Herbert Wiser Band
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Music
Press
The show was awesome! "Qwijibo" is more classic rock sounding song with...amazing vocals that the crowd really enjoyed and sang along with.
-- Tara Funk, Daily Vidette
- Daily Vidette Normal, IL
My TV went out so I listened to Unusable Signal with a large and intense Thunder-storm outside my window. The album flows wonderfully with dirty guitars, effects and unique lyrics by front-man Jason Hughes, who stays away from the basic of, love, above & cry, sky, why lyrics of most rock songwriters these days. He takes a more creative approach with lines like "The Blue-Line is a vein, pumpin people to the heart of the town," referring to Chicago's Train System, and "While the pieces of this puzzle lie ruined on my floor, for no one can remember the image we're going for," from the song The Puzzle. It's these things that make Herbert Wiser Band unique. Along with Jason Hughes, Josh Crowley has become a songwriter to be wreckoned with as well, the two share the songwriting duties on Unusable Signal. Backed by a solid rythym section consisting of Matt Bradford on Bass and Dave Mays on Drums this album may be one of my favorite albums of the year. My favorite tracks are the undeniable grooves of "Qwijibo" the in your face Rock Anthem that is "Johnny Pipedreams" and the Herbert Wiser Staple "Ruby Red Violets." I recommend this album to anyone who wants to enjoy Real Rock with a Creative Twist!!! - Chicago Farmer
3 out of 4 stars...An offbeat mash up of jam band lines with metal riffs...Different, but in a good way. --Chris O'Donnell ADD Reviews - ADD Reviews (addreviews.com)
PEORIA —
They don't cook with diesel, but the Herbert Wiser Band will soon fuel its van with vegetable oil.
The unusual move isn't a matter of choice - or, um, taste - it's necessity.
The soaring cost of filling up their diesel-fueled van has been cutting their tours short recently, said Jason Hughes, 27, the band's guitarist and singer. It's getting harder to justify driving long distances for shows.
The $1,300 renovation that will allow the 1987 vehicle to run mostly off veggie oil seems economical, he said, especially since the grease should be basically free.
"A lot the bars we play have fryers," he said.
The Chicago-based group, which makes frequent stops in the Peoria area, isn't alone in lamenting the high fuel prices.
Bands across the U.S. and Canada, particularly indie groups that have traditionally scraped by as they sought to spread their name, have canceled shows or tours this summer because they couldn't afford the drive.
A recently-posted message on the Herbert Wiser Band's Web site apologized for one such cancellation at a show in Lacota, Mich. The trip couldn't be justified "due to rising gas prices," the message read.
This is why Hughes says they need the veggie van.
"Our radius for touring just keeps getting smaller," he said. - Peoria Journal Star
Discography
2003 - Misused Potential
2005 - Live at the Loft EP
2006 - Unusable Signal
2008 - Between the Wounds & the Whiskey EP
Photos
Bio
Streaking across the U.S. in a short bus fueled by vegetable oil, here comes the HERBERT WISER BAND! With influences ranging from Hank Williams to REO Speedwagon to Ween and everything else in between, this "rock band for music fans" never fails to entertain. Since their inception in 2003, in Bloomington IL, HWB has moved to Chicago to play it's original music full time. As with most working bands, there have been many line-up changes along the way. The most noticeable occurring in 2009 with the addition of Ryan Chamlin on keys and in 2006 with the addition of Southside Chicago native Kyle Davis on drums. Since these changes HWB, led by founding members Josh Crowley and Matt Bradford, have completely reinvented themselves. Focusing primarily on tight rhythms and catchy hooks. Playing in numerous Midwestern festivals such as Summercamp, Wuhnurth, Tall Tree Lakes, Stripmines Festival, Duck Fest, FarmFest, and Michigan Peace Festival, but also such top hometown venues as the Double Door, the Cubby Bear, Martyr's, The Abbey Pub, and The Kinetic Playground, along with a innumerable amount of smaller, music-friendly bars. In addition, this group has toured extensively, playing over 500 shows throughout a wide array of states such as Iowa, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, Minnesota, and more! They are a hard working blue collar band which prides themselves on the ability to put on an exciting live show any time and anywhere. This commitment to excellence has garnered them stage time with a diverse group of excellent musicians, sharing the stage with Umphrey's McGee, Tea Leaf Green, Backyard Tire Fire, Ekoostik Hookah, Fareed Haque Group, 56 Hope Rd, U-Melt, MacPodz, The Station, Bumpus, Hunab, Zmick, Shadyside Allstars, Bottle of Justus, Family Groove Company and many more.
