bradbury." The swampy stomp of "Pitter Patter," for instance, is a re-telling of Bradbury's short story Small Assassin, and the propulsive "Catacombs" (which opens with ominous footsteps) is a different take on Next In Line. The album's title also is a nod to Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes, which itself was an homage to Shakespeare's Macbeth. - New Island Entertainment

Chicago’s North by North follow up 2014’s fantastic Something Wicked LP and “Mama Gold”/”Break Some Bones” singles with two new tracks slated for inclusion on a fall 2015 album.

“Pistoletta” is what NXN fans have come to expect from the trio (Nate Girard, Kendra Blank, Dylan Andrews): big vocals and guitars from the Jack White playbook; nods to blues, punk and arena rock; super-sized drums and keyboard embellishments.

“Dark Star,” on the other hand, is something a bit different from North by North: Blank’s keyboards take a more prominent role; Girard’s vocals are a bit more restrained; the main guitar line more sinewy with hints of The Cars and The xx.

All in all, a great one-two punch from a great Chicago band and we look forward to the full release. - RadioOne Chicago

It’s like they never left.

North by North‘s last release was in May of 2014. I was beginning to wonder what was happening in the NxN camp, but they’re back with a new hard-hitting rock track, “Pistoletta”. Laden with soaring guitar and one hell of a narrative, the song’s as gripping as it is anthemic. There are no huge surprises – North by North has maintained that bluesy rock vibe that won over so many fans – just new, great music we’ve all been waiting for, worthy of many a headbang.

Bang bang, in the neon lights
She’s feeling hot and heavy when the hammer strikes
With the looks to kill, and a steady hand
Pistoletta heeds no man

Give it a spin here, and just try to imagine how awesome the chorus is going to be live. - Midwest Action

The second part of our three interviews series comes with a three piece rock band out of Chicago. North by North made their second appearance at the festival on Sunday. They discussed their musical bucket list, the differences in crowd by region, and plans for their new release.

utaradioutadfw35dentonnorthbynorthrockchicago - UTA Radio

Chicago's North By North recently released the double A-side single 'Pistoletta'/'Dark Star', and you can download the former right here. A glam-infused blues-rock track, 'Pistoletta' is what might have happened if Bowie ever joined Led Zeppelin. - SoundsXP

We're so excited to see Chicago friends North By North heading east for CMJ this fall! Chicago’s North by North have been confirmed for an official CMJ Music Marathon show!

From CMJ: "Hailing from the land of brutal winters and deep dish pizza, North by North delivers a brand of spastic, yet finely-honed rock and roll. They seamlessly toe the line between 3 minute long garage pop and your dad's favorite "prog-rock deep cuts" mixtape, with plenty of hooks to spare."

Check out and preview tunes HERE - Fearless Radio

Chicago’s North by North tours East Coast

We’re now playing the riff-tastic songs “Pistoletta” and “Dark Star” on our playlist at radio.depaul.edu

Super excited for this band to be playing at CMJ’s music marathon on October 15th! Definitely a sign that North by North is slated for a big marquee venue soon.

Check out their music on our station or on their bandcamp page. - Radio DePaul

North By North, are a band from Chicago, Illinois who can best be described as hard hitting indie rock with a bluesy garage edge. The best part about North By North is they aren't an average indie garage band. Their album, "Something Wicked", has excellent musicianship & up front vocals. The music also progresses beyond 3 chords, lending to the songwriting quality (Underground Hero) - The JangleDrop

At 18 tracks, Something Wicked is nothing if not ambitious. The debut by Chicago's North by North stretches out over two vinyl LPs and streams on the trio's BandCamp page.

Side one/LP one intro "Run" is futuristic doo-wop that sets the tone for what is to come: a postmodern jumbo of blues, garage rock, rockabilly, hard rock and swamp boogie.

Other side one/LP one highlights include the Jack White-worthy audio-noir "Her Name Was Vengeance" and "Blood & Glitter," which stands up nicely against Arctic Monkeys circa Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Side two/LP one kicks off with the catchy "Venomous Kid," but the standout cut for maximum impact is cock-rock stunner "Hex. X. O."

LP two begins with another short intro, the baroque pop number "Is This a Dream?," which segues nicely into the carnivalesque "The Matisse Eye." (this album side is where NXN goes psychedelic, really; see also "Marshall Hawthorne" and "Soft Soul").

