Rest In Peace- Brian O'Callaghan of Sutured Psyche (1982-2016)

Post #343

There's an Iron Maiden song that says 'Only the Good Die Young', and the phrase could not be more true for Brian O'Callaghan, who played bass guitar in Sutured Psyche for several years. Brian lost a 3 year battle with cancer on October 13th. He was an upbeat person who always brightened the room he was in. Anyone who has ever met him remembers him fondly.

Though he was taken from us far too soon, his memory will live on through his friends, family, and band mates who remember him fondly, as well as through the music he created and performed on the local scene in Chicago and the surrounding area. Sutured Psyche recorded an EP, 'Bastard Nation', and 2 live recordings, 'None the Wiser' and 'One for the Road'. You can find these recordings through Sutured Psyche's various online websites and music outlets. Brian played on each of them. The best song to highlight his talent on the bass guitar is perhaps 'Crecy'. Live versions of that song are on each of the live recordings mentioned above.

 If you were lucky enough to have seen Brian perform with Sutured Psyche, or even better, to know him as a person, then you know what the world is missing now.  His family and friends are mourning his loss, as well as the local scene in Chicago. He may not have been a 'spotlight' type of player, mostly content to stay in the background while his band mates drew the attention of the crowd, but he was an integral piece of the bands he played in. In that respect, he was like a 'quiet legend' on the north-side local scene.

If you want to track down the music that Brian created as a part of Sutured Psyche then visit some of these links:
Facebook
Reverbnation
Bandcamp
Myspace
iTunes

If you want to contribute to a cause in his honor, the family has asked for donations be sent to The Lynch Syndrom International- PO Box 19, Madison, CT 06443
www.lynchcancers.com

Rest In Peace, Brian. You'll always be remembered!

Sutured Psyche say Farewell...

Post #230

In the world of independent, D.I.Y., home-grown music, local bands come and go in the blink of an eye. Sometimes they are quickly forgotten, sometimes their members move on to new projects and re-form another band with a new formula, new line-up, new direction; other times they leave a lasting impression...

In the case of SUTURED PSYCHE, I feel they've left that impression upon their faithful following. For a band whose line-up went through a few changes over their 3 and a half years performing shows, they maintained a core of creativity and a consistent vibe and attitude that lived up to the motto for their music: "Music for Bastards".

On October 19th, 2012, the faithful of Bastard Nation gathered one last time, for one final show. The venue: Chicago's Elbo Room on the north side. Sutured Psyche: a band in flux, as the paths of life had pulled some members away, while other local musicians filled in, picking up the proverbial sword and carrying it into one final battle. A familiar face in Troll (former bassist for Deadmanswake), had rehearsed with the band on guitar, to compensate for original guitarist Adrian Mann, who had recently moved out of state. However, as fate would have it, Adrian managed to swing a trip back to his homeland, just in time to play this final show. The result was a truly one-of-a-kind line-up for Sutured Psyche. On this night they were armed with 3 guitarists (Adrian, Ryan, and Troll), plus the usual suspects of William Piamon (vocals), Brian O'Callaghan (bass), and Michael T Signal (drums).

Fans of the band filed in over the course of a couple opening acts, and by the time Sutured Psyche were ready to take the stage, there was precious little elbow-room to be had! It was showtime. They kicked off their set with 'Ma Gavte La Nata', an up tempo crowd charger for sure! The band was so pumped for this show that 2 of the guitarists collided on-stage after striking the first cord. They played on, barely missing a beat, regaining their balance and composure in a split second. And that was simply a precursor to the kind of mayhem that was in store this evening!

From that point there was no stopping. The fans latched onto the conduit of energy the band provided with their music.They thrummed along with the tempo for song after song. The audience was a cross-section of music lovers from all walks of life. Everyone there was living for the moment. Hell, there was even a guy in the crowd in a Spider-Man costume!

Said William Piamon of the webbed wonder's presence: "Go figure! We're the only Chicago band with a super-hero in residence."

