Vortis is an American

indie punk Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produc ...

band established in 2000, whose members initially included Michael A. Weinstein, the band's frontman and a professor of

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

Purdue University Purdue University is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, and the flagship campus of the Purdue University system. The university was founded in 1869 after Lafayette businessman John Purdue donated land and money ...

, as well as well-known music critic

Jim DeRogatis James Peter DeRogatis (born September 2, 1964) is an American music critic and co-host of ''Sound Opinions''. DeRogatis has written articles for magazines such as ''Rolling Stone'', '' Spin'', ''Guitar World'' and ''Modern Drummer'', and for 15 ...

(who remains the band's drummer). The band was named after the

Vorticist Vorticism was a London-based Modernism, modernist art movement formed in 1914 by the writer and artist Wyndham Lewis. The movement was partially inspired by Cubism and was introduced to the public by means of the publication of the Vorticist mani ...

movement of the early 20th-century, a group of artists and writers whose basic tenet was the "perpetuate violent structures of adolescent clarity" throughout life. (As DeRogatis puts it, "To live with the lust for life of a teenager, no matter what age you are--a great definition of rock 'n' roll half a century before it happened.") The group (completed by guitarist Tony Tavano, aka G Haad, and bassist Chris Martiano, aka Johnny Los, who replaced early member Randy Kertz) initially released two albums with Weinstein, pairing its music to his lyrics: ''Take the System Down'', and ''God Won't Bless America,'' both on the independent

Thick Records Thick Records is a Chicago-based independent record label which actively operated from 1994 to 2007. It now exists as a catalog only label for its previous releases. History Thick was formed in 1994 by Detroit native Zak Einstein, who started the ...

. Several other independent recordings followed with Weinstein before he left the group in 2009; he died at age 73 in 2015 but the group continues as a trio.

Reception

Their sound has been described as eclectic, and they have been compared to the

Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk rock, punk bands during its initial eight-year run. Dead Kennedys' lyrics were usually political in nature, sa ...

Wire Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample diameter 40 mm A wire is a flexible strand of metal. Wire is c ...

and the

Butthole Surfers Butthole Surfers are an American rock band formed in San Antonio, Texas, by singer Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary in 1981. The band has had numerous personnel changes, but its core lineup of Haynes, Leary, and drummer King Coffey has been ...

. In particular, some critics have drawn comparisons between Weinstein's demeanor in live performances to Jello Biafra's persona. John Petkovic of the '' Cleveland Plain Dealer'' described the sound of ''God Won't Bless America'' as "a mix of both - music and cheerleading, that is." The ''

Columbus Dispatch ''The Columbus Dispatch'' is a daily newspaper based in Columbus, Ohio. Its first issue was published on July 1, 1871, and it has been the only mainstream daily newspaper in the city since ''The Columbus Citizen-Journal'' ceased publication in 1 ...

'' said that "Musically, they fall into the netherlands where metal, 'Oi' punk, hard core and

Mr. Bungle Mr. Bungle is an American experimental rock band formed in Eureka, California in 1985. Having gone through many incarnations throughout their career, the band is best known for music created during their most experimental era. During this time, ...

tread". Monica Kendrick of the Chicago Reader wrote of the 2005 album "Warzone" that it is "mean, tight, righteously pissed, and full of hooky, nasty sloganeering choruses--and if you're like me you might relish the frisson of hearing yourself chanting them. Of the current trio, the Webzin
Razorcake
wrote, ""The brevity of the Ramones, with an occasional Big Black abrasiveness, and the aggressiveness of Dead Boys."

History

Weinstein joined Vortis in 2000 when his wife introduced him to several musicians several decades his juniors from

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. Weinstein also went by the stage name "Fellow Traveler" when performing with Vortis, though the band and many fans affectionately referred to him as "the Professor." The group released its debut album, ''Take the System Down'', on Thick Records in 2002, followed by ''God Won't Bless America'' the following year, also on Thick Records. The group continued for some time as a quartet after Weinstein left the band, with Louie Calvano joining and alternating on guitar and bass with Martiniano. Several more indie recordings followed, then Martiniano left as well to pursue his scholarly studies of William Blake, and the band has been a trio ever since, with Tavano, DeRogatis, and Calvano gigging frequently in and around Chicago. Most of the songs are now written as a group, maintaining the political and sociological edge inspired by Weinstein, but with a short, sharp aesthetic that owes a debt to Wire and Chicago punk avatars such as Naked Raygun, as well as Husker Du. The band's latest album was released by the vinyl-only Cavetone Records label. in Spring 2019. ''This Machine Kills Fascists'' is also streaming on Spotify, Bandcamp, and iTunes, and in addition to the title's nod to

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...

and a reinterpretation of a song he wrote about Fred Trump, lyrics reference and draw inspiration from

George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalitar ...

and

Bill McKibben William Ernest McKibben (born December 8, 1960)"Bill Ernest McKibben." ''Environmental Encyclopedia''. Edited by Deirdre S. Blanchfield. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, December 31, 2017. is a ...

. Vortis also released a split 7-inch in 2011 entitled "Things Won't Get Better", with the Cathy Santonies.

Discography

*''Take the System Down'' (Thick, 2002) *''God Won't Bless America'' (Thick, 2003) *''Warzone'' (self-released, 2005) *''Vortis'' (self-released, 2009) *''Things Won’t Get Better'' (split 7-inch with the Cathy Santonies, 2011) *''Modern Savage'' (self-released, 2013) *''Safety First'' (self-released, 2014) *''This Machine Kills Fascists'' (Cavetone Records, 2019)

References

{{Reflist Thick Records artists Musical groups from Chicago Punk rock groups from Illinois Musical groups established in 2000 2000 establishments in Illinois