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. ✶
Rising indie stars Paper Thick Walls are set to release their debut music video "Orange Tree" at Schubas on Friday and if you've been following them on Facebook at all, you know they're pretty darn pumped about it. Lucky for anxious Gapers Block readers, we've got an exclusive first look at the new music video. The video, which was directed by Kevin Pickman and Stefeni Tormanen, is simple and sweet with the obligatory owl usage. It suits the kitsch-less-catch of "Orange Tree" and more importantly finally answers the age old question of what two Indie kids would do if they were stuck in a tent all night.
Lead singers Kate Schell and Eric Michaels make loving their light and breezy harmonies easy by blending lyrics with an assortment of pleasantly interesting instruments such as the trumpet, upright bass and fiddle. With their soft voices and deep instrumental backgrounds, they give slight deja vu to The Stars; they are the kind of band meant to perform a NPR tiny desk concert.
Although none of the band members are originally from Chicago, they are headquartered here or, as the band puts it, "stuck for the time being" like the dysfunctional family that they are. (For more on their complex connections, read playground misnomer's interview with the band.). With the backing of sound engineer Mike Hagler (Neko Case and Wilco) and performances at SXSW, NXNE and Summer Fest already under their belts, it looks like this Chicago-trapped band is set to become a Chicago favorite.
Paper Thick Walls fans have two options for seeing the band perform this weekend. They will perform along with Dastardly and Sleeping in the Aviary on Friday at Schubas. Show starts at 9pm and tickets are a steal for eight bucks. Fans can get an even better deal by stopping by the Paper Machete show at The Horseshoe (4115 N. Lincoln Ave.) on Saturday at 3pm for a free show. Live it up, Chicago!
Dwyane Wade knows talent — and he wants everyone to know that his hometown, Chicago, has plenty of it. This past weekend at the Chicago Theater, the NBA superstar held "D. Wade's Chicago Has Talent," a youth-inspired showcase held in conjunction with his fourth annual Wade's World Weekend.
Hosted by Chicago comedian Lil Rel and television personality Rocsi ("106 and Park"), with celebrity judges including "Windy City Live's" Ryan Chiaverini, Chicago's own funnyman Damon Williams and singer/actress Drew Sidora, the event featured a twelve-contestant competition with acts from the world of music, dance and spoken word.
Labor Day weekend may be upon us as the unofficial end of summer, but that doesn't mean that outdoor festivals are finished for 2011. The AV Club's Fest is coming up soon and the Hideout Block Party is a month away, but if you're up for a weekend out of the city, Champaign might not be a bad spot from September 21 through 25. The Pygmalion Music Festival returns for its 7th year with arguably its best lineup yet featuring Explosions in the Sky, Cut Copy, Braid, Gang Gang Dance, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the Dodos, Japandroids and a bunch of other acts, including a gaggle of great locals. Polyvinyl Records' 15th Anniversary highlights this year's festival on Saturday, the 24th. Ahead of this year's festival, Transmission chatted with founder and organizer Seth Fein. Even though full festival passes recently sold out, single show tickets are still on sale. Visit pygmalionmusicfestival.com for details on the whole weekend.
Transmission: What was the initial inspiration for Pygmalion when it began in 2005? Seth Fein: Basically, I just knew that Champaign-Urbana could support a festival like this one. I had been to AthFest in Athens, GA and had heard of Bloomingtonfest in Bloomington, IN, so basically, I had the model that I wanted to work with. I wanted to give it a name that has significance to me and the community and I landed with Pygmalion: in honor of Slowdive's last record from 1995, and to pay homage to Richard Powers' novel, Galatea 2.2 -- a true modern day Pygmalion story.
T: What are expectations for Pygmalion now in its 7th year? Do the expectations increase each year based on the prior year's success? SF: I think just above all, that it feels more professionally handled and that the level of artistry is improved. I spent a lot of time working with my existing sponsors and a handful of trusted agents to bring together this year's lineup. I think it was a success. Expectations for me are simply to just be able to present a solid night of artists every night of the festival. That's definitely been the case the past three years in my estimation.
