Glittermouse headline Metro in Chicago November 19, 2009

Listeners Beware: This new mousy militia is not necessarily Disney friendly.

Unknown to the masses but revered by art school kids, local band Glittermouse headlined Chicago's very own METRO, Thursday November 19, 2009.

It started as a couple of musically inclined college students getting together to fight off the boredom that is being underage. With the goal of being “fun and outrageous” the band came up with cleverly catchy and kitschy songs that drew in a small fan base. Once the band discovered that their audience’s were willing participants they decided to take it further. It was time to rock faces off.

There was no shortage of rock Thursday night with all the band members touting loads of energy for their first headlining performance at Metro. The growing crowd was quick to respond, singing and dancing along to return the band’s enthusiasm.

Glittermouse’s members define their sound as rock but don’t necessarily like to be put in a genre. Some of their fans have compared their sound to the Silversun Pick-ups and The Flaming Lips, which is very fitting if one has ever seen them live. They welcome audience participation in all of their sets; even write their songs with that in mind.

Thursday night was no different. Things “were falling from the heavens,” as the band put it, meaning red balloons of all sizes sailed whimsically down during their song, (appropriately entitled) ‘Red Balloons’. The band’s instruments go almost silent at one point in this song and a rhythmic stomp-clap combo occurs, begging the audience to stomp-clap along. If one is not rhythmically inclined, never fear, Glittermouse has posted an instructional video online for practice, which you can find here Stomp-Clap. They run from one side of the stage to the other as the audience joins in, they shout, they dance, they draw pictures and launch inflatable toy airplanes off the stage. To top off the crescendo of “fraggle-rock, pop, feel-good, space, fun, soul, dance, march” that is their sound they encourage the audience to ask the lead singer “What Are You?” As he answers, his favorite two words flash behind him, emblazoned in light from the projector… “F**K. YEAH.”

Glittermouse is: Michael Koester (guitar/lead vocals), Jeremy Mumenthaler (bass), Rob Vignisson (guitar) John Radtke (bass), Dave Bock (drums),  Emily Sorlie (vocals).

Check out their FREE demo and updates here: Glittermouse.

Quotations courtesy of band members and Familiarize Yourself.