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. ✶
True story: Four years ago, for an article I was writing for a magazine writing class in college, I had the idea of pairing the experience of two Chicago-based bands/artists -- one up-and-coming, the other more established -- and comparing/contrasting their experiences. I followed around the Mannequin Men for the up-and-coming band, and struggled to figure out who to interview for the more established act. After a few rejections from artists who were "too busy" for an interview, I received a nice e-mail from local singer-songwriter Michael McDermott, who told me he'd be happy if I followed him around for a few weeks and asked him some questions.
Grab your mini-picnic table and a bottle of wine--Millennium Park kicks off their fifth season of free summer jazz tonight. Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz features some of Chicago's leading jazz musicians presenting a different style each week. Tonight gets things started with Echoes of Dreams and Inspiration: Chicago Improvisers Orchestra Presents Lincolniana and Sounds of Hope Suite, a tribute to Presidents Lincoln and Obama by composers Elbio Barilari and Kahil El' Zabar.
You'll also get to see some of Chicago's smallest jazz musicians in action; each week the performance begins with a short set by young, aspiring musicians from Chicago-area high schools as part of the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Links Student Ensembles. The show begins at 6:30pm at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
We've been trying to play catchup since Pitchfork, so I apologize for the lateness of this little gem, but our intrepid Pitchfork Music Festival photographer, George Aye, caught tons of snaps of some of the best part of the summer fest experience: the people.
Get two of the most explosive front people in rock today on a stage and you naturally expect an incredible show. Jack White's newest project The Dead Weather did not fail in delivering all of what these combined bands have to offer.
A foursome combining The Kills' front woman Alison Mosshart, Queen of the Stone Age's keyboardist Dean Fertita, Raconteurs' Jack Lawrence and of course Jack White. The electrifying combination only intensifies on stage. Of course it appeared everyone was there to see White, but the real attraction is the gritty lustful vocals of Mosshart. Even when she is not singing, you cannot keep your eyes off her black magic movement.
One cannot discount White's talents, which elegantly shifted from drums, lead guitar and vocals. But it is obviously apparent he has been waiting for a project where he experiment with percussion sounds.
This show is a must see if you are able to go tonight or in any other city as they continue their Horehound tour. The abrasive dynamic of this group is magnetizing and a great sound for the summer.
Girls Rock Chicago, a non profit that helps girls express themselves and develop community through rock music is having a Camp Kickoff party and BBQ this Saturday at the Hideout. The evening will be filled with a line up of local lady rockers including 8 Inch Betsy and Lemmy Caution. The event starts at 1:00pm and goes until 5:00. This is an all ages show and admission for everyone under 16 is free! $10 for everyone else.
Stay after for post punk disco clash bands The Guystorm at 9 for $8 and then a Hideout Dance Party with Chance Dances Djs who take the floor at 11:30. The dance party is a $5 admission. All this takes place at 1354 W. Wabansia (773) 227-4433.
In honor of Lollapalooza and his performance there the next day, hometown violin virtuoso Andrew Bird will play a warm reception at Schubas on August 6th. The show will celebrate Schubas' 20th anniversary and is also a benefit for one of our favorite charities, Rock for Kids who provides free year-round music education to underserved children and teens. 100% of the proceeds will go to Rock for Kids.
Chicago label Bloodshot Records have been cranking out quality music for 15 years now, and to celebrate they're taking over the Hideout and throwing a Beer-B-Q for their birthday!
Sponsored by WXRT and Rolling Rock, the party will highlight some of the artists from Bloodshot's catalog over the the year. The line-up includes: Alejandro Escovedo, The Waco Brothers with Rico Bell, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, The Blacks, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Scott H. Biram, Moonshine Willy. Also, proceeds will benefit the wonderful organizations Rock for Kids and 826 Chicago.
Save the date (September 12th) and head out to enjoy a day of alt-country rock goodness and wish Bloodshot Records a happy birthday and many more.
The Bloodshot Beer-B-Q is September 12th at the Hideout. It's all ages (there is a provided kids area) and the price is a $10 donation. Doors open at noon.
Just past 2009's midpoint, the frontrunner for most predictable set list is Obits. The New York post-garage rock band with ties to Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes and Edsel began Saturday's Empty Bottle set with the A-sides from two non-album singles followed by their debut LP more or less sequentially. The planned encore consisted of the B-sides and an omission from the LP. Thankfully, live bands aren't judged primarily on the order that they play their music. The hook-laden foursome still delivered the goods behind the strength of Rick Froberg and Sohrab Habibion dueling on guitars. Froberg's wail was somewhat subdued compared to the album, but he still hit the appropriate aggression in the latter half of the set, especially for "Lilies on the Street"'s desperate 'Why would you send me out? / When will you ever send for me?' chorus and "Back and Forth"'s almost creepy 'You say nobody knows anybody else / Well, that's not true... cause I know you.'
