The Effigies

As one of Chicago’s first punk bands, The Effigies played a pivotal role in cultivating the melodic sound associated with the city. The group officially disbanded in 1986, and its three albums have since gone out of print, but The Effigies never went away. Reunions followed as early as 1987, and one in 2004 inspired frontman John Kezdy to write new material. Three years later, it was released on Reside, the band’s first album in 20 years. Although Robert McNaughton has replaced original guitarist Earl Letiecq, this incarnation of The Effigies sounds just like the Reagan-era model—only this time around, the corrupt powers-that-be in the band’s sights are more like disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. 

Updated 11/23/2009