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. ✶
If the idea of a hot, sweaty, nine-hour, outdoor, shoulder-to-shoulder dance party doesn't exhaust you just to think about, if in fact it sounds like your typical evening out, then Wicker Park Fest is where you'll want to be tonight. Moneypenny, a DJ duo with the Loose Change music collective, has chosen a lineup of house and club DJs -- including LA Riots, Kid Color and Team Bayside High (no appearance by A.C. Slater, Kelly Kapowski or anyone else from the gang, unfortunately) -- who will be playing the Fest's center stage from 1 to 10pm on July 31.
Moneypenny will play a set itself at 9pm, and if you're still not done bumping and grinding with hundreds of other people when 10 o'clock rolls around, there will also be an after-party at Metro. The event is combined with the Metro's monthly 18 and over dance party, and it'll feature still more DJs, including Jokers of the Scene, from Ottawa, Canada, and a second set by Moneypenny. Cost to get in is $10 at 923 N. Rush St., and don't forget to bring your dancing shoes. Better yet, bring a couple pairs.
With the Pitchfork Music Festival so recently behind us and Lollapalooza only a week away, it's difficult for most concert goers to even think of planning their September festival agendas. Electronic and experimental music lovers, however, are already booking days off work for the upcoming inaugural Sónar Chicago, slated for September 9-11. Already in its seventeenth year in its native Barcelona, this legendary celebration of synthetic sounds hopes to establish an annual autumn home in our fair city.
Veterans of avant-garde audio in Chicago no doubt associate September with the annual Adventures in Modern Music festival co-presented by the Empty Bottle and UK music magazine The Wire. This year will see this tradition continue, but now it's occurring as part of Sónar Chicago. Fear not, however, for although these two events are coinciding, Adventures in Modern Music won't lose its identity. You'll still get the full amazing line-up of experimental acts that you've come to expect from the combined efforts of The Wire and the Empty Bottle, you'll just happen to have a world-renowned electronic music festival on your doorstep as well - for free.
Reckless Records employee Chris Connelly uses his commute time well. He wrote a novel and two albums while on the "L".
Watch Chicago punk scene documentary You Weren't There for free online for just 1 week, courtesy of Pitchfork TV.
Get your limited edition Lollapalooza 2010 t-shirt right here. Designed by Chicago artist Cody Hudson (aka Struggle Inc.).
Sound Opinions' next night at the movies will take place 8/12 at Lincoln Hall features not only the film "Once" but also a performance by the film's stars, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, of The Swell Season. Tickets are $14. Quite the bargain!
DeRo weighs in on a thought-provoking Reader piece on the rights of summer festivals like Pitchfork and Lollapalooza to limit your right to bring detachable lens cameras into public parks.
Greg Kot also looks at how smaller music venues are doing in the shadow of the dark cloud that big ticket sellers are casting this year.
Memories of Chicago's WMAQ, once the city's oldest radio station, which went off-air ten years ago, on August 1, 2000.
Speaking of Mr. West, I'd nearly forgotten the cuteness of this video for Kid Sister's song "Pro Nails" (in which Kanye makes an appearance). I think she rocks the brunette look much fiercer now, by the way.
Wolf Parade's Hadji Bakara is going back to college for more learnin' at U of C! Here's hoping the events committee finds him in time for Summer Breeze.
Does your favorite bar jukebox have a Twitter feed? Well, the one at Simon's Tavern in Andersonville does. Make suggestions by following @simonsjukebox.
Thrill Jockey signs Roanoke, VA bluegrass band The Black Twig Pickers. Olde timey music, holla!
We're not endorsing pirating anything, but there's some folks out there who are getting mighty DIY with making copies of vinyl records.
In the middle of the '00s, somewhere outside of Ellisberg, Wa., hopefully amid a grid of criss-crossed string and with trowels in hand, Jason Davis and Daniel Walker met on a college archeological dig for Native American relics. A number of early collaborations and tours later, the two of them formed a band named for their shared passion by joining with drummer Benjamin Haysom and guitarist Zach Dilday in the summer of 2008.
Since then, the prolific group Archeology has released 5 EPs, and this past March its members released their first full-length, Memorial. It's a tight collection of harmony-laden folk tunes running just over half an hour and possessed of the kind of bittersweetness you're likely to experience on a cold, lonely fall day around sunset.
The band will be playing to a Chicago crowd on July 30, a perfect show to catch before Lollapolooza rolls into town and takes over. But be careful where you get your info on the where and when. The show was originally scheduled to take place at The Cave, but it's since been moved to Double Door. Music starts at 8 pm tonight, and tickets prices range from $18-20. As a preview to the show, Jason Davis sat down for a brief interview to discuss the band's style, lyrics and ambitious output
GB: So you've already had five EP's in the last year?
JD: We had three more announced EPs, and then we did two that were kind of under the radar. We were really new to the concept of releasing our own records, so the first two we just did shows around and released them that way. It sounds really foreign now, and I can't even believe we were at the point that we had to find out about how to get our music on iTunes independently and whatnot. The last three, we put a lot more effort into them and toured around them.
If you have an iPhone and you're headed to the musical smorgasbord in Grant Park next weekend, the Lollapalooza App is a must have. It's more than just a hand held map and schedule with artist descriptions (which you can add your own notes to), it's actually kind of ridiculous all the things you can do with it.
Tweet and update your Facebook status (with pictures!) directly from the app with their pre-filled templates.
That Slacker music player you've been listening to all summer on Lolla's homepage? You can stream it on your phone. And if you hear an artist you like, you can add it to your personalized schedule right there.
If you want to go but you don't have tickets yet, you can actually purchase tickets through the app! Out-of-towners can even purchase travel packages.
Plus, most importantly, it has a virtual lighter for those emotional moments during the headliners. (I probably could have just said that and you would have been convinced...)
Did I mention it's free? Get it early, play around with it, sync your accounts and you'll be all ready to go come 11am next Friday. It'll be a great resource at the fest, assuming you have cell service. Fingers crossed!
When it comes to hometown heroes and proving that the Midwest is the best bet, Flosstradamus is one of the strongest examples for Chicago. The DJ duo of Autobot (Curt Cameruci) and J2K (Josh Young) first popped up on the Chicago music radar in 2005, when the duo formed and hosted the "Get Outta' the Hood" parties at local joint Town Hall Pub. The event was a huge success, a no frills affair where the one guarantee was the night would end in a massive dance party. The Town Hall Pub days might be long gone, but Flosstradamus has kept Chicago moving with their FlosstraPROMus, a yearly event, and the long running Oldies Night that just wrapped up after two successful years. Besides throwing party after party, the duo found time to tour all over the globe with the likes of Chromeo and Kid Sister (J2K's sister), release a slew of mixtapes and singles, and play massive festivals including Coachella, South by Southwest, Pitchfork Festival, and Lollapalooza, where they'll return to the stage this year to keep Grant Park moving Lolla 2010 weekend.
