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press release
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The power pop world, the community for better indie music, and the academy are all pleased to annou... The power pop world, the community for better indie music, and the academy are all pleased to announce the Chicago based power pop trio, gidgets ga ga have released their latest studio effort, Dreamer, a collection of four upbeat songs that just make you feel so damn good. In a pre-fabricated world, here come the unpretentious bastard sons of Chicago, gidgets ga ga, putting the FUN back in rock n roll.
gidgets ga ga’s Dreamer EP is a positive attitude with feeling that
begs the question, why doesn’t this band have a full length. Four brand
new tracks from this truly unique band include Hit by a Train, Dreamer,
The Bomb, and Ease Your Mind, and come complete with memorable melodies that will leave your knees weak and lips parted.
Be the first peep on your block to own Dreamer, a continuation of beautifully crafted powerpop n roll that only gidgets ga ga can capture and captivate in these troubled times.
Tour, swag, booking, and general information on gidgets ga ga can be found on their official website @
www.gidgetsgaga.com
or their fansite @
www.myspace.com/gidgetsgaga
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self titled ep review
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This infectious three-song single from Chicago-based Gidget’s Ga*Ga is an apt replacement for more p...This infectious three-song single from Chicago-based Gidget’s Ga*Ga is an apt replacement for more pop-oriented bands like Third Eye Blind or Matchbox 20. Think of a post-millennium version of The Replacements. They incorporate jangly guitar, poppy bass lines and a male lead vocalist whose lyrics center on slacking. The last song on the single – the best song, really – is appropriately titled “Belmont.” Upon first listen, “Belmont” appears to be a suburban homage to the hipster meeting place at the corner of Clark and Belmont streets in Chicago. Until you listen carefully to the lyrics and realize the singer is sarcastically moaning, “Do - - oc Martens,” over and over again. After listening to the song several times and laughing out loud at its clever comedic genius, my only wish was the two-verse ditty had even MORE contemptuous comments about the “twenty something hipsters” who hang out and shop at the intersection. Alas, it’s best to leave good-enough alone.I believe that’s Gidgets Ga*Ga’s formula, too. The “Picture on the Radio” single may not be groundbreaking, but it’s hummable. Very hummable. It seems to me like something we’ll hear on Chicago radio in months to come. I for one, can’t wait to blast it out my car windows this summer while I’m driving down Clark street.
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chat electric showcase
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Subterranean Café & Caberet served as host to the CHaT Electric Showcase on July 1st. CHaT (Chicago ...Subterranean Café & Caberet served as host to the CHaT Electric Showcase on July 1st. CHaT (Chicago Harmony and Truth) is an organization that works to help working musicians and industry professionals in the Chicago area. I will provide more information on CHaT at the end of this, or should I say these reviews. With that said, there were four bands on the bill this night.
Opening the evening's festivities was the pop band Gidgets Ga Ga and I should say power pop band because they have the ability to bring the two together seamlessly. Now I love pop, hell I love anything that goes pop, and this band had me as happy as when Mail Box etc. lets me play with the bubble wrap. Mike Flores and the boys put on a very tight and very fun 30-minute set. I had the good fortune to have heard their promo CD 9 Ways before going to see them and the three songs on this CD blew me away. So much in fact, that I wondered if they could be as good live as they were on the CD. Well they were, and in some ways even better. I could instantly see that this was a band that I was going to be seeing again. If you like Material Issue, Big Star or Cheap Trick then there's a 99% chance that you will like Gidgets Ga Ga, they're just that good.
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self titled ep review
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Gidgets Ga Ga vibrant, jangly sound jabbed me in the chops like a rock-pop uppercut as if they had b...Gidgets Ga Ga vibrant, jangly sound jabbed me in the chops like a rock-pop uppercut as if they had been the secret understudies of Soul Asylum for the last 15 years, just waiting to step out of the shadow and send me reeling into a shouting chorus of "I need a face!" from their original "9 Ways."However, unlike Soul Asylum, Gidgets Ga Ga (aside from their name) appears at first glance to be a bit less chessy than their 80's influencers. Bands hate to be hog-tied as a product or influence of earlier masters, but in this case, it's Soul Asylum Jr. without a doubt. Similarly to their "Run Away Train" predecessors, hopefully Gidgets will continue to put out relevant material as they develop their sound. Songs like "Belmont" and "Lullaby," as live tracks, prove the band is competent out of the studio. But live or taped, it's the raw lead vocals that drive the energy of these rock-n-roll new comers.So here it is - I like the way this guy sings. I like the way the songs flow. I even like their cute, fancy band name. I like them so much that I tried to find a picture to see what they look like but unfortunately, there are only two photos available to the hungry public...a fuzzy one on their home page and a REALLY f&%$ing fuzzy one on MP3.com. Some advice to the band: Guys...sex sells. If your looks match your sound, get your hot little asses plastered on your site so college kids can start using your face (or asses) as a screen saver. Christ. Don't you know anything about marketing? Probably not, but don't worry about that, give that job to some insensitive bastard and you guys keep focusing on your sound. Hopefully we'll get to see what you look like soon enough. (Eric Thiegs)
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midwestbands.com don't boris ep review
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Musicianship – 9 out of 10
Considering this talented band is a duo at the moment, I am amazed at ...
Musicianship – 9 out of 10
Considering this talented band is a duo at the moment, I am amazed at the style and sound that they have created in their music. Mickey (guitar/vocals/songwriting) and Luke (drums) have a sound that is reminiscent of all sorts of great Acoustic Pop artists (the Beatles included!) and yet they have a unique sound all their own. Mickey’s guitar playing is good—he doesn’t just use a straight acoustic sound all the time—and his skills are excellent for their ‘sound’. His vocals are edgy enough to raise their Pop sound way ABOVE the bar of today’s Pop. Luke is an excellent drummer as well without being over the top--perfect compliment to Mickey’s playing.
