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. ✶
It sure does feel like summer today with temps in the 70's for the first time since last year, but for some of us, the season doesn't really get started until we're sitting on the lawn of the Museum of Contemporary Art sipping a glass of wine and enjoying some live jazz music. The series, as always, is free and features some of Chicago's legendary and innovative musicians including Fred Anderson, Corey Wilkes, Josh Berman and Fred Lonberg-Holm.
This season kicks off on June 1st and runs through September 28th. The music starts at 5:30pm every Tuesday. See the full schedule after the jump.
Type 1 Diabetes attacks the pancreas, corrupts the body's immune system, and is an all-around major bummer, to say the least. One child is diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes every hour, which will mean a constant threat of heart disease and kidney failure, along with other debilitating effects. Dare 2 Dream is here to make a difference with their eighth benefit concert at the House of Blues. Past artists who have performed at Dare 2 Dream events include Common, Gavin Rossdale and Kings of Leon. This time around, southern rockers Blues Traveler will be hitting the House of Blues stage to raise money for Chicago non-profit Partnership for Cures' diabetes research. Whether you've been directly effected by diabetes or not, we could all use a little good karma.
Dare 2 Dream is going down Thursday, April 15th at House of Blues. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased here. The show is 17+ and starts at 8 pm.
Time Out also notes the changes present in the just-opened Beauty Bar (in the former Sonotheque space on Chicago Ave.). There's certainly a lot more glitter.
Have you been seeing the CHIRP Record Fair posters in your favorite local record shops and businesses? They're pretty sweet, and produced by Steve Walters over at Screwball Press (bit fan, here). If you spy one, take a photo and send it to micha(at)chirpradio(dot)org. They'll love you for it. And save your pennies, the fair takes place at the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union hall on April 10-11, 2010.
In fact, the CHIRP Record Fair will be a great warm-up for Record Store Day on April 17th! We're compiling our lists of events and releases. Send any RSD gossip to transmission (at) gapersblock (dot) com.
It's been a pretty great couple of weeks for White Mystery. Their self-titled debut album ended up at the very top of CHIRP's CMJ list.
Even though Chicago native Danny Chaimson only spent a handful of years living in California, a SoCal slacker-cool vibe was definitely prevalent in Chaimson's performance Tuesday night at Schubas. Donning a faded t-shirt bearing the slogan "Keep on Chuckin'" that looked about 20 years past its prime, Chaimson appeared as though he could have wandered into the venue after a full day of drinking beers on the beach. Don't let his chill persona fool you; Chaimson has been playing piano since the age of 4, and his passion proves he has a hard-working Midwestern soul.
Chaimson maintains an LA-influenced pop sensibility, but with his combination of retro soul and funk, he sounds like he could have come straight from the South. At one point, Chaimson paused to ask no one in particular for a glass of whiskey. I never saw his request filled, but by the show's end he had somehow procured the beverage, as he capped off the night with 'Raise 'Em Up', the glass-raised salute to partying and easy living. Keep on chuckin', indeed.
Fun geek fact: Not only is Jed Whedon (brother of Joss) in his band, but Chaimson also provided his piano stylings to the Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog soundtrack.
If you only know the Viaduct Theater's sign from driving or riding your bike past it on the overpass at Western and Belmont, you might not expect the four-way merging of music, film, art, and theater that passes through the unassuming front doors.
This Friday, the Viaduct (3111 N. Western; yes, under the overpass) will host one of its semi-regular evenings of experimental electronics, featuring touring acts Sissy Spacek (featuring noise/metal jack-of-all-trades John Wiese [also formerly of Sun o))) and Bastard Noise]) and the ad-hoc pairing of Gerritt Wittmer and Paul Knowles. Opening the show will be Chicago's own legendary dark ambient/industrial noise pioneers Illusion of Safety, a group withloose borders that revolves around IOS mastermind Dan Burke (and one featured a young Jim O'Rourke).
The Sissy Spacek project (no relation) is rooted in a grindcore aesthetic (featuring leather-lunged sasquatch Corydon Ronnau on vocals) but wanders outside of genre conventions with a purposeful aimlessness, drifting into non-ionized particles of noise, scraping and clatter before instantaneously launching into blurry, gore-spewing thrash, abruptly starting, stopping, deliberately shattering momentum, again and again. Their records share only the thinnest of continuity lines, mostly based around unexpected, unconventional editing techniques. Their live shows tend to be a lot faster and heavier.
Janelle Monáe is a cybertronic soul/funk/pop diva, ready and waiting in the wings to save the world from the bland stereotypical roles of female musicians. Already a Grammy nominated artist (on just an EP alone), Monáe is gearing up to release her debut album The Arch Android on May 18th, but you can catch her live before then as she sets up shop for two nights at Schubas next week.
After moving to Atlanta, Monáe met Big Boi of OutKast (which lead to her being featured on a few tracks of the Idlewild soundtrack) and helped found The Wondaland Arts Society, which released her EP Metropolis. The EP caught the attention of many, which led to the Grammy nomination and her signing to Bad Boy/Atlantic Records. Her music is a melange of genres, flipping from pop to funk to classical and big band sounds. I highly suggest you download the EP to fully understand her goal artistically. She's also got killer style, which has been profiled in numerous publications including Vogue, GQ, and Paper. Live, she's been called a "female James Brown," so be prepared for a high energy show full of soul and funk, and get ready to cut a rug and juke the night away.
She's being declared one of the "next big things" (cliché as that sounds) so make sure you grab a ticket and see what all the well deserved fuss is about next week at Schubas.
Janelle Monáe plays Schubas, Monday March 29th and Tuesday March 30th. The Monday show is 18+ and the Tuesday show is 21+ with both shows starting at 8pm and costing $14. You can buy tickets on Schubas site.
Photo by John Brunner over at Radio Free Chicago. See his review of the show here, and full set of pictures here.
If P.O.S and The Doomtree Collective are the future of hip-hop, then the future is looking bright. The Midwest rapper played to a packed and rabid crowd at the Bottom Lounge last Thursday, a room that made his Momma proud (she and his stepfather were present at the show) as they chanted along song after song during his visceral set.
