Chicago band Some Years Later releasing new album, will perform at The Abbey Pub

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Chicago band Some Years Later hopes to make everyone's life better with its new album, "The Better Life," which will be released later this year.

The band is bound to play songs from the new album when it performs Sept. 19 at The Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., Chicago. Also on the bill are The Title Trackers, Captain Coopersmith and Oakley Station.

The show starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $10, available at www.ticketweb.com. 

I had the chance to talk to Some Years Later frontman Robert Patrick about the new album.

Q - Great talking to you. I understand that the band will be releasing a new album, "The Better Life," later this year. What should people expect from the album? 

The fans will get more of a heavier side of Some Years Later but we'll still have that "up and down" kind of mix of songs on the plate. The title "Better Life" is a portrait of today's ever-so-fast pace of life when the true quality of life is lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BupWcL_jEow

The songs chosen for this album are almost like a storybook from start to finish.

Q - You formed Some Years Later in 2005. In forming the band, what were your goals and do you think you accomplished them?

https://www.reverbnation.com/someyearslater

In forming the band in 2005, the goals back then were just to write new songs and finally record a album. It took some time to release 2010's "Wonder Ride" EP due to some early member changes.

Q - Your son, Robert Anthony, plays drums in the band. How does it feel having your son in the band with you? What kind of dynamic do you have together?

Having my son in the act is very exciting, at least for me as a father. We get to experience a lot of different situations together on and off stage, and its time well-spent together.

Memories! As far as a dynamic together, we're tight! His drumming follows the tight end of the rhythm guitar like glue!

Q - Some Years Later has shared the stage with a variety of well-known acts, including The Verve Pipe and Jefferson Starship. What has the band learned from such experiences?

When the band plays with national acts, we all try to absorb the professional way they go about their performance, so we can take that to our next show, to be more of a success.

Q - As a side note, your rhythm guitarist, Mike Pantazis, made an amazing catch from the stands at a 1995 Chicago Bears game. Did you ever guess that he was such an athlete?

No, I never knew that he was an athlete. We met in 2003, started writing songs on our acoustic guitars. We never discussed sports that much. It was always about the music. 

Q - What are the band's short-term and long-term goals?

The band's short-term goal now is to release "Better Life." Long-term, we'll try to get on the road a bit to spread the magic, as a "better life."