However, the night's highlight was local quartet Disappears. A week after playing the Pitchfork Music Festival, the band sounded tight as a drum during their jaw-dropper of a set. With the reverb heavy and distortion buzzing over Jonathan Van Herik's melodic guitaring, Disappears enraptured the audience with their layered approaches. Especially awesome was the self-described glam-rock stomper "Gone Completely" which wore out shoe soles due to its pounding rhythm. Now, I should mention that this show was my reprieve from moving all weekend and my lower back was causing all sorts of agony... until this set. Maybe it was the low end rumble, but I'd like to think that their music just had such a positive effect that it made me totally forget about the pain. And it didn't hurt much either that it was so pleasant to the ears.
Plenty of zombie-loving Thriller fiends got their stagger on Saturday at the Thriller-themed Zombie Walk in Wicker Park. Our own Kirstie Shanley snapped some great pics.
Jessica Hopper (Chicagoian, music journalist, This American Life music consultant, and now author) has had a busy year finishing up her book The Girls' Guide To Rocking. We talk a lot about girls rocking on Transmission, but don't think you have to be a girl to pick up this book, or a kid for that matter. If you're a musician looking to start a band, or you're already in a band trying to figure out how to book gigs, or you're just interested in buying your first guitar or drum set, this book has everything you need to know that won't find anywhere else (unless, of course, your best-ie is already a successful musician...)
Jessica is currently on a break from her book tour, but this Thursday she will be reading from The Girls' Guide To Rocking at Harold Washington Library (400 S. State St.). The book tour resumes on August 19th in Oak Park and she will be joined by Katie Stelmanis and her 5 girl band and twin sister duo Ghost Bees. Dates and deets after the jump.
Violently romantic or romantically violent? Which of these phrases best describes the music of The Veils depends largely on the song; but not entirely. The lines blur. I can feel the gears shifting frequently on every listen. Whatever the destination, the vehicle driving towards it all is longing; an undiluted, lucid longing. Where it shines on the albums, it blinds live. Like many who left The Empty Bottle after Thursday night's midnight rendezvous with The Veils, I'm still trying to blink away the remnants of something like staring into the sun.
A reason to be glad Chicago is on Illinois' border with Indiana, rather than the one with Kentucky: Insane Clown Posse's 10th annual Gathering of the Juggalos is in Cave In Rock, Illinois, August 6-9.
Actually, maybe it's not so bad. After all, what other festival could possibly pull together Ice Cube and Vanilla Ice and GWAR?
Wicker Park Fest continues to bring the most top-notch entertainment of any street festival every year, and now they've completely outdone themselves with this weekend's line-up.
Headlining the North Stage Saturday night is Black Francis (Frank Black) and wife Violet Clark's new project Grand Duchy. I've been listening to their debut album Petits Fours all week and can't get enough. Violet in particular stands out on the album, with a dream poppy voice that reminds me of Kim Deal. (And if you're unable to make it to Wicker Park Fest, they'll also be playing tonight at Subterranean.) Hailing from Toronto, electronic act The New Deal will be headlining the South Stage. Other highlights include Scott Lucas (of Local H)'s new project Scott Lucas and the Married Men, California rock band The Night Marchers, and Chicago pop rockers Treaty of Paris, who are currently working on the follow-up to their debut album Waking Up the Dead and are about to embark on a tour with Ha Ha Tonka, who we recently profiled.
Sunday's line-up includes two fantastic headliners as well - folk rock act Elvis Perkins in Dearland and indietronic group Junior Boys. One of my favorite local bands, Company of Thieves (who I've gushed about before), will take on the South Stage at 6:25 pm. Margot and the Nuclear So & So's, who I always think of as a local band because they play here so often even though they're actually from Indianapolis, will be playing the North Stage at 7:55 pm. If you're looking to dance, the Center Stage will be where it's at. DJs Kid Color, The Hood Internet, and Zebo will be spinning, among others, before local rockers The Smoking Popes take the stage.
The fest is happening this Saturday and Sunday from 12 - 10 pm at Milwaukee and North Ave. The festival is all ages and a $5 donation is suggested at the gate. Be sure to stick around afterward to check out the Thriller Zombie Walk, or head over to the Congress Theater for the after-party with Jamie Lidell on Saturday night. Check below for the full festival schedule.
Saturday will be the one month anniversary of Michael Jackson's passing, and what better way to celebrate his life than a Zombie Walk?! Come dressed as the "best damn Thriller zombie you can be" (For help perfecting your Thriller moves, go to thrilltheworld.com) or at least come out to witness the spectacle that is sure to ensue. And don't forget your camera!
For more details, check out the Facebook Event Page. The walk starts at 10pm on the east side of Wicker Park.
Photo by Kirstie Shanley from last year's Thriller re-enactment at the Hideout Block Party.