Before P.O.S whipped the crowd into a frenzy, another Doomtree artist charmed her way into our hearts. Dessa has a sweet and smooth neosoul sound, giving of a not-so-crazy Erykah Badu vibe crafting wonderfully heartbreaking forlorn love songs. Her music of heartache is eloquent, expressing the feelings we can never find the words to say. She delivered up an offering of tracks off her debut album, A Badly Broken Code, including standout tracks of the night "Matches to Paper Dolls" the single "Dixon's Girl" and her duet with hometown hero Matt Santos, "The Chaconne." Their vocals blended perfectly together, despite the fact that it was the first time her and Santos have performed the song live together. She ended her set with a bit of slam poetry (showing her roots), her music a true example of the perfect way to blend pure poetry and hip-hop into one.
Dessa was the calm before the storm though, as P.O.S took the stage and launched directly into "Let it Rattle," a mass of fans rapping along verbatim, fist punctuating the end of every line. P.O.S seemed truly grateful for the wonderful turnout, and you can tell how much he really cares and connects with his fans. He stopped to thumb wrestle a few fans up front, and promised everyone that after the show he'd be right down on the floor, ready to sign stuff and thumb wrestle anyone else. He clearly understands the importance of befriending your fans, and its shows in the rabid allegiance of the crowd that night. As he dropped the single "Drumroll (We're All Thirsty)" it was like a bomb went off, a sweaty mass jumping up and down all around me. From the crowd to the delivery of his rhymes, the punk influences are evident throughout his set, and he shines during the most vulnerable lines. It's a show like this, the clear mutual respect and obsession for the music, and a close relationship between the fans and artist, that reminds you what live music is all about. It's about community, and screaming the words to every song, sweat pouring down your face as you dance your ass off. Don't just stand against the wall with your arms crossed. You've got to earn your right as a fan. And the crowd at the Bottom Lounge earned their right that night. If this is in fact the future of hip-hop, there is no other place I'd rather be.
[Steve makes one final update for The Hood Internet and wraps up the duo's SXSW experiences.]
Saturday was action-packed. Started out with an afternoon set at dubFrequency's loft at Malverde where we also caught sets by Million $ Mano, Roxy Cottontail and Afghan Raiders. Next up was the launch party for Strangers In Stereo at Elysium. We missed our pals My Gold Mask who played there earlier in the day. After that we were off to the Do512 party which was outside; should be worth noting that it was like, 40 degrees. Dancing on stage under a few lights warmed things up, though. Holy Fuck played after us and really tore shit up! Our official showcase was at Karma around 11pm where we played with Oh Snap!! and DJ Car Stereo (Wars). Since four shows in one day just wasn't enough, we took a party bus out to a ranch 10 miles west of the city. There was a bonfire outside and people DJing a barn. We did a quick set sometime around 4am, and at some point the sun was rising and a different bus took us back to downtown Austin. So ended another year of SXSW. Now I'm in a minivan with Tobacco and we're headed to San Diego to start a leg of West Coast shows, but we're not out of Texas yet because IT'S A VERY LARGE STATE.
[Steve of The Hood Internet makes a check in, late Saturday night. We're expecting a last update sometime today, so stay tuned!
Where did we leave off? Started day three at the Windish/Pitchfork party at Emo's. Caught sets from Free Energy (pictured, below), Washed Out, and Dam-Funk before heading over to La Zona Rosa for a hot minute of The xx. Shift to the evening! We did our first set at the My Old Kentucky Blog / Knuckle Rumbler party and our dude Kid Static came through on the mic for one of the new tracks we've been working on. Watched a bit of Glitch Mob and from there it was off to the Hype Machine / Lose Control party for another really fun set. Closed out the night at Yea Man's second year of "It's Chicago" at The Lodge, where Only Children, Moneypenny, Willy Joy and others all repped the 312/773/suburb area codes. Day four is still in full effect... full update tomorrow!
[Alex White recaps the end of the SXSW week for her and White Mystery. Here's hoping she and Francis make it safely back to Chicago today for their record release party at the Hideout at 9pm.]
Thursday afternoon was spent at the Third Man Records pop up store at Frank's in Austin for SXSW. Busy Beaver Button Co. teamed up with Jack White's organization to develop the first ever actual wood button. Read more about it here.
Francis and I branded everything from buttons to belts, purses, and pieces of wood. We picked up the limited edition 13 inch records and made our way to see a house show at a place called the Bodega.
Atlanta natives Pipsqueak played in the living room as dozens sprawled across the front lawn. Chicago punk band Mickey took the makeshift stage and sent the dining room into a frenzy with their song "Electric Dream." Friends from Berlin based label Alien Snatch pumped fists as PA speakers toppled and the party turned to general chaos.
Libations dried up and the party moved back to record shop the Trailer Space that White Mystery played the night before. Chicago regulars lined the exterior wall reveling in the pleasant weather and sounds of the Burger Records showcase blasting into the street.
[Steve of The Hood Internet recaps his Thursday afternoon and makes some nods and winks about some cool things in the works.]
Started out the afternoon with a set at Schubas/Lincoln Hall's annual party at Yard Dog. Tons of fun and included an audience solo on my MIDI controller. Hung around for a bit then got some food at Iron Works BBQ before heading over to the Mad Decent / IHEARTCOMIX Carniville, where we got some funnel cakes and rode the Paratrooper (made my stomach drop) while The Walkmen played the main stage. Then it was off to Daytrotter's SXSW studios where we recorded with some awesome special guests for an upcoming project that I CAN'T SAY ANY MORE ABOUT RIGHT NOW. After that, got to see Broken Bells at the C3 party [photo below]! And that was day two. Now it's off to see what day three brings, followed by our three Hood sets tonight. Boing sound effect.
[The Hood Internet's SXSW schedule after the jump.]
