PUBLISHED: 05-11-09

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With Glasko

If there was an ideal definition for what Glasko, the band name, means, it would be nothing like Glasgow, Scotland. Lead singer Eric Michaels visited Glasgow(pronounced like Glasko) and realized the place was dirty, ugly and depressing.

The Chicago-based indie rock band would be much happier saying the word looks cool and credit themselves for coming up with it. The four other members include drummer Andrew Sabo, bassist Nick Alvarado, guitarist Mike Scheiman and pianist Kate Schell.

What started off in one of Loyola’s dorm rooms has now become another band to look out for in Chicago’s indierock scene. For the past two-and-a-half years, the band has toured throughout the Midwest and launched their first full-length album, Madrigold, on May 7.

The Chronicle talked to Michaels about what influenced its recently released album, the good and bad side of being a Chicago band and who would be a part of their “dream tour.”

The Chronicle: How have your shows changed throughout the years?
Eric Michaels: We went from playing [at] crappy dive bars, and now we play once a month in Chicago and we play every week. That’s how we started building up our fan base. We’ve become more professional. Our sound is better. It’s becoming more indie, as opposed to pop-rock.

What was your influence for ‘Madrigold’?
This album has been in the making for three years. It’s me collaborating with different musicians that have come in and out of the band. It’s become a big compilation piece that is like a chronicle of the last three years maturing me as a songwriter. Since then, my writing has matured. It’s not just one single sound, it’s got it all. It has some soul folk, hard rock, soft ballads and it’s got creepy shit.

What do you want to accomplish with your music?
I’ve already accomplished a few things that I set for myself.  My first landmark was to play SXSW and get to the point where we could become more self-sufficient rather than taking everything out of our own pockets. We’re looking at a Midwest tour this summer. We got offered to play in Colorado, so we might do that.

What are the advantages of being a Chicago band?
I don’t know if there are advantages. I’m going to call it a disadvantage to being a Chicago band, because when people ask about the music industry in America, they will point to New York, Nashville and LA. Those are the big label stops and where there are movements. Chicago has great bands, but it took them a really long time. The advantage is that it is a small community here and you get to know everybody and you start to develop great relationships with other bands. Once you start to play and develop a relationship with the main promoters, it gets a little easier to book the better venues. There’s so much at your fingertips. The climb-up is a little bit easier.

If you could go on tour with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Radiohead. I’m so obsessed with Radiohead, it’s disgusting. That would be like the Mecca for me as a musician.  There’s a reason why they’re so famous.

For more information, visit Myspace.com/GlaskoMusic.

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