The Octopus Project are self-described "collectors of sounds" and their new EP, Golden Beds, is a collection of five songs, each experimenting in different genres. With a couple of tracks coming from their debut album and a subscription-only 7" from last year, Golden Beds begins with the shoegaze tune, "Wet Gold" and immediately switches into rockin guitar and drums on "Moon Boil." The EP conludes with "Half a Nice Day," a lo-fi twee instrumental with cutsey keyboards, but the most compelling song is "Rorol," a streamy avant-garde play with a Siren's call. They utilize the fascinating theremin (an electronic instrument played by without contact from the player, just moving the hands near its two antennas) to create the eerie sound. You can stream the entire EP at Peek-A-Boo Records' website.
Everyone's favorite redheaded button making rock 'n' roll power duo, White Mystery, are keeping it busy this summer. The brother/sister duo of Francis and Alex White just teamed up with HoZac Record's Hookup Klub, where subscribers get ten 7" singles of 500 limited edition pressings from various artists. Sadly you snooze and you loose, because the Hookup Klub is already sold out. But there is hope. Fifty copies will be available at live White Mystery shows, so you've got to hustle if you want to purchase your own little vinyl slice of noisy blues soaked garage rock.
Do not panic though, because you can pick up a copy tomorrow (Friday July 24th) at Permanent Records, where the band will be playing and celebrating the release of their 7". The show starts at 6pm, and is free.
6pm too early for your rock 'n' roll blood? Then check out White Mystery later that night at the Q4 Art show, located at 2716 W. North Ave. The cost is $5 before 11pm, $7 after, 21+, and includes a laundry list of bands, live art, a puppet show, a trumpet, and face painting. Because you know it's a good night when you get to pogo up and down to garage rock while being painted up like a lion.
We had so much fun giving away tickets to Jamie Lidell's show Saturday night at the Congress Theater that we've been given ten more pairs to hand out! Just write us at contests@gapersblock.comwith the subject line "x10" and you just might very well be a lucky winner of a pair of tickets! [Update: And we're done! Congrats to all our winners!]
For more on Jamie Lidell, see Michelle's previous post.
Attitude: whatever your feelings about the music of The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Kills and Queens of the Stone Age; their members are covered in it. It is gritty and will not wash off. When holed-up in a room together, the resulting mixture becomes that much more abrasive, that much more piercing, that much grittier. Over three weeks in early-2009, a musical gathering took place in Nashville; what emerged was The Dead Weather. With their still-warm debut album, Horehound, released through Jack White's Third Man Records on July 14, The Dead Weather are set to move through a two-night offering at the Vic Theatre next week. Prior to their arrival, a closer look is in order.
Jamie Lidell is one wild and crazy guy. Having seen him in concert more than a few times, I can say one thing; you never know what's going to happen. Hailing from Berlin, Lidell is a soul crooner, funk aficionado and beatboxing expert. He is known for his lively stage shows which almost always include a break that turns into an electronic one man show with him looping his voice, layering tracks and singing over them. It's actually quite impressive. He had a couple of hits off his album Multiply, including the title track and the groovy bass line behind "A Little Bit More" which was featured in a Target commercial. His newest album, Jim, was released last year on Warp Records.
Lidell is coming to Chicago on Saturday, July 25th to play Congress Theater with special guest Tortured Soul and we are giving away a pair two pairs of tickets! Just be the first two to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject "Dammit, Jim!" and you and a friend get in for free! [Update! We have our winners! Congrats to Joel and Alec!]
Congress Theater is located at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. This is a 17 & up show. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $20.
Well, that was fast! Just over 24 hours after The Beastie Boys announced they will be canceling their summer tour dates, Lollapalooza has announced that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be the replacement band in the Saturday night headliner spot. While I doubt they'll have the draw that the Beastie Boys would bring, as a Yeah Yeah Yeahs fan I'm definitely glad for an upbeat alternative to Tool. No word yet on whether Lolla will be offering refunds to those who purchased one-day Saturday passes with the intention of seeing the Beasties.
Every time you think your favorite hometown artist is skipping Chicago on tour, they end up announcing something even better (or at least you're even more thrilled when you get the news). Wilco has announced that they will return to Chicago to play at UIC Pavilion on Sunday, Ocbober 18th. Worried you won't be able to get tickets? You're in luck--they are holding two presales beginning today; one beginning at 10am on Front Gate, the second at noon through Ticketmaster. Send an e-mail to chicago@wilcoworld.net to receive the password for presale #2.
UPDATE: A second show has been added for Monday, October 19.
In other news, Jeff Tweedy graces the cover of SPIN Magazine next month, and promises you're gonna dig the story.
So once again, the dust has settled on another long weekend of music in Union Park. With bass still thumping in our ears, and soy ice cream still staining our shoes, we take a look back on what the past three days held for music lovers at the Pitchfork Music Festival.
