If you were at Lollapalooza in 2006, you might have had the joy of checking out Nashville garage punk outfit Be Your Own Pet. With proud papa Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth filming from the side of the stage (Be Your Own Pet were signed to Moore's label Ecstatic Peace), the Nashville teens pogo'd around in all their awkward adolescent glory. Lead singer Jemina Pearl whipped her peroxide hair around, stopping midway through their set to puke and declare it tasted like Watermelon, before immediately launching back into their brash brand of garage punk. The band was incredibly charming, puke and all, so it was a shame when they decided to part ways.
Thankfully Pearl and BYOP drummer John Eatherly decided to keep making music together, moved to Brooklyn (where all indie rocking 20-somethings seem to end up), and wrote a bunch of songs that pay homage to 50s girl group music infused with a nice dose of punk. What came out of it all is Pearl's solo album, Break It Up, which is equal parts syrupy sweet and punk noise. The album also includes an impressive roster of guest artists, including Thurston Moore, Iggy Pop, and Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio fame. The music may have gotten a bit more pop, but Pearl is still a vivacious force live, and you can check her out this weekend when she rolls into town.
Opening for Pearl is local act White Mystery. I've raved about them before, and they recently played the Gapers Block show at the Metro, so you know they've got our stamp of approval. Make sure to head out early to see their set, then grab one of them (they aren't hard to find, given their bright red curly hair) and buy their debut cd that came out last month.
Jemina Pearl plays the Beat Kitchen tomorrow, Saturday February 6th, located at 2100 W. Belmont. Doors open at 9, and the show starts at 9:30pm with opening act Swiss Dots. The show is 17+ and tickets are $10. You can purchase tickets here.
Local husband and wife duo Tim Kelley and Christa Meyer better known as Puerto Muerto have been making intoxicatingly dark cabaret inspired music for almost ten years. Their debut album Your Bloated Corpse Has Washed Ashore is considered a cult classic. They also toured in 2005 preforming live with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for which they made a supplemental soundtrack to the film. They are an interesting band that are a secret gem to those who have been lucky enough to find them.
The latest from the pair is their sixth full length release entitled Drumming For Pistols which is due out February 9th on Fire Records. This album very much like their past work is filled with themes of deep loss and regrettable sadness woven all the way through. Even though this band has beautiful arrangements in their music, their medium for expression is equal parts storytelling. Very much in the spirit of two of their influences Nick Cave and Nina Simone, every song has a different character, a new way of feeling lonely and a new twist in it.
If you've ever been to a Monotonix show, you know that things can get, well, a little crazy, sometimes leaving you wondering how no one was injured during their performance. Well, last week lead vocalist Ami Shalev broke his leg after coming down hard out of a jump at a show in West Palm Beach Florida (P.S. there's video). Apparently their reputation precedes them, because this is what the Israeli garage rockers had to say about their visit to JFK Memorial Hospital (P.S. there's pictures):
"the doctor showed up asking for autographs and started having the nurses take his pictures with Ami and the band. other nurses kept coming in and out of the room with monotonix show videos playing on their ipods.the highlight of the evening was the doctor showing us youtubes of his 12 year old son playing drums while Ami is getting pain killer shots to his butt from the nurse."
To give you an idea of just how outrageous things get at their shows (besides the obvious "you could break a leg"), at ther Hideout Block Party appearance in '08 drummer Haggai Fershtman crowd surfed--along with his drumset, complete with flaming cymbals--while still playing. Needless to say, audience participation is almost a requirement at their shows, so be ready (yours truly still has a drumstick from their last appearance at the Hideout).
Having only canceled one show in Athens the night following the injury, they completed the two final dates on the tour and are now recording here in Chicago. Lucky for us they've already scheduled another tour beginning next month with a stop at Schubas scheduled for April 19. And don't worry that you've missed out on the band's "better" days--something like a little broken leg wouldn't have this group holding back in the slightest.
Monotonix @ Schubas: April 19, 2010. Tickets are $12. 18 & up. 3159 N. Southport.
Last December, we named The Flesh Hungry Dog Show's Mucca Pazza/Detholz! concert as one of the best of 2009. But lest you think the FHDS is all raucous hubbub, this month's offering is sweetly sleepy. On Friday, Feb. 5, Katie Todd headlines, a singer-songwriter with a truly lovely voice that should be played in movies during pensive, bittersweet moments. (Oh wait, her songs are on several soundtracks. My bad.) Fellow Chicagoans Dylan Rice and Jen Porter open the show.
Normally I wouldn't advise slugging down giant fruity drinks while listening to these subdued bands, but hey, the show is at the Jackhammer (6406 N. Clark St.) -- a giant fruity drink is practically de rigueur. The show begins at 9 p.m., and tickets are $10, whether you get them online or at the door.
Chicago Girls Rock (not to be confused with Girls Rock! Chicago) is kicking off their first concert, a "mega-show" titled Dame-Nation at the Portage Theater, located at 4050 N. Milwaukee, just north of the intersection of Milwaukee, Cicero and Irving Park.
The concert will showcase female musical talent, with a lineup of seven female-led hard rock bands from the Chicago area, including: Whiskey Blonde fronted by Brooke Bartlett, their debut EP Scream Like You Mean It is available on iTunes if you want to give it a listen; The Hannah Ford Band, named for the woman who not only sings lead vocals, but plays drums too; Losing Scarlet, featuring vocalist Jodi Kell; SAGE4, named for front-woman Tracey Sage, and whose new CD Graves is out now; F.H.O.D., (word has it the acronym stands for Flying Hamsters of Doom) with lead vocalist KK; and Dead Man's Wake, with front-woman Kryssie Ridolfi. The band's EP Back to Blood is available on iTunes. High Gloss Black will be headlining, with vocalist Jessica Robinson. The evening will be hosted by VH1's Ambre Lake.
Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. For information and tickets go to Chicago Girls Rock.
On the road, Goatwhore vocalist Ben Falgoust acts as tour manager, merch guy and occasional van driver. When not enthralling the crowd, he can likely be found loading in equipment or selling t-shirts. It's only one example of the fortified work ethic and resolve that has kept the band moving for over a decade.
I met up with Falgoust and Goatwhore guitarist Sammy Duet after their HOB show on January 20. We sat in a small corner of their dressing room to talk about the New Orleans band's turbulent history: how it affected their music, the drive that kept them going, and how Chicago played a role in much of it.
Their upcoming January 20 stop in Chicago comes hard-won for the members of Goatwhore. Among them, the road traveled from New Orleans has been paved with everything from black ice and flood waters to drug addiction and death. But moving relentlessly through several serious van accidents and one Katrina-interrupted album, they keep coming back.
In 2009, Goatwhore released their fourth studio album, Carving Out the Eyes of God. It's their first release not accompanied by a major disaster since 2000. And it's a punishing display of what can be accomplished with a little determination. Carving Out the Eyes of God finds the band progressively focused on the roots of black metal. It's a prodigious fusion of black metal and rock, or black n' roll as it's been described.
Goatwhore returns to the House of Blues this Wednesday, as part of the Bound by the Road tour with DevilDriver, Suffocation and Thy Will Be Done. Doors open at 5pm. The show starts at 5:30pm and is all ages. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 day of show.
I'll be there interviewing the band and photographing the show. Stay tuned for apost-show report.
Travis Lee Wiggins is beyond prolific, and over the course of his career with Essex Chanel he has released 249 songs. Yes he has other projects like The Salts, but this morning we are celebrating a new year for Essex Chanel. Yesterday, Travis announced that he would be giving away the entire back catalog, all 249 songs/11 albums, for free this year to anyone who is interested.
In addition to that huge giveaway the band will be releasing Love is Proximity Sessions, Disk 2 on January 26th. The first disc was released last year and further highlighted Travis' ability to craft high quality, catchy as hell, indie pop.
For more information on how to download this massive catalog visit Essex Chanel's website. The band will be playing at Uncommon Ground on March 4th.
Switch has been a busy man the past few years. Although his home might be behind a DJ booth, he's spent a good amount of time collaborating with some of the most talked about artist around (Santogold, Amanda Blank, M.I.A.) and remixing the likes of Basement Jaxx, The Chemical Brothers, Lily Allen, and Bjork to name a few. He's also part of the Diplo collaborative Major Lazer, which cranked out some of the headiest island dancehall beats of the past year with tracks like "Hold the Line" and "Keep it Going Louder." You definitely can't say the man doesn't stay busy.
Lucky enough for us, he'll be manning the decks at Smartbar this Saturday, along with Chicago house duo Santiago and Sexual Chocolate. If you're not familiar with Switch's DJ style, expect a glitchy techno up-tempo set, best described (in Switch's own made-up term) as fidget house, which he described in an interview with LA Weekly as "basically just jackin' house beats with a few unexpected twists and turns."
