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Listings are
in the opposite order of appearance: headliner is listed at the top,
next is the support band(s),
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Thursday July 16
2026
7:00PM doors -- music at 8:00PM ••• ALL AGES $20 in advance / $25 at the door $25.31 in advance [20 face value +5.31 service fee] The Probable Claws Tour Sincere Engineer sincereengineer.com punk rock Ways Away waysawaymerch.com post-punk SMUG LLC smugmp3.bandcamp.com electropop garage post-punk Sincere Engineer -from Chicago, IL -When Sincere Engineer entered the studio to begin recording their fourth full-length album, they were already building on a foundation primed for success. Tracking the record entirely at Electrical Audio—the studio of the late Steve Albini and the origin of hundreds of revered independent releases—the band tapped into a space synonymous with unfiltered artistry. The result: Probable Claws (leave it to Sincere Engineer to pull a punny title out of the hat), a record that solidifies her punk-fueled catalogue as a formidable quartet. As Sincere Engineer frontwoman Deanna Belos continues to mine the deeply introspective terrain of her past work, the question remains: how does this latest chapter measure up? For starters, it leans into a thematic core that feels relatably universal, especially for anyone who has felt the pressure of life’s eternal ticking clock. “I think the overall theme of this record is being uncomfortable with the passing of time and how quick time passes,” Belos shares. “Not all the songs touch on that, there’s some songs about me moving too fast through life myself.” That sentiment pulses through the album’s lead single, “Cooler,” which landed on streaming platforms in March. The track stands as a quintessential example of Sincere Engineer’s signature brand of cathartic, angst-fueled punk—refined, yet no less urgent. And while Belos’ audience now stretches to a global scale, her sound remains grounded in a gritty, blue-collar ethos, undeniably shaped by her Chicago, Illinois roots. “We set out to make a very straightforward pop punk record,” Belos says, before noting that fans can still expect a handful of Sincere Engineer’s characteristically poignant ballads woven throughout. Make no mistake: Probable Claws is a no-skip listen. Across 11 tracks, the album is meticulously sequenced to grip from the outset, kicking off with the commanding “Twist My Tongue” and closing on “Dynamite,” a finale that lands with emotional weight. A well-placed Bad Religion nod on “LOL” only deepens the record’s relatability, bridging generational gaps within the punk community. Of course, every album has its emotional centerpiece, and here, Belos delivers it in “Arborvitae Evergreen.” “It’s my favorite,” she shares. “It’s kind of the song I’ve been telling people I wrote for myself. It’s about the backyard of the house I grew up in. When we recorded it, I was so stoked with how well it came out… it takes me back to that place.” All in all, Probable Claws finds Belos sitting in some of her strongest writing yet, wielding her sharpest pen and laying her heart out on the table. “I’m excited for the new chapter of SE. We’ve done so much touring with so many amazing bands that we all look up to. I can’t believe we’re on our fourth record and we’re excited to get on tour and play the new songs live. The recording process was a dream—Electrical Audio is an incredible studio, literally one of the best in the world. We were very excited and fortunate we got to make the record there!” Ways Away -from Los Angeles, CA -4 guys who have been doing bands for awhile do another band. Featuring members of Stick To Your Guns, Wish You Were Here, Samiam, Knapsack, Racquet Club, Boysetsfire, Joyce Manor. SMUG LLC -from Toronto, ON -No sane individual wants to be seen as smug, but goodness gracious it feels good when you can righteously don that gay apparel when you’re finally proven correct. Whether it’s a matter of taste, of memory, of intellect, or even a good guess, hearing those magical words, “you were right,” hits that sweet dopamine release in ways few other things can. Sometimes that can work in your favor, when you play it off ironically or just seem genuinely kind, if a little too self-satisfied. Nothing about Drew Thomson comes across as superior, and if anything (let my Canadian heritage come into play here), there’s a wholesome earnestness that comes across clearly. This is a musical lifer from one of the best cities in the world (fight me) who like The Righteous Brothers once foretold, lost that lovin’ feelin’ when it came to making music. After fronting a slew of bands across his career, SMUG LLC is Thomson’s chance to rekindle the love of music, and holy shit is this a glorious love affair. Bursting with the brashness of lo-fi post-punk/new wave, the gleeful fun of MF DOOM, and a playfully sardonic streak, New Exciting Doom is a must-have for those who want more bops in their life. “When I started what would become Smug LLC, I was coming off of a musical and artistic burnout. I was ready to give up. I took a break from everything creative for a while and thought I was done trying to express myself in this form. One day I just picked up my bass and plugged it in and wrote ‘Little Gusts’ without thinking of much, just looking out the window humming to myself. Within about 20 minutes the song was done and recorded, and that’s the version that’s on the record. What was once gone had returned, a spark had been sparked!” “The style has formed a bit over time,” he adds. “Since I was in high school, I’ve loved the first two Streets albums. I’m a big MF doom fan. I went through a big Atari Teenage Riot phase. I’ve always liked New Wave and more minimalist post-punk. All these influences never really fit in with my other projects, although I did try and force it sometimes. Smug LLC isn’t me trying to be any of these things, or my version of these artists, but it’s a conglomeration of all of it.” -NICHOLAS SENIOR, NNM |
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