Lucky Boys Confusion
Lucky Boys Confusion is a rock band from the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, built around a grab bag of punk, ska, hip hop, and straight-up rock. The core lineup is vocalist Kaustubh “Stubhy” Pandav, guitarist and vocalist Adam Krier, bassist Jason Schultejann, and drummer Ryan Fergus. Guitarist and founding member Joe Sell remained part of the band until his death in 2012.
How It Started in the Chicago Suburbs
Lucky Boys Confusion formed in 1997 after two local groups ended. Pandav and Fergus came out of Farmboy, while Krier and Sell had been playing together in Spinning Jenny. Once Schultejann joined on bass, the band moved quickly, putting out an early EP called What Gets Me High and then launching their own imprint, Townstyle Records.
In late 1998 they released their first full-length, Growing Out of It. A track called “Dumb Pop Song” picked up airplay on Chicago alternative radio, which helped the band build momentum beyond their hometown circuit. In 2000, they followed with The Soapbox Spectacle, featuring a new version of “Fred Astaire,” plus additional songs that pushed their sound into a bigger, hook-driven lane. Around this stretch, they also filmed a video for “Dumb Pop Song.”
The Elektra Years and a Bigger Spotlight
In 2000, Lucky Boys Confusion signed with Elektra Records and headed to California to record what became Throwing the Game, released May 8, 2001. The album mixed refreshed versions of earlier tracks with new material, and it included a cover of Jocelyn Enriquez’s “Do You Miss Me?” They also released a video for “Bossman” featuring Beenie Man, a track that later appeared in an Extra gum commercial in 2008.
The band’s second Elektra album, Commitment, became their most popular release. Produced by Michael Miguel Happoldt, it leaned more toward pop rock while keeping the band’s punchy rhythm and melodic instincts. They filmed a video for “Hey Driver,” and the song landed placements across films and a video game, which helped bring the band to listeners who did not find them through punk and ska channels.
Getting Dropped, Getting Funny About It, and Getting Back to Work
In 2004, Elektra dropped the band. The members treated it like a reset, jokingly calling the label “Neglektra” and moving forward on their own terms. In August 2005 they released The Red Tape Outtakes (Demos And Heartbreaks), a collection of unreleased tracks and outtakes that kept the pipeline moving while they figured out the next chapter.
They followed with How to Get Out Alive on June 13, 2006, featuring four new songs and a cover of Dramarama’s “Anything, Anything.” Later that year, on September 20, 2006, the band announced a hiatus, stressing it was a short break rather than a breakup. Even at the final pre-hiatus show, they made it clear their annual “Songs from a Scene” run in Chicago would continue once things settled down.
Side Projects and the Townstyle Universe
During and after the hiatus announcement, members stayed busy with other projects. Pandav teamed with Chicago DJs JJ Flores and Steve Smooth to form Shock Stars, releasing an EP in 2007 before ending the project in 2009. Krier and Schultejann started a new band with drummer Chris Smith, first called American Taxi, later renamed AM Taxi after signing to Virgin Records in 2009.
Pandav also appeared as a guest vocalist with local rappers Saurus and Bones, and later formed The Super Happy Fun Club, releasing the EP Go Fun Yourself in 2011. Through it all, the Lucky Boys Confusion identity stayed tied to Townstyle Records and to the band’s habit of pivoting without fully disappearing.
Closing Arguments and the End of Songs from a Scene
In December 2008, the band announced a new release for 2009. That album, Closing Arguments, blended old demos and rare tracks with a new song, “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us.” It arrived digitally without advance promotion, then got a physical release on June 23, 2009.
Another tradition also wrapped up. On December 26, 2009, Pandav announced that “Songs from a Scene” would end with the 2010 performances, closing out a yearly run that had become a marker for the band and their hometown crowd.
Joe Sell’s Death
On May 15, 2012, guitarist and founding member Joe Sell was found dead in Chicago at age 33. His death marked a major loss for the band and the people who had followed them since the early days.
Later Years and STORMCHASERS
Lucky Boys Confusion continued to play shows around Chicago. In April 2016, Pandav, Krier, and Schultejann confirmed that a new album was in progress. The band later announced the record’s title, STORMCHASERS, and set its release date for April 11, 2017.
Members
- Kaustubh “Stubhy” Pandav, vocals
- Adam Krier, guitar and vocals
- Jason Schultejann, bass
- Ryan Fergus, drums
Past Member
- Joe Sell, guitar (died 2012)
Discography
- What Gets Me High (EP, 1997?)
- Growing Out of It (1998, Townstyle Records)
- The Soapbox Spectacle (EP, 2000, Townstyle Records)
- Throwing the Game (2001, Elektra Records)
- LBC Geeks (2002, Townstyle Records)
- Commitment (2003, Elektra Records)
- The Red Tape Outtakes (Demos And Heartbreaks) (2005, Townstyle Records)
- How to Get Out Alive (EP, 2006, Townstyle Records)
- Live and Acoustic (Recorded at the Beat Kitchen) (2007, Townstyle Records)
- Closing Arguments (2009, Townstyle Records)
- STORMCHASERS (2017, Townstyle Records)
