Stores Thu Dec 19 2013
You've done it again. You've flaked the date. It's just a few days till Christmas, and you haven't gotten anything for anyone and now you'd have to pay up the wazoo to get anything shipped in time. But wait! We have a solution that's a win/win: Shop local and get that music-lover on your list something awesome this year. (No, a new tree-shaped car freshener isn't awesome. Stop it.)
You might be able to wait until Christmas Eve to shop, but I wouldn't recommend it. Some businesses will have limited hours on Tuesday and most will be flat-out closed Wednesday, so get out today and get going!
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— Anne Holub
Preview Tue Dec 17 2013
Tonight brings Chicago's true harbinger of the holiday season; "The Second City 24 Hour Letters to Santa" extravaganza, benefiting families who need a little help in fulfilling their children's Christmas wishes. Second City will host comedy and musical performances for a full day, with onstage acts as well as exclusive webcasts from some indie-rock heavyweights.
Highlights include in-person performances by punk rock mainstay (and Hüsker Dü alumnus) Bob Mould, as well as Chicago's own breakout band, J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound. Fred Armisen of Portlandia fame will make an appearance, and acts such as St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Louise Post and Nina Gordon of Veruca Salt will be firing up their laptops for webcast appearances from cities around the country. The Post and Gordon pairing is a particularly sizable catch, as the duo has not played together publicly in 15 years. Veruca Salt recently announced a re-forming of their original lineup and plans to release new material in the coming year.
The show begins at 6pm tonight (with doors opening an hour earlier), and will continue until 6pm on Wednesday. Tickets are $20, which gets you entry for the entirety of the show, and they'll be sold at the door throughout the event on the basis of seat availability. The full performance will also be streamed live at letterstosantachicago.com where you can see a full performance schedule and make a PayPal donation.
— Pat Donachie
Preview Tue Dec 17 2013
Upon my first listen to The Pines' music, it was reminiscent of my favorite folk bands, all jumbled into one, familiar and inviting. Recognizing their influences, this comes as no surprise now; vocalist Benton Ramsey's father Bo Ramsey, also a musician, worked with folk legends such as Joan Baez and Lucinda Williams as he produced and performed music. A songwriter, he imparted this lyrical gift to his talented son, who joined forces with David Huckfelt and brother Alex Ramsey to form The Pines in 2002. They'll be making a tour stop at City Winery on Wednesday night, sure to stun listeners with their vulnerable approach to folk music.
After several years of playing music together, the group accumulated banjo player Michael Rossetto, bassist Chris Morrissey, drummer J.T. Bates and guitarist Jim Hanson in Minneapolis. A more full-bodied sound, the group has been able to cultivate their folk roots into a layered sound sure to both warm your heart and chill your bones with the emotional range the songs possess.
Having released three full-length albums, the group has delved into their sound completely, which presents listeners with a stark representation of an emotional intimacy unprecedented in so many instances in our every day lives. They've played SXSW, opened for Mason Jennings, and have been featured on countless outlets for their raw approach to timeless folk music. Take a listen to a live recording of "All The While" and take a gander for yourself at their magnificent representation of their craft.
The Pines play a show at City Winery on Wednesday, December 18, opening for Yarn. Tickets range in tiers from $12-$18, and the show begins at 8pm with doors opening at 6pm. City Winery is located at 1200 W. Randolph, (312) 733-9463.
— Sarah Brooks
Radio Mon Dec 16 2013
Throughout the year, you might catch Andy Cirzan and John Soss diving through crates of records with just one thing on their minds: finding the most ridiculous Christmas music out there. This isn't your Lite FM Mariah favorites, or even the weird B-sides from your favorite childhood Santa spin. These are some weird, strange, and otherwise non sequitur holiday oddities — and they're so much fun! All the effort starts to pay off as we creep closer to the 25th. Catch Andy and John on the radio several times over the next week.
I seem to always be go-go-go each year when Andy appears on WBEZ's Sound Opinions, but luckily we can download all his latest Christmas mix for free, or listen to the show online or below:
If you like your radio live, here's where you can catch John and Andy do their Christmas spinning on your FM dial over the next few days:
- Tuesday, December 17th from 10pm–Midnight on WXRT Radio 93.1 FM with "The Eclectic Company" hosts Marty Lennartz and Jon Langford. Listen online by clicking the "Listen Live" box.
- Sunday, December 22nd from 1–3pm and on Tuesday, December 24 from 10pm–midnight. Hear some vintage "Christmas Club with Johnny and Andy" programs on WDCB Radio 90.9 FM or listen online.
