The Empty Pockets love music. That might seem redundant to say about a band, but many musicians are joyless about their art. Not the Chicago-based quartet, who have a new album coming out and are getting ready for a tour. Their music pulls from dozens of influences to create something both familiar and brand new, and their joy of talking about the sounds they love is palpable.
Also, they love sports. When we met on Zoom for an interview before Game 2 of the ALDS, two of the members were in genuine,
well-worn White Sox caps, and the third was in a clearly-loved Bears shirt (indeed, when the interview was originally scheduled for Sunday, we decided to meet before the Bears game in case things went sideways and none of us were in the mood).
These two loves will meet when the Empty Pockets play on the field at the Rate before Game 3. This promises to be the most exciting game on the South Side since 2021, if not the original Blackout Game of 2008. Playing in front of a crowd hungry for a win and filled with nervous expectations is a dream come true … for both the players and the band.
We spoke with Josh Solomon, Erika Brett, and Adam Balasco about the game, the excitement of playing for a big crowd, their music and new album, the connections between being a musician and being a ballplayer.
[Interview edited for clarity.]
Let’s start with the Sox connection: How did you get the gig playing before the first home playoff game? Are you all sports people?
Josh: There’s a really cool natural connection between sports and music. We consider ourselves a “baseball band.” We love to go to games and sing the National Anthem. We bring a good vibe, and have done the Anthem for the Sox, Cubs, and even the Guardians.
Adam: We talked about whether or not we should reach out to the Sox when they made the playoffs, but ended up not.
Erika: They reached out to us. We’ve learned some special songs, including “Strokin’.”
I was going to ask if your song choices are different than your normal set. Will there be songs from the new album?
Josh: We’ll definitely have songs from the new album. But it’s tough to choose. We’ve got between 12 and 15 minutes, and want to play right up until the end, but we have to stop exactly when we are told to stop.
Erika: “Strokin’” is not in our normal set. But it was requested from so many people.
Adam: We’re going to get people excited for a playoff win. We want them to be ready to celebrate a playoff win.
Yeah, the crowd is going to be really amped up. What does that feel like as a musician?
Josh: We’ve done this a few times at the Rate, usually 45 minutes before a game. People are still filing in, only sort of paying attention. We get it. But this time, people will be in their seats. They’ll be excited and paying attention. This will be the most people we’ve ever played for.
Adam: The Rate has changed. We played in 2024, and no one expected to win. It had a different feeling. The expectation has changed. It’ll be such a different experience.
What does it mean for a band to play a set like this?
Erika: We’ve played at the Chicago Theater, a lot of other places. But we usually don’t do 360-degree sets.
Josh: This gives us a completely different feel. This gives a feel of what it must be like to be a ballplayer.
Adam: This is our cup of coffee. We’re akin to minor league baseball players. Probably similar salaries. We’re up in the bigs for a playoff game.
Josh: There are a lot of similarities with us and minor-league players. Lots of bus rides, driving around from place to place. Lots of hard work. And probably, yeah, similar salaries.
Let’s talk about the new album, Dear Billionaires. I’m guessing that it isn’t a love letter to the super-rich.
Josh: More like a ransom note. We’re not lying about empty pockets! Even a guy like Jerry Reinsdorf, who fired the old crew and brought in Chris Getz, we have to hold his feet to the fire to do the right thing.
Erika: It’s ironic and cool that we have this album out when we’re playing at the Rate.
Adam: We need to be involved in the CBA talks!
[A lot of cross-talk followed about the CBA, their passion for labor, the problem with billionaires, and other pleasantly subversive diversions.]
Why is this kind of message important to you right now? What role do you think musicians have in the current climate?
Josh: Art has its place as escapism, as a unifier, as something that can bring us all together. Let’s not judge each other, let’s love each other. But looking at the world, it’s hard not to have a critique of it.
Erika: There is inequality in every facet of our lives. We’re asking what can we do as ordinary people to help each other, and to be part of the solution.
Josh: I’m not trying to marry politics and art. But from where I live, I’m taking the Red Line, from Uptown to 35th. Our music ends up being about what we’re seeing.
Adam: We pass through every socioeconomic bracket. It is really in your face in Chicago. Some people get annoyed, you know, “don’t be political.” But we’re not really political. This shouldn’t be controversial.
[The band explained that they are offering their new album to billionaires for $285,000. But it is on the honor system, showing a unifying sort of ecumenicism. “Even Jerry” can buy Dear Billionaires for a fraction of what he’s paying Andrew Benintendi.]
Your music pulls from a lot of influences — I was hearing some The Band, some Neil Young, and even Country Joe MacDonald in “Capital Hill Autonomous Zone.” But it never sounds derivative, more like pulling from bits and pieces to create something new. How would you describe your music, and what’s the connective tissue for you?
Josh: We’ve never gotten Country Joe MacDonald before, but that fits. Anyone at Woodstock, anyone playing live music there. We’re a Chicago blues band. There are a lot of sounds we like.
Adam: We love the Beatles! [laughter]
Josh: I wish I knew how to write a good song that fits in a lane.
Erika: We’re genre traitors. We follow whatever we want.
Adam: We’re basically the Beatles.
Where can fans see you perform? Is there an upcoming tour?
Josh: We’re playing at Garcia’s in October [October 27th, tickets here.]
Here’s what’s weird. Our next show is in Cleveland. But the Guardians are not going to have a game that night. [Note: That’s Game 1 of the World Series.] We’re not going to taunt them. No, we’re absolutely going to taunt them. After that we’re in Buffalo, and then back to Chicago at Garcia’s.
[See full tour list here]
Finally, what are your predictions for Game 3?
Adam: There has only been one perfect game in the postseason. The law of averages says the second one is coming.
Josh: Game 3 is the true Murakami game. He’ll get close to the cycle: 3-for-5, a single, homer and a double.
Erika: I want Murakami to do so well he screams “I am Japanese!” again. Really, I just want him to hear us doing “Strokin’” live.