T: How did the Polyvinyl 15th Anniversary show come together? And has it been the intention that, as the festival grew, there'd eventually be an outdoor event? SF: I work closely with the label, and seeing as how [label manager] Seth [Hubbard] is a best buddy of mine, it was a natural extension of what we'd done in the past. In 2006, we did the 10-year, and I reckon that 2016 will be the 20-year. That one will likely tear the town down. As for there being an outdoor show, not necessarily. It's something I'd thought about for a while, and even once stated that that would never happen, but I have a tendency to change my mind, and fast.
T: Each year features a lot of Champaign-area bands that are new to many out-of-towners. How critical is it to balance the national headliners with the locals? SF: Very. That's part of the intention of the festival. I want to be able to expose both locals and out-of-towners to our great music scene here, and one of the ways I can do that is to have a bunch of them performing at the festival. It's a great pleasure of mine.
T: What's the most satisfying thing about organizing Pygmalion? What do you do on September 26? SF: I think just participating in the local culture here in Champaign-Urbana. I grew up here, and I actually stayed because I could see all that the town had to offer, and all the ways in which the town could grow. I hope that I am making an impact in that arena. September 26 -- hopefully my wife (festival photographer Justine Bursoni) will accompany me to a round of golf, and a nice dinner somewhere. Then, I will sleep and start planning for 2012.
T: There're a handful of animal-based acts on this year's lineup: The Dodos, Deerhoof, Bear Hands, Hedgehog, Iron Tigers, Mammoths, DJ White Rabbit, Why I Like Robins, Year of the Bobcat. Anything to read into that other than it's a common theme in band names? SF: I think bands are just bands in that way. Bummed there was no "wolf" band, though. Wolves rule.
I received a welcome surprise at the Paper Machete on Saturday when Chicago's own Briar Rabbit took the stage for the show's musical portion. I had heard of Briar Rabbit (also known by his given name Philip-Michael Scales) before but had never quite committed to seeing a show. Luckily fate stepped in and I finally had the chance to hear the singer-songwriter perform his sweetly sung stories of heartache, heartbreak and the never-ending search for true Indie love.
I've wracked my brain for two days now trying to find the appropriate comparison for Briar Rabbit but all I can come up with is a poor comparison to Jason Mraz with more head bobbing and a twinge more soul in the edge of his voice. As Paper Machete's host Christopher Piatt said "That is pretty music right there."
If you would like a chance to hear the pretty music along with a bunch of other Indie prettiness, check out Briar Rabbit along with Josh & The Empty Pockets , Band Called Catch and Snow 'n Charm at Lincoln Hall on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. Show starts at 8pm and will only set you back 8 small ones. Briar Rabbit promises it will be a show filled with Indie goodness. When questions what Indie goodness is, B.R. shrugged and said "It's like gumbo; you're not sure what's in it but you know there will be rice." Sounds delicious.
What a year it has been for Dexter Tortoriello. It was last October that his band Houses (with Megan Messina) released their debut album All Night through Lefse Records. The buzz started before that on the strength of the single "Endless Spring" (video below), but it was All Night that took them to CMJ, SXSW, and around the world. This also opened up opportunities to remix tracks for bands like The One AM Radio, Sun Airway, Active Child, A Lull, and others. You can check out the Houses remixes here. Also during 2011 Dexter released a solo project through Mad Decent under the moniker of Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross. Earlier this month he made his Chicago debut as DGRC at Mad Decent Block Party, and this weekend Houses will perform their first Chicago show as headliners. They are performing at Schubas on August 27th at 10pm with Pet Lions and Prussia.
Tomorrow night (8/26) Chicago's own An Aesthetic Anaesthetic celebrate the release of their first full-length album--Before the Machinery of Other Skeletons--at the Beat Kitchen.
It would be easy to compare the music of this four-piece instrumental act to the sludgy, heavily distorted churns of Chicago brethren Pelican or Russian Circles, but then you'd be ignoring the playful, mathy guitar lines that flow seamlessly in and out of BTMOOS, the types of fretboard-tapping breakdowns that call to mind yet another set of Chicago veterans, Maps and Atlases. Case in point: "Fortune Animal Cookie." And, if you focused too heavily on the influences these bands had on AAA's first full length, you might not be able to appreciate the seemingly effortless theatrical reveries that its songs possess--the types of sonic beauty that are most commonly traced back to genre standouts Explosions in the Sky.
