((We Ragazzi)) Band Profile and Upcoming Los Angeles Concerts - Oh My Rockness

Chicago's We Ragazzi formed in 1997, perhaps to lament the demise of the Michael Jordan era. No more Air. No more Phil. No more Pip. No more Championships. To get over the heartache, guitarist Anthony Rolando, Farfisa organ player Colleen Burke and drummer Alianna Kalaba channeled their despair into creating no-wave, bluesy, danceable garage rock sass.

Their spazzticly energetic lives shows gave them an instant buzz and they were promptly signed to the very underrated My Pal God records. Seven years, one break-up, two drummers, and three different labels later, We Ragazzi are still able to sneer, shout and spazz with the best of them. They make inaccessible rock the most accessible since Blonde Redhead.

And they won't rest until the NBA championship trophy is brought back to its proper home on Chicago's mantle. So it looks like We Ragazzi will still be playing well into their seventies, as flying pigs circle the decaying Bowery Ballroom.

Published February 7, 2007