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Five instruments, one noisy take on jazz-rock.

Friday May 21, 2010.     By Centerstage Chicago Staff

Music Feed

Follow Friday is an interview series in which each Chicago artist we talk to recommends a fellow local act.

This week's guest: Algernon
Recommended by: Jeff Greene

Local quintet Algernon takes the jazz-rock stylings of Tortoise and kicks them up a notch, blending gorgeous melodies with psychedelic effects leading to create one noisy, energetic blend. The young group, led by composer/guitarist Dave Miller, recently released its third album, Ghost Surveillance, on Cuneiform Records. In advance of a free lunchtime show at Millennium Park on June 22, Miller filled us in on all things Algernon.

Describe your sound in 140 characters or less.
Psych/out rock meets electronic meets jazz meets classical at the foot of the apocalypse.

Where and when was your first show - and what was it like?
Our first show was at Cafe Ballistico (run by the Oucho Sparks/Kapsalis crew) in Elmhurst, IL. It was great. The music was obviously in its infancy stage then, but there was a lot of excitement and passion in the playing. I still have a recording of it lying around here somewhere. I think we freaked a lot of people out!

Name three of your favorite Chicago spots.
The Whistler, Hot Doug's, and Lake Michigan.

What Chicago artist/band should we interview next and why?
You should interview Roommate next. They make very beautiful and thoughtful music and are a great bunch of guys! We've played with them at least once or twice and are planning another show for the summer/fall.