— Anne Holub
Concert Fri Dec 13 2013
King Krule (Photos by Cody Davis)
King Krule, the stage name Archy Marshall, may be the most confident 19-year-old you will ever see. Sometimes when such a young artist hits the stage, a few missteps are expected. They possibly may not have enough maturity or experience to fully capture the attention of crowd. This is not the case with King Krule. Having played on Letterman and Conan earlier this year, they have displayed that he and his band can grip an audience quickly and tightly. King Krule took control of the very animated Lincoln Hall crowd and never considered the possibility of losing them.
Tops started of the night with their incredibly danceable pop music. Tops' sound is warm and soft, which is a striking contrast to that King Krule, whose music wallows in deep bass and sharp guitars. They seemed like a bewildering choice to open the show, but after a few notes into their first song they felt like they were the only choice to open. Someone in the crowd yelled out to the band, asking who they were and where they were from, to which Tops guitarist David Carriere responded, "We're you and we are where you're from."
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— Julian Ramirez
Blog Fri Dec 13 2013
Every year, it goes without saying that I really look forward to the start of holiday songs posted to Chicago blog Big Rock Candy Mountain. If you're not familiar, BRCM often features tunes from early rock and country artists. Hidden gems, if you will. Little diamonds in the pile of coal. If you'd like to fill your Christmas playlist with songs other than the standard fare (at times maudlin, and sad, but still wonderful), head on over to the Big Rock Candy Mountain every day till Christmas, and click away at the awesome.
Case in point, today's featured George Jones tune "Maybe Next Christmas" [mp3].
(Photo courtesy Big Rock Candy Mountain.)
— Anne Holub
Concert Thu Dec 12 2013
(Photos by Brianna Kelly)
Christmas spirit was all-aglow in Park West on Saturday night for the 11th Annual Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger Acoustic Holiday Show. The halls were decked from the venue's entrance to the stage. People in red and green, some donning festive hats and gaudy sweaters, eagerly filed in to find a spot and post up for the sold-out show that benefited The People's Music School.
The stage was converted into a makeshift family room, complete with all of the comforts of home. The two guitarists from local jam band Umphrey's McGee, Brendan and Jake, sat next to each other on a couch as they strummed away on their acoustic guitars. The atmosphere was very intimate, which paired nicely with the stripped-down tone of the performance.
They kicked off the show with a slew of unplugged Umphrey's originals. Some already featured acoustic guitars, like the melodious "The Pequod," and others did not, like the usually bass-heavy "Puppet Strings."
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— Brianna Kelly
Concert Thu Dec 12 2013
When they started out as a band, The Kills had very minimalist songs and a mysterious aura. Instead of being Jamie Hince and Alison Mossheart when they performed, they were Hotel and VV. They embraced a cool aesthetic that shunned traditional popularity. Comparisons to The White Stripes were inevitable, but through years, The Kills have changed their tune somewhat (so to speak). Their last two albums added a more varied production to their minimalism. It's hard not to see them as bigger and a bit less mysterious given Hince's marriage to Kate Moss and Mossheart's collaborations with Jack White. But all of these notions fell to the wayside when they started playing their set at The Vic Monday night.
Opening for The Kills was U.S. Girls, an eccentric and very experimental project of Meghan Remy. Usually Remy performs alone, with only some loopers and mixers to fill in for live musicians. However, this performance featured a very full band accompanying her on stage. After a very quiet and humble greeting to the crowd, loops of electronic noise filled the Vic. It was a loud abstract prelude that slowly introduced Remy's penetrating voice. Moments later the band tore into the song, instantly making U.S. Girls' music sound fuller and more complete. The live drumming especially added an interesting depth to the songs. "Island Song" started off with her haunting vocals before being transformed into a bouncing rhythm barely recognizable from the way it sounds on U.S. Girls on Kraak. Even with all the help, Remy still utilized some familiar equipment from her completely solo shows. She could be seen occasionally crouching down and fiddling with knobs on her mixers, creating interesting transitional pieces that allowed the songs to flow into one another. Unfortunately this seemed to extend their set and caused it to end prematurely with Remy teasing the audience about an unplayed Bruce Springsteen cover.
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— Julian Ramirez /
SXSW Thu Dec 12 2013
It's hard to believe the year is nearly over, and SXSW, the annual festival and conference on music, film and the internet down in Austin is only a little over three months away. Each year in Transmission, we take a look at which local musicians will be performing at SXSW Music March 7-16, 2014 to give those of you attending the fest an idea of who to keep an eye out for. And now that the first two rounds of showcasing artists have been announced, there are enough locals to file a report.
