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Aleks and The Drummer

The drums-and-organ duo breaks all the rules, except when it comes to parking.

Tuesday Apr 01, 2008.     By Brad Knutson

Music Feed

Underground artists—and their press agents—love to claim that their music "defies categorization," but rarely does that ego-stroking description actually hold up. Aleks and The Drummer is one band that's worthy of the label. Led by Aleksandra Tomaszewska (toh-ma-SHEV-ska) on vocals and Farfisa organ and backed by the steady beat of Deric Criss, the duo is one of the most original acts to come out of the local music scene in the past few years.

The pairing of just drums and organ gives the band a refreshingly minimalist, yet powerful, aesthetic accentuated by Tomaszewska's hauntingly beautiful vocals, sung in both English and her native Polish. Critics and fans have used such descriptors as hypnotizing, wicked, intricate and even "Victorian" to describe the resulting music. The band may have summed it up best on its Myspace page, listing its influences as "heartbeats, silences and explosives." We recently caught up with Tomaszewska via email to find out what parts of Chicago provide the inspiration for her inimitable style.

If I were to come to your neighborhood, where would you insist I visit?
I live in Humboldt Park, so I'd recommend a picnic on a hill in the park with your friends. I love my neighborhood. It's affordable and non-pretentious, with few uptight stroller-pushers. Bring a stereo, it's ok to make a little noise sometimes. People understand.

What's your favorite hidden gem in Chicago?
Galos Caves. This place is outfitted in salt from the Black Sea from floor to ceiling, and you just sit there and relax while it freshens your skin and helps your respiratory system kill germs. It's a cosmic place; I'd like to take a band photo in there.

What's the best Chicago-related advice you've ever given or received?
Remain paranoid when it comes to parking. Any conflicting signs, missing signs, three minutes left on the meter read as expired, street-cleaning signs posted the day of street cleaning and one inch of snowfall interpreted as four or more inches are all your fault according to the city, and you're guilty with little chance of being proved innocent. Can you tell I'm bitter?

What are you listening to right now?
The heater, at full blast. Other than that, Celebration, Colin Newman, Silver Apples, Beethoven, Ewa Demarczyk, the latest Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP and Gang Gang Dance.

What is your favorite place to see live music or what is your favorite venue to play in as a band?
Our favorite shows are the Lumpen [magazine] parties at their [performance] space. It's always rich in handmade ambience and great artwork, the crowd "gets it" and dances and it's a nice amalgam of all age groups. Schubas has really good sound, which is comforting to a vocalist, and they are quite fair to their performers. I go to the most shows at the Empty Bottle because they book my favorite bands and take risks. The Hideout is just so cute, they're a favorite too.

What are the band's plans or goals for 2008?
Maintain our weird hyper-romance dance aesthetic, play some festivals and do a sweaty tour with a great band.