The Bribes have been reinterpreting the blues since 2011. The Logan Square four-piece has found a nice middle ground between the vintage blues sound and modern day rock with their new EP Nobody Got Anywhere.
The opener “Carmen” is prime example of what the band does best. The instrumentation sounds retro and modern all at once. It bounces along like a gypsy jazz tune but has some nice blues guitar and violin strewn about it.
I can’t help but recall the crooners of the ’50s and ’60s throughout this EP. Singer, songwriter & guitarist Phillip Toscano has a classic vocal delivery that sounds like it could only come out of a man with a pompadour.
“Wasted Time” is the only track available for public consumption at the moment but it’s easily one of the best of the 6-track EP. The vibrato in Phillip’s voice is spot on and makes you feel like it should be coming out of a ’50s jukebox.
Other highlights for me are “Garbage In Garbage Out” with it’s subtle keys and bouncy guitar work, and the more down-tempo doo wop feel of “You In Mind”. You’ll have to wait until Saturday to hear the rest of this EP but it’s certainly worth your time.
The official EP release show is this Saturday, June 13th at The Empty Bottle. Helping celebrate the release are Antony and the Tramps & Soddy Daisy, two of Chicago best and brightest. Tickets are available here for a mear $5, pick up a CD at the show and hear Nobody Got Anywhere in all of it’s glory!