LP two/side two opens with the title track and also features the hard-charging "Parts and Labor," the stoner-metal anthem "Eye of the Storm" and epic closer "The Terror." - Radio One Chicago

Being from Chicago where there is a lot of musical talent and stage opportunity, I absolutely know I grade bands from here much harder than their touring counterparts. In the case of North by North, Something Wicked offers up a fantastically interesting and dynamic set of songs that compliment and enhance one another. To me they are the modern rock I crave, to others they are a combination of classic 70′s psych, garage rock, blues-punk and alternative. If you are looking for something new to add to your daily routine Something Wicked does not disappoint.

Recommended tracks: “Blood & Glitter” and “The Terror” - Secret Note Shows

Something Wicked is the debut album from Chicago garage rockers North By North. The band of Nate Girard, Kendra Blank and Dylan Andrews entice us with a massive 18 tracks of hard edged blues based garage rock. Reminiscent of the Black Keys, North By North are a no holds barred group and the album brims over with energy. A slight lo-fi vibe and a live feel abound, though not at the expense of a fully produced record. This is a definite must have. Stream and buy Something Wicked at the link below.

northbynorth.bandcamp.com - Floorshime Zipper Boots

A couple of days ago, Rolling Stone released an article on their website entitled, ’40 Albums Baby Boomers Loved That Millenials Don’t’. The list, itself, is largely stuff that most thrift store hounds find en masse – late 70′s staples like Supertramp’s ‘Breakfast In America’ stacked alongside late 80′s entries like ‘No Jacket Required’ by Phil Collins and ‘Brothers In Arms’ by Dire Straights. Offering the list with little in the way of commentary, aside from a few short sentences for each pick, served as its own comment on the point the article’s compiler was attempting to make, which would likely be something along the summation that music, as it was digested during what many in the over 50 set are now viewing as the last golden age of music (a stretch given the three decades the list traverses), is absolutely foreign to how people appreciate the form in 2014.

It all kind of goes back to that idea of what’s old is new again, the notion that something will burst and bloom and then decline before finding a point of re-invigoration at some other juncture later down the path. The age lines that can be drawn between the designations of Generation X and Millenials is still largely an up in the air thing due to how many opinions and studies have been rattled off to support each new suggestion of definitive take, but it’s pretty much impossible to just assume that people under 35 haven’t been exposed to the vast world of creativity that came before Nirvana when we’ve had the ability, for years, to carry the internet around in our back pockets.

North By North are an instance of how this blurring of generational lines isn’t something that can be quantified in black and white and left to settle. Earlier this year, they self released the double LP, “Something Wicked”, a sprawling diaspora of a record that required the listener to sit down and slowly journey their way through a staggering 18 cuts. Avant garde composer, John Cage, throughout much of his career, was outspoken about his dislike of the vinyl LP as a means of communicating music, due to its physical limitations, and the creative boundaries that were, then, set upon the sounds within the grooves, a sentiment that was often felt by the now ‘classic’ rock and roll bands of the 70′s and 80′s who, at their least ambitious, would release double LP’s, and at their most indulgent, would drop quadruple box sets. Punk rock would come along and wipe that away with songs retrofitted for the truly ADHD amongst us, and in ‘Something Wicked’, North By North seemed to take a middle finger to the idea of less is more by throwing everything that they could onto a record that clocked in at an hour, all while succeeding in creating a landscape of music that never indicated outer tangents of filler or the inability to make edits; everything that was there was crucial to the rest in order to create the whole.

Musically, the three players who make up NxN have never shied from bravado and theatrics, as most notably displayed on ‘Blood and Glitter’, one of ‘Something Wicked’s lead off tracks, a sweeping three and a half minutes of Brian May-esque guitar intros and tense riffing over even tighter drums. Sure, punk rock may have informed North By North’s members during their youth, but it would be fairly easy to make the jump of assumption that they were also, likely at the same time, raiding the collections of their baby boomer parents and finding every perennial piece of music released during the 1970′s.