A weekend full of interviews with some of the nicest bands around was capped off with Paul and Perrin, two of the musicians in the band Beirut. The guys and I camped out backstage under a tree, chatting about the wonderful staff and actual musicians who work at Pitchfork Festival, their encounter with a drunk Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks, and how part of Beirut was formed in a Haggen-Dazs. Special thanks to WBEZ for reading my mind and taking a shot of the guys a day before during their set, somehow knowing I would get so engrossed in our conversation that I'd forget to snap a picture.
Interview with Beirut at Pitchfork Music Festival
Thanks for tuning in as I sat down with some of the artists this past weekend, and I hope everyone had a wonderful Pitchfork Music Festival 2009.
Early Sunday afternoon we sat down in the shade with the all girl rock trio Vivian Girls. The band spoke about the craziness of playing in front of a massive festival crowd, how Pitchfork is centered around the city, their story of opening for Sonic Youth, and the relaxed the atmosphere at the festival all weekend.
Check back later for our last installment of Conversations at Pitchfork.
Speaking to The Thermals was a lovely start to Sunday at Pitchfork Festival. The Portland trio chatted about what bands they were excited to see, their favorite festival memory of dancing on-stage with the Flaming Lips, their recent move to a new label, and how things are going with Kathy's band All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Thanks to Kirstie for taking some lovely shots of The Thermals, and keep checking back for a few more interviews with bands at Pitchfork Festival.
Hans-Peter Lindstrom is a dedicated guy. He flew all the way from Norway to play Pitchfork Festival. He arrived five hours before his set in Chicago, and told me he was jumping back on a flight Sunday morning to return home. Lindstrom was kind enough to sit down and chat with Gapers Block during his whirlwind weekend of travel, praising the selection of bands that Pitchfork books for the festival, his enjoyment of working alone as a solo artist, and how he selects the music he remixes.
And before Lindstrom could leave, Justin from WBEZ convinced the Norwegian DJ to pony up for an installment of their delightful segment the Wikipedia Files. Of course Justin had to steal our thunder and demand I take a glamor shot of him and his new best friend Hans-Peter. Clearly these two hit it off, and have forged a lifelong friendship. I can only hope this picture will end up framed on the WBEZ office wall.
Keep checking back for more interviews with artists from the festival this past weekend.
What you see above is the true face of festival fatigue. The Antlers sat down with us to chat 10 minutes after performing on Saturday. The guys joined us to have a post show beer and a smoke break, and shared what bands they were looking forward to seeing at the festival, the open mind that festival goers have when checking out new bands this weekend, their preferred location for recording, and how recording Hospice was a therapeutic labor of love.
Keep checking back for more interviews with bands from the festival this weekend.
We'll have a more verbose review of the weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival a little later in the day, but as you ease into your workday, here's a brief recap in pictures. Keep going after the jump, and there's plenty more to see at Flickr from Saturday and Sunday performances. (All photos by our intrepid weekend photographer George Aye.)
I normally stop by or call a local indie record store in the Chicago area for these weekly posts, but in honor of Pitchfork, I took a different approach this week. On Saturday, I spoke with the very approachable Ian Tsan, one of the owners of the local label Grape Juice Records, about what he was selling. In addition to selling records from bands on Grape Juice Records, Tsan was also selling some older favorites on vinyl from other labels. The locals are bolded. Here's his list:
The Black Lips closed out Saturday night with a searing set of rough and raw blues fueled garage rock. In person the band is sarcastic and entertaining, much like the stage antics their known for during a live show. The fine folks over at ReadyMade Magazine let me and the band crash their swanky display, as the guys expressed their dislike of festivals (love to play, hate to attend), memories of being chased out of India with their record label Vice, their sinister plan to take over and shut down the festival with their radical ways, and even give the festival itself a Pitchfork style rating.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all week at Pitchfork.
Call it twee, call it shoegazer, or call it whatever you like, but make no mistake about the fact that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart make bright and cheery pop music. Their sunny music matches the bands sweet and friendly disposition perfectly, as I caught up with the band backstage after the brief downpour of rain Saturday afternoon. The band spoke about still being in the honeymoon stage of success, dished the dirt on a pop-punk Warp Tour past, and Peggy disclosed her rebellious ways of sneaking backstage at the first Pitchfork Festival.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all weekend at Pitchfork.
If you're headed out for the final day of music, etc. at the Pitchfork Music Festival, don't forget to stop by the Rock for Kids booth and bid on awesome silent auction goods. Just donated yesterday by the always-generous Ice Cream Man are a pair of albums (a 7" and 12") from Jack White's new project The Dead Weather. These babies went for over $500 each on eBay recently, but now's your chance to outbid your fellow festival-goers and walk away with some pretty sweet swag. Rock for Kids is a Chicago-based non-profit, created by local musicians, which provides music education to at-risk youth.