Switch plays this Saturday, January 16th, at Smartbar. Tickets are $10 in advance or before midnight, and $15 dollars after midnight. The music starts at 10pm, and the show is 21+ You can get your tickets online at the Metro/Smartbar site.
(In the interest of disclosure, Dan Morgridge is a current volunteer and DJ with CHIRP.)
While one gets antsy upon waiting two minutes for a sandwich at the local Potbelly's, try waiting over two years to get yourself a radio station. The 200+ volunteers of CHIRP have gone through almost 30 months of fundraising, venue searching, political activism and physical construction to get their station ready for launch. Now the station is all but ready to go, and the station is throwing a kick-off party before they flip the switch.
This coming Sunday eve, the Empty Bottle will host all all-local smorgasboard with The Hollows, The Yolks, Rabble Rabble, and a number of CHIRP DJs for a cherry on top. Doors open at 9:00PM, Cost is $8, and it's 21+.
Even if you can't make it out, fear not — provided you can defeat your hangover a little early, the true launch of the station won't happen until the next day at noon. Visit the station site to watch the hours count down, and then to start hearing local Chicago radio happen at the drop of mid-noon, Sunday!
Who's not a sucker for kittens? I certainly am, and that's why I couldn't pass up tomorrow night's show at the Empty Bottle (especially when it's dedicated to the Bottle's very own kitty, Radley, who passed away last year). Local musicians Brice Woodall, One & Only, Cobalt & the Hired Guns and Todd Kessler will all perform on behalf of the kitties at Tree House Humane Society in their 5th Annual Kittypalooza. Tree House has found homes for nearly 15,000 animals since their opening in 1971, and is currently home to 300 cats while they wait for adoption.
Did I mention there will be kitty themed drinks? It's just a $10 suggested donation to get in, and besides the satisfaction you'll get in knowing you're helping the Tree House kitties, there will also be a raffle with prizes from Newleaf Natural Grocery, Karyn's Raw, and Namaskar Yoga, among others. Doors open at 8pm and the music gets started at 8:30pm. 1035 N. Western.
On January 22nd, Gapersblock and the Metro are teaming up again to bring you a free night of music! Our all-Chicago lineup includes indie pop lovelies Pet Lions (a client of Gallery of Carpet studios), with the adorable married pair (with dark, dreamy tendencies) Post Honeymoon, the red haired sibling duo who rock stripped down tunes that make you want to dance White Mystery (previous love here), and the excited soulful dance-in-the-pants music of Dirty Diamonds. If you bring this flyer [PDF] with you you'll get in free before 9pm (pay just $6 after 9pm with the flyer or a special Metro text on your phone, or just $9 without). You can also sign up for Metro text messages and use your text to get in free before 9pm.
The Metro is located at 3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-0203. The show is 18+. If you'd really love advance tickets, they're $6. Get in free before 9pm with this flyer [PDF], or pay $6 after with flyer ($9 without).
Slayer vocalist/bassist Tom Araya's recently scheduled back surgery has forced the California metal legends to cancel their tour plans through April. This includes the cancellation of the American and Canadian Carnage Tour dates with Megadeth and Testament, which of course also includes the cancellation of the tour's February 5 stop at Chicago's UIC Pavillion.
According to a press release issued today:
"Tom gave various medical treatments more than a fair shot," said Slayer's manager Rick Sales, "but they just haven't handled the problem, so he's biting the bullet and is scheduled for back surgery at the end of this month."
The headbanging Araya, known for aggressively swinging his long mane of hair while performing, began experiencing back problems while on the band's Australian/New Zealand/Japanese tour last October. In spite of his rapidly increasing pain and discomfort, he carried on with the tour, but immediately upon returning home saw an orthopedic specialist who diagnosed a Cervical Radiculopathy. The rocker initially did not want to take the major surgery route, so the specialist recommended a series of minimally-invasive procedures. While those procedures have resulted in some improvement, Araya continues to deal with intermittent bouts of severe pain, numbness and muscle spasms. The surgical procedure that Araya will undergo, called an Anterior Cervical Discectomy with Fusion, is a relatively routine practice and the recovery rate is excellent.
Booking agents for both Slayer and Megadeth are already hard at work rescheduling the tour dates; tickets already purchased for these shows will be honored at the rescheduled dates.
Following up the success for their clash with The Hood Internet a few months ago, My Gold Mask is back with an addictive five-track ep called A Thousand Voices. Surprisingly just a duo, Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armondo have created a world that is dark, but always danceable. Blending the best of Santigold and Lady GaGa with the style and attitude of Siouxsie Sioux, these two have really do have the strength of a thousand voices.
Each track has it own sound, but the two that have the most energy are the lead single "Violet Eyes" and the second track "Circle Mass". They are currently offering "Circle Mass" as a free download, and you can stream the entire ep at bandcamp as well. My Gold Mask is one of the more promising bands in the city as work to crave out a distinctive sound and follow it up with quality live performances.
They will be playing a release show for A Thousand Voices at The Hideout on January 9th with The Bitter Tears and Violetness. The show starts at 9:00pm and tickets are $8.
The end of the decade was ushered in like a cryptic end of the world as a sparse countdown clocked asked a sold out crowd at the Double Door "Are you ready to rock?" Scott Lucas, dressed in full spaceman regal, sauntered onto stage as the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey boomed throughout the room, the start of a macabre night of sci-fi, space, and rock 'n' roll.
Jens Lekman loves Chicago! Even though he hasn't been in town since March of last year, this time he had decided to stay awhile. He is playing four shows starting on New Year's Eve, and also on January 1st and 2nd at the Empty Bottle. Now another show has been added for January 3rd at The Viaduct Theatre. Tickets are $10 and can be found here. For information on Jens's other shows check out the Empty Bottle's wesite and spend the New Year (or the night's following) with the Swedish indie pop singer.
The show starts at 7:30 and is all ages. The Viaduct Theatre is located at 3111 N. Western Ave. (773) 296-6024
Still dragging your feet figuring out plans for New Years Eve? Maybe you've already seen The Jesus Lizards and/or Crystal Castles this year, want to avoid the madhouse that is called Girl Talk at the Congress, or are just overwhelmed by the many options. Do you crave something simple? If a solid night of music, no dress code of any kind, and a hosted bar sound like the perfect plan to you, then take my cue and head over to Double Door for NYE this Thursday.
I'm a no-frills type of gal, so the perfect way to ring in the new year to me is dressed down, drink in hand, listening to loud guitars in the back of a bar. And I want all of that at a reasonable price. The Double Door is dishing up just that with Local H, Electric Six, and White Mystery. Local H will be bringing back their popular "Odyssey" New Year's Eve performance, where they'll perform a spaceman-themed set, all while dressed in costume, before launching into some of their favorites and hits. Before you'll get to bust some moves on the dance floor with one of Double Door's favorite acts that roll into town, Electric Six. Odds are you'll find me singing along to "Gay Bar" in the back corner. And to kick things off is one of my favorite hometown acts, the garage rock sibling duo White Mystery, who are busy at work on their debut full length. Doors open at 9:00pm, and music starts at 9:30pm.
And the best part? All of this will just cost you just $65, and that price includes a hosted bar, which is the real kicker. This means you won't lose track of your NYE celebration tab and end up broke when you sober up on January 1st. The hosted bar includes draught beer, well drinks, wine, water, and soda. Regular priced bottled beer, call drinks, and premium drinks will also be available for purchase according to the Double Door's site.
So head over and get your ticket now, stop worrying about what you're doing Thursday night, and head over to the Double Door to kick of the new year with myself and some of the finest folks in Chicago.
If thought you had one of the tickets to the upcoming Lady Ga Ga shows January 8, 9, and 10, 2010, well, you don't. The shows have been moved from the Chicago Theatre to the Rosemont Theatre due to production issues. Tickets to the Chicago Theatre shows (which sold out in 15 minutes) will not be honored by the Rosemont, so you'll need to get a refund on those. But there is an exclusive presale starting tonight at 5pm for those who had tickets originally. Details at the Chicago Theatre site, or click below to read a statement provided by the Chicago.
Update According to a Chicago Reader Early Warning email received this morning, any additional Lady Ga Ga tickets that are available after the pre-sale will go on sale Monday, January 4th at 10am.
The presents have all been opened and hopefully you've slept off yesterday's Christmas feast, and after those awkward conversations with relatives (distant or not), you're probably ready to get out of the house. If you're lucky enough to be in sweet home Chicago and not still out of town with the fam, grab some friends and head to Lincoln Hall to see Emily Wells tonight.
