THE EFFIGIES | FREE ADMISSION IN THE WORLD’S END
The Effigies were one of the first punk bands in Chicago. The Midwest initially resisted punk and was late to discover or appreciate it to any degree. In the years immediately after the Ramones and the Sex Pistols first released records, Chicago remained dominated by classic rock, disco and blues. Eventually New Wave bands like Skafish, Wazmo Nariz and Tutu and The Pirates broke ground in the rock club circuit and showed that the emerging scene had an audience, but punk bands were still largely anathema to the Midwest rock establishment and had few places to play. What most punk fans recall as the first "punk scene" in Chicago did not rise until the very early 1980s, when clubs like Oz, O’Banion's and C.O.D started to provide venues for live punk. In a 1999 retrospective about the 1985 music year, Chicago Sun-Times music writer Jim Derogatis termed the heyday of The Effigies "the second generation of Midwestern punks." Although The Effigies were tagged with labels such as post-punk, Hardcore and, to the extent it is distinguishable, Chicago Hardcore, the band's sound was more expansive than the punk subgenres both musically and thematically.
In the summer of 2024 original members Zamost and Economou formed a new lineup, retaining Gerber on guitar and adding singer/guitarist Geoff Sabin, who had assisted on Reside, recording much of John's vocals for that record. They began playing live shows in the fall of 2024, including a string of dates with the Black Crowes. Singer Chris Robinson had seen the band in 1984 in Atlanta and hand picked them to open, giving them a generous 1 hour set.
In November 2024 BFD will release a 40th Anniversary edition of For Ever Grounded, which Gerber re-mixed at his Million Yen Studios in Chicago. The package includes a collage of ephemera from the era (photos, typewritten lyrics, track sheets) as well as a poster featuring the iconic back cover photo (which graces the front of the new release).
The band will play a John Kezdy tribute/record release show in their hometown of Chicago on December 20 2024 at the iconic venue Metro, which they first played in 1980 when it was still called "Stages". 90s punk vets The Bollweevils and up and comers Ganser are on the bill.
14+. 14 and 15 year olds MUST be accompanied by an adult (18+) / All ticketholders under the age of 25 will be required to carry PHOTO ID