And yes, it took two rounds for there to be enough to bother. With more than 500 acts announced, fewer than 10 are from Chicagoland. They are: Andrew Belle, The Autumn Defense, Circuit des Yeux, Empires, Rockie Fresh and Urge Overkill, as well as The Giving Tree Band from southwest suburban Yorkville and K'La from Gary.
Sure, that's pretty light representation, but don't forget that this is very early -- the full schedule, usually released in February, will provide a clearer picture of how strong Chicago's presence will be felt in Austin. If you're planning to go to the festival, get your tickets and book your room ASAP, as most of the hotels close to the epicenter are already sold out.
As always, we'll be bringing you coverage of Chicagoland acts at the SXSW Music Festival as it happens. Stay tuned, and read our past coverage of the fest in the archives.
— Andrew Huff
Concert Wed Dec 11 2013
Singer-songwriter Tift Merritt, who's been opening for Andrew Bird at his Gezelligheid concerts this week, just announced that she'll be playing a show at the Logan Square Comfort Station, 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave., this Friday, from 7 to 9pm. Tickets are $20, and seeing as the Comfort Station maybe has a capacity of 50, you better get on that ASAP. And wear a coat.
— Andrew Huff
Concert Wed Dec 11 2013
Motown may have begun as just another record label; however, with a roster of groundbreaking artists like The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Jackson Five and others, it quickly skyrocketed into a pop culture phenomenon.
Having an impact that has reached beyond music to other areas that include fashion, film, movies, theater, and television, Motown, the brainchild of founder Berry Gordy, is responsible for some of the most memorable melodies in music history.
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— LaShawn Williams /
Review Tue Dec 10 2013
Cass McCombs' has often been compared to Bob Dylan or Neil Young, but those comparisons seem a tad too simple. McCombs has the ability to summon a sense of anxiety, and even a touch of anarchy, into a style of music that can sometimes err on the side of being overly sedate. This was put front and center during his sold out show at the Empty Bottle last Friday.
Opening the evening was Baltimore band Arboretum. With a Rhodes keyboard accompanying a bass/drums/guitar setup, the sound emanating from the stage evoked raggedy Appalachian folk melodies backed by pulsating post-rock. The instrumentation was muscular, and surprisingly bass-heavy in contrast to the pinched twinge of Dave Heumann's vocals. His guitar playing was given ample time, as the songs stretched over minutes of instrumental breaks, and tentative guitar arpeggios and swells gave way to more conventional, searing leads.
McCombs and company took the stage and lumbered into "Big Wheel," the (sort of) title track off his newest release, Big Wheel and Others. The tune's circular guitar riff was accompanied by a hypnotizing drumbeat, with the stuttering rumble of the toms reverberating throughout the room. It drew my focus towards Joe Russo, the man behind the kit; I was hooked on his playing all night as he expertly balanced intricate beats while maintaining the spare dignity so many of McCombs' songs generate.
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— Pat Donachie
Feature Tue Dec 10 2013
By Elliot Mandel
'Tis the season for long underwear and glögg. And bars with fireplaces. And brass. Lots of brass.
Dame Myra Hess Concert Series
If you find yourself hankering for brass music this time of year, get a taste of something beyond traditional. The adventurous Gaudete Brass Quintet explores the breadth of brass repertoire in a program that alternates between contemporary and Renaissance composers, including Jonathan Newman's Chicago-inspired "Prayers of Steel." Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Follow that with the lush Brahms Piano Trio No. 2 and Piazzolla's "Spring" from his Four Seasons of Buenos Aires as violinist David Bowlin, cellist Si-Yan Darren Li, and pianist Spencer Myer set up under the Tiffany dome. Wednesday, Dec. 18.
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— Elliot Mandel
Preview Tue Dec 10 2013
Copenhagen has been getting an increasing amount of attention recently for their flourishing punk scene. But as bands such as Iceage and Lower become ad hoc ambassadors for the disenfranchised youth of the region, another band that is quietly emerging is Holograms.
A few years ago, after a few singles of theirs went viral, the young band were signed to Captured Tracks, recorded an album, and went on tour around Europe. This turned into a series of discouraging events such as their van being broken into and finding themselves stranded in Paris with no money for several weeks.
Upon their eventual return home to Stockholm in the dead of winter, they found themselves in a weird insomniaic fog. Nothing, seemingly, had changed. They had no money or jobs. They found themselves restless with boredom. Conceived out of this sense of isolation, they started to record their second album, Forever. The album has a full sound to it, channeling the bleakness of bands such as Joy Division as well as the melodramatics of Swedish metal bands such as In Flames.