We first heard and saw Wells over the summer at Pritzker's Edible Audible lunchtime picnic series where she blew us away with her beautiful melodies and multi-instrumental prowess. She's another of today's artists using looping equipment to solely build their songs on stage, joining in the company of musicians like Andrew Bird and Jamie Lidell.
A young female classically trained violinist, fan of hip-hop who decided to merge the two genres? While it sounds ridiculous, the result is a beautiful, free flowing, sometimes saucy new sound, as evidenced in her cover version of Biggie Smalls' "Juicy." She essentially creates what sound like modern symphonies--her last LP (which came out in 2008) was aptly titled The Symphonies: Dreams Memories and Parties. On the record she recorded up to 21 separate violin tracks per song to create a virtual sonic orchestra.
Besides being a joy to listen to, she's a delight to watch on stage. You can bet you'll hear some tunes from her most recent EP, Dirty, as well as some new pieces--if you're lucky, her new track "Passenger" will find it's way into the setlist.
Emily Wells plays Lincoln Hall tonight. Show starts at 10pm. Azita opens. Tickets are $12. 21 & up. 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.
Sunset was at 4:21pm on Saturday, but that didn't stop the lineup at at Martyrs' from playing into the wee hours of Sunday morning, winter doldrums be damned. The James Brown tribute band Get Up With The Get Downs kicked things off with their stellar brass section, front man Izzy's endless energy, and a guest drummer who filled in at the last minute with just a few hours to rehearse. The band roused the audience into singing along with Cold Sweat and Hey! Hey! I Feel Alright!, and secretly I hoped there would come a moment when Izzy collapsed onstage, only to be rescued by a cape-bearing well-wisher strategically waiting in the wings. Get Up With The Get Downs play every 3rd Thursday at the Cobra Lounge, and will be playing at the Hideout January 2nd. Catch them if you can, they put on quite a show.
Chicago Afrobeat Project took the stage next, with up to 14 people performing at once, including vocalist Antar Jackson, and dancers Tosha Alston and Imania Detry from The Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. This was CAbP's first time performing in Chicago in several months, and the audience was clearly glad to see them. Between the dancers and the hypnotic mix of funk, rock, jazz and Afro-Cuban music, the energy was unstoppable. Each song was its own production, and it was early Sunday morning before they finished their set.
Gezelligheid is a Dutch word meaning "cozy" - not in size, but in ambiance. I've had the pleasure of seeing Andrew Bird in much smaller venues than the loop's Fourth Presbyterian Church, but the church was definitely gezellig during Andrew's performance Tuesday night, the second of four "Gezelligheid"-themed concerts in Chicago.
This night was anything but your typical Andrew Bird concert. Having recently injured his foot in Minneapolis, Andrew meekly limped onto stage and spent the rest of the evening planted atop a cushioned chair. This not only meant that he couldn't bounce around stage as per usual, but he also could no longer use his foot pedals, which gave the show an unintended theatrical element as he had to wave his bow in circles in the air to signal when he wanted his double-horn speaker to spin.
Last Thursday was without a doubt the coldest day of the year thus far, with temperatures dipping into the teens and the wind chill well below zero. But Chicago hip hop outfit the Cool Kids didn't seem to mind, as they whipped a packed crowd into a frenzy with their signature bass heavy cuts and previewed new material at Reggies.
The duo first got attention with a slew of throwback retro jams like "Black Mags" and "Mikey Rocks" full of 80s era scratch and bass bumping sound back in 2007. Their lyrics are full of pop culture reference and sly snark, as Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks bounce and banter back and forth, clearly a perfect fit and balance for each other. They've come a long way from playing at Town Hall Pub, and Thursday night was a homecoming celebration of the long strange trip the duo has been on the past few years.
Last weekend I was talking with someone from Pittsburgh who asked me about the Yolks. I asked, "Who?" He was shocked that I wasn't familiar with a band from the city where I live. I explained that I don't know every band in Chicago. He countered, "Yeah, but the Yolks are good." Well then, I just had to hear these Yolks.
And so for the last few days I've hardly listened to anything but the Yolks. It's nothing special to play lo-fi garage rock in 2009, which is what I gathered was the Yolks' wheelhouse on a first listen. However, it's not just that. Their debut LP (with re-recorded versions of songs previously found on a few singles) includes nods to country, surf-rock, doo wop and other complex surprises buried in ragged 3-chord songs barely stretching past 2 minutes. Fans of the Goodnight Loving and the Soft Pack, especially, should be all ears. But who couldn't find a way to love a song titled "My Love is Yours (My Money's Mine)" or one about charming a paramour with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
The Yolks headline a free show tonight at the Empty Bottle. Tyler Jon Tyler and Sleepovers open. The show starts at 9:30PM. The Empty Bottle's at 1035 N. Western.
The man who might very well be the Latino reincarnation of Elvis (Robert Lopez, better known as El Vez) will once again grace Chicago with his presence on Friday night at the Double Door. He's bringing the very special, the very rock and roll, the very fabulous El Vez "Viva Christmas!" Show to town, and he's got some new friends in tow this year. Backing band (and stars in their own right) Nashville's very own, Los Straightjackets, will be on stage along with the L.A. performer (and the fabulous El Vettes) who's bound to bring it harder than The King himself to the intimate setting on Milwaukee Avenue. But that's not all. El Vez, who's been known to throw costume changes, giant inflatables, and dance routines rivaling Ike and Tina, is also a witty lyricist, rewriting Elvis classics with Spanish lyrics (like "Suspicious Minds" re-visioned as "Immigration Time" or "In the Ghetto" as "En El Barrio"). Not just an Elvis aficionado, he's also a serious political performer, working to aid the struggle for Latino rights as well as other organizations. Friday's show will likely have a very Santa, a very Latino, and a very fabulous vibe. It's Viva Christmas! after all, and it's definitely time to party. It's all about bringing people together. As Lopez says, "When you come to an El Vez show, you walk away proud to be a Mexican," he says. "Even when you're not."
Tickets for the show are $15 and doors open at 8pm (showtime 9pm). Knuckle Dragger opens with surf/metal stylings. 21+ The Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-489-3160
Sure, the high Thursday is suppose to be 13 degrees, but you won't find me sitting at home. I'll be venturing out into the cold to warm things up with Chicago hip-hop duo and hometown favorite the Cool Kids. With their minimal bass heavy beats and stylish pop culture heavy lyrics, Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks prove they've got some of the most bare bones yet infectious hip-hop around. With a killer EP, some fresh mixtapes (including the fantastic Gone Fishing), and the recent collaboration track "(We Are) Champions" with Hey Champ, the boys have kept busy while working on their forthcoming full-length release of what will surely be a great batch of old skool jams. Go check them out Thursday, and get your body moving to stay warm during the Chicago cold.
The Cool Kids play Reggies Thursday December 10th at 8pm. The show is 18+ and tickets are $20. Opening up is Bun B of UGK fame. Get your tickets here.
In the age of internet marketing and viral video it is really hard to judge how popular or successful a band is, and it typically something that does really factor into my decision to write about them or not. However, with Pittsburgh's Meeting of Important People their popularity seems a little more in hand. First, the video that they sent me had already been viewed by 46,000 people. The video is very creative, constructed of cardboard and animated, but is it the concept or the quality of the song that has driven this success? Well, the track "Brittany Lane Don't Care" is taken from their self-titled debut album on Authentik Artists, and what maybe be deceiving is that the song really doesn't do the bands live performance justice. The word is that on stage the band is full of energy and they have been gaining that reputation through opening spots for bands like Ok Go and Sam Roberts Band. In fact, those two bands are actually pretty good comparisons to their indie-pop sound, and you can listen for yourself here.
I suppose we all will have to judge for ourselves as they take the stage tomorrow night at Elbo Room with Chicago's Lorelei and The Troublemakers. The show starts at 8:30pm and the cover $7.
Cover shows are usually a fun way for bands to dress up in costume and pretend to be someone else for the night. This year the word cover means so much more as Lincoln Hall puts a spin on the idea and presents Covers for Cover II, a benefit for Connections for Abused Women and their Children. CAWC is a place where women can establish independence from their abusers. They provide shelter for women and children, counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence.
This unique benefit showcases local female musicians as their favorite bands. Some of the acts include The Maybenauts as David Bowie, IRIS as The Breeders and Sally Timms (of The Mekons fame) as Nico from The Velvet Underground. If that wasn't enough to get you out the door for a great cause, the event will be MCed by Rattina, the lady rat puppet from the most rockin' kids music show Chic-A-Go-Go!
