Concert Thu Jul 17 2008
Didn't get your act together to make it to this years Pitchfork? Don't want to fork over the cash for another summer hipster fest? Tonight's latest installment in the Music Without Borders series at Millennium Park should be enough to whet that indie appetite for awhile.
While it may be a bit of a stretch for a "world music concert series", the Pitchfork Music Festival Preview night, which goes up in just a few hours, features four acts who will all be at the festival as well, but are giving us just a little sprinkle for taste in this free preview. Taking the stage tonight will be the the indie band from space, Fleet Foxes, representing Elephant 6's international/ polka constituent, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, a "Gypsy brass band" found in Boban Markovic, and Thrill Jockey's own Extra Golden.
It's a wonderful day outside, get out and enjoy the free rock.
Pitchfork Music Festival Preview Night
Music Without Borders Concert Series
Jay Pritzker Pavilion
TONIGHT, 6:30
w/ Fleet Foxes, A Hawk and a Hacksaw, Boban Markovic, and Extra Golden.
**FREE**
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Emily Kaiser
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Concert Thu Jul 17 2008
How would you define the word prolific? How does five albums in six years sound? London musician
Ed Harcourt has done just that, and his fifth,
The Beautiful Lie, may just be his best yet. Recorded on an eight-track in his grandmother's house in Sussex, on a piano made for her back in 1917, with the drums set up out in the hallway, this album echoes with warmth and maturity. At the age of 30, Ed is finally coming to terms with life and love, and as with most people, he does not always like what he sees. He has questions like, will you love me when I’m old, and why are good friends so hard to find? Yet, the honesty in his voice and the beauty of his music leaves the listener believing that all of this is more than just a beautiful lie.
[MP3] Ed Harcourt - The Beautiful Lie
Shifting from piano driven pop to heart breaking ballads to stadium anthems, Ed Harcourt has crafted a brilliant album, and you catch him live tomorrow night (July 18th) at Schubas with Jeff Klein. The show statrts at 10:30pm, and it is 21+. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Wed Jul 16 2008
Often when a small band makes a plea for you to buy their merch at a show, they'll remark that all the cash they make from the t-shirts and CDs is going to go directly into their gas tank so they can continue on their tour. In the reality of nearly $5/gallon gas, it's a wonder that some small bands are able to go on tour at all.
The other side of that coin is when you're a bigger band, already headed out on tour, maybe in a bus or a two, you're going to make a pretty big carbon footprint as you motor around the country. Or, if you're a band that draws a lot of fans, or playing a gig (e.g. festival) that will draw a large audience, the very people who love you the most are going to leave the biggest carbon footprint. In light of that, at least a few artists heading to the Chicago area are trying to minimalize their impact on the environment.
In a fan newsletter out today, Andrew Bird (who'll play for free in Millennium Park Sept. 3) is requesting that fans help to reduce the show's carbon footprint by traveling to the show via footpower, bikes, or public transit.
[A new version of a video for Bird's song "Lull", featuring Chicago band Dianogah, from the Daytrotter Session is here.]
In a style true to their minimalist indie-rock moniker, Duluth, Minnesota group Low is using a portion of ticket presales for their Sept. 17th show at Epiphany Episcopal to pay for carbon offsets for their fall tour.
[A video for Low's song "Breaker" can be viewed here.]
Do you think about your carbon footprint when you head to a show? How about an out-of-town festival (or for that matter, a Chicago one)? Would you consider changing your travel plans (or buying carbon credits) based on the environmental impact?
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Anne Holub
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Contest Wed Jul 16 2008
Don't have your tickets to the Pitchfork Music Festival yet? How's a three-day pass for free sound? We've got a pair to give away, courtesy of Boost Mobile -- just email contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Pitchfork Booster" by 5pm today. We'll choose a winner at random from the entries received. Be sure to include your name, phone number and an address where the tickets can be overnighted to you if you win. UPDATE: We have a winner! Congratulations to Jen!
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Andrew Huff
Venue Tue Jul 15 2008
Drums and wires: Mahjongg
The guys in the L.A.-based noise-rock outfit HEALTH haven’t exactly made things easy for anybody, least of all themselves. First there’s their choice of a Google-that-again name, and the fact that their debut album of last year threw the trend jockeys for a loop with all of its abrasive jolts, asymmetrical arrangements, and spectral vocals. Throwing another curveball into the mix, the band managed to somewhat placate pop-minded listeners when they recently released the follow-up HEALTH//DISCO -- a bubble-wrap remix affair in which artists like Crystal Castles, Acid Girls, and Drop The Lime gave the band’s debut a club-oriented workover.
HEALTH will be playing this Friday night at the Hideout. Better yet -- in an act of astute matchmaking for the evening’s billing, they’ll be appearing alongside Chicago’s own electro Afro-funk experimentalists Mahjongg. Both groups will be performing early on the Sunday schedule for Pfork Fest; but if you’d rather experience both groups in the more cozy and conducive confines of a club, Friday’s show makes for an ideal opportunity. Alex & the Drummer are also slated to play. Doors open at 10 PM and tickets are $10.
For Saturday night’s post-Pfork soiree, the Hideout will be hosting a special edition of their Saturday night dance party event. To celebrate being named “Best Dance Party” by the Chicago Reader, the Hideout’s throwing a big eight deejay pile-up of a throwdown. Scheduled to spin for the evening (in order of appearance) are: DJ Treetop Lover, the East of Edens Soul Express DJs, Gutterbutter DJ Logan Bay, Bald Eagle and Mother Hubbard of the Life During Wartime DJs, and Smashing Time DJs Mary Nisi and Carrie Weston. It all gets underway starting at 9 PM and admission is free.
For further details, see the Hideout’s website, and our own feature run-down of this year’s Pitchfork lineup.
[video]: HEALTH - live (via Pitchfork TV)
[video]: Mahjongg - "Teardrops"
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Graham Sanford
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Concert Tue Jul 15 2008
One look at Justin Schweim (bass), Bradley Hale (drums, vocals), Cacie Dalager (vocals, guitar), and Britty Hale (keyboard), and you may think you understand why this Minneapolis band is called
Now, Now Every Children. However, don’t let their height or their baby faces fool you, they do pack a very potent punch. Bouncy keyboards and jangly guitars mesh with the Cacie’s soft yet powerful vocals. Yet what has brought them the most attention has been their silly and original videos that attempt to not only introduce themselves to their fans, but to also befriend their fans. Since February they have released two eps, and now are in the studio recording their debut full length.
[MP3] Now, Now Every Children - Everyone You Know
Check them out tomorrow night at Reggie’s Rock Club as they take a break from recording. They will be appearing with Section 4, Mother Electric, and You. The show starts at 8:00pm, and is 17+. Tickets are $5 adv $8 day of show.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Fri Jul 11 2008
Sic Alps killed me in just over 90 seconds - it didn't take much time at all. The 1:30 slice of perfection in question is "Bells (with Tremolo and Distortion)," off of their recent Description of the Harbor 12-inch (don't bother looking, it's long gone, unless you've got $75 and an Ebay username to spare) and it just nailed me - it's like a breath of air straight out of Lenny Kaye's record cellar, a lost psychedelic Nugget(s) lifted from obscurity, dusted off, and then killed and reborn anew, because it's not a cover, it's a new song with moves for moderns. The main lyric is pretty much one line: "I don't care 'bout what you say/meet me down on the lawn, lawn lawn," and that might not even be how it goes! The singer drawls the last word so exquisitely, it's hard to tell. Or care. (Youtube video here…count the visual music references/influences!)
Continue reading this entry»
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Chris Sienko
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Concert Fri Jul 11 2008
Urge Overkill may have had some blows in the '90s when they pissed off a few people and then bombed when their stock was highest post-Pulp Fiction, but the missed potential doesn't erase the fact that for a few years they had the ingredients to be a highly successful American rock band and often delivered excellent results. Even nearly twenty years later tunes like "Ticket to LA" and "The Candidate" sound remarkably raw yet accessible, in a way that anyone who lived and loved alternative rock in the early 90s would know. But that was a long time ago that they took those blows. After a seven-year hiatus ending in 2004, Nash Kato and King are the centerpieces of an Urge Overkill perhaps not so bent on the things that led to their downfall a decade ago. Now they just rock out as veterans with a certain panache.
Chicago garage rock quartet Suffrajett has been rather quiet since their 2007 album Black Glitter. They'll open and hopefully showcase glimpses of what they've been up to since then. Lonesome Cougar also plays. Doors open Saturday at 8PM at Bottom Lounge and $20 gets you in for the rock'n'roll.
