Chicago rockers Twin Peaks on their way to the top

click to enlarge Chicago rockers Twin Peaks on their way to the top
Pooneh Ghana/IPC Media/NME Twin Peaks USA, Austin, SXSW?March 15, 2014 Posed Lead Singer: Cadien James

If you’ve been longing for some garage rock with soul, just enough power pop to smooth the edges and all with a firm foundation in true classic rock, then you’re in luck. Twin Peaks is headed to town.

Don’t let the name fool you; these guys missed out on the original run of the television show they’re named after. They’re young, and they’re here to rock, plain and simple. Often compared to their hometown compatriots The Orwells, the group has a more disparately complex sound and maturity to them.

Hailing from Chicago, Twin Peaks is part of a music scene that is as diverse as their hometown’s thriving economy.

“Our music scene in general is really poppin’ off right now,” bassist Jack Dolan said.

Singer-guitarist Cadien Lake James joked that Chicago’s moment arrived “when the Sox won the World Series.”

“But there’s so much more than just music that was starting to get national attention in Chicago,” James said.

The city has seen its sports empire explode with successes across the board. It’s in the midst of a rap renaissance with artists like Kanye West, Common and Chance the Rapper (who went to high school with Twin Peaks), and indie-rock acts Smith Westerns (whose former drummer is James’ brother) and The Orwells have helped the emerging rock scene lift off.

James believes that the reintroduction of Lollapalooza to Chicago and indie media mogul Pitchfork have also helped put the city back on the map.

“We’ve got, like, a cultural hub,” he said. “It’s the cultural mecca, and people are slow to admit it.”

Since their formation in 2009, Twin Peaks have essentially been on a never-ending tour.

“We’ve had little breaks in between, but [we have been] pretty much touring nonstop,” Dolan said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

A normal tour for the group is done as stereotypically as possible.

“We’ve done all our tours in Connor’s van,” Dolan said, “a 15-passenger take-everybody-to-church van. Only we’re not taking everyone to church. Well, in a way, we’re taking them to a different kind of church.”

The band’s second album, Wild Onion, was released in August as the inaugural release for new label Grand Jury Music.

“It’s kind of weird, because it feels like it’s been out for way longer,” Dolan said. “It feels like it’s been out for six months or something like that. It’s cool. I’m excited to see how people keep responding to it over time.”

The formalities of record-making can drag out the creative process and in turn create more angst down the road.

“Everything takes a long time,” Dolan said. “You record an album and it takes a long time to put the final touches on [it]; and then it takes a long time to get ready to promote it; and then you might push back some dates to make the timing right or whatever; and by that time, you’ve listened to it a million times and you’re ready to write some more stuff.”

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Print headline: Peaked interest, Chicago rockers Twin Peaks are rising fast, and they’re repping their hometown all the way to the top.

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