The first Covers For Cover benefit was in 2006 and raised $1,500.00 for the women's homeless shelter, Deborah's Place.
The show is on Wednesday, December 23rd and is $12, but in the spirt of giving, a donation of new toiletries will get you $2 off the price of admission at the door. Advance tickets as well as the entire line up can be found here.
The ladies get the music going at 8. Lincoln Hall is located at 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. (773) 525-2501
volcano! is pretty much my favorite band. Their music is performed with such intensity that it wavers like a skateboard going down a hill that is too steep, too quickly. It oscillates between tension and release in a way that makes me feel like cheese being pushed through a cheese-grater. In a good way.
Aaron With bellows and coos while he vigorously strums his guitar. His voice is twisty and operatic. He sings about work, pop culture, and sex, among other things. In one of volcano!'s many gems, "Slow Jam," from 2008's Paperwork, he sounds just like Prince, belting out: "Oooooh, you like it early, and I like it late 'n you don't like it when I take the bate, got me hidin' the cookies. Oh let's poke a hole in this balloon animal. It's the elephant trunk in the room."
Rivers Cuomo has long been dressing as and writing songs like a 13-year-old boy, but at Tuesday night's Weezer concert at the Aragon, he started acting like one as well. Long gone are the days where Rivers stood in place while meekly singing into the mic. Instead, he's playing air guitar, doing jumpkicks, running out into the crowd, wearing wigs, and playing with beach balls. They even had a trampoline set up in the center of the stage. It felt more like eavesdropping on your kid brother playing rock star in his bedroom than watching a 39-year-old Harvard-educated veteran musician. Aside from the fact that more dancing and air guitar time leads to less time spent, you know, actually playing the guitar, I fully welcome this change.
We gushed about this British garage rock group back in August when they were in town playing Lollapalooza. If you missed the chance to catch their frenzied and energetic live set this summer, you've got another chance as they roll into town and set up camp at The Riviera Theatre Sunday night.
The Arctic Monkeys may have started as an internet sensation, but have kept their career relevant with a large devoted group of fans, a infectious live show, and by keeping true to their garage rock punk sound, while still branching out into darker layers of work. Their latest release, Humbug, pays homage to the guitar noodling and organ sounds of late '60s pop music, which gives their live setting a darker tone, yet stays true to their bouncing-off-the-wall concert style. The music is universally pleasing to a rock fan, and would be a perfect way to spend a Sunday evening in Chicago.
And Gapers Block and the fine folks over at Domino Records would like to treat you to that enjoyable Sunday evening with the Arctic Monkeys. We're giving away a pair of tickets to the show Sunday night, thanks to the bands lovely label. Just be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Monkey!" and you'll be a winner. Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Nicolas!
The Arctic Monkeys play The Riviera Theatre, Sunday December 6th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $27.50, and the show is all ages. Tickets are still available.
When Winter Gloves were here for their first Chicago show in May, they put on a high energy act despite playing to a nearly empty room. Their show on Tuesday at the (not so) Empty Bottle was no different, but this time there were more bodies to share in and amplify the enjoyment.
The holidays are a time to visit home and think of simpler times, times when songs like "The Great Pretender," "Only You," "Yakety Yak," "Please Mr. Postman," topped the charts. The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University is presenting a special holiday concert this Saturday, December 5th featuring performances by the legendary pop groups responsible for these hits of the 50's and 60's including Cornell Gunther's Coasters, The Platters and The Marvelettes. Tickets range from $32 to $52, but as a special holiday treat, Gapers Block readers receive 20% off!*
Concert begins at 8pm. The Center is located at 1 University Parkway, University Park, just minutes off I-57 at the Sauk Trail exit.
* To redeem this special offer, please call 708-235-2222 or visit centertickets.net and use code GETOUT. Offer valid for main floor tickets only. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or with any other offer. Handling fees and restrictions apply. Contact box office for further details.
Weezer may not have the most innovative album of the year, but they've certainly got an innovative marketing strategy. Between their Weezer Snuggie, Dwight Schrute-coined album, and collaboration with Kenny G, Weezer has gone to show in 2009 that they're willing to be as ridiculous as possible at all times - and I absolutely love it. Their catchy hooks and poppy lyrics certainly don't hurt, either.
If you can appreciate a band who do not take themselves too seriously, catch =W= tomorrow night at the Aragon at 7 pm. Jack's Mannequin and Motion City Soundtrack open this all-ages show. Tickets are $44.75 and can be picked up here.
And if you still just can't get enough Weezer, the T-Mobile Motorola CLIQ Challenge gives us a chance to bring the band to a college campus here in Chicago. Just follow the link and vote for your favorite Chicago school to ensure the winning college will be right here in the Windy City. The school with the most votes will win a live performance from Weezer, and $1 per vote received (for up to $25k). Sweet deal.
To sweeten it even more, we have not one, not two, but three copies of Weezer's Raditude to give away to our lucky readers. Just be the first three to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Rad!" and we'll send your CD along, straight to your door. Update! We have our three winners! Congrats to Paul, Kate and Jon!
Ryne Estwing (Scattered Trees and Horse In The Sea) found himself alone in life and in his apartment which just happened to be filled with instruments and a few microphones last winter. He began to try to express this feeling of longing, lost love, and even death in a way he felt he couldn't with his other bands. The result is a band he is calling Louis & The Hunt. One of the first songs he wrote while in this state was called "Day Trip", and it is one of my favorite local songs of the year. The talent Chicago-area filmmaker JM Harper turned the beautiful little love song into a video that has worked to jump start this new project. Louis & The Hunt has continued to perform and record this year, and plan to release their debut ep in early 2010
Louis & The Hunt will be performing on December 3rd with Panda Riot and Black Nag at Subterranean. The show starts at 9:00pm and tickets are $8.
When you first listen to the debut solo ep from local musician Adam Ashbach the word traditional may come to mind. True, Puzzle Pieces doesn't stray to far from the standard indie offerings, but it's Adam's journey that makes his music so intensely interesting. He spent seven years as part of Musical Outfits playing some of the city's biggest venues, he played Lollapalooza, was scouted by major labels and traveled to Greece, they also enjoyed heavy radio airplay and performed on a popular television show. The journey, however, ended badly and Adam left with a broken jaw after a barroom fight with band mates. Adam left the music scene completely, but after two years away found it impossible to keep the melodies out his head. It was that love of the melody and passion for songwriting that found him retreating to his home studio to put the pieces back together. He recruited old band mates Jason Angelilli and Joe Wagner, and has crafted an ep ripe with subtle ad confident pop gems.
Before diving headfirst into a turkey coma and hanging out with family on Thursday, spend Wednesday night busting a move with hometown hero Kid Sister and Flosstradamus. Both have come a long way from the days of Columbia College and throwing parties at Town Hall Pub, and with the drop of Kid Sister's debut album, I can guarantee the hometown show will be one big wild party. Bring your dancing shoes, and burn up some calories before stuffing your face on Thanksgiving day. Both your eardrums and waistline will thank you.
Kid Sister with Flosstradamus, Rob Threezy, and Green Velvet is tomorrow night, Wednesday November 25th, at The House of Blues. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the show starts at 6:30pm. The show is all ages, and tickets are $16 in advance, $18 at the door, plus any fees and extra charges that the House of Blues adds on.
Earthless is nothing if not epic. Isaiah Mitchell (Nebula), Mike Eginton (Electric Nazarene) and Mario Rubalcaba (Hot Snakes, Rocket From the Crypt, Clikatat Ikatowi, skater extraordinaire) have combined to create a number of psychedelic rock tour de forces over the last few years. Inspiration for their instrumental stoner rock comes from the current wave of Japanese psychedelia (like Boris), blues-influenced noise (such as Comets on Fire) and 70s rockers (Hawkwind, Black Sabbath). Ten minutes into songs like "Godspeed" or "Flower Travelin' Man" the heavy riffs don't settle down and the rhythm section just chugs along. And that's just at the halfway point. (Don't worry, the second halves don't let up.) Last year's Live at Roadburn showcases them headlining with 4 songs totalling 80+ minutes. At no point does the intensity die and there's no indication that other nights would be any different. (Also, I must mention that the first two times I saw Rubalcaba drumming after he joined RFTC, he broke a pedal and a snare, respectively. He is a monster behind the kit - definitely one of the hardest drummers I've ever seen and alone almost worth the price of admission.)
Headlining is Baroness. The Savannah band's Blue Record has been lauded by critics and fans alike throughout 2009 and their prowess as a live band is constantly hailed. North Carolina psych rockers US Christmas opens. The show is at Reggies on Wednesday at 8PM for ages 17+. Tickets are $12. Reggies is located at 2109 South State Street.
