Daemon Familiar

Power-Pop/Indie/Rock

Guitar/Vocals - Pablo Mena
Bass/Vocals - Brian Ruhe / Brent Willems
Drums/Vocals - Wendi Freeman

2506 N. Clark St. #175
Chicago, IL 60614
Phone: (773) 592-7869
Fax: (775) 548-8381
info@daemonfamiliar.com
daemonfamiliar.com

Biography

Daemon Familiar is a power-pop trio from Chicago dedicated to reviving the lost art of the catchy pop/rock song. A tight meld of their musical roots Cheap Trick, Husker Du, and Sloan creates their raw riff-driven compositions. Infectious hooks, vocal harmonies, and crunchy guitar melodies are their stock in trade. Not since Cheap Trick has a band from Illinois set out to deliver songs so unforgettable they'll be tattooed on your cerebral cortex.

Formed in 2006, Daemon Familiar has quickly built a following both locally and online, playing shows throughout Chicago at venues such as the Beat Kitchen, Elbo Room, Reggie's Live, The Empty Bottle, and the Underground Lounge, as well as other locations in the Midwest. Their sound has drawn comparisons to bands as varied as Cheap Trick, Sloan, Husker Du and Barenaked Ladies. The band released its debut album, Dawn of the Albatross, to strong reviews in 2009, with the Illinois Entertainer proclaiming, "...there's no denying the crunchy sweetness of Daemon Familiar's Dawn Of The Albatross." Daemon Familiar has also appeared on two compilation CDs, including Fabsound Records Fights Autism.

Frontman and guitarist/vocalist Pablo Mena has much experience in the power-pop genre as the bass player for Unibrow. He formed Daemon Familiar with a desire to step into the spotlight as both performer and songwriter, and has been churning out a wide range of power-pop inspired riffage ever since. Pablo's influences include Cheap Trick, The Police, Sloan, and Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four.

Drummer/vocalist Wendi Freeman comes to Daemon Familiar from a number of years in the Philadelphia punk scene. She slaved as a recording engineer for Chicago Trax, where she escaped her brush with R. Kelly without getting peed on. And, no, her drum kit's not set up wrong, she's just left-handed. Wendi's power-pop ambition is to become the 4th ex-Mrs. Matthew Sweet.

Bass player Brian Ruhe earned his chops as part of the successful Chicago cover band Colonel Angus, where he learned the important lesson that anyone will dance to "Livin' on a Prayer". Brian prefers sitting onstage, not because he frowns upon your existence, but because he's working with a few replacement parts. You'll have to see it to believe it.

Bassist/vocalist Brent Willems popped his cherry with the alt-country outfit The Pralines, worships at the altar of the Stax/Volt sound, and, yes, is undressing you with his eyes.

Discography

  • Dawn of the Albatross - January 13, 2009
  • Fabsound Records Fights Autism [Compilation] - June 19, 2007

Press

  • "The Illinois band Daemon Familiar has plenty of raw talent here, one listen to the guitars on 'Buddha's Little Helper' and 'Oprah' you can't help think about Cheap Trick or Husker Du." - Powerpopaholic - January 20, 2010
  • "... there's no denying the crunchy sweetness of Daemon Familiar's Dawn Of The Albatross." - Illinois Entertainer - September 30, 2009
  • "... show a lot of potential ..." - Swimmer's Ear Magazine #24 - May 22, 2009
  • "The CD seems to bridge the gap of the last couple of decades of Chicago rock music, even taking bits as far back as the 70's while never slowing down." - Theft Liable to Prosecution - April 9, 2009
  • "A lot of songs on Dawn of the Albatross feature instrumentals that have an old hard rock sound that comes naturally, and yet they manage to sound like they're still from this decade." - The Loyola Phoenix - March 18, 2009
  • "... underneath the shiny exterior are garage band roots that give the band an appealing edge." - The Deli Chicago - February 27, 2009
  • "Take a listen rock heads - you'll get something you deserve." - Chicago's Independent Music Review - January 26, 2009

Set List

Over 20 originals including: All's Forgotten, Oprah, Was, I Hate to See You Go, But..., Buddha's Little Helper, Kiss Me, Walkin' Away, So Sad, gcc, Tales of Sad Ulysses, Scenes of You, Lost Myself, Barnyard, Audience of My Life, Tyler Durden, Kate, Hot Air Balloon Incident, Hypothetical Dervish, Seven Years

Covers: Cheap Trick, Sloan, Husker Du, etc.

