It is a sad day for good rock music in Chicago. Radio stations are changing formats, venues closing down, and mega-label-pop-stars seem to be everywhere you look. But where's the heart? Where's the soul? Where's the good music? They're in Joseph Luat's basement right now, working on the follow-up to their latest studio album, It's About Time. That's right, ladies and gents, it's 72Hours, the Windy City's next big thing. Today, Chicago. Tomorrow? The world!
72Hours got its start back in 1999 when drummer Ben Blobaum, singer Joseph Luat, and guitarists Tom Sheehy and Joe Gunia got together three days before their first gig to fill in for a last-minute cancellation. Heavily influenced by the grunge and metal of the past decade, the band continued to play and eventually released their first self-titled studio album in 2001. Things were looking good for the band- but the best was yet to come.
During the summer of 2003, bassist Dave Putziger forced his way onto the stage during a show. This was the first time he would play with the band, and he just wouldn't go away, so they decided to make him an official member of the band soon thereafter.
With their lineup complete, the creative juices of 72Hours began to flow like the Chicago River after a heavy rain. The band began playing the bar scene in Chicago and became a force to be reckoned with. By the time spring of 2005 rolled around, they had material for a new album, and headed to Chicago's West Side to lay down the tracks.
After a series of setbacks, delays, complications and other acts of God, 72Hours released their second album, It's About Time, in the summer of 2005. The boys have been going strong since then, playing such venues as The Fireside Bowl, The Elbo Room, and The Double Door. Their first single, Go, was also featured in regular rotation on FM 94.7 The Zone before it switched formats to oldies. Truly a sad day.
Right now the future is wide open for 72Hours. They still rock the club scene, but are also hard at work on more material. With their intricate and textural guitars, melodic bass, pounding drums and a singer who can actually sing (ever hear of Carnegie Hall?), 72Hours continues to redefine a genre... but more importantly, they just want to rock.
View 72Hours's EPK