Record review: Exit Ghost - 'Move Alone'

By Sasha Geffen

Exit Ghost have always been good at stretching a note. Their ineffable likability comes not from their ability to craft unique or intricate musical patterns, but to take the ones you've heard a thousand times and imbue them with a very particular glow. 

Not an easy feat considering the ever-multiplying alt-country scene of the Midwest, but Exit Ghost stomp, romp and jangle all over their debut LP as if no one had ever welded a violin to a Stratocaster. Classical strings and glockenspiels lilt in and out of guitar noise, but they're couched in enough dusty air to avoid the tarnishing archetype of the barnyard rock band--even when frontman Evan Holmes waxes lyrical about the steel silos that stud the Midwestern roadsides. 

With a couple very solid EPs to rub together, Exit Ghost were ready to move on into the space of the album. On their first full-length, they evolve from the familiar terrain of straight, bombastic folk rock to deeper and more resonant compositions.

Video: Exit Ghost on WNUR

By Sasha Geffen

Local Americana outfit Exit Ghost pack a lot of presence at their live shows. Their loud, jubilant midwestern rock sounds best in the moment in the open air, where they always seem to be having an awesome time. These guys recently swung by Evanston to lay down a set for Northwestern University's student radio station, WNUR. Check out the performance of their poppy number "Bad Idea" below.

Show review: Project Film, Exit Ghost, Lakesigns, Jesus Crisis at Reggie's, 6/17

By Sasha Geffen

Project Film (photo: Sasha Geffen)

I've always thought of Reggie's as a lingering hub of tough-guy aggro-rock, but before Friday I'd only ever ventured into the Rock Club. Don't get me wrong: I love a good mosh pit, even the slightly curtailed circles of chaos security allows on the Rock Club's small floor. But enjoying a show at the adjacent Music Joint space is a different experience entirely. The Joint acts as a chiller counterpart to the boisterous Club, and the Friday lineup epitomized summer chill as it closed off a day of perfect June weather.

Project Film stopped by for a last home city show before they head off to tour the west coast. The duo filled out their lineup with bass and drums, adding some great volume and texture to their charming indie pop. Fretless bass noodlings nicely filled out frontman Sam McAllister's rhythm guitar work; jams like the instrumental "Ink" particularly took on new life in the open air of the stage. We heard a handful of songs from PF's debut Chicago as well as some newer material, all carried by an unfailingly earnest delivery.