On their latest single, the trio continue in the vein that they established on the LP, adding formula one speed and more grit to the proceedings. That the group are able to release a small but steady stream of music is commendable, that they’re able to retain the quality and not falter is what makes North By North notable, even as each new track introduces furthering dexterity to the machine that they’re building, a massive skyscraper of sound running off of endless amounts of material mined from the past, all fed into a furnace that helps churn out the music being made in the present. Yeah, this sound isn’t new, and I highly doubt North by North are really claiming any such platitude; in many ways, ‘Mama Gold’ and ‘Break Some Bones’ both bear some resemblance to many of the bands that were in operation during the early 2000′s when MTV was heavily marketing “the return of the rock” (a real term they used, no kidding!) after a time when trends in electronic music and teen pop had spent half a decade dominating the mainstream listening audience’s mass consciousness.

In some ways, it would seem that cycle is being born anew with North by North’s sound standing in direct opposition to the steady rise of EDM and its trends stomping over everything in its path like the Cloverfield monster dropping fast moving creatures from its body as it moves through New York City ravaging it. Are NxN actually opponents to that uprising? Likely not; I’m just putting motivations into their mouths, but make no mistake, ‘Mama Gold’ and ‘Break Some Bones’ aren’t meant to be penned into small venues – this is stadium sized music, with riffs and production plumper than a jumbo dog at a ball game, and with any luck, twenty years from now, North by North records will be as common of a sight as ‘Frampton Comes Alive’. - Notes + Bolts

Hey guys! Have a listen to Something Wicked, North By North's debut album. This 18-track album is a beautiful representation of their talent and awesome indie/rock music with a hint of 70s psych! North By North are a trio from Chicago: guitarist/vocalist Nate Girard, keyboardist/vocalist Kendra Blank and drummer Dylan Andrews. I've got to point out the awesome guitar riffs on tunes like Her Name Was Vengeance (LOVE it), Creature Comforts, Hex X.O., and many more. Another track I love is the swampy Pitter Patter! The album is really great if you're into indie-rock meets psych with awesome percussion and guitar solos!! - Caesar LiveNLoud

Last Thursday night, we braved the Chicago cold on our way to the Ukrainian Village for a night of loud, hard rock. Having never seen any of these three Chicago outfits live, I was very much looking forward to this evening.

The Empty Bottle welcomed us in from the cold with open arms. Before I could even grab a beer, the venue’s claw machine stole my attention. After facing the devastating possibility that maybe, just maybe, we weren’t going to win the “bear puppy bank” (those damn weak claws), we made our way towards stage and waited for the music to start.

Aktar Aktar were the first to take the stage. They led their set with a strong performance of “Rdrs”. The recorded version is impressive, but the live performance left me near speechless. The remainder of their set was equally as good, but damn. “Rdrs” was a perfect way to kick off the night.

Celebrating the release of their new record were North by North. Having only heard the band online, I thoroughly enjoyed their live performance and, most importantly, their volume. It’s not rock unless I’m left with my ears ringing, and I was.

Like pros, North by North flew through tracks from Something Wicked and touched on some of my favorites off the album, namely “Burn it Down” and “Catacombs”. They even unveiled a couple new songs that were written after they finished the album.

Nate’s guitar licks on “Soft Soul” were awesome; it was one of those concert moments where I just wanted to press repeat. Only pausing occasionally to promote their new, mint green vinyl and to thank the audience, it was obvious why these musicians were included in Red Eye’s 15 Chicago Artists to Watch in ’14.

The evening was capped off with a performance by The Ivorys. Before they began playing, the group set up a laser light and a fog machine, clearly a sign of an awesome performance to come. Fronted by two leather-jacket clad musicians, their music sounded just as cool as they looked, classic-rock-meets-70s-punk.

Their set was great; stand out songs included “Drink In, Truth Out”, a dancey tune with one hell of a guitar line, and “To Hell With Waiting”. The keys on “To Hell With Waiting” were sometimes creepy, sometimes melodic, and still other times loud and intense. The Ivorys really got the crowd moving and were damn good, a performance only made better by lasers and fog. - Midwest Action!

Happy 2014, blogspot readers!

SouthSide's back rockin' the local music beat even while stuck in this unusually arctic-like winter. Despite the icy winds howling and below normal temps chilling the bones, it was definitely HOT inside Empty Bottle with bands like Aktar Aktar and The Ivorys on stage. In the middle of this fantastic lineup was North By North proudly celebrating the release of their debut album "Something Wicked".