Galactic Inmate is a rowdy, slighty twangy, metal/rock band from Chicago with a loyal following. The three members-- Keith Herzik on guitar, Brett Whitacre on drums, and Arman Mabry on bass, started playing together in 2004. Now, they don't play live very often, but when they do, it's loud as hell. I saw them at Quenchers the night before Halloween (they were dressed up as ZZ Top) and was blown away by their awesomeness-- they kicked ass even with Herzik's yarn beard perpetually tangled in his guitar strings-- so I set up an interview. I met Mabry at The Green Eye on a rainy November night. He jovially sipped PBR and whiskey, the diet of champions.
How do you all know each other?
Keith and I are both from Austin. I knew of him when I lived there but I never met him. It just so happened that when I moved up here with my old band, The Hamicks, I met him. Because eventually, in Chicago, you meet all the Texas people. We didn't really play together initially but we were down the hall from each other at a practice space. One day he and I started messing around, playing old Austin band songs like Scratch Acid and Ed Hall. We were having a great time doing that, so he said "Hey, man, our drummer Bret would like to play..." and that's how it happened.
When you visit the myspace page of Michele Ari the heading reads, "The Front Man is a Girl", and for some reason reading that sparked something in me. These days there are thousands of female vocals and many fine female singers right here in Chicago. However, is there a difference between a vocalist and frontman? I say yes, and Michele Ari is a bonafied frontman. Her and her band, based in Nashville, just released their second album mal a' propos and the first two tracks, "6am" and "Boxes" are currently streaming at Fearless Radio. There is a strength and a confidence in Michele's voice that fits perfectly the contemporary alt-pop backing. It's nothing complicated or groundbreaking, but there is always room for well-written pop. The frontman is the center piece, the attention getter, and the hook, and Michele is all of those things and more.
Michele is coming to Chicago on November 21st and will first be playing at the Fearless Radio's studio at 4:00pm and then be playing with one of my favorite new local bands The Streets of Fire at Cal's. The Streets on Fire also just released an album, their debut, and are proving that lo-fi funk is not dead in this town. I recommend you stop by Cal's on the 21st to check out both Michele Ari and The Streets on Fire.
The last time I saw a Kinsella brothers project it was Joan of Arc at the Beat Kitchen in the summer of 2008. The place was packed and the show was ended with a cover of Neil Young's "A Man Needs A Maid". It is always been hit or miss with the Cap'n Jazz derived bands, some more likable than others. Regardless, the guys have been a staple of Chicago's music scene for over 15 years. Owen, the solo project of Mike Kinsella is one of the better known bands and recently he released a fifth studio album entitled New Leaves on Polyvinyl Records. Owen plays an all ages show tonight at the Andrew Rafacz Gallery along with local minimalists Bikes will Take Us. Expect a communal acoustic vibe with lots of sad songs. The Andrew Rafacz Gallery is located at 835 W. Washington Blvd. The show is $10 at the door, $8 on the Empty Bottle's Website. The show starts at 8:00.
The Dirty Projectors are an interesting sonic experience, that's for sure, and you may or may not be able to get into their latest album, Bitte Orca, depending on your palate. I for one find it endlessly pleasing ear candy. "Stillness is the Move" is probably the most viable single on the record and was incredibly popular this year--Amber Coffman's vocals are swirling and entrancing--but the rest of the album is filled with heavier exploration and experimentation. A lot of the tracks play around with offbeat rhythms, and it's that unexpectedness that makes it so intriguing. Sometimes your ear thinks it wants one thing, but it can be a delight when it gets something completely different.
Like our own Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Dirty Projectors took a tumble in their van over the summer, but luckily they all walked away from the accident unscathed and are still on the road, tonight making a stop at Bottom Lounge. Tonight's show with Tune-Yards is sold out, but be sure to pick up a copy of Bitte Orca if you aren't familiar.
Tomorrow night, turn your brain's positioning system in the direction of Enemy (1550 N. Milwaukee Avenue) for four fearsome and poisonous examples of instruments-as-DDT.
Chord is a collective of drone practitioners with varying ensemble sizes from performance to performance. As the name implies, Chord attempts to find that BIG CHORD through sound -- the harmony of the spheres, as they say. Conversely, Locrian lives to cast the spheres into vengeful darkness with a heady combination of guitar/synth/vocals. Their latest release, the Rain of Ashes CD (Basses Frequencies) is a highpoint to date. Though I have not heard this on the digital/remastered format, I was happy to hear the original release (when it was a tape on Fan Death Records), and was happy to be thrown for a loop, with a newly-explored sense of tentative melody, incorporating seemingly non-Locrian elements like Post-punk synth sequencers and some non-shrieked vocals. And guess what? It sounds good backwards, too! (a palindrome recording, if you like) Ratatosk, a new-ish duo of Ben Billington (ex-Druids of Huge) and Jason Soliday (Magic Missile, Gunshop, Coeurl, ex-Animal Law, Mora, &c. as well as co-founder of the Enemy space) works a Krautrock-ish vein, with motorik (sometimes free jazz-ish) drums locking in against waves of electronic forcefields. Finally, the three-piece grindcore/showtunes/wha-huuuh? group known as Harpoon might sound like the strangest thing you've ever cowered in fear of, until you check the lineup and realize it was founded by, among others, the former bandleader of 7000 Dying Rats. Always a pleasure.
$5 at the door, posted says 8 p.m., so don't be late!
Percolator is an energetic post-punk four-piece from Chicago with a heavy dose of power pop. They've got a new double album coming out soon, an EP that you can buy for $3, and a show tomorrow at Ronny's.
Upon listening to the sample CDs they sent us along with a nice hand-written note, I immediately picked up on some Mike Watt/Minutemen sounds, the singing called to mind Violent Femmes, and the guitar, Weezer (though they switch around instruments, so the sounds vary a bit.) They also claim to be playing around with influences ranging from Busta Rhymes to Sonic Youth, but I'm not quite hearing it. The sound is a little too clean and consistent for that, but there's nothing wrong with that. The guitar is playful and experimental-- mimicking the lyrics, doing a good job at not being boring. The drums are clean yet hyperactive, the drummer is obviously not afraid of fills, and it works. The recordings are a little iffy-- maybe because they were self-recorded, but I have a feeling this is a pretty fun band to see live. Check them out tomorrow night (Friday, Nov. 13) at Ronny's: 2101 N. California. Bird Ate My Donut, Faggy Pussy, and The Armor Class play that show, too. The show starts at 9pm, ages 21 and up.
Lissie is a pop/indie/country band with a pretty blond front-woman, Lissie Maurus, who hails from Rock Island but now lives in Ojai, CA. Why You Runnin' is her new EP, fresh off the presses from Fat Possum Records.
Why You Runnin' is good, probably best when it's knee-slappin' indie-country, like in the single, "Little Lovin'," which kicks off the EP with delicate picking on an acoustic guitar and crescendos into greatness with the help of a tambourine and an electric guitar, among other things. Then there is the melancholy country cover, "Wedding Bells," with heavily layered vocals, reminiscent of those of My Morning Jacket, and "Oh, Mississippi," the hymn-like tune that I could have sworn was Mississippi's state anthem, but it's not-- it's just a homesick tune Lissie wrote in London. The EP ends with "Everywhere I Go," which is a little too sappy, and "Here Before," the poppy ballad in which her voice really shines; all twisty and soulful.
Disclaimer: This review is insanely late due to the fact that two days after Halloween, I caught swine flu. Yup, swine flu. I wish I was kidding about this fact, but I'm not. Sorry to Andy for just now posting his wonderful pictures from the night, and sorry to all the readers for just now reporting on this fun night of music in Chicago. And go buy some hand sanitizer, try and get an H1N1 vaccination shot if you can, because swine flu was the worst sickness I've ever experienced, and trust me, you do not want it dear readers. Now on with the review!
Sweaty masses of underage kids packed into The Congress is a typical affair in the Chicago music scene, but only one weekend a year is it normal to add in a few dozen green men, a plethora of slutty outfits, and a crowd surfing horse into the mix. Such was the case at the packed Crystal Castles, Chromeo and Boys Noize show Halloween weekend.
