Birdsong Valentine capitalizes on its hard-edged scream

It's hard to believe Chicago's A Birdsong Valentine formed two years ago without the thing that's become known among fans -- or at least, within the band -- as "the Brian Bender scream." According to bassist Chris Shen, who formed the metal-rock band with singer/screamer Bender two years ago, A Birdsong Valentine started out as a funk-rock fusion, resembling something more ska-oriented than metal-induced.

"It was a little different back then," Shen says. "I guess it was lighter, for lack of a better word. We were kind of doing a little more ska, a little more funk. We weren't doing as much of the screaming. -- Before, I think we were kind of like a 311/Mighty Mighty Bosstones hybrid, but right now we're closer to System of a Down, Deftones, Incubus, Rage Against the Machine."

More Coverage Links ABV's MySpace page

Indeed, Shen acutely remembers the start of Bender's now-signature addition to the music that bonds this group of friends, who met and banded as result of two other local bands breaking up. The first scream happened six or seven months into the project, Shen estimates, and has lasted ever since, driving the pop-metal vibe that's put them on the local map and kept them there as devotees to a heavier sound and an energetic live show. Turns out, it was the first of many milestones for the band, which has earned its scene cred swiftly and with a good many heavy-hitting shows in tow.

Early on, A Birdsong Valentine found themselves ranked among the top 12 bands in the running for a Lollapalooza set (those final few were picked by Perry Farrell, himself) and have since played shows at the likes of Metro, Double Door and House of Blues. They've been featured on radio stations across Chicago and released their debut album, "Giving in Again" with local producer Freddie Breitberg to positive reviews and Web buzz.

"I think we've actually kind of finally found ourselves, so to speak," Shen say. "When we first started writing music, we kind of just took the first 10 songs we came up with and played them out there at a show. It really did sound like it was songs from a bunch of different bands."

Some of that has to do with the band's new drummer, Nate Bauman, who joined the group in February. For the first part of the year Shen, Bender and guitarist Oscar Diaz were in limbo while they searched their local network for a replacement for their original drummer, who left in the fall. Shen says Bauman has since helped them solidify their sound and make it more concise, more in line with the harmonizing melodies and hard-edged tone they left off with on "Giving in Again."

And as A Birdsong Valentine thinks about heading back into the studio later this year, a slick, even more unified sound is most important. Even more important than trying out for Lollapalooza again this year. (After spending several weeks straight last year hitting the pavement and asking people to vote for them online, the band consensus is such that writing feels most important right now.) In fact, goals for the next six months don't deviate from the band's initial business mentality and include no local contests or gimmicks. The plan, according to Shen, is to "record again, throw it out there and see who bites, and just keep playing good shows along the way."

Shen says they've already written three news songs since Bauman joined and anticipate the forthcoming album will focus on even more underlying grooves, hard-hitting melodies and of course, lots of screaming. They've tightened up the songwriting, he says, and trimmed the fat. "There's not a wasted note."

"I think it sounds like the same band, definitely, but what we've tried to do on these songs is capitalize on the things and really highlight the things that make the band strong. - We've had a little bit of outside interest, which has been nice. We'll see what happens."

It helps that Shen and Bender both come from marketing backgrounds. As the music industry tightens and depends on talent to stand apart from a sea of online replicas, a signature sound -- or scream, if you will -- is more important than ever.

"Everyone and their mother has a MySpace page, so while there's more chance for you to get out there, there's more chance for people to be like, "Oh God, another band. Next!" For us I don't think it's scary. You just have to think of more ways to think outside of the box."

For A Birdsong Valentine, that means delving into Chicago's scene head on and not depending on million-dollar checks to fall from the sky. Shen doesn't deny that the band's next EP will make its way to labels upon its release, but he's just as happy playing shows and promoting the heck out their scream-worthy sound. After all, what's a metal band without screaming?

"I'm not exactly sure what prompted it," Shen says of "the Brian Bender scream." "I remember when he first started doing it, and I liked it a lot. I also remember he'd do it and do it, and then 20 minutes later, he'd be like, "Guys, I'm done; my voice is shot." Now, he's gotten to the point where he can scream forever."

Next shows

bull; 7:30 p.m. July 5 at Clearwater Theater, West Dundee, with Simplistic Urge

Tickets: $7 at the door

bull; 9 p.m. July 17 at Subterranean, Chicago

Tickets: $6 at the door