When we're not soaking up sunbeams (in Chicago!) we're inside, in a dark room, getting a sunburn from our computer monitor while we look at this stuff online:
NBC Chicago has a photo stream of their picks for Chicago's Top DJs which includes DJ Matt Roan and Million Dollar Mano.
Hot Biscuits blog has some downloads for ya. Trip-hop out of Ohio? We're gonna just roll with it.
Grindcore from Plague Bringer on Record Store Day at Reckless' downtown store? Oh yes. The Reader has the tidbit here and a commenter corrects the info. about the purported 7" with the clarification that it will be a "limited edition CD-single box set," instead.
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists covered "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" in The Onion's A.V. Club's tiny (and awesomely decorated), round room. The 25-song "Undercover" project just started, and they'll post a new video each Tuesday. Squee!
Steve Goodman could be immortalized in the name of a Wrigleyville Post Office.
The Moneypenny DJs (with loads of Chicago friends) put out a free mix tape before heading to SXSW this week. Good stuff remixed from Kid Sister, Hollywood Holt, Flosstradamus and M.I.A. featuring Mic Terror (heyoo).
In case you hadn't heard, Big Star's Alex Chilton died this week (apparently from a heart attack while mowing the lawn at his home), just days before he was supposed to perform at SXSW. He was 59. Manyremembrancesonline.
Andy Huff [editor's note: not GB's Andrew] picked us up to hang out poolside with Althea Lagaspi for an NPR blog taping that goes up on Vocolo tomorrow [video here (NSFW) and more here].
We played the title track from the new White Mystery record, and "Powerglove" acoustic as Francis clapped and lounged poolside. Walked 1 mile to Frank to start branding wood buttons for Jack White's Third Man Records.
Got in yesterday and met up with our dude Neiliyo who had just played a day show at Shangri'la on the east side. Das Racist played and introduced themselves first as The Cool Kids, then Ninjasonik. Dropped off our bags and went downtown to meet up with Bald E., the Only Children/Apteka bros, Veronica from CreamTeam.TV and various other Chi City friends. Caught a bit of Hey Champ's set before heading over to C3's party at the 508 House where we spun a late night set that may have included a remix of Primus' "Tommy The Cat." Headed in for some sleep so we could wake up early-ish fora couple interviews with Ryan Muir (of Stereogum) at Studio SX and with the documentary crew from Press Pause Play. In both we talked about The Hood Internet in relation to the ever-changing face of modern media consumption. Now we're on a bus (baller status) headed to the Schubas/Lincoln Hall annual SXSW round-up. We'll check in again soon!
[The Hood Internet's SXSW schedule after the jump.]
It is hard to place music that is heard of, yet not heard. The Appleseed Cast is one of those bands people raise eyebrows to, but can't place. They seemed to slip in and out of rock consciousness, only to appear on mix tapes and have people who know the name, but don't know their music. The reason that they are heard of so much is that there are fans that have been there all along. While the band is not the most prolific, they are strong enough to stand the test of time and genre. Coming from a punk/emo background, the band progressed to a more post rock/showgaze-y sound since their first release, The End Of Ring Wars back in 1998 and has made music that said goodbye to angst and hello to beauty. Last year's Sagarmatha kept their amazing transition alive.
The band plays a much anticipated and unusual show Friday at the Bottom Lounge playing their 2001 releases Low Level Owl Vol. 1 and 2 back to back in their entirety. The albums are considered a classic and The Appleseed Cast's masterpiece works.
The epic night starts with local experimental band Dreamend which features Black Moth Super Rainbow member and Graveface Records owner, Ryan Graveface. The Appleseed Cast just signed to this label. The show is expected to sell out and melt minds.
The Bottom Lounge is located at 1375 W. Lake St. The music starts at 8 and the show is $15. Tickets can be found here.
White Mystery @ Gapers Block's Metro show, photo by Diane Alexander White
In less than a week's time, White Mystery played an in-store at Reckless Records, are blogging for Gapers Block while at SXSW, playing a ton of shows (mostly right after each other) while in Austin, and are then jumping on a flight back to Chicago to throw a record release party at the Hideout Saturday. Let me repeat, all of this in less than a week folks, which further proves that White Mystery is one of the hardest working bands around.
If you've been living under a rock in the Chicago music scene, and aren't familiar with the band, it's a sibling twosome that offer up a heavy dose of gritty garage rock. Brother Francis provides a driving powerhouse of drums backing the elated yelps and howls of the always bouncing and always bubbly sister Alex White.
They are a joy to watch, and some of the nicest folks around, so make sure to head out to the Hideout to celebrate their album release Saturday. And give them a hug or pat on the back for all the hard work. After their whirlwind week they deserve it!
The White Mystery Record Release show is Saturday March 20th at the Hideout. Tickets are $8, and you can purchase them here. The show is 21+ and kicks off at 9pm. The show is also presented by our friends over at CHIRP.
[Alex White of White Mystery just sent in a brief update on her SXSW experiences:]
1pm Wake up and enjoy the sunny balmy weather on Dmiritri and Paloma's porch.
Tip for tours: always bring your own breakfast! I pack oatmeal in a ziploc and a bag oranges to keep immunity high when traveling.
2:45pm Meet up with Mickey and Skate.
Update, 5:15pm
Spent the morning and made it to Beerland for Awesome Color and The Spits. "Let us play your party" sent the tiny dark room into fits at 4pm-ish and it's about 80 degrees. The sun washes over me and the Austin weather is medicinal.
There's a mix of short skirts heart shaped glasses and shamrock shirts!
[Alex White of White Mystery sent in a wrap-up of the last-minute tour prep and travel to Austin.]
9am Spent the early morning preparing special projects for Busy Beaver Button co. including coverage of clients at sxsw. Thanks to an awesome button crew for mailing all the button supplies ahead of time.
1:40pm Francis arrives at my Logan Square apartment from making buttons all day. He forgot to print the boarding passes and itinerary so he hand writes all the information.
Arrived at Ohare and spent 45 minutes convincing delta that a guitar qualifies as carry on according to their web page where it says "guitar qualifies as carry on baggage."