The band delivered so many of their classic songs, many of which can be found on their CD Bastard Nation, or their live DVD None The Wiser. 'Codependent', 'Invocation' and 'Steven' come to mind as some personal  favorites. However, the guys had even more in store for us on this night, as they played an unexpected cover of Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know'! Adding more power and energy to the vocal delivery, and making the song's heavy rhythm even heavier, these guys made this song their own!

The evening's biggest highlight had to be when they invited all their fans on-stage with them to jam along with the band. Easily half a dozen people joined the 6-member line-up on stage, playing chords and notes as best they could. It was such chaos, but at the same time so indicative of the relationship this band has with their fans: "We're one of you. You are one of us."

This evening was more than just a local rock band playing a set at a local venue. It was a celebration of three-plus years of camaraderie mixed with mayhem; celebration and tribute; a fraternity's family reunion; a reluctant coda mixed with an unending pride... Musicians. Rock Stars. Followers. Fans. Friends. A Nation. (and one Super Hero!)

So, until one of these bastards rises again, in another place or time, this is Sutured Psyche saying farewell...

-Ma Gavte la Nata

-Codependent

-Blood From a Stone

-Mike T. Signal's Drum Solo

-Invocation

-Belbo's Stomp

-You Oughta Know (Alanis Morrisette cover)

-Steven (w/ Henry Van Loon from Grandma vs Grandpa)

-Trickster Pt 1 (Jake Sherin on drums)

-Inherit the Earth

-Clarity

-Crecy

-The Leap

Encore:

-Anything

-I Ran

None The Wiser: 2 Years of Sutured Psyche!

Post #215
On January 28th, 2012, Sutured Psyche returned to the Elbo Room, in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood to celebrate their 2 year anniversary as a band... This show was a special occasion as they chose to invite their fans to bring their own video-recording devices to film the show for a DVD. I took advantage of this opportunity, and filmed my own video that I contributed to their archive for this project. As luck would have it, I was one of very few who managed to capture the full show before running out of storage space or batteries (I barely made it on battery life!)

To be sure, film or no film, Sutured Psyche put on an excellent show! They knew tonight was their night and played with as much fervor as ever...

The show was typical balls-to-the-wall energy on display for Sutured Psyche. Their regular following has probably grown accustomed to their style of play over the last 2 years, but for the occasional new member of the audience catching their show for the first time, it's sure to win some new converts to Bastard Nation (the band's pet-name for their faithful following.) Those in the front row were likely to receive a sprinkling of hard fought sweat from cheesecake (...er, I mean guitarist!), Ryan Reilly.

The band delivered a great set, featuring several songs from their 6-track EP Bastard Nation, some older original songs of theirs, and a couple newer ones. They even pulled out a cover of 'I Ran' by 80's pop-rockers Flock of Seagulls. The crowd loved every minute of it. By the end of the night, footage had been saved on several hand-held electronic devices, and arrangements were made to get them to the band.

True to his word, band spokesman/guitarist Ryan Reilly gathered all the contributed video clips of the show, and mixed them with the master audio from the show, and has delivered a Live DVD/CD combo pack that is available to all their fans and Bastard Nation at large. It is a really sweet package, too! Not only does it contain a DVD of the full concert, and an audio CD of the set, but Ryan went the extra mile and threw in a ton of extra features. (one might say he ran... he ran all night and day... etc...)

The first treat is the opening track: an animated video of their song 'The Leap' (quite appreciated by die-hard fans, as this song was not performed as part of the live show!). Following the concert footage, there are some documentary-style Bastard-Grams. These were the band's special way of promoting the release of their EP, as they hand-delivered them, along with a message, upon request for any number of occasions.

Some highlights from the show itself:
Crecy. The opening number features an extended bass-guitar intro. Great tone-setter as the band eases into their groove.

Belbo's Stomp. This song sees Sutured Psyche get some of their aggression out. Band members are jumping around the stage, playing off each other's energy. Some of the fans get into the spirit too, as some creative camerawork comes into play. At one point during this song, the camera slowly inverts, so that it seems Dr. Piamon is screaming at you from the ceiling!

