JANUARY 30, 2005

Rogue Wave
SCHUBA'S, CHICAGO

Judging from the credits on Out of the Shadow, one of 2004's most promising debut albums, the band Rogue Wave is pretty much just songwriter Zach Rogue and some backing musicians...

 

There's no doubt that Rogue is the captain of this ship, but Rogue Wave really did feel like a full-fledged band during their show at Schuba's. The three backing musicians (only two are listed at www.roguewavemusic.com — Pat Spurgeon and Gram Lebron) swapped places on drums, bass, guitar and keyboards several times, but always sounded lively as they brought more of a rock edge to Rogue's catchy, loopily psychedelic pop tunes.

 

Several new songs sounded fine — they might grow on me after I hear them more, though none of the new songs initially stood out as strong as the best tracks on Out of the Shadow.

 

The audience was very, very enthusiastic. The second encore actually seemed to be one of those unplanned sets that bands play when the crowd just won't leave.

 

The Saturday Nights played first, with likable if not exactly outstanding power pop. Then came the angular, intense sound of the San Francisco guitar-and-drums duo Two Gallants. They ended their set by moving down onto the main floor of Schuba's (taking a few pieces of their drum kit with them), playing one last song unamplified for the hushed room. A nice touch. Two Gallants are not much like the more famous guitar-drum duos out there (you know, White Stripes, Black Keys, Local H), but they left a strong first impression on me...

 

 

However, listening to the songs "Nothing to You" and "Train That Stole My Man" at the Two Gallants Web site, I'm not so sure. That singer's voice... it seemed "edgy" during the concert, not exactly good but somehow invigorating... Now it seems a little annoying out of that context. A bit too Obersty, perhaps? Definitely an acquired taste, which I haven't acquired yet.

 

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE CONCERT.