[This preview comes to us from writer Lee Zickwolf.]
Victims have been going strong as D-beat punk legends for about 15 years now with a recipe of non-stop touring and recording. With substantial influences such as Discharge, Motörhead, Totalitär, and Skitsystem you already get the impression that once this band starts they don't let up until the lights come back on. The perfectly gritty amp sounds coupled with lead singer/bass player Johan's voice are not to be reckoned with. Many bands sound "angry" but it's usually sounds practiced and therefore forced. The way Johan sings gives you the feeling that he's 100% honestly pissed about the things he's singing about like how ridiculous the idea of borders are, human rights, and different government issues amongst other things.
With their fifth full-length release A Dissident comes a U.S. tour in August, with a stop in Chicago tonight at Panchos. This album has, dare I say, a more matured almost progressive feel compared to their other releases. It is the first time on an album that two songs have gone over the 3:30 mark. All the rage and bile is definitely still apparent with songs like "Victims in Blood part 6" and "Broken Bones." One song, "In Control" has a more rock feel that will have you banging your head instead of the usual thrashing. A band that thrashes this hard usually burns out or gets stale after about the third release, but Victims somehow add a little something different to each album but keep the ferocity they are known for. Usually a band has this "vision" of how they're going to change the world single-handedly but Victims know "No, we're not the future, but we'll keep fighting 'til the end."
Supporting Victims are Chicago's Eunuchs (members of Hewhocorrupts), Full On, and Tension Generation. If you are looking for a night of people belting out songs as if they were on fire, people jumping off things, and general discourse — this show is for you.
Music starts at 7pm tonight at Panchos (2200 N. California Ave) and it's all ages.
[About the author: Lee Zickwolf is a music nerd to the highest degree and newly transplanted from the east coast.]
Did you ever wish that Rogue Wave were folkier? Well, then have I got something for you! After the release of Rogue Wave's 2010 Permalight, singer Zach Rogue recorded a handful of rough demos and added some gorgeous male/female harmonies (with the help of Kate Long) along with a breezy folk sound under the moniker Release the Sunbird. The guitar work on the project's debut, Come Back to Us, at points is reminiscent of Nick Drake, but the subject matter is much more uplifting. Fans of early Rogue Wave will spot similarities between Out of the Shadow and Come Back to Us in its simple songwriting that fills up with elegant instrumentation.
Release the Sunbird headlines Schubas this Saturday, the 27th. It's an early show at 7PM that's 21+ and $14. However, your friends at Transmission are giving away a pair of tickets to this show. Write into contests@gapersblock.com with "Come Back" in the subject line for a chance to win. [Update: We have a winner! Congrats, Anna. And thanks for writing in, everyone.] Schubas is at the corner of Belmont & Southport.
Pearl and the Beard is all the good things you would expect from a hipstery indie folk band from Brooklyn. They have well-thought-out lyrics, woven harmonies, instrumental experimentation...all wrapped up in a lovely ugly handmade sweater. In addition to beautiful voices and exceptional glockenspiel-playing talent, they also seem to have a sense of humor and adventure with music. One of their most popular YouTube videos, a tribute to Will Smith, is a testament to this. In more traditional Brooklyn style, they also have a video at the 57th Street subway stop.
Hopefully, by now these videos have convinced you that you need to see Pearl and the Beard live. Well, luckily they will be at the Darkroom in Ukrainian Village on Thursday at 8pm along with Bob Dey's Tank Engine Man, The Great Crusades, and Andy Lund. Tickets are $8 and available at the door. Darkroom is located at 2210 W. Chicago Ave. (773) 276-1411
Chicago band All Eyes West play at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., with emo/post-hardcore band Braid this Saturday. AEW is vocalist/bassist Justin Miller, guitarist Jeff Dean (The Bomb, Noise By Numbers), and Rick Fast (Dialogue) on drums. Doors open at 8 pm, is 18+, and is $16. You can get tickets and more info about this show here.
All Eyes West is set to release their self-titled debut album on Jump Start Records tomorrow, Aug. 23, which was recorded by Jeff Dean at Million Yen Studios. You can stream the entire album here. If you can't make it to Metro this Saturday, catch them at Reggie's Rock Club, 2105 S. State St., on Sept. 10 with Samiam.