Next up I spoke to Cymbals Eat Guitars, one of my picks from our feature of bands to check out this year at the festival. Earlier the band kicked off Saturday with their brand of fuzzed out '90s style indie rock. Their laid-back music was the perfect soundtrack to a breezy early Saturday afternoon. The guys discussed the extremes of playing both venues and festivals, their favorite memories from early Lollapalooza festivals (including Neil's memory of Cyprus Hill and an inflatable bong), the surreal moments of their success this past year, and their guilty admittance of loving dance rock. And to fully explain their photo, the guys really needed a bathroom break. I was more than happy to oblige their need to express this frustration. Even indie rockers have to cave and use the port-a-potty.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all weekend at Pitchfork.
This weekend Gapers Block is sitting down with some of the artists at Pitchfork to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Keep checking back all weekend for more conversations at Pitchfork Festival.
Before you take a listen, I have to disclose I'm a writer, not a sound engineer, so I apologize for the rough around the edges audio. You'll hear background noise, the occasional siren, and even the cheering crowd of DOOM during one interview. What else would you expect though from a live music festival? Have no fear if you're not a fan of audio, though. I'll be transcribing and posting the transcripts of each conversation throughout the week. Until then, turn up your speakers, and check out what some of the bands play Pitchfork Festival had to say.
I started off my Saturday chatting with the happiest indie pop duo in the world, Matt and Kim. I can say without a doubt, they are two of the sweetest people around, and a ridiculously dedicated band, constantly touring and even sometimes playing multiple shows a day. They shared with us a favorite a festival story of Matt jumping into the most contaminated lake in Norway, expressed their love of top 40 hip-hop, and clued us in on the perks of no longer having to rough it on the road.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all weekend at Pitchfork.
Friday night, the throwback day of Pitchfork Music Festival is always filled with bands that I am familiar with, but not intimately. I go in never knowing quite what to expect, but always come away a new fan of a classic indie group. Last night that band was Built to Spill. They were the highlight of the night, closing out the evening. Doug Martsch and crew and the crowd were equally rocking the park. I don't know if it was because it was a crowd-chosen setlist, or as my friend said, they're just really good.
The Jesus Lizard was over the top as expected, and I literally mean lead singer David Yow went over the top of many fan's heads surfing into the crowd--right at the beginning of their set--and again several more times. There was aggressive rock, screaming vocals and general mayhem.
I arrived a little late and only heard a portion of Tortoise's set, but the local group sounded as tight as ever playing all older favorites as part of "Write the Night" but nothing from their new album, Beacons of Ancestorship. Yo La Tengo hit a groove and played the calming soundtrack for getting acclimated with the park and settling in.
In anticipation of witnessing The Entrance Band's blend of psych-rock and blues firsthand, I've listened to their most recent release, 2006's Prayer of Death, more times this week than I can count on both hands. I've repeatedly listened to the title track more than could possibly be considered healthy. As they stand on the brink of releasing their Ecstatic Peace! debut, I was no less than stunned while watching them topple The Hideout tonight. They were an absolute storm in an intimate room; equal parts earthquake and tornado.
Pitchfork Fest is sold out and tickets on Craigslist are going for heinous amounts of money. Still left without a ticket? Do not fear! Pitchfork fun is not just limited to Union Park. Clubs all over the city will be hosting after-parties featuring talent as diverse as the range of artists at Pitchfork (including a handful of bands who will be playing at the festival itself). Think of it as Pitchfork on a budget. And for those at the festival who aren't too dog-tired from dancing in the sun all day, here's your chance to keep the party going.
Chicago poet and music lover Thax Douglasdied this morning, according to a post on his Facebook profile by his dad. The post reads: "This is Thax's Dad. Thax passed away this morning at about 10am. I know he loved the many friends he had in Chicago and I ask that you pray for him this evening."
A dynamic bushy-bearded figure, one always knew it was a real Chicago show if Thax moseyed up to the mic to read a poem before the band went on. Read our 2006 interview with Thax here. More details hopefully to come.
Update:Not dead? Sick joke?
There is some conjecture about the death of Thax being untrue. Apparently a poem was published to his MySpace page more than two hours after the Facebook post claims he died. Also, the Chicago coroner has no record of his death today, according to WBEZ. More to come.
Final update: Thax is alive and well. He posted to his Facebook account this morning. It's believed his account was hacked yesterday when the fake death notice went out.
The sound of sound checks are in the air at Union Park, Ice Cream Man is in Chicago, and a flock of hipsters are descending upon the green line. It can only mean that it's that special time of the year known as Pitchfork Festival.
Gapers Block will be out in full force this weekend, reporting on our favorite sets, shooting some wonderful pictures to share, and holding down the fort at the Gapers Block table at the CHIRP Record Fair (stop by and say hello).
I'll be showcasing some special content this year, as I sit down with various bands at the festival to chat about the matter at hand; music festivals. We'll get the bands take on Pitchfork, their favorite festival memories, and much more. So keep checking back all weekend for freshly ripped and exclusive conversations each day with some of your favorite Pitchfork Festival bands.
We kick things off today with a short conversation with David Yow, the singer for seminal rock band The Jesus Lizard.
