Despite there not being an official election for such a title, Chicago’s Big Black Bird are making a strong campaign as one of the city’s hardest-working, and overall best acts. The quartet’s emphasis on distortion, high energy vocals, and letting each member wear the songwriting hat are a welcome change from a genre seemingly focused on beard-growth and flannel cravings.
BBB’s lineup – Andrew Price, Brian Schnell and brothers Kevin and Brian Bart – returned to the studio this Fall to record the follow-up to their 2011 debut The Lemon Tree, a record packed to the gills with necessary punches and anthemic riffs. The yet-to-be-titled second album will see the band continue to lean on their strengths – punishing guitars, full-band harmonies – while diving deeper into 70’s style psychedelia, pop, and even punk. All of this enhanced by their shiny new toy – “you must hear her to believe her” backup singer and raconteur Maggie Ok.