What can be said about a band that blends the different experiences of City boys, Abused children, Eggheads, Strong chins, Good manners, Foul mouths, Eye liner and 4 nationalities into a cohesive modern rock sound?
It Is What It Is – IIwII.
Fronted by the versatile Chad Gearig and his silky tenor, IIwII looks to restore elegance and emotion to popular rock. Chad, the pretty boy frontman sums up the band's image by saying, "We don't focus on any one particular style other than just playing really good f&*ing music." With songs and melodies that span the range of rock those words only begin to describe the IIwII experience.
As their sound has developed, the acclaimed 5 piece has acquired much recognition for their astonishing live shows, supple melodies and musical panache. Michel Geadah provides a good deal of IIwII's live show charisma with his incendiary guitar skills. Michel, eyes lighting up while playing air guitar, shouts, "The high energy of our studio songs and the smut in our jams really get the crowd pumped." Get this man some Ritalin.
And while the band has graced the stage of many venerable Chicago venues, IIwII remains no foreigner to dingy local bars and dirty basement gigs. Young Nam, the band's cofounder and bassist, a smile on his face relates, "I never give a s&*t where we play, I just love playing in front of a packed house since it gets everybody ready for the after party."
Likewise, the band draws influence from many eclectic sources: From Ten foot Pole and Queen to Miles Davis and The Killers. Eric Woerle, IIwII's blue eyed drummer, chimes in, "With everyone's crazy personalities and different styles… sometimes I don"t know how it comes together – but it does."
Despite the band's amazing diversity, a common story and sound emerges through their music. William Tegel, IIwII's other cofounder and rhythm guitarist remarks, "Yes, we have Chad’s glory notes, Michel’s musical stylings and Eric’s thundering fills. But there really is no one thing that makes us IIwII. It's simply a collective whole that just sounds good."
While preparing for the studio, IIwII continues to gain notoriety for its music, good looks, and ADHD stage antics. Finalists in MTV2's On The Rise Competition, IIwII was invited to screen a music video for MTV Networks. Filmed in part at the VVNA Museum and directed by Vincent Singleton of Film Collective Productions, Single Days will air on MTV2's On Demand in September and October (if you don't have cable check our videos section). In addition to MTV2's video play, IIwII has been invited to represent Chicago's rock scene on IGO's inaugural Audio Emissions CD.
Following IIwII's self-released and self titled EP Demo, the band's currently untitled first full album is scheduled for public release in the winter of 2007/2008. Under construction at RaxTrax in Chicago with producer Rick Barnes, the album contains such songs as "Single Days," "Complicated" and the retro-punk call to arms, "Paper Street." The album promises to cement IIwII's reputation for edge in sound structure.
Continuing to build their already sizable following, IIwII currently books shows throughout greater Chicagoland. Their songs have been featured on college radio stations and broadcast to the world from Fearless Radio in Chicago. Ask Philip Lake, IIwII's stage manager, what he thinks of IIwII. "Diversity? Collective sound? I don't know about all that. I just work here. And the chicks are hot."
Still wondering what IIwII means? Look it up in the urban dictionary, then come out and party with the band.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.isitwhatitis.com
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