PARTIAL LIST OF VENUES PLAYED
CHICAGO, IL
The Double Door
The Cubby Bear
The Abbey Pub
The Elbo Room
The Kinetic Playground
The Store
The Tonic Room
Hartes
Sean's Rhino Bar
Hog Head McDunna’s
Wise Fool's Pub
Martyr's
The Mutiny
The Gallery Cabaret
Bada Bing (presently Iggy’s)
Tre Via
Red Line Tap
U.S. Beer Company
Lakeshore Theatre (with comedy duo
Chad & Andy’s Extravaganza)
BLOOMINGTON, IL
The Castle Thearter
Mack Glass Factory
Louies
Paulie’s (Formerly The Lizard’s Lounge)
Illinois Brewing Company
Creole Café (formerly Ju Ju’s Bar and Grille)
McLean County Bar
NORMAL, IL
Brewha's
LAX House
NV Ultra Lounge
CHAMPAIGN, IL
Canopy Club
White Horse Inn
PEORIA, IL
The Red Barn
S.O.P.S.
Bar Louie
DEKALB, IL
The House Cafe
MOLINE, IL
Bent River Brewery
ROCK ISLAND, IL
Rock Island Brewing Co.
CARBONDALE, IL
Booby's Beer Garden
Hangar 9
SPRINGFIELD, IL
Mojo’s
CHARLESTON, IL
Friends and Co.
The Uptowner
HENRY, IL
The Landings
MORTON, IL
Paddy O Flaherty's
KALAMAZOO, MI
Papa Pete's
IOWA CITY, IA
Iowa City Yacht Club
Q Bar
AMES, IA
Bali Satay
DAVENPORT, IA
Redstone Room
MADISON, WI
Mr. Roberts
Alchemy Cafe
Klinic Bar
LA CROSSE, WI
Animal House
GREEN BAY, WI
IQ's
MILWAUKEE, WI
The Rave
BLOOMINGTON, IN
Uncle Fester's
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
The Mousetrap Bar and Grill
Locals Only
Rock Lobster
TERRE HAUTE, IN
The Verve
LOUISVILLE, KY
The Hideaway Saloon
KNOXVILLE, TN
The New Amsterdam
Long Branch Saloon
DAYTON, OH
Canal Street Tavern
COLUMBUS, OH
Ruby Tuesday
ROCHESTER, MN
Kathy's Pub
FESTIVALS
'08 Stripmines Festival (IL)
'08 Michigan Peace Festival (MI)
'08 Chicago Peace Festival (IL)
'07 Summercamp Music Festival (IL)
'07 Summer Solstice Cave Festival (IL)
'07 Michigan Peace Festival (MI)
'07 Stripmines Music Festival (IA)
'06 Wakarusa Winter Classic (IL)
'04 Blue Sky Music Festival (IL)
'04 Ballistico Festival (IL)
PARTIAL LIST OF BANDS PLAYED WITH
Umphrey's McGee
Tea Leaf Green
U-Melt
MacPodz
Backyard Tire Fire
Family Groove Company
Zmick
Hunab
Bumpus
The Werks
The Goods
Cornmeal
The Fuz
The Station
Fareed Haque Group
The Super American Happy Fun Good-Time Jamband
The Spikedrivers (OH)
Phix
Head of Femur
Oucho Sparks
Jaik Willis
Chicago Farmer (Cody Diekhoff)
Bottle of Justus
Goat Motor
Ernie Hendrickson and the Make Believe
Jescoe (TN)
T.U.G.G.
Elf Lettuce (WI)
Links
