The Chicago Sound Story
by Jeff "Killer" Kowalski

Greetings rock fan and music lover. I am very drunk right now, so bear with me. The Chicago Sound was formed by Weasel Walter and Todd Rittman in Spring 1998 in order to showcase these two geniuses rock and roll side. Weasel is pretty well known for being the man behind long-lived skronk/no wave/prog/free jazz/grind monolith The Flying Luttenbachers, while Todd holds down one of the guitar anchors in US Maple's circus of daliesque AC/DC adulation. They wanted a band to do their favorite classic rock songs, but didn't really have that much time to learn them. The men decided that if they could play along to a tape of those beloved chestnuts, that exact notes wouldn't matter -- feeling, heart and soul (a love for classic rock) would take over and transform the performances to a new, higher dimension.

The two dudes enlisted friends and acquaintences that they knew both loved the classics, but had that chaotic, party attitude that The Chicago Sound is becoming widely known for all over the world. Todd called his friend Mike Sims, a gunslinging, beer-chugging renegade who had spent decades playing these same songs in cover bands. Weasel added a whole rogues gallery of rockers to the mix. Three members of the reknowned "Party Grind" combo 7000 Dying Rats came into the fold, each one offering a unique skill and totally kickass energy and atitude: Steve Rathbone with his "fill in the cracks" approach to instrumentation, Toney Vast-Binder with his raging vocals/wicked bass licks (and hot sisters) ans finally Justin "Dirty" Berger, a virtuoso lead guitar player who is really very clean, despite his rock and roll nickname. Filling out the group for the first show was the mysterious oriental shamen J-10 on the cryptic baritone slide guitar, from the glam/comedy metal group Hott Lixx.

Although, not as many rockers as the band would have liked on stage, the seven warriors mounted Lounge Ax on June 9, 1998 to kick ass and get wild. Weasel had sort of a "Duff McKagan" look with long pink wig, shades, leather pants and no shirt. He forgot his guitar strap and spent the whole set balancing the guitar or hoisting it victoriously into the air. Steve, in shades, mullet and painter's cap, manned the back line on keyboards, grooving hard and doing that neck movement that everybody likes. There were at least two members wearing sleeveless union jack shirts. Todd proved his versatility on guitar and backup vocals. The sound guy was a dick and kept trying to turn down the tape in the monitors, but the band rocked so hard that it inspired one of the six audience members to return to his hometown of Toronto, Canada to start "The Toronto Sound" (Danko Jones -- did you do this, dude? let us know!!!)

This embryonic set was immortalized on the first Chicago Sound release "We're A Good Band". The songs were "Rock of Ages", "Just What I needed", "Live and Let Die", "Barracuda", "Fantasy life", "More Than A Feeling", "Anyway You Want It", "Double Vision" and "The Stroke". All the versions really rocked. In "rock of ages", the band got behind and then ahead of the tape, causing a round to occur, like "Row, row, row your boat" and shit! On "Live and Let Die", the band ably recreates the intricate orchestral sections with flair and energy. The monitors were so lo by the final tune "Barracuda" that the resulting cloud-burst of sound is remniscent of the mass sonorities of celebrated 20th century composer Iannis Xenakis. This CD is available from this website, by clicking here.

After this totally victorious show -- there was silence!!! Almost three years of silence. Although everyone at the show -- audience and musicians alike -- raved about this powerful debut, the band felt they needed to gestate their vision a little longer in private. Many, many hours of heated discussion, torturous practice and discipline occurred during this stolid period of aesthetic reassessment...

Finally the silence was broken. On May 24, 2001 The mighty Chicago Sound reclaimed the stage with a new, heavier line-up and musical vision. Todd and Weasel switched off between drums and guitar and vocals in a display of extremely multi-talent.

more pictures and words to come soon....

May 24, 2001 - The Chicago Sound - Fireside Bowl, Chicago
Weasel Walter (lead guitar, vocals, drums), Todd Rittman (drums, guitar, vocals), Toney Vast-Binder (vocals, guitar), Mike Sims (guitar), Sam Bailey (bass), Steve Rathbone (vocals, tambourine), Bobby Conn (keyboard), Eorl Scholl (tambourine), Bill Whitmer (electric ukelele), Azita (vocals), Bosko Necronomicon (vocals, laptop), Tom (guitar), one other guy. Songs included: "Don't Tell Me You Love Me", "Roxanne", "Under Pressure", "Bringin' on the Heartbreak", "Blinded By The Light", "Saturday Night's Alright For Fightin'", "Come Sail Away" and "Carry On My Wayward Son".

