speed of dark

Two Chicago bands have recently come to our attention for review. Neither employ any tricky rhythms, synthesizer weirdness, or enigmatic lyrics. They pursue good old pop-rock in the time-honored tradition.

The Safes

The Safes are the brothers O'Malley: Frankie, Michael, and Patrick. Nice Irish boys who were brought up by their dad on the likes of Chuck Berry and Hank Williams. The chemistry between them is evident in the harmonies and melody on "Phone Book Full of Phonies." Cute song title, that. "Only In Your Mind" is nice too. They might remind you of Weezer minus Rivers Cuomo's angst.

You can stream the album's tracks on their website, and go to their MySpace page for spring tour dates in the eastern U.S.

From their second full-length CD Well Well Well (2006):

The Safes: Phone Book Full of Phonies
The Safes: Fairy Tale Tomorrow

The Safes' website | myspace


Dearborn

Dearborn are a four-piece band led by soap-actor-handsome Pino Farina (lead vocals/guitars) with John Cwiok (bass), Mike Poupko (lead guitar), and John Schiller (drums). They received the 2004 Chicago Music Award for Rock Album of the Year for their debut release, Prepare To Qualify, and they have earned nominations three years running for Chicago's Best Rock Entertainer Award.

I'm not surprised to see Van Halen on their list of influences. Of the artists they cite, this is the one I hear the clearest in their songs, although Poupko has some catching up to do to equal Eddie's searing, high-speed licks. Dearborn also remind me of Bon Jovi. Both Van Halen and Bon Jovi are very successful, commercial, mainstream-rockj bands, and if these are the models Dearborn wish to emulate, they are well on their way.

From their soon to be released debut CD Always in Disguise:

Dearborn: Already Down
Dearborn: U-Turn

Dearborn's Website
Stream more songs and buy CDs at Dearborn's MySpace page