Flight is delayed. Board eventually. Sleep walk to layover in Memphis and magically appear in Austin. Hop on the $1 #100 bus airport flyer directly to my friends Dmitri and Paloma.
The party begins.
Beautiful Austin house and Francis hops in the back of a pick up truck.
Back in January, I posted that Jerry Bryant, the man responsible for turning me into a music geek back in the '90s, would be skimming down his hosting duties at Chicago music mainstay JBTV, while the show would be adding on new hosts and working its way toward becoming a full 24-hour online music station in the vein of MTV and VH1 (if MTV and VH1 actually played music). Since then, I've joined the staff at JBTV, and they've also brought in a slew of new hosts, including former Q101 DJ Ryan Manno, Chicago Blackhawks Ice Crew Girl Jenna Martinelli, Lawrence Arms front man Brendan Kelly, Red Scare Industries founder Toby Jeg, and hip hop artist Jeff Baraka. In short, more hosts than you can shake a stick at.
The first episode of the 'new' JBTV airs tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 11pm on WJYS Channel 62. Lollapalooza 2009 favorites Portugal. The Man are the featured guests on the show, which will also include unseen footage from Jeff Buckley's final Metro performance and live footage of locals Treaty of Paris on the JBTV HD soundstage. The episode will be streaming online in full at JBTVOnline.com starting Thursday afternoon.
We had already heard about She & Him being one of the artists to play one night of the Downtown Sound Series this summer, and now DeRogatis has the rest of the kick-ass line-up to look forward to.
Downtown Sound is a free concert series offered by the city that takes place on Monday nights over the summer in Millennium Park. And this year, with the likes of The Besnard Lakes, The Thermals, Wilco's Nels Cline and hometown girl Kid Sister (and that's just a taste) scheduled to appear, there's not a Monday night that you're not going to want to be on the Pritzker Pavillion lawn.
The Downtown Sound Music Series begins May 24. See the full schedule after the jump.
You don't know P.O.S. yet? Hip-hop fans should look into the Minneapolis rapper's latest album, Never Better, a solid follow-up to his 2006 album, Audition. A mishmash of hip-hop rhythms, jazzy and junky beats, and rat-a-tat delivery on the mic, the new CD is super energetic (check out "Drumroll," which features, of course, a drumroll as the backing track) and is actually fun.
It's a good bet his live show will be too; you can check it out for yourself this Thursday, March 18 at the Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake). Joining him will be fellow Doomtree collective member, Dessa, a gal who's also a force to be behold behind the mic. Astronautalis and F. Stokes open the evening. This is going to be a good, interesting show, folks. It starts at 8 p.m. and is 17+Get your tickets here or at the door.
Once again, we're thrilled to be enjoying the hustle and bustle of Austin, Texas through some of our favorite Chicago musicians. The Hood Internet is loading up their luggage with lots of fruits and vegetables (I'm sure) to keep themselves running at optimal levels while they create beautiful digital mashups. Along with DJs STV SLV and ABX, we'll also be getting regular reports and pictures from the ginger rock powerhouse of White Mystery. Dare we say, that Alex White and her brother Francis are poised on the verge of world domination? Yep, we just said it. They'll be heading to Austin as well, but skipping back home early to celebrate the release of their new album at the Hideout on Saturday (keep an eye out here for more on that one).
Between the internet, tv, and TMZ freaking out about the shag haircuts you might have already come across the rocking, tight-pantsed, super glam trailer for the upcoming Runaways movie starting Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning as late-'70s all-girl rock band pioneers Joan Jett and Cherie Currie (respectively).
It's a bit of a happy accident that The Runaways movie will open (well, for its limited release) during March, which is Women's History Month. This badass girl band (and really, that's a far cry from the wimpy moniker "boy band" these days) not only made it big when they were just teenagers, but did it during the late '70s, selling out shows in SoCal and opening nation-wide for testosterone fueled dude rockers like The Ramones, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Van Halen. A little bit glam, a little bit amp-kicking rock'n'roll, you just can't look away when they take the stage (or screen).
In honor of this sweet rock'n'roll film opening in Chicago on Friday, we have a special contest with beaucoup prizes for two lucky winners. 1. One winner will receive a t-shirt, a poster from the film, a copy of Neon Angel: A Memoir of a Runaway by Cherie Currie and Tony O'Neill (hitting bookstores this week), a copy of Joan Jet and the Blackhearts Greatest Hits CD, a copy of The Runaways film soundtrack (which includes tracks from The Runaways, The Stooges, The Sex Pistols as well as a track by film stars Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning). 2. A second winner will win a pair of tickets to see a preview of the film at the AMC 600 North Michigan 9 (600 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago) on Thursday, March 18th at 7pm. (Both winners must be U.S. residents.)
To enter: Just email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject "Queens of Noise" and you'll be entered to win (if you can't make the film screening Thursday, say "prize 1 only" in your email). We'll select our two winners later today. One entry per person. Update! We've contacted our winners! Thanks to everyone who entered!
I love the innocence and earnestness of lo-fi sound, which is why I was excited to hear the debut album from Cloud Nothings. The buzz and fuzz creates that feeling of camaraderie of hanging in your friend's basement bedroom as a teenager, messing around with your new amp or guitar--which is very likely how Turning On may have developed considering Dylan Baldi, the (young) man behind the music, is only 18 years old.
Throughout Turning On, Baldi does a great job of capturing the dazed melancholy and apathy of life trapped as a teen, but never loses the upbeat pop appeal. All the songs are short, harking back to a simpler time when pop songs clocked in at under two minutes. I was instantly drawn to the single "Hey Cool Kid" which has received all kinds positive recognition noting the infectious pop potential thinly veiled behind all that fuzz. "Ooh You" is another track that I was equally drawn to that was released on a Bathetic Records split tape (split with Chicago's Campfires). It's grungier in comparison, but unfortunately doesn't appear on the album.
