Chevelle

I don’t really know what put me into this particular mood, but this week and last week was a deep dive through Chevelle’s discography. I’ve never not been a fan of Chevelle (as the picture below from seeing them in concert in 2006 can justify), but my brain has just never really gotten to a … ooh I’m in a Chevelle type music listening mood and let’s go rock out. For whatever reason, that changed this week.

2006 in the Quad Cities along with Hoobastank, Hinder, and Nickleback. Taken on an old casio point and shoot. Good ol’ days.

I’ve had their albums forever and knew about this group… for actually.. a LONG time now that I’m thinking about it. Let’s hop into the wayback machine… I honestly remember FIRST discovering them in an attic of my church amongst the (in my opinion) very excellent Christian Rock CD  collection our youth group leader Chad maintained… and these guys were in sampler CD called ‘That’s Squintertainment!’…

OOH look at this album. 1998! I was 11. Dang. I had to have been slightly older when I was allowed to bring the album home to listen to.. and Mia and Point #1 both became singles off of their debut album only a year later… clearly liked them the moment I heard them. And man.. digressing into this sampler album.. A number of solid bands/singles!! Burlap to Cashmere… some Sixpence, Insyderz! How random. 37 year old Jay is officially happy rabbitholing here about choices 11 year old Jay made to rip these albums so long ago.

4 Years later… 2002, they hit it big with Wonder What’s Next.. just massive radio play. And deservedly so… So, these guys got a full re-listen through their 9(!) albums at this point (and hopefully a new one soon as they’ve made their way to a new record label) and they are just a really, really consistent band who continue to produce solid riffs, and just slightly push their envelope more and more each album cycle. Which I appreciate. I totally get those bands who want to ‘reinvent themselves’ every few years, but I also really enjoy the bands who continue to just live in their sound and discover new riffs worthy of a new album. Both exist and I’m here for both of them.

After browsing/reading a few reviews of the Chicago-based band over the years – who continue to reference their ‘slightly heavier than Tool’ tone, and how Pete, the lead singer/guitarist/primary writer sounds so much like Maynard James Keenen of Tool/A Perfect Circle/Puscifer – I really do have to agree with it. They are certainly not half as creative, nor any bit genre-bending as Maynard is, but they are a heavier version of it and just … consistent and solid. It’s easy to get lost listening to one album after the next and find yourself subconsciously headbobbing along. In short, I’m happy.

So, do yourself a favor and give ’em another listen to today. It’s good stuff and it’s been good stuff for a long time now. Hard to imagine it won’t continue into the future. I’m always here for new riffs.