Words by Rachel Ann//Illustration by Ally Ritchie
Chin Up, Chin Up is a band that understands the meaning of its name. And by understand, I don’t mean in a, “Hey, we decided on our name, so of course we know what it means,” kind of way. It’s more of a “we lived it” sort of understanding. Perseverance in the face of adversity. Showing strength in a time of great weakness. Keeping your chin up.

The Chicago-based indie pop-rock band were on the brink of something great while writing and recording 2004’s We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers. Their debut album would go on to receive much critical praise, paving the way for 2006’s This Harness Can’t Ride Anything, a collection of pop perfections that are equal parts familiar and evocative. However, shortly after the band mixed the demos for their first full-length, bassist Chris Saathoff was killed in a hit-and-run accident while he was walking home from a show. Understandably, the rest of the band took time off before continuing with the album, salvaging Saathoff’s bass lines from the demos and recorded practice sessions wherever they could.

However, when the band is made up of people who embrace the meaning of “chin up” no one should have doubted that it would be only a matter of time before they released another stellar album. On This Harness Can’t Ride Anything, the band (Jeremy Bolen, vocals/guitar; Nathan Snydacker, guitar; Greg Sharp, keyboards; and Chris Dye, drums) seep harmonica, banjo and vibraphone into heavily layered guitars, drums and synths. Bolen channels Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock in enunciation and pacing on several tracks, particularly on “We’ve Got To Keep Running” and the title track. And the peppy, deliberate beats propel the creative lyrics, repetition running rampant throughout the album.

The beautiful urgency that laces this album suggests that the band was inspired to produce something to honor the memory of Saathoff, but also to prove that they were stronger as a band because of what they experienced together. Chin Up has no doubt left its mark on the indie rock scene and all signs point to a staying presence. For many, Chin Up Chin Up may be a new band. But one listen and you’ll probably feel as if you’ve known them forever.