Gapers Block has ceased publication.
Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions. ✶
TODAY
Tuesday, October 8
Fuel
Leo / March 28, 2005 12:05 PM
OKGo are still Chicagoans, right? I like those guys. www.okgo.net
Thurston / March 28, 2005 12:05 PM
Him, not to be confused with European Goth purveryor H.I.M. (His Infernal Majesty), is a great Chicago band that is very under appreciated. It's drummer Doug Scharin from June of 44, Rex, Codeine, etc. and a cast of other Chicago and NYC musicians playing great dub- and Miles- inspired music, primarily instrumental. Everyone should own Many In High Places Are Not Well. Him would likely appeal to fans of Tortoise, Mice Parade, and Chicago Underground.
libby / March 28, 2005 12:06 PM
i am the co-founder of the changes fan club. they opened for kaiser chiefs last week and blew me away.
Andrew / March 28, 2005 12:10 PM
I really like Kiss N' Ride. Check them out sometime, if you're so inclined.
Marc / March 28, 2005 12:10 PM
When I want something smart and something catchy (power pop), I turn on my Clearly and the Mainstream: http://www.sneezingrecords.com. They're really good.
waleeta / March 28, 2005 12:11 PM
I don't know if Andrew Bird is from CHicago. Either way, I am into him. He's amazing. Although not technically a band.
robin.. / March 28, 2005 12:12 PM
jinx titanic! three dollar bill!
ellie / March 28, 2005 12:21 PM
Danger Adventure! They rule. And they are nice.
www.dangeradventure.com
Nicole / March 28, 2005 12:26 PM
ANDREW BIRD! He's definitely from Chicago. He is also unaware that I'm going to marry him.
Also, Califone. Loooooooves me some Califone.
Jeff / March 28, 2005 12:29 PM
Fake Fictions
Canasta
Super Lucky
pat / March 28, 2005 12:50 PM
Andrew Bird definitely.
And... um... local to the Midwest (Detroit specifically) i'm rahter fond of Pas/Cal... The suburbs stretch out to Detroit, right?
Perch / March 28, 2005 1:06 PM
First and foremost, I have to second HiM. They are truly great.
That said, there is also a slew of good hip hop performers/groups in the Chi these days. And although they aren't technically "bands," they deserve recognition for their music nonetheless.
Aside form the obvious (Common, All Natural, Kanye, et. al.), Thaione Davis is really great. As is Diverse. And Typical Cats.
I also enjoy the Redwalls (even though their music is more or less immitation of British-invasion era pop music). www.theredwalls.com
lloyd bonecutter / March 28, 2005 1:11 PM
josephine foster and the supposed, lair of the minotaur, the tyrades, vee dee, baseball furies, and three dollar bill are all doing a fine job representing our fair city.
mike / March 28, 2005 1:20 PM
The 'chin up chin up' cd, 'we should never have lived like we were skyscrapers' is excellent.
i'm also enjoying 'the living blue', 'the like young' and 'the reputations' - which may all techincally be champaign-urbana bands (not keeping up these days).
Naz / March 28, 2005 1:24 PM
I'm quite fond of the now defunct Littleman Complex. As the guitarist from Black Cross so aptly desribed them - "It's like Henry Rollins from the Black Flag era meets SST-era punk with some Melt Banana thrown in."
Pelican is good.
90 Day Men. Oh so good.
And to watch for - Russian Circles.
Craig / March 28, 2005 1:32 PM
The Fake Fictions played at the block party on my street this past summer. (2000-2100 West Potomac Ave reprazent.) I liked them-- reminded me of the Pixies or some of Spoon's old records.
sarah / March 28, 2005 2:34 PM
the detholz! kick ass!
Joe / March 28, 2005 2:48 PM
Nolan. They're new to town, so get ready!
Terius Gray / March 28, 2005 3:10 PM
New Black, Sleep Out!, May or May Not and of course Tha 446.
dingo roper / March 28, 2005 3:15 PM
Organ Wolf.
Chris / March 28, 2005 3:17 PM
Check out "oh my god". Billy, Iguana and Bish are the best 3 piece in the business.
Tanky / March 28, 2005 3:58 PM
New Black, I concur.
Lady / March 28, 2005 4:27 PM
BABY TEETH make me perspire.
Matthew / March 28, 2005 4:57 PM
Honestly, it kinda seems like this city's going through a dry-spell right now for really top-notch, quality bands. However, Pelican's bringing some serious heat and representin' the city nicely.
And CEX lives here now. He's got it goin' on these days....
Emerson Dameron / March 28, 2005 7:48 PM
The Wanderers technically represent Northwest Indiana, but their live show's worth a hike. Eric Ziegenhagen writes solid, simple folk ditties and seems to have a lot of fun playing them live. Things could be better: Chicago hosts a lot of dry soundalikes, the Drag City/Thrill Jockey establishment has treaded a lot of water lately, and the good stuff's generally on the fringes. Then again, I haven't lived here long enough to pick all my favorites.
leah / March 28, 2005 7:59 PM
Hey Libby, I saw them open for the Kaiser Chiefs, too! They're fantastic and dreamy ta boot! They have mp3s on their site:
http://the-changes.com/
Dorsey / March 28, 2005 9:15 PM
seriously, Tha 446. seriously. Their new double LP is the shit.
Stephen / March 28, 2005 9:33 PM
[*] Califone
[*] 90 Day Men
[*] Del Rey
I also have to pimp Ash in Pensacola and say I'm into them, even though I haven't heard them play yet - they're just getting started. I only say this because they're good people and they deserve a mention.