Walter Jagiello, better known as Lil' Wally, charter member of the Polka Hall of Fame.
The Polkaholics will be at Quenchers (2401 N. Western) on Saturday to perform their polka-rock opera "Wally," based on the life of the Windy City Polka King, Walter "Li'l Wally" Jagiello (August 1, 1930 - August 17, 2006). The music of The Polkaholics is an unlikely blend of traditional polka and punk, or as they describe it, they "put the oomph back in oom-pah and a punk edge on polka." Since 1997 the band has performed at traditional polka haunts like the Baby Doll and the Zakapone Lounge, as well as venues like the UIC Flames auditorium during Windy City Rollers bouts, as the half-time show.
The Polkaholics on German TV, possibly the greatest thing ever uploaded to YouTube.
Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls is a big influence on the music of The Polkaholics, and the Johnny Thunders tribute band DKTLAMF, (whose members include The Polkaholics' own Dandy Don), will be opening the show. If you like what you hear, the polk-rock opera Wally is available on CD. The fun begins at 9pm, admission is $5. For more info call 773-276-9730, visit Quenchers, or The Polkaholics.
Jack White is a modern day "Renaissance Man" if there ever was one. Whether he's part of the peppermint striped duo that was his claim to fame, or producing some of the most historic acts in music, or creating his own label and pop-up store, he keeps busy.
His latest project, The Dead Weather, boast an impressive line-up including members of The Kills, The Raconteurs, and Queens of the Stone Age. While touring with his band The Raconteurs, White's voice had some problems, and Alison Mosshart of The Kills had to fill in on some songs. The vibe felt right, and the two, along with Raconteur/Greenhorns Jack Lawrence and QOTSA Dean Fertita, combined forces to create The Dead Weather. It's gritty, dirty blues garage rock at its finest, abrasive and sexy with the powerhouse guitar licks and howls of Mosshart and White entwined.
The group is headlining The Congress during their stop in Chicago Friday night, and we've got the chance for you to see them live! Just email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject "Stormy!" and you and a friend might win a pair of tickets to the show on Friday! [Update! We have selected our winners and they've been notified! Thanks to everyone who wrote in.]
Tickets are $35 and the show is all ages. Doors open at 7:30pm with Harlem opening. The Congress Theater is located at 2125 N. Milwaukee Ave.
The Faint are known for their electric stage show, but what impressed me most when they came through town Friday night at Metro was the dedication of my fellow concertgoers. These past few weeks in the city have been fairly humid, and Friday was no exception. With the huge crowd, it was probably a good ten degrees hotter inside Metro than outside the venue, but that didn't stop anyone from dancing their butts off and crowding up front. I, on the other hand, had been boiling hot and, in an effort to keep myself from fainting (no pun intended), ended up situating myself all the way at the back wall with no one around me. I'd been bested.
The band walked on stage and ripped through the best of every one of their albums, from "Mirror Error" to "Worked Up So Sexual" to "Take Me to the Hospital". Besides an occasional thank you to the crowd and a dedication to Lindsay Lohan, the band hardly took a break between songs, instead providing a non-stop dance party revved up by their melodic synths and singer Todd Fink's magnetic stage presence. They ended the night with crowd favorites "The Geeks Were Right" and "Glass Danse", and if the crowd was at all exhausted in the sweltering heat, they sure didn't show it.
Even if the band had been terrible, the spectacle on stage might have been entertainment enough to make the show enjoyable. The stage was adorned with around twelve giant alien figurines, hanging off speakers and standing on stage like they were members of the band. Of course it wouldn't be The Faint without an insane light show, and in combination with the looming aliens, we might as well have been partying with the Martians.
Luckily, when the show let out, the city was immersed in a refreshing downpour. Did I mention how hot it was in there?
Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon (photos by Katie Hovland)
When the Gaslight Anthem played Bottom Lounge last April, singer Brian Fallon's vocals were a mess. (But he was pretty sick, as they cancelled the next couple shows.) When they came back around in August, it was my turn to be sick. (I barely made it through Constantines that night.) On Tuesday at House of Blues, though, everybody was in good health. Even if they weren't, they probably still had a good time.
Gaslight Anthem's Alex Levine (photos by Katie Hovland)
Touring in support of their latest album, American Slang, Gaslight Anthem was firing on all cylinders with a 90-minute set that featured sizable chunks from all three full-lengths. The show began with the new record's title track that quickly built up into their Americana-tinged punk with chunky hooks and Fallon's working class stories. From the onset the sold out audience was completely enthralled. After two more newer songs, the band went back a couple years for perhaps their most popular song, "The '59 Sound." It's a bold move to bust out your hit so early, but Gaslight Anthem clearly have the confidence in their other tunes to not let it be their peak. And soon enough they were pacing themselves (and the audience) by dropping the tempo with "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" and "Miles Davis & The Cool" before playing songs from their debut album seamlessly mixed in with some American Slang.
Gaslight Anthem's Alex Rosamilia (photos by Katie Hovland)
Three albums (and some EPs) into their career, each release has taken on a different angle of their malleable sound, so it's not a strain to hear songs from years ago alongside ones released last month. With that being said, a risk runs in songs sounding too much alike. Late in the show I twice thought they started a song they'd already played. Only when lyrics began did I realize my mistake. Of course, a strong majority of the audience were never in doubt as they screamed along to nearly every word Fallon sang. (Only "Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts" from a 2008 EP and a cover of Lucero's "The War" tripped up the most vocal.) With such devotion, it's hardly a surprise that Gaslight Anthem's popularity has swelled. The way things are going, I wouldn't expect a dropoff either.
If you had hoped that newly reunited Soundgarden had been one of the bands chosen for Lollapalooza's rash of aftershows, your wish has come true. Lolla has just announced that the band will play an "intimate" concert at the Vic Theater on Thursday, August 5th, the night before the festival gets underway.
The catch? Tickets will only be available for purchase to those chosen by random drawing on Friday, July 30th. In order to be eligible for the drawing, you must be a member of SG's official fan club (register here, and make sure you check the box to enter the drawing).
There are a multitude of other rules which you can read after the jump, or on Lolla's official website.