While I sing the praises of lo-fi, after an entire album it can get a little old. After a while it feels like the whole album hangs under those fuzzy effects and you start to wonder if the artist is hiding behind them. Here's hoping that Baldi can eventually break out from behind that wall. Considering his age and the pop promise I've heard though, this is one band you'll want to keep your eye on.
Apart from the print ads in the interior of the Aragon promoting brands like Miller Genuine Draft and Univision, and the disco ball hanging incongruously from the ceiling, the Ballroom looked as lush and festive as it might have when the Chicago Daily Tribune referred to it as a "Gorgeous Bit 'o Hispaniola For Uptown Dancers" in a 1925 headline. Bag inspections and body frisks at the entrance caused a bottleneck for incoming concertgoers, and concession stands sold beer in plastic cups that was advertised at $6, but cost $7. The sold-out crowd wore a respectable amount of green, both kinds of hat (pork pie and driver's), and at least two mohawks.
Frank Turner opened the show, making his final appearance with Flogging Molly's 6th annual Green 17 tour before heading back to the UK, followed by The Architects, who turned the volume up before Flogging Molly took the stage. The opening acts brought the crowd to a simmer, the occasional enthusiast surfed the crowd, and the front of the house moved in quick, synchronized movements. Flogging Molly raised the temperature and brought the audience to a full boil; mosh pits formed and disappeared like bubbles. Among the items thrown into the air over the course of the evening were: several items of clothing, a couple light sticks (one landed on the sound board), and a number of $6 $7 cups of beer.
Dave King of Flogging Molly (photo by Katie Hovland).
Music is a living organism. It lives, breathes, and is changing constantly. How music is made, found and promoted is part of this life force and is also morphing. The international company Sonicbids is a huge contributing factor in this. Since its incarnation in 2001, Sonicbids has provided pragmatic outcome to an ever changing industry making gigging a reality to many struggling musicians and giving people in the music industry more fresh faces than they could have ever imagined. The company blends business, music and technology giving necessary tools and guidance to both performer and promoter. The company also nurtures what they call "The artistic middle class."The artist in limbo somewhere in between a deal with a record label and busking for spare change. They interact with their worldwide network of members to provide and accept feedback to a global community involved with constantly emerging music.
Download Clash cover album The Sandanista Project for free (for a limited time) featuring Jon Langford, Sally Timms, more. (via)
What To Wear During an Orange Alert has a podcast. Episode 2 is up.
Last week's "Honkeytonk Friday" selection at Songs:Illinois was Whitey Morgan and the 78s (the only non Bloodshot band selected to play both of their parties at SXSW next week). Keep an eye on Transmission for some fun vicarious SXSWmusic fun.
Want to see your cold, cold rock'n'roll heart melt? Check out thesethreeposters featuring kids' portraits of Jeff Tweedy. They're for his benefit shows this weekend at The Vic. Tickets still available.
Classic rock meets metal at the apex of Bible of the Devil (straight outta Chicago). They play Quenchers, Saturday 3/13.
Naked Raygun goes back into the studio (and then back out on tour).
Venus Zine will feature none other than former Smashing Pumpkins and Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur on its next cover.
In Worst Week Ever news, EMI lost both a court case to Pink Floyd and the privilege of representing local-boys-made-good OK GO (the boys started their own label).
Pete Margesak at The Reader has the line on the reissue of Chicago's own Green's 1986 self-titled album.
WBEZ's 848 program delved into the dark underbelly of rockabilly this week.
Chances are even if you aren't familiar with RJD2, you've heard at least one of his songs before. He's the man behind the theme music to the popular AMC television show Mad Men, his haunting instrumental leading into the start of each liquor soaked episode. But if all you know is this one song, I beg you to dig deeper and find one of the hardest working and most genre bending hip-hop producers of today.
His latest album, The Colossus, is the first self-produced and self-released album for RJD2 on his own label, RJ's Electrical Connections. He's also re-acquired the master recordings to all of his Definitive Jux catalog, and has re-released them as well, making (in his own words) "a massive step towards being completely independent and working on my own terms, artistically and business-wise." The Colossus is a total untouched vision of an artist, with every beat, word, and moment not being clouded by the judgment of a label, producer, or multiple other nuisances. The product is a rich mix of funky soul, deep layers of production that are warm, polished, and clearly a joyful labor of love.
Check out the awesome video for his track "Let There Be Horns." It features a cubicle-dwelling minotaur that also pops prescription pills. That should be enough of a teaser to make you click play below.
RJD2 plays the Metro this Saturday, March 13th. The show is 18+ Doors open at 8pm, and the show starts at 9pm with opening acts Happy Chichester and Breaking Science. Tickets are $21 in advance or $25 day of the show. You can purchase tickets online here.
Three years ago, The White Stripes set out to play every each and every province and territory in Canada. They ended up playing everywhere from local bowling alleys to city buses, culminating with their all-time longest set during their 10th Anniversary concert at the Savoy Theatre. Filmmaker Emmet Molloy captured the entire tour on film, and thus The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights documentary was born.
The doc will be screening for free tonight at Heaven Gallery, 1550 N Milwaukee Ave, at 7:30 pm. If you can't make it out that early, AMC River East, 322 East Illinois Street, will be playing the film at midnight.
Now that you've got your bike out and are riding it to and fro in the early spring warmth, it's time to fasten that milk carton to the back seat as well - Spring means Record Fair season is here as well. Returning to the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union (1340 W. Washington), the 2010 CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights should be good cause to warm up your vinyl-scouring fingers. Local shops and labels, record distros, and personal collections will all be in attendance, as well as entertainment from bands and DJ sets throughout. And proceeds go to CHIRP, so you can support independent radio (even if you secretly just want to be a vinyl junkie). Mark your calendar for April 10-11 - the early bird gets the Funky Worm on 7" vinyl.*
(*We can't promise this will be there, but if you find a copy, let us know. That would blow our minds.)