If you are going to see The Meat Puppets tomorrow, you are one lucky duck. Not just because you are seeing one of the most celebrated and influential bands of all time in a sweet venue, but also because of one of the openers. King Sparrow is a local band who have already been given mad props since they formed last year. They are playing the first of the three Meat Puppets shows scheduled at Schubas this week. Rooted in an epic garage rock sound, King Sparrow is pop-y enough for toe tapping, but has just the right roughness around the edges. Add some blues to this mix and you've got yourself some hells yeah music. Opening alongside them is New Jersey band Black Wine. You can catch all this at Schubas located at 3159 N. Southport. The show starts at 10. $16 ($18 at door) and tickets are still available here. (773) 525-2508
Every once in a while a band will lay on your radar for a while, popping up here and there on music sites and local venue bookings, and maybe a friend tells you you should check them out, but then suddenly you realize why they haven't faded away, why they weren't just a blip on the blog circuit. Having even seen White Rabbits this summer at Do Division street fest, I knew they were a great band with incredible energy on stage; even the intense light show in the video for "Percussion Gun" had me stunned, but it wasn't until I heard their newest album, It's Frightening, that it was clear that this band stands head and shoulders above most everything else around right now.
The group originally hails from Columbia, Missouri, Stephen Patterson and Gregory Roberts having met there at The University of Missouri. They moved on to Brooklyn in 2005 with high ambitions that so far appear to be paying off. Spoon's Britt Daniel obviously saw something special in them too, as he came on to produce the followup to their Fort Nightly debut. The Spoon-pop influence is hard to hide on It's Frightening, but White Rabbits take it in their own dark direction with an aptly named album. Although you can characterize their brand of indie-pop as dark, that doesn't mean that verses and chorus wont hook you and draw you in. From intense drum thumping on "Percussion Gun" to endearing guitar strumming on "Company I Keep," this is one album you can bet you'll see popping up on those 'best of '09' lists in the coming months.
White Rabbits are in town this week with The Walkmen for two shows--at Schubas on the 11th and at Lincoln Hall on the 12th. The Lincoln Hall show is already sold out, but a few tickets still remain for the Schubas show. (Both shows are now sold out.) You can also download free tracks from sessions they did for Daytrotter and MySpace Transmissions to hold you off in the mean time.
Wednesday, November 11 @ Schubas. 3159 N. Southport. Show starts at 9pm. 21 &up. Tickets are $20.
Thursday, November 12 @ Lincoln Hall. 2424 N. Lincoln Ave. Show starts at 9pm. 21 & up. Sold Out.
"This is going to be awesome."
"I hope they play the Ghostface song, I loved that one."
"I don't really know Basement Jaxx that well - I hope they're good."
"They were really big back in the day. It should be good."
This was the back-and-forth on Saturday night between a trio of crop-topped and dress shirted youngsters flecked with tastful glittery parts here and there who were seated behind me at El Cid as we all waited for the show to begin. Technically, it was nine and the show doors had already been open for two hours, but they and I (and from the outfits I saw across the restaurant, a multitude of others) had decided to get some margaritas in us rather than see the (presumably excellent) sets from the gals of Moneypenny (including Chess Hubbard of Life During Wartime) as well as fellow Life During Wartime/Only Children man-about-town Bald E. (Bald Eagle's answer to P. Diddy, perhaps).
One pitcher turned into two and three, and then some latecomers in our group topped it off for a fourth. We stumbled a few doors down into the Congress to find the lobby pretty well packed with people, and a DJ out there working a surprisingly active crowd. We delved further in to catch the end of Modeselektor's set. The floor was packed all the way to the rails - it's eady to forget that the Congress can hold 4,000 people until you see them before you in a sweaty, fist-pumping mass. Simon and Felix took the stage to a very warm crowd, and started into a set that leaned heavily on the bookends of their discography. Tracks from "Scars" appeared frequently, but they also brought out gems like "Red Alert" with none other than Vula Malinga to sing the hook herself. She stuck around as hype man for the rest of the night, making sure the sexy ladies were making some noise, and the sexy men were doing their best Arsenio Hall hoot-hoot-hoot. Space was tight, but pockets of dancing could be seen all over, and there was nary a bored chatterbox to be seen/heard. "Bohemian Rhapsody was even thrown in for good measure, and the crowd ate it all up. By the end of the set I was sweaty and danced out, so I made my way out, pleased even with the small portion of the evening I'd experienced. MSTRKRFT played next, and I was told they kept the party going for another two hours of Daft Punk and Justice-teasing energy.
(Kudos to anyone who lasted through the whole night - feel free to share any extra gems from the other sets in the comments.)
After their wild show last April at Park West, Numero is reviving their Eccentric Soul Revue for another performance on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln Ave.)
The Eccentric Soul Revue is a chance for the long-forgotten soul and funk artists who have been unearthed, polished, and reissued by Numero to shine onstage. Expect a rousing evening of late '60s and '70s awesomeness: Renaldo Domino returns, as does The Notations and Syl Johnson. Added to this round of the revue is Sharon Clark and Chicago native Linda Balentine, who was only 16 when she began recording soul and funk tracks in 1969. Pastor TL Barrett and his choir will open the show with a track from Numero's upcoming collection, Good God! Born Again Funk.
The show is 18 and up, and tickets are $30. The show kicks off at 9 p.m. Find out more at the Lincoln Hall website.
Who doesn't like Led Zeppelin? My own memories of friends belting out "D'yer Mak'er" on a high school camping trip will never be forgotten. Led Zeppelin Tribute Band--Heartbreaker--is coming to The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University on Saturday, November 14th and you could go for free! They are holding a contest for the best rocker photos, videos, songs or whatever you've got for your own hair band tribute. The best part is, even if you don't win, all entrants receive $10 off the regularly priced $35 tickets. To enter email your material to tickets@govst.edu or become a fan of their Facebook page and post to the wall. Deadline for entries is November 11.
Maybe you and a friend will be belting out "D'yer Mak'er" yourselves in front of the ultimate tribute band.
Tickets can be purchased by going to centertickets.net or calling 708.235.2222. Governors State University is located at One University Parkway in University Park, IL 60466.
Get ready for a big local hullaballoo when the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western) hosts the Hollows record release show on Monday, Nov. 9.
You've gotta check out Hollows. Pumping out 11 songs in only 30 minutes, the band's self-titled debut is pure '60s girl-group pop. Add bite to the bounce, and you've got yourself a catchy lil' ray of garage-infused sunshine. The album's release is by local vinyl label Addenda Records, a cohort of the equally awesome Plustapes.
Opening the show is Bird Talk and DJ Emilie Fabulette. Headlining is the always fabulous Miss Alex White and her latest band, White Mystery, a dirty guitar-and-drums garage rock duo accompanied by White's brother, Francis.
All this boffo entertainment, and what's more, it's free. What, is it your birthday? The show kicks off at 9:30 p.m. Be there.
Listening to Leonard Cohen's music is like listening to your own conscience; seeing him live makes you realize that your conscience is a 74 year-old man in a dark suit and fedora. For over three hours last night, Leonard Cohen kept the rapt attention of an adoring audience as he performed songs that have been so deeply etched into the memories of his fans that its hard to think of a time we didn't know them. He frequently began songs in a kneeling position, as if the weight of his own voice were too much to bear, then rose to a standing position with his body curved into a question mark, for who asks deeper questions than the troubadour from Quebec?
Mr. Cohen received numerous standing ovations, recited the lyrics to 1,000 Kisses Deep as a poem, and received applause from the audience upon hearing key lyrics throughout the evening, such as: you told me again you preferred handsome men but in my case you'd make an exception; and I was born like this I had no choice, I was born with the gift of a golden voice. After what seemed like the last song, he came back for an encore that went four songs long. He sang Closing Time, a sure sign that he was finished, only to come back with I Tried To Leave You, getting a big laugh from the audience.
Between now and November 13th Leonard Cohen will be appearing in North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Nevada and California. Catch him if you can, this is one concert you'll never forget. For more information visit Leonard Cohen.
When I hear the phrase "actor-turned-musician", I normally think of boringvanityprojects set to stroke one's ego, with fewexceptions. Luckily, Ryan Gosling's new project Dead Man's Bones falls into the 'exception' category. The band stopped through Chicago last week for two sold-out shows at Schubas in support their ghoulish new self-titled album. The album can be a bit hokey at times but live the same songs basically sound like Arcade Fire gone trick-or-treating (see: "In the Room Where You Sleep" album version vs. live version). Think ghosts and goblins plus theatrical songwriting plus a children's choir - kitschy elements but it works in a pleasantly surprising way.
Full disclosure - about 75% of the reason I went to see this show was that according to the press release, Pitchfork has compared Hawksley Workman's voice to Freddie Mercury. The other 25% is that he's Canadian, and I have a fascination with cultural exports from our neighbor to the north.
