By Don McLeese
The Effigies are a band with an image problem. In national roundups of the punk scene, the group often is voted with the best of the West coast hard core. The problem is, is is not a West Coast band. It doesn't necessarily consider itself hard-core punk. And on its home turf of Chicago, it hasn't received nearly the exposure or acceptance that it has elsewhere. "I don't think we fall into any one category of music," says singer and lyricist John Kezdy. "I mean, it's definitely rock, and it's definintely aggressive. It probably leans more toward heavy metal than anything else. But we've got some points to our music that defy categorization." With the release of "Forever Gounded," the band's debut album, the Effigies should start assuming a higher profile--both here and nationally. Songs such as "Coarse in Vein" and "Silent burn" feature lyrics that are socially aware without being preachy or predictable . The music matches the message, with its machinegun drumming, angular guitar riffing, raw power and huge slabs of sound. This is raw, primal rock that makes its own rules.
"We've been punk in spirit," says Kezdy, "but the American punk bands you get nowadays are [illegible] doctrinaire in their music and their politics. The problem is that a lot of the new bands are just living right up to the stereotypes. They're exactly what people expect them to be, and it ends up making the whole, thing into a laughing stbck. I'd like to think of punk rock as being progressive. And I think it still can be. I think that we are." The album, distributed nationally by Enigma, should be in the stores within a few days. Before heading East on tour to promote the record, the Effigies have scheduled a couple of Chicago dates to celebrate its release. The band will perform Sundny night at Exit, 1053 N. Wells (440-0535). Toothpaste is opening; music should start around 11. Thursday, the band will play the West End, 1170 W. Armitage (525-0808). There will be. an all-ages show at 7 p.m., followed by an 21-and-older show at 10:30.