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07.30.08 Slang for Bad Science
In part due to sometimes fantastic attempts to make the
failed earth-centered model work,
"adding epicycles"
has come to be used as a derogatory comment in modern
scientific discussion.
06.03.08
02.20.08
01.29.08
01.01.08
12.18.07
12.14.06
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10.16.06
One of the gigs the band looks forward to most is the Halloween show..
This year we are thrilled to "become" David Bowie.
Join in on the fun costumed or not at Gunthers.
Halloween Show Friday 10/27/06 9:00pm Gunther Murphy's 1638 W. Belmont Chicago, Illinois
(773) 472-5139
$7
8.25.06 New Dates First we are looking forward to sharing the stage with
the Frank Tribes Band.
Silvie's Lounge Friday 9/22/06 9pm $6 1902 W. Irving Park Rd Chicago, Il 60613 (773).871-6239 Silvie's Lounge We are ready to morph into the Bowie for Halloweekend. 10/27 More details TBA. Thanks to all who have visited us and listened to our new tunes at myspace. Become one of our friends at myspace.com/epicycle.
See you at the next show!!
7.08.06 Spend Some Time In Branson Ode to Branson one of our new songs is now up on myspace.com/epicycle. This song along with 11 others will be on our upcoming CD Jingo Jangle.
We plan to spend the rest of the summer finishing the CD.
Check this site and our myspace home for new sneak peaks as well as
chances to hear them live at upcoming shows TBA.
Enjoy the summer!!!
5.12.06 New Summer Dates Summer is almost here, the time is right for dancing in the streets
and to catch an Epicycle show. Announcing three new summer dates. The first is a benefit for some of favorite peeps, WLUW.
WLUW Fundraiser Saturday 5/27/06 8:00pm-2am Epicycle plays at 9:30pm The Montrose Saloon 2933 W. Montrose Ave Chicago, Illinois (773) 549-9645 Check out www.brewinbeagle.com Come out to the lake for our next gig. Epicycle is excited to be part of the
13th Annual Artists of the Wall Festival. The theme of this yearšs contest is "Naturešs Canvas: The Shoreline and Us," inspired by recent conversations about the future of Chicagošs lakefront. The event is Fathers day weekend. Epicycle headlines Saturday at 4pm. 13th Annual Artists of the Wall Festival Saturday 6/17/06 12pm-5pm Epicycle plays at 4pm Chicago Lakefront Between Morse and Pratt Rogers Park, Chicago. Illinois Check out Rogers Park Community Council Next, our annual visit to one of our favorite venues.
Come out and congratulate the folks at Uncommon Ground
as they celebrate their 15th anniversary!
Uncommon Ground 15 Days;15 Years Friday 7/7/06 3800 N. Clark Street Chicago, Il (773) 929 3680 Uncommon Ground 3.29.06 Hello to "Goodbye " We are happy to announce we are now featuring songs from
"Jingo Jangle" at myspace. Each month, we will be putting up a new tune from
the soon to be released CD. "Goodbye" is our April selection.
You can listen and add this and other songs to your myspace profile for free.
Don't forget to be part of our first show of the year. IPO Chicago 4/25 at Abbey.
The Abbey Chicago (773) 478 4408 IPO 2 Catch our live "pre" IPO studio performance on Di and Razor's show 4/13 11am-2pm on WLUW. You can dial in 88.7 FM or listen live on the web at www.wluw.org. WLUW will be showcasing bands playing in IPO throughout the festival. Check WLUW site for more information. ...RIP Nikki... 2.27.06 Epicycle Returns to IPO Chicago The band is taking a night off from recording our new release "Jingo Jangle"
to be part of IPO Chicago 2006. This is our fifth year participating in this great festival. International Pop Overthrow (or IPO, as it has affectionately become known)
is a two week music showcase featuring 100-180 of the best pop
bands from all over the world. Come out and hear our classic tunes
as well as some of the tunes that will be on our new release. Speaking of new
check out our myspace.com home myspace.com/epicycle
for monthly sneak peaks of Jingo Jangle starting next month.
