Imagine if Fall Out Boy had an overwhelming DIY ethic and didn’t give a fuck about conforming their image to an already-established scene. Kind of a nice thought, isn’t it? Now, multiply that great feeling by ten, and you’ll find yourself listening to Empires, another Chicago-based quartet that bolted out of the starting gate and never looked back. Founded in 2007 by guitarist Tom Conrad and frontman Sean Van Fleet, Empires quickly expanded into a foursome, with drummer Ray Luciani and guitarist Max Steger filling the empty posts.
Going against the vein of groups that are on a quest to establish themselves right away, the band spent a year writing and recording songs (2008’s Howl was the end result) before ever stepping on to a stage to play a show. Downloads for Howl totaled close to 70,000 by the year’s end, and large media outlets like MTV and the Chicago Tribune started to pay attention. Riding on the high of the album, Empires recorded a follow-up EP, Bang, in 2010. Earlier this year, the band was one of sixteen finalists for Rolling Stone’s “Choose the Cover” contest in which they competed for a cover story and a deal with Atlantic Records.
Bang showed signs of a slight departure from Empires’ debut effort, with raw intensity favored over the previously glossy sound throughout Howl. Van Fleet recognized this shift in an interview with Rolling Stone, saying “…we’re getting rid of the polish. I like that whole Clash/Sex Pistols attitude: ‘If you don’t like it, we don’t give a fuck.’” Van Fleet’s charismatic wail is prominent in both recordings, and is a trait that is sure to end up on the quartet’s sophomore album, Garage Hymns, due out later this year. In an interview with Spinner.com back in March of this year, Conrad said that ten demo tracks were in the works for the new record. Although they currently don’t have a label, he isn’t worried. “The band has always done things on our own, there isn’t anything that can hold us back,” he said confidently.
From acoustic numbers like “Don’t Let it Fool You” to sexually fueled, back-beat driven tunes like “Bang,” the tracks they’ve rolled out so far are pretty damn good. Regardless of the genre the quartet flirts with, pristine guitar work and Van Fleet’s soulful voice always shine through.
Although the band has a tendency to slap a garage rock label on its finished products, the genre may be a bit too confining. Garage rock produces immediate comparisons to the White Stripes and The Vines, bands that don’t fully represent what Empires does. Drummer Ray Luciani may have summed up the band’s sound the best, calling it “legitimate foot-pounding rock written and played from the heart,” a tag that makes me think of the Gaslight Anthem, Foo Fighters, and Year Long Disaster. As evidenced by the various ends of the musical spectrum explored on their albums, Empires clearly does not fall into the confines of one specific genre. This feat can be attributed to diverse musical tastes within the band; Conrad states that Radiohead is one of the few bands that all members enjoy listening to.
The cool thing about Empires is that they really are DIY to a tee. Each member has an extra talent useful to the progress of the band; from photography and design, to film-work, and most importantly, recording. Guitarist Max Steger gets the production, engineering, and mixing credits on all of the band’s releases so far. If you’re into music that absolutely oozes passion, drafts a bit off of Foo Fighters’ sound and style, and that wouldn’t sound out of place in an arena venue, be sure to check out Empires when they play The Frequency tomorrow night (September 28, 2011). Get your tickets here.
–Sam Clark
FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD: Empires – “Damn Things Over”
***We’re currently giving away a pair of tickets to the show right here, and on our Facebook page today (September 27, 2011)!
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Related Content: Live Madison Concert Video & Photos: The Damned Things At The Annex, 02.03.11
Filed under: Free Madison Concert Tickets & MP3 Downloads, Indie, Music Shows This Week in Madison, Rock Tagged: | Empires, Empires Damn Things Over, free mp3 download, free MP3 download from Empires, Madison WI concerts, madison wi music
Thank you for this awesome article! I love Empires to pieces and every little bit of press helps.
Thanks Eliana! We hope we’ll see you at the show!
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