Cheap Trick, the best band ever to come out of Rockford, seems to be everywhere lately. That's at least partly thanks to their decision to release their latest album, The Latest, as a limted edition 8-track tape -- simultaneously one-upping all the hipsters on the obscure media tip and making '77 Monte Carlo owners really happy.
But that's just part of the picture. Cheap Trick wrote the theme music for "The Colbert Report." The band is on tour with Def Leppard and Poison this summer (playing tomorrow night at whatever they call that amphitheater in Tinley Park these days -- tickets still available!) and drummer Bun E. Carlos is part of the unlikely supergroup Tinted Windows. And Cheap Trick will be performing The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band live in Las Vegas this September. Possibly with Barry Manilow. Barry Freaking Manilow.
What are we to make of this resurgence? Is Cheap Trick back, or just cashing in on late Boomer/early Gen-Xer nostalgia? If their interview on Chicago Public Radio's "Eight Forty-Eight" is any indication, it's a little of both. And they're fine with that, if it means continuing to be able to play.
Pitchfork Festival has been completely sold out since Wednesday, but we just got word that the festival is releasing some more single day tickets right now.
Due to popular demand (and wanting to offer fans a chance to get a ticket if they missed out without paying the insane offers in Craigslist), they are releasing 300 single day tickets.
So if you waited until the last minute, go get them, because I'm sure they'll be gone in no time, leaving everyone else to pay an inflated price from a third party.
You can purchase the tickets over at the festival's site.
UPDATE: The newly released tickets sold out in about 2 minutes.
It was sometime around 2002, when singer-songwriter-guitarist Guy Blakeslee moved from his hometown of Baltimore to Chicago. It is here in Chicago that he began his solo journey under the name Entrance. The 18 months that followed saw Blakeslee performing regularly at The Hideout. These performances earned him record-label attention and eventually the release of Entrance's debut album, The Kingdom of Heaven Must be Taken by Storm. Entrance went on to release the blues-folk heavy Wandering Stranger in 2004 and the psychedelia infused Prayer of Death in 2006.
Ending up in CA somewhere along the way, and recently signing with Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace!, the somewhat-newly-named The Entrance Band are readying a new release, and are currently out spreading their live show like wildfire. Tonight, Blakeslee and The Entrance Band return to where the spark was started: The Hideout. Tickets are $10; show starts at 9pm.
For once, the weather forecast looks positively delightful for mid-July (well, really, it's been nice all summer). And it's a good thing, too, because it's once again time to head down to Union Park and enjoy a long weekend full of band after band after band at the Pitchfork Music Festival.
Don't forget that the park will also play host to the Flatstock poster show, Coterie Chicago (the new craft fair on the block), the CHIRP record fair (where Gapersblock will have a table), auction items benefiting Rock for Kids donated by many of the artists playing Pitchfork, and a host of food vendors and other booths.
Keep reading for our staff's picks for the best way to squeeze the most fun out of the fest. (And keep an eye out this weekend as we have some exciting coverage from the Fest and after the weekend's over.)
For years it's been common knowledge that there's something in Austin's water to account for its numerous rock bands that've broken big across the country. (I can't think of a town with a smaller population that claims more popular musicians as its own.) But it's not just the rock bands that are good there. Far from it. On Friday night one of its best live bands, Grupo Fantasma, visit Chicago for their biggest gig here yet.
The Latin/funk/psychedelic 11-piece pulls its influences from early Santana (think Abraxas), Joe Bataan and the Fania All-Stars. Early in their career, especially on 2004's Movimiento Popular, the group's sound was dominated by salsa and cumbia. Over the years they've slid a generous dose of psychedelic rock into the mix. In fact, "Bacalao con Pan" from 2008's Sonidos Gold begins with straight-up psychedelic guitar. But that doesn't mean they've forgotten their roots. The ultra-catchy "Mentiras" from their live album showcases a heavy rhythm section and smooth horns that are solidly entrenched in Latin music. Also on that album is a nod to one of the genre's pioneers with a cover of Ray Barretto's classic "Cocinando."
With slots backing Prince and Spoon (separate gigs, of course) and two appearances on "Austin City Limits" under their belt, Grupo Fantasma won't remain a secret outside of the Latin music community for long. Their reputation as an exciting live band has been growing for most of this decade and they're only getting better at it as they tour relentlessly.
Grupo Fantasma plays at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, on Friday the 17th. Numero Group's Rob Sevier opens at 10PM with a DJ set. The show is 21+ and tickets are $15. (Wear your dancing shoes.)
BBU (aka either Bin Laden Blowin' Up or Black, Brown and Ugly) have a hit on their hands with "Chi Don't Dance." Check it out:
BBU is performing with Hood Internet and the Life During Wartime DJs at UR Magazine's Dickfork night at Darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago Ave. The show starts at 9pm and is free before 11pm with RSVP or all night if you have a Pitchfork ticket or wristband (it's $5 after 11 if you don't). 21+
It was a big deal for Chicago's Mannequin Men to play Cabaret Metro Friday night. Not only were they kicking off their third record release, 2009's Lose Your Illusion, Too on Flameshovel Records but they were also beginning a North American tour to promote this newest release.
