The result of three childhood friends who grew up playing together, only to reunite years later in Chicago, ‘Midcentury Llama’ is an absurdly name but quite a standard groove based rock group who would be the ideal artist to play at any jazz club, open mic night, or live gig inside a more mellow bar. Now, also enlisting the help a couple other instrumentalists, the outfit have released their debut album to deliver their delectably good vibes to the masses. Each track traverses new territory, while the album in totality is a testament to the capability that synergy and jamming can have on influencing artists to collaborate and innovate.
‘Stranger’ kickstarts the album on a defined jazz path, with a powerful Saxophone section steering the piece to its logical conclusion. It’s infectiously groovy, decidedly entertaining, and toe tappingly addictive. As we move into ‘Stranger’, Midcentury Llama begins to delve into different territory, this time highlighting their folk sensibilities. Here, there are carolling vocal melodies and twanging acoustic chords to bring out a more light hearted and caressing feel. That vibe carries on to ‘Oh Love’ as well, a song that seems to combine both the previous two in excellent synthesis. You can’t really pigeonhole Midcentury Llama into a singular style, but you can for their emotion. They’re all about moments, about people, and about emotion. Their music is a celebration of interaction and togetherness. It’s the kind of energy that necessitates and amplifies itself as you find yourself with people to enjoy it with. And that, is the purest form of rock.
Having played multiple sold-out small venues across Chicago, the group are already making inroads into the scene. Their refrains, their harmonies, and the jamming that they’re able to bring to life is riveting. The album’s closer, the definitive piece to take away from, is a great place to start. ‘I Get Confused’ has a bit of americana, a verve of alternative rock, a bit of jazz, a load of folk, and a whole lot in between. A rock album for the ages, across fans.