So, you already know all the music there is to know. There's nothing new under the sun. Right, sure, but answer just one question: How much Argentinean "cumbia digital" music have you checked out recently? Are you intrigued by its looping of indigenous rhythms and instruments and its frequent use of computerized beats and effects? Who's your favorite artist in the genre? Yeah, we thought so.
Fear not though. ZZK Records, a label directly connected to the Zizek Urban Beats Club in Buenos Aires, is bringing a quartet of South American acts through Chicago as part of a larger North American tour. The show is meant to generate awareness of a music scene few people here in the states even have an inkling of, and it includes artists such as Chancha Via Circuito and Tremor. The tunes vacillate between something you'd hear at a beachside tiki bar and the sort of intense percussion you imagine would play just before a virgin is sacrificed to a volcano, so the show might be worth checking out with some sort of small-umbrella-bedecked drink in hand. Music starts tonight at 10pm and costs $5 at the door.
The Gaslight Anthem will be playing at House of Blues - 329 N. Dearborn - this Tuesday in support of their new album, American Slang. The album was released last month on Side One Dummy and is their third full-length since the band started in 2007.
They play this Tuesday, July 27th, with Avail singer Tim Barry and Chamberlain opening. This show is open to all ages and starts at 6pm. Tickets are $21 and you can purchase them here.
Kid Sister has been on our radar this week with her killer performance at Millennium Park Monday night while the man tried to keep her down, and now she's ending the week in style with her new video for Ultraviolet's "Big N Bad". She captures the summertime spirit with two of my favorite sunny season hot spots - the roller rink and Superdawg. Check it out below, and catch some behind the scenes action here.
Also on your radar should be our free meet-up at the Art Institute Museum's Modern Wing on Thursday, July 29th after work for a special tour of their Sound & Vision exhibit. Insider's tip: enter at the Modern Wing entrance to avoid the long lines for free admission at the Michigan Ave. doors! RSVP on Facebook if you're fancy!
Why the Pavement set webcast didn't happen last weekend.
But hey, Pavement's Mark Ibold likes Chicago tacos. So we got that going for us.
The Old Town is getting a little bigger. Plans for expansion across the street from its Lincoln Square location.
Save the date! August 21st will be the next Hideout Block Party starring....Diplo!
Does a hip-hop show automatically lead to overreaction from security -- tales from recent Kid Sister and Salt n' Pepa shows have online conversations flowing.
You have until tomorrow (Saturday) at 2pm to get your raffle tickets for a chance at tickets to the Smashing Pumpkins benefit show at the Metro on Tuesday, 7/27. Help raise funds for severely injured musician Matthew Leone (more).
Also, if you haven't checked out WBEZ's new Music section, you can subscribe to their Thursday live music features to get easy reminders via RSS. This week's premiere "L Session" entry features an acoustic performance from St. Vincent.
If you need a good dose of bluegrass soaked rock 'n' roll with some of the smoothest vocals around, then head over to Lincoln Hall tonight and start your weekend off right with Ha Ha Tonka. Ever since I heard their Bloodshot Records release, Buckle in the Bible Belt, I've been in love with their style of storytelling and dreamy four part harmony. It doesn't hurt that they are easy on the eyes and sweet as pie to boot. If you appreciate good American roots music, and love a live cover of Ram Jam's "Black Betty" then you know the place to be this evening.
Ha Ha Tonka play Lincoln Hall tonight, Friday July 23rd, with Young Man and Langhorne Slim. The show starts at 10pm, is 21+ and Ha Ha Tonka is the second band to play. Tickets are just $14 and you can purchase them here.
There are not many bands who go nearly a decade from inception to debut album. But if it's all about honing your craft and releasing the best product imaginable, then I'm all for it. And that seemed to be the case with Keane. Their 2004 debut Hopes & Fears made a big splash stateside on the strength of singles like "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Everybody's Changing." Often lazily compared to a popular piano-driven British band, Keane's kept themselves separable with Tom Chaplin's rich tenor and relying solely on keys and percussion for instrumentation. On their sophomore album Under the Iron Sea, they progressed from uplifting pop to a darker electronic-influenced sound ("Atlantic"). But then its followup, Perfect Symmetry, returned them to a bright synthy point that practically plays out like an homage to 80s pop.
2010's Night Train simply reinforces that Keane is totally comfortable changing their sound for every release. The EP features collaborations with Somali rapper K'Naan (on 2 tracks) and Japanese MC Tigarah (on a fairly faithful Yellow Magic Orchestra cover) and an array of pushes in a half-dozen directions. As schizophrenic as that may sound, it's still all catchy. And now you have a chance to win a copy of Night Train signed by Keane ahead of their performance at the Chicago Theatre next week. Just email "NIGHT TRAIN" to contests@gapersblock.com and we'll pick 5 winners. [Update! Our winners have all been notified! Thanks to everyone who wrote in!]
Keane plays the Chicago Theatre on Wednesday with Ingrid Michaelson and Travis' Fran Healy opening. Tickets range from $49.50 to $29.50. The show's open to all ages and begins at 7PM.
In addition to the massive Smashing Pumpkins benefit we posted yesterday, a ton of other Chicago musicians and businesses are stepping up to the plate to raise money for Matthew Leone's medical bills, including two major shows at the end of August featuring some of our best local talent. The first show is taking place Saturday, August 21st at Double Door. Two of Matthew's bandmates, Nathan and Mateo, will be performing an acoustic set alongside sets from AM Taxi, The Fold, The Lifeline and David Costa. Over at the Hard Rock Hotel the following day (Sunday, August 22nd), The Lovehammers, Kill Hannah, Scott Lucas (of Local H), Makeshift Prodigy and The Frantic will be performing. In addition to the money raised from ticket sales, the Hard Rock Hotel will be donating $15 for every room booked throughout the entire month of August. A silent auction will be held at both shows featuring a plethora of items from local businesses, and an eBay auction is being held with items ranging from a signed platinum record of A Perfect Circle's Mer De Noms to a Lego sculpture commissioned by Pete Wentz.
Tickets for the Double Door show are currently on sale, and tickets for the Hard Rock Hotel show will be available starting July 26th. Both shows are 21+, $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets for both shows may be purchased here. Even if you have no interest in either of these shows, please still consider taking out your wallet and making a donation directly to Matthew Leone's Sweet Relief Fund.
What is music like when you can't hear it? It's a question that sounds like a philosophical debate on par with trees falling in the woods and single hands clapping, but this is not a question for rhetorical amusement, it's something that audiophiles as well as hearing people in love with signed languages and Deaf culture have thought about in depth. What is the deaf person's experience with an art form that is seemingly only valued by those with fully functioning cochleas?