Steven. As Adrian Mann joins the band midway through the show, initially disguised as 'Dirk Dastardly'. Immediately before the song starts he says to the audience: "My Brothers, let us play the music of our people." All things considered, this moment seems to sum up the crux of Sutured Psyche and their beloved Bastard Nation... A camaraderie shared through the emotion of the music and lyrics of this band. You feel that Sutured Psyche has a tribal quality to it, and you feel a part of that tribe. The song they proceeded to play was 'Steven', a fan-favorite and one of the band's best known songs. It is a melodic number at the start, and cycles between heavy segments and melodic phrases throughout. The memorable, Shakespearean line of the chorus: 'I demand... I demand my pound of flesh from you.'

Codependent. This song has remained a 'classic' in the eyes of fans. A demo of it was made in the band's early days, but it didn't make the cut for inclusion on their EP (to the dismay of some fans). Well, there is some redemption for it now, since there is now this live version of the song. The band really delivers on this number, perhaps the best performance of the night!

I Ran. The Flock of Seagulls cover. The crowd reaction to this one says it all. Just watch the DVD, or listen to the CD. This was all of Bastard Nation letting loose and havin' a good time! William breaks into an ad-lib salutation to the audience and their faithful support towards the end.

Check out www.suturedpsyche.com today, and get your copy!

Complete Set List from the show is as follows:
-Crecy
-Invocation
-Anything
-Ma Gavte La Nata
-Belbo's Stomp
-Steven
-Codependent
-I Ran
-Trickster, Part 1

SUTURED PSYCHE- BASTARD NATION & Early Demo

Post # 186
Chicago's answer for underground, sweaty hard rock, SUTURED PSYCHE, released their debut CD 'Bastard Nation' in the latter part of 2011. A few months prior to that, they had issues a 3-track EP, which contained one song that didn't make the cut for the 'Bastard Nation' release. Here, I will review both of these discs...

Beginning with the early EP, Sutured Psyche present 3 tracks that offer a sampling of their music style and diversity: The Leap, Codependent, and Steven. The Leap is perhaps Sutured Psyche's best example of fast-tempo hard n' heavy rock. This track is sure to get your adrenaline running. A lead guitar establishes the main melody of this song, and is prominent throughout.

Codependent has become a Sutured Psyche classic, at least at their live shows. Featuring a balanced mix of acoustic and electric guitars, soul-searching lyrics, and an almost Irish-drinking-song rhythm, it is one of their easiest songs to sing along with. This one has, so far, only been released on this early 3-track demo recording, though it is available to stream online at their Reverbnation page.

Steven rocks with a significantly darker vibe, and again fuses clean guitar melodies with heavier riffs during the choruses. Switching back and forth throughout, this contrast makes Steven a very memorable song. Personally, I call this my favorite Sutured Psyche song. Check it out and see if you agree: Sutured Psyche-myspace page.

Now on to Bastard Nation:

With this 6-track release, you get twice as much of Sutured Psyche's self-described 'music for bastards'. In fact the title "Bastard Nation" is taken from the mutually accepted reference to their devoted following. Two tracks from the early demo appear here again, with some touch-ups on the recording: The Leap and Steven. However, the other tracks make for a well-rounded sampling of Sutured Psyche. Anyone who has attended a Sutured Psyche show will recognize their staple tracks Invocation, The Trickster-Part 1, and Clarity.

This band gives you an honest, thought-provoking, rough and raw (and often sweaty!) musical experience. The 2-guitar team of Ryan Reilly and Adrian Mann provide catchy melodies, a variety of tone, guitar solos when needed. Brian O'Callaghan gives a solid, steady bass line. Vocalist William Piamon delivers the lyrics with his full, deep voice and plenty of raw emotion. Drop by SUTURED PSYCHE's facebook page to follow their events, and get a sample of their music!

Tracks I recommend:
-Codependent
-The Trickster, Part 1
-Steven
-Clarity
and of course...
-The Leap

"Maybe you will understand in forever and a day... It's never enough!"

Second Annual Myspace-Bands Poll

Post #107
In the world of online music and streaming mp3's websites like myspce.com have become more than simply a way to get your music heard; they've become the standard for much of the music industry. Not only will you find your buddy's garage band from around the block with their own myspace-page, but every major recording artist now has at least a couple songs available for free sampling at myspace.com.

