Check this out: The Shakedown album release show, 1/14

By Frank Krolicki

When they're not putting down their thoughts about music, a few of our writers here at WCR like to play it, too. One of our musically-inclined is Christian Chiakulas, who is at the helm of The Shakedown. The band is about to release their debut album You and I at the End, and will celebrate with a show at Logan Square's Box Social (2129 N. Milwaukee Ave.) on Saturday, January 14th. Party at the Moontower, Every Wakes Dream and The Broken Belts are also part of the lineup.

The Shakedown's sound seems to scream "current indie trends be-damned," which is something I always find pretty admirable (as much as I am a fan of some of those current indie trends). Instead of reverb-drenched indie pop, art rock, or anything else you'd find getting a lot of hype today, the band opt for mostly loud, mostly fast, mostly straightforward rock with a touch of punk and a lot of energy (and the occasionally slowed-down tune for a bit of variety). Revved-up tracks such as "She Smiled (And Said Goodbye)" and "Flush" should get the blood flowing on a cold winter night and are bound to sound especially good with a beer in hand over the weekend. So if you're looking for a show Saturday, check out The Shakedown at Box Social and be sure to say hey to Christian.

The Shakedown take the stage at 9 p.m. Click here for more details.