There is a notion that music is only heard and thus, can only appreciated by the hearing. However, deaf people have a unique and challenging perspective to music that has seldom been explored outside of deaf communities. With in the deaf and hard of hearing world, there are people not only creating music, but people who love and make music a part of their lives. In this world, the various shades of gray are celebrated as the spectrum of deafness, from slightly hard of hearing to "stone deaf" are all part of this community. The experience of sound can be different for many people who's abilities with hearing are not clearly identified in terms that hearing people are used to. it is never an either/or experience, and definitely not something that the hearing world can understand completely. Most assume deaf people enjoy music solely by tactile sensations, but going beyond feeling vibrations, what is the experience of music like for someone who doesn't hear or least least like we do?
Andy Rosenstein is a busy guy these days. Skipping out on film school in LA to stay in Chicago and concentrate on music, he now splits his time between Bumpus, Terrible Spaceship and has even contributed to JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. Clip Art, however, is all his own pet project, and tonight is the group's EP release show at Empty Bottle.
I've been raving quite a bit lately about a certain band that's been described as 70's glam rock, but now it's time to turn our attention to this local band that falls in a similar arena, but is still rooted in pop. You'll hear quite a bit of piano, as on the ballad-esque tune "I Was Gone" (one you'll probably find yourself singing along to by the end), along with Elton-John-worthy belt-outs on "Better." Tonight, expect to hear some new material, see some feet tapping, some swaying--especially on the EP's title track, "Broken By Design"--and maybe, just maybe, some falsetto.
YellowFever and Mittens on Strings also play tonight, but get there early, because Clip Art takes the stage promptly at 9:30pm. Plus, Rosenstein tells us that "if you tell the man at the front that you're there to see Clip Art, you'll get a free prize!" Tickets are $8. 1035 N. Western. 21 & up.
The Smashing Pumpkins have just announced they'll be stopping by Metro next Tuesday night as part of a benefit for Madina Lake's Matthew Leone. Last month, Leone was hospitalized after being severely beaten following his attempt to intervene in a violent domestic dispute (more information here).
With no health insurance, Leone now faces a growing number of medical bills, and the Pumpkins' benefit should hopefully relieve a large chunk of that debt. The tickets will be raffled off, with $10 raffle tickets and no raffle ticket limit per person. This will not only serve to raise a great deal of money for a well-deserving musician who did a brave and selfless thing, but will also give fans a chance to see the Pumpkins for the ridiculously low price of $10. And for those of you feeling particularly charitable, VIP tickets (which will get you guaranteed entry and upstairs seating) are going for $100, and VIP tickets with sound check and meet-and-greet access will set you back $500. If the Pumpkins aren't your thing, feel free to earn some good karma and donate directly to Sweet Relief.
The benefit concert happens Tuesday, July 27th at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the show starts at 8 pm. Raffle and VIP tickets go on sale today at noon via Metro's website, with raffle tickets available until 2pm on Saturday and winners notified by 5 pm Saturday evening. Tickets are non-transferable and ticketholders must show ID at the door matching the raffle entry. Kill Hannah opens.
Brought to prominence by word-of-mouth in the blogosphere back in the mid-2000s, Tapes 'n Tapes plays an off-kilter brand of indie-rock where lush melodies are forgotten in favor of a little reverb and some lo-fi vocals, where the concept of rhythm is occasionally flouted by the staccato squeal of guitar distortion or a sudden slam!-bang!-slam!-slam! drum attack, tossed off like a splotch of paint across the canvas. Comparisons to Pavement and Pixies have been made, but the claim seems a bit of a stretch. Tapes 'n Tapes tends to have a more sinister air (at least on 2005's The Loon), as if singer and guitarist Josh Grier is delivering bad news and maybe enjoying it a little.
The Minnesota-born band hasn't released an album since the somewhat lighter sophomore LP, Walk it Off, in the first half of 2008. And a trip to the group's MySpace page shows no new songs in the works (but a "new record coming soon!!!"). Is it too much to hope the show Thursday night might showcase some upcoming material? Maybe even just a few songs off an EP? Looks like the only way to find out is to show up. The concert is 21+, and tickets are $15. Music gets underway at 9pm on July 22 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave.
Hey! We're excited to have a pair of tickets to pass along to one lucky reader, thanks to the kind folks at Lincoln Hall. Just email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Cassettes!" and you just might be a winner! (21+) [Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Katie!]
"I been all around the world...but there's nothin' like comin' home." You cant help but like Miss Melisa Young, aka MC and rapper Kid Sister. She's got an exuberant energy you only expect to see come out of a child under 10, and she's as cute as can be. Last night she came home to Chicago to play a free Downtown Sound show at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
One of the best things about music festivals is the sheer number of performances on offer over what is a relatively small span of time. Unfortunately, this can also be one of a festival's downsides, as artists play shorter sets and fans are forced to choose between simultaneous unmissable acts. Although sunshine and warm summer days are their specialty, Best Coast's early afternoon Pitchfork festival appearance always seemed easily missed by the temptation to sleep in. Considering the massive amount of dopetheysmoke, it seemed slightly wrong to set an alarm clock for a band I could stay up late and see at the Empty Bottle the night before.
After a brief tech check by guitarist Bobb Bruno, the full band took the stage. Make no mistake, however, for Best Coast's "full band" consists of three people, with this gig marking former Vivian Girls drummer Ali Koehler's first performance as an official, non-borrowed member. This minimal line-up is key to the effectiveness of their sound: short, simple pop songs that are high on fuzz, but low on fuss.
This week calls for a Friday night spent relaxing with friends, sippin' a tall one while hanging out at the Beat Kitchen (2100 W. Belmont). Oh, well, will you look at that--there happens to be a show there that very night, July 23! Mosey on over to listen to the Pear Traps, a local quintet that plays the lowest of lo-fi indie rock with garage vocals and, in songs such as "Oh How We Correlate," a mild alt-country vibe. They're opening for The Hounds Below from Michigan and fellow local group The Van Goghs. The show starts at 9:30 and tickets are only $8. Buy 'em at the door or online.
[Editors note: Our own Michelle Meywes spent the weekend racing from stage to stage in Union Park, trying to take in as much music as possible, of course, she wasn't alone, and we have a few thoughts interjected from James Ziegenfus and Andrew Huff at some opposite stages. There are also even more photos by George Aye coming soon. In case you missed them, please also enjoy Lisa White's interviews with artists from the weekend.]