Recently named as one of the top 15 rising local acts to watch in 2014 (according to RedEye), this reviewer enjoyed this band's fresh yet unique approach to their guitar rock sound that will leave you (as well as your ears) blown away when their set is finished. That's how SouthSide and many others who attended this show felt after witnessing North By North perform live selections off their new album. It was pop ...powerpop ...a touch of punk ...electronica and so much more wrapped up inside this local act's performance, blogspot readers, which electrified the stage with vibrant bursts of energy and intricately complex rhythms. For this reviewer, it was a feast for the musical mind and soul. She liked the way the trio incorporated bits and pieces of one or more genres to create danceable floetry of poppy melodies. At times, she also found North's music to be a little edgy to hauntingly creepy as well as emotionally passionate.

For this local trio, the music is the central and main focus ...so do expect this band to rock the stage under an aura of mystery at times especially when it comes their song intros. For example, check out the song The Terror (list on the album as track 18), SouthSide loved the creepy electronic intro that sent a rush of icy chills down this reviewer's spine despite a touch of rough feedback off the monitors during the chorus. Yet, it was the North's unique upbeat rhythm and melody in this quick-paced tune that will definitely grab your attention, blogspot readers. SouthSide did have the same reaction during Is This A Dream ? (track 10) where you'll hear the twinkling sounds of lullaby enchantment under a creepy carnivale-esque vibe with dark lyrics to match. Or bask in the edgy grit of the guitar (by front man Nate) during Creature Comforts and new song with just enough rock loudness to get you head banging to the beat. Meanwhile feel that boisterous electrifying edge that will get the heart instantly racing with excitement from North's The Matisse Eye.

SouthSide highly recommends checking out North By North live as well as snagging a copy of the band's 18-track debut album, "Something Wicked" to add to your CD collection, blogspot readers.

For more information about this band, visit http://www.northbynorth.bandcamp.com.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide - Southside on the Town

Quickly, what will five bucks get you these days?

A.) Pack of cigarettes.

B.) One frosty pint at your favorite dive.

C.) A night of live music jammed packed with four awesome bands?

If you guessed answer C.) then you guessed correctly because we all know answers A.) and B.) will cost you more than a crispy Lincoln. It’s hard to believe but TONIGHT at The End for just $5 you will get to see four awesome (mostly local) bands! It’s an 18+ show and doors open at 9 pm, so get there early to stretch your hard earned dough the furthest possible. There’s a lot to brush up on, so we’ll get right to it after the jump. Read on to find out just what five green backs is worth in Music City.


The Cunning

These four local boys are pure and simple electric rock ’n’ roll with an ex post facto love of Southern rock. The steady buzz that has been following them like a shadow ever since their formation in the summer of 2013 is only growing as they light up stages all over town, including a blistering set they played for 8 off 8th a few months back. Check them out in the video below but beware; they caution on their FB page that they’re only for the “grown and sexy”.

North By North

The only non-natives on the bill, this power trio from Chicago is something to behold! If you like Queens of the Stone Age or Jack White (and who doesn’t, especially if you’re reading this blog) then these dudes are for you. Their debut LP Something Wicked is incredible for a band so young and you should buy it here right now! Their spastic and heavy rock has us fiending for a live gig so the rest of the acts on the bill better bring it. Still not sold? Have a taste.

Ravenhill

With a FB page index of influences that reads like our iTunes top-25 most played list, we are super curious to see what these power vocal, soul rockers are all about. Believe it or not sometimes great bands fly under our all-encompassing radar. Based on the video below, these hometowners have definitely created a ‘blip’.

The Cunning, North By North, Ravenhill and ATA will perform TONIGHT at The End. The show is 18+, begins at at 9:30 (doors at 9), and tickets are available for $5. - No Country for New Nashville

Chicago’s North by North follow up 2014’s fantastic Something Wicked LP and “Mama Gold”/”Break Some Bones” singles with two new tracks slated for inclusion on a fall 2015 album.

“Pistoletta” is what NXN fans have come to expect from the trio (Nate Girard, Kendra Blank, Dylan Andrews): big vocals and guitars from the Jack White playbook; nods to blues, punk and arena rock; super-sized drums and keyboard embellishments.