Head over to Double Door - 1572 N Milwaukee Ave - on Friday, September 9th for an acoustic set by Brendan Kelly (bassist/vocalist of The Lawrence Arms, former bands include Slapstick and The Broadways). Supporting him are Swayback from Denver, CO. and Ratasucia featuring Dan Hanaway and Chris Carr of The Honor System.
Doors open at 8:30 pm, is 21+ and is $8.
You can buy tickets and get more info of this show here.
It's still a long haul to get us through the rest of 2011's concerts, but if you want to set yourself up with a secure five days of music in the dark days of January 2012, you can do so tomorrow. Friday at noon, you can purchase a discounted 5-day pass for Schubas/Lincoln Hall's long-standing Tomorrow Never Knows Festival which will run from January 11-15, 2012 at multiple small venues in Chicago. The music will play on for five days at the aforementioned clubs (which have curated and played host in years past) and also at new TNK participants The Metro, Smart Bar, and The Hideout. The list of participating bands has not yet been released, even in short form, but you can go ahead and take a chance that, like years past (see 2010, 2009, 2008), the lineup will be awesome, and well worth the effort of donning your heavy winter coat and actually leaving the house. A 5-day pass will set you back $75 at this special early bird price and will be available starting Friday, August 19th at noon in limited quantities. (Note: Festival shows are 18+ at Lincoln Hall, Schubas and The Metro, but performances at Smart Bar and the Hideout will be 21+.)
Zaireeka and Liz Tooley, co-owner of Permanent Records (photo by Kirstie Shanley)
Not the usual friend to run into at a record store, Zaireeka was Permanent Records' furry friend who greeted patrons at their Chicago store (1914 W. Chicago Ave.) and silently approved of purchases no matter how outlandish. Sadly, the store just announced that a few months ago, Zaireeka moved to join their new L.A. outpost, and soon after died. They have a long Facebook post about the tabby who made me pretty gleeful every time I visited the store, and they'd love to hear your favorite memories with her. My thoughts go out to the Permanent Records store staff and all of the patrons like myself who will miss Zaireeka very much.
High Places are preparing to release their next album Original Colors through Chicago's Thrill Jockey. This is the duo's third full-length in the five years that they have been together as High Places. The duo will be giving fans a preview of the album this Sunday, August 21st, at 4pm as part of Logan Square's Summer Music in the Park Series. This is a free event, but they are asking that you RSVP here so they can get a count of who is planning to attend. Opening for the band will be Magic Key, the latest project from Aleks Tomaszewska of Aleks and The Drummer.
Portugal. The Man announced on their blog today that the Chicago Police have recovered most of the gear stolen along with the band's tour van and trailer the day after Lollapalooza.
Labor Day weekend is about relaxing, right? So why not get a little smooth? Stay Smooth XV (actually the third installment) is a one-night DJ party on the big white yacht in Monroe Harbor (note: boat does not sail around — so you won't get sea, er, lake sick!). If you're keen on rocking to some smooth '70s and '80s tunes from some of our favorite local DJs (STV SLV of the Hood Internet, for one, Bald E. for another) then this is the night you've been waiting for all summer. Entertainment also includes a special all-45 RPM set from Matt Rucins, plus a live set of smooth jams by Quadraphonica. "Yacht wear" is strongly encouraged (think captain's hats, knee socks, tropical shirts, '80s dresses, platforms and flip flops), as is a smooth attitude.
What is "Yacht Rock"? Well it's that special kind of smooth tune from the 1970s and '80s you might associate with legends of the radio like Michael McDonald or Christopher Cross. It's about letting the sea breeze take your cares away while you sip on something cool and fruity. It also is about Hall & Oates. HALL and OATES, people. It's just plain awesome — yeah, that's it.
This evening of smoothness takes place on Sept. 3 (a Saturday night) from 7 to 10pm at the Columbia Yacht Club in Monroe Harbor. Check out details and see pictures from last year. Tickets are $40, (if still available, they can be purchased for $50 on 9/3 at the harbor) which includes admission and a hosted bar on the big boat. There's also a free trolley from Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave.) to the harbor for your convenience. Start the evening off early at 6pm with a pre-party at Lincoln Hall, and later on at a Lincoln Hall afterparty starting at 10:30pm, with Auto-Tune Karaoke, plus DJ LA*Jesus and DJ PHNM. VIP packages also available.
