Drawing A Blank

Somewhere nestled sweetly within the ash gray concrete disarray that is Chicago, Drawing A Blank are probably playing a show. But you—like thousands of unsuspecting music lovers outside the Windy City—have never heard of them. In fact, why should you even care? Here’s why: Unlike much of the new, or should I say nü, order of punk and emo rock as of late, DAB are what the scene has been missing.“We don’t jump on any trend. We listen to all kinds of stuff but we play DAB music,” explains front man and self-proclaimed leader of the anti-nü rock movement, Marc Katz.DAB set themselves apart with a sonically unique milieu of musical tastes. Guitarist John Riehle is the prototypical punkcore kid frequently seen sprouting up in the backyard of the music industry; Drummer Jason Schryver and guitarist Greg Stanek share their love of metal, but have varying perspectives on the idiosyncrasies of music—Schryver, a former hardcore drummer, taught himself to play drums using Dave Grohl as his template, while Stanek insists on a more technical approach. Escorting DAB fluently into additional realms of musical stylings is bass player John Madigan, whose life’s mantra is, “I listen to both kinds of music, country and western.” (Oh yeah, he likes KISS, too.) Rounding out the bunch, singer Katz’s voice is a refreshing alternative to the high-pitched cry of emo kids everywhere. Stemming from his ska roots, Katz’s sheer vivacity on stage coupled with a voice that would make Chasey Lane blush when it penetrates.“We’re not looking to be commercially successful. If you listen to us expecting MTV catch phrases or boy band-like looks, it’s not us,” admits Madigan. “We blend so many different influences that any trends are weeded out. As a result, you get music that will stand stronger over the course of time.”Time changes everything, and that’s true still for Drawing A Blank. Mutating in a few months from the well known six-piece with Greg Reuhs playing a shiny baritone sax and Chris Wolff on lead guitar, to the strapping five-piece outfit of today, DAB find themselves more at home with their music. The addition of Riehle seems to have fused their sound together, and propelled them away from the pop-punk stigma, toward straight up rock and roll.Waning between lively and languid, the band creates a dynamic that is the backbone of a typical Drawing A Blank show. Katz serenades the audience with life stories and brotherly advice in a voice that’s razor-sharp, while Stanek wrestles harmoniously with his guitar, almost ending up in the splits, never leaving his corner of the stage. Riehle’s sound is a perfect complement, while Madigan plucks sincerely at his bass in a head throwing fit. Thumping in the background—sometimes unseen but never overshadowed—Schryver infiltrates the bodies of fans with a pulsating rhythm. Without a doubt, their energetic stage presence only emphasizes that Drawing A Blank break the mold in more ways than one.Releasing 2004's "For The Life Of Me" on July 24th, Drawing A Blank preparing to begin their quest for world domination (or at least in the audio sense!!).