Dave Chamberlain

When local band Frisbie released its first record in 2000, "The Subversive Sounds of Love," there was hardly an area band with a bigger buzz.

Borrowing pieces and parts from various sixties and seventies pop-music efforts without copying the influences, Frisbie made a shimmering, catchy record that absolutely reeked of better things to come. Even the national folks were impressed, with Billboard declaring, "Those who like their pop music melodic, crisp and refreshingly sincere will be immediately taken with `The Subversive Sounds of Love.'"

But a follow-up was slow in coming--in fact, Frisbie's second record, "Period.", comes out next week, and it's an entirely different beast than "Subversive"--mainly in that the record is entirely acoustic, and all the songs were written by former drummer Zack Kantor. That's, however, just the tip of the iceberg.

"Zack Kantor was our drummer," explains Steve Frisbie, "and he wrote scads of songs for Frisbie. He has been struggling with bipolar disorder for a few years. In 2001, he took some time away from the band, while we kept rockin', hoping he could return. We continued to tour. We played South by Southwest. Plus, we had a show scheduled with Cheap Trick--who's gonna back out of that? After several months, Zack did return, and we recorded two singles for independent labels and did some demos of new tunes. But after a few months, it was clear to all of us that Zack needed to stop playing."

The issue with Kantor was especially hard for Frisbie and the rest of the band, as Kantor was a founding member and one of the forces that motivated Frisbie in the first place. "In the mid-nineties," recalls Frisbie, "I'd occasionally fall ass-backwards into a show, and my old friends Zack Kantor and Eddie Carlson would join me for a set. Backstage at an Aluminum Group show before Christmas 1997, they turned to me and said `We don't know what you're waiting for. We're sitting here, ready to play.' I respond well to verbal prompts, so we officially became a band." The trio added Liam Davis, who they knew through the monthly Hoot Nights held at Schubas, as well as Ross Bergseth to cover the keyboards and horns, thus completing the quintet that would go on to record "Subversive."

But unfortunately, Kantor's personal problems were too much for both himself and the rest of the band, and Frisbie's output stopped at just one record. "When Zack was struggling, it was like we were under a spell," says Frisbie. "We spent a long time holding on, hoping Zack would be back. We loved playing with him, but we also wanted to progress. Our response to that tension was to go numb. There wasn't much clarity to our long-term vision for a while."

In many ways, "Period." functions as a catharsis for the frustrated band; simultaneously, it works as a tribute to Kantor's songwriting skills. Despite the personal history behind the songs, each track ultimately provides a pleasant, uplifting attitude--and that's concurrent to the energy and warmth the remaining band members put into the recording. "This record was our way of creating something out of that blurry time," says Frisbie.

"Period." also represents a new beginning for Frisbie the band. Though Bergseth has left Chicago to move downstate, Frisbie has recently played with Max Crawford, as well as Jim Dinou (Impossible Recording Machine) and Gerald Dowd (Robbie Fulks Band). "That's been very exciting," Frisbie notes, "and if all goes well, we will re-emerge as a rock band with those guys at the end of the summer."

Despite the fact that the new record was made as a combination tribute and tension release, it's not necessarily just an interim record to fill the gap between old and new Frisbie. "At first, that was our mindset," explains Frisbie, "just to record these songs that we love and make them available to those who feel the same. But we are so pleased with the record, we're gonna work it a little bit. Our other material will get fleshed out with a new band. We'll get rolling on that in the fall."

Frisbie the man and Frisbie the band are clearly excited to move forward, which includes heading to both coasts "in search of some different opportunities." But does the aspiration to become something else other than just a local band--to fulfill the promise hinted at in "Subversive," still drive the band?

"I don't know when a group shakes the stigma of 'local band,' but I'm pretty sure that aspirations have little to do with it," he explains. "Our main concern is being proud of what we do. To be rewarded for playing in Frisbie would be wonderful, and we work to create opportunities for ourselves, but ... oh, bullshit. I will not rest until I am Jon Bon Jovi."

Frisbie plays a record-release party June 14 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508.

(2003-06-11)

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