The Abbey Chicago (773) 478 4408 IPO 2 1.21.06 Epicycle Teams Up With Graphic Novelist for Night Trippers Promotion Critically acclaimed graphic novelist Mark Ricketts (Iron Man,
Nowheresville) has enlisted Epicycle for a project to promote
his newest book NIGHT TRIPPERS. It's the story of vampires in 1960s
swinging London that features parodies of Twiggy, The Beatles, Brian
Epstein, Mary Quant, David BaIley, and Rolling Stone Brian Jones.
To add to the 60's experience, Ricketts and Epicycle have created an
mp3 audio file/podcast, featuring original, period inspired music, that
will take readers deeper inside the world of the Night Trippers
www.nighttrippers.com. Mark did the artwork for our last CD Swirl
He is know through out the world for his work. Also a cool fact, he has hung
out with Robert Crumb and did illustrations for Playboy. Thanks to all of you emailing us wanting to know when we will be gigging out again. Well the good news is Spring, we have been invited to be part
of the IPO Chicago. This is our fifth year we are thrilled to be part of the fun
and great music! Check this site for updates.
12.17.05 Kevin Tihista & Epicycle to be featured in Mojo Magazine Kink’s Tribute CD and More Holiday Happenings Kevin
Tihista and Epicycle’s Ellis Clark have teamed up for the first time since
they worked together on Kevin’s "Wake Up Captain" Album (Released
2004/Parasol Records). They were in the studio with drummer Jerry King
last week working on a cover version of The Kinks’ song "Situation Vacant"
which will be featured on an upcoming Kinks’ Tribute CD. The giveaway CD
will be pasted on the cover of an upcoming issue of Mojo Magazine which
will be dedicated to The Kinks. During the 2 day marathon recording
session Mr. Tihista found the time to lend his vocal talents to a new
Epicycle song which will be on the band’s next album to be released as
promised in 2006!
WXRT's 14th
Annual Local Anesthetic Holiday Spectacular
Annual Jingle Bell Jam 11.25.05 Happy Holidays From Epicycle It is hard to believe the first decade of the millennium is almost half over!!!! Epicycle is sure to be nice not naughty for Santa the rest of the year as the band finishes the new CD. Nine songs are completed as of now. We are still hoping for an early Spring 06 release. We will keep you all posted. Until then keep buying our music, WE THANK YOU, and keep those emails coming. It has been very cool to hear from many new fans and all of you that have reconnected with us from back in the day. Join our Epicycle fans at fans@epicycle.co.uk for the latest on the new stuff we are working on!! Happy Holidays 10.25.05 Epicycle with Vendooza, L&L All-Stars, Dollar Store Epicycle is excited to be part of this amazing line-up of bands. Vendooza, L&L All-Stars featuring Jim Desmond, and Dollar Store featuring four members of the Waco Brothers. Join us for this great slice of Chicago Rock history. Stay out late and enjoy the time change. Epicycle is on at midnight. Underground Lounge Saturday 11/05/05 9:00pm 952 W. Newport Chicago, Illinois
(773) 327-2739
21+
10.03.05 Epicycle becomes Wings at Halloween Show One of the gigs the band looks forward to most is the Halloween show..
This year we are thrilled to "become" Sir Paul and Wings.
Join in on the fun costumed or not at Beat Kitchen.
Halloween Show Friday 10/28/05 9:00pm Beat Kitchen 2100 W. Belmont Chicago, Illinois
(773) 281-4444
$8 21+
Link to Beat Kitchen 9.14.05 Hurricane Katrina Relief Benefit Be part of the fun and help the people effected by the hurricane.
Join Tom and Ellis Clark, as they take part in an all acoustic benefit
show Friday September 23. Sponsored in part by WLUW 88.7.
This night of great fun and even greater help will feature music of the delta region too.
Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser Friday 9/23/05 8:00pm-1am The Montrose Saloon 2933 W. Montrose Ave Chicago, Illinois (773) 549-9645 $6 suggested donation For more information or to volunteer for this event,
Check out www.brewinbeagle.com 8.24.05 Fall Just Around The Corner At Around the Coyote Wow this summer sure went fast. Come out and enjoy an early fall evening at Around The Coyote Arts Festival. Epicycle is pleased to be asked back and headline for the fourth year!! Great music, awesome food and some wonderful art to experience. You will also get a chance to hear some Epicycle tunes making there debut.
Around The Coyote
This show may be the last for
a while with most of our focus is on finishing the new CD, (with a very
cool, soon to be announced title). We are hoping to have the CD completed
and then release the it with a huge Epicycle party, hopefully early Spring
06. See you Around the Coyote 7.30.05 It Is Time To Finish What We Started!
Ellis Clark says "It's time
to finish the new Epicycle album!. We've got 8 new songs basically in
the can and working on about 7 more. It's most likely will trim it down
to 12 though, maybe with a bonus thing or 2. I don't know what we've
got yet, it's not a "Swirl" or an "Orange"... I hope it's a new step but
then I don't like to over think these things as it can stifle me! We
are targeting a March 2006 launch." The last new Epicycle release
was "Swirl" in 2002. "Tom, and I hope everyone comes
out to see a few more of our 2005 shows we have scheduled then we go
underground to the studio." Check out our shows section to
see the next dates as well as info on our upcoming trip to
IPO/NYC in November.
This is an exciting summer for the band, we are getting airplay from stations throughout the country as well as major support from hometown stations like WLUW..thanks guys!!!! Our next date is opening for a great new band Ellis produced, 20 Foot Man. Come to the party.
Epicycle/20 Foot Man Release Party 6.24.05 Party In Millennium Park With Epicycle Welcome to Summer 2005 and its hot. Cool off with a great live event by the lake. Come out to Millennium Park, see the bean and hear Epicycle perform as part of the Party in the Park concert series. Start the weekend early by enjoying this free event. The stage is outside at The Park Grill on the plaza at Millennium Park. Party in the Park is presented by The MIX WTMX 101.9 FM and sponsored by Bud Select.
Party In The Park Please join us for our yearly acoustic visit to Uncommon Ground. This is one of the intimate places in the city to catch a set. As a preview to the show, Epicycle will be performing live on WLUW 7/7/05 at 12pm. Check the show out on the web WLUW or 88.7 on the FM dial.
Uncommon Ground It was great seeing so many of you who came out to Ribfest. We had the pleasure of meeting fans from all over the US as well as many that have been coming out and supporting us at many of our shows..thanks!!
Finally, check out our newly remodeled merch page where you can
buy our limited edition Epicycle
t-shirt. 5.16.05 New Summer Dates Announced With warm weather hopefully coming...we are announcing our first two shows of our Summer line up. First is the seventh annual Northcenter neighborhood bash. Check out the great event.
Ribfest
Chicago in the Northcenter Next we play a rare acoustic set at Uncommon Ground. Hear Epicycle on their site right now from one of our previous shows there.
Uncommon Ground
Finally,
many over due thanks from our past two shows. It as always is a
pleasure to be part of IPO , thanks David, we had a great show at Schubas
and we are looking forward to being part of IPO/NYC in the fall.
Saturday at our ""Teenage Suicide"" release party at Martyrs, we played to
many new fans, and with some great bands, (thanks Ray and Bruce).
Special mention to Todd at Horizontal Action for turning new
fans on to our vintage stuff, Di and Razor from WLUW, for playing our tunes the
past few weeks and for having Ellis live in the studio last week. Thanks
in advance to Fearless Radio, where Epicycle will be the featured artist
5/17 at 7pm. Click on the link and you are there.
