PUBLISHED: 12-01-08

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With Goodbyhome

With roots embedded in the singer-songwriter aspect of the music scene, Goodbyehome is trying to leave the comforts of the familiar to try and send a positive message with their emotionally driven folk sound.

Greg Combs, Christine Knodle and Jeff Brown came together in May to form Goodbyehome, a folk/Americana band that can be compared to alternative country star Ryan Adams and folk singer Joshua James.

Goodbyehome was in the process of recording their first self-titled album set to release in mid-January when they took some time to sit down with The Chronicle to discuss their live shows, sound and observations about Chicago’s music scene.

The Chronicle: How did the band begin?
Greg Combs: We all have broad backgrounds [in music]; there are a lot of things to appreciate. We enjoy all sorts of influences. Jeff and I have been playing together for about two years. I moved here after college to play music, and I met Jeff at open mic nights around town. The first thing I did was play and try to meet people. Christine has been with us for about eight months. We just threw something together and played at a bar, and we clicked.

Christine Knodle: One thing that makes us unique as a group [is that] we are all songwriters. It’s not just one person that has that fresh idea; we all have that inspired creativity to write songs.

GC: We thrive on our differences.

What is your songwriting process?
GC: We bring ideas together and mold it. Sometimes it’s ready to go right away, and sometimes it’s a long, painful process. It’s been more [of] a group thing lately. We’ve all been songwriters, and now we are just trying to put in all our efforts as a unit.

CK: We take a song or idea, and our instruments and make it our own.

How do you view the Chicago music scene?
Jeff Brown: I’ve been involved with the music scene in Chicago for the past 13 years. A band might have a group of 20 or 30 loyal fans that will come out to their shows regularly, but they’ll leave right after the band plays. In that way, it’s really hard to build [a] fan base in Chicago. There are musicians all over the place that really support other musicians in the city. That’s the best thing about the scene here. The musicians are really tight-knit; it’s not cutthroat.

GC: You have to go out there and try and promote yourself.

JB: You are not going to get that big break unless you are out there trying to find it here [in Chicago].

What are your shows like?
GC: We have fun; it’s very emotional. At times [it's] sad, retrospectively, and whimsical. It’s a release, for me, of stress. Especially dealing with emotions on stage and putting yourself out there.

JB: You can get the greatest band in the world, but if you are watching them on stage and they look like they are miserable, then what’s the point? If the band is having fun then you’re going to have that much more fun, too.

How would you classify the band’s sound?
GC: Me and Christine have had a ton of classical training, so I can say something vague to her and she will do something extravagant. Jeff and I appreciate vocal harmony. It’s a good vibe.

JB: We are Americana singer-songwriters. We all come from a vast school of music, and we bring elements of that into a cut-and-dry version of folk music.

Catch Goodbyehome at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Dec. 14. The show is $5 at the door and starts at 9 p.m.

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