In the world of sports, we might be rivals. In the world of industry, we're colleagues. On the world's stage, we're close relatives, but in dance music Chicago and Detroit are the kind of sister cities that finish each others' sentences. But in light of the ever-increasing ability to connect with people of the other side of the planet, Chicago's been neglecting regular contact with our own next door neighbor. There was once a time when music, artists and energy traveled freely between the two cities, and this Friday, March 12th at Smartbar, D3: Deconstruct, Discover Detroit Art and Music Series hopes to revive this exchange of ideas. Put together by local techno promoter VOLATL, house label D'Lectable Music, and art collective Prak-sis, D3's opening night features Detroit native and second-wave techno innovator Stacey Pullen, D3 founder Lady D and locals Max Jacobson, Max Loomis and Jay Cho, as well as multimedia art and performances. Friday's kickoff event is only the first in the quarterly series, and Gaper's Block sat down with organizer Darlene Jackson, aka DJ Lady D to discuss her vision and Detroit's influence on dance music.
If you've ever been to a party in Wicker Park, then you've probably seen Clayton Hauck--flat rimmed baseball cap, ponytail, and always armed with a camera, he's there to take your picture and make you famous. Because besides being an amazing photographer with a talent for catching the most stunning candid shots, he's the man behind the website everyoneisfamous.
Well, for one day, Clayton gets to be the one who's famous. This Saturday he throws his annual all-day birthday bash, Claychella, at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave) with upwards of 30 local DJs playing throughout the day including Flosstradamus, The Hood Internet, Bald E. and Moneypenny, just to name a few. Beginning at noon, this party will have a "photo booth" manned by Ryan Mitchell and drink specials galore, plus we're told to watch for more surprises throughout the day.
If you're over 21, the shindig is free til 10pm. After that it's just $5. Fall in the 18-20 category? Free til 5pm, then $10. Be sure to click on the link below for a full list of DJs and MCs after the jump. For more information, visit everyoneisfamous.com.
The fine roller girls of the Chicago Outfit are hosting a benefit on Thursday, March 11 at Liar's Club (1665 W. Fullerton). The event is a big ol' F-you to nerve diseases, and proceeds will go to the National MS Society and the National Parkinson's Foundation. For a mere $5 donation at the door, you can enjoy the likes of local punkers Das Kapital,The Neutron Bombs,Church Key, Coldcock Jones & the Shithawks, and more. The evening kicks off at 9 p.m., and yes, it is 21+.
A surefire sign that spring is just around the corner is when everyone in the music industry starts packing up their suitcases (or band van) and heading to Austin, TX for the SXSW music festival, a yearly gathering of some of the hottest bands coming up through the ranks today.
The festival has exploded in popularity since it first started in 1987, and now includes a film and interactive offshoot, both their own massive event. The music version basically takes over downtown Austin, with every band ever written about on a music blog playing venues, bars, bbq joints, and even the sidewalk. I'd like to think of it as a working spring break for the music industry, emphasis on working for the bands that play multiple shows a day during SXSW.
The festival is a lot of fun, but it's a long way from home for the many Chicago bands that make the trek to Austin. So the fine folks over at the Hideout are planning a send off party to benefit the Chicago artists that are heading south later this month. For $10 you get a full day of music featuring 11 hometown acts including Tom Schraeder, Mittens on String, Waco Brothers, Life During Wartime DJs, and The Hood Internet. A pretty diverse bill, and just a handful of some of the bands that will represent Chicago this year in Austin. So stop by the Hideout, dance your ass off, and give some gas money to the folks heading down to SXSW.
The 4th annual SXSW send off party is this Saturday, March 13th at the Hideout. Music starts at 3pm, the show is 21+ and tickets are $10. You can buy tickets online here Correction: Tickets are now only available at the door, first come, first served.
If we were going to play word association and you said Califone, my first response would be to say "Red Red Meat". I know this response is a bit dated since Califone has proven again and again that the idea of the band as a side project failed and that they are a real deal very much separated from where they begun from. They are actually ages away from those days.
After supporting Wilco last month they are home playing two shows tomorrow and Wednesday night at Lincoln Hall. Tomorrow night they will play live along with the film that shares the name of their last release, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers. The film has been accepted in to Noise Pop, SXSW and Sundance Film Festivals. Frontman Tim Rutili wrote and directed the film. Wednesday the band plays a traditional rock show. The album is gorgeous, creepy and worth getting lost in.
Here is the trailer for the film All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
[This guest post was submitted by reader Ciara Shook.]
It was just the man that filled the small stage on Saturday night at Schubas — a rare solo performance by Jon Langford without the accompaniment of The Mekons or The Waco Brothers.
Langford's appearance was part of the screening of the short film "At Last Okehmah!," in which he makes a cameo appearance. The event was part of the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, and "At Last Okehmah!" told the story of a hipster-turned-folkster who claimed he channeled the late Woodie Guthrie. Langford joked that because the film was just 20 minutes long, it worked to his advantage, because no one left during his set.
Langford's onstage persona is nothing short of engaging — he told colorful stories and carried tongue-in-cheek banter between each song. As two unlikely genres to be represented in the same set, Langford flawlessly blended the punk rock of The Mekons with the alternative country of Chicago's own Waco Brothers. Langford's tenure in both bands is prevalent in his solo songs between his honky-tonk chord progressions and his cow-punk vocals (delivered in a discreet-yet-noticeable British accent) that work seamlessly in both worlds. He joked with members of the audience about the origins of some songs, such as Prince Charles' low approval rating in 1986 (compared to Tom Jones' astronomical rating — a number he claims increases with each telling). The highlight of the set involved audience participation for the sing-along chorus of "Are You an Entertainer?" from Mayors of the Moon, a product of Langford's stint with The Sadies.
Ciara Shook is a senior journalism student at Columbia College and a campus editor for Columbia's paper, "The Chronicle".
Lots of bands make up for lackluster music with an off-the-hook live show. New York-based indie stalwarts The Magnetic Fields do it the other way around. Band leader/genius Stephen Merritt's been pretty open about his disdain for performing and his music (richly orchestrated folk-pop that sometimes incorporates synthesizers) could never be described as anthemic or arena-ready, but that didn't stop them from packing Millennium Park's Harris Theater to the gills on Oscar night. Their awkward stage banter alone makes it hard to believe these guys have been playing together for 20 years, but as soon as they start playing it becomes clear why this lineup has persevered so long.
