Since 2006, The Outbreaks have been music magnets that attract not only each other’s spirits, but also the audience’s. This Chicago-based band evolved from a 4-piece rock band that sought a piano player to accompany the rabidly infectious sound on their first album (EP) to a 5-piece unclassifiable band that is finalizing their first full length album (LP). Drawing upon their wide range of influences - from The Ramones and Frank Zappa to The Beach Boys and The Beatles to Motown and Mozart - The Outbreaks possess a sound as unique as each member of the group. This “rock band” rhapsodizes on soulful singing, truthful lyrics, poignant keyboard lines, punchy guitar licks, and driving back beats – a simple formula that produces memorable and unique songs.
The band is fronted by twenty-four year old Tim Trsar, who founded the band with existing members of previous bands including Scott Trsar, Drew Ray, and Petey Rivera. “Together, we decided to start over fresh because we were seeking out a thicker sound. It was as if we had all of the ingredients for the perfect deep dish pizza, but we didn’t have the tools to cook it up right. This is why we desired this thicker, or more of a deep dish sound versus the thin crust. Kevin Yanong ended up being that tool we needed to cook that delicious deep dish,” says Tim Trsar.
With all of the proper tools and ingredients, The Outbreaks began playing local, all-ages venues and worked their way up to playing larger venues such as The Beat Kitchen, The Clearwater Theater, The Underground Lounge, and various other Chicago milestones with such acts as The Academy Is, The Epochs, The Hush Sound, and many other respectable bands.
The Outbreaks released their first album, “Places (EP)”, in 2008 with songs “Late Night Life” and “She‘s a Fembot”. The (EP) is a fitting debut that delivers catchy vocal, guitar, and keyboard melodies within songs that embrace the art of growing up and explore the importance of friendship. In “Unaware”, which is the closing track to this five-song (EP), there is an eerie, vast, delayed sound that erupts into the powerful dynamic outro during which Tim screams out, “If you’re scared to dream of the future, and if you are eager to forget the past, be living for right now making every second last”. It ends with the sigh of relief and, “I’ve got my hopes, and they’ll never fade, so please tell me folks, that I’m not afraid.”
The album was recorded with local favorite Brian Zieske at the “Gallery of Carpet” recording studio. The (LP), which is due out soon and still untitled, was tracked, recorded, and produced by the band in Tim and Drew’s Lakeview apartment and is a far cry from the “Places” (EP). It is as if each song on the album is from a different version of the band and is only linked together by tone, making the album a vessel that encompasses numerous musical styles and more profound musical voices, collectively and individually.
When The Outbreaks are not playing shows or recording songs, they live conventional lives working, going to school, playing with their kids, or going to a Cubs game - but always with music on their minds.