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James Ziegenfus
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Concert Thu Jul 10 2008
American Ghost Dance: These Are Powers
The hometown three-piece Pit Er Pat will be poking their heads up to play a headlining set at the Hideout this Sunday evening. No doubt that they'll be treating everyone to some selection from their forthcoming album High Time, which is due out on Thrill Jockey in October. Word has it that the band has (once again) been exploring new territory with the music lately, gravitating to a more guitar-oriented, dub-inflected sound. Here's your chance to get a preview dose.
Another great reason to catch the show, however, would be the self-described "ghost punk" trio These Are Powers, who'll be playing a supporting set on the billi. For the second summer in a row, These Are Powers are taking a summer off from their usual Brooklyn haunts to hiatus in Chicago. After last year's summer stint, they took Brenmar Someday drummer Bill Salas into their ranks before heading back to home base. Judging from their new Taro Tarot EP, Salas was the ideal candidate the position. Bassist Pat Noecker and guitarist Anna Barie have crafted a bewilderingly intense and inexplicable sound -- filled with spark-spewing noizoid fret-firings and harrowing caterwaul -- that made their freshman album Terrific Seasons one of the most impressive (if not slightly amazing) underground debuts of 2007.
All of this'll be happening at the Hideout this Sunday evening. Pit Er Pat are headlining, with These Are Powers playing just beforehand. Waterbabies opens. Admission is $10 and the doors open at 9 PM. 1354 W. Wabansia.
[video]: These Are Powers - "Chipping Ice" (video shoot)
[video]: These Are Powers - "You Come With Nothing" (live)
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Graham Sanford
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Concert Tue Jul 08 2008
The stateside interest in vintage psychedelic pop from deep Southeast Asia has been brewing for nearly a decade -- first thanks to the Cambodian Rocks series of compilations and all of the similar bootleg series that followed. Then up sprouted the Bay-area band Neung Phak and the Los Angeles sextet Dengue Fever. The latter was former band was founded after Ethan Holzman and his brother Zac made a trip to Cambodia and discovered the decades-old music that still predominated jukeboxes and airwaves throughout the country. After finding prize vocalist Chhom Nimol in the Little Phnom Phen district of L.A., Dengue Fever ideally rounded out it lineup and got to work building a repertoire of psych-tinged Khmeri cover tunes.
The band's 2005 sophomore LP, Escape From Dragon House, attracted a large amount of praise and media coverage -- resulting in a number of profiles and interviews on NPR, as well as landing them in the role of subjects for the documentary film Sleeping Through The Mekong. The recent release of the band's third album, Venus On Earth, has stirred up yet another wave of enthusiastic press. Admittedly, a few critics are bemoaning a few recent tweaks in the band's em-oh -- particularly their recent decision to start writing their own songs, and to perform some of those songs in English. Nonetheless, the band's music has hooked a big audience and they continue to sell out venues whenever they go on tour. This Friday night, they'll be making an appearance on the top of the bill at the Empty Bottle. The local pan-global, new wave WTFster outfit Brilliant Pebbles are slated to open for the evening. The show starts at 10 PM, and tickets are $14. 1035 N. Western Ave.
[video]: Dengue Fever – "Seeing Hands"
[video]: Dengue Fever – "Sni Bong"
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Graham Sanford
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Benefit Tue Jul 08 2008
Act quick, and get cheap $10 tickets to see world-renowned Thrill Jockey artists, indie rock innovators, post-rock experimentalists (and Chicago boys) Tortoise (read our review of their 2006 box set A Lazarus Taxon) at the Empty Bottle this Saturday, 7/12. The catch? Only a potential windfall for Stella Ackerman, the daughter of former Bottle employee (and member of Lustre King) Craig Ackerman, who has an undiagnosed blood disease. Proceeds from the (nearly sold out) show will go towards the Ackerman's medical bills and cancer research.
Tortoise plays the benefit show for Stella this Saturday, 7/12 with special guests Tight Phantomz and Disappears starting at 10pm. Tickets are $10 (limited number) and $15 after that. Questions? Ask the Empty Bottle, 773-276-3600.
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Anne Holub
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Concert Thu Jul 03 2008
Chicago summers sure love street fests, and the holiday weekend edition packs an exceptional punch. The Lake View Music Fest takes place this Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 P.M. It's centered on Sheffield & Addison in the heart of Wrigleyville, where some of the best music already hits us on a regular basis from no-mention-needed venues like the Metro.
Headlining the event Saturday night will be Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart's newest project, the Mickey Hart Band. Not bad for a little ol' Chicago street fest, huh?
Sunday's headliners are the substantial Chicago jazz ensemble Liquid Soul. Go see them. Seriously.
Other acts include grooving, Les Claypool-style bassist, That 1 Guy, who will be opening for Buckethead on tour in the fall, and Daryl Stuermer, some dude who is completely unknown until I tell you that he played guitar for Genesis and later Phil Collins' solo tours.
A funnel cake, some generic handcrafted jewlery, and warm summer evening should top off this more mellow version of Independence Day celebration (as compared to crowds, beaches, and great balls of fire).
Food, capitalism, music. It's American, dammit.
Keep reading for the complete lineup and event info...
Continue reading this entry»
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Emily Kaiser
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Concert Mon Jun 30 2008
For many bands the idea of playing two shows in one night might be completely unrealistic, but not for Brooklyn’s darling duo
Matt and Kim. In fact, Chicago fans may remember the two separate performances that they rocked at last years Lollapalooza, and how appreciative and energetic each set was. In the last two years,
Matt and Kim have toured the world, and brought their vibrant smiles and fast-paced pop punk to crowds of all sizes. To think they started out touring in support of their debut self-titled album in 2006 by playing house shows, and now they are headlining a very aggressive festival tour.
The F Yeah Tour consists of 28 shows in 27 days, and 26 people traveling in a '92 Bluebird bus running on vegetable oil. It is possibly the worst/best idea ever. It is a festival that combines music, comedy, and art, and in years past had only taken place in LA late in August. However, it was also the goal of curator 22 year old Sean Carlson to take the show on the road. So with bands including Matt & Kim, Circle Jerks, Dillinger Four, The Death Set, Monotonix, Crystal Antlers, Dan Deacon, Paint it Black, Team Robespierre, Brother Reade, Japanther, Brutal Knights, Totally Michael, Mannequin Men & more the Bluebird bus will arrive in Chicago on July 3rd. The Chicago line-up will include music from Matt & Kim, Monotonix, Team Robespierre, Mannequin Men & Crystal Antlers, comedy by Nick Flanagan + Hannibal Buress, and artwork from Space 1026. $12 / 7:00pm / All Ages / Stan Mansion / 2408 N Kedzie
Matt & Kim will also be playing at The Hideout on July 3rd as part of a free (RSVP only) show presented by Colt 45 with The Death Set and Hollywood Holt. For more information and to RSVP visit Colt 45.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Mon Jun 30 2008
Free-form sampladelic mo-fos: Wzt Hearts
Vibrant independent music scenes don't just sprout up overnight. They're nurtured, they grow, they evolve through the efforts of a number of artists and participants.
Case in point: Baltimore, which was recently ranked as having the nation's "Best Indie Scene" by Rolling Stone magazine. When I had briefly lived in Baltimore about five years ago, the scene in question was starting to gain momentum. There were, however, only a couple of legit venues to accommodate all of the homegrown creative energy that was brewing in the city at the time. It wasn't enough to provide ample room for the variety of local bands that were coming together, let alone to book many of the notable out-of-town artists who came knocking. So people would pull together and find some way to make things happen -- often utilizing one-off, makeshift, or non-sanctioned venues. Sometimes this situation led to ideal experiences; such as being able to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor play in an abandoned church, or being one of only fifty people to circle up and face off with Lightning Bolt's brain-flattening blastitude close-up at an unannounced show in someone's warehouse loft space.
Such was the nature of the scene that the experimental Baltimore outfits Wzt Hearts and Thank You evolved out of. Various members from each group are involved in operating the city's current loft-space venue, Floristree. They're also closely allied with the Wham City collective, and both bands frequently tour and perform together. Wzt Heart's second album, Threads Rope Spell Making Your Bones, was released several months ago on the Carpark label, while Thank You's sophomore album has just appeared via Thrill Jockey. Both bands have been invariably described as "psychedelic," which seems fair enough if put in the tradition of psychedelia's tendency toward leave-no-sound-untreated sensory overload.
