When moving into a new place, most people don't consider much about what their roommate will be to them. Sometimes they become your mortal enemy, sometimes your best friend, sometimes your bandmate.
The Chicago-based band Whitney started from such a relationship. The two roommates hung out in their place and just started writing songs together. From there, they became a band that started to put out music and tour places like Milwaukee’s Turner Hall Ballroom, the band's next stop on Thursday night at 8 p.m.
The band consists of drummer and vocalist Julien Ehrlich and guitarist Max Kakacek. They both came from former bands – Ehrlich of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Kakacek of Smith Westerns – so music was a common interest between them, making it easier to start a band.
They came up with their name in a simple manner, Kakacek says with a laugh. "We both think 'Whitney' is a pretty word," he explains. "It’s not much more complicated than that." As they started to become Whitney, the two wrote music and put together an album.
In June of 2016, they released their debut album, "Light Upon the Lake," featuring 10 songs, including the first single, "No Woman."
This song started to come together when Enrlich was one day laying on the floor of his friend’s place. Then a shower he took inspired more of the song, and then it hit the final stages as him and Kakacek sat together in their apartment.
The song and album have an overarching theme of losing love and the journey you go on afterward. The musical influences on Whitney's first album include Van Morrison, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Bob Dylan, Jim Ford and The Band.
The pair started sharing its new work by touring the album in February, and Whitney will continue to promote it with upcoming shows.
"I think all of us were pretty psyched on getting to release it, and so far the reception has been great," Kakacek says. The support has been growing, as fans have shown dedication to the band.
"We had a fan come to around 10 shows of ours in Europe and hang out with us. She ended up becoming a very close friend of ours," Kakacek explains. Whitney's toured in Europe and around the U.S. but has only been to Milwaukee a few times. The band members' favorite place to perform here is at Frank’s Power Plant.
Now they are back in Brew City, ready to perform the music they've been working on at Turner Hall. Here's a little preview of the upcoming show, in an interview with Max Kakacek.
OnMilwaukee: What can we expect for this show in Milwaukee on Dec. 1? Will we hear all the songs from your new album?
Max Kakacek: This is our first album, so yes, we will definitely play the whole thing, plus a few others.
What’s your favorite song from this album to perform?
I don't really have a favorite song; it really changes every night. We try to include as much improvisation as possible during our set, so each song changes a little every night.
What’s your pre-show ritual?
Cinnamon roll.
What is your favorite part of performing?
It’s hard to describe. I think we are all just hopelessly addicted to it
For ticket information, check out the Pabst website here. And check out Whitney's music here.