I prepared myself by visiting Hawksley Workman's website, and was immediately confronted with his image, which seemed so, um, un-Canadian. I was expecting something a little more self-deprecating than a man lazily draped over a love seat wearing double-decker headgear. Its a look that's more Justin Timberlake bringing sexy back than Neil Young dancing under the harvest moon, but first impressions can be misleading. Then I watched a few of the videos, and a strange thing happened - the experience of listening to the music while being confronted with his video presence was completely different from listening to the music while I surfed other websites. I became very curious as to how it would affect me live.
Above: Claire Chase of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
Fans of contemporary classical music take note: tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 27), International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) founder and music director Claire Chase will perform selections from her debut CD, Aliento (New Focus Recordings), at Fred Anderson's legendary jazz club the Velvet Lounge (67 E. Cermak Road). Chase will be playing compositions from her CD over the course of two sets, as well as other contemporary compositions, for your head-expanding pleasure. The ICE, who you may remember from their ass-kicking performance of Iannis Xenakis compositions at the MCA in June, will be hosting several more Chicago events before year's end. Keep watching their web site for details.
As ever, Anderson's Velvet Lounge features a wide-range of jazz, focusing especially on performer/members of the AACM, of which Anderson is a co-founder. An AACM house band can be heard on the first two Sunday nights of each month, and should be considered highly recommended for a taste of one of Chicago's finest contributions to modern music, jazz or otherwise.
One of the premiere Game Boy-wielding 8bit electronic musicians in the world is Josh Davis, aka Bit Shifter, and subVariant and Front 312 are excited to have him perform at Ai Lounge on Halloween. Having played over 100 live shows armed with only two Nintendo Game Boys and two home-brew aftermarket music programs, he has a dedicated following and has been known to ignite dance floors with his high energy live performances.
"Dan (Auerbach--vocalist/guitarist for The Black Keys) was leaving on tour to support his solo record, and I wasn't going to have anything to do for a while," Patrick Carney (drummer for The Black Keys) says about Drummer's inception. A band of drummers, with only one playing drums. Carney first got in touch with friend Jamie Stillman (drummer in Teeth of the Hydra and Harriet the Spy) and they brought on Jon Finley (former drummer for Party of Helicopters) as lead singer/guitarist, Stephen Clements (drummer for Houseguest) on keyboards/vocals, and Greg Boyd (drummer for Ghostman & Sandman) held the helm on drums. Carney himself picked up the bass, and Stillman, guitar.
Saturday you have your choice of two great, low-key shows to attend, each at a different Uncommon Ground location. Both are free, start at 10 p.m., and are all-ages. Choose wisely.
At Uncommon Ground on Clark (3800 N. Clark St.) catch Colorado-based singer and guitarist Lindsay Weidmann as she blends her just-oddball-enough humor and warm folk vocals into a tasty morsel.
*photo courtesy of Lindsay Weidmann
Meanwhile, at the Uncommon Ground on Devon (1401 West Devon Ave.), hometown acoustic-rock flava Essex Chanel is performing a special strings-only show, featuring guitar, banjo, violin, and cello.
Shame on me for not being familiar with The Dodos--especially when they're filling Bottom Lounge on a Monday night. I had certainly heard of them... I was told I would like them when they played Pitchfork Music Festival two years ago, and I remember a friend telling me she was a big fan around that same time. Even yesterday as I was searching for an email, I came across one from almost exactly a year ago from another friend inviting me to one of their shows (but I was already seeing Jamie Lidell that night).
Through all of this, I still managed to never hear or see The Dodos--that is until I recently happened upon their new album Time To Die streaming on their webpage. Their sound reminds me a lot of when indie rock really started to seep into the mainstream, the days when Death Cab was still indie and everybody was really into The Shins (Hey, remember The Shins?). There's innocence and hopefulness there with a driving beat and attention to melody.
Gezelligheid means "intensely cozy" in Dutch and Andrew Bird will be taking that to heart with several concerts in Chicago and Minneapolis this winter. The performances will be "solo, mostly instrumental shows in acoustically lovely churches, and should be wonderfully uplifting and comforting concerts as we head into the cold and dark winter." No doubt a perfect way to see and hear the violin virtuoso. The Chicago shows will take place December 15, 16 &17 at Fourth Presbyterian Church. Tickets officially go on sale November 7th, but pre-sale for the AB Fan Community starts today.
Also, catch Bird's debut on Austin City Limits this Saturday with current tour-mate St. Vincent.
Will Hoge, a Tennessee native, is no stranger to hard work behind the guitar and a demanding tour schedule. But it seems that he's really been tested over the past few years. On the mend, even now, months after a serious traffic accident in Nashville left him broken and nearly blinded, he rolls back into Chicago for a Friday night show at the Double Door this week, and we couldn't be luckier. Bearing his still hot new album, The Wreckage, Hoge also serves up his enticing heartland rock-infused Americana to the stage. With a backing band that includes harmonica, pedal steel and mandolin, this will be no whispered folk show, but instead a loud, throw up your hand and testify roots rock show. Songs on the album like "Long Gone" and "Where Do We Go From Down" are soulful testaments to hard roads of recovery (you can stream the whole album at the band's My Space page). While "Hard to Love" and "Highway Wings" smack of an almost Springsteen-esque vein-straining urgency and desperation. These are songs to drink longneck bottles of beer to. Lucky for you Double Door has those, too.
Halloween weekend is fast approaching, and the folks over at The Congress are making sure you kick off the festivities on Friday with a huge dance party. With a bill offering up the likes of Chromeo, Crystal Castles, and Boys Noize, it's shaping up to be just that. And the folks putting on this massive party are awesome enough to offer a Gapers Block reader a pair of tickets! Just be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "BOO" and you and a friend will be on your way for free. Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Matthew!
Headlining the show are the funk infused electro beats of Chromeo. The Brooklyn duo offer up synth heavy beats that are bit campy in delivery and lyrics, but infectiously danceable and fun. Also on the bill is Crystal Castles, the electro punk duo that are known for insanely loud show and fierce attitude from singer Alice Glass. And Boys Noize whipped Perry's Stage into a frenzy at Lollapalooza this year, so with these three acts on the bill bring your best pair of dancing shoes and make sure to wear some Speedstick. It's about to get very sweaty Halloween weekend at The Congress.
Chromeo, Crystal Castles, and Boys Noize play The Congress Theater, Friday October 30th. The show is 17+ and doors open at 7pm. Tickets are $35.
Most of us probably can't point to Uganda on a world map without some serious searching, much less name a Ugandan musician, but if you were lucky enough to be at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday night you can add Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa to your world music repertoire.
The band was in Chicago as part of World Music Wednesdays, a program that grew out two previous series: La Pena, which showcased Latin music, and Afrofolk, which focused on music with African origins. Matthew Mulcahy, Community Projects Director at the Old Town School of Folk Music, fused the two programs into its current iteration, which draws both established and new groups to the stage.
Alex Perkolup is a musician who currently plays bass and guitar in the critically acclaimed progressive rock band, Cheer-Accident. Originally formed in 1981, Cheer-Accident has maintained an impressively fresh and interesting sound, oscillating between noise and pop, refusing to be categorized. The music is moody, complex, and highly composed, but never muddy. Perkolup has been one of the three mainstays in their ever-evolving lineup for six years. He has also played in Bobby Conn, Lovely Little Girls, and The Flying Luttenbachers, among others.
Do you have formal music training?
I started lessons at eight and went on until I was about nineteen. I had one guitar teacher for nine years of that time who was a big influence on me. I started playing because of Eddie Van Halen. I came out of the metal school of musicianship. I was really into difficult playing and my guitar teacher recognized that. He introduced me to King Crimson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Gentle Giant and some progressive rock bands, so he was very instrumental in my influence.
Jolie Holland can quite justifiably described as a songbird -- that is, if a songbird plays the guitar, ukulele, and box fiddle; is an incredible whistler; and sings neo-Americana songs about William Burroughs and the Civil War in a syrupy, vowel-loopy, almost-boozy voice.
Yes? Moving on.
Holland will be playing at Schubas (3159 N. Southport) on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. Opening the show is Matt Bauer, a big scary-looking dude who plays surprisingly delicate and lovely alt-folk songs on the banjo.
Congratulations to Psalm One (aka Cristalle Bowen) for winning Chicago Public Library's Sound Off Music Contest in which local musicians were asked to compose an original song about the city of Chicago. Her entry, "My Bucket Song" was inspired by how much she missed Chicago after leaving to pursue musical endeavors in San Francisco last year. She returned in June and "was elated to be back." "Being in Chicago inspires me, and it makes me proud to be chosen to represent the city in my own special way," Bowen says.