Blu Blockers, Ray Bans, mustaches, headbands, skimpy clothes and sweat... ah, it must be Pitchfork weekend in Union Park. This indie music festival has certainly turned more mainstream over the past several years of its existence, selling out quicker each year, making those beer lines ever longer, but at it's heart it's still about the music.
The theme for the weekend was definitely the heat. Temps were in the 90s all three days (with the refuge of a single thunderstorm that rolled through early Sunday, but actually left things even more humid). Day one knocked the price of waters down from two dollars to one, and by day three were two-for-one. Every band's introduction included reminders to stay hydrated and keep an eye on your neighbors, pointing out the location of the first aid tent. Festival organizers were nice enough to hand out free waters to those camped in the first few rows for the evening headliners, with only one request: "Please do not throw them." LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy even thanked everyone working the fest, commenting, "You're really nice, giving people water and shit." Almost all the bands seemed to comment on the heat, including Liars' Angus Andrew, "I know you wanna look cool, but you should stay cool." One day I even walked into Glenn Frey's "The Heat Is On" on the speakers before the bands started.
Alright already, enough about the heat. If you were there, you're well aware of how hot and steamy it was. Let's get talking about the music, there was a ton of it!
Another Pitchfork Festival has come and gone, and I had a wonderful time talking to so many talented artist this weekend at the festival. I hope everyone enjoyed our interviews and amazing portrait photos from George (and Kirstie's pictures of Liars) that we posted during the weekend. This concludes all of the Conversations at Pitchfork Festival, but keep checking back as we wrap up our final thoughts on the weekend! Now time to take a nap and look forward to Pitchfork Festival 2011.
Click here for more interviews and coverage from the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival.
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
What a way to end Pitchfork, rushing backstage less than 30 minutes before Big Boi hits the stage to take some amazing photos and have a quick conversation with one of the most important figures in modern hip-hop. Big Boi talked about his thoughts on playing the festival, how he unwinds while keeping so busy, and what he hopes is the legacy of Big Boi.
Interview with Big Boi at Pitchfork Music Festival
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
We talked to Sharon Van Etten, who opened up the festival Friday, while she enjoyed a day off. We discussed the transition from an intimate venue to a festival, her creative process, and life in the Brooklyn music scene.
Interview with Sharon Van Etten at Pitchfork Music Festival
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
We sat down with Peter from Here We Go Magic before they played Sunday to talk about recording their latest album, constant touring and life on the road, and about being signed to a Midwest label.
Interview with Here We Go Magic at Pitchfork Music Festival
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
The sun finally came back out Sunday while we chatted with Adam from Bear in Heaven. The band had a long Saturday, playing the festival before heading over to play a late show at Lincoln Hall. Adam told us about influences of the band, working together, and what it's like to go from playing a sweaty outdoor festival to an indoor venue in a matter of hours.
Interview with Bear in Heaven at Pitchfork Music Festival
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
We sat down with Shawn from Netherfriends to chat about the artists he is excited to see at Pitchfork Festival, playing teenage house parties, and doing what you love. We also survive a near death experience as our interview tent almost collapses on us, proving that Pitchfork Festival always gives us a surprise or two.
Interview with Netherfriends at Pitchfork Music Festival
Before Chicago's indie set would begin to move and shake to LCD Soundsystem amid a cloud of booze and pot at Pitchfork in Union Park on Saturday night, a shorter, largely female crowd -- the majority of which wasn't old enough to drink or possibly even to drive -- was screaming and reaching for the stage at House of Blues as various performers of Jordin Sparks' Battlefield Tour did some moving and shaking of their own. The venue and musical acts represented a veritable rabbit hole of corporate entities (Live Nation via House of Blues; Sony Music Entertainment via Sparks' label, Jive Records; FOX Broadcasting company via Sparks' debt to American Idol for her rise to fame after winning the 2006/2007 season; and ad infinitum), and sadly the show itself did little to obscure its surrounding air of capitalist glad-handing.
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
If you're a fan of hip-hop, and aren't familiar with Freddie Gibbs, do so now. The Gary, IN native is swiftly rising to the top, bringing a fresh yet familiar sound to the heavy and heady style of gangsta rap. He's charismatic, humble, and one hell of a showman. He sat down with us to discuss growing up in Gary, the Midwest style of hip-hop, and where he sees the genre heading in the future.
Interview with Freddie Gibbs at Pitchfork Music Festival
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
We talked to Josiah Wolf from WHY? after they finished their set Saturday afternoon. We discussed musical influence, the bands he was able to catch at the festival, and if you listen (not that) closely, you can hear the massive dance party of LCD Soundsystem in the background. A chat with WHY? and the sounds of lasers in the background isn't such a bad way to end the second night of Pitchfork Festival.
Because I don't have cable television, I rely on my small movie collection to get me through those times when PBS doesn't deliver. A few weeks ago, I hauled out my copy of Wet Hot American Summer, the 2001 comedy masterpiece written by former The State members David Wain and Michael Showalter. As I watched it, I thought how great it was that Showalter and many of his talented former State castmates have had steady work in the industry (Party Down, Stella, Reno 911).
When Pitchfork announced its comedy lineup for this weekend's festival at Union Park, I was excited to see Showalter on the bill. I made my way through the crowd, found a nice place to watch the set, and for the next 30 minutes, I watched a surprisingly painful and embarrassing performance that made me wonder if after all the brilliant ensemble work he's done, Showalter works best in a scripted, more controlled setting.
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
I sat down with EL-P after his performance Friday at Pitchfork. We chatted about working with Trent Reznor, what type of work scares the shit out of him, and what he believes is the future of hip-hop and music.
Gapers Block sat down with some of the artists at the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Click here for more interviews and coverage from the festival.
I started my Pitchfork Festival as soon as the gates opened, racing across the field to chat with Liars before they headed to load-in. We chatted about sleep deprivation, their love of the Midwest, recording covers, and getting the toxins out on-stage.
Courtney enjoys a smoke on stage (photo by Andy Keil)
Back when I was 15, I caught Hole live for what ended up being the second concert I had ever attended. Back then, there were more chicks in the band, Courtney Love played the entire set topless, and a rude attendee in a Nirvana t-shirt spent the entire time heckling the band. Eleven years later Hole stopped by the Vic in support of their new album Nobody's Daughter, and Courtney was just as rambunctious, worn out Nirvana tees still proved to be a popular wardrobe choice, and the band was slightly more clothed. Having heard some not so great reviews of Hole's recent shows in other cities, I wasn't expecting much, but Courtney remained surprisingly lucid and on-point throughout the night.