Check out the video for their latest single, "Luminous," below.
Holograms play tonight, December 9th, at Schubas (3159 N. Southport.) This is a 21+ show. TV Ghost opens. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.
— Justin Freeman
Concert Tue Dec 10 2013
Drake and Miguel want to know: Would You Like a Tour? Perhaps a more unnecessary question has never been asked. Two of the biggest crooners in the game hit Chicago's United Center this Thursday. Drake and Miguel need not worry about their fan's desire for a tour; 2013 has proven to be big years for both artists. Miguel's 2012 sophomore record, Kaleidoscope Dream, finally took off, both by the virtue of it being an incredible record containing more sultry burners than Drake has failed relationships and a long overdue radio presence.
Which brings us to Drizzy Drake. Mopey Millenial attitude aside, when Drake dropped this September's Nothing Was the Same, it managed to strike the perfect tone between his narcissistic hedonism and his EveryDude, shrug-at-the-fame front.
You gotta give it to him, though: Drake has proved to have some killer instincts when it comes to music. The fear of being a one-off is long gone, and with his bourgeoie claws firmly gripped on Top 40 and the last vestiges of "traditional" hip hop (whatever that means), he has rightfully earned his place as one of the most exciting artists of the last five years. With his now-trademark moody sonics courtesy of Noah "40" Shebib, Drizzy's longtime producer and fellow Canuck, and Drizzy's painfully self-aware flow, it's hard to imagine that formula dying down anytime soon.
As for the Drake/ Miguel cocktail that Chicago is about to enjoy, I'd guess that the only real concern one should have going into this show is how to avoid the swarm of panties that are sure to be thrown onstage. These are two of the most sensual dudes in the game, and damned if they don't bring their Lady-Killing smirks to Chicago this week.
Drake and Miguel will perform at United Center, 1901 W. Madison Street, this Thursday at 7pm. Tickets begin at $59.75.
— Emma Gase
Video Tue Dec 10 2013
Local "progressive sci-fi yacht metal" outfit Royale has released a video for its new single "1981."
Drummer Nate Bauman put together the video using clips by designer and animator Mike Winklemann, aka Beeple, who collaborates with Flying Lotus and whose Creative Commons-licensed animations have been used by such acts as Amon Tobin, deadmau5, Skrillex and more. Bauman says that after he contacted Beeple, "He ended up sharing his whole catalog of animations to use under one condition. He said, 'You have to promise me one thing; that you'll have fun.'"
"Initially, I immediately thought of something you'd typically see on CN and Adult Swim," Bauman explained. "Then I remembered Daft Punk's initial popular videos. Even Queens of the Stone Age have done multiple videos with animated characters. The foundation of the video is this man hooked to a chair in laboratory with scientists conducting experiments on his brain. With each psychedelic cut and transition, we are seeing through the eyes & brain of this poor man being experimented on. "
You can stream "1981" and listen to more from Royale on SoundCloud.
— Andrew Huff
Review Sun Dec 08 2013
Chance the Rapper just may be the new American Dream. A product of the city's south side, Chancelor Bennett found himself sometimes ridiculed by his peers and teachers for dreaming big and being told instead to have more sensible aspirations. Bennett rejected these notions and somehow got himself suspended from school for ten days. In reaction, he holed up in the Harold Washington Library's digital media lab, YOUmedia, and recorded his debut mixtape 10 Day. This was barely two years ago. In the time since, everyone has seen tremendous growth from him. I've seen him transform from a promising upstart at small clubs to a charismatic performer at larger venues, but none as large as the almost arena sized Riviera Theatre. Would he be able to captivate such a large audience and make the leap to the next level? The answer to that turned out to be unequivocally yes.
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— Justin Freeman
Concert Wed Dec 04 2013
We're always looking for a good excuse to post one of Chicagoland hero Jan Terri's legendary music videos, so I was pleased to discover that the VHS star will be performing at Reggies next week. Her cult favorite music videos have gained newfound popularity on YouTube - the most famous of which is appropriately labeled "Worst music video ever". And now, Terri is finally being featured in a documentary on her life and her rise to viral video glory. Per the Sun-Times, next week's show will be taped as part of the film "Jan Terri -- Badder Than Ever".
Jan Terri plays Reggies' Rock Club Wednesday, December 11th at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here. Blue Ribbon Glee Club opens.
— Stephanie Griffin