While we're humming the theme to "Love Boat" we're often online checking out cool stuff about music in Chicago.
Head over to the Old Town School of Folk Music's store this weekend for a humongous sale on absolutely everything. August 13-14, 9:30am-4:30pm at the Lincoln Avenue store only. (4544 N. Lincoln Ave.)
Sadly, the London riots are being dramatically felt in Chicago as stock belonging to local labels Thrill Jockey, Drag City, and Touch and Go were destroyed in fires at their London warehouses. Additional info.
Big Rock Candy Mountain blog has another installment of their Six Pack in the Middle of the Road series of special vinyl cuts from their collection.
Hot Biscuits has a special track courtesy of Irish producer Screendeath.
Get your dance on at the Mad Decent Block Party this weekend in Wicker Park. It's free, and will feature Curren$y, Dillon Francis, Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross, Bosco Delrey, Kito, Reptar, Lunice, BBU, Benzi and DJ Say Wut.
Daytrotter's popular touring party, the Barnstormer 5, will hit locally in Monticello, IL on September 5th (that's Labor Day). Grab tickets to enjoy White Rabbits, Wildlife, Princeton, Hacienda, and Hundred Visions.
A review of Kanye and Jay-Z's Watch The Throne collaboration in the Sun-Times.
Kanye and Jay-Z aren't the only hip-hop dream doubleteam right now. The other is Common and Nas, whose "Ghetto Dreams" has been rocking turntables and booming out of cars for the past month. The official video just debuted; thanks to Fake Shore Drive for the tip.
"Ghetto Dreams" is on Common's forthcoming album, The Dreamer, The Believer, due out Nov. 22.
This slideshow comes to us by contributor Niki Fritz, a freelance writer, nonprofit worker, casual yogi, non-bra-burning feminist and, of course, lover of Chicago. Check out her blog dedicated to feminists in Chicago at 3rd Wave in the 2nd City.
In an unfortunate postscript to Lollapalooza, Portugal. The Man's tour van and trailer -- containing all of their equipment -- were stolen from an attended parking lot near Grant Park sometime after 7am today. The band sent out a plea for assistance via Twitter this afternoon:
If you hear anything about Lollapalooza on Sunday, I'm sure it will be that it
rained..twice..hard. But the true brilliance of the rain, was the ingenuity of
Lollapalooza goers to adapt to the torrential downpour. From stacking tables on
top of each other to rooting up fencing to take shelter, fans everywhere seemed
to construct make shift forts to wait out the rains. And after the rain abated, fans
rallied, soaked but ready to take in the last day of Lolla. When the second wave
of storms hit in the middle of Foo Fighters, the field was a mud pit but fans rocked
away with impressive dedication. -Niki Fritz
Lollapalooza crowd by Steve Wrubel for Lollapalooza
Saturday was off to a difficult start before I even got inside Lollapalooza. I was wedged next to a guy trying to get into the overcrowded Monroe entrance, his toe torn open and bloodied. Not a good sign of things to come, as temperatures crept up and some of the crowd was whiny and clearly on edge. I did appreciate the brutal honesty of the guy out front, who I assumed was selling tickets but instead asked me "do you have a blunt I could buy?" while standing less than two feet from a Chicago police officer. Lollapalooza; where all manners and human intelligence tends to fall to the wayside. Meanwhile Niki Fritz also encountered some problems upon entering the grounds.
On Saturday afternoon, the 20th anniversary wristbands that Lolla organizers no
doubt spent months designing, failed to do the one thing they needed to do: work. A
large majority of wristbands failed to scan. Instead of allowing wristband wearers,
fans $200 invested in Lolla, to pass, they made swarms of hot wet fans wait while
two employees jogged from one entrance to the next scanning people in manually.
EPIC FAIL. -Niki Fritz
I kicked off day one like many Chicagoans going to Lollapalooza, heading to my regular day job in business casual festival attire before trekking down to Grant Park after an early exit to jumpstart my Lolla weekend. I'll be reporting all things Lollaplooza this weekend for Gapers Block, along with contributions from writer Niki Fritz. Keep reading for more about Friday at the festival, and keep checking back all weekend for more Lollapalooza coverage from Gapers Block.
