Though Chicago-based power pop trio The Heads Up officially formed in the summer of 2022, its roots go back nearly two decades earlier, when Jack Ruggiero and James O’Connor began playing music together at the age of 13 while still in middle school. Now in their early 30s and wanting to become a serious band, they enlisted the help of their friend Colin Dill and The Heads Up was born, with Ruggiero on guitars, lead vocals and backing instruments, O’Connor on bass and Dill on drums. Dill also plays drums for rock band The Million Reasons (who I’ve previously written about on this blog), as well as cover band Dad’s Night Out.

Influenced by acts ranging from Vampire Weekend to the Police to R.E.M., Ruggiero says their aim is to play energetic live songs that are both catchy enough so people at a bar could sing along and enjoy, even if they were hearing them for the first time, yet still interesting enough that they wouldn’t be bored by the simplicity. “The idea is to let loose, have fun and make it memorable” – all worthy goals in my book!

They released their debut EP Eponymous! on December 29th, featuring three delightfully catchy tracks that most assuredly achieved their mission. Now, only seven weeks later, they return with a second EP So Obvious, once again featuring three great tracks dealing with relationships that have run their course.

Things kick off with the title track “So Obvious”, and the Vampire Weekend influences are quickly apparent as our ears are treated to a colorful flourish of Ruggiero’s plucked, twangy and shredded guitars, accompanied by O’Connor’s funky bassline and Dill’s rapid, thumping drumbeats. The song has an enthusiastic, high-energy vibe, in sharp contrast with the more serious lyrics about an unpleasant person who’s highly judgmental of others yet cannot handle criticism of her many shortcomings, and always playing the victim to get her way: “Never understated. Constantly degrading. You’re always gonna get your way / Well you weaponized your pride it’s so insidious. The Hermès on your wrists a bit oblivious. And you know you’re gonna play that part again, yes you know you’re gonna play that part again. Oh you’re gonna play that part again, it’s so obvious.“

“Sour Grapes” opens with Dill’s emphatic drumbeats, which are soon joined by Ruggiero’s stabbing guitar before things settle into an upbeat and pleasing cadence in the verses, punctuated with sweet twangy guitar notes. Though it runs only 3:12 minutes, the song is a musical tour de force, with multiple tempo changeups, highlighted by some brilliant little guitar solos and drum flourishes. Ruggiero’s animated vocals are terrific, rising and falling with the music as he tells a romantic partner he’s done with her: “Shove me out the way. I will not complain. Lying lonely sad and sober. Me at the buffet, eating sour grapes. Really I’m so glad it’s over.”

And on “Alright”, Ruggiero confronts someone in denial about a negative situation: “Never understood when you said it’ll be alright. So I never trust a word when you say it’ll be alright. Just a bit disturbed that you said it’ll be alright. When you knew it never would but you said it’ll be alright.” I love the song’s lively, almost frantic groove, punctuated by swirling guitars, thumping bass and smashing drums.

So Obvious is a terrific little EP, and despite its rather bleak subject matter, it’s a fun, light-hearted romp from start to finish. I’m really enjoying the two EPs released thus far by The Heads Up, and can’t wait to hear what they have up their collective sleeves.

And here’s the EP on YouTube:

The Heads Up will be performing their new songs at Snüzfest this Saturday night, February 17th at the Beat Kitchen Bar in Chicago. Get your tickets here.

Follow The Heads Up on Instagram

Find their music on Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon Music / YouTube