Chicago band, California Wives, has already been compared to the likes of Joy Division and The Police. Say what? Yet, on the first single from the band’s new Affair EP, the band channels the dreamy pop landscapes of Phoenix, with juice-box fizziness. But, this isn’t copy cat stuff; California Wives also dips into shoegaze territory. And … Read more
Stars | Photo by Aggie Donkar A big ‘ole indie rock & roll show moseyed into the Triangle area of NC Wednesday night, anchored by Canadian indie-pioneers of sorts, Stars, and two white-hot up-and-coming bands — Diamond Rings and California Wives. We sent our resident shutterbug Aggie Donkar out to the Cat’s Cradle to snap … Read more
Photo courtesy of the band Chicago’s California Wives are currently opening for Stars, and Wednesday night they blew me away with their catchy electro-pop songs in just a half hour set. “Light Year” is four minutes of shimmering guitars and driving drums, and if you can hear it without wanting to dance in your chair, … Read more
Photo by Brian DePinto Here at Speakers in Code, we’re feeling a little weepy ’cause our babies are all grown up. Yup, the Chicago new-wave quartet, California Wives, has signed to Vagrant Records and is getting ready to drop their debut album, Art History, on prepped ears all ’round the country. But, let’s rewind a … Read more
Chicago’s California Wives (nope, not actually from California) has been on our radar since the band played this year’s PLAY:stl fest back in September. They wowed us with the first single, “Blood Red Youth,” off the debut, five-song EP, Affair. The band’s dreamy pop landscapes landed the track on our 100 Best Songs of 2010 list, … Read more
New wave. Indie pop. Shoe gaze. Those are the mixins’ for a delicious sound. California Wives is a band that continues to explore the ways these ingredients intertwine. And, I continue to anxiously await the debut LP, drooling like Pavlov’s dog each and every time the Chicago outfit releases another single. No album just yet, … Read more