7th Kind is a Chicago-based experimental rock band and a key player in the city's recent renaissance of horn-centric ensembles (Mucca Pazza, Lowdown Brass Band, Black Bear Combo). They're also the progenitor of logistical nightmare rock, a genre characterized by the collision of complex, meticulously charted sonics and evocative, free-flowing imagery. Drawing on an exhaustive reservoir of idiosyncratic influences--everything from baroque to bepop--7th Kind has constructed a body of original (often startlingly original) works, though their sets have also included distinctive arrangements of tunes by Horace Silver, Sergei Prokoviev, and Henry Purcell. Every set is plotted out as a complete emotional arc, achieving a full range of dynamics from the understated to the overwhelming. At nine members--including the five-man horn section--the group comes close to overwhelming the stage as well. Since their debut in 2001 they've charted their growth across the gamut of Chicago clubs including Elbo Room, The Mutiny, Martyrs, Beat Kitchen, Quenchers, Birds Nest, and Wise Fools Pub. In June 2004 they released a live studio album, Collapsing the Wave; its follow up, sea monster, is now available. For news, upcoming dates, get on their mailing list; you can also check them out on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.
Instrumentation
Justin C. Amolsch – French Horn/Trumpet
William Ashby – Guitar
Tyson Ellert – Drums
AJ Gomez – Alto Sax
Wilson L. Hogan – Tenor Sax
Eric Kopp – Trumpet
Robert Rodi - Vocals
John Sefner – Bass
Nick Siegel – Trumpet