The Prairie Cartel headlines Bottom Lounge

The Prairie Cartel is on the forefront of a burgeoning electronic music scene, yet the group's members are far from newcomers to local stages.

Local mainstays The Prairie Cartel has its roots in a little rock band named Fig Dish. Formed by Blake Smith, Mike Willison and two buddies they went to high school with in Glenview, Fig Dish produced two criminally underrated albums for Polydor Records during the 1990s. The group's live shows became legend in Chicago-area clubs, but success did not translate to radio and television. With label support waning, the group disbanded in 1998.

Unfazed by their troubles, Smith and Willison put together Caviar with two more friends. They may have left Fig Dish, but the two definitely did not leave behind their penchant for catchy hooks and irresistible pop rock. The band had a couple songs on the radio, such as "Tangerine Speedo" and "On the Dl," with the former ending up in the 2000 "Charlie's Angels" film. But like Fig Dish, Caviar only lasted two albums before members became disillusioned with their label and made a decision to disband.

Throughout the years, Smith and Willison had played many shows with the two-man group Local H, which was formed in Zion by high school friends Scott Lucas and Joe Daniels in 1987. (Nowadays, Lucas is accompanied by Brian St. Clair on drums.)

It was only a matter of time before Smith, Willison and Lucas came together to produce something new. Unexpectedly, these rock and/or rollers decided to go a different route with the electronically tinged The Prairie Cartel. The guitars are still there, but the band is not afraid to let bass, keys or even a drum machine lead the song where it may go - be it with the atmospherically moody "Lost All Track of Time" or the sexy bass/Chicago street name-checking on "Cracktown."

Around 2006, the threesome began playing in bars around Chicago, sans instruments. That's right, three men who had spent a good chunk of their lives toting around gear to clubs were now keeping it simple with some mics and a stereo to DJ from. The band managed to keep it raucous, not hesitating to go and sing into a bystander's face or possibly even throw a tackle - hey, why not?

The lack of instruments may have given them too much freedom (or maybe they actually missed hammering away on their gear). By 2007, the band had added a drummer in Daniel Marsden and brought their instruments back in the process. And now, once again, Smith and Willison were a part of a foursome.

The group's self-released first EP came in 2008, with a cover of 999's "Homicide," which ended up in the game "Grand Theft Auto IV." The Prairie Cartel's second EP will be available online on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

With The Prairie Cartel fleshed-out and live, their songs have a new depth to them, and that's when you realize these guys belong on stage.

Catch them on Friday, Jan. 23, when they headline a show at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago.

The Prairie Cartel

With: MPLS Henrys, The New Loud

When: 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23

Where: The Bottom Lounge 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago

Tickets: $8 advance; $10 at the door