FACS at the Cactus Club in Milwaukee on April 6, 2023

FACS was formed in Chicago in 2017 with members Brian Case, Noah Leger, and Jonathan van Herik. Just before their first album was released, van Herik left the group and was replaced by bassist Alianna Kalaba.

Their name is a reference to the catalog numbering system of Manchester's legendary Factory Records, home from 1978-92 to many amazing bands including Joy Division, New Order, and Section 25.

Purchase their most recent album here.

Recording information:

   

FACS

2023-04-06

Milwaukee, WI

Cactus Club

Brian Case: guitar and voice

Alianna Kalaba: bass

Noah Leger: drums

Setlist:

01 Ordinary Voices (4:47)

02 When You Say (5:57)

03 Constellation (4:08)

04 Skylarking (5:39)

05 Teenage Hive (3:10)

06 Slogan (4:46)

07 Strawberry Cough (5:37)

08 Dub Over (5:18)

09 North American Endless (4:15)

10 New Flag (9:50)

Total time = 53:27

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF on stand at back of room

Recorder: Sound Devices MxPre6ii

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (356 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (136 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

video of FACS in San Diego a few months after this show:

FACS at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on June 14, 2025

FACS started in 2017 following the dissolution of Chicago art-punk band Disappears. Since then they have released six studio albums and one single as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club, plus several live releases.  

Defining a band's sound using familiar touchstones is a dubious practice at best, and almost comical when applied to FACS. They've been described as dreamy krautrock shoegaze, experimental post-punk, psychedelic post-rock, and so forth. They write strong songs with stunning arrangements and perform them with an honest intensity. "When You Say" was one of my favorite songs last year, with its catchy chorus, insistent rhythms and weird buzzy low frequency drone.

A special bonus at this show was a brief poetry performance by Chicagoan Thax Douglas.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

FACS
2025-06-14
Milwaukee, WI
Cactus Club

Brian Case: guitar, vocals, and keyboards
Jonathan Van Herik: bass
Noah Leger: drums

Setlist:
01 Two Poems by Thax Douglas (1:22)
02 When You Say (5:54)
03 A Room (3:05)
04 North American Endless (3:49)
05 Voices (5:15)
06 Wish Defense (4:03)
07 Strawberry Cough (5:26)
08 Desire Path (2:16)
09 Take Me to Your Heart (5:52)
10 You Future (3:59)
11 Sometimes Only (6:14)

Total time = 47:16

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in NOS
Additional source: SBD feed from Alex
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (329 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (141 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible