In Review: The Trenchies at Schubas Tavern
Whether you’re listening to the Trenchies’ music, watching their music videos, or seeing them live, you can tell they're coming from a place of authenticity.
The Trenchies consist of members Logan Ludwig (lead vocals/guitar), Andrew Pridmore (keys/guitar), Claire King (bass), and Thomas Weiss (drums). They are a somewhat new addition to the Chicago music scene, as they currently only have two singles out. However, in this short span of time they have quickly gained a following of fans who are eager to hear more music from them.
I went to see The Trenchies perform at Schubas Tavern a few weeks ago, alongside The Meeks, Felix Rabito and Saint Dismas. I had high expectations going into this show and The Trenchies exceeded them. It’s one thing to hear their songs on Spotify, but their music takes a new form in a live setting. You could tell that the band has a strong bond through their onstage interactions, passing smiling glances to each other throughout each song. (I'd also like to give a shout out to the guy who played bongos for the band who kind of stole the show).
One of the things that stands out to me most about The Trenchies’ music is their lyricism. All of their songs feel like a stream of consciousness with lyrics like “if I had a talk show, would you listen? Would you listen to me go blah blah blah blah?” Their songs don't take themselves too seriously, so listening to it can make you feel like maybe things in your life aren't so serious as well. I could hear a clear influence of Talking Heads through their sporadic guitar riffs that just perfectly scratch that itch in your brain. This could also be heard in the Tina Weymoth style bass riffs that take hold of a song and leave you wanting more. While their music draws these comparisons to well known and loved musicians, they still very much have their own original sound and are a refreshing addition to the Chicago Music Scene.
Though I thought all of the songs they performed were great, there were two unreleased songs that really stood out to me. One was called “Reunion Show,” and the other “Talk Show” (which I previously mentioned). What I loved about “Reunion Show” was that it still had the same lighthearted lyrics as their other songs, but something about it just felt really sweet and pleasantly nostalgic. Thankfully it won't be too long until these songs can be added to your playlist because they'll be on the Trenches upcoming EP out on March 10th! Along with listening to this new EP you can hear the songs live at the band's EP release show at Golden Dagger this Friday (ticket link).
Lastly, in the words of the Trenchies, you should listen to them because they make “good fun time music! It gets stuck in your head, and you can tap your feet to it… But also you don't have to.”
Photos by Meriah Fearon