6 Things W/Time Thieves
Photo Credit: Tim Reynolds
The members of Time Thieves are no strangers to Chicago punk. Formed in 2015 by vocalist/guitarist Jonathan Pool and drummer Mike Oberlin, their mission was to make music influenced by bands like early Weezer, The Rentals, and Grandaddy. The band’s current lineup is frontman Jonathan Pool, Annie Saunders on bass, Tim Reynolds on guitar, and Mustafa Daka on drums. Between them, they have decades of experience in the Chicago punk and DIY scenes.
Last week, Time Thieves dropped their second EP of the year If You Survive. The songs are punchy power pop anthems, just like the band intended when they set out to start the band. All four songs highlight the band’s focus on melodies and hooks.
We connected with Jonathan Pool to talk about collaborating with co-songwriter Tim Reynolds, touring with friends, Washington’s portal to hell, getting addicted to shopping for pedals and more.
1/COLLABORATION
Quite a big one. Tim and I each usually bring in fairly complete songs to demo. By the time we get to recording them and playing them live, a demo will have gone through probably three or four iterations with each of us adding different elements, whether it's vocal melodies, solos, etc.
2/MUSICAL UPBRINGING
We all come from DIY punk backgrounds, so we've always been of the mindset to do everything on our own terms and timelines.
3/PEDALBOARD
Channel select and tuner, haha. NO MODS NO CASTERS, that's my motto. I think Tim has a limiter and one of those RAT distortion pedals, but we're quickly learning that one pedal leads to four, which leads to eight. Slippery slope best left un-skied, if you ask me.
4/ADVICE
Advise by living well. You can't tell anyone anything — they'll always have to learn it on their own. Let them!
5/CONSPIRACY THEORIES
Mel's Hole in Washington state is a direct portal to hell. Someone lowered a live goat into it once and it came out cooked. Then someone threw their dead dog into it. and it was found a few days later alive and well. That's all definitely true.
6/DREAM TOUR
One where the band breaks even, sells out of all merch, and the van has fewer miles on it than when we started, somehow. And playing with good friends, old and new, every night.
If You Survive is out now. You can be stream it below or wherever you listen to music. Follow Time Thieves on Instagram.
Today we are announcing our new label soundvsystem records! On Friday October 24th, we’ll be releasing our first compilation daylight x darknight. Read up!