Personnel: Erich McMann, vocals, guitar; Tim Rutkowski, drums; Sean Fried, lead guitar, vocals; Tony Stompanato, bass.
Formed: The original Crickle was a Beatlefest staple when McMann was in high school in the early 1980s. McMann, Rutkowski and Fried launched the pro version in Schaumburg the summer of 1989.
Current lineup together since: Summer 1991, when Stompanato joined and McMann switched from bass to guitar.
Sound: ”It sort of changes with each album we`ve done,” McMann says.
”The last one was a little bit countryish. Our new one is sort of alternative pop with a little psychedelic, a little metal edge to it.”
Influences: ”For this album it`s sort of a blend of Van Halen meets Pink Floyd meets the Rutles,” McMann says.
Songwriting: McMann writes all songs. ”For this album the theme was love and relationships.”
Live versus studio: ”We want to play, but we don`t want to play every week on the local club circuit,” McMann says. ”Since we make records and have a national audience, we loo k forward to playing national shows on a tour. Until that happens we`ll be more of a studio band in Chicago.”
Onstage cover versions: Edison Lighthouse`s ”Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” and White Plains` ”My Baby Loves Lovin`.”
Memorable concert experience: ”Going to New York for the CMJ Music Marathon and arriving right out of the Holland Tunnel at 5 p.m., coming into Manhattan and having to get to our show that night and being in the biggest traffic jam we ever believed imaginable,” McMann says. ”Luckily we made it with minutes to spare.”
Extracurriculars: Rutkowski is also a member of the Ikes, and Stompanato plays with Turn to Fiction.
Namesake: McMann says he heard the song ”Red Rubber Ball” by Cyrkle but mistook the band`s name for Crickle. When he went to buy the single and discovered his error, he said: ”So there is no band called Crickle? Well, there is now.”
Recordings: The band has recorded two albums, ”Around and Around”
(1990) and the new ”Love,” at the Farm, McMann`s home studio in Schaumburg. McMann produced both for his own Paisley Cowboy Records.
Philosophy: ”It used to be `Whatever it takes,` the motto Ditka used to use,” McMann says. ”Then it went to `Rock or death,` but now it`s `Spread love.` ”
Goals: ”To be able to continue releasing albums and to try to be able to earn a living as musicians,” McMann says.
Next appearance: The band`s album-release ”Love-in” is Friday night at Elbo Room, with Crickle opening for Green.