Continue reading this entry»
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Graham Sanford
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Concert Thu Jun 26 2008
“They all hate you tomorrow when no one buys your single…”
How do you judge success in the modern era of music? Who is a star and who is not a star? One of the main concerns musicians and pr companies have when dealing with on-line media is whether or not the buzz or hype will actually translate to supportive fans. If you believe that it does, then the “Most Blogged Artists” section of Hype Machine would have more meaning then the Billboard Top 200, and we all know that Girl Talk is not out selling Coldplay. In fact, he is releasing his latest album for free. So who is the “Big Star”?
On the title track of her fourth studio album, 24 year-old, Haley Bonar takes an interesting look at the music business. She tells the tale of a musician whisked away and promised the world, only to be dropped when sales don’t meet expectations. It is this view that may explain her loyalty to the small Minnesota label, Afternoon Records, that has released each of her albums. It is clear that the main focus of this young star to make quality music that she can be proud of, and not to be launched and dropped like so many others. The quality of “Big Star” shines through on each intimate track, as she tells the stories of life and the need for substance.
[MP3] Haley Bonar - Big Star
Haley Bonar will be opening for Hayden on Saturday (June 28th) at Schubas. Tickets are $15 and the show starts at 10:30pm. This is a 21+ show. Images above courtsey Dominick Mastrangelo.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Tue Jun 24 2008
It’s June, it’s wonderful, and you’ve just initiated your official summer kickback session. But before you sink into some soft summer grass where you will remain lackadasically wonderful for the next two months, take one last moment to plan ahead slightly. This week the Hideout announced the lineup for their 12th Annual Block Party scheduled to close out a promisingly solid Chicago summer of music. The outdoor festival, dubbed an “increasingly international local music festival”, will take place outside the Hideout on Wabansia Sept 20 - 21.
Continue reading this entry»
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Emily Kaiser
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Concert Tue Jun 24 2008
Chicago is blessed with some of the best free public music programming in the country, if not the world. In addition to the incredible array of music programmed in the festival format, the series that occur in Millennium Park provide access to top notch jazz, world, and classical music for the whopping price of free.
This week brings us two incredible concerts in Millennium Park, both part of the Music Without Borders series programmed by Department of Cultural Affairs music guru Michael Orlove. Come out and enjoy the serene setting and soulful sounds by an array of Dominican musicians on Thursday and the African music superstars Orchestra Baobab on Saturday.
Continue reading this entry»
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Daniel Melnick
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Concert Sat Jun 21 2008
When people say they hate rap, they usually point at any number of commercially successful residents of the gangsta sub-genre. Citing the overwhelming negativity, all rap becomes these guys, even as a plethora of other artists slog through and make good music.
Dilated Peoples, the three man operation from Los Angeles, has long held the battle standard for the underground hip-hop sub-genre, rocked the Double Door last night. Opening acts 88 Keys and Aceyalone did their thing to varying effect (note to aspiring artists, if you forget your own damned lyrics, you better cover it up pretty well).
In my own preview of the show, I wrote that DJ Babu, the turnablist extraordinaire, wasn't expected to show up. In their previous visits to the Chi, he wasn't there. Oh, but he was definitely in the place last night, as the video feed projected to two huge screens focused on his hands and lyricists Evidence and Rakaa powered through a mix of old favorites and new material. Dilated's set was high energy which weren't doused by low microphone levels.
Overall, a very good show played in front of an appreciative crowd by artists who keep it decidedly non-gangsta. "We're proud of this underground shit," Evidence said. And we're happy to partake of it.
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Troy Hunter
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Artist Thu Jun 19 2008
I first learned the word chiaroscuro in a poem written by an architect. It has to do with a notable use of light and shadow, and I think it's a lovely way to describe the album built by Austin-born Black Angels, Directions to See a Ghost. Yes, they've got the guitar drone thing going on, but it's delivered in that appropriate ethereal way that comes along with the moniker of neo-psychedelic rock. Even their name, derived from the Velvet Underground's "The Black Angel's Death Song" is appropriate, given their dreamy, far-away lyrical delivery, and the way their songs conjure up of some Warhol Factory-esque room with too many pillows and not enough ashtrays.
The Black Angels psychedelic voice is stronger and more developed than their cousin — the indie shoe-gaze band. They've played Lollapalooza ('07) and SXSW ('08) to critical acclaim, and they're just perched (absolutely perched) on the verge of something big here. You're not likely to catch them on the radio, as most of their tracks span well over four minutes, but you get the feeling from the album that this band is just not all that into radio play. This is the album you're going to break out at 2am and groove to on your futon. It's the one you're going to play while you drift off to sleep (and likely have some pretty amazing dreams with this as your soundtrack). The album itself, plays like a oil wheel light show, infused with sitar ragas and some really interesting percussion work. The Black Angels are delivering psychedelic rock that not only honors its roots, but provides listeners with a cleaner, more delicious sugar cube.
[mp3]: The Black Angels – "Doves" (from Directions to See a Ghost)
[mp3]: The Black Angels – "The First Vietnamese War" (from Passover)
The Black Angels play Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave., Friday, June 20. The Warlocks open at 9pm. Tickets are $15.
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Anne Holub
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Concert Wed Jun 18 2008
It was nearly a year that I saw Wisconsin’s
Venna open for
Page France. Playing to a crowd of twenty, the group, powered by the vocals of Heather Hladish, sat in chairs in front of the stage and played a beautiful acoustic set. Seated next to Heather was husband and guitar player Marky Hladish (
The Felix Culpa), and you could tell by their occasional glances and grins that these songs were crafted with love and passion. As Heather sang the chorus of "Eulogy", “
here are my hands”, I realized that this was her offering to the world. These songs were an intimate extension of her, who she is and who she wants to be.
That night they handed out free homemade demo ep’s wrapped in paper bags, tied with red string, with a Venna pin on top. Inside there was a vintage postcard, a hand-written note, and the 3 track demo. It was clear that this band had a sense of presentation that was both honest and crafty. Now as they release their official debut ep on Chicago’s Common Cloud Records this flare for presentation has been carried forward. The beautifully printed cardboard case came wrapped in green twine only adding to the mystery of what might be inside. The booklet inside was creatively photocopied and hand-stitched with green thread mapping out the lyrics in an interesting way. The six songs on the ep include a rerecorded version of “Eulogy”, but also songs like “Paper” that expand their sound instrumentally. Crafted with care, this is an exciting debut from Heather and Marky’s hands to yours.
Venna will be opening for Cotton Jones Basket Ride on June 21 at The House Café in DeKalb, IL. The show starts at 8:00pm and tickets are $8.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Tue Jun 17 2008
Over the last ten years, Jim Ward has contributed to a couple bands who've garnered massive amounts of praise. As the head behind
Sleepercar, he's ventured rather far from those origins with an album,
West Texas, sounding nothing like anything he's been involved with before. Instead of post-hardcore reminiscent of Fugazi or Quicksand,
West Texas is, oh, a bit more geographically stereotypical for a band from... west Texas. It draws from Gram Parsons and reminds listeners of the Bottle Rockets or Old 97s more than, say, Helmet.
While there are still moments (notably "Sound the Alarm") where Ward lets his past slip into
West Texas, there is hardly anything on the album to link him back to his other bands. The alt-country leanings showcase a brand new side to his songwriting. The grand structuring of a genre he admits to being relatively new to shows off his ability to work outside of his old comfort zones. Or perhaps he's just a late bloomer.
Sleepercar headlines the Empty Bottle on Wednesday. Chicago bands
Dollar Store and
Talldarkstranger open. The show starts at 9PM and admission runs $10.
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James Ziegenfus
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Concert Tue Jun 17 2008
Over the past five years or so, plenty of people have, thankfully, gotten the heads-up that there's far more to the Norwegian music scene than black metal. Be it the leftfield nu-jazz explorations of Jaga Jazzist, the sonic experimentation of Maja Ratkje, or the brooding synth-pop of 120 Days, Norway's been an engine of creative musical energy for well over a decade now. And now it looks like it might be time for one of the country's best-kept secrets to get some overdue recognition. The Trondheim power trio Motorpsycho have been in action for over 15 years, and now have a dozen albums to their credit; but it's only due to the release of their latest CD, Little Lucid Moments, on the Rune Grammofon label that they've started to get some attention from beyond their native shores. Rising to the occasion, Motorpsycho will be playing in Chicago this Sunday as they hit the U.S. for a rare stateside mini-tour.
