Tennis To Warm Up Chicago With Summery Pop

By Sarah Cobarrubias in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 6, 2010 6:40PM

Just in time for the biting temperature drop, indie duo Tennis is sharing its sunny beach pop with Chicago. The Denver-based act, composed of husband and wife Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore, is currently on tour in advance of the Jan. 18 release of their debut full-length, Cape Dory, and will be making a stop at Schubas this Friday.

We know: beachless Denver doesn’t isn’t quite a breeding ground for pleasant surf pop, but Tennis actually found their sound at sea. After saving for several years, the couple bought a boat and set off for sail, wandering the Atlantic for eight months, writing music, and then returning to Denver and getting married. Cape Dory is a product of the voyage, outlining the trip with songs like opening track “Take Me Somewhere” through “Bimini Bay” and “Baltimore.” Riley plays guitar while Moore takes over keyboard and delivers pleasant though slightly muffled vocals, creating a whimsical, lo-fi feel inspired by their carefree days on the water.

Check it out for yourself: you can stream Cape Dory’s single “Take Me Somewhere” over at the Tennis’s Bandcamp site and if you like it, pre-order the album through the band’s label, Fat Possum Records. Or, of course, you can experience the album live at Friday night’s show. Opening will be another lo-fi beach pop act Family Portrait. And as usual, bring your ticket to Schubas Harmony Grill for some Mac ‘n’ Cheese on the house.

Tennis plays Friday, Dec. 10 at Schubas, 3159 N Southport, 10 pm, $8 in advance or $10 at the door, 18+