Awesome Gary

Awesome Gary draws on elements of traditional mainstream rock, but looks to put subtle twists of atonality to bring a compelling take on rock music. Justin Ullman, who holds the brunt of the songwriting duty, focuses on the craft of songwriting and importance of melody. He and drummer Aaron Fencl stress the importance of creating an observant, wry lyrical content that is becoming a core element of what defines the band. They look to explore the middle of the American experience and the path that leads to and away from it.
Awesome Gary is played by Aaron Fencl on drums/vox, Jeff Heddles on bass, Stephen Shirk on guitar and Justin Ullman on guitar/keys/vox. Aaron and Jeff have been playing in the Chicago music scene for the last decade in a variety of bands such as Songs About Sports, Cries Tiger and Aulora. Stephen runs and owns Shirk Music and Sound and has been a music producer for over ten years. This is Justin’s first crack at taking the songs created on a 4-track Fostex in a tiny bedroom and with the talent and creative angles brought by the experience of the other members, and bringing those songs to life.
The band has been playing around town at the Subterranean, The Note, Reggies, Wise Fools Pub, Beat Kitchen, Bottom Lounge and The Elbo Room. They have steadily grown a core of fans from their first gig in front of 25 friends in 2004.. You can also occasionally find them at run down bars and keno clubs arguing the merits of sock garters and discussing if a guitar is smashed on stage and no one was there to hear it, did it really happen.
You can buy our first CD on CDBaby or iTunes. It was recorded in the infancy of the band over three days at Shirk Music and Sound. Check it out!
Past Shows
2009
2.6.09 – Double Door
2008
12.2.08 – Subterranean
11.19.08 – Bottom Lounge
10.18.08 – Munster Amphitheater
7.17.08 – Highland Park Summer Music Series
6.7.08 – Elbo Room
4.29.08 – The Note
2007
11.3.07 – Reggies
9.1.07 – Wise Fools Pub
7.7.07 – Wise Fools Pub
5.12.07 – Wise Fools Pub
2.3.07 – Elbo Room
2006
12.14.06 – Subterranean
10.30.06 – Elbo Room
10.1.06 – The Horseshoe
8.18.06 – Gunther Murphy’s
7.15.06 – Elbo Room Chicago
5.12.06 – Underground Lounge
3.4.06 – Elbo Room
2.2.06 – Beat Kitchen
2005
12.9.05 – Elbo Room
11.11.05 – Wise Fools Pub
10.1.05 – Wise Fools Pub
9.4.05 – Underground Lounge