4.4.05 Epicycle IPO Chicago / Re-Release Party Scheduled for May
IPO Chicago will be back
April 15-May 1. This is the
fourth year this wonderful festival has been in Chicago and Epicycle has
participated every year. International Pop Overthrow (or IPO, as it has
affectionately become known) is a pop music festival which has been held
for the past seven years in Los Angeles, New York, Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Nashville, San Francisco, and Liverpool, England
(at the world famous Cavern Club) and our fair city. IPO features between
100-180 of the best pop bands from around the world. Check out the IPO
site for a full schedule of dates and bands. Schubas Finally, after months of waiting, "Teenage Suicide" is out and doing well here and very well overseas!! Speaking of the LP thanks to all of you who have purchased the vinyl from us. You can order it by emailing us at fans@epicycle.co.uk .The LP is $25 which includes s/h. We are having our re-release party at Martyrs 5/14. In addition to showcasing the vintage music that first brought us into the Chicago music scene we will have a great mix of our current releases "Orange" and "Swirl" as well as new music for our CD release in 2006. So we are celebrating the past present and future.
Martyrs
Finally thanks again to XRT and Richard Milne for the airplay last month. We have made some new fans at recent shows. How cool is it to hear people say "we heard you on XRT, and wanted to see you live!!!!" 3.14.05 UPDATE :Two Doses of Epicycle Capsule
Catch Epicycle on WXRT Local
Anesthetic Capsule this week. 3.07.05 Get Your Capsule of Epicycle On WXRT
We would like to thank Richard Milne
for featuring "Sunday Girl" on his show, Local Anesthetic
(Sundays at 7:30pm).
Thanks to all of our fans who called, emailed and stopped to mention how cool it was to hear Epicycle on the show.
We will also be on
Local Anesthetic Capsule on WXRT the week of 3/13. Check the WXRT site for
the updated schedules! Hit the link
Local
Anesthetic and you are there.
Its here its
FINALLY here!!!!!! "Teenage Suicide" has
made the trip from Italy to Chicago, and is
now available. This is an extremely limited pressing ( 500 copies),
and last we heard there going fast.
We do have some available. email us at
fans@epicycle and for $25 (including shipping and
handling), you can get your own. It is also available at
Rave
Up Records .
Finally catch our first live show in 2005
The Bottom Lounge
1.21.05 Happy 2005!!!!!!
The New Year has started out
with the band in the studio working on their latest new CD. We will
keep you posted on the release date as the year unfolds. Speaking of
releases, our vintage vinyl "Teenage Suicide" is finally available at the
end of the month (we mean it this time !! ). Go to
Rave
Up Records
and check it out. We are
planning a huge release party in early Spring to celebrate this release
and the bands 25 year history in the Chicago music scene.
The Bottom Lounge
12.16.04
The Annual Jingle
Bell Jam Epicycle is getting into the holiday spirit by participating in The Annual Jingle Bell Jam for Rock For Kids. Some of Chicago's finest artists will be featured in this All Star Christmas Jam. Bring a toy to make a needy child's Christmas merry & enjoy an evening of music to warm your soul. Please bring an unwrapped toy for admission to this event or make a donation to Rock For Kids at the door.
Annual Jingle Bell Jam The Jingle Bell Jam will continue at The Underground Wonderbar at 10 East Walton till 4am!!! Rock For Kids is a non-profit organization that provides support, inspiration and assistance to children that are homeless or in need. Committed to the dignity of our children, Rock For Kids works with families and organizations to positively impact and celebrate young lives. 12.01.04 Vintage Punk Epicycle Finally Here We said the Vinyl would be out by the end of the year and it looks like we will just make it. The album, " Teenage Suicide" a 14 song LP of our vintage recordings (circa 1978 - 1981) on limited 180 gram vinyl will be available starting 12/20 from Rave-up Records in Italy. Rave Up Records.
The Bottom Lounge As the year ends, we would like to thank everyone who helped make 2004 a great one for us. Thanks to the venues we played. The owners, talent buyers and their staffs that made us feel welcomed, sound great and at home. The musical directors that invited us to be part of their festivals and conferences, we look forward to next year. The media that took an interest in us by writing articles, great reviews, mentions and airtime. All the remarkable bands and musicians we had a chance to work with this year. It is so great to be part of the Chicago music scene. Finally thanks to all our fans for their support coming out to the shows buying our music and just being there..couldn't do it without you!!!. All the best for 2005.. Happy Holidays!!! 11.12.04 Epicycle Updates Happy "pre" holidays to all. This years has flown and wow 2004 has been busy and exciting! Thanks to all that came out last month as we opened for Glenn Tilbrook. How cool was that. Thanks Ray and Bruce and everyone at Martyrs. Glenn put on an amazing set.