Jerry / March 29, 2005 12:15 AM
Dan and Mike and Dan and Mike of The New Constitution.
Friends (conceptually) with TRex, the Kinks, and, unbelievably, Kiss. Good ol' rawk. Uhm, Ten by Ten knows em ...
Jerry / March 29, 2005 12:17 AM
Oh yeah, and the band I love to hate, Mahjonng.
steve_sleeve / March 29, 2005 12:52 AM
SPROTS (huey lewis cover band feat. mbrs. of new black, may or may not, driftless pony club, room service)
Doug Longdick / March 29, 2005 1:41 AM
IF YOU DON'T LIKE SPROTS YOU WILL EXPLODE.
mike / March 29, 2005 1:43 AM
Common, Kanye, and for rock The Like Young
thelikeyoung.com
they're crazy nice too.
Tim / March 29, 2005 6:42 AM
Dead Superheros
Grant Gryska / March 29, 2005 7:55 AM
Ted Wulfer's and Beggars Bridge...Have seen their shows and they are awesome. Great rock with some flair. They can play hard, or soft, and their music always has some character and great lyrics. Worth checking out.
Saturday, 3/26 -TBD St. Louis, MO 3:00 pm
Friday, 4/1 - Cheeseburger In Paradise Downers Grove, IL 10:00 pm
Sunday, 4/3 - U.S. Beer Company Chicago, IL 8:30 pm
Check them out at http://www.tedwulfers.com
Staci / March 29, 2005 8:05 AM
Bullet For A Bride. They need to play some shows!
Erica / March 29, 2005 8:27 AM
Staci, I second that, but you're right -- they need to play shows already! See what marriage does to bands??
Also, they have changed from Bullet for a Bride to White City Suicides or something more catchy and Chicago-y.
HEY, no one picked the PONYS ... what up? They rule.
Miss Alex White busts a move, too.
And if I may, let me plug my local indie zine Love, Chicago, which features stories about local indie bands (businesses, nonprofits and events, too!)
if you wanna know more, e-mail me: editorial@lovechicago.org
Holla
Emerson Dameron / March 29, 2005 8:47 AM
Califone, yeah. They keep getting better.
curtsy / March 29, 2005 11:05 AM
Nookie for Wookie rocks my cookies...
DJMurphy / March 29, 2005 3:50 PM
Riviera totally gets me, where I am, where I'm headed... it's truly cosmic how well what they do matches my sphere of being.
Catch 'em April 2, Schubas, record release party
dieblucasdie / March 29, 2005 4:14 PM
i'll second:
Riviera
The Like Young
The New Constitution
The Changes
And add:
The Coughs
Catfish Haven
The Redwalls
Quasar Wut Wut
Off the top o' me head.
dieblucasdie / March 29, 2005 4:16 PM
I'll second:
Riviera
The Like Young
The New Constitution
The Changes
and add:
The Coughs
Catfish Haven
The Redwalls
holly / March 29, 2005 4:36 PM
Ike Reilly
Baltimucho / March 29, 2005 4:47 PM
Riviera
petrichor21 / March 29, 2005 7:36 PM
Califone
Riveria
Ike Reilly
MMS / March 29, 2005 7:52 PM
I'm really digging Quasar Wut-Wut these days. That's some fucked-up malt liquor there, boy.
Spudboy / March 29, 2005 8:25 PM
I second the Ponys. I think there really great. Although I wonder how they'll be now that Ian (Happy Supply) has left the band. I'm looking forward to whatever he does next.
Also love Magas. One of the best live acts in town, along with The Tyrades.
And I can't wait to get my hands on the upcoming Riviera disk.
lemon / March 30, 2005 12:00 AM
My heart will always belong to Frisbie...they promise a new record someday...
Also big seconds for:
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
Canasta
Ponys
M's
Nora O'Connor
Diana / March 30, 2005 12:11 PM
Airiel
Assassins
The Gelheads
Kill Hannah
Magnus
Riviera
paul / April 3, 2005 11:11 PM
the changes
scottland yard
Ms
Buddy Nuisance
Burn Rome Burn
Dan Darrah
jason / April 5, 2005 4:45 PM
Alisha / April 19, 2005 12:38 PM
"The Ike Reilly Assassination" are awesome live and the music seems to me to be the most original and compelling stuff from a chicago band today. Also "Torbin Floor" has played around town town a bit, but the brain-child behind the music (Kerry Ott) has got to be hands down on of Chicago's best kept secrets. (Currentlly in Nashville recording his first label debut.) You WILL hear about this guy! "The Redwalls" are very talented kids and I hope the tour with Kean goes well for em'. Gotta like "The Ponys" too.
Jean on the scene / April 19, 2005 12:39 PM
"The Ike Reilly Assassination" are awesome live and the music seems to me to be the most original and compelling stuff from a chicago band today. Also "Torbin Floor" has played around town town a bit, but the brain-child behind the music (Kerry Ott) has got to be hands down on of Chicago's best kept secrets. (Currentlly in Nashville recording his first label debut.) You WILL hear about this guy! "The Redwalls" are very talented kids and I hope the tour with Kean goes well for em'. Gotta like "The Ponys" too.
Jane Hotsna / December 3, 2006 10:17 AM
My favorite band is Hypocritical Disclaimer.
I still do not want they are about, but that's what makes it exciting!!!
They are at hypocriticaldisclaimer.com
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katie / March 28, 2005 11:44 AM
JaGoFF!
I love me some JaGoFF!!
www.thejagoff.com