Music
Press
I found it funny that I hadn’t been to the Metro in years and then all of a sudden I find myself going there twice in as many weeks. This time I made the trek over there to see two of Chicago’s finest punk bands: Pegboy and The Bollweevils (the latter being my motivation to attend). It was a good old fashioned punk rock show at a venue that used to play host to some of the best shows this city had ever seen “back in the day”.
There was a steady stream of people constantly filing in the club when I arrived which was shortly before the first band, Anxiety High took the stage. They played some punchy melodic punk rock that Chicago has been famous for. Their songs were fairly catchy and for not having been a band for very long they had some pretty solid material.
- www.punkvinyl.com
Jim DeRogatis Demo2DeRo: Anxiety High
By Jim DeRogatison February 16, 2010 12:07 PM
Though bands such as Big Black, Naked Raygun, Pegboy and the Effigies all pursued radically distinctive paths during the indie heyday of the mid-'80s, to the extent that there ever was a "Chicago punk sound," its common denominators were relentless rhythms, churning, in-your-face guitars and a ferocity that always was leavened by a hefty heap of sing-along melodies. This formula never grows old or seems derivative in the right hands, and after likeminded locals Shot Baker, Anxiety High is its most promising purveyor on the current scene.
Though the quintet only came together in 2008, its members bear the pedigrees of several familiar groups: Guitarists Knife Jones and "Fish" Vogel were members of White City Black, and drummer Ken Wallin and bassist Aaron Cleall were the rhythm section of Land of the El Caminos (recently reactivated after a long hiatus). Looming largest of all, however, is Jim Nagrant, abandoning the drums he hammered with Phistine Verona to distinguish himself as the burliest, most unlikely but ultimately most endearing front man this side of Pegboy's Larry Damore.
The group's buzz has been building since a head-turning appearance at last year's Riot Fest, and songs such as "Sober," "The Mechanic" and "Fight" illustrate why as they roar via streaming audio from the band's Web site (http://www.myspace.com/anxietyhigh). But Anxiety High is best appreciated live, and after a bout of touring in the South (smart move, leaving winter behind), it next takes the stage at home on March 4 at the Rockbox, 2624 N. Lincoln
- Chicago Sun Times
Discography
Self Titled 6 song EP "Anxiety High", released in May 2009
Rotational play on WLUW: "Sober" List as TOP 15 Local Releases of 2009
WXRT 93.1 Chicago "Fight"
Photos
Bio
In November of 2008, Anxiety High was formed combining members of past local mainstays such as Land of the El Caminos, Quiver Lip, White City Black and Phistine Verona. Having formed local Chicago bands Quiver Lip as well as White City Black, Jason Jones and Tim Vogel sought out drummer Ken Wallin formerly of Land of the El Caminos in early 2008 al ong with former Ready the Destroyer bass player Aaron Cleall to form the nucleus of what would soon become Anxiety High. To complete the quintet, they then recruited former Phistine Verona drummer Jim Nagrant to take on singing duties and front the new Chicago pop punk band.
Although a new band on the Chicago scene, Anxiety High has already shared the stage with local icons such as Pegboy, Muchacha, Teenage Bottle Rocket, The Dead Milkmen and The Bollweevils. With catchy melodic hooks and a hard punk edge, Anxiety High emulates the sounds of Naked Raygun, as well as combining west coast influences such as Bad Religion, Social Distortion and Face to Face. Catch them touring locally and regionally, this summer and fall, courtesy of Late For Hugs records. You can also pick up their self titled debut available online at www.myspace/anxietyhighband
Links