As far as Motorpsycho's music goes, the labels "psychedelic" and "prog" have been consistently bandied about, and comparisons to mid-period King Crimson have been numerous. Fair enough, especially given how the band -- as demonstrated by Little Lucid Moments four tracks -- favors lengthy, ambitious songs and complex arrangements. But, to their credit, Motorpsycho don't seem to have much truck with many of prog's parochial jazz-, blues-, and Canterbury-rock clichés. They also pass on the usual spacious, fusion-derived grooves, opting instead for a tightly-coiled, dynamic rhythmic center -- a controlled frenzy that's brilliantly sustained thanks to the recent addition of former Gåte drummer Kenneth Karstad. In fact, it's fair to say that the trio is most impressive when they kick everything into high-velocity mode, which they do at least half the time, pushing everything into overdrive while guitarist Hans Magnus Ryan's buzz-riffage spills and sprawls and aims for the uppermost altitudes. It all testifies to some uniquely seasoned musicianly stamina, and to why the band might be one of the more impeccably-named outfits currently striding the Earth. As far as power trios and points of comparison go, the melodic hyper-chugging chords that crop up in parts of the album's 21-minute title bring to mind later Hüsker Dü -- with all the crafty alt-pop leanings -- but if the Hüskers had kept with their earlier punk/thrash ethos of shooting to set the land speed record.
Motorpsycho headline this Sunday night at the Empty Bottle, in one of only three stops on their current tour of the U.S. Grails and Nadja open. 1035 N. Western, Doors open at 9 PM. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
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Graham Sanford
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Concert Mon Jun 16 2008
Who ever said you can’t get something for nothing? True, the free concert is a rare event, mainly because cd sales are down, and full time musicians need concert attendance to pay the bills. However, this Wednesday the Toronto-based duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass (a.k.a.
Crystal Castles) will perform songs from the self-titled debut for free! It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that they came through town with
Health and completely blew me away. As their set begin the house light were cut, it was pitch black as Ethan began to play. Slowly, he built a melody that echoed through the darkness, building to a massive breaking point. As the music erupt a lone strobe light was turned on, and Alice began to jump and scream. For the next hour she did not stop jumping, occasionally swinging the strobe from her neck, the show was a non-stop dance party.
Opening for Crystal Castles, is the soon to be buzz band Chicago’s Pretty Good Dance Moves. They are re-releasing their debut Ep on July 15, and then doing a KEXP in-studio on July 16. Pegged as a trendy dance act, PGDM will prove the world wrong by showing their depth and range and the ability play a wide range of styles. This trio blends electronic music with just the right amount of organic elements to create an exciting brand of music that will allow you to bring out your best dance moves (or at least your pretty good ones).
Crystal Castles, Pretty Good Dance Moves, LMNOP, and Franki Chan will be performing for free at The Double Door on June 18th. A $10 suggested donation is appreciated. All contributors will receive a limited edition silk screen show poster and partial proceeds will go to benefit Rock for Kids. The doors open at 8pm and the show begins at 9pm.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Fri Jun 13 2008
It is all too easy to listen to a band and drop them into a category or comparison, and then just leave them to fade away. On first listen,
Write a Letter (May 27th
Afternoon Records) from
A Night in the Box, has very familiar sound in some parts. The band is billed as raw blues-rock fusion, but the vocals of Clayton Hagen come across a combination of Jimmy Page, Jack White, and the frizzy haired guy from Wolfmother. This is not a bad thing by an means, but I don’t want make this band sound likea Led Zepplin cover (see
Lez Zepplin) because the newly added violin play of Kailyn Spencer has helped this band create something unique and very compelling.
Rounding out the band are Alex Dalton and Travis Hetman, and Alex, Travis, and Clayton have been friends since high school. Each member of the band sings on this album only adding to the complex nature of their sound. With banjos, harmonicas roaring, and guitars wailing, this Minnesota band prides itself on its live performances. Don’t miss their trademark fidoras or their soulful blues music!
[MP3] A Night in the Box – The Rich Man’s Table
A Night in the Box will be appearing at Elbo Room on June 15th with Bad River, Dynamic Box, and Malace Finn. The show starts at 8:30pm and tickets are $7. All shows at Elbo Room are 21+.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Fri Jun 13 2008
I can add up all the good promo loot I've received from music blogging on one hand. There's the Asthmatic Kitty t-shirt, the hundreds of promo cd's and the occasional sticker or button. Except for that t-shirt I could take `em or leave `em. In fact I no longer accept music cd's as a format. So when I was offered an expenses paid trip to Sweden, as a result of the Swedish indie pop music blog I write, I thought at first it was some kind of cruel joke. But now as I sit here in an apartment outside of the Hultsfred festival grounds it's all starting to sink in.
Hultsfred is Sweden's largest summer festival on par with Lollapalooza and Pitchfork. They have international headliners like Rage Against The Machine and Babyshambles, but I'm primarily here to see the Swedish acts. However at 2:30 am on Saturday the Chicago hip hop group The Cool Kids play. I've promised my editor here that I'll cover that but let me just repeat that start time - 2:30 AM!! We'll have to see about that.
So far we've been treated like royalty (or "starbloggers" as Swedish National TV called us in this interview) with a nice two day stay in Stockholm and now a three day trip to Hultsfred. My first two impressions about Sweden were the amazing number of babies - turns out they're in the middle of a baby boom and just the amount of greenery that covers the land just minutes outside of Stockholm. It's a beautiful country.
On to the music. One of the best (small, undiscovered) Swedish bands I've seen so far has been Little Marbles. as I've written elsewhere they somehow bring together elements of MIA, Mystere De Voix Bulgare and the best of Swedish twee. They're an unbelievably young duo from Gothenburg. Here's there single from their just released debut EP.
[mp3] Little Marbles - Melon
Oh and p.s. they've never heard of Ann Sather's over here.
More from Sweden soon...
-Craig Bonnell
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Anne Holub
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Concert Thu Jun 12 2008
Like your alt-guitar rock a little poppy, a little on the early-90s-strong-female-vocals side? Well, buddy boy, you're in all sorts of luck. Not only do Chicago-based trio The Locals fit that very bill, but they're also playing a show at the Elbo Room to celebrate the release of their CD, Big Picture. The rocking shall commence on Saturday, June 14, with Bon Verba, Apteka, Dropmore Scarlet, and Welcome to Ashley also playing that night. Check The Locals' website for more deets.
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Kara Luger
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Concert Wed Jun 11 2008
Is it just me or do a lot of best and most genuine bands go virtually unnoticed? In the matter of one calendar year Milwaukee’s
Fever Marlene has released two albums (Civil War 6/07 and White China 3/08), and both are filled with a combination of catchy pop tunes and soaring anthems. Lead by the vocals and song writing of Scott Starr, these albums are filled energy and an honesty that is truly magnetic. Once they find the right crowd the possibilities are endless.
I believe that every music fan has at least one band that has turned them into die-hard, completist, screaming, crying fan. You own and know every song, b-sides, imports, soundtracks, and you find yourself saying things like “There is just something about his voice,” or “She can do no wrong!”. It is an unexplained phenomenon how a band can affect someone so deeply and leave another with a blank stare. For me the voice of Scott Starr has caused this strange chemical reaction. Musically, Fever Marlene is a blend of electronic beats and organic instrumentation placing them somewhere between Walter Meego and Colin Meloy. It is a very enjoyable blend that I am sure Chicago fans will enjoy and embrace.
Fever Marlene will be appearing at the Double Door this Friday (June 13th) in support of Donita Sparks with The Prarie Spies and Waste. Doors open at 8:00pm and tickets are $10 adv/$12 dos.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Mon Jun 09 2008
Chicago is at its sultry, sweaty best in the summertime. Perhaps that's what Quarterstick's latest find, The Uglysuit, had in mind when they recorded their dizzy, summery single "Chicago." Although the boys are really from Oklahoma City, the poppy, if not a bit hippily, lush chorus serves well as an anthem for anyone, anywhere.
Catch the crew as they swing through Chicago at the Hideout on Saturday, June 14, prior to their debut release in mid-August. The Uglysuit will be playing alongside the likes of heavy psych-southern rockers Pontiak and boy-girl hushed-pop duo Wye Oak.
