February 25th, 2018 - Currently on the road with Walk the Moon, indie group Company of Thieves arrive with their highly anticipated EP, Better Together - their first effort since 2011. Premiering on Consequence of Sound, the release features three new tracks, as well as a gorgeously stripped back rendition of fan-favorite, “Oscar Wilde”.
10 years preceding the release of their first record, Ordinary Riches, the band officially marked their comeback with, “Treasure” in July of last year. A song that channels their frustrations with the current political climate, it was a triumphant return for the three-piece, comprised of Genevieve Schatz, Marc Walloch and Chris Faller.
The reunion of the group was not to be stopped, and they followed with the gorgeous ode to friendship, “Window” that is an expansion of the groups soaring indie rock sound. "Great friends can see something in us that we can’t yet see in ourselves- the ability to make it through, the light at the end of the tunnel. This song is about seeing the best in each other and ourselves, finding windows where there were once only walls" explained front woman Genevieve Schatz of the song, which premiered on Billboard.
The honest and heartfelt, “Younger” showcases the band’s ability to overcome the struggles of growing up, and the many life lessons they still have to learn. With a revisit of “Oscar Wilde”, the group gives us a look at their evolution as a band, who aren’t ones to forget how it all began.
It was fate that brought two rebellious teenagers together on the train platform at Union Station in Chicago over a decade ago, as Company of Thieves’ founding members, Genevieve Schatz and Marc Walloch sat across from one another and became fast friends over a conversation about The Beatles. With two records, countless headlining tours, a late night television appearance, “Oscar Wilde” - a charting alternative radio single, and a dream-come-true music biz discovery story under their belt, it seems that fate that has brought the cult band back from hiatus.
The band quickly became a favorite amongst the Chicago indie rock community. After scraping together recording funds, the kids took a risk and independently released their debut album “Ordinary Riches” in 2007. They soon played SXSW, got discovered and re-released "Ordinary Riches" via Wind-Up Records in 2009, following up with their sophomore LP, "Running From A Gamble," in 2011.
With industry and personal struggles, the band took a hiatus and decided to pursue other creative outlets in 2013. Genevieve went on to release a solo EP “Show Your Colors” and tours the material accompanied by Chris. Marc released a solo record “Through The Seasons” under the moniker Spill, and also plays bass for AWOLNATION. The time spent apart for the band was an important step in each member’s journey to self-discovery, whether it be musical or personal, but ultimately, fate played it’s hand of cards.
“We had been playing music separately and had been missing each other immensely. We would run into each other at venues and shows in LA and get misty eyed,” says Gen of Marc. “One night Chris and I were driving after a show and a car clipped the back of us. It was this moment where my life flashed before my eyes, and I thought - oh my god, I miss Marc so much.”
Shortly after, the band embarked on a camping trip, where they built a fire together and expressed their longing to bring Company of Thieves back to life.
Whether it was on that train platform in Chicago on the highway in LA, or in their DIY recording studio, fate had it’s hand in bringing this esteemed tribe back together. As they say, you can never break the chain.
