Chicago's Best Damn Garage Band - American Slang

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Get an Idea of the American Slang Sound

all song clips in .mp3 format

It's Your Thing - American Slang!

Shotgun - American Slang!

Beast of Burden - American Slang!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T - American Slang!

A Sampling of Our Song List

BROWN SUGAR - ROLLING STONES
SAVE A HORSE (Ride A Cowboy) - BIG & RICH

BLITZKRIEG POP - RAMONES

WRAP IT UP - FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS
HARD TO HANDLE - BLACK CROWES

BEVERLY HILLS - WEEZER
FIRE - JIMI HENDRIX
BEAST OF BURDEN - ROLLING STONES
BABY, ONE MORE TIME - BRITNEY SPEARS
BEAUTIFUL DAY - U2

KISS - PRINCE
BREAKUP SONG - GREG KHIN BAND
WILD NIGHT - VAN MORRISON
ALL RIGHT NOW - FREE
CAN'T GET ENOUGH - BAD COMPANY
WHAT'S UP - 4 NON BLONDES

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL - GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
MUSTANG SALLY - WILSON PICKETT
SWEET HOME ALABAMA - LYNYRD SKYNYRD
THE LETTER - JOE COCKER
REAL FINE LOVE - JOHN HYATT
PINK HOUSES - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP
AMERICAN GIRL - TOM PETTY
HONKEY TONK WOMEN - ROLLING STONES
BROWN EYED GIRL - VAN MORRISON
HURT SO GOOD - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP
LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION - ELVIS
BIG TEN INCH - BULLMOOSE JACKSON & BUFFALO BEARCATS

DRIFT AWAY - DOBEY GREY
LITTLE RED CORVETTE - PRINCE
JESSIE'S GIRL - RICK SPRINGFIELD
STILL THE NIGHT - THE BODEANS
WALK THIS WAY - AEROSMITH
ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT - KISS
ONLY ROCK AND ROLL - ROLLING STONES
BIG BALLS - AC/DC
TWIST AND SHOUT - THE BEATLES
THIS LOVE - MAROON 5
BECAUSE I GOT HIGH - AFROMAN
PLAY THAT FUNKEY MUSIC - WILD CHERRY
BRICKHOUSE/WHITE HORSE - COMMODORES
I WILL SURVIVE - GLORIA GAYNOR
I'LL TAKE YOU THERE - THE STAPLE SINGERS
LET'S GET IT ON - MARVIN GAYE
SHE HATES ME - PUDDLE OF MUDD
FLAGPOLE SITTA - HARVEY DANGER
SAW HER STANDIN' THERE - THE BEATLES
SEDATED - THE RAMONES
SHAKE YOUR TAIL FEATHER - RAY CHARLES
AUTHORITY SONG - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP
THE MIDDLE - JIMMY EAT WORLD
BANG ON THE DRUM - TODD RUNGDREN
I'M A BELIEVER - THE MONKEES
LOVE TRAIN - THE O'JAYS
BASKET CASE - GREEN DAY
TEQUILLA - THE CHAMPS
CAN'T ALWAYS GET... YOU WANT - ROLLING STONES
LOVE STINKS - J. GEILS BAND
SHOUT - OTIS DAY AND THE NIGHTS
HAPPY - ROLLING STONES
UNCHAIN MY HEART - RAY CHARLES
THEM CHANGES - DAVE MASON
LAGRANGE - ZZ TOP
CLOCKS - COLDPLAY
TIGHTROPE - STEVIE RAY VAUGHN
INSIDE OUT - EVE 6
STACEY'S MOM - FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE
THE LETTER - JOE COCKER

Interesting Information

About American Slang!

Band Brings Back the FUN!
Orland Park, IL

From the very first set of an American Slang show, you immediately get the idea this is not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill, “I’m Dressed Cooler Than You Are” kind of nights. Not even close.

To talk to American Slang Founders Rick Williams and Rob Frank, you get the very true sense that, to quote, “it’s not about the music”.

Though the band boasts quite an impressive arrangement of accomplished musicians in their own right, Williams and Frank are quick to point out that they are keenly aware of their audience. “What fun is it to play for yourself? If I wanted to do that, I’d stay at home” says keyboard player and reluctant straight man Rick Williams. “When Rob and I started this thing, we knew we wanted to involve the audience, not just stare back at them.”

Williams refers to the practice too many bands of today neglect, the apparent art of “Entertaining”. “So many bands today think it’s all about them and feeding their own egos. Not true at a Slang show!” The self-deprecating quartet which includes Frank, Williams, Jerry Frank (yes, they’re brothers) and James Patriarca, keeps things on par with a yard party. “We’re in this to have fun, so we keep it loose, talk with the folks that happen to be there, and really strive to be overwhelmingly approachable in every sense.”

And loose they are.

The band does not adhere to a strict genre when selecting the music they cover, as evidenced by reviewing a recent set list featuring such artists as The Rolling Stones, U2, Britney Spears, Gloria Gaynor, the Bodeans and Marvin Gaye. “It’s all about the party. That’s the music we play!” says Williams.

When pressed for what exactly makes American Slang so different from every other local act, Frank and Williams respond in unison – “Butt Darts!”

Frank continues “When you come and put your hard earned money down at an American Slang show, we give back! Well, sort of…” “Everyone who walks in the door has a chance to win cash at our shows, and it comes right out of our pockets” says Williams. “But you can’t sit on your [expletive]!”

Which is where the "Butt Darts" come in.

Butt Darts, simply put, is a game of skill and gluteal manipulation, in a sense. The participant must place a quarter in their groin area, walk a brief distance (usually 5 feet) and drop the quarter in a cup. It's a game of elimination, with the last person to successfully drop their quarter considered the "Winner".

"It's great fun, and the response has been overwhelming" claims Williams, who along with Frank, have come up with several such games and incorporated them into the show. "Believe it or not, Butt Darts originated in the hills of Kentucky allegedly. We make no claim to "Inventing" it. We've just brought it out from the college dorm to the public masses.”

Other such novelties the band has introduced has been the recent addition of their version of "Spin-the-Bottle". "That one is for our 21 and over crowd." says Williams.

Williams and Frank have taken the element of entertainment and have opened it up to their audience. "Heck, we've even had people in the audience come onstage and sing, kind of like Live Karaoke" says Frank. Which shouldn't be too difficult to do, considering the bands choice of cover material. "We basically have been playing together the past 15+ years, and we've accumulated quite a songlist. But we've honed it down to pretty much what works and what everyone enjoys" says Frank. "Yeah, you pretty much name it. We're all over the board, from Motown to Puddle of Mudd and Afroman to Van Morrison. Everything is geared toward a party atmosphere and having a great time" say Williams.

When asked what's next for American Slang, the lifelong friends again respond almost in sync - "Sponsorship!". "We want better prizes to give away!" chimes in Williams.

Can anyone say "Miller Time?".

Martin Bryce

Digital World Media

Venues Performed At

Mullen's - Lisle

Koppermill - Orland Park

Sam Maguires - Orland Park

J.W. Hollsteins - Tinley Park

The Blue Iguana - Tinley Park

The Pump Room - Worth

Rascals - LaGrange Park

Grouchos - Chicago

Rock Bottom Brewery - Naperville