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Kara Luger
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Concert Thu Jun 05 2008
Every Monday from June 16th until the end of summer (August 25th), plan to spend a midday hour or two at the Pritzker Pavilion. It's there, from 12:15 to 1:30pm that Millennium Park, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Pitchfork Music Festival will present the annual Audible Architecture: Chicago Nightclubs at Noon lunchtime performance series. Typically a week-long event, the series expands this summer with each show a joint presentation between Pitchfork and one of this city's leading clubs or promoters.
There are some mighty good bands on this, certainly a few that we recommend skipping a corporate lunch or two to check out. Hell, bring your CEO along. I'm sure he'll enjoy it.
June 16th--Bird Names, presented by Bottom Lounge
June 23rd--Gary Higgins, presented by the Abbey Pub
June 30th--Killer Whales, presented by mP Productions
July 7th--Le Loup, presented by Schubas
July 14th--Bill Callahan, presented by JAM Productions
August 4th--Tortoise, presented by The Hideout
August 11th--TBA
August 18th--The Ex with Getatchew Mekuria, presented by the Empty Bottle
August 25th--Habib Koite & Bamada, presented by Martyrs'
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Nicholas Ward
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Concert Tue Jun 03 2008
Picture yourself on a beautiful summer day, lounging on the back terrace of the Museum of Contemporary Art, listening to local, world class jazz musicians while sipping on a finely mixed cocktail. Not only is this a possibility in Chicago, it happens every Tuesday from today, June 3rd, all the way through the end of September. There's no cover charge, and the programming is top notch.
Best of all, it's perfectly timed for your after work drink, running from 5:30 till 8 PM just as the sun starts go to down. Tonight, Corey Wilkes will kick off the series, a special event for him since it is also his birthday. In addition to repeat performances from Mr. Wilkes, the series will feature local legends like Fred Anderson, Dee Alexander, Ari Brown, and Jimmy Ellis, in addition to younger acts like Josh Berman, Jeb Bishop, and Greg Ward.
The full schedule for the summer follows.
Continue reading this entry»
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Daniel Melnick
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Concert Mon Jun 02 2008
Who doesn’t really? All of those numbers, symbols, equations, you throw in geometry, and it is a party on the page. All right, I know school is out, and no one wants to talk about math, but I think we can make an exception for a certain band out of Dallas, TX.
I Love Math is a project combining three parts The Deathray Davies (bassist Jason Garner, keyboardist Andy Lester, front-man/guitarist John Dufilho) and one parts Old 97’s (drummer Philip Peeples). On their sophomore album, Getting To The Point Is Beside It (Glup Records 5/27/08), Dufilho has not only found the right combination of band members, but he has also discovered the formula for making a quality rock album.
That formula rests solely on the principle of “simplicity”. Dufilho (also the drummer for Apples in Stereo) had this to say about this principle “Mostly, I wanted to write and record a very straightforward album. I wanted it simple, to the point, and didn't want to hide behind effects pedals, distortion, studio tricks, or irony". This is further applied by the bands unwritten rule, “No Cymbals!”. So yes, there are rules, formulas, and principles involved but you can leave you calculators at home, and simply enjoy the product that is I Love Math.
[MP3] I Love Math - Some Bridges Are For Burning
You can catch I Love Math with Old 97’s and Hayes Carll at the Metro on Thursday, June 5th. Doors open at 7:30pm for this 18+ show and tickets are $22.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Sat May 31 2008
From beginning to end, last night's show at the Chicago Theatre brought what concertgoers what they expected, which was energetic and engaging performances from two Grammy winning acts, all wound into a great four and a half hours. The Roots are supporting Erykah Badu on this Vortex Tour, and perhaps one of the few disappointments in the performance was that the two musical forces of nature didn't do "You Got Me." The disappointments were few and far in between, and the sold-out crowd seemed to enjoy every minute.
Continue reading this entry»
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Troy Hunter
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Concert Wed May 28 2008
Recently signed to
Militia Group, Minnesota's indie-pop masters,
One for the Team, arrive here in Chicago tomorrow night (5/29). This spring tour, that they find themselves on, is intended to build a little hype around their Militia debut
Build It Up (out August 19th). Their first album,
Good Boys Don’t Make Noise, was released by lead singer Ian Anderson’s record label
Afternoon Records back in 2006. You see Mr. Anderson is more than just a pretty face on stage, he is also more then just the owner of a label, Ian also runs his own pr company (
Vitriol Promotions). In addition, he is a blogger over at
MFR, and he is a soon to be
published writer.
Enough about Ian, One for the Team is a band right? With Grace Fiddler (Battle Royale) on vocals and synth, John Krueger on Bass, Elliot Manthey on Drums, and Bill Caperton on Guitar, this is a band and a great one at that. Musically, they create a unique form of pop that is always shifting and extremely danceable. The first single from the new album is entitled, “Best Supporting Actor”, and immediately brings forth a feeling of fun and pure joy.
One for the Team will be appearing at Beat Kitchen with The Days on Thursday Night (5/29) @ 9:00pm (doors). The show is $8 and is 17 and over.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Tue May 27 2008
With the weather finally starting to turn around, the pools starting to be filled again, the schools finally freeing all of the young minds, and the mosquitoes still in slumber, there is no better time for a road trip. Now that you have traded in your SUV for that Prius, you are no longer concern with gas prices. What’s that, there is a five month wait for the Prius? Well I am sure the fine folks over at Daytrotter would suggest horseback as a suitable way to arrive at any of their upcoming shows.
Daytrotter is one of the premier live music websites around. Combing indie music, well-conducted interviews, and weekly in-studio performances, they are one of the best music sites in Illinois. Their studio is based in Rock Island (3 hrs outside of Chicago), and to promote their cause and quality indie rock they have invited a string of bands to play at Huckleberry’s Pizza Parlor (223 18th St, Rock Island, IL 61201).
There latest set of shows kicks off tonight with the LA trio, A Faulty Chromosome @ 7:00pm.
Continue reading this entry»
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Fri May 23 2008
Credited as the West Coast's first rap success by allmusic, Too Short started out indie, had some popular singles, and has now settled into his own "mack/playa" sensibility. Going from selling albums out of the trunk to celebrating 20 years as a recording artist at a major label is quite a leap.
If you're a Too $hort fan, then you've known this was coming for a while and I'm not teling you anything new. You've probably also responded alreday. If this is the first you've heard of him, watch the two videos to his hits that gained some mainstream attention and don't bother RSVPing. Too $hort isn't for everyone, and I don't think he's making new fans at this point. It may be good people-watching, and the slow-flow funk Short Dog delivers may inspire you to move your ass.
As part of Scion's ongoing "RSVP and get in for free!" concert series, Too Short will be at the Metro this Tuesday. Doors at 9; show at 10. RSVP here.
-video: "The Ghetto"
-video: "Life Is...Too Short"
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Troy Hunter
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Concert Wed May 21 2008
What good can ever come of insults and hatred? Well, if you ask Yea Big (Stefen Robinson) or Kid Static (Moses Harris Jr.) plenty. You see this energetic Chicago duo formed on a local hip hop message board in 2005, where Yea Big was taking a beating and Kid Static (formerly of The Cankles) stepped in and asking the young deejay to collaborate with him. Static says, “He’s doing the music I always heard in my head”. The duo hit the road, Yea Big with his trademark runner’s outfit and glitch-hop style and Static flowing effortlessly night and day.
Their debut self-titled full-length album (Jib Door Records) was released last October to mixed reviews, but there is one undeniable truth they are just having fun. They have found a balance between ‘80’s party rap (De La Soul, Pete Nice & CL Smooth, Nice & Smooth) and the glitch-hop of today (Prefuse 73, K-the-I???, etc.). On a song like “The Basement/Enfant Terrible”, for example, the beat is consistently shifting and bubbling through the memories that Static is rapidly firing. As the fear mounts, the beats build to almost a frantic pace as the 2 minute song comes to an abrupt end. Sixteen tracks in 34 minutes is no easy feet, it is rapid fire all the way and their shows are filled with same energy. Overall, Yea Big + Kid Static’s debut album is fine addition to the ever growing wealth of new wave hip hop coming out Chicago. These two are on the same level with The Cool Kids, Kid Sister, Lupe Fiasco, Rhymefest, and so on, without question.
