Disappears names 'fill-in' drummer: Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley
Chicago rock band Disappears has a bad news/great news situation. Their drummer Graeme Gibson is departing because he’s moving out of town. But his fill-in will be – get this -- Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley.
That’s according to the quartet’s Web site, which announced Thursday that Shelley “will be filling in for as long as he is able or wants to.”
Shelley has been Sonic Youth’s reliably stout drummer for more than two decades, but the band is between projects. The down time enabled Shelley to tour this year with Neu’s Michael Rother as part of the group Hallogallo 2010. Shelley was in the drummer’s chair when Hallogallo headlined last month at Lincoln Hall, with Disappears playing an impressive opening set. Disappears’ driving, droning guitar rock sure sounds like a nice fit for Shelley’s rhythmic attack.
Next chance to see Disappears with their “fill-in” drummer will be Feb. 4 at the Empty Bottle. They’ll be celebrating the release of their second album, “Guider,” following up their excellent 2010 release, “Lux.”
greg@gregkot.com