Tom Lynch

Having Pete Wentz in your corner is the next best thing to knowing Kanye’s cell number. Chicago’s four-piece outfit The Hush Sound celebrates the release of its third full-length record for the Fall Out Boy bassist’s Decaydance imprint, titled "Goodbye Blues" and, as with the band’s previous efforts (the applauded "So Sudden" and "Like Vines"), it’s unlike what you’d expect from a label that’s spawned from Fueled by Ramen.

Mixing components of pop, swing, blues and folk, often led by co-founder Greta Salpeter’s vocal swagger and piano, The Hush Sound is NOT an emo act. "Goodbye Blues," aside from being a rock-solid record, shows great maturity on the band’s part, both musically and lyrically, and if this band is to have a time, the time is now.

"The great thing about this band is that we’re really lucky to have four people with really big ideas," says guitarist and vocalist Bob Morris. "We all have our own ideas, that’s why all three albums have such variances. On ‘So Sudden’ and ‘Like Vines’ we did a good job of not pigeonholing ourselves. We love so many kinds of music, and on ‘Goodbye Blues,’ we had such a big palette to work with."

Morris says that, with this record, the band definitely wanted an unbridled effect on the listener. "We wanted a good-feeling album," he says. "Like when we listen to Motown…even the sad songs make you feel good. That’s what we wanted. With the other albums we hadn’t really accomplished that."

Between "Like Vines" and "Goodbye Blues," the band was exposed to more and more musical influences, and the dynamic changed slightly. "Neil Young, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Motown in general," Morris says. "I think having new influences changed the vibe of the band a little…We never want to put out the same record twice, it’s really important that we keep advancing. I’m sure we [will], because we all love music so much. I’m just excited to continue this upward trend, try to do a little better and better."

The Hush Sound was famously signed only a month into its existence after Wentz heard a handful of tracks, and the rapid speed of the band’s modest success took its toll. That said, according to Morris, the band’s gotten a handle on it now and looks towards the future. "I feel like our band is in this for longevity," he says. "We want to be like the Rolling Stones or Tom Petty. We want to…go the distance."

The Hush Sound celebrate the release of "Goodbye Blues" March 18 at Beat Kitchen, 2100 West Belmont, (773)281-4444, at 7pm. $14.

(2008-03-11)

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