Who They Are

Manwolves are a quintet of lifelong friends Jamie McNear (vox), Eli Cohen (guitar), Henry Wolf (bass), Julian Freeman (drums), and Ari Garfin (keys) hailing from the Chicago suburb of Evanston. Since bursting onto the scene in 2014, the group has been dazzling audiences with captivating recordings and dynamic live performances that deftly showcase their eclectic blend of rock, jazz, hip-hop, and funk. Several sold out headline performances and a number-four spot on Spotify's Viral U.S. Streaming Chart have cemented Manwolves as a leader among Chicago's rich musical underground. 

Why You Should Listen

In today's saturated indie scene, it seems like every band is vying to be "genre-bending", yet few actually seem to attain any level of success at basic originality, let alone stylistic fusion. And then there's Manwolves. Just like Miles Davis changed the course of jazz with his avant-garde masterwork Bitches Brew, the group ushered in a new age of rock with their brilliant debut full-length A Safety Meeting. Throughout their prolific discography, Manwolves consistently manage to combine Syl Johnson's undeniable soul with Thundercat's sublime groove and David Bowie's tight rhythm, arriving at something intoxicatingly fresh and unpredictable. Deep, throbbing basslines, sprightly keys, and a classic emphasis on the "one" lay a funkified foundation, while bright guitar riffs and stately, ringing trumpet licks fatten the already warm and colorful midrange. Intricate snare- and cymbal-laden drum fills dance around commanding, pinpoint vocals that effortlessly swerve from spitfire rap verses to crooning choruses. All of this is front-and-center on fiery tracks like "Shreddy Krueger", "Shkleepy", and "Fien", which drip with an infallible swagger that's even more apparent on stage than in the studio. As such, the five-piece is nothing short of sensational in concert, with a vibrant, engaging presence that can make a crowd of seventy feel like three hundred.

What You Should Listen To

If you've got an hour to kill, you won't regret listening to both of Manwolves' full-length releases, A Safety Meeting (2018) and Sleeping In (2021), which offer two unique glimpses at the band's intense musical intellect. The former brandishes the group's compositional prowess with rosy, euphonic instrumentals that offer the perfect soundtrack for sunny spring days spent lazing outdoors, whereas the latter showcases their robust songwriting, developing a thoughtful thematic core around the profound—and often unnerving—effects of social media in the modern era. For even more content, you really can't go wrong with any of their singles. Personal standouts include "You", "Vices", and the recently dropped "Shotgun".