Fight Nice, the band, is the three-piece project of Dean Dunakin, Brian Lerch, and Tim Wanish from Chicago. These avid devotees of music have opened up their recording work together with this assemblage of songs, and they offer you the headphones.

What constitutes an album these days? Fight Nice, the album, suggests that it’s twelve original tunes, arranged by the band, recorded and mixed for maximum sonic impact on your sound system, held together by a designated piece of cover art. Nobody seems to know for sure if music even needs to be applied to a physical medium at all, but Fight Nice, the album, will fit into your collection one way or another. For their first foray into the studio, the group cleans up and bolsters their sound. The songs are given more room to stretch out here, as compared to playing them in a minimalist way live on-stage while working them up.

Fight Nice plays raucously under-control late college or alternative rock music with melodic hooks, and a decisive rhythm section. There has to be a first for everything, and Fight Nice has a passion for writing, playing, and recording music that will be manifest again on future works. As for this initial batch of songcraft… Fight Nice, the band stacks up their best riffs and tunes, and forgets to pack the filler.

I get moody, I get moody, lord I get moody
Don’t make me show you

Driving on here
On the edge
Coming in faster
To a head
I’m never gonnna stop here again
No no never gonna
Stop
Forget it

I get moody, I get moody, lord I get moody
Don’t make me show you

And when you said you had a real good reason
I just don’t think that I care.
I’ve been trying to live a life with meaning
And you said it’s unfit to wear.

So there, is the reason. So there, is your reason.

We’ve gone through all the awkward phases
Slaved our way for meager wages
Made it through so many stages
Start ripping out those useless pages

We’ve had enough self-medication
Headache central reservation
It took all of your dedication
To stop this self-made situation

Surrounded…
Why worry now
Why hurry now
You’re surrounded…

You’ve longed for all the latest crazes
Searched the crowd for friendly faces
Known it on a first-name basis
And lost yourself in all the mazes

Took a part in all the action
Tried to move up without traction
Feeling less than just a fraction
All just for the satisfaction?

Surrounded…
Why worry now
Why hurry now
You’re surrounded…

When the clocks start circling
You hear the tick tock thundering
Cornered by time, can’t run today
How you gonna get up… to push it away?

Why should anybody care for us?
Or share with us?
The reason to be?
Why would anybody fool about?
Or put it out?
They’re not what they seem.
I think it’s time you’d better cool it down,
Not fool around,
And do what you should.
The better part of you is worse for wear,
You took your share,
You did what you could.

It’s not gonna change a thing at all. [x4]

You couldn’t ever have it all your way
And so you say
It’s not worth the pain.
You wouldn’t ever wanna walk away
And face the day
It all goes insane.
You said you’re not capable,
This is way too hard.
You take your love,
Board it up,
Put a sign in the yard.

You’re not gonna change a thing at all. [x4]

I’ll get what’s coming to me.
It smashes straight into me.
I feel it cutting through me.
I guess I couldn’t even

(couldn’t even) change a thing at all. [x4]

That morning, Brian forwarded a Chi Trib article about the shooting to us, with a simple but appropriate response from Tim: “What the hell?”. It was not clear whether the show would continue, or if Ultra Lounge would even be open. After scrambling for a bit amid some confusion, we got confirmation that the show must go on, and so we all piled in our cars and departed for the venue.

As I pulled up, the first thing I noticed was the cop cars parked around, and then the four or so cops inside the venue. I lingered on the sidewalk for a bit, pretending to make phone calls as I waited for someone musical or promoter-like to show up. To my surprise the first person to show up was Brian Graupner from The Gothsicles. He came to play that night in the middle performing group, The Dead Room. So we chatted for a bit, then entered the venue, which by this time was abuzz with band loading activity.

Ultra Lounge is divided into 2 areas. You enter the bar, which is separated from the side venue by a set of glass double doors. The atmosphere is comfortable, kind of a glowy dark thing, although there are no seats or bar stools in the venue area apart from one poofy bench in the back.

We went though setup and soundcheck without a hitch, and enjoyed meeting and conversing with the other musicians and staff. All was set for our opening set as I followed the guys onto stage. We stood ready as we looked to the sound man for the queue to start. And… stood staring for a bit longer. Finally we finally asked over the mic if we should start, which of course we should have. So a chuckle later and blammo, we did.

I’m sure my bass was too loud — it was a bit tricky since we couldn’t run the bass through the monitors — but we adjusted levels, broke some strings, retuned, and played though a rockin’ set. Our rock was a little out of place in the lineup, being followed by an electronic set, then a bluesy trip-hop/rock set, but we had a fun time playing, and would definitely play Ultra again.

TONIGHT
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We are filling in for our friends from I:Scintilla, due to their lead singer losing her voice. We’ll be opening for a great trip-hop band from LA…

8mm – www.facebook.com/8mmlovesyou
The Dead Room – www.facebook.com/TheDeadRoom

at Ultra Lounge
2169 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL

http://www.ultraloungechicago.com/

$8, 21+

ELBO ROOM, Dec 16
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If you can’t catch us tonight, see us at The Elbo Room on Sunday Dec 5 for a Rock/Alternative showcase. There will be drink specials and it’s industry night, so it’s free admission if you have an industry paystub or membership card.

See you there,

Fight Nice
fighniceband@gmail.com
www.fightniceband.com