Sadies at Schuba's

[tugmoose]

Get ye there!

 

Sadies live!

 

Toronto-based group comes to Schubas Saturday

 

BY TIM SHELLBERG

Times Correspondent

 

What you hear on "In Concert: Vol. 1," the first live collection by the eclectic Toronto-based Sadies, is exactly what was onstage as the tape rolled to the ears of its drummer, Mike Belitsky.

 

And that, to him, is what makes the collection so special.

 

"There was no fancy footwork, no dubbing in audiences, like 'Kiss Alive' or 'Live at Budokan,'" he said, laughing. "You've got the crowd, you've got us, and you've got us, and that's it. And that's what pleases us so much about it."

 

Scheduled to perform Saturday at Schubas on Chicago's North Side, the Sadies came together in the mid-'90s as the brainchild of brothers Travis and Dallas Good and rounded out by bassist Sean Good.

 

Their ties to the Windy City are rich; their first discs, 1998's "Precious Moments," 1999's "Pure Diamond Gold" and 2001's "Precious Efforts," were released by Chicago's beloved alt-country label Bloodshot Records. They have also collaborated with a who's-who of alt-country-minded musicians on stage and disc, ranging from fellow Canuck-turned-Chicagoan Neko Case to head Waco Brother Jon Langford to former Jayhawk Gary Louris.

 

In February, the band enlisted the above-mentioned trio, along with alt-rock wildman Jon Spencer and veteran Canadian country outfit Blue Rodeo, to join them onstage for a pair of shows in their hometown. The end result of those shows is "In Concert: Vol. 1," a double-disc set released in August.

 

While the disc, which was recorded by veteran knob-turner Steve Albini, remained in the moment from when it was captured on tape to when it hit the record racks, the band, Mike Belitsky said, was specific when it came to their collaborators for the shows and the songs chosen for the discs. Along with Sadies' fan favorites, "Vol. 1" contains songs penned and performed by their guests.

 

"There were no curveballs. The song selection was very thought out," Belitsky said. "These are all people we've worked with in the past and have really good working relationships with. This is definitely a Sadies album with guests. We're not trying to be karaoke-ish."

 

In addition to "Vol. 1," the band is releasing its first-ever movie score, "Tales of the Rat Fink," next month. An animated documentary, "Fink" chronicles the life of counter-culture car designer Ed "Big Daddy" Roth and features contributions from everyone from "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening to Beach Boy mastermind Brian Wilson to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

 

The band was approached by "Fink" director and Sadies fan Ron Mann to score his film. They wrote and recorded the soundtrack, which is scheduled for release Oct. 17, intermittently and throughout the globe over the course of a year while touring in support of their last proper release, 2004's "Favourite Colors."

 

"If we had a few days off in Amsterdam, we'd work on it there, if we were in Saskatchewan and had a couple days, we worked on it there, and if we were at home for a while, we'd do it," Belitsky said. "We were very diligent, but it was a long year."

 

A screening of "Rat Fink" is scheduled prior to the Sadies' performance at Schubas at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

 

Opening for the Sadies Saturday is Heavy Trash, a collaboration between Langford and former Madder Rose bassist Matt Verta-Ray. The duo released its debut effort, self-titled, last April. Their joint tour concludes in New York Oct. 8.

 

onstage

 

The Sadies, Heavy Trash

 

When: 11 p.m. Saturday (21-and-over show)

 

Where: Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago

 

Cost: $15

 

FYI: (773) 525-2508 or www.schubas.com

[LouieB]

I got an email from one of my colleagues at a school praising this show. Sounds like it was a good time (although she said she didn't like Schubas????!!?!?! Go figure.)

 

LouieB

[tugmoose]

Sadies opened at Cleveland, which I liked because Heavy Trash was VERY LOUD. I'd rather hear the Sadies without my ears ringing.