Thanks to the heads-up that popped up on my twitter stream from the lovely Veronica over at CreamTeam, it sounds like Willy Joy has an awesome 3rd anniversary lined up for Fly By Night on April 8th at Debonair.
So it looks like Willy Joy and company are bringing in The xx to help celebrate the birthday of the Fly By Night series. The internet was rampant with praise over the London based band this past year, and their debut album, xx, ranked high on many year-end lists. Recently The New Yorker wrote a beautiful piece about them, and they'll be one of the many bands slated to play the massive Bonnaroo festival this summer. The band will already be in town for their sold out Lincoln Hall show, and if you didn't score tickets to that, it looks like you'll still have a chance to check them out in some capacity while they're in town.
There isn't any details as to what the band will be doing (actually playing a few songs (I'd be surprised but stranger things have happened), or just spinning music), but the event is listed on Willy Joy's Myspace, so make sure to keep April 8th open for The xx and to wish Fly By Night a happy birthday and many more.
Much lauded music magazine XLR8R showed our fair city a bit of love yesterday, as it unveiled a representative Chicago City Guide podcast, done by local DJ collective Ghetto Division. XLR8R has long been a well-respected resource for the global DJ community; recognizing groundbreaking artists, while reflecting on present trends in music and culture. Their City Guide is an extension of the publication that takes a close look at the scene in a particular city, and is available online and in apps for iPhone and Android. More for the non-touristy type travelers, the City Guide for Chicago not only lists upcoming events, but old standbys like Gramaphone Records and even some of our more off-kilter local attractions (Museum of Surgical Science, anyone?). XLR8R also shines a light in a city's small niches with regular podcasts showcasing local talent and sound.
Hailing from various South side neighborhoods, Ghetto Division has been garnering attention for their raucous parties; most notably, the Southside Shakedown at the Metro. XLR8R says that their difficult choice of who to represent a city as integral as Chicago was made when Ghetto Division requested to tackle the Chicago City Guide podcast. Moving deftly from classics to their own productions, the comprehensive 90-track 70-minute mix is a veritable history lesson on the home of house. Judging from the comments and the attention for the mix only a day after it's release, it's not hard to agree when XLR8R tweeted that Ghetto Division "murdered" the tall order of defining the Chicago sound — past and future.
When we're not trying to find the right cable to charge yet another portable electronic device, we're glued to our screens checking out things like these:
Thrill Jockey Records' 2nd 12" subscription series is now taking orders. Act fast, fellow record nerds. They will sell out of subscriptions!
Think interviewing musicians is all shared whiskey bottles and Almost Famous plot lines? Think again. Time Out Chicago takes a look back at five years of tears, transcripts and occasional golden moments.
DeRo has the line on the He said/He didn't say controversy about the Elton John/Billy Joel tour that, no matter what, won't be returning to Wrigley Field.
Future Perfect Radio puts a spin on the standard "Best of" list and creates one for albums they're anticipating the release of in 2010.
Getting our listen on for bands heading to SXSW soon at NPR.
Last week ABC7 visited Buddy Guy at his house in Orland Park. I bet the crew for MTV Cribs never got homemade gumbo!
Yet another music festival is set to call Chicago home. This time, it's the North Coast Festival.
Windy City Rock posts about Small Chicago, a project which brings simply-produced music videos from Chicago bands. First up: Coltrane Motion. Next: The Warm Ones. (And hey, Small Chicago, how about some permalinks? Flash...grrr.)
The Reader profiles Robert Manis, a Chicago record collector who's giving back to the music community by way of his own reissue label.
A guy from Lakeview gets a slot on a TV show with his rap video. But it's not the show you think it is.
Oh it's on now. The Pitchfork Music Festival has announced even more bands for this year's lineup (in case you thought nine performers was a little on the scarce side). Friday night will not belong exclusively to Issac Brock and his Brockettes - a one-two 2002-tastic punch of Canadian gold-medal Juno-winners Broken Social Scene and king of Def Jux's former empire El-P. On Saturday, The Smith Westerns get to play as the home team while Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus, miseducated MC Freddie Gibbs, totally out-there futuredelic spacers Dâm-Funk and seemingly immortal Jon Spencer Blues Explosion join in the fun. Not to be outdone, Sunday pulls in local lovelies CAVE and Mexican-American Midwestern maestros Allá. Oh, and a band called Girls, who might have gotten a wee bit of critical attention this past year. If any of those sound appetizing, grab 'em if you want 'em: The three-day passes are gone, but you can still buy single-day tickets for each day.
On a nippy Monday evening in late February, about 125 young musicians are sitting inside a small room at the Chicago Cultural Center. With no instruments in the room or anywhere in sight, the artists aren't here to perform or write new songs. Instead, they're all waiting to learn the key answer to one question — How the heck do I get a gig booked outside of Chicago?
Sponsored by the non-profit Chicago Music Commission, Musicians at Work forums are held six times a year as a way to introduce artists to different ideas in the music industry. Past panel guests have included Nan Warshaw of Bloodshot Records, music critic Jim DeRogatis of the Chicago Sun-Times and Bettina Richards of Thrill Jockey Records. This particular panel -- about how to book out of town gigs when you're a local act -- brings together six industry experts: Brian Keigher of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Scott Schaefer of Bloodshot Records, Brian Mazzaferri of the recently-signed band I Fight Dragons, Mo.Billionaire of The Movement Worldwide, Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records and moderator Joanna Quargnali-Linsley of Misery Loves Co. The Department of Cultural Affairs co-hosts the forums.
Twenty-one year old Dave Cohen, who lives in Crystal Lake, takes a seat near the front row. Cohen wants to learn about the mechanics of touring because his three-piece pop-punk band — They Go Up — will be finishing their first record shortly. He heard about the event from his producer.
"We've played a couple open mic stuff but we're waiting to get our disc so we have something tangible to hand out after shows," he says. "We're trying to see if we can make a buzz."