August 19, 2001 - The Chicago Sound - Fireside Bowl, Chicago
Weasel Walter (Keyboards, vocals), Todd Rittman (drums, vocals), Toney Vast-Binder (vocals, bass), Mike Sims (guitar), Sam Bailey (bass), Steve Rathbone (vocals, tambourine), Eorl Scholl (bass), Thymme Jones (vocals), Michelle (guitar, vocals), Chesney (tambourine), Tom (guitar) a.o. Songs included: "Feels Like The First Time", "Panama", "We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You", "Baba O'Riley", "Cuts Like A Knife", "Centerfold", "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'", "Hey Jude".

November 9, 2001 - The Chicago Sound - Fireside Bowl, Chicago
Weasel Walter (lead vocals and lead guitars), Todd Albert Rittman (drums), Mike Sims (leader guitar), Eorl Scholl (cowbell), Steve Rathbone (cowbell), Andrew Ortman (cock and cowbell), Kip (mandolin), J-10 (guitar), Bosko Necronomicon (mandolin and vocals), Jonathan Hischke (bass guitar), Kurt Johnson (lead bass and vocals), Bill Whitmer (ukelele), Tom (guitar). 25 Suaves and the Microwaves also appeared. Songs included: "Working For the Weekend", "Heat of the Moment", "Don't Fear the Reaper", "Missisippi Queen", "Honkey Tonk Woman", "Funk #49", "We're An American Band", "Jane" and "Evil Woman".

February 14, 2002 - The Chicago Sound, Fireside Bowl, Chicago
Toney Vast Binder (bass, vocals), Steven Rathbone (vocals), Weasel Walter (guitar, vocals, sprained ankles), Todd Rittman (drums), Mike Sims (guitar, vocals), Tom (guitar, vocals), J-10 (guitar), Erik Byrne (guitar), Andrea Ortmann (vocals), Eorl Scholl (bass), Jonathan Hischke (bass), Velcro Lewis (vocals). Songs included "Heartbreaker", "Hair of the Dog", "Love Stinks", "Foolin'", "I Want You To Want Me", "Feel Like Makin' Love", "In A Big Country", "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Suffragette City".

May 18, 2002 - The Chicago Sound, Fireside Bowl, Chicago
Toney Vast-Binder (guitar, vocals), Weasel Walter (bass, vocals), Velcro Lewis (vocals, harmonica), J-10 (baritone slide guitar), Steven Rathbone (vocals), Andrea Ortmann (vocals), Eorl Scholl (bass, vocals), Todd Albert Rittman (drums), Bosko Necronomicon (guitar, vocals), Mike Sims (guitar, vocals), Tom (guitar, vocals). Songs included: "Hot For Teacher", "Don't Bring Me Down", "Heartache Tonight", "Suffragette City", "Two Tickets to Paradise", "Life's Been Good", "Separate Ways", "Sweet Emotion", "Sheer Heart Attack".

August 19, 2002 - The Chicago Sound, Fireside Bowl, Chicago
Toney Vast-Binder (guitar, vocals), Weasel Walter (bass, vocals), Velcro Lewis (vocals, harmonica), J-10 (baritone slide guitar), Steven Rathbone (vocals), Andrea Ortmann (vocals, keyboard), Eorl Scholl (noise, vocals), Todd Albert Rittman (drums, vocals), Bosko Necronomicon (guitar, vocals), Mike Sims (guitar, vocals), Tom (guitar, vocals). Songs included: "Ace of Spades", "Round and Round", "Fox on the Run", "Jukebox Hero", "Jailbreak", "You Got Another Thing Coming", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" and "We're Not Gonna Take It", .

September 24, 2002 - The Chicago Sound, Double Door, Chicago
Weasel Walter (bass, vocals), Velcro Lewis (vocals, harmonica), Steven Rathbone (vocals), Andrea Ortmann (vocals, noise thing), Eorl Scholl (guitar, vocals), Todd Albert Rittman (drums, vocals), Mike Sims (guitar, vocals), Tom Merduckie (guitar, vocals), Miss Lisa G French (vocals), Michelle Richie (guitar, vocals) and Matt Bacon (guitar and vocals). Songs included: "Immigrant Song", "Livin' Thing", "The Stroke ", "All Right Now", "Slow Ride", "Come Sail Away", "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Roxanne".

January 15, 2003 - The Chicago Sound, Fireside, Chicago
Weasel Walter (bass, vocals), Toney Vast-Binder (vocals), Velcro Lewis (vocals, acoustic guitar), Steven Rathbone (vocals), Andrea Ortmann (vocals, keyboard), Eorl Scholl (bass, vocals), Todd Albert Rittman (drums, vocals), Mike Sims (guitar, vocals), J-10 (baritone slide guitar), Tom Merduckie (guitar, vocals), and Miss Lisa G French (vocals). Songs included: "Welcome to the Jungle", "Born to Run", "Kashmir", "Take the Money and Run", "Roundabout", "Tom Sawyer", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Don't Stop Believing".

