Crowd Vulture sat down with The Phoenix to talk about their highs and lows as a Chicagoland band.
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Crowd Vulture sat down with The Phoenix to talk about their highs and lows as a Chicagoland band.
The story of Chicagoland-based band Crowd Vulture began in 2023 after two members dropped out of their debut performance.
Known for their explosive live shows and genre-defying sound, progressive rock band Crowd Vulture delivers an unapologetic and electrifying musical experience, combining fierce guitars, thunderous drums, heavy grooves, and soulful vocals.
“We were rehearsing for a couple of months before our first show offer, which was a battle of the bands at my work,” drummer Stevie Beilke said. “Our previous bass player fell off the face of the earth, and two weeks before our first show, our frontman said, ‘I can’t come, I have an anime convention.’”
Originally going by a different name, led by a different frontman and supported by another player, the band appeared to have crashed before it was even able to take off. However, dancer and performer Patricio Aranda and bassist Miguel Urquiza stepped in to fill the void — and the rest was Crowd Vulture history.
Today, the progressive rock band consists of Patricio “El Presidente” Aranda, guitarist and producer Alejandro “Alejo Paloma” Samuels, bassist Miguel “Hoj Poj” Urquizo and drummer Stevie “Sheisty” Beilke.
Coming off their 2024 EP “Treelines,” the band sat down with The Phoenix to explore what it means to be an up-and-coming band in Chicago, including their creative process, challenges and hopes for the future. Both questions and answers have been edited for clarity.
Can you walk us through the songwriting process for one of your latest tracks? Who brings the initial ideas, and how does it evolve?
Beilke: Whenever we rehearse, it starts with about 45 minutes to an hour of improvisation. We take separate parts and combine them together.
Samuels: The music comes from developing things over time. It kind of mutates as it goes on — pretty methodical, part by part, editing it together, kind of like scenes in a movie.
What is the single biggest challenge you’ve faced trying to gain a following or get booked in the area?
Arnada: Getting into the scene is definitely tough because there is so much talent out there. These guys know what they’re doing. The first show we did in Chicago at Bookclub Chi — the people on that lineup were out of our league at the time. Watching them was inspiring, but the real issue is just booking — having the credentials to show that you’re for real.
Samuels: I think it’s difficult because our stuff is not the easiest to recognize. The people in charge of booking are often looking for sounds that are easily identifiable.
What keeps the band motivated to keep pursuing even when things don’t go as planned?
Beilke: As the drummer, I’ll look out into the crowd and think, ‘What is going on?’ because of the transitions in our songs, but I love playing what we play because it’s what we like. We’ve been told that we don’t sound like anything else in the Chicago scene, which I think is the best compliment we could get.”
Arnada: When you look out into the crowd and see that group of people who get it, you know? My personal mission is to create something that you can listen and dance to. In reality, I just want to dance, and I carry that into every show.
Arnada: The show that made me feel proud of what Crowd Vulture has become was at Space 01. We had a fun group of people who interacted with us. That’s the biggest hug I could get — when the crowd reciprocates your energy.
What’s next for the band?
Urquizo: We just want to make some waves, man. Putting out music is exciting, and having people show that excitement back is what it’s all about. With our new single coming soon, we’re hoping to release another full project and use that momentum to reach more people.
The band’s mission is captured in a statement from their official website.
“Times are tough these days. Tensions are high. Hopes are low. The world needs healing, and no one is happier to spread those healing vibrations than Crowd Vulture,” the statement says.
With their new-wave sound, rhythmic energy and devotion to connecting with their audience, Crowd Vulture is poised to become a name worth remembering in the Chicago progressive rock scene.
Crowd Vulture will be performing at Bookclub Chicago Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m, where they will debut their new single. Tickets are on sale now. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
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