Not only had The Able Body not performed for their eager fans since September 2009, but they also chose the legendary stage of Schubas Tavern for their highly anticipated return.  Armed with new songs, the crowd was buzzing with excitement as the band members took the stage.  As the first notes filled the room, The Able Body sounded as if they had not missed a step in their time away from the stage.  The audience was enthralled with their unique sound, heralded by the powerful vocals of lead singer, Chris Medina.

As the show stretched on, the deep talent of this band became more apparent.  Lead guitarist, Zack Duran, stole the spotlight as he shredded his fret board with gripping riffs and unbelievable solos.  The rhythm section provided a tight background for the melodies to be painted on, allowing the listener to appreciate the complex melodies and harmonies.

The show ended on a strong note, pouring out the emotions the band has battled through to make this night possible.  You could see the band appreciated the support of the audience as they shook off the rust and prepared themselves for whatever the future holds.  Although none of us know what that is, we can all guess that The Able Body has great things lying ahead.

You can see The Able Body next at The Lighthouse with Rookie of the Year and Farewell.

The soul of Amrita sits in its tight rhythm section comprised of monster drummer, Mike Del Principe and bass player Matt Robinson. Both are clearly on the same page at all times throughout the performance, providing a perfect canvas for guitarist, Patrick Riley, to display his eloquent and distinctive guitar riffs.

New singer, Aaron Graunke, delivered a solid performance, highlighted by a song in which he also played the acoustic guitar. Aaron sang falsetto throughout the entire song, providing a moment to get to know the band on a different level than the other complex arrangements allow. The vocals were well supported by the tasteful keyboard playing of 5th member, Jason Kearney.

Amrita can be seen next at Mad Maggies in Elgin, IL on Saturday, January 23, 2010. The show is all ages and starts at 8PM. You can check out Amrita on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/amritarock

Although they are not performing on the same size stage as these well-known, national artists, they have taken a page from their books and released their first EP as a free digital download. (click image for free download)

Free EP available from Chicago band Hear You Me

With access to modern recording equipment and experienced producer, Drew Neely (http://www.myspace.com/drewneely), Hear You Me was able to turn out a professional product at a fraction of the cost than that of a major label. This allowed Hear You Me to turn around and reward their current and future fans with free, new music to enjoy.

Many bands are going this route – recording music that makes an impression upon the listeners, inspiring conversation and music sharing, and expanding the fan base through word of mouth. With so many great bands out on the road, it can only be a good thing that smaller bands are taking the lead of those already established, who are ditching their record labels to gain independence from the corporate machine that continues to produce unoriginal music that clogs the airwaves.

If the listener wants independence from the mundane, radio friendly singles of major labels, they can support great local bands like Hear You Me, encouraging the inevitable change the music industry so desperately needs.

Be sure to check out Hear You Me at http://www.hearyoume.net, and do research in your community to seek out and support great local music.