JC from JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound steps out on his own as performer at the Alt Q Fest this weekend. Don't worry, he's not leaving the group just showing more of what this mega talented performer can do.
If you missed the group that performed Passing Strange at the Bailiwick last year, then get ready to discover a blend of styles with their latest release called Want More.
After a huge crowd at the recent gig at Metro, we can see big things are headed for the group including Lollapalooza this summer.
Windy City Times talked with Brooks, who just so happens to be part of the Windy City Idol family.
Windy City Times: Hi, JC. I heard about you are appearing at the Alt Q Festival. Did you know Scott Free before this?
JC: Sort of; I had been to Homolatte a couple of years back. I had seen his name around town doing random stuff but until he actually approached me to do this I don't think we had actually had a conversation about anything.
WCT: He is very excited about having you.
JC: Nice—and I am excited to do this. I don't know if I had told you or not but it has been a while since I had performed my own stuff out, either my music or poetry. I am really looking forward to this.
WCT: I didn't know you do a lot of poetry.
JC: I used to. I did a little stand-up, poetry, music—anything that would get me in front of a room full of people.
WCT: You are multitalented, mister! When did they first start calling you JC?
JC: It is just with this band. I have never really had a nickname before.
WCT: How did the band come together?
JC: Our guitarist put an ad on Craigslist and was trying to put together a band that would make progressive dance music. I was the singer that answered. I can't say that it is my band because I didn't put it together.
WCT: Were you raised in Chicago?
JC: No, I am actually from New Jersey.
WCT: When did you move to Chicago?
JC: I moved here back in 2004.
WCT: I hear you are being compared to Sam Cooke. Do you want to be the next one?
JC: No—I would rather be the next Tina Turner without the beatings!
WCT: I like that answer.
JC: Oh, I am not really sure who I would like to be the next incarnation of. I like the artists that people hear in our music but inevitably we will be compared to other artists.
WCT: How would you describe the Uptown Sound?
JC: I would say post-punk/soul. Our older description was "maximum fucking R&B" but "post-punk/soul" works for me. My favorite was when someone said, "It is like Otis Redding fronting The Stooges" or "Wilson Pickett had whipped the Velvet Underground off of heroin!" Wow—that is pretty descriptive in comparing us to other musicians.
WCT: Explain the song "Sister Ray Charles."
JC: It is about a relationship of convenience in the most gentlemanly terms. It is about a fuckbuddy when one side is taking it way too seriously. The other side wants a little more than the main character is willing to give.
WCT: When did you first come out of the closet?
JC: When I was 6 years old and my mother didn't believe me—she thought I had been molested by someone. Then I tried again to tell her when I was a freshman in high school and that one took.
WCT: Everyone in the band is cool with it?
JC: Yes, our guitarist actually used to play guitar in a country band fronted by a gay dude called Devin & The Straights.
WCT: I love that name for a group.
JC: We used to use one of their songs on the beginning of ours. I like their sound.
WCT: I remember when you auditioned for Windy City Gay Idol and I was judging. Were you in the finals for Idol?
JC: I won my round at Cellblock. I made it to the finals but didn't win.
WCT: You are like the Jennifer Hudson of our Idol competition! [Both laugh.]
JC: I don't know about that, but I got a little something…
WCT: You are getting a lot of hype so it is really fun to watch. How did the Metro show go?
JC: It was crazy and a lot of fun. I couldn't have asked for anything better. I am just so glad that it went the way that I hoped it would. I don't usually get nervous before shows or anything like that but every now and again I do. I just had one of these moments before that show thinking about fifty ways that it could go wrong.
We added two horns to the percussion player and the only way we could get them to rehearse was right before the gig. I came home to shower before the show and got stupidly nervous but the show went great.
WCT: Gold Hotel opened, and I have wanted to see them play live.
JC: They are a good band but I didn't get to see much of their act. They sounded great from what I heard.
WCT: Do you think you will be nervous for Lollapalooza?
JC: Maybe a little bit but we probably won't have so many wild cards for that one. Not to say that we are not going to do anything interesting but we will have more time with the additional elements of the band.
WCT: Do you have a new CD coming out?
JC: We released our last one this past fall and this upcoming fall or winter we plan on recording a new one to hopefully release around South by Southwest next year.
WCT: People can keep up with it on your website?
JC: Yes, it is the longest URL ever; it's www.jcbrooksandtheuptownsound.com .
WCT: Well, that makes sense.
JC: We hope to purchase a shorter domain when it becomes available in a month and a half. You can also Twitter us @theuptownsound.
WCT: Anything else you want to say about the Alt Q show?
JC: I am very excited and honored to be part of the lineup, especially as a pseudo untried talent. Scott has seen me with the band but maybe not all of my personal work out there. I like that he thinks I have something valid to say.
Head to the Old Town School of Folk Music Saturday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. to check out JC and many other acts. Visit www.altqfestival.com for the complete lineup and details.