Eric Sean Nally of Foxy Shazam (photo by Andy Keil)
To start off the night, Cincinatti-based glam rock band Foxy Shazam took the stage donning fur and sequins. Wearing what he deemed his "Jim Henson coat", singer Eric Sean Nally began the show by screaming into the mic, "I'm a stupid white guy and I ain't got no soul, but that is why I rock, and that is why I roll." Between their ridiculous stage banter, gyrating on the mic stands and jumping on their instruments, this band teeters the line between tongue-in-cheek and just plain idiotic, however it all just adds to the spectacle that is Foxy Shazam. While they may be more than slightly contrived, they put on one of the most entertaining stage shows I've seen in a long time.
Piano player Sky White of Foxy Shazam (photo by Andy Keil)
BTW, tickets are still available for Saturday's Lilith Fair stop in Chicago at Northerly Island. In case you were wondering. Or wagering.
What unites the U.S. Congress? Voting on naming a Wrigleyville post office for Steve Goodman. (It passed both the House an Senate with unanimous Yea votes.) Way to be.
Least surprising is that there is and has been Chicago-style politics at play for the Lollapalooza beer vending contracts.
Our staff is pretty excited about the upcoming Pitchfork Music Festival. We'll will be in the mix, with an ear on the stages, along with a table at the CHIRP Record Fair tent. (We fall under "other delights." Come on over and say Hi, buy a GB t-shirt or one of our fabulous anniversary party posters.) Remember to check out all the other non-performance activities this weekend including Flatstock, the Rock for Kids' auction booth, the Coterie craft fair, and more. Transmission writer Lisa White be bringing you daily coverage, as well as a festival wrap-up after the weekend's over from Michelle Meywes (all paired with photos by George Aye), but for now, here's our thoughts on what you can hear in Union Park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Like many bands in town this week, the Brooklyn-based band Bear in Heaven are heading to Union Park to play the massive (and sold out) Pitchfork Music Festival.
Their most recent album, Beast Rest Forth Mouth, received the best new music award from Pitchfork, claiming, "Beast Rest Forth Mouth is as familiar-feeling as it is difficult to pinpoint. Mostly made up of textural, spacious three- to four-minute pop anthems with towering choruses, it's a welcome reminder that an album doesn't have to be bombastic to feel huge and important. Though not quite coming out of nowhere, Beast Rest Forth Mouth seems like a surprise gift--a striking consolidation of the spiky psych-prog tendencies of their debut into a pop framework."
While in town for the festival, the band will also be playing a show over at Lincoln Hall, so if you're not a fan of outdoor sets you can catch them Saturday night. The show is 18+ and starts at 10:30pm. Tickets are $14, or $7 with a Pitchfork Festival wristband.
Want to hit up the show for free? We have a pair of tickets for one lucky reader. Just email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject "Grrr" and you and a friend could hit up the show for zero dollars. [Update: We have our winner! Congrats to Ashley!]
Tesco Vee in the early days, photo from his website.
Tesco Vee first published the punk zine Touch and Go with Dave Stimson in 1979, when the two were grade school teachers in Michigan. They published 22 copies in all, which have recently been compiled into a new book titled Touch and Go - The Complete Hardcore Punk Fanzine 1979-1983, and comes in at a hefty 576 pages.
In addition to his publishing ventures, Tesco Vee is the front man for The Meatmen and The Hate Police. The Meatmen made fun of the hardcore punk scene, and used uncouth and humorous lyrics in their music. There are at least three Meatmen songs with the word "suck" in the title: "French People Suck", "Crippled Children Suck," and "Camel Jockeys Suck."
On Saturday Tesco Vee will be reading at Quimby's Bookstore (1854 W. North Avenue) to promote Touch and Go at 7pm, and later that evening will be performing at The Abbey Pub (3420 West Grace Street) with the Hate Police, White Flag, and Fester. The first 50 people in the door at The Abbey Pub will get a free copy of the DVD Meatmen - Devil's in Detail. Doors open at 9, show starts at 9:30, tickets are $12. For info on the For more information call 773-478-4408 or visit The Abbey Pub.
Venus Zine is partnering with Kanine Records, Wao Wao Record, InSound, and SoundScreen Design to host a special, free installment of its After Hours series post Pitchfork, featuring Brooklyn's We Are Country Mice, known for their lively rock, and L.A.'s Pepper Rabbit, a psych-pop band heavy on the instrumentals.
Venus Zine readers and guests are also invited to dance, dance, dance to the DJ sets following the live performances, including Delorean, a Spanish alternative dance band, Real Estate, a psychedelic surf pop band, and Headlights, an American indie rock band.
A night of national and international music begins at 9pm on July 16 at Beauty Bar, 1444 W. Chicago Ave. Send an RSVP to rsvp@venuszine.com. RSVP is required but will not guarantee entrance. Photographers are welcome.
Having grown up in Spain, toured the U.S. as a guitarist with Calexico and traveled throughout Mexico, Jairo Zavala's solo project, DePedro, is a bluesy, boozy patchwork connecting the Spanish old country to the American West to everything south of the border. Elements of Madrid, Texas and Tijuana can be heard throughout, and Zavala's voice has the sweet, sad lament of a Mariachi three drinks in and reduced to singing alone.
The Spaniard and his backing band will take the stage Tuesday night at Schubas as part of a larger tour in support of the band's self-titled first album, which you can hear portions of on the DePedro MySpace page. Standout tracks include the accordion-heavy "Te Sigo Soñando" and the eerily, dreamily pedal-steeled goodness of "Two Parts in One." The show is 21+, and tickets are $12. Music starts at 8pm on June 13 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave.
Our friends at Schubas gave us two pairs of tickets to give away to two lucky readers for Tuesday's show. Just be one of the first two to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "DePedro!" and you and a friend can have fun for free tomorrow night. [Update: We have our winners! Congrats to Bryan and Kevin!]
You don't have to forget about your Lollapaloozas or your Pitchforks, but you must at least remember this: for four days in August (19th through 22nd), The Viaduct Theater (3111 N. Western) will host almost 100 (as in ONE HUNDRED) sets by nearly as many experimental/noise/sound-art/drone acts from around the world. In a year where the 3-day noise festival circuit has a major hole in its schedule (NYC's No Fun Fest has taken 2010 off to focus on overseas events), it's noteworthy that Chicago has picked up the gauntlet and given seasoned noise travelers who made Brooklyn a permanent spot on their calendar a new summer destination.