This duo wraps up a lengthy tour on Friday night (5/23) at The House Café in DeKalb, IL. Take an adventure down I-88, the show starts at 8:00pm and the line-up includes Son Of Starkiller / Egon's Unicat / Frequency En Mass with Yea Big + Kid Static headlining. Tickets can be purchased here and they are $6.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Tue May 20 2008
Make no mistake, the trio Blood On The Wall are a buzz band -- as in they buzz, howl, grind, and spew out the jams like nobody's biz. For that they've whipped up a small but deeply enthusiastic following; but their rep has yet to fully spread far from the thereabouts of their native Brooklyn. Aside from netting some attention from high-profile slots opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs back in 2006 and a spate of appearances at this year's SXSW, the band's unstable existence has kept them off the road a good bit over the past couple of years. Their third album, Liferz, came out on the Social Registry label some five months back and was greeted with yet another round of enthusiastic responses, but the band is only now getting around to taking it across the country on an extensive tour.
Judging from how lathery some folks have been getting over the band, it seems that Blood On The Wall are giving critics and fans something that they've been wanting but haven't been getting from the recent glut of punk-funk/art-rock/navel-gazing indie fodder. Chances are that it's the way the trio delivers blasts of deliriously frayed and paint-blistering guitar spuzzeroo; the sort that's backed up with all manner of twisting and flailing in the rhythm department. Admittedly, BOTW's sound very much harkens back to the glory days of the late-80s post-hardcore/underground scene (think Dinosaur Jr., early Sonic Youth, Scratch Acid, The Pixies, et al.); meaning that those more seasoned listeners who possessed open ears about two decades ago will probably feel very much at home -- and maybe gratefully so.
Blood On The Wall play at the Empty Bottle this Friday night. The evening's opening bill sports Philly "ambient-pop" shamblers The War On Drugs, with local spacerock stalwarts Grimble Grumble on hand to get things started. 1035 N. Western. The show starts at 10 PM, admission is $8.
[mp3]: Blood On The Wall - "Hibernation"
[video]: Blood On The Wall - "Reunite On Ice"
[video]: Blood On The Wall - "Baby Likes To Holler"
UPDATE: Unfortunately, Blood On The Wall has canceled, but The War on Drugs and Grimble Grumble are still playing.
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Graham Sanford
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Concert Fri May 16 2008
It seems like spring is taking its sweet time to warm up, right? Head to the Weird Kids Night dance party at the Darkroom to dance in the summer with their teensploitation summer beach party!
What the hell do we mean by "Weird Kids," you ask? Well, toss together top-notch local DJs from the Hump Day Mobile Unit spinning dance-worthy beats along with oddball kids music (think the Chipmunks, funky Sesame Street, and Miss Piggy's awesome 80s-era Jazzercise album) and live performers such as Jason
Trachtenberg of the Trachtenberg Family Slideshow Players, Brooklyn-based saw-and-piano duo Ching Chong Song, The Cathedrals, and Perfect Masters. Oh, mix in drink specials and you got yourself a sweet little fake, one-night vacation getaway.
The weirdness kicks in on Monday, May 26, and is 21+.
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Kara Luger
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Concert Fri May 16 2008
Arriving an hour early, I had plenty of time to take in the beauty and class that is the Rosemont Theater. The grand chandelier, the plush carpet and winding stairway to the balcony, all add to the ambiance. The posters adverting Lord of the Dance and Disney Playhouse, all of the grade school aged kids walking around with their parents… wait I thought I was here for a rock concert. True, the crowd was diverse and slightly aged, and the Rosemont Theater is not going house the next Crystal Castles or Black Kids concert, but I was still anxious to hear what Simon and boys (ok, men) had to offer.
The opening band was from Leeds, England, but they go by the name Your Vegas. I have to credit lead singer Coyle Girelli for performing with a broken foot, but the bands music was simply ordinary. Advertised as “anthem rock”, everything was in its place, but I think that was the problem. The keyboards played their a role, the guitars hummed along, Coyle sang seemingly heart felt amped up ballads, but I may as well have been watching any number of average sounding radio-ready bands. The most entertaining aspect of the set was the idiot in the front row waving a giant plastic hand in front of the stage. In between songs, I ask my wife just how a band comes to play such generic music. Her answer… “Money”. I nodded.
Continue reading this entry»
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Fri May 16 2008
Above: Cardboard hat - a good look no matter what the season
No matter how far-flung your musical tastes become, it's still fun to assemble supergroups in your mind, just like you did in high school. What would it be like if bass player dude from this band had this gal singing and that other guy from that one record playing electric bouzouki? This Saturday, Lampo (216 W. Chicago Ave, 2nd Floor) offers you an opportunity to take that time-honored method of time-wasting it beyond the realm of list-making and into the real world, presenting a real, live improv/electro-acoustic super group (please, hold your applause until the end).
Dig it: performing as a trio will be one of the better-regard percussion/device practioners with two of the swellest improvisers to ever cash their day-job checks by splicing tape.
- Jerome Noetinger, owner-operator of the seminal Metamkine label (their "Cinema for the Ear" series of 3" CDs introduced a lot of people who were just dipping their toes into the waters of musique concrete to a lot of brilliant composers, from Luc Ferrari to Eliane Radigue, early pioneers like Walter Ruttman to modern marvels like Zbigniew Karkowski) and fine tape-composer in his own right (check the Glorie a... 3" on his label), performs on Revox reel-to-reel tape deck and electronics.
- Jean-Luc Gionnet, long-known for environmentally-based tape pieces (his Axene CD on Groundfault is a long-time favorite of mine) performs on saxophone.
- Will Guthrie, currently wowing them on the East Coast and getting a lot of love on message boards for his Spear CD (on his own Antboy Music), plays percussion, small electronics, and all around clatter-sound, giving the trio its needed element of propulsion.
Admission is $12, and start-time is 9 p.m.
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Chris Sienko
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Event Thu May 15 2008
It's been said that those artists who possess the highest degree of creative genius are often those who carry within them the greatest unresolved paradoxes. Kris Kristofferson might've had something similar in mind when he said of his friend and fellow artist Johnny Cash, "He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction."
Truth, of course, is the end concern of philosophical inquiry – getting at the brass tacks of life, human knowledge and experience, the nature of the world. As the latest in a series of titles from their Popular Culture and Philosophy line, Chicago-based scholarly imprint Open Court Publishing has just published Johnny Cash and Philosophy: The Burning Ring of Truth. In a collection of academically-inclined essays, eighteen deep thinkers and die-hard Cash fans offer a variety of perspectives on the metaphysical, social, and spiritual aspects of the Cash's music – the whys and what-fors of how Cash's lyrics connect with the singer's own life and speak to a large and varied audience on so many levels. The contributing authors examine the man's music from a range of perspectives. You get Cash on crime and the American penal system, Cash on sin and redemption and the many pitfalls of human nature, Cash on the value of honest labor and making what you can of what you've been given, Cash on the matter of love as examined in light of his relationship with June Carter, and a number of other topics.
The volume of essays was co-edited (along with David Werther) by former Chicago musician and current philosophy professor John Huss, who contributed the chapter "Johnny Cash and Justice." Before he vacated town to pursue his career in academia, Huss used to play around the Windy City as the frontman for the John Huss Moderate Combo back in the 1990s. Next weekend, the Moderate Combo will be reuniting to play a couple of shows in town to celebrate the book's publication and to pay tribute to the Man in Black.
Continue reading this entry»
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Graham Sanford
Concert Thu May 15 2008
If you break out in a sweat and feel the urge to flop around and flail your arms about you either need to call the poison control center, or you are in the middle of a legendary set by Ames, IA band
The Poison Control Center. Known for ending shows in a “pig-pile” and whipping the crowd into a chaotic frenzy with their horns and poppy hooks, the PCC “want to break down the wall between crowd and band, everyone needs to feel each others' sweat to make it magical!"
It was nearly one year ago that Patrick R.Tape Fleming (Guitar, Vocals), Devin W. Frank (Guitar, Trumpet, Vocals), Joseph P. Terry (Bass, Trumpet, Vocals), Donald Ephraim Curtis III (Drums, Saxophone, Vocals) signed to the great Minnesota label Afternoon Records. Since that time they have released an ep (Glory Us), their debut full-length (A Collage of Impressions) and are preparing to release a new ep (Make Love A Star Ep) on July 22nd.
[mp3] The Poison Control Center - Make Love a Star
The Poison Control Center will be appearing at Schubas tomorrow night (5/16) w/ Chicago’s Head of Femur and The Heavenly States. This is a 21+ over show that starts at 10:00pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Wed May 14 2008
Late last year, I got unexpectedly punched in the mouth by a little EP called Bridget Quits, a five-song rock’n’roll assault from local band the Sharks, that sounded like Weezer and Pavement had sex and this was their five-headed monster. Rather than sounding completely derivative, though, the Sharks offered a fresh take on time-honored material, a loose, chaotic, boozy assemblage tackling the truly important subjects (drugs and girls). A few months later, after the lawyers got to them and they holed up tearfully in their parents’ basement (okay, I made that last part up), the Sharks are now the Prairie Spies and they’re set to drop their very first full length, available from newish local label Comptroller Records.
