Between Wildcat Welcome and the first week of classes, I regretfully have not had time to go into Chicago since arriving on campus. I’ve been to the city more times than I can count (my father not-so-secretly wants to live here instead of Bloomington, Minn.), but I’ve always figured my first time there as a full-fledged college student would be vaguely meaningful. Wonderfully enough, that will be Oct. 8, my first time seeing indie band Army Navy live.
Army Navy is a Los Angeles-based indie-rock band featuring Justin Kennedy, Grant Lovelace, Douglas Randall and Louie Schultz. The group released its self-titled first album in 2008 to rave reviews. Each song on the album is fantastic; I have spent hours singing along to the infectiously fun record. All the songs are musically complex and downright beautiful. This is surf-influenced, jangly, power pop that cuts straight to your heart — and also your feet (for dancing).
I can’t claim to understand the meaning behind any of the band’s song lyrics. Even the songs I can sing by heart (“Dark as Days,” “My Thin Sides,” “Saints” and “Snakes of Hawaii”) still befuddle me conceptually. Yet the enigmatic lyrics contain no artifice; they truly sound like poems worthy of a thorough explication. For example, take the chorus to the upbeat “Dark as Days”: “But I won’t ever believe it till I melt inside/I won’t ever be free until I let you die/Yeah, I never believed in the power/It slips away/I always needed a plan to dislocate.”
The band combines two of my great loves: interesting music without an ounce of superficiality, and the alternative comedy world. I first heard Army Navy when it did a guest appearance on Randy and Jason Sklar’s comedy/sports/indie-rock podcast “Sklarbro Country.” The video for the band’s first single, “My Thin Sides,” stars Paul Scheer (“The League,” “Human Giant,” “NTSF: SD: SUV::”); its newest video, “World’s End,” premiered on Aug. 28 and stars Martin Starr (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Party Down”) as the rude host of a 60s talk show with the band as a musical guest.
I have no doubt that soon, Army Navy’s concerts will be in massive packed clubs. The band members are all extremely talented and are rising fast. When that time comes, I will be ecstatic for them. But for now, I’ll be happy to see one of my favorite bands live for a mere $15. Bottom Lounge: here I come.
