Failed Resistance

Thursday, September 8, 2005


By Jessi Virtusio
Gig of the Week

When it comes to venues that cater to the punk, hardcore and metal scenes, they are few and far between.

That's part of the reason Failed Resistance and several other bands will be playing a Friday benefit show for the Studio, a relatively new venue in Chicago.

"I would definitely stress coming to the benefit if you care about local music, if you care about Chicago keeping a music scene," bassist Mike Houchens said.

"All the support that this benefit could get, the better. It's better for the community. It's better for the bands. It's a very positive thing."

With the unfortunate demise of the Fireside Bowl as one of the premier places for edgier bands to play, the Studio had become a new haven until electrical problems temporarily shut the venue.

"People are calling it the new Fireside," lead vocalist Jahsh Nutting said of the Studio.

"It's geared toward hardcore and punk music. They've been getting touring bands to play there.

"They support our music and they're really into us. Actually, they are one of the few places we can play in the city because a lot of places don't allow our kind of music."

That type of music has morphed since 2002, when Firstlook first talked to Failed Resistance right before the band's first show at Rube's in Harvey.

"It's not street punk," Nutting said. "It's more hardcore punk."

One measure of how well Failed Resistance has done is how its audience has grown since the band's first-ever gig with the Casualty, of New York.

The two bands reunited for a return engagement, but this time it was at one of Chicago's legendary venues.

"We played a sold-out show at the Metro two years later and just watched the crowd going nuts for us," lead guitarist Jake Youngberg said.

"A lot of people from the first show were there and there were a lot of new faces. It was pretty cool. It shows how far our band and the Casualty went."

Another way Failed Resistance (failedresistance.net) has changed is its lineup, which has gone through several configurations over the years.

Lead guitarist Jake Dean is one of the newest members, only having been in the fold for the past couple of months.

"When I was in different bands back in the day, they would always be helping me out," he said.

"I just like being with my friends all the time. I've known these guys forever. We're always hanging out.

"It's a good time. It's good music. I hadn't been in a band for about a year before I joined these guys, and it definitely feels good to start writing again."

While the newest Failed Resistance lineup — which includes drummer Bob Grannum — is penning new material, a self-titled CD was released last month.

"It's our fourth full-length album," Nutting, of Oak Forest, said.

"The reason we self-titled it is we're trying to show a whole new different side of us and show everybody our new style of music."

The seven-song disc was recorded at JBTV Studios with Oak Forest resident Tim Rusin, a former band mate of Nutting's from the Staid of Mind days.

"From playing together so long, we really had nowhere to go but advancing in the style of music we play," Nutting said.

"It's definitely got more technicalities behind it than the older stuff."

Regardless of Failed Resistance's style, one thing Youngberg prides himself on is what the band is doing to help put the scene on the national map.

"I just like going out and doing something, expressing Chicago, expressing myself," said the former New Lenox resident who now lives in Chicago.

"I just really want to get something from Chicago out there. Chicago doesn't have the biggest punk or hardcore scene, so I'd like to get it out there.

"I want people to recognize Chicago, put it on the map and have Chicago pride."

IF YOU GO ...

WHAT: A benefit for the Studio, featuring Failed Resistance, Skank, Catholic Boys, Plastic Letters, Busy Signals, Cabaret, Small Town Murder (record release), Expendable Youth (record release), Dead Americans and Religious Sex.
WHERE: Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago.
WHEN: Doors at 5 p.m., show at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
TICKETS: $12.50 online at indietickets.com or (888) 690-9875, or $12 at the door.
PHONE: (773) 252-6179.
WEB: failedresistance.net or www.allageschicago.com. - Star Newspapers