We also had a chance to dress up and be the Who at Halloweekend 2004 last month. Chris put together a great event and we look forward to the next one. The rest of 2004 we are focusing our energy on completing our next CD to be released sometime late 2005. We also are preparing to release our music digitally. Hopefully soon to be features on line at a rhapsody, i Pod etc by you. Finally our vintage Epicycle circa late 70's early 80's should be out by spring . Look for a great release party celebrating the music of that era and the Epicycle's participation in the documentary about the day “You Weren’t There” . This will be screened in 2005 at indie film fests with plans to later release it on DVD with an accompanying CD soundtrack. Happy Thanksgiving to all!! 10.19.04 Epicycle Opening For Glenn Tilbrook Epicycle is thrilled to be opening for Glenn Tilbrook & The Fluffers (from Squeeze). Come out and enjoy the great tunes like Tempted, Is that Love and the other great hits!!!!!!
Martyrs Wow what exciting news to come back to...we just returned from NYC. We had a great time playing both the C-Note in Manhattan and of course CMJ at Fez. Thanks again to Stephen Becker for including us in the show as his opener and for being part of the Le Concorde band. Stephen was amazing!!! What a treat to play with the great band comprised of Eric Chial, Brian Stout and Emily Dennison. Thanks to Skippy at March records as well!!!! Don't forget to catch Epicycle as the Who at the "Halloweekend " masquerade ball at Silvies. This is going to be great!!!!!!!
Silvie's Lounge
Finally, Ellis congratulates Brian Wilson backstage at The Chicago Auditorium for his incredible performance of "Smile" (Saturday, October 2nd, 2004). "What can I say... Brian is my hero... I met my hero... I'm not worthy! He and The Beatles are why I do what I do... it's nerve wrecking to meet someone who has held such an influence on my life"... Ellis. It's of note to mention that the multi-talented instrumentalist/arranger Paul Mertens (who played flute, saxaphone, and bass harmonica on Epicycle's last 2 albums) is currently in Brian's band and is a major highlight in the Brian Wilson show along with Ellis Clark's former high school classmate Scott Bennett (also a major talent of a musician and singer/songwriter). "Paul and Scott are incredible performers and I feel fortunate to know these people"... Ellis Clark. 9.01.04 Another NYC show added
Epicycle is excited to
announce a new date in NYC. 8.9.04 NPR/ CMJ/ IE/ UG
We are acronym crazy
this month at
Epicycle!!!!
NPR
CMJ 2004 Music Marathon IE Illinois Entertainer
Check August's Illinois Entertainer
at the newsstands or on line: Search "Epicycle" local band reviews. UG Stripped and unplugged!!!!
Uncommon Ground see you there!
8.1.04 See Epicycle Naked
OK, got your attention!
Uncommon Ground
See you at a show
7.1.04 Epicycle: Past, Present, Future For Second Half of ' 04
Wow this year must be on fast
forward. We have been working to bring to our fans some unique ways of
experiencing our music, the vintage, current CD releases and our
future new music release.
Too Much Light Makes The Baby
Go Blind
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Uncommon Ground
Around
The Coyote
Arts Festival
Epicycle Future: The
band is making great progress towards completing their new CD targeted for
a Christmas time release. We have been performing 4 of the new songs at
our live shows this year.
Hope to see you at a show ! 6.3.04 Epicycle Invited To Play MOBfest
MOBfest came to life in the summer of 1997, with the help of some of Chicago's most prolific music industry players, showcasing dozens of bands at Chicago's premier music venues. Come out and be part of the fun.
Nevin's Live
6.1.04 New Dates For Summer
Welcome to Summer 2004!!!!!
