Chicago's Underground Scene Is In Good Hands: Dirt Buyer at The Subterranean
Article by Travis Kiley / Photo by Reagan Jones
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, 3-piece Dirt Buyer warmed the downstairs stage at Chicago’s Subterranean. On the brink of being a rock band, yet remaining remarkably soft and intimate, Dirt Buyer draws from many influences, including Cat Stevens, Blink-182, and Youbet. Consisting of founder and lead Joe Sutkowski, Tristen Allen on bass, and backed by Ruben Radlauer on drums, Dirt Buyer proved why they are on our radar for emerging bands.
The night opened with Chicago natives Cusp rocking out to a small but engaged crowd, playing material from their 2025 release What I Want Doesn’t Want Me Back. Standout tracks, including “Follow Along”, shone with Jen Bender’s whimsical vocals and surprisingly heavy drums considering the kit used. Opening for a show is hard, and Cusp did a great job bringing the energy and setting the tone for the night.
Dirt Buyer performed next, opening with “When You Were a Kid” from their most recent release, Dirt Buyer III, which immediately tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in attendance. The painfully honest vocals of Sutkowski about his struggles as a kid and the passing of his mother gave the audience a personal connection to the music. They followed it up with a cover of The La’s “There She Goes", bringing the loud, noisy energy we’ve come to expect from the band, proving that they aren’t confined to “emo” or “slowcore”. Dirt Buyer finished their 13-track set in style, with standouts being “Multizeal” and “For Me” due to the tight drumming and ever-evolving guitar riffs. Afterwards, Dirt Buyer left all the fans wanting more; I will be circling the date next time they're in Chicago.
5-piece Smut closed out the night. They started heavy and fuzzy like contemporaries Slow Pulp and Gaadge. Smut, which consists of vocalist Tay Roebuck, guitarists Andie Min and Sam Ruschman, bassist John Stiener, and drummer Aidan O’Connor, felt like they had the most pop-rock potential of the other sets. Blending post-punk and shoegaze elements, Smut managed to incorporate chugging riffs and dreamy, reverb-drenched guitars into each song. Standout tracks included “Burn Like Violet,” which has that classic 90s alternative feel, yet feels fresh with its layered vocals. Backed by singer Tay Roebuck, who delivers honey-like moments with pieces of elegant chaos, Smut feels like a band who can do it all. You can check out their new single, a cover of American Analog Set’s “Punk as F*ck,” on all platforms now.
Chicago was the last stop for the Dirt Buyer Smut tour, which ended with great vibes. All the bands stayed after to talk with audience members, which added to the fan-to-band intimacy Subterranean is known for. Shows like this bring hope for Chicago’s underground scene. We are in good hands, and I can’t wait to see what's next!