“Dark Star,” on the other hand, is something a bit different from North by North: Blank’s keyboards take a more prominent role; Girard’s vocals are a bit more restrained; the main guitar line more sinewy with hints of The Cars and The xx.

All in all, a great one-two punch from a great Chicago band and we look forward to the full release. - RadioOne Chicago

It’s Week 4 of EastWest Music Fest’s six-Friday run this summer at venues in De Pere, and it’s time to rock.

Look for another mix of acts from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, the Fox Valley and De Pere’s own Kurt Gunn doing original music on Friday night. While the fest’s focus remains singer/songwriters, for those looking to do some serious rockin’, check out the final two performances of the evening: North by North, the Chicago power trio that has keyboards instead of bass and has been described as a combination of Cold War Kids, Queens of the Stone Age and Wolfmother, and The Delta Routine, hailed as “one of the Milwaukee area’s best hidden secrets in the realm of rock-and-roll” by PopMatters.

» 7 p.m.: Sam Luna (Chicago), Luna Coffee & Roastery; Corey Hart (Madison), La Vie Boheme

» 8:10 p.m.: Auralai (Oshkosh), Luna Coffee & Roastery; Todd Kessler (Chicago), La Vie Boheme

» 8:30 p.m.: Ida Jo (Madison), Fire House; Kurt Gunn (De Pere), McGeorge’s Pub

» 9:40 p.m.: Corey Hart, Fire House; Sam Luna, McGeorge’s Pub

» 10 p.m.: Modern Mod (Madison), Buddha’s Still; Todd Kessler and New Folk (Chicago), George Street Connection

» 11:10 p.m.: North by North (Chicago), Buddha’s Still; The Delta Routine (Milwaukee), George Street Connection

All performances are free. EastWest Music Fest continues Aug. 7 and 21. For more information, visit definitelydepere.org.

— Kendra Meinert/Press-Gazette Media - Green Bay Press-Gazette Media

Just in time for Halloween, Chicago duo North By North are here with a massive, 17-track double LP filled with lots of guitar, in-your-face vocals, plenty of groove, fervor for days, and spooky, Stephen King-inspired elements that feel just right for the season. Last Days Of Magic not only has some of the greatest album art of the year, but front to back it’s simply one of the best albums of the year as well. Putting out a 17-song album that isn’t packed with skits or interludes is both ballsy and ambitious; you run the risk of boring the listener with lackluster filler, but North By North keep it consistently exciting with an interesting concept and intriguing songwriting that always feels fresh and theatric. Quoting myself from a previous mention of the band, North By North’s music “begs to be blasted at high volumes and sounds better and better the higher you crank the knob.”

“Like on our first record, we wrote studio-only introductions to each side of the double LP,” explains keyboardist Kendra Blank, “but each intro is more fleshed-out, with more instrumentation and song components than you’ll find on Something Wicked. Writing and recording these intros was one of my favorite parts about tracking the album because it allowed us to not only step a bit outside of our comfort zone musically but also to delve into the back story of some of the characters a bit more than the full songs allow for. For example, ‘Dastardly’ describes the circumstances that lead to the haunting events in ‘Stone Too Sour,’ and ‘Dark Star’ personifies the getaway-car-turned-sidekick used by the femme-fatale frontwoman of ‘Quick Rick.'”

If you’re a fan of good, solid rock ‘n’ roll music, you really should make time for this album, especially if you’re into bands like the Dead Weather, Portugal. The Man, and the Veils. Last Days Of Magic will be released this Friday, October 14 through Double Hex Records (pick up a copy).

North By North tour dates:
10/14 – Portland, OR – Valentine’s
10/15 – Vancouver, BC – Fairview Pub
10/16 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
10/18 – Seattle, WA – LoFi
10/19 – Spokane, WA – The Pin
10/22 – Denver, CO – Lion’s Lair
10/25 – Omaha, NE – Dr. Jack’s Drinkery
10/26 – Lincoln, NE – Duffy’s Tavern
10/28 – Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Bar
10/29 – Eau Claire, WI – House of Rock
10/30 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
10/31 – Madison, WI – Mickey’s Tavern - Substream Magazine