The worst, most pathetic performances of songs we ever did:

1. "Sheer Heart Attack" - couldn't hear the monitors at all. Totally stupid and anti-climactic ending to the show. Killer song though!

2. "Slow Ride" - the middle jam turned into total bullshit. Luckily Weasel waved the band to a stop to hit the all-important last chord in some semblance of unison

3. "Saturday Night's Alright for Fightin'" -- uh, no one really knew how this song goes. Ooops

these stand out, but by and large we were way too drunk to fuckin' make any kind of cogent analysis . . .

The best, most triumphant performances of songs we ever did:

1. "Born To Run" - I think the audience and band alike felt the wind in their collective hair. Thank you Bruce.

2. "Live and Let Die" - An amazing replication of the intricate orchestral arrangements by the mach 1 line-up.

3. "Bohemian Rhapsody'" -- you know the shit is rocking when the audience drowns out the band, p.a. and all.

check out our awesome review from the Chicago REader!!!

NEXT GIG:
Hard to say! The band might be over, or it might just be beginning. only tim will tell.

My charade was the fucking event of the season...

A quick guide to the members of the band...

Weasel Walter
Todd Rittman
Steve Rathbone
Mike Sims
Tom Merduckie (except #1)
Eorl Scholl (except #1)
Toney Vast-Binder (except #4 and 8)
Andy Ortmann (except #1-3)
Velcro Lewis (except 1-4)
J-10 (except # 2,3 and 8)
Lisa G. French (except 1-6)

with special guests:
Matt Bacon (#8)
Bosko Necronomicon (#2, 4 and 6 only)
Michelle Richie (#3 and 8 only)
Kurt Johnson (#4 only)
Erik Byrne (#5 only)
Jonathan Hischke (4 and 5 only)
Kip (#4 only)
Thymme Jones (#3 only)
Chesney (#3 only)
Sam Bailey (#2 and 3 only)
Bill Whitmer (#2 and 4 only)
Bobby Conn (#2 only)
Azita (#2 and #9 only)
Justin Berger (#1 only)

if anyone has corrections, email us

"Ace of Spades"
"All Right Now"
"Anyway You Want It"
"Baba O'Riley"
"Barracuda"
"Blinded By The Light"
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
"Born To Run"
"Bringin' on the Heartbreak"
"Carry On My Wayward Son"
"Centerfold"
"Cum On Feel the Noize"
"Come Sail Away"
"Cuts Like A Knife"
"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"
"Don't Bring Me Down"
"Don't Stop Believing"
"Don't Tell Me You Love Me"
"Don't Fear the Reaper"
"Double Vision"
"Evil Woman"
"Fantasy life"
"Feel Like Makin' Love"
"Feels Like The First Time"
"Foolin'"
"Fox on the Run"
"Funk #49"
"Hair of the Dog"
"Heartache Tonight"
"Heartbreaker"
"Heat of the Moment"
"Hey Jude"
"Honky Tonk Woman"
"Hot For Teacher"
"Immigrant Song"
"In A Big Country"
"I Want You To Want Me"
"Jailbreak"
"Jane"
"Jukebox Hero"
"Just What I needed"
"Kashmir"
"Life's Been Good"
"Live and Let Die"
"Livin' Thing"
"Love Stinks"
"Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'"
"Missisippi Queen"
"More Than A Feeling"
"Panama"
"Rock of Ages"
"Round and Round"
"Roundabout"
"Roxanne"
"Saturday Night's Alright For Fightin'"
"Separate Ways"
"Sheer Heart Attack"
"Slow Ride"
"The Stroke"
"Suffragette City"
"Sweet Emotion"
"Take the Money and Run"
"Tom Sawyer"
"Two Tickets to Paradise"
"Under Pressure"
"We Are The Champions"
"Welcome to the Jungle"
"We're An American Band"
"We Will Rock You"
"Working For the Weekend"
"We're Not Gonna Take It"
"You Got Another Thing Coming"
"You Shook Me All Night Long"

A quick guide to the gigs...
1. June 9, 1998, Lounge Ax - Chicago
2. May 24, 2001, Fireside Bowl - Chicago
3. August 19, 2001, same
4. November 9, 2001, same
5. February 14, 2002, same
6. May 17, 2002, same
7. August 19, 2002, same
8. Sept, 24 2002, double door
9. Janaury 15, 2003, fireside

Thanks to Brian Peterson for believing in us and letting us headline every time.

SOME PICTURES
click on them to make them big

weasel falls down the first time
the second time is a sprained ankle
FOR ROCK and ROLL!
2/14/02

andrea and jonathan and todd play music
called ROCK and ROLL!
2/14/02

SOME MORE PICTURES