Surplus Enjoyment picks up right where the previous record left off. Despite the name change, not a damn thing about band’s aesthetic has been altered, and that’s just fine by me. They play fierce and fun goodness that is simultaneously raw and overtly poppy, and songs like “Unresolved Anatomy” and “Who’s Been Gettin’ High” delight with pleasing hilarity. It’s “Iowa”, though, that takes the treasured prize, a balance of fuzzed-out guitars and kitschy keyboards with shout-along vocals that soar snarl howl and lyrics that tend toward dryly ironic with just a dose of savagery. This ode to our neighbors to the West finds the Spies at their very best, not reaching but playing comfortably to their strengths and loving every second of it. While a few tracks falter (most notably, their Clash rip-off, “Vigilante”), Surplus Enjoyment is by and large a terrific and accomplished record, and will receive consistent summer rotation in the library of at least one fan (though I suspect there’s more than just me out in the wilderness).
The Prairie Spies take the stage at the on Friday for a kickin’ record release party. Opening are dreamy boy-girl combo (and Comptrollin’ label mates), the Spectacles, and Cincinnati band Bad Veins. The Killer Whales headline. Show start at 10pm.
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Nicholas Ward
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Concert Tue May 13 2008
“I struggle with all the energy that’s powerfully inspired with in me… I wrestle with God all night long in my bed.”
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing a writer who has complied a collection of stories, essays, poem, comics, and clippings all focused on one topic… insomnia. His name is Steven Lee Beeber and the book is called Awake!: A Reader for the Sleepless. After our conversation, I began to think of those nights I spent exhausted, crawling into bed and finally having my head hit the pillow. The second I close my eyes flashes of light, heat, images of everything I hadn’t finished or even started that day begin to swirl and jump. Thoughts, like tiny explosions of energy, illuminate the night as I wrestle with sleep and seldom win.
A song that occasionally fills these wake/sleep moments is “Wrestle With God” by Birmingham based Wild Sweet Orange (WSO). The idea that the constant thoughts and battles in my head are actually a struggle or conversation with God has always intrigued me. Behind the old soul, 23 year-old Preston Livinggood, WSO creates roots music that speaks to the heart and romances the mind. Aside from releasing a wonderful ep (known as The Whale Ep) last November, they have been actively touring and recording for six months straight, and have tour dates scheduled through June. You can see a full list of dates and venues at their myspace page. Their full-length debut, We Have Cause to Be Uneasy, will be released via Canvasback Music on July 15th.
[mp3] Wild Sweet Orange - Wrestle With God
Wild Sweet Orange will be appearing at The Metro tonight with David Ford and Augustana. Doors open at 6:00pm and tickets are $17.50.
Image by David McClister
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Sun May 11 2008
The wind whips through the small openings between the sky filling buildings at alarming speeds in this city. I know the origin of the term “windy,” but still the strength of the wind is quite measurable and substantial. So much so that it may on occasion slam doors, knock over trees, break the fingers of freshly signed rock trios, etc. That’s right the day after signing to
54-40 or Fight Records!, lead singer and guitar player of
The Interiors, Chase Duncan had a metal door slam shut on his hand. At this point they had only self-released an ep, and needed to begin work on their full-length debut. Instead they spent most of 2007 on hiatus while Chase recovered.
Now fully recovered and preparing for the June 24th release and a following Midwest and East Cost tour, The Interiors have big plans for 2008. Rightfully so, their self-titled debut album is a turbulent lesson in rhythmic rock, filled with interesting drum patterns, calculated guitar, and inventive lyrics. The highlight of the album is the song “Power Lines,” it is grand in every way. From the fade in open to the sing-along chorus to the idea that you can knock everyone cell phone reception by touching a satellite. It is a fun look at life in Chicago.
The Interiors will be performing their last show in Chicago until Mid-July on Tuesday May 13th at The Empty Bottle. They will be appearing with Nouns and Mt. St. Helens. Tickets are $7 and the show starts at 9pm.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Sat May 10 2008
Before you get your hopes up, I am not talking about a legends of hip hop “comeback: tour, besides that would be EPMD and not EPDM. However, I am talking about two angel voiced Swedes who are about to float through Chicago. You see El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li share more then just a country, they share a tour, a musical mindset, but most impressive they share the stage on most nights. Perhaps it is only for encores, but it is a promising connection.
Lykke Li is a 22 year-old siren that just released her debut ep, Little Bit, this month and her full-length album, Youth Novels should see the shores in the fall. Her music refuses to be classified by blending various style and sounds from hushed orchestral to sampled swing. When you mix in the Casio and the organ, you get a beat that is truly unique. In addition, Lykke has a soft and tender, almost whisper, vocal delivery that complements the hazy mix created even more.
El Perro Del Mar (a.k.a. Sarah Assbring) works in a similar way as Lykke, but the sounds on her latest album From The Valley are ethereal. Sarah’s music has a grand and classical feel, while her high pitch lazy vocals float and dance around the soaring strings. She may not make a loud noise, but there is power in beauty.
[mp3] Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance
[mp3] El Perro Del Mar - Glory to the World
Along with special guest and fellow Swede Anna Ternheim, El Perro Del Mar and Lykke Li will be performing at Schuba’s on Monday, May 12th @ 8:00pm, and tickets are $15.
Image above courtesy Dominick Mastrangelo: Lykke Li on May 8th at the Bowery Ballroom NYC.
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Fri May 09 2008
The North Carolina dirt road winds around trees and fields, and in the distance you see a beaten and decaying small white house with a wind torn roof and toothless fence. The sheep dog in the front yard barks twice to warn you of what lays ahead. Proceeding cautiously, you begin to hear the faint strums of guitar and banjo, and what seams to be a gospel choir. As you get closer the vocals reverse, bells sound, wheels spin clicking the pegs, cow bells and whistles, the dog is barking, wind chimes, noise explodes all around. You stand still to listen, but the noises fade to rain and static. You enter the house scared and confused. A pick-up truck pulls away and speeds down the highway. This is the sound of
Megafaun.
Megafaun is brothers Brad and Phil Cook, along with high school friend Joe Westerlund. The trio moved to North Carolina in 2005 along with friend and band mate (DeYarmond Edison) Justin Vernon (you know, Bon Iver). The band broke up in 2006 and Justin returned to their native Wisconsin to become an indie blog darling. The three remained in NC to allow the culture and musical history to clearly erode their minds. They released their debut LP Bury the Square back in February, and it is filled with down south little gospel ditties and sing-along folk tunes. But there is a catch, laced within the tracks is a deep-rooted love for electronics and noise. That’s right, call it pushing limits, or genre bending, or whatever, just called it quality music.
[mp3] Megafaun - Lazy Suicide
Their goal in performing is to get the crowd involved, so be prepared to sing and clap. Megafaun will be performing this Sunday, May 11th @ The Hideout. Also appearing are Jon Mueller and The Paulina Hollers. 9:00pm $8
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Thu May 08 2008
Out the myriad or so one-week sensations to emerge from last year's blizzard of blogworld buzz, "Let's Make Out" by the U.K. band Does It Offend It You, Yeah? was one of the more noteworthy. As a guitar-heavy blast of electro house hot-dogginess, it strutted, it swaggered, it stomped and shrieked a lust-choked screed that dizzily collapsed into borderline gibberish. Even better, it threw in a riff copped from Iron Butterfly in the big-finish homestretch and -- if you tilted your head the right way -- you couldn't tell if the guy was screaming "Let's make out! Let's make out!" or "Let me go! Let me go!" on the chorus.
But that was mid-2007, which in Webtime may as well have been a decade ago. The band's debut album, You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into, finally appeared in the U.S. via Almost Gold Recordings in early April. From the sound of it, the guys are trying to cover as many bases as possible for the sake of targeting the charts and mounting the airwaves. Riotous Ed Banger-style electro house/dance-rock thumpers? Check. Copious amounts of vocoderized vocals? Check. A few hooky, sugary pop tunes thrown in to keep the girls happy? Check. But despite all the obvious tweaking and streamlining, it's clear the guys like to make noise -- both in terms of playing loud and energetically, and, well, just throwing some odd or amusical curveballs into the mix from time to time. Plus, they reportedly trot out a cover of Devo's "Whip It" for their live sets; so how's that for pandering gravitas?
