Logan Square rock outfit, the Royal Pines have been busy gearing up to release their third studio album, Three Sheets. On April 11, Cole’s Bar (2338 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is set to host the Royal Pines record release show along with supporting local acts, The Columbines and Michelles.
Stylistically, the Royal Pines produce a swampy, gothic, garage-rock sound. However, the band likes to self-describe their genre as “heavy wood.”
“We actually had someone that saw us once and said ‘You guys are kind of like, heavy metal’” Joe Patt, front man of the Royal Pines tells LoganSquarist. “And it just kind of came out where I said ‘No, we’re not heavy metal. We’re heavy wood.”
Now almost nine years in the making, the Royal Pines are working their way through the local music scene with their own unique, “heavy wood” sound.
Three Sheets
The Royal Pines recently finished recording their third studio album, Three Sheets, with Benjamin Balcom at Minbal (@minbalminbal, 800 N. Sacramento Ave.) in Humboldt Park.
“Bejamin is great.” Patt says. “He immediately took to an excitement and hands on approach that we hadn’t really experienced before. He actually came to one of our rehearsals [before recording]. And I said ‘Wow, this guy really wants to think about [the sound].’”
The entire recording process for Three Sheets was spread out during the last few years. After two days of recording in August of 2012, another two days in March of 2013, and mixing during this last summer, Three Sheets finally was ready for release.
“All said and done, there was about seven or eights days spent recording and mixing the album,” Pratt says. “Everything was about done in November, but I didn’t want to rush it. We had to stretch it out a bit to save some money. We don’t have a record label so we completely funded the album ourselves.”
Record Release Show at Cole’s
Now after a few years of hard work, Patt says the Royal Pines are excited for the release show at Cole’s.
“I really like Cole’s,” Patt says. “It’s a really loose kind of party atmosphere, and there’s a good mix of people and a good crowd. [Plus] we don’t have to worry about people not coming because it’s $8 to get in.”
The Royal Pines will be selling Three Sheets on vinyl at their release show. Fans can also pick up the record on their Bandcamp or on CD Baby.
Long History in Logan Square
The Royal Pines are no strangers to the neighborhood. In 2005, the group played their first show at the Mutiny (@mutinychicago, 2428 N Western Ave.).
Patt, originally a drummer, picked up the guitar when he moved to Logan Square in 2002. Though new to the instrument, Patt was asked to fill a vacant spot in a friends’ band for the Mutiny gig.
“I didn’t really invite a lot of people because I wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out,” Patt says. “It was pretty bad, but it was good enough that I wanted to keep doing it.”
Besides for living and playing shows here in the neighborhood, Patt also co-owns Provenance Food and Wine (@ProvenanceFW, 2528 N. California Ave.) with his wife Tracy. The store, which specializes in sustainably produced wines and gourmet cheese, has been open in Logan Square since 2006.
Cover Photo: Leslie Parry
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