You can download the September 2013 Mix right here.
Band: ITTO
Genres: Punk / Rock / Post-Hardcore / Screamo / Skramz
Related artists: Suffix, Enuma Elise and The Paramedics.
Country: Chicago, USA
Years Active: 2011-present
Song: "Gift Horse"
Album: "Itto"
Year: 2012
For fans of: Raein, Caravels, Animal Faces, Lautrec, D'Amore, Algernon Cadwallader,
Foxmoulder, Cloud Mouth, Beau Navire and Voyage In Coma, aka
PROPER Screamo.
I first heard of and saw ITTO play in Toronto at an Animal Faces show, reviewed here. I heard they were "screamy hardcore" from Chicago, and that was a pretty goddamn apt description. Let's start with the drums. Wow. Nnamdi is one of the best drummers I've heard in a while. His fills saturate any space left by the other members. The bass is driving as hell, and this is the glue that binds the insane drumming to the very technical and off-timed guitars. The guitars are probably the most interesting thing about this band. It's like listening to 2 spastic geniuses with 3-second attention spans spontaneously bust out a well-orchestrated, 30-second build that then explodes into more chaos and a reversion to said 3-second attention spans. The vocals vary between passionate talking and throat-shredding screams, with excellent lyrical content.
The band's songs are a whirlwind of individual passages coming together to form a constantly shifting sound of reckless abandon and impatiently controlled chaos. The more subdued moments, of which there are few, generally lead into great build-ups that give the songs a loose yet epic feel. At times, the band's first EP seems a little convoluted and imbalanced, but after seeing them play their new songs live, I am anticipating ITTO's next full length more than most upcoming albums.
I was able to speak with Jeremy, one of the two guitarists in ITTO. The interview is below.
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THE INTERVIEW
Hey David, We're in the van
currently on our way to Santa Cruz, and it's really hot, bumpy and hard to
type. I'm trying to answer the best I can and thanks for your support.
Considering promoting new bands is what my blog is all about,
what unknown/obscure band(s) would you like people to know about?
This list can become really big
pretty easily, but here are some we've been pretty stoked on lately. tetola93, Lop Abuse on Somebody, Knife, Soap Scum, Paper
Mice, Ed Hochuli, John Cota, Yowie,
Half Milk, Blue Friend, Burrows and Laika.
It seems like ITTO has been a band for a relatively short
time, but your name seems to pop up everywhere – especially attached to amazing new
records (your EP/Orchid tribute/4-way split) and tours with some pretty rad
bands. Any thoughts?
Most us have been supporting the
diy community for a very long time, and have been in touring bands before. It
kinda gets easier as you grow older but we do work very hard.
Can you reveal anything interesting about the other band
members?
James is in the Deftones.
How did you guys meet? How did you get involved in the band
together?
We met at shows, and 3 of us
lived together for a few months.
Can you describe any of your personal (or band) conflicts?
As far as personal conflicts, we
have some from time-to-time, but I strongly believe they're a good thing. It
makes it feel more like a band. If anyone’s feelings get hurt or someone is
offended it is only born from the fact we are so invested. It only makes us
closer and it's awesome that we all understand that.
Please describe what led to the use of the name ‘ITTO’.
ITTO is the protagonist of a
manga called "Lone Wolf and Cub" he's a samurai wandering with his
child, and there are a lot of political themes such as anti-corruption that we
agree with. (***note: this is also an
amazing band with members of La Mantra De Fhiqria, called LONE WOLF AND
CUB)
What would you like to say about your upcoming 4-way split?
It will be worth the wait.
What would you like to say about your contribution to the
Orchid tribute?
We were very glad to be a part of
it. We wouldn't be doing what we do without Orchid, and having that many
awesome bands pay tribute with us is just a huge plus.Aha, by all means, this is a good question. The songs (guitar parts) I write are an experience, or an imagined scenario. Then other members add parts or change ideas, my idea has been not been communicated at this point, then I talk with our vocalist about the idea and lyrics are formed. For example: a new song we have is about the time I fell down a mountain. That feeling of running uncontrollably fast and only getting more out of control. We write about energetic experiences we hope can be transferred to a crowd at a show.
Who were your primary influences when you started playing
music and who are they now?
I learned guitar because of early
Dillinger Escape Plan, The Number Twelve. The other band members’ influences
range from the Deftones, Wu Tang Clan, gospel music, Fall of Troy - but all of our perceptions of music changed
when we got into diy, where influences can be shared first hand.
What kind of emotions and thoughts occur when people define
your band, on purpose or by accident?
I'm always glad to hear any at
all, we're a pretty complex band to get, so if anyone takes the time to try to
understand it, we appreciate it a lot.We wouldn't, sportz with a "Z".
We just started our 4-day tour
with them, they rule and are sweethearts, but if I get any dirt I'll let you
know.
The newest one is the funnest. We like to keep
things fresh.
We started recording our full
length, we're playing Fest again this year and Yahoo is killing tumblr.
Europe in May, recording all this
year and going to sleep in my own bed in another week and a half.
Yes. If anyone deserves it, it's
him, Anyone who knows him would agree.
Daitro, hands down.
I think nuking the internet would
help.
Hahaha, we all have some of these.
Mine would be Coheed and Cambria, I think. So fucking glad I skipped on the
tattoo - or wait, no. Chiodos for sure. Ew.
Honestly, I just work and help out other bands when I'm home. I'm about to start recording bands soon. I do yoga and ride my bike a lot to take the edge off.
It's all fucked.
________________________________________________________________________
most cherished physical record?
LAUTREC/GHOSTOWNS split.
top 10: records? Including favourite release of all time.
in no order:
DAITRO - Collected
CAPSULE - BlueKIDCRASH - Snacks
TOE - The Book About My Idle
Pilot on a Vague Anxiety
LAUTREC
ANIMAL FACES - Analytical
Dreaming
CARRION SPRING/THE DISCHORD OF A
FORGOTTEN SKETCH / TE LORRAIN UN PINTA RIO / BEAU NAVIRE split 8”COPING - Nope
AMPERE - Like Shadows
ALGERNON CADWALLADER - Some Kind
of Cadwallader
GRAF ORLOCK and GROWN UPS Songs
CD.
Regarding live shows:
the best show you've ever been to?
The last LAUTREC show.
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DISCOGRAPHY
2012 - Itto 10"EP (PURCHASE HERE)
2013 - Orchid Tribute Compilation cd/12"LP (PURCHASE HERE on cd and 12")
2013 - Capacities / Innards / Calculator 4-way Split 12"LP (coming soon)
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ITTO Music
Stream the 'Itto' 2012 EP here: http://ittochicago.bandcamp.com/
Watch a live video of ITTO playing a new song and "Gift Horse" here: http://youtu.be/p2rAIRg2gwA
Listen to "Gift Horse" streaming on youtube here: http://youtu.be/FkpjKb6tbo4
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ITTO additional links
Band is totally rad. If you could shake their singer, James down for any of his old band's stuff, that would be amazing. The dude sang in this band called Enuma Elis, which eventually splintered off into bands like Itto (formerly Itto Ogami), and Orion Pax, who put out a split with one of my old bands. EE was kind of at that junction where screamo/post-harcore bands began dabbling into the longer, EITS-type post-rock builds like Et Tu Brute or Men As Trees did at the time. You might dig it.
ReplyDeleteI have inquired, thanks for the heads up!
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