Specifics: Both 4-day and single-day tickets are available now at the Neon Marshmallow Fest web site. Four-day tickets are running low, and if you know the size of the Viaduct, you know that this room isn't unlimited, so if you can't stand to miss this or that act, you best ante up before the first deal.
Below the jump, we'll talk about some the big names, legendary acts, and local heroes in attendance this year.
A large group of people awoke Saturday morning to bruises, dislocated shoulders and a case of tinnitus. These are the people that went to see Toronto band Fucked Up play at the Empty Bottle Friday night. The Bottle, despite the name of the bar was packed with eager fans awaiting to see the six piece ensemble. The show was a tribute to the spirit of early hardcore and a true resurrection if punk was ever really dead.
The night was opened by two bands that held their own in the intensity of the night. Vortis were delightfully loud and punk rock in both sound and beer spitting visuals. Tight Phantomz played a satisfying set infused with a harsh progressive-epic sound. By the time they were ending the place was shoulder to shoulder with Fucked Up fans, a pretty awesome energy to be a part of.
The band came on slowly, tuning while all around me the question was "Have you seen them live before"? We were a mix of loyal fans as well as speculators wanting to get a taste of what we knew we were missing. I being the later was a little nervous. The last time I could remember this kind of raw punk excitement was seeing Nomeansno at the Fireside Bowl in the late 90's. For a moment it was a quick homecoming back to those days and yet, I had very little understanding about this band or how they were live. All I knew was a few of their songs and that they had released Couple Tracks: Singles 2002-2009, a collection of their prolific body of work this past January.
Gainesville, Florida's Against Me! has been touring with Silversun Pickups promoting their new album, White Crosses. It is their second album since signing with Sire Records in 2005. If you missed this show, don't worry, they recently announced they'll be back to play Chicago at Lollapalooza on Saturday, August 7th.
When we're not mopping our collective brows, we're inside the air conditioner, where it's coolest, looking at things online:
Big Rock Candy Mountain makes up for lost time in praising Chicago music by offering up a swinging mix for your enjoyment.
Get The Hood Internet's latest free mixtape by signing up with Anatomy Magazine.
More free mix fun from Creamteam with Summerfun from Hard Mix.
First annual Great Midwest Ukefest is coming up on August 22nd right here in Chicago at Chief O'Neill's. Details on Facebook.
Can You See the Sunset from the Southside really got me liking Stegosaur.
Fake Shore Drive posts an aptly timed behind-the-scenes video of Mikey Rocks (Cool Kids) recording a rap song "The Choice is Yours" to lure LeBron James to Chicago. Well, we know how that worked out now.
Fake Shore Drive also posts a rumored track list for the upcoming Kanye West album due out this fall.
Chicagoist has Lilith Fair on the "deathwatch" after they've cancelled 10 dates nationally and headliner Kelly Clarkson pulled out of the Chicago stop of the resurrected tour.
As the city gears up for another solar pummeling this weekend — with forecasts predicting hazy sun and humid, mid- to upper-80s weather — Millennium Park is set to host its latest bash of the outdoor festival season. The Great Performers of Illinois 2010 show runs Friday through Sunday, bringing together everything from classical acts for your inner-aristocrat to sun-drenched, California-inspired pop that's sure to fit your wardrobe.
Friday kicks off with an old-fashioned square dance and a Xian Zhang-conducted rendition of Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 (a sweeping dose of Finnish nationalism from the early 1900s — you can catch a snippet of it here if you're not familiar). Saturday and Sunday feature more modern fare, including performances by local acts such as Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra, Canasta, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Plastic Crimewave Sound, Pretty Good Dance Moves, rock /classical violin virtuoso Rachel Barton Pine and Chicago native Greta Morgan, returning from the West Coast to play with her new band, Gold Motel. The entire event is free, and other activities, including wine tastings and chainsaw carving, will also be on hand. So if you're already braving the heat, here's a good reason to head downtown.
From blues to jazz to post-rock, we are a city filled with a rich musical history that can compare to no other. What is even more important are our personal histories, stories and memories. The Metro for many of us is a strong part of what helped shape our formative concert going years and a place where we still create memories and recall some of the best shows of our lives.
That history is now documented in a benefit compilation entitled Metro: The Official Bootleg Series, Volume 1. The compilation includes live tracks from local favorites The Alkaline Trio, The Sea And Cake and Tortoise as well as The Decemberists, Guided By Voices and Sleater-Kinney. The album will be available July 22. All profits from sales of the CD will be donated to Rock For Kids, a local non-profit which provides music lessons for underprivileged youth in Chicago. Advance copies of the CD will be available at the Rock For Kids booth at the Pitchfork Music Festival next week. For $20 you can grab a piece of the past, what makes a huge part of our lives and possibly hear yourself cheering in the background.
Tracklist:
Metro: The Official Bootleg Series, Volume 1:
1. The Flaming Lips: "Race for the Prize"
2. Guided By Voices: "Fair Touching"
3. Sleater-Kinney: "You're No Rock 'n' Roll Fun"
4. The Decemberists: "We Both Go Down Together"
5. Indigo Girls: "Galileo"
6. Alejandro Escovedo: "I'll Follow You Down"
7. The Sea and Cake: "Jacking the Ball"
8. Tortoise: "Along the Banks of Rivers"
9. Alkaline Trio: "Radio"
10. Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin and Kurt Elling: "Freedom"
Dex Romweber is a force of nature. A legend in his own right, Dex's sound lies somewhere between rockabilly, surf guitar, and pure rock — a testament to his earlier years with psycho-surf guitar-punk band Flat Duo Jets. You might have seen them perform in the '80s and '90s or alongside R.E.M. and other Georgians in the indie film Athens, GA Inside Out in the mid-'80s. Joined on stage by his sister, Sara Romweber, beating the hell out on drums, these two make a super duo emitting sparks of rock from their fingertips.
The Duo's recent albums sum up their sound so well, the first, 2009's Ruins of Berlin has a polished though still rough sound, something like a well-made cocktail that burns so good on the way down. The second, 2010's limited edition vinyl Live at Third Man was recorded in February at none other than Jack White's Third Man Studios in Nashville for a extremely lucky crowd of a couple hundred. This one is raucous, fast, and sweaty. It hits you like a slug of whiskey straight out of the bottle, and leaves you begging for more.
[mp3] Dex Romweber "Picture of You" from Ruins of Berlin
Super contest time! Bloodshot Records has graciously provided us with a pair of tickets to the show and a signed copy of Ruins of Berlin on CD. Be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject "Dex!" and you and a friend will be in attendance for zero dollars (and you'll get something fun in the mail, too). Must be 21+ to attend. [Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Holly!]
