Voice box
Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Amanda Wowk from the UIC Flame recently reviewed Voice Box's first album Instant Gratification describing it as “…a fun ride into musical experimentation…”, but cautions, “Don’t think, however, that this is some run of the mill beatnik experiment… Instant Gratification cleverly avoids falling into ruts, with each song more refreshing than the next.” Ms. Wowk went on to breakdown the tracks of the album, calling songs like Blue Flower Madien “…a pleasant surprise…”, and the album’s final cut “Trip” “…an absolute gem of improvisation.” In the end, the reviewer summs up her take on Instant Gratification as an album”…absolutely worth adding to your collection.” - UIC Flame
After attending a recent Voice box concert, freelance writer Kern Roush wrote of the show, "...one gets out of the show a certain yearning attempt to draw light from the abyss in a pre-apocalyptic(world)." Mr. Roush goes further to single out the various components of the sound stating that "The bass was popping and rolling and driving through he night..." and the vocals indicated" ...that yearning wisp of a cry out through the refuse of culture buildng up on the struggle towards redemption- Mastering the blight around you." Commenting on the guitar, Mr. Roush stated "JD was great!" adding "He sounded particularly 60's Frisco acid drenched." Concluding his comments on the evening, Kern Roush was confident that a good time was had by all, and that even the pool players enjoyed the music. - Kern Roush
Discography
Instant Gratification- 2001
The Din Room-2005
At the Speed of Ten Machines- Spring 2010
Photos
Bio
Founding member Bruce Fournier wrote and recorded the first album Instant Gratification of which the UIC Flame wrote: “Voice box cleverly avoids falling into ruts, with each song more refreshing than the next.” In the Spring of 2003, Voice box went live, becoming house band at Fred Burkhart’s Underground on Chicago’s north side and put many local gigs under their belt, including a rocking “Shea Stadium” set at Lilly’s and a fund raising event for the Hubbard Street Mural Project.
In 2005, The Din Room, Voice box’s second release was laid down literally on the fly from stage to studio with the group approaching the recording process, on a completely different slant than Instant Gratification, and succeeding. With a revamped lineup, Voice box hit the stages of larger, more demanding venues and dive bars supporting and headlining at, amongst others, the Red Line Tap, Reggie’s Rock Club and Music Joint, Gallery Cabaret, and multimedia performances with Chicago’s own Puppet Bike at the Peter Jones Gallery. Freelance writer, Kern Roush, after attending a Voice box performance, said, “On stage, Voice box shows a certain yearning attempt to draw light from the abyss of a pre-apocalyptic world.”
The band is currently hammering out their third album, At the Speed of Ten Machines, whose songs have been developing, simmering, in acoustic drum circles, rehearsal spaces, and full-blown, on-stage performances over a two year period and will feature some cream of the crop side-men supporting the vision of the band’s core to stunning effect. Recently, Voice box has filmed a segment for cable access, the ENE Chicago Rocks show, where they performed three songs and did a post performance interview. Cameraman Grant Strombeck also filmed the group performing a live version of “Al and Paco” - the result is electrifying. Grant said of Voice box : “ Those kids will be rich someday and I will still be looking for a gig!”
With performances at the legendary Kinetic Playground, the Abbey Pub, Reggie’s Rock Club, and beyond, Voice box is bringing it to the people.
The sound is ever changing, but it is always
Voice box.
“Even his intelligence seemed to be centered in the sound box, the harmonium which was situated neither in the larynx nor the chest, but in the middle region which corresponded to the Locus Empyrean whence he drew his imagery.” –Henry Miller Big Sur
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