I drove faster than I should have from Waukegan to North Center after hearing my dad play a jazz trio set at Joplin’s Java Café. I thought I would barely make it in time to catch most of the Occidental Brothers’ set at Martyrs, however when I got inside the venue, I caught the last song by the night’s opening band, the Eternals (who I didn’t even realize were on the bill). I was sad because I love the Eternals. In fact, the Eternals’ Heavy International was the first CD I bought at Reckless Records in Wicker Park in the context of a) hearing it being played in the store b) asking the clerk what band it was and c) immediately purchasing and blaring it on my car stereo incessantly for the next few weeks. Despite not even having a website up yet, I asked Damon if the guys would like to do a set for us. Per his request, I emailed him and he promptly replied that 2/3 of the band was up for it, but one guy wasn’t. This was in November 2008. When the band came by in May 2011, they performed with two founding members and a new drummer. Not sure which 1/3 wasn’t up for the session initially, but thrilled that they agreed to come in, because the Eternals’ punky-scuzz-funk-dub epitomizes the idiosyncratic sound creations purveyed by some of the best Chicago bands ever. We are grateful to have them in our archives.
Matt