DIOYY are playing at The Mansion next Tuesday night, May 13. They're opening up for the rowdy, raunchy ladies of the Floridian crunk/punk-hop outfit Yo Majesty, who've brought the boys on their current tour. Lately, Yo Majesty has been wrapping up work on their own debut full-length, which is purportedly due out on the U.S. division of Domino records some time this summer . Which means that fans can expect to hear a good amount of new material mixed in with previous faves like "Kryptonite Pussy" and "Club Action." 2408 N. Kedzie. Shows starts at 8 PM, tickets are $13.
[video]: Does It Offend You, Yeah? - "Let's Make Out"
[video]: Does It Offend You, Yeah? - "With A Heavy Heart..." (live)
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Graham Sanford
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Review Thu May 08 2008
Its unfair to say The Mobius Band didn't leave an impression on people last night - as my memory serves me, they played a great set, got the crowd pretty enthused, and received some pretty strong applause for a third-billed act. But even they had an air of goofiness about them, knowing that as much as they won people over last night (which they did), they were standing in the shadow of some huge buzz.
The Black Kids, if you have never seen them, are one of the least likely groups of kids you would ever expect to see in a band. The two girl vocalists look like pretty down to earth, friendly gals (even when Ali Youngblood asked the audience "Do you want me to be "private dancer" or "sexy dancer" tonight?). Lead singer Reggie Youngblood looks a lot more like Rembrandt from the Warriors than he does Keke Okereke, but damned if his pipes aren't powerful things, ranging from Psycho Killer to Psycho shower-scream in seconds, and employed only precisely when needed. With a handful of new songs sandwiching their four-song EP's gems, the Kids proved they were still fresh with material (Hell, they better be after four songs). After the crowd-pleasing "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You", the band slipped in one more, a new song that rocked so hard this writer couldn't even be bothered to remember it's name.
Cut Copy took the stage shortly after midnight, the crowd packed dense around them and riding high off of the Black Kids' set. They apologized for having been away from the Windy City for two years, and immediately set into pieces from their new album.
Surprisingly, the Cut Copy set ended up being a song or two short of the Black Kids - a few singles from the old album and the hits of the new album, finishing the audience off with "Hearts on Fire" and instantly cranking the whole dance floor up from inspired swaying to a bouncing, head-banging dance party. The crowd refused to let them leave, and after a believably long encore wait, they came out and performed three more to cap off the night, ending with another dance-floor ignition in "Far Away".
The Black Kids gals waved goodbye to everyone as they passed the merch table, and even as they left the crowd chattered away on the patio waiting for rides or just reminiscing on a great night.
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Dan Morgridge
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Concert Thu May 08 2008
Prepare for the Dirty South to get far filthier: Yo Majesty's coming to town.
The bombastic duo have been rocking everyone's world since their first appearance in the hip-hop and indie scenes seven years ago. When I talked to singer Jwl B. and MC Shunda K., they were ridiculously excited about their upcoming album, hopefully due this summer. As Jwl eloquently put it, "I’m going tell you now, woman to woman: Child, you ain’t even ready. I thought I was ready, and it’s my own shit!" Check out the full interview here.
Believe the hype. Check out hip hop's new queen bees at their show with Does It Offend You, Yeah? on Tuesday, May 13 at the Mansion.
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Kara Luger
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Concert Wed May 07 2008
The genre of instrumental rock as a whole can be a very challenging listen. Even for fans of electronic music, this genre can feel as if it is missing something. At least the DJ/producer can twist another knob, push another button, and take the sound to another level. If not done properly, the drone doesn’t stop, doesn’t move, it just floats along without change or emotion. We have all sat through that song anticipating vocals, hoping for anything resembling a melody, and getting nothing but boredom.
DeKalb product Loose Lips Sink Ships are an instrumental band, but they are anything but boring. Creating elaborate soundscapes that pound and weave, this young band has already demonstrated an ability to create powerful songs, and perform a fascinating show. They make the wall of sound they create seem almost effortless. Their debut ep (EP 1) proved they could combine sold rhythms, offbeat samples, and drifting atmospherics. Performing several shows in the area, Matthew Frank, Conor Mackey, Steve Marek, and Jacob Boulay have jelled as a group and solidified their adventurous sound.
Continue reading this entry»
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Jason Behrends
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Concert Wed May 07 2008
As the alt-pop-indie scene continues its regurgitation of the musical past, it's only natural that it embrace the slow, syrupy sounds of shoegazer rock. It's with great interest and not a little trepidation that audiophiles everywhere got all a-twitter when it was announced that seminal shoegazers My Bloody Valentine are not only recording a new album, but are also touring for the first time in 16 years. MBV reunion pro: Awesome, boundary-breaking music played live with the original bandmembers. Con: Frontman Kevin Shields already called it quits once due to some sort of breakdown -- here's to hoping he doesn't Sly Stone on us.
Consider it the Russian roulette of the cardigan-wearing crowd. The show is on Sept. 27 at the Aragon. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. this Saturday through Ticketmaster.
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Kara Luger
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Concert Wed May 07 2008
Considering that they've only been active for just over three years, the Chicago-based trio Russian Circles has managed to rack up a high ratio of praise throughout the webzine community in a short period of time. It seems there's something unique about the group's music that resonates with those who've heard it. The band's 2006 debut album, Enter, met with enthused accolades across the board, and quickly the landed them a slot on the top of the bill at Drowned In Sound's End-of-Summer festival in London last August. With the pending arrival of their sophomore LP, Station, Russian Circles are set to kick off another tour, beginning with a record-release party and a headlining set at Subterranean this Saturday evening.
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Graham Sanford
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Concert Wed May 07 2008
Tatsu Aoki is one of Chicago's musical treasures hidden in plain sight. Born in Japan, he moved to the United States to pursue a career as a jazz musician and landed in Chicago, where has been an active participant ever since. In addition to his association with many AACM musicians, he has been instrumental in developing an Asian American jazz scene here in Chicago, which serves as an extended branch of the music's original home base of San Francisco. Aoki is not only a musician, also serving as an organizer in his role as Executive Director of Asian Improv Arts Midwest, an organization whose existence testifies to the diversity of Chicago's music scene.
So what is Asian American jazz? Well, as you might guess given the incredible diversity of music from the continent of Asia, it means different things to different people. In Tatsu Aoki's Miyumi Project, it includes a driving rhythmic foundation of taiko drumming, combined with Aoki's own hypnotic bass lines and unique compositional aesthetic. The results are nothing short of joyous and propulsive, and the element of jazz is introduced by the talented improvisers Aoki enlists in his ensemble. Aoki himself is the glue that holds it all together, a grounding element both through his bass playing and vision as a composer.
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Daniel Melnick
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Concert Tue May 06 2008
If you kind of sort of live in the past musically, whether it's 1984 or 2004, tragically holding onto those New Order tapes or waxing poetically about the time you were in New York and electroclash was big, then get yourself to the Abbey Pub tomorrow night. Cut Copy, from Melbourne, released In Ghost Colours in March and they're touring America for just a bit before heading back to the land down under. Recorded with DFA's Tim Goldsworthy, the album is on par with the quality you would expect from DFA and word is the live shows are intense even if electronic music isn't your thing. The band often describes their sound as disco, but there are so many sounds and moods on their albums that calling it a collage would be more accurate. One thing is for sure with this new direction, singer Dan Whitford is front and center leaving any ambiguities or simmering lyrics on the cutting room floor. Expect a more personable band, which is a rare find in the electronic/DJ/future-robot music that typically haunts the dance floor.
So re-watch 24 Hour Party People, get your hair aqua-fresh, and party like Reagan is still in office. The first show is all ages with Black Kids opening at 6:30pm. The second show is 18+ and starts at 10pm with Mobius Band as well as Black Kids opening. Both shows are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. You can purchase tickets here or at the Abbey Pub (3420 W. Grace at Elston).
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Mitchell Bandur
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Concert Mon May 05 2008
It’s hard to believe that with all the hype surrounding Tokyo Police Club, they only released their debut LP, Elephant Shell, two weeks ago. With only a couple of EP’s on their resume, the band has already played Coachella and Glastonbury, and will headline a set at the Metro tonight. Off the top of my head, I cannot think of another band that coincided the release of their debut album with an
