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The Effigies
Posted by Laila Hanson on 05-Jun-08 @ 02:54 PM|
FILE UNDER: Ferocious, Melodic, Intelligent Chicago Punk Rock YEARS OF EXISTENCE: 1980-1986, 1987-1990, 2004-present RECORD TO START WITH: For Ever Grounded (Ruthless/Enigma, 1984) AFTER THAT, CHECK OUT: Remains Nonviewable (Roadkill, 1989; Touch And Go, 1995) GO DOWNLOAD: "Quota," "We're Da Machine," "Security," "Mob Clash," "Haunted Town," "Rather See None," "Silent Burn" THE MUSIC, THE MESSAGE: The Effigies formed in 1980, and after a couple quick lineup adjustments, vocalist John Kezdy, guitarist Earl Letiecq, bassist Paul Zamost and drummer Steve Economou displayed they had more up their collective sleeve than many of their contemporaries with their first records, 1981's Haunted Town EP and '82's Body Bag 7-inch. While Body Bag's title track is more straight-up, speedy punk, the B-side, "Security," is an outrageous four-minute disco-esque dance riot with a beat to die for, driven by Zamost's groovy bass, which defies the early-'80s hardcore/punk norm of louder and faster. Ditto for Haunted Town: Its title track and "Mob Clash" had that irresistible danceable beat mixed with a tough, rock 'n' roll swagger. Throughout their career, the Effigies continued to push boundaries, both musically (inventive spins on punk rock and "post-punk" with their albums For Ever Grounded, Fly On A Wire and Ink) and with their cerebral, thought-provoking lyrics, which dealt mostly with the importance of being an individual and various socio-political themes, from the daily grind ("Quota") to society and government ("Below The Drop," "We're Da Machine"). After their third LP, Ink, was released in '86, the band called it a day (incidentally after being asked--and declining--to go on tour with Metallica). They quickly bounced back in '87 with a new lineup, but disbanded again in 1990. PUNK-ROCK RELEVANCE: The Effigies, one of the most important Midwestern bands, are among a small few that sprouted from the Chicago area in the early '80s (they were part of the "first generation of Chicago punk"). Not only are they recognized and beloved for breaking down punk rock/hardcore boundaries, but they also left an indelible mark with their label, Ruthless Records, which they ran until '84, releasing classics from the likes of Naked Raygun and Big Black before turning it over to Steve Albini. CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: The band reunited in 1992 for a one-off gig and again in '95-'96 for a few shows when Touch And Go reissued the collection of early material, Remains Nonviewable. In 2004, the Effigies reunited for good, with Kezdy, Zamost and Economou alongside new guitarist Robert McNaughton; they released a new full-length, Reside on Criminal IQ Records in 2007. -Janelle Jones |
