Chicago has a great local music scene and Office is one of the bands that makes the community a little brighter and richer. With their catchy form of melodramatic popular song, each note played makes you bob your head to the melodies created while you feel happy to belong to the city.
Strangely enough, I had drastically underestimated the local five piece that is The Office when I saw them play The Metro with local shoegazers Airiel. This night was different as lead singer Scott Masson was clearly at his best. Walking onto stage with a bright red wig, he seemed more confident and at ease playing the Schubas music festival. The harmonizing was perfect, especially on songs like “If You Don’t Know By Now” and “Oh My.” Jessica Gonyea kept perfect timing between her tambourine and keyboard playing all swirling around her melodic backup vocals. She and Masson made a great dynamic pair with a positively charged sort of chemistry. Erica Corniel showed off her great drumming skills while Tom Smith and Alissa Noonan helped bring out some of those fantastic chord progressions and, in Noonan’s case, the bass lines. Fitting well within the night as a whole, The Office positively won us all over. It truly wasn’t until seeing them in this setting that I realized how much potential The Office has.
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Download: Office - "Dominos"
You know, like I said...I really feel like this band has a great deal of potential now. I'm also still excited about my other favorite locals though-The Bitter Tears, the 1900s, Pit er Pat, Tenki, Palliard...so many great ones that call Chicago their home. We really need to keep the spirit of a community of independent music alive here considering the talent at stake.
Posted by: Kirstie | 01/28/2007 at 02:54 AM
Office is great. I can't believe it took so long after SXSW for them to sign. Maybe they just took their time doing so, or maybe Tapes 'n Tapes stole too much spotlight. Nevertheless, I really look forward to hearing Office's new record this year.
Posted by: Jonk | 01/27/2007 at 08:48 PM