The Conformists rock Cougar Den |
Chanelle Smith |
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As I was sitting in the Cougar Den Friday night, awaiting the start of the severe rock band The Conformists to begin their show, I saw an elderly woman eating. I was looking around because I noticed the small turnout for the show, and I looked over and saw this woman in her mid-60s. I thought to myself, this woman probably doesn't realize that in a matter of moments, she is about to hear a band that does more than play music. The Conformists exhibit emotional and noisy rock on a scale all their own. The elderly woman left minutes before the show. It might not have been her kind of music, but she missed a powerful band. The road of The Conformists started early on. Vocalist Mike Benker and guitarist Chris Dee have been friends since high school and later met drummer Tom O'Neill and bassist Jim Winkeler. The four clicked and the music showed their accord. In the past four years, The Conformists have worked hard in their music. They have put out a 7-inch record, played gigs all over the St. Louis area, been nominated for a Slammie in the Best Punk Band category and are recording their own version of "Silent Night" for a Vintage Vinyl Christmas compilation record. Later on down The Conformists' road, they hope to go on tour and get involved with some music labels. If there is anything these guys take seriously, it's their music. The Conformists try to write songs that are interesting and play a different style of music. Yet, they are not in a category of invention. "We don't claim to change the face of music as we know it," Winkeler said. In the rock/punk genre, The Conformists spring out with hypnotizing guitar and bass pulses, madcap drumbeats and a raw vocal sound that slaps you hard. Their music may not always make sense to some, but it's what they like to do. "We made a dedication to making music for life," Benker said. At the show, it was difficult to describe the sound of songs like "Black Dahlia" and "Hatch-it." The band simply describes its music as "good music." For further information on upcoming shows and to contact The Conformists, call (618) 343-0187 or send e-mail to theconformists_@hotmail.com... | |