Basic Requirements

Water and other basics.

Performance Calendar

Past Dates

January 12, 20127:30 PMDouble DoorChicago, IL
November 23, 20119:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
October 29, 20119:00 PMQuenchersChicago, IL
August 11, 201111:00 PMThe Abbey PubChicago, IL
July 4, 20118:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
June 3, 20119:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
April 19, 20117:30 PMRed Line TapChicago, IL
March 18, 201110:00 PMThe HideoutChicago, IL
December 31, 201010:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
December 10, 201010:00 PMSilvie'sChicago, IL
October 30, 20109:00 PMQuenchersChicago, IL
September 25, 201010:00 PMCole'sChicago, IL
August 19, 20109:00 PMReggies Music JointChicago, IL
June 26, 20109:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
May 29, 20109:30 PMReggies Music JointChicago, IL
April 27, 20108:00 PMDouble DoorChicago, IL
March 27, 201010:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
February 27, 201010:00 PMThe RockboxChicago, IL
February 18, 20108:00 PMRonny'sChicago, IL
January 21, 20108:00 PMDarkroomChicago, IL
January 9, 20107:30 PMOld Town School of Folk Music - O Canada! TributeChicago, IL
November 8, 20098:00 PMBeat KitchenChicago, IL
October 17, 200910:00 PMThe Rockbox (formerly The Rockhouse)Chicago, IL
September 11, 20098:00 PMOld Town School of Folk Music - Tribute to the Who's TommyChicago, IL
August 7, 20099:00 PMOld Town School of Folk MusicChicago, IL
March 2, 20099:00 PMSilvie's - ALL ACOUSTIC GIG!!Chicago, IL
January 31, 200910:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
January 30, 20098:00 PMOld Town School of Folk Music - British Invasion ShowChicago, IL
January 10, 20099:00 PMQuenchersChicago, IL
November 20, 20089:00 PMDePaul's Lincoln Park Student Center, Brownstone's AnnexChicago, IL
October 16, 20089:00 PMQuenchersChicago, IL
August 30, 200810:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
March 28, 20087:00 PMSGI-USA Chicago Culture CenterChicago, IL
December 28, 20079:00 PMEmpty BottleChicago, IL
October 4, 20078:00 PMReggie's LiveChicago, IL
September 24, 20079:00 PMBetty's Blue Star LoungeChicago, IL
August 24, 20079:00 PMThe Underground LoungeChicago, IL
August 8, 20079:00 PMQuenchersChicago, IL
July 27, 20079:00 PMJava Jim's Music TheaterLa Porte, IN
June 15, 20079:00 PMTonikForest Park, IL
June 8, 20079:00 PMThe NoteChicago, IL
May 5, 20079:00 PMLilly's BarChicago, IL
January 20, 20079:30 PMBar VertigoChicago, IL
December 15, 20069:00 PMBird's NestChicago, IL
November 26, 20067:00 PMDarkroomChicago, IL
November 8, 20068:00 PMElbo RoomChicago, IL
October 21, 200610:00 PMCal's LiquorsChicago, IL
September 30, 200610:00 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL
September 16, 20065:00 PMMercury CafeChicago, IL
September 2, 20066:00 PMPrivate PartyChicago, IL
August 31, 200610:00 PMThe MutinyChicago, IL
August 15, 20064:00 PMGirls Rock! ChicagoChicago, IL
July 14, 20069:00 PMBig Horse LoungeChicago, IL
June 14, 20068:30 PMPhyllis' Musical InnChicago, IL