Taste of Lincoln Avenue
Uncommon Ground
5.14.04 Epicycle To Be On Metromix the TV show
Just got the great news, Epicycle will be on CLTV Metromix the TV show!!
5/20 Thursdays @ 8:30p
Speaking 30 BANDS IN 60
MINUTES....
Metro Hope to see you there! We enjoyed being part of MECA . Thanks to all the folks at MECA and Nevin's Live for inviting Epicycle to be part of the event.
5.04.04 Epicycle Newsletter May, 2004 2004 has been busy for Epicycle! Ellis Clark was recently interviewed at his studio for “You Weren’t There”, a film that will cover the history of the Chicago power-pop punk scene from 1977 – 1982. It is a likely event that this documentary film will include archival footage of Epicycle music clips and performances during this period that haven’t seen the light of day in over 25 years! The film is a project being produced by the owners of Hi Fi Music…. a very cool place to find the best rare vinyl and CDs in Chicago. “You Weren’t There” will be screened in 2005 at indie film fests with plans to later release it on DVD with an accompanying CD soundtrack. Epicycle had a great time performing their 3rd straight year at The International Pop Overthrow Music Festival on the Schuba’s stage in Chicago. A big thank you to David Bash who puts the I.P.O. event together. The band’s set included debut performances of new songs Epicycle has recorded for their upcoming album. A sneak preview of 2 songs from the new album can be heard on a limited edition “Lazy Jane/Ordinary People CD Single”. This CD single is being sold exclusively at Epicycle shows along with an assortment of other Epicycle ware which include the DVD of their “I’m So Cool” video. If you can’t make it to an Epicycle
show and would like this CD single or DVD, drop us an email and we’ll hook
you up. Speaking of the DVD, JUST IN: “I’m So Cool”, will soon be airing
on “THE OTHER SIDE”. This program airs on The Chicago Cable System Friday
Nights at 7PM and repeats on Sunday Afternoons at 2PM, times TBA. Epicycle
returns to the studio this May to record another 2 songs. One of which
will be on the upcoming I.P.O. 2004 triple compilation CD available at
notlame.com What else? Oh yeah! It’s official…. Kevin Tihista’s new
album “Wake Up Captain” will be out June 2004 on Parasol Records. Why do
we mention this? Epicycle had the honor of co-producing and performing on
it. More Epicycle guest appearances include Phil Angotti’s new album
Juliette Foster available at jamrecordings.com Ellis produced and
performed on the tracks “Juliette Foster Theme” & “Trying To Find Out
Something”. Also, Epicycle is always pleased when an artist (whose
recordings they help co-produce and perform on) gets signed. And that
would be Le Concorde, a band led by Steven Becker who Ellis & Tom have
been working with in the studio for the last year. Le Concorde has just
signed with March Records… a very refreshing pop label out of New York.
Watch for a full album by Le Concorde due out in September, 2004 with lots
of appearances by Epicycle on it! In the meantime buy Le Concorde’s
six-song CD at parasolrecords.com.
4.22.04 IPO.....MECA.....METRO
It is great to have so many of
you talking to us about the
great fun and music that we all experienced at the Bowie Tribute at Nevin's Live Saturday. Thanks to all for filling the place up,
our new and veteran fans. We
will be back at Nevin's Live for our MECA showcase. Here are the next 3 shows we are playing.
IPO SHOWCASE
MECAc
30 BANDS IN 60 MINUTES
3.22.04 New April dates 3 different ways to see Epicycle
April will be a very busy
month for us. We are playing such a cool collection of shows at some great
venues.
Gunther Murphy's
On April 17 grab your red shoes
and best androgynous gear!
Nevin's Live Finally IPO returns to Chicago from April16-May 2.Check out some of the best bands in the music scene. Catch our showcase 4/28 at Schubas.
