Bailiff is—well, first, let me just say: the band
didn’t write this bio. I did. I’m Evan Sult, drummer
in the bands Bound Stems and Harvey Danger. I know
about Bailiff because I heard them through the walls
of a practice space I was visiting. They were working
on a new song, and I ended up outside the door of
their room, listening to them work out a well-crafted
5/4 drum rhythm against this tight, high guitar part
that sunk straight into my memory—I was still humming
it to myself three days later, no shit. I had to knock
on the door and find out who they were. Turned out
they hadn’t even played their first show yet.
It was one of those moments. Meeting them was kind of
like finding that one perfect t-shirt at the Village
Discount—you see it on the hanger, on the rack, among
a thousand other stained and pointless shirts, and you
just know you’ll still be wearing that shirt a decade
from now.
I’m no fool: I got myself on over to the Beat Kitchen
to catch their debut. It was packed on a Wednesday
night, well over a hundred folks in the band room. For
a first show? Yeah—plus, there were people calling out
song titles! Not in that supportive-friend way,
either, but in that way that means someone really
wanted to hear the songs. Bailiff was LOUD, smooth,
and collected, and they had all of six songs to play
for the crowd. Keep in mind, this is their first show.
I spent a little time watching the crowd, because I
have to admit I’ve never seen a first show go so well;
Bailiff had the audience’s complete attention, friends
and strangers alike.The show was a complete success.
So Bailiff the band is just starting out, which is a
lucky thing for all of us, because it means we get to
watch something real cool right from the launch. The
band is new, but the musicians have been around for
years. They’re all real sharp players, working the
tension between restraint and release. Josh’s melodies
are super efficient, delivered deadpan against a
guitar that’s saying as much as the lyrics are. The
drums—well, that’s my instrument. Ren’s drums are
fucking great, pulled so far back that you might not
recognize how much technique and taste are informing
the part. And the bass is just plain
dangerous.
Bailiff recorded their 3-song blast at Studio
Ballistico here in Chicago with Tim Sandusky. It’s
weirdly addicting. Their live set is the same way:
there’s no one jumping around slinging sweat and
drawing a lot of attention, but they’re somehow
mesmerizing. They’re tight enough that you’d think
they’ve been on tour together.
There you are. Not much else to say about a band at
this stage, I reckon, except: Get involved now,
because you’ll be seeing their name around Chicago
soon enough in any case. Cheers!
You have a really cool sound. The intro of What I was is awesome, and I really like that it is a blues without actually sounding like a blues. Hope to see you at Schuba's.
Gooo Baliff! All Love and Support! lol. but hey, New Tracks Up! CHECK EM OUT! COMMENT! "oh u aint know?" and "she keep it on the downlow". Thanx, "and to all a good day, and all a good nite!" Santa Clause~
CHECK OUT MY PAGE! I PUT UP NEW MUSIC LIKE EVERYDAY THIS WEEK!! BUT THE 2 NEWEST ARE DUECES! 2/22!! I'M LEARNIN!! THERE'S 6 TRACKS UP!! BUT I ALWAYS LIKE THE NEWEST STUFF!! SO TELL ME WHAT U LIKE AND GET BACK AT ME!!
Hey Ren and Baliff. Awesome show last night at Schubas. You guys dominated the stage. I still remember Ren from Soap Box Racer. Anyway, Great Stuff! Steve/Honest Engines
Well-deserved congratulations- top-5 on Radio One's best-of 2008 for that amazing cd of yours! Undeniable, inimitable. Now get a permanent bassist already!
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