Bands today are often reluctant to say which bands have inspired them lest music journalists start comparing them to their heroes. Not The Changes though. They’re not scared one bit, simply because journalists wouldn’t have a clue how to pin them down. As their name might suggest, these twentysomethings from Chicago singer Darren Spitzer, guitarist Dave Rothblatt, bassist Rob Kallick and drummer Jonny Basofin don’t stick to anything so crass as a musical blueprint. In fact, not long ago, they had an inexhaustible list of influences posted on their Myspace. Here’s a taster:Genesis (‘All of Genesis, from the beginning to the very end,’ says Kallick), The Beach Boys, Phoenix, The Sea And Cake, Tortoise, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, New Order, Mick Fleetwood, The Police (‘It would’ve been fun to tour with The Police in 1978. We’d learn from Sting. Even the Tantric sex,’ says chief songwriter Rothblatt), Huey Lewis, The Smiths, disco and on it goes.Friends and band members since 2002, they’ve had time to grow group affections for these same bands, films (those of Werner Herzog) and baseball players (Seattle Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki being one in particular).
Now, five years down the line and The Changes are, says Kallick, a ‘crazy, dysfunctional family’ who get rid of their frustrations in the same way best mates always do: yelling, hitting, slapping and laughing.
In other words they’re a proper gang who, having waited patiently for their stab at being more than just another Chicago ‘it’ band, could be ‘the’ band of the moment with their debut album ‘Today Is Tonight’.
From their list, you’ll notice a penchant for ’80s pop music, which presents itself in slinky, atmospheric form in their shimmering pop (there’s no other word for it) and which is why, and here’s the newsworthy part, they were the first band to sign to the re-launched Kitchenware Records since Editors.
‘It was almost two years ago that someone sent Keith [Armstrong, head of Kitchenware] an MP3,’ says Kallick. ‘He thought we sounded like Prefab Sprout one of the biggest bands ever signed to the label.’
‘We’re happy that people say our pop is a little ’80s sounding,’ adds Rothblatt. ‘Pop music back then was a very unique sounding thing, which is what we’re aiming for something unique.
It’s thoughtful, upbeat and fun, like our super disco-y song [‘Twilight’]. People might say it’s too disco. But a song can never be too disco. If we take something in one direction we go for it full on.’
They’re right about that. ‘Today Is Tonight’ is like a maze, with a hundred different ways to your heart. Spacious, silky and rich, The Changes’ music is a thing of phosphorescent beauty, glowing from hidden depths as they add layers of guitar and keys.
Even though underpinned by yarns of broken hearts and escaping life this is not an emo record or, for that matter, widescreen indie rock. Like Rothblatt says, this is thoughtful party-pop. ‘Water Of The Gods’ is Death Cab For Cutie conducted by Dexy’s Kevin Rowland; ‘Twilight’, with its handclaps and bongos, is a modern disco classic; ‘Such A Scene’ is raw, fists-in-the-air indie pop; new single ‘When I Wake’ is a waltzing, feisty epic. And when they’re not filling the dance floor they’re playing warm hearted, paw-soft indie pop (a la Postal Service, The Shins, The Sea And Cake), perfect for welcoming in the dawn.
With a record as magical as this, they’re ready for lift off right now. They’ve already paid their dues in shitty jobs (‘I was once a carpet tester. We just had to walk around in circles.
We all lost our minds,’ says Kallick) and taken on the usual learn-the-ropes support slots with everyone from Stephen Malkmus (so impressed that he dedicated ‘Pencil Riot’ to the band), Kaiser Chiefs, The Spinto Band, The Futureheads and The Walkmen.
They were also the only unsigned band to play Lollapalooza in 2005, perhaps not surprising when their live show is so impressive.
‘We rock harder, louder and more from the heart on stage,’ says frontman Spitzer, who, after their brief UK tour in May, will be vociferously backed up by the hundreds of kids who went mental for them. ‘I truly believe that it’s who we are and how we present ourselves that makes our live shows something special.’
Special. That’s the word we’ve been looking for to describe this band because, be it on stage or in the studio, everything sounds so natural, so right, so perfect with The Changes. Now go listen
1. When I Wake 2. On A String 3. Water Of The Gods 4. Sisters 5. House Of Style 6. Modern Love 7. Twilight 8. The Machine 9. Such A Scene 10. In The Dark 11. Her, You And I 12. When I Sleep
The Changes will be supporting the Dykeenies on their September/October tour. 18 Sept Exeter - Cavern 21 Sept Tunbridge Wells The Forum 22 Sept Brighton Barfly 23 Sept Nottingham Rock City (Basement) 24 Sept Liverpool Barfly 26 Sept Stoke Sugarmill 27 Sept Glasgow ABC 28 Sept Aberdeen Moshulu 29 Sept Insomniacs Ball SeOne London 30 Sept The Cockpit Leeds 1 Oct Barfly - Cardiff 2 Oct Water Rats London