How the Sapiens secured a spot in the Chicago spotlight
Garnering buzz around Chicago can be about as easy as competing for dominant face time in a "Where's Waldo?" cartoon: Amid a sea of equally qualified, similarly sounding rock apprentices, it's not only hard to avoid simply falling through the cracks but also to clinch an identity that stands out from the rest. Add in an industry where new-band supply exceeds hipster demand - not to mention cash supply for CDs - and bands find themselves loose in a playground of fabulous possibilities, and reduced chances of follow-through.
OK, the local scene isn't that grim. But it's not easy. Just ask the Sapiens, one of the more increasingly buzz-worthy names on the Chicago rock circuit thanks to an energetic, rough-edged dance-punk EP called "Vs the Hornet" and a little bit of revelatory press. They started out as Columbia College acquaintances with penchants for varied music influences (singer Evan Sears' musical interests span Motown and Amy Winehouse-laden contemporary soul, as well as old-school punk via gravelly voiced Tom Waits). That was two-and-a-half years ago.
Since then, they appeared on a significant, Chicago-focused must-see list, and "Vs the Hornet" collected its fair share of good reviews. The crew of five friends also played (and sold out) well-known local clubs such as Schubas in Chicago, so perhaps it's no surprise that they landed a spot on the venue's Amplify showcase of local up-and-comers with the Rikters. But no matter how many times a bystander hears their name, the Sapiens find themselves engaged in an ongoing conversation about vying for fans and keeping them coming back for more.
"I think there are bands that have an album and it sounds great, but their live shows are not," guitarist Charlie Nadler says. "I think that's the trend of the industry; your album supports your tour now and not the other way around. - You can't just sit home and bank on your record sales."
When Nadler, originally from St. Charles, saw the Sapiens in their original four-piece form two winters ago, they were sans guitarist but just as spastic on stage as they are now.
"I was impressed, because they're all totally characters," he says, now filling the full-time guitar role in the band, which includes keyboardist Matt Witt, bassist David Veller and drummer David Fine. "They were going crazy on stage."
Just about the time Nadler joined the band, the Sapiens headed into the studio to record the EP that solidified their buzz and attracted more new fans to their live show, which, in turn, put them on the map for their signature suit-clad performances. They had three days, limited cash and a whole lot of material. As Nadler puts it, "There wasn't time for screwing around. And we tracked like 10 songs, so we were just like flying through it."
Hence the kind of full-force, dance-rock energy piped through "Vs the Hornet," the album that critics have equated to circa-'70s Elvis Costello and the Rolling Stones. But bigger news these days is this: Just when you think you know the Sapiens and their onstage craziness, they go ahead and change it. Yes, the Sapiens consider their breakthrough EP as merely the stepping stone to a more-focused, juiced-up sound, which they plan to feature in their forthcoming third offering, due out in July.
One main single and two supporting songs, which Nadler says invoke punk roots and the band's "weird Sapiens style," will anchor the release. And while Nadler considers "Vs the Hornet" more of a "budget EP," the new three-song disc wasn't rushed.
"We actually had a little time to do some proper work on it, and Brian (Zieske) at Gallery of Carpet was able to produce us," he says. "I think the difference is pretty huge."
In keeping with the Sapiens' signature breakneck core and punk underbelly, the morphed style hangs onto their backbone, aptly utilizing beat-popping synths and drums to form the dance-ready package that Chicagoans first recognized in indie bands such as the Redwalls. But they've widened that style, Nadler says, concentrating on unifying all members' varied influences.
"It's becoming less segmented; we're all just kind of doing everything, and it's working better, I think," he says. "We're focusing on songwriting and song melodies. When I first saw (the Sapiens), it was entirely a synth-driven band. I don't know; I'm biased because I'm the guitarist. The rhythm section is tighter."
The Sapiens originally wanted to release the third EP as a full length, but decided to hold off in favor of giving fans something new as soon as possible. A lot of the writing for the full-album release is already finished, and Nadler insinuated that a year-end release isn't out of the question. That said, the Sapiens' main focus continues to be the one thing that Nadler considers their stand-out feature amid the area's saturated music market:
"Our live show is the thing. We haven't had like a big album that we're all about; it's more about the show. That's why we dress up and try to go crazy on stage."
Next show
June 25: 9 p.m. at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, Chicago; (773) 525-2508
Tickets: $5 at the door