the Arrivals

From Chicago, a band since 1996, the Arrivals are the Jam meets Dillinger Four in sound and spirit, something like Naked Raygun trying to revisit the Kinks. They play a kind of working class punk rock that’s not patriotic, not overtly populist, but thoughtful and authentic. The songs are artfully written and delivered with urgency and forthrightness, with well-informed lyrics that center on the lives of lower class Americans and general disillusionment with civilization. The Arrivals is real modern music from the urban Midwest. It’s rustbelt realism at its best.

In the last part of the decade leading up to the 2010’s, the Arrivals evolved into their own species of punk rock animal, in the way that the Clash did as the 70’s became the 80’s or Jawbreaker did during the early 90’s. And their latest album Volatile Molotov (their fourth full-length) tops all. With classic rock and punk references strewn throughout, they’ve called it their “love letter to their favorite music.” Todd Congelliere of Recess Records says it “listens like a classic novel.” In any case, it's not to be missed.