Schubas
a;8S47-869-0450
pub phone 3.12.04 MECA showcase announced and more shows added
Thanks to all the people that
came out to Martyrs last night. We would also like to let the many fans
and NEW fans that read the Pioneer Press article last month
and have emailed, called us or stopped us to wish us well and have
come out to the gigs,
Gunther Murphy's We are keeping busy the rest of spring with shows in April at Nevin's Live and our IPO showcase at Schubas. In May we are looking forward to playing our first MECA show TBA. Keep checking in with us here for updates on these shows and more. Or sign up for our fan list. Lots of goodies to come and ways for our fans to come to our gigs as our guests!! If you
cant wait to hear us please visit Tower Records in Schaumburg. Tower
Records
2.21.04
"Epicycle is a band on the
rise."
Hop the Epicycle BY ALLISON AUGUSTYN
Epicycle "Orange" (Crown Records) "Swirl" (Cirkle Records) I saw Epicycle in August at Nevin's Live in Evanston, during a tribute night to the Kinks. The show was fantastic, and all the bands were strong, each delivering its own unique impressions of standard Kinks songs, although I heard "You Really Got Me" and "Lola" more than any person should in this lifetime. Then there was Epicycle, with their cool pop style and rooted rock knowledge, and they made an impression in the midst of the talented conglomerate of bands that took the stage. The other bands were solid, no doubt. It's just that Epicycle are solid rockers. Yeah! The origin of the band lies with two brothers, Ellis and Tom Clark, who have been playing their music together for years. It was only in 1995, though, that the boys built their own studio and started to record heavily. It has so far led to the production of two musically successful pop albums, "Swirl" and "Orange." In addition to recording their own songs, they've done session work for other artists, including Jeff Tweedy from Wilco and John Ashton of the Psychedelic Furs. They've also featured other musicians on their own albums, like Paul Mertens from Brian Wilson's band, and Eric Remschneider, who worked with Smashing Pumpkins and Filter. Now having added Geoff Benge on bass and Al Witeck on lead guitar, Epicycle comes off as a cool, calm and collected band with some great pop music. These guys play like they were born with silver guitars in hand. Other interesting Epicycle exploits include having hung out with Mick Jagger and having a drink with Pete Townshend. They went on "Star Search" as a dare, shook Frank Zappa's hand and got his autograph, have bumped into Paul McCartney, and recently opened for Dave Davies of the Kinks. Maybe those guitars were gold. Whatever they play with, Epicycle makes music with a soft and yielding sensitivity, playing a range of songs that sound like everything from confectionery wisps to hard psychedelics. Their songs bow to the '60s and '70s, yet retain a modern sense of recording and an even more modern sense of irony, sometimes to the point that it's like an over-the-top inside joke. Fun stuff. "Orange" is a combination of many styles, ranging from Brian Wilson ballads to Beatles chords and horns to Tom Waits vocals, with a pop sound of their own.Epicycle cover topics with song titles like "The Fat Girl's Gonna Dance Naked," and "Weslie Willus," a nod to the late Wesley Willis (although Willis was alive at the time of the recording). The album sounds somewhat like a mix tape, as each song is distinct in style and key. When played continuously, the album works as a bubbly and danceable fusion, which makes it successful overall. "Swirl" is bit more jumbled, but has several standout songs, including "Crash" and "Sunday Girl," as well as "Six In the Morning." These are slower and lighter songs, but with a greater layering of sound, a musicianship that requires not only good intentions, but good follow-through in the studio. "Swirl" has both. It shows the same sensibilities as "Orange," but their growth as musicians is obvious. With their live presence and two albums, Epicycle is a band on the rise. They can be seen live at Chicago's International Pop Overthrow festival in April and May. For more details, go to www.epicycle.co.uk.Allison Augustyn can be reached at SoundCheck@pioneerlocal.com.
Martyrs |
is
now available on
iTunes
as
a download. Epicycle
has finally caught up somewhat to the modern world! This 14 song
collection features tracks from
Epicycle cds "Orange"
& "Swirl" as well as sneak
preview tracks from the next upcoming
Epicycle
studio album. You will also be able to download individual songs
from iTunes
and purchase The Best Of
Epicycle in cd format as well.
Our recording of the Beach Boys song "Wake The World" is also
included on The Best Of Epicycle as a bonus track.