In the front flap of Time And Temperature, the newest release by Judson Claiborne there is a quote from relationship expert Daphne Rose Kingma. "We tend to think of relationships as static, as if we could just get into them, assume a position inside them and then continue to hold it, essentially without changing forever, world without end. But in fact our relationships are fluid, vivid, mercurial, and constantly changing."
In Sickness and Health is The Blacks' first album since their breakup a decade ago and their subsequent reunion after a performance at the Hideout's Block Party last fall. It is a six song EP, and is being released in digital format only on March 9, with an accompanying record-release show this Saturday, March 6 at Schubas.
Much tamer than their previous work, In Sickness and Health reflects the wisdom (and perhaps exhaustion) of mature musicians. Many of the punk rock riffs have been replaced by steady Americana strums, but the freshness is still there. This is music for people who don't want anything fancy--who love the blues and "real" country music but wish they weren't quite so darn sad. Make sure to check out the show this weekend and then let us know if they've still got the raw energy they used to.
Toronto sandwich shop Sky Blue Sky has molded its entire menu around Wilco. Makes sense since the shop holds the name of the Chicago-based group's sixth album. Each signature sandwich is now named after a Wilco song. Unfortunately there is no Via Chicago, but you can get a Sonny Feeling, Say You Miss Me, and of course, A Shot In The Arm. See the whole track listing, I mean, menu here.
It's officially March which means you've survived yet another February in Chicago. Congratulations! But, as usual, snow still on the ground makes it hard to believe that you'll ever be sitting on the Pritzker lawn listening to music ever again. Well, here is a little light at the end of the tunnel.
With all the cuts the city is making, free music at Pritzker Pavilion is luckily not one of them as Millennium Park has just announced the 2010 Grant Park Music Festival taking place June 16-August 21. The Grant Park Orchestra will perform works from classical composers like Mozart, Chopin and Tchaikovsky. Plus, look for special appearances from guest composers and musicians, including one night featuring the world premiere tour of BBC's Planet Earth film with conductor and five-time Academy Award-winning composer George Fenton. See the full schedule here. And don't forget about those open rehearsals--get out of the office for an hour for lunch, or just an afternoon walk.
Warmer days will be here before you know it (at least that's what I keep telling myself...).
Emerging from behind the curtains with, "Some Red Handed Sleight of Hand," Cursive began warming the crowd, a feat the Dear and Departed failed to accomplish. Vocalist Tim Kasher veered from a whispered murmur to anguished yowl on key tracks like "Art is Hard" and "The Casualty." Adding a single horn player on top of guitar, bass, and drums adds some live presence but still doesn't make up for the loss of a cellist or all the instruments that are used on the records. After "From the Hips," the fans settled in until Kasher unleashed that signature once again for their set closer, "I Couldn't Love You."
Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio at Metro (All photos of Alkaline Trio by Katie Hovland)
As Alkaline Trio's famed heart skull emblem was unveiled, the crowd cheered and a fan remarked, "That's going to be on my body forever!" Shortly after, Matt Skiba, the master of disguise, strode on stage in a newsboy hat and black-framed glasses while beaming over the crowd. Night two of Trio's weekend stint at the Metro began with "This Addiction," a shameless plug for its new record of the same title, which was released on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
After the second This Addiction track, "Dine, Dine My Darling," the opening chords of "We've Had Enough" brought the crowd to a boil, followed by shouts of "Turn that fucking radio off!" Nearly the entire crowd shouted along with Skiba's every word.
Skiba ditched his hat and glasses insinuating, "we're just getting started," and took a quick breath before blazing through "Mr. Chainsaw," prompting a crowd push toward the stage.
Philadelphia's Free Energy formed out of the ashes of the Twin Cities' Hockey Night. Where Hockey Night sounded like a heavier Beulah, Free Energy is rooted more in glam-pop. Influences like T. Rex, Thin Lizzy and some new wave are clear in the mix. ("Something in Common" could be mistaken as a cut from Room On Fire.) Hooks, handclaps and breezy vocals worm their way into your head and stay there. A single on DFA has been holding ears over in anticipation of the LP, Stuck On Nothing, out next week on Astralwerks. Producer James Murphy seems to have traded in his turntables for guitars on this one. This Friday, Free Energy plays at the Empty Bottle and Transmission's giving away a pair of tickets to the first person to email "DREAM CITY" in the subject to contests@gapersblock.com. Update: Hold your horses! We have a winner! Congrats to Tim!
Los Angeles' Foreign Born headline Friday's show. Their latest, Person to Person, is an ethereal collection of music that sounds best on sunny days. Cleveland's Clovers open. The show's 21+ and starts at 10PM. Admission is $10. The Empty Bottle's at 1035 N. Western.
The third installment of The Smashing Pumpkins' Teargarden by Kaleidyscope was released via Sound Cloud this morning. The song is called "A Stitch in Time" and will also be available to download via SmashingPumpkins.com later today. After 19-year-old drummer Mike Byrne's cringe-worthy debut in the band's last release, "Widow Wake My Mind", I'd been hoping, for his sake, that he'd really bust his chops with this next song. Unfortunately, "A Stitch in Time" is devoid of drums completely, so I guess he'll have to wait another 4-6 weeks to redeem himself.
Chicago-born punk rock icon Patti Smith read from her memoir Just Kids -- about her relationship with photographer Robert Mapplethorpe -- last week at the Harold Washington Public Library Center. In case you missed it, Chicago Public Radio has an audio recording of Smith's reading and acoustic performance. "I'm very happy to be here for two reasons -- I love libraries and since I was born in Chicago, it's very nice to be in a library in Chicago," Smith says before beginning her reading.
At one point, Smith asks the audience to stop taking pictures because of all the clicking noises. "Sorry, it just breaks my concentration. And then I'll have to yell. Then I'll have to turn into the grandmother of punk rock," she laughs.
Be sure to listen to at least the beginning as Smith recounts her childhood memories of Humboldt Park and Logan Square.