As always, the four piece band was energetic and full of life, with animated interactions between Miles Raymer and Kevin Richard especially. Playing roughly an hour of mostly new songs, Raymer amused the crowd by telling silly jokes inbetween the explosions of music that are part garage with some punk tinges. Raymer's backup vocals added a well received power to Richard's as well and the animation of the songs increased when they even sang on one mic together.
Best of all, it was clear that it wasn't just the audience having fun but the band itself who gave a great performance and, in the end,during "(Us And) All Our Friends Are So Messed Up"invited the audience to join them on stage. Song setlist was concentrated on their last two releases with a clear highlight of 2007's Fresh Rot being "Private School" and a feature song off their newest one being "Massage."
This week's list comes from Duane Powell, manager of the Dr. Wax store in Hyde Park at 5226 S. Harper Ave. Powell says for this list, he didn't include any Michael Jackson records because all his records are selling "like crazy, of course. I couldn't even tell you a title because it's everything Michael, whatever they can get their hands on." Here are Powell's non-Michael choices:
Maxwell, BLACKsummers'night (Columbia) Mos Def, The Ecstatic (Downtown) Jesse Boykins III, The Beauty Created (Nomadic Music) Musiq, On My Radio (Atlantic) Jaspects, The Polkadotted Stripe (Jaspects)
With the weather in the mid-80's over the next few days, what better way to enjoy the weekend than with some live music in the park? This weekend (July 10th - 13th), over 50 performers from across Illinois will gather in Millennium Park for the 4th annual Great Performers of Illinois Festival. The festival celebrates art unique to Illinois, and provides a something-for-everyone array of musical talent throughout the weekend. Let's just hope the thunderstorms on Sunday will pass quickly.
Summer festival season is picking up, and with Pitchfork and Lollapalooza on the horizon, thousands of fans will pour into festival gates as the sun beats down, carrying along their sealed water bottles, blankets, and sunscreen. But one key item will save you from boredom as you stand around waiting for your favorite band to hit the stage.
A good book is a wonderful friend when your packed into a sweaty concert waiting for a show to start. Make it a book about music and you've got yourself a double dose. This week Gapers Block: Transmission writers are bringing you a selection of some of their favorite books about music to read this summer. So lather up with the SPF 45, leave the counterfeit booze at home, and don't forget a good book.
The record release show concept may have lost a little luster over the last few years of release dates not meaning anything to the typical consumer, but that's not to say they can't still be exciting and meaningful. If future behavior is best indicated by past behavior, Chicago's Mannequin Men have it in them to make Friday's Lose Your Illusion, Too release show at Metro a spectacle. The 4-piece derives its sound from early punk and Midwestern garage rock. Comparisons to Richard Hell and the Stooges are rampant throughout their music. And like any good punk band, they are a force to be reckoned with while on a stage. (Regular touring with Black Lips, another band whose true potential is realized in front of a crowd, has undoubtedly contributed to their live reputation.) They're brash, abrasive and a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
Also on the bill are their Puerto Rican equals - Davila 666. (¡Wepa!) With a self-titled record on In the Red last year, this septet established themselves as gritty punks who take far more influence from their American counterparts than their rock en Español brethren. Like Friday's headliners, Davila 666's also taken inspiration from tour companions in King Khan & the Shrines by incorporating costumes and props into their sets. (They'll also be playing a free show at the Empty Bottle in September.)
Chicago's Stranger Waves and Huntsville, Alabama's Thomas Function also play. The first 150 people at Metro get wristbands for a balcony after-party. Until noon Thursday, tickets are $5 on eTix. After then they're $10/$12 at the door. The show is 18+ and begins at 9PM.
The Human Quena Orchestra. Photo by Elliott Thomas.
When you think 'Free Monday Night Show,' chances are a lineup like this isn't the first one that comes to your mind. The Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western) has created a rock-solid lineup of bands, incorporating doom, drone, industrial, and metal(ic) crunch and thud, and put them together on a free Monday (July 13), or as I like to call it, I-get-to-drink-eight-dollars-extra-worth-of-beer-night.
SF duo The Human Quena Orchestra, touring in support of their second album, The Politics of the Irredeemable (Crucial Blast), are joined by two local acts, one seasoned and one newly minted, and a NYC solo project making her debut in Chicago.
While the ongoing NIN tour - which came through Chicago at the end of May - was said to be the last, it appears as though they will be coming back through town for one last "intimate" visit.
According to a post by Trent Reznor to the NIN website earlier today, the band plan to play a handful of shows in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles starting August, 22. The Chicago show is set to happen at the Aragon Ballroom. It will include Mew, and possibly others. More details will be announced soon.
