Dave Chamberlain

Persistence has paid off for Kevin McDonough.

The singer/songwriter/guitarist for local power-trio The Drapes has been slugging away now for more than eight years, trying to not only take care of all of the above, but to also keep the band together. Though the Drapes have been an impressive band since they first released a demo in 1997, he's had a hard time keeping a unit. Through a few bass players and six drummers, McDonough hasn't had much luck.

At present, however, it would seem that the problem is solved. Bass player Andrea Jablonski has been playing with the band since 1999, and new drummer Bob Spelbring--though only in the band less than a year--makes the other two feel as if they've finally solidified a lineup. Although the band--not in its present incarnation--released one promising self-produced record in 1998, "Auxiliary," output since then has since dwindled to a handful of EPs and more demo tracks. That's about to change, however, when the band releases its proper debut this fall on Orange Recordings. It's a step that, prior to now, neither McDonough nor Jablonski thought the band should take.

"We've actually never really pursued it," says Jablonski. "I didn't think we were ready."

"And I'm just lazy," McDonough leisurely adds.

Jablonski continues. "Orange came to us last year. Ron [Sievers, owner of Orange] had heard about us through the Shams, and through some of the other bands we've played with, like Cash Audio, Geraldine and Immortal Lee County Killers, just from word of mouth. So we don't even know if we could get on a record label or not. Orange was the first one that actually offered to give us some backing, offered to help us record."

But why, after having at least two solid members for three years, didn't the band think itself ready? "A lot of it had to do with lineup changes" responds Jablonski. "And this is my first band, I've only been playing for like four years, so I didn't think I was ready."

McDonough, however, attributes another factor. "It wasn't a matter," he begins, "really, of saying now, lets record. It was usually a matter of what the fuck? We just got together with this drummer, after six months, taught him the songs, got him tight, and now it's not gonna work for whatever reasons. For some people it was two years, for some people it was a year."

The constantly changing drummer situation could have been the least of The Drapes worries--after dating for four years, McDonough and Jablonski broke up almost a year ago. While that might signal the death knell for many bands, the arrangement works. "We decided that we're much better friends and partners than boyfriend and girlfriend. Nobody notices, because we still look like...," says Jablonski, before McDonough interrupts. "We still fight enough to look like we're going out," he says. "Luckily we were able to say, this is how it has to be, and still be friends and play together."

"Some people can do it," explains Jablonski. "Some people can't. Like Jucifer, and Mates of State, they can do it. But we've toured together not in that situation, and we've been through every weird tour scenario that you could possibly imagine."

In fact, the two were even taunted fate a bit: Kevin's brother, Dan McDonough (aka Black) of the much-lamented Blacks, saw his band end when his longtime relationship with girlfriend/bandmate Gina Black ended, making them one of the "cant's." "Ready for this?," McDonough asks rhetorically, "Gina and Andrea have the same birthday."

None of that would matter, however, if The Drapes sucked. They do not--in fact, the roughshod recordings and highly energetic live show were frustrating carrots on a stick. Playing the straight-ahead rock that a power trio is best at, The Drapes are as exciting a new--OK, maybe not new--band as any in Chicago. The songs are simple, but McDonough, like his brother, has a terrific voice--listening to his sometimes raspy and melodic pitch, it's not that far off from another singer with a raspy, melodic pitch: Kurt Cobain.

"I think one person may have written that," he says. "And I can see how that's possible. From the quieter to louder. I think there's maybe a chance that our tonal qualities are similar too, but I definitely don't practice or sit down and try to sing along with Nirvana. But I always take that as a compliment."

Though the Drapes haven't played a tremendous amount of shows in the last six months (one of the best was in an opening spot for McLusky at Schubas), expect to hear a lot more about them in the time leading up to the release of their record. ("We took off way too much time in anticipation of recording, since we were unsure of when we would be able to get into the studio," explains McDonough.) For what's becoming a fiercely loyal local following, anticipation of The Drapes record is high. A few more months might seem like a long wait, and it is--we've waited long enough.

The Drapes play June 20 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western, (773)276-3600. Estrus Records' The Midnight Evils open.

(2003-06-18)

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