It's amazing what people will endure for the sake of nostalgia — 90 plus degree temps, oppressive humidity, noticeably absent a/c, short people jammed into taller peoples' armpits, random sprays of liquids (sweat in the worst case beer in the best case). According to the Metro crowd, it was all worth it when the first deep beats of Alkaline Trio's Derek Grant's kick drum pounded over the heat or when Dan Andriano's bass line commanded head convulsions. The hometown punk trio ran through an athletic 22 song set, including one Violent Femmes cover, in front of their signature skulled heart, awash in aggressive red lighting.
Alkaline Trio on Monday night at the Metro (Photos by Katie Hovland)
Lollapalooza's three days of ten hours of music on eight stages is more than any one person could completely experience all by themselves. It all comes down to key decision-making and planning. We've spent the last week running down all of our picks for some of the hardest match-ups over the weekend, and what follows is a full list of our picks for who to see and who to miss. Keep an eye on Transmission all weekend and next week as we review choice sets and after-parties around town.
As you head into the third day of the Lollapalooza trifecta, there's no need to slack off. Get there early, get your sunblock on, and get ready for some tough choices as where to spend your last day of the festival. See our picks for sets to hit (or miss) and the full Sunday lineup.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 7
12:45 - 1:45pm - The Joy Formidable vs. Titus Andronicus
You've got to hand it to the Joy Formidable — even if their name was a little bit jarring for singles like the Bukowski-mauling "My Beerdrunk Soul Is Sadder Than A Hundred Dead Christmas Trees," they certainly found their sunshine for breakthrough single "Whirring", which was released in 2009 but found traction just this past year. If the Welsh rockers won't get onto quite as many mixtapes as their predecessors Super Furry Animals, then it'd be hard to hold up Titus Andronicus to their Jersey counterpart. (But who on earth dares stand up to The Boss?) Unlike JF, the Titus boys (and girl) aren't quite scoring commercials yet, but their hungry rock is gaining critical acclaim, and last year's The Monitor offers some blazing guitars and vocals somewhere between McClusky and...Springsteen? Alright, too soon, but Andronicus will provide if you want to rock out with a cheap can of beer and some Jersey pride. - Dan Morgridge
Don't say we didn't warn you. Foo Fighters will be warming up for their Lollapalooza headlining spot with an intimate show at Metro Saturday night. Tickets are $60 a pop and go on sale in an hour (11 am) over at Metro's website. There's a two ticket limit, and the ticket holder must show his or her ID at the door to get in. The Joy Formidable opens. Get on it.
UPDATE: Obviously the Metro website is getting a ton of traffic right now, so if the website is slow try this direct ticket link.
An excerpt from Tony Conrad's performance in the Bergman Gallery at The Renaissance Society, January 23, 2011.
The Renaissance Society has been recording its contemporary chamber concerts since the 1990s, and it's going to be airing a selection of the standouts on CANTV over the next few months. Set your DVR to record every Sunday from August 7 through October 7 at 8pm to catch them all.
Chicago rap duo The Cool Kids (aka Antoine "Sir Michael Rocks" Reed and Evan "Chuck Inglish" Ingersoll) are hot on the heels of their first full-length album (after many free mixtape and single releases online over the years) with When Fish Ride Bicycles (Green Label Sound). With some great jams, including "Swimsuits [ft. Mayer Hawthorne]" and "Bundle Up" (both of which really highlight some of the most notable parts of living year-round in the Midwest), the album is great for some slow cruising on a hot summer night, or heading down the highway to your favorite getaway. Either way, put that elbow outside the window while you listen, for maximum cool.
The fellas are performing at Lollapalooza this weekend, but they're also jamming at an official Lollapaloza after-party at Reggies Rock Club (see our full list of Lolla pre- and after-parties), and we want you to get in for free. We're giving away a pair of tickets to one reader. Just email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Cool!" and you and a friend will get in for free on Friday night. You must be 18+. [Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Gavin!]
