The Black Tape has been taking Chicago by storm with their unique mix of sixties influenced rock, Motown sound and power-pop flare. Brooklyn native Rashid Lamarre (guitar, vocals) began the Black Tape as a way to bring new life to musical influences of the past while adding a modern kick to the mix. With the addition of Oregon native Kyle Hartman on guitar, U.P. transplant Ryan Staples on bass, and Iowa born powerhouse drummer Nic Dell, the band’s sound has come together and what continues to develop is a series of addictively catchy songs that fans are happy to have stuck in their heads. As a reviewer from The UnCool.com wrote, the Black Tape is “delivering music that is as accessible as a high-five, as bright as the sunlight reflecting off of rolling waves”. The Black Tape is eager to keep the waves rolling as they continue to make their mark in Chicago and beyond.

“In an age of quantized, compressed, volume-leveled, digitized, music, it’s great to see a band fall back on the spirit of pushing the envelope, throwing out the click track, playing by feel, and creating something truly organic and heartfelt.”
-Darrin Snyder, IndyInTune

Mutts first played together with tape rolling on Pretty Pictures EP in July 2009. Bob Buckstaff pitched the idea of recording Mike Maimone’s new material after they met as hired musicians for Company of Thieves. The pair instantly clicked over respect for honest, unrefined recordings and love of Tom Waits, Nirvana and Elliott Smith. They called mutual friends Jon Alvin and Chris Faller to engineer and play drums, respectively. Over a 3-day session in an old warehouse on the north side of Chicago, Mutts wrote, arranged and recorded their seminal release.