Smith Westerns released their eponymous debut album in 2009 while still in high school and garnered attention not for the great debut but for the promise and potential of a group of kids who served up an album full of rambunctious energy that followed the 3 minute garage rock formula. The release of their sophomore effort, Dye It Blonde, found the band following the same lo-fi fuzzy garage format but this time the music felt more mature, carrying more weight thanks in part to the addition of strings and an organ. The songs and sound are more developed and well thought out and since its release the accolades have only grown for these Chicago kids.
Cullen Omori
The reminder that they are still just kids is what I found so startling at last Saturday’s sold out show at Empty Bottle. There was little interaction amongst the band and they lacked the charisma and charm so brilliantly displayed in their albums yet in spite of this the music roared through an excited crowd. They took the stage at exactly 12:15a.m. and ripped through the roughly 45 minute set. Bassist Cameron Omori spent the length of the set in a corner of the stage hiding behind bangs and guitarist Max Kakacek seemed stiff until a couple of welcome guitar solos breathed life into him. At one point, singer/guitarist Cullen Omori mentioned the band thought about playing two shows but scrapped the idea in an effort to keep things “intimate” and reminded the audience that buying tickets early was a good move. Save for quick and awkward introductions to a few of the songs, the only other real comment came from Omori when he quipped: “For all the snakes and shit talkers out there you’re not gonna run us out of town. Thanks. We love you, Chicago!” Still, there is promise and Smith Westerns are quite polished given their age. If only they can get comfortable and let loose on stage they’ll be unstoppable.