If you're not a winner, or just don't like contests, catch The Cool Kids at Lollapalooza on Sunday afternoon at Perry's Stage at 3pm, or at Reggie's at 10pm on Friday, August 5th along with DJ RTC, The O'My's, and GLC. Tickets are $20. 18+. Reggies Rock Club is located at 2109 S. State St. (312) 949-0121.
The weather this weekend looks pretty manageable for once during Lollapalooza, and you'll have a whole two more days to enjoy it when you wake up Saturday morning. Here are our picks for sets during the day that might require you to make some hard choices. See the full Saturday lineup.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH
12:45 - 1:30pm - Disappears vs. Walk The Moon
Chicago's Disappears bring a reassuring psych/garage/punk sound to the Bud Light stage early Saturday afternoon. Their latest release, 2011's Guider, opens up with an echoing vocal stretch overtop droning guitars and cymbal crashes. It's the kind of music I make sure to buy on vinyl and have on hand for sunny afternoon. If you need a solid set of music while you chill out and connect with friends before all the cell phone power gets sucked out of Grant Park, this might just be your jam. By contrast, Walk The Moon (who also play a sold out Lincoln Hall show with Local Natives Friday night), is much more of a dance-tastic rock band with influences by Phoenix, Happy Mondays, or Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. and loads of gnarly keyboard action, they come straight at you with clubby sing-alongs like "Anna Sun" (stream or download their album i want! i want!). The Music Unlimited stage where Walk The Moon will perform is likely where the club kids and loads of teeny tiny backpacks in the shape of teddy bears can be found. If you'd like to get your bounce on, maybe apply a little facepaint before you get all sweaty, head to their stage when you get to the park. - Anne Holub
You don't need a ticket to Lollapalooza this weekend to see all of your favorite bands - most of them will be playing after-parties and smaller clubs around the city. And as for those bearing the heat and going to the festival, Lollapalooza pros know to steer clear of the pricey piece of crap beer selection at the festival, stay hydrated and save boozing for the after-parties, wherein every liquor company or music publication is willing and eager to inject the stuff into your veins for free. At the very least, your chances of an Elijah Wood sighting over the weekend are pretty high.
Want to be in the know and impress all your friends? Keep reading.
Thursday
What: GUESS and Nylon Magazine are kicking off Lollapalooza weekend with a night of free cocktails, a photobooth, a performance by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and DJ sets from The Vaccines and L1ght. Where:GUESS store (605 N. Michigan Ave.), 6 - 8 pm How to Get In: R.S.V.P. to guessrsvp@guess.com. Event is free.
We get going with a set of posts this week to help you decide how to spend your three days at Lollapalooza this weekend, August 5-7, 2011 in Grant Park. Today's breakdown pits bands in clashing time slots on Friday, and helps you decide where to point your flip-flops. See the full 2011 schedule options.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 5th
12 noon - 1pm TAB The Band vs. Wye Oak
You may want to ease into what will be an epic festival weekend in Chicago this weekend, but that doesn't mean you necessarily want to start out quietly. While grabbing some (yet untrampled) grass by the Sony stage and enjoying Lollapalooza opener Wye Oak would garner you some sweet songs by this dreamy duo, that may or may not be how you want to go. The Baltimore band (whose name, incidentally, comes from the official state tree of Maryland) has occasional fuzz and drums and powerful lyrics, but at the end of the day they are pretty (often very pretty) but not rock n' roll dirty. TAB The Band, on the other hand, might just be the drink of choice as you're psyching yourself up for what's a marathon, not a sprint. While their lead singer/bassist is a member of a royal rock family (Adrian Perry is Aerosmith Joe Perry's kid), he's also got a backup career option that has nothing to do with his ability to play bass &mdash he's an attorney. Adrian's brother, Tony Perry, is also in TAB The Band and the group's 2010 release, Zoo Noises, brings a kind of Southern Rock sensibility to the stage, with some loud harmonies and amplified jangly lyrics. It's likely to be the stage where you first feel the bass in your collarbones this weekend, and that goes a long way to making you wake up, now doesn't it? - Anne Holub
Did you ever wish that Rogue Wave were folkier? Well, then have I got something for you! After the release of Rogue Wave's 2010 Permalight, singer Zach Rogue recorded a handful of rough demos and added some gorgeous male/female harmonies (with the help of Kate Long) along with a breezy folk sound under the moniker 
