I'm surrounded

Photo: Raphael Gendron Martin

I had the pleasure of having an enlightening Q & A session with the man behind the mic of Chicago's very own Republic of Lights. Gosh...I'm such an insider! I suppose it may help that I've known Alan Snider, lead vocalist and guitar pro, since I was 11 years old. I'm pretty sure we intended to start our own rock band and call it The Broken Llamas. Oh, what I would give to see the disturbing — yet tantalizing — cover art we designed during our 7th grade lunch breaks! Anyhow, I digress. Back to Republic of Lights (or what should be The Broken Llamas, if I stuck to my aspirations of becoming a rock star)...

This young, fresh, electric band will be performing at The Bottom Lounge this Saturday (May 30) with Har Mar Superstar. And I'm pumped! Alan even gave me permission to rush the stage and throw my undergarments at his band mates. Or did he? Hhmm...I suppose we'll find out. Here's what Alan had to say:

Jazzy Juice: As an enthusiastic and passionate music lover, I've been disappointed (as you might already know) with rock music recently. What are your thoughts on rock music?

Alan Snider: Well, I think that, in general, rock music has flourished since 2003. The internet, while killing revenue, has created an audience for a ton of bands who wouldn't otherwise have had one. Traditional methods of finding and distributing music made nu-metal happen, which was absolutely the low water mark of American pop music. Even though there was a ton of good music being made at that time, I think that was probably the worst time to be a fan in pop music's history. The democracy of the internet diminishes the need for million-dollar marketing binges. They still happen, but buzz on music blogs seems to happen more and more around deserving artists, regardless of their label affiliation. The downside of that is that those same, deserving bands are old news by the time they release a second album, which makes it difficult to have a semblance of a career.

Maybe it's for that reason that, nationally, I haven't been disappointed in rock music at all. I got to see Jack White, Grizzly Bear and Radiohead play in Chicago on the same day last summer. Of Montreal's record was excellent. Phoenix's new record is so much fun. Animal Collective made a great record. And I feel like Spoon has perfected their sound... so there's a lot to be excited for if you're a fan of rock music. Watch your feet for all the name-dropping I just did.

JJ: Ha! And as a proud Chicago resident, I've been even more disappointed with the latest rock bands that come from this great city. I haven't seen anything like the Pumpkins in ages it seems. What do you think, specifically, about Chicago rock?

AS: When it comes to Chicago acts, I can understand your hesitation. The hip-hop community is thriving right now, and that makes for a rough comparison. There's definitely an under representation of Chicago in national pop-rock scene. When we spoke before, I said that Pete Wentz makes a poor Billy Corgan, but that's not entirely fair. Fall Out Boy is more a DuPage County band than a Chicago band. I don't mean that to slight them, it's just that I think they've completely captured the essence of what it means to be a kid from an affluent suburb who's into punk rock. It's not for me, it's not for a lot of music critics, but I think that it's unfair to burden a band who does one thing well with something as ridiculous as the musical aspirations of a city with an inferiority complex.

That said, I have a hard time thinking that Chicago will ever dominate the national music scene for a stretch of time like Seattle and L.A. have done, and that New York sort of always is doing. The very nature of the way that our city is laid out, geographically, can hinder that sort of creative community. Our venues are scattered like buckshot, and they become destinations rather than scenes. I think that influences the fact that our city only seems to produce random pockets of eclectic, excellent music in bursts here and there.

There's still a lot to like here, though. Company of Thieves, my brother's band 1997, Empires, the Redwalls, the now defunct Wax On Radio... all good stuff.

JJ: Well put, and I think you just put me in my place (which is mighty hard to achieve!). How, if at all, does Republic of Lights intend to fill this void in modern rock music?

AS: Well, we don't. I don't have any aspirations of SUPER RAWK STARDOM. I think I'd make a bad superhero superstar. I talk too much. I drink too much. I have questionable morals. It's great that Chris Martin can bask in the glow of that lifestyle — I think I'd ruin it pretty quickly. Look at all the talking I've done already. That doesn't exactly help you look mysterious.

JJ: Good point. I admire that about you, pal...I'm such a cheeseball. Can you tell me then what's special and unique about your sound?

AS: As a band, when we're right, what makes it work is the right combination of ominous tension and energy. That's also what makes a good nightclub. And a good cocktail.

JJ: I love a good cocktail! Now I'm thirsty. Thanks. Anyhow, are you competitive with other local bands? What is your relationship with them?

AS: In that some of them make the marketing aspect of our jobs easy, yes. I can get jealous of that because my band is terrible at it. Awful. But creatively and in terms of success, not at all. It would be sour grapes to begrudge anyone's success when they're trying to do something as ridiculous as being a musician in an age where no one pays for records.

Still, I wish that our scene were more collaborative. It's incredibly insular. I write with my band members, and sadly, that's it. It seems like it's like that all over town, at least from where I'm standing.

JJ: What is the focus of your music? Do you have a message?

AS: There's no message. We try and capture a feeling. It can be difficult, and it's always fleeting. But it's electric when it happens. I'm not interested in preaching my morality at people. That's what churches and talk radio are for.

JJ: Indeed. So what should I expect to see at your show at The Bottom Lounge? Will you at least take your shirt off and call me on stage to dance with you?

AS: At any other show, I would certainly take my shirt off. But look at Har Mar. Would you compete with that? Too much sexy for me to handle.









JJ: I don't know Alan. I think you might have him beat. I'd be willing to pay to watch you two gentlemen duke it out in your underwear...perhaps in oil. Ok, I'll stop talking now.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. And for letting me post these awesome tracks! I can't wait to see you guys perform them live. My personal fave is "Landmines." Sexy sexy!

Republic of Lights - Got You Surrounded
Republic of Lights - Landmines
Republic of Lights - 38 and First Street