Fans of "Glee" might be interested in the RockNRoll Chorus, a group of high school students from New Jersey whose a cappella versions of classic rock songs seems ripped straight from the TV show -- except that the Chorus first toured in 2007, when "Glee" was still a gleam in its creators' eyes.
RockNRoll Chorus will bring their act to Navy Pier on July 20, performing at noon on the Dock Street Stage. It's a free show.
Got the There's Nuthin' to Do on Friday blues? Not so fast, friend. There's a fun show at the Jackhammer (6406 N. Clark St.) on July 9 featuring punky popsters Suzy Brack & The New Jack Lords; Pieptone!, a group that does '50s & '60s pop music in German; and Cat and Mouse Convention, Chicago's "premiere Filipino and Jewish indie rock band." If that weren't enough, members of the Girlie-Q Burlesque troupe will be on hand to thrill and titillate the audience.
The event is brought to you by those purveyors of all things fab and fun, the Flesh Hungry Dog Show. The show starts at 9 p.m., and you can get tickets online for $8 or at the door for $10.
the ChristMisfits in full regalia at their Songs of the Season show last December at Lilly's, photo by Marie Kelly.
Misfits tribute bands are a longstanding tradition that includes bands like Crimson Ghosts, The Nutley Brass, and The Misfats, who bill themselves as "the fattest Misfits tribute band ever." In recent months the list has grown by at least one: The ChristMisfits, a Chicago-based tribute band who made their debut over the holidays at Lilly's dressed in Santa hats that fell over their faces in a metaphorical devil-lock hairdo. They came armed not only with instruments and vocals, but with songbooks printed on faux parchment paper so that fans could follow along to altered Misfits songs with titles like: Gratitude; Where Reindeer Dare; and I Turned Into a Snowman.
The band returns to Lilly's this Saturday for ChrisMisfits in July, and have added six never-before-heard songs to their repertoire. The ChristMisfits are comprised of Bret Tanzig on "vocals & gifts", Jonny Only on "bass & scream", Jeff Wolfgang Von Frankenstein on "guitar & tights", and Lizzie "Robo" Cook on "drums & tinsel". I spoke to them by phone and email to get some perspective on their upcoming show.
For the last two years Chicago DJ outfit Flosstradamus have been spinning a fine collection of funky soul that you can cut a rug to throughout the city at their monthly Oldies Night parties. Well, it's been a good run, but it's time to find a new place to take your dancing shoes, because Oldies Night is having their finale this Thursday at Lincoln Hall.
The invite says it best that this was "a super awesome party and we're sad to see it go," so head out to Lincoln Hall and say thanks and get down one last time. The night will include sets from Flosstradamus, a Dirty Diamonds dj set, Xavier Velez & Ben Pirani of Windy City Soul Club, plus other special guests.
Flosstradamus & The Dirty Diamonds Present Oldies Night Finale - 2 year anniversary, Thursday July 8th at 10pm at Lincoln Hall. The event is 18+ and cost $5. Get your tickets at Lincoln Hall now.
New York Songwriters Circle returns to Schubas once again tonight to feature some of Chicago's best, yet undiscovered musical talent. Julia Klee is one of these songwriters. She has a varying music style all the way from rock to country and folk, and a voice to be jealous of. A classically trained singer and pianist, she has performed backing vocals for Joe Pug, but tonight she takes the stage with a band of her own, performing her own material.
Starina is a no nonsense, Joplin-esque songwriter, with a style firmly cemented in rock. She's got a haunting cover of Blondie's "Call Me" on her MySpace page that you have to hear.
These are just a couple of the artists that after seeing tonight, you'll want to keep your eye on. Show starts at 8pm. Tickets are $10. 18 & up. 3159 N. Southport.
While fireworks explode in the alley, we're reading things online:
Kid Sister's "Big N' Bad" video hasn't come out yet, but the behind-the-scenes video has.
If you really need a new Kid Sister video, check her live performance in NYC at Webster Hall singing "Do Do Do."
Andrew Bird, a longtime supporter of Rock for Kids (an organization which provides music education to Chicago kids who can't get it anywhere else) has announced the Andrew Bird Rock for Kids Scholarship to provide one year of music instruction to a worthy student enrolled at ChiArts (Chicago High School for the Arts). Learn more and donate.
Pitchfork is playing blog roundup with its latest venture Altered Zones, to launch mid-July. It'll be an international music blog collective but no Chicago blogs on that bill (so far).
Chicago blogger Chris Catania of the Live Fix takes a long look at why concertgoers riot after a scheduled Drake show in NYC turned very bad very quickly when the crowd quickly surpassed expectations.
Need to get through the afternoon with a smile? Keep an eye out for Schubas' weekly Friday playlists selections you can stream from work, er...your own computer. Here's last week's gem from Digital Media Director Brendan Fitzpatrick.
The Reader previewed Chicago sound object artist and musician Nick Butcher's show at the Bottle.
Bloodshot artist Robbie Fulks covers Michael Jackson with his album Happy.
Bonus play: What future-famous lead singer originally fronted '70s rock band Montrose? (Be the first to answer this bit o' trivia in the comments below and we'll send you a Transmission sticker.)
Tuesday night, Lincoln Hall offered up a double helping of Texas hospitality served the right way. San Antonio's Hacienda got things started with a physical set that was equal parts blues, country, and hard rock. With cowboy boots and button-downs, each member looked the part of a Texas rancher, all while their own on the stage. Immediately, their heavy, southern rubber-band jam style resonated with the crowd. One highlight was an impromptu cover of "Wooly Bully," with keyboardist Abraham Villanueva on his feet pounding at the keys and taking over lead vocals to rile up the crowd. But, the band was at their best when they were the loudest. Each song breaks down somewhere in the middle into heavy jam sessions, with each member taking command of their instrument and the space around them. It was best exemplified in the final song of the set, a sprawling, raucous jam that showcased their heated style of country blues.
Hacienda keyboardist Abraham Villanueva
With the crowd geared up, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears hit the stage with some serious energy. They're a seven-piece blues band complete with a trumpet and two saxophones, but it was Lewis who clearly owned the show. Slim, wiry, and explosive, he's a Dave Chappelle look-alike who conjures James Brown.
Because I don't have cable television, I rely on my small movie collection to get me through those times when PBS doesn't deliver. A few weeks ago, I hauled out my copy of 
Our staff is pretty excited about the upcoming 
