Their/They’re/There
Their/They’re/There / Their/They’re/There / 2013 / PRC-261
Their/They’re/There - Probably the coolest surprise of 2013. A Chicago “supergroup” math rock project comprised of Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.) on bass, Matthew Frank (Loose Lips Sink Ships) on guitar, and Mike Kinsella (Owen, American Football) on the drumkit. The debut self titled T/T/T EP released on June 25th, 2013 and came with amazing reception - so much so that a few months later in November they followed up with an additional three tracks via Analog Weekend. Their/They’re/There pretty much checks all the boxes for what you could expect from all this talent in a small city studio - concise lyrics, noodley guitar lines, driven bass, and drum breakdowns. It’s really impressive seeing all the various bands Evan Weiss can amalgamate - each with a unique feel and sound with his iconic voice at the forefront.
My favorite tracks off Their/They’re/There include Concession Speech Writer, 572 Cuthbert Blvd, and End And End. The bridge of Concession Speech Writer brings in a gang vocal background before a rhythmic breakdown - without a doubt reminiscent of Into It. Over It. material. The ending I love because it’s so musically buoyant and happy as Evan exclaims his harsh lines - “You were never really good at much. You were never really much good at all”. 572 Cuthbert Blvd lets Matthew show off his technical prowess on an acoustic guitar. With hammer on’s and pull off’s that are so pristine, I strive to manifest just some of his skill. End And End buttons up the less then 20 minute EP with a great progression. Around the two minute mark Mike swaps up the drum pattern and the guitar starts running ping-ponged lines until they eventually fade away at the end with Evan proclaiming “The long life that we desire. The short life that we will settle for”. Damn.
Their/They’re/There was produced with the help of Matt Jordan, Matthew Frank, and Mark Michalik. I picked up the copy I own (along with Analog Weekend) at my local college record shop Young Ones. If you’re ever in the Kutztown, PA area be sure to check out this store. You can view the Nervous Energies Session of 572 Cuthbert Blvd here: Their / They're / There - 572 Cuthbert Ave. (Nervous Energies session)