Hailing from the land of brutal winters and deep dish pizza, North by North has developed their own brand of infectious, spastic yet finely-honed rock and roll. They seamlessly toe the line between 3 minute garage pop anthems and your dad’s favorite “prog-rock deep cuts” cassette tape, with plenty of hooks to spare. North by North began in Fall of 2011 in Chicago, IL. Originally a drum and guitar blues-punk duo, Nate Girard and Kendra Blank spent the winter of 2011-2012 in a converted warehouse writing material that would later be rearranged around their current lineup and released as their debut, double LP, “Something Wicked,” almost 3 years later. Bringing on various members to fill out behind the drums and shifting Kendra’s role to keyboardist allowed North by North to delve into more intricate songwriting to couple with the raw energy of their previous incarnation. Their sound has been crafted to feature the juxtaposition of infectious melodies, narrative lyrics and powerful live instrumentation, all of which have been lauded by audiences and critics throughout the U.S. - cmw.net

Chicago crunch rock guitar duo North by North returns to the motherland for a quick stop on their Never-Ending Tour. They are joined by local favorites The Cell Phones and Mystery Crash, and Cincinnati duo Suck the Honey.

Hailing from the land of brutal winters and deep dish pizza, North by North has developed their own brand of infectious, spastic yet finely-honed rock and roll. They seamlessly toe the line between 3 minute garage pop anthems and your dad’s favorite “prog-rock deep cuts” cassette tape, with plenty of hooks to spare.

Cost: Payment required - $10 adv / $12 dos
Categories: Nightlife & Singles | Performing Arts - Eventful

Chicago crunch rock guitar duo North by North returns to the motherland for a quick stop on their Never-Ending Tour. They are joined by local favorites The Cell Phones and Mystery Crash, and Cincinnati duo Suck the Honey.

Hailing from the land of brutal winters and deep dish pizza, North by North has developed their own brand of infectious, spastic yet finely-honed rock and roll. They seamlessly toe the line between 3 minute garage pop anthems and your dad’s favorite “prog-rock deep cuts” cassette tape, with plenty of hooks to spare.

Cost: Payment required - $10 adv / $12 dos
Categories: Food & Wine | Nightlife & Singles | Performing Arts - Eventful

There’s just something about the horn line that comes in at about the 32-second mark of “All That Glitters”— the lead-off track from North By North’s excellent sophomore album, Last Days Of Magic—that screams The Blues Brothers. But maybe that’s just a symptom of some sort of rock-writer confirmation bias, owing to the fact that this self-described “ghost punk” trio hail from Chicago.

According to Kendra Blank—keyboardist, touring drummer and one half of the core duo that comprises North By North—she has never heard her band and the 1980 John Belushi- and Dan Aykroyd-starring film mentioned in the same breath before. Blank does admit that she and Nate Girard, the band’s principal songwriter, do draw influence from other gritty Midwestern heroes, like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. And she says on their most recent tour, North By North were readily compared to the late, great nouveau-glam champions Foxy Shazam.

But no Jake and Elwood. The only thing Blank would offer in this regard, was a quip: “We play both kinds of rock: blues and glam.”

North By North do have a knack for merging the grandiose, climbing guitar lines of Brian May collide with rust belt stomp of Jack and Meg White.

But there is third element to the band’s sound: prog. On “Dastardly,” Girard sounds like The Dear Hunter’s Casey Crescenzo with his voice funneled through a microphone that’s seen better days; a whistled lead loops around a loping beat, before a somber string sections closes the song. And on “Kerosene Dream” a spooky, ghost-surf guitar riff gives way to delerium tremens organ, and the oom-pah-pah bounce of carnival-barker bass.

It’s an apt parallel when it comes to the volume of songs Blank and Girard have written. Just as Crescenzo has produced seven full-length records in ten years with his Dear Hunter vehicle, North By North put out two double-LPs in the span of two years—Something Wicked in 2014 and Last Days Of Magic late last year—and the pair are already eyeing 2018 for another full-length.

It’s clear that Blank and Girard love what they do—both in the music itself, and as evidenced by their rigorous touring schedule. Not long after wrapping a 12-week trek, the pair are on the third week of a 15-week stint. The pair plan on touring all year. Next stop San Jose with Sweet HayaH, Life Size Models and White Fuzzy Bloodbath.

North By North
Feb 23, 10pm, Free
The Caravan, San Jose - MetroActive