Local group Bumpus takes the stage on Thursday with former member Rachael Yamagata for the first time since 2002. Rachael has since gone on to celebrate success as a solo singer/songwriter. Her emotional ballads have fittingly appeared in television shows such as Grey's Anatomy and The O.C. She even had a cameo in the season finale of 30 Rock (remember the "Kidney Now" drive?). But not one to forget her roots, she got her start here in Chicago with funk-fusion band Bumpus. The group has seen a lot of people come and go over the years, but this is your chance to see new Bumpus and old Bumpus all in one show.
The reason they're all back together? For charity. Ryszard Basiura, the father of a close friend, suffered a life-altering stroke last year as the result of a cerebral aneurysm. All ticket proceeds from Thursday's show will benefit the Ryszard Basiura Fund. Darren Spitzer, of the former Chicago group The Changes, will lend his hand at the DJ sets for the evening. Plus there will be a raffle for prizes such as gift certificates, art by local artists and a 5-night stay in Tulum, Mexico.
The night of music and fundraising takes place this Thursday, July 9 at Logan Square Auditorium (2539 N Kedzie). Doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25 in advance / $30 at the door. 21+
Empty Bottle's Monday night free show line up started with Tyler Jon Tyler, front woman Rebecca has very unique vocal techniques. The sound was generally West Coast punk influenced, and the catchy tune "Locked Out" could really get their career going.
I originally went to hear the second band Maximum Wage. After listening to some tunes on MySpace, I was excited to hear the Britishesque happy-go-lucky songs. I was slightly disappointed with the performance. Some technical difficulties and the constant switching of lead vocals between Ian and Ryan I think lost the crowd's attention quickly. The music was still good and complex, but I think they need to focus on one particular sound.
Lastly, Cococoma appeared to be everyone's favorite. What began as a husband and wife project with drummer and lead vocalist Bill Roe and guitarist and back up vocals Lisa Roe, now tours with a changing line up depending on the geography. The sound is intense and will hit you in the face whether you are ready for it or not. The track "It Wont Be Long" is very catchy and showcases the juxtaposition between Bill's garage punk vocals and the rockabilly pop back ups. Over all, a good band to see live if you are looking for a good shot of adrenaline.
For all of the much deserved attention being paid to the new album from Wilco, the most popular song around the blogshere from Chicago has to "Be My Girl" by The Smith Westerns . The track recently received an 8 from Pitchfork, it was featured by Fader, Gorilla vs. Bear, The Reader, and many more. The bands self-titled debut was recently released by HoZac Records, and features a noisy lo-fi brand of garage/surf rock. My theory is if Wavves can find a large audience, Smith Westerns should not be far behind.
Sleepy Sun - the Santa Cruz/San Francisco six-piece that are as creatively thriving and eclectic as the communities they emerged from - have announced dates for their upcoming North American tour. They will play Chicago's Chopin Theatre on Saturday, September 26.
They came together last winter and all of them claim it's been like a marriage with three other people, without the sex. Since, Chicago's California Wives have devoted all their creative effort to their music.
Their sound can be described as 80s new wave, unlike most music coming out of the Midwest. Some have compared them to Franz Ferdinand and New Order. Currently they continue to produce their new EP and play shows around Chicago. This Friday they will be playing at Miska's with Sissy Mena. Also Style 4 Food and Max and Chloe will be selling racks of vintage clothing.
Sky Saxon, best known as the lead singer of The Seeds, passed away last Thursday in Austin, the cause of death not yet released. Shortly afterward, a previously unreleased song featuring Sky Saxon and Billy Corgan hit the net, thanks to the Facebook of Kerry Brown, a long-time collaborator and friend of Corgan. The accompanying video serves as a tribute to Saxon, featuring a photo montage by photographer Kristin Burns. Watch an untagged version of the video here on Facebook.
Femi Kuti was recently interviewed by the folks at Decider Chicago. He discussed his family, including his legendary father Fela Kuti; his infamous club, The Shrine; and more. He performs with The Positive Force tonight at the Ravinia Festival.
Classically trained pianist turned house music producer Kate Simko released her new ep "Take You There" on Ghostly International this week as a 12" and digital release. Kate's smooth beat and detail ear have produced another set of irresistible track that play as nicely on sun-drenched patios as they do in deep secluded basement. You can download an exclusive track from the ep at RCD LBL right now. Kate is listing a show on July 25th at an undisclosed location on her myspace page, but does have a confirmed show scheduled at Sonotheque on August 22nd.
True story: Four years ago, for an article I was writing for a magazine writing class in college, I had the idea of pairing the experience of two Chicago-based bands/artists -- one up-and-coming, the other more established -- and comparing/contrasting their experiences. I followed around the Mannequin Men for the up-and-coming band, and struggled to figure out who to interview for the more established act. After a few rejections from artists who were "too busy" for an interview, I received a nice e-mail from local singer-songwriter Michael McDermott, who told me he'd be happy if I followed him around for a few weeks and asked him some questions. 