To celebrate the spirit of independent music, the Happy Headbanger's blog is once again featuring seven of these up-and-coming bands in a reader's poll. To allow you faithful readers sufficient time to hear a little of each of these bands, and decide on a favorite, this poll will have an extended voting window! Typically I utilize a 30-day polling window, but for this one you'll get no less than 45 days. Use them wisely!

Now here are your contestants
DEADMANSWAKE
Female-fronted metal with lots of balls!
Check out the song "Amy"
http://www.myspace.com/deadmanswakechicago

SMASH CORPS
Great heavy-metal with a thrash-hardcore vibe!
Check out "The Machine"
http://www.myspace.com/smashcorps

THIRD LAW OF MOTION
"For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
Post-grunge inspired alternative rock, with mainstream-friendly hooks.
Check out "Golden Age"
http://www.myspace.com/thirdlawofmotion

KILLCODE
A great New York-based band blending a classic-metal sound with a bit of southern rock.
Check out "Truce"
http://www.myspace.com/killcode

SKANK
A little melody, a bunch of hard-core riffs, and of course a little sleazy. These guys rock!
Check out "No Love Lost"
http://www.myspace.com/skankmusic

INN CINEMA
These guys can be intense with a furious metalcore edge, then lighten up to show a melodic side.
Check out "Save Me"
http://www.myspace.com/inncinema

SUTURED PSYCHE
"Music for Bastards!"
Melodic hard rock, mixed with a bit of alternative metal, and catchy grooves in every song!
Check out "The Leap"
http://www.myspace.com/suturedpsyche

Keep in mind, the winner of this poll will get a full-length review within a few weeks of when the poll closes. Not to mention more exposure to the online community, and circulation of their myspace page!

Enjoy!

Sutured Psyche Rocks Chicago's I AM Fest (7-23-10)

Post #103

SUTURED PSYCHE

On the local, independent rock music scene in Chicago, there has been a series of 'Battle of the Bands' style shows this summer. One band featured in this competition has been on my radar for a while now: Sutured Psyche. On Friday, July 23rd I was finally able to make it to one of their shows, and it was well worth the wait.

As part of the Independent Arts & Music Fest (I AM Fest), they played a show at the Elbo Room on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. It was a small venue, in the basement below the bar, and a little short on air-conditioning. All things considered, the crowd was still ready to rock, and with potent enthusiasm. The crowd seemed to be perpetually revolving, as people kept retreating to the upstairs area where the AC was working much better. There also seemed to be a trend of each band pulling in its own crowd that didn't always stick around for the whole evening.

For those who stuck it out for the penultimate band, Sutured Psyche, they were rewarded with a great set of in-you-face hard-rock music! As the individual members ran a final sound-check with the venue sound-staff I was getting psyched (pun intended!) Suddenly, it was SHOW TIME!
They hit the ground running, opening their set with "Clarity", a song that quickly showcased much of the band's signature sound. Hard rock riffs are the driving force behind Sutured Psyche's music. Catchy melodies are abundant throughout as well. Clean-guitar progressions balance a heavy rhythm guitar as a tight drum & bass guitar combo holds everything together. However, the most unique element of this band may be their lead vocalist. Singer William Pekoc IV has a deep, throaty voice that reverberates throughout the room. This facet of the band's formula is the reason behind a few hinted comparisons to Tool.
Pekoc's commanding vocal delivery, along with the band's slick image (dressed in matching black suits-at least at the start of the show), and stage craft make for a highly entertaining rock show. Follow this band with their myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/suturedpsyche, and try to catch one of their shows on Chicago's north-side. You won't be dissapointed.

For now I'll leave you with the set list from this show:

Clarity

Invocation

50th Percentile

Luck of the Draw

Much More Than I've Lost

Inherit the Earth (A great fist-pumping anthem, with crowd-participation opportunities!)

Trickster

The Leap (this one has quickly become a favorite track of mine, having sampled it frequently on their myspace webpage)

Teen Angst (a rare cover-originally by Cracker)

Anything

[Sutured Psyche will also be featured soon in this blog's 2nd annual Myspace/Independent bands' reader's poll. Coming feature in October this year...]