PHOTOS BY KAREN CHAN

"After Knob Creek you’ll be Spin-ing," Scott Masson of Chicago-based quintet Office joked to a hometown crowd last night (Nov. 20) at Schuba’s. Providing a lesson in whiskey/bourbon 101, Knob Creek’s “Whiskey Professor” literally warmed up the invitation only crowd with shots of free booze in preparation for a performance from the local new wave-infused favorites. Cranking out nine tracks from recent LP A Night at the Ritz, Office appeared at ease on stage, and as the evening continued to heat up, members shed articles of clothing, albeit a scarf, a hat, and a sweater from three different individuals.

Skipping radio darling "Q&A," Office substituted in songs like almost-title track, “The Ritz,” and the eerily Weezer-esque "Company Calls." But no one song garnered as much audience zeal as closer "Oh My God." As frontman Scott Masson screamed the heartbreaking chorus, “Oh my God / Oh my God / I really need somebody!” you could almost taste the extra Knob Creek shots being gulped down to alleviate the ache of patrons sans significant others.

We asked: Office is signed to ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha's label Scrathchie/New Line Records. Which song from Iha's former band would you love to see Office cover?

Name: David Baurer
Age: 25
Hometown: South Bend, IN
Occupation: Product Consultant
"'Cherub Rock'"

Name: Ryan Schuster
Age: 26
Hometown: South Bend, IN
Occupation: Media Supervisor
"'1979'"

Name: Brendan Cassidy
Age: 24
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Occupation: Bartender "'Rhinocerous'"

Name: Tina Kirkpatrick
Age: 29
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Occupation: Production Buyer
"'Tonight, Tonight'"

Name: Shon Atabaki
Age: 31
Hometown: Fall Church, VA
Occupation: Banking Center Manager
"'Silverfuck'"

Name: Anne Holub
Age: 30
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA
Occupation: Editor
"'Drown'"

Name: Kristin Renner
Age: 21
Hometown: Hanover Park, IL
Occupation: Student
"'Bullet With Butterfly Wings'"

Name: Jon Tracy
Age: 21
Hometown: Schaumburg, IL
Occupation: Student "'Perfect'"

Office's Scott Masson / Photo by Karen Chan

Axeman Tom Smith / Photo by Karen Chan

Office: Letting the whiskey soak in / Photo by Karen Chan

Keyboardist Jessica Gonyea / Photo by Karen Chan

The quintet loosen up / Photo by Karen Chan

Calm before the storm / Photo by Karen Chan