Songwriting - 9 out of 10
Their songwriting is excellent--nothing really shocking or out of place for their sound.
Here I want to do a few comparisons—only for the sake of making a point. First, if you think of the musical style of the Beatles early sound (I Want To Hold Your Hand) and The Foo Fighters lyrics (Learn to Fly) you MIGHT have an idea of their songwriting sound. Also, the newer band Jet came to mind listening to their music in that Jet has a way of changing their musical sound a bit from song to song. Gidgets ga-ga has that ability as well. You still know it is their music; however, they change it up enough to be interesting and non repetitive in their lyrical content as well.
Sound Quality/Professionalism - 10 out of 10
The sound quality of this demo is excellent. Very professional in their sound. I don’t know if they used their own recording equipment entirely (being a demo disc, I have nothing to go on) or had some help, but, it just sounds really great. The last track on the demo (which is a Christmas song they sent for MWB Radio –Christmas Wish) sounds even crisper and clearer than the other tracks (if that is possible). Just excellent. It’s hard to believe at times that an Indie artist can produce such a great sounding disc without the support of a high end studio!
Packaging – N/A out of 10
Since the disc I am reviewing is a conglomeration of a couple of discs and just a demo for MWB, I can’t really rate this area. However, having lyrics and a track listing on a separate piece of paper would have made it nice (along with credits for the songwriting and musicians). I look forward to getting their new full packaged disc when it comes out!
Favorite Tracks
Lullaby
Sanctuary
Belmont
*Standout Track – Christmas Wish
Overall Rating – 9.5++ out of 10
What can I say? I really like this band! Listening to their music just makes you feel good! It’s energetic, infectious, fun and the way Pop music SHOULD BE. I think the negative connotation some Pop music has these days has come from bands or artists that have allowed the ‘Corporate Music Industry’ to pick and choose what they should look like, sound like and how they should be marketed. All of this seems to take away their uniqueness and opportunity to continue to change and grow with their fans. What is truly sad is that things haven’t changed since bands like the Beatles became popular 40 years ago! When something becomes ‘POPular’ it gets copied, stripped down and pulled apart to make sure the magic doesn’t die—when it truth trying to hold on to something magical in effect KILLS the magic! Have we learned NOTHING from Fairy Tales we have heard all of our lives??!!
My advice is this: latch on to unspoiled bands such as gidgets ga-ga! Let them know your love of their music and keep supporting a band enough so that ‘Corporate’ doesn’t have to come in and do a hostile takeover! Sad to say, every one needs the green stuff ($) to live these days and if our support ($) doesn’t back up our love of Indie music, we are slowly killing the magic that exists out there. This band is just one example of some of the AWESOME Indie music that is coming from the Windy City in the Great Midwest—one GREAT example!—Jen Lush, Midwestbands.com, 1/5/05 *Listen to gidgets ga-ga on MWB RADIO!
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midwestbands.com dreamer ep review
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Musicianship –10 out of 10
I really enjoyed the upbeat sound this EP and (as always) I love the gui...Musicianship –10 out of 10
I really enjoyed the upbeat sound this EP and (as always) I love the guitar sound that Mickey displays. Very full. Vocally, Mickey sounds like a cross between Johnny Rzeznik at times and John Lennon. Odd mix, but I really like it! Very sexy vocally. (For more insights into how I feel about this band musically, read my last review of gidgets ga ga HERE).
Songwriting - 10 out of 10
The songwriting is excellent. I love the lyrics and the way metaphors are used to describe Mickey's feelings. The thing that made the Beatles great was their ability to write incredible songs that were both simple and complex in their composition. I think gidget's music is the same in how it is created. Not to mention catchy. I miss this type of songwriting today. It's so much more creative to me on so many levels. It's also more difficult to create, I think, or we'd have more of those out there who could write like Lennon & McCartney did together.
Sound Quality/Professionalism - 9 out of 10
The sound quality is excellent, however, I would have had Mickey's vocals more in the forefront a bit. There is an echo on his vocals that I don't know is necessary or not. I think a slightly more raw sound might have been better--but that is just my opinion.
Packaging - 9 out of 10
The packaging on this 3 song EP is near excellent. The art is interesting, credits are good. I especially liked seeing the lyrics to (Dreamer) included and the dedication Mickey gave to his father on this song. The only tiny thing I would change is the maybe the addition of more lyrics. Other than that, very good packaging.
Favorite Tracks
I really enjoyed all three of the songs. I can't say I dislike ANY of their music.
Overall Rating - 10 out of 10
The songs on Dreamer are just as solid, if not more so, than the previous songs by gidgets ga ga I have reviewed. I really do like the band--when I compare to the Beatles, you have to know where I am coming from. I have adored the Beatles from when I was a child and have NEVER really heard a band that has even come as close (in my opinion) in originality in creating music like they did. I believe gadgets ga ga is the first that I have felt so strongly about in their distinct talent. Although I compare, they have their own sound. Although I compare--they are different in their approach. Although I compare, in some ways (musicianship wise) they are more talented than the Beatles were in their early years.
It seems that Chicago is pouring out the talent and gidgets ga ga seems to be in the fountain! I reviewed another MWB Band recently (The Tracks) and their sound is similar in style to gidgets, but yet different in form. For me, The Tracks are 'The Stones' to gidgets 'Beatles' sound. This band has greatness in their bones.—Jen Lush, Midwestbands.com, 3/5/05 *Listen to gidgets ga ga on MWB Radio!