The free concert will take place on Thursday, October 22 beginning at 5:30pm in Pritzker Park (344 S. State St., across from Harold Washington Library) where Psalm One will perform the winning entry, as well as some of her other original material. People's Choice Winner Shawn Pennington will open the concert with his submission "Doors Closing". Judges Jessica Hopper, Chris Force, Matthew Genthe and Rhymefest will also be in attendance.
We have an update on local band The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir who were in a van roll-over accident last month. While most of the members came out fairly unscathed, Mary Ralph and Mark Yoshizumi still remain in the hospital.
The group's van was totaled in the accident and so was the majority of their gear, and now they're asking for your help. The group is holding a benefit concert at Subterranean on Halloween to help out with medical bills and purchasing new instruments. So far Canasta & the Avondale Ramblers are scheduled to perform along with members of TSYGC. Admission is $10, but the group also has a Paypal account set up for additional donations. Show starts at 9pm.
Riot Fest is bringing us a huge line-up of rowdy punk music this weekend, and it all kicked off Wednesday night at the Metro with Butthole Surfers. The Buttholes are back with their original 80's line-up, and played to a packed crowd ready to rock out.
I'm a bit too young to have caught this band at their peak, but Wednesday night's performance didn't feel like a bunch of aging punks desperately clinging onto the past. The music felt as fresh as ever, and the band drew me in with their psychedelic aural pandemonium. They played songs to span their catalog, and left out "Pepper", as promised. Just as I was noticing that the crowd was a bit older than what I'm used to, the band commented that they were surprised how young the crowd was. I guess that's to be expected for a band that formed in 1981.
The Butthole Surfers are known for pushing the envelope in their live performances with their crazy stage antics, and in that regard Wednesday night was pretty tame. They played in front of a screen flashing images sometimes lewd, violent, or disquieting, but visually stunning. However, anything scandalous was left on the screen. The only moment even remotely controversial occurred when Gibby Haynes used his saxophone to simulate pleasuring a woman projected behind him. I will admit I had to avert my eyes more than a few times during the more violent scenes. I guess I'm just not hardcore enough for Riot Fest.
Riot Fest is continuing throughout the weekend at multiple venues. Read our full Riot Fest preview here, and be sure to check back to Transmission for more updates and photos from the festival.
I'm not really a fan of country music (at all) but i can get down with some folk twang, especially when it hangs on to a rock root. On first listen, Drug Rug reminded me of The White Stripes, specifically "Well It's True That We Love One Another" from Elephant because of its 50's low-fi radio sound and charming vocals. As much as their songs fall into a folk and country vein, their style doesn't stick boldly in one genre. Their latest LP, Paint The Fence Invisible is more structured than their psychedelic-heavy debut, but the vibe remains and spells out fun on dazey doo-wop numbers like "Don't Be Frightened By The Devil" and the 60's girl-punk-y "Hannah, Please."
On Friday, our friends over at HEAVEmedia have a rock solid line-up of a show at The Empty Bottle, and they've been nice enough to give us a pair of tickets to giveaway to a lucky Transmission reader! Just be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.comwith the subject line "Hay!" and you'll be on your way. Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Tara!
Headlining the show is local post-punk outfit Haymarket Riot. The band clearly draws influence from Shellac and Fugazi to At The Drive-In, creating a heavy and forceful yet catchy sound. This is the last hometown show listed for the band before they head over to tour Europe at the end of the month, so stop by the Bottle and wish the boys well as they head overseas.
Also playing is Portland-based band System and Station, who have a bit more of a pop-punk edge, but still incredibly noisy and fun. According to their press release, they've torched computer monitors while on tour and saw a man dressed as a nun defile someone in New York. Clearly these guys know how to have a good time.
HEAVEmedia presents Haymarket Riot, System and Station, We Make Thunder, and Black Attic Friday October 9th at The Empty Bottle. The show is 21+, tickets are $5 in advance and $8 at the door. The show starts at 9:30pm.
New Years Eve is already shaping up nicely for the Windy City with The Black Keys @ the Riv and Local H @ Double Door, and now Empty Bottle has announced that Girl Talk will be playing @ Congress Theater to ring in 2010. We were there last time Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) performed at Congress, and one thing is for sure--you're in for one hell of a party.
In Chicago's contemporary club culture, it is easy to forget that house and industrial could once be heard at the same club on the same night. Bands such as Nitzer Ebb and Front 242 took as much of their influence from punk and new wave as they did from
Chicago house. One year ago, promoters Mr. Automatic and Adam Black decided to create Front 312, a night dedicated to this time in Chicago's club history.
For its one year anniversary on October 9th, 2009 , Front 312 will take a turn toward techno and house, with DJ Gant Man headlining. KHA and Mikul Wing of Members Only AV will be play separate solo sets as well, throwing down anything from classic italo tracks to extended versions of 80's new wave dance classics.
From releasing his earliest 12″s on Dance Mania, to rocking clubs and raves worldwide alongside legends such as Paul Johnson, Gant has been pushing his signature Chicago sound for almost two decades. Mixing up rapid-fire juke beats while referencing all the house and disco classics that first paved the way. His recent work includes a remix for Fool's Gold of Kid Sister's "Damn Girl", production on "Switchboard", and his new solo single debut on Fool's Gold, "Juke Dat Girl." For Front 312, however, he will be bringing out the classics.
KHA and Mikul Wing have made a name for themselves as Members Only AV over the last year, playing with anyone from Le Castle Vania to The Rapture. For Front 312, however, they will be playing two rare solo sets of all new wave and italo disco.
Mr. Automatic will be playing classic Razormaid tracks, 80's new wave, classic industrial, acid house, and new electro tracks prior to the headliners. Expect anything from Meat Beat Manifesto to The Presets and Frankie Knuckles. DJ Adam Black will open the night with punk rock, new wave, and alternative rock.
Doors open at 9pm. Admission is Free before 11pm with RSVP to Front312@gmail.com and $5 without RSVP or after 11.
Drink specials include $2 PBR, $3 Goose Island IPA and $4 well drinks, and plenty of other reasonably priced options are available at the bar.
Liars Club is located at 1665 W. Fullerton in Chicago. at the intersection of Fullerton and Ashland.
The most rockin' soul band you've never heard of, Keith And The Complications play tomorrow night at Underground Lounge. This six member ensemble has been playing shows all over Chicago for years and work hard just to get you to shake what you know you've got. Come on out tomorrow to support some amazing independent local music . K and the C's play in support of their new EP, Tie One On and open for glam metal band Felon Love. Garage rockers Yarn start the night. Come dance away the colder weather with some great new tunes.
Music starts at 9. Underground Lounge is located at 952 W. Newport. (773) 327-2739. The show is $8.
Touring with a full backing band for the first time since 2005, Moby came through Chicago Wednesday night to take the sold-out audience at The Vic on a trip through his musical history, from early electro raver cuts to his latest shimmering pop gems. If you're only familiar with the mass amount of hits from his 1999 release Play, then you are sadly missing out on the impressive range and talent that Moby possesses and displayed during his night in Chicago.
Grab your Chuck Taylors and safety pins, kids -- Riot Fest 2009 is coming to Chicago October 7th. The festival that brought us reunions by the Blue Meanies and Naked Raygun, among many, many others, is back at it again with more reunited punk heroes and local talent. Besides the five days of punk music spanning generations going down at venues around the city, they've also got a bowling tournament and film screenings planned for the week. This year marks Riot Fest's fifth year in Chicago, and each year they've only been expanding and bringing in more and more exceptional acts.
Just a reminder that tomorrow night Moby will be coming into town with a full band (a somewhat rare treat) to play at The Vic. Ever since his rise to popularity with the release of his album Play, which sold over 10 million copies worldwide, Moby has been a key figure in helping to bring dance and electronic music into the mainstream.
With his latest album, Wait For Me, we see one of the most personal pieces of work he's released to date. And he recorded the entire thing in his own apartment by himself in New York, giving a new meaning to having music feel like home. The video for the first single, "Shot in the Back of the Head" was done by director David Lynch, and you can take a peek at it over on Moby's website.
Moby plays The Vic tomorrow night, Wednesday September 30th at 7:30pm. Tickets are $34 and can be purchased online.
Influential Chicago group Tortoise has announced that they will be playing an in-store performance this Sunday at Reckless Records in Wicker Park in support of their new album Beacons of Ancestorship. The album is their first in five years and this will be only their third in-store appearance. They play at 5pm sharp, but since it's FREE, we recommend arriving early as they are sure to draw a big crowd to the small shop. 1532 N. Milwaukee.
In other Tortoise news, they are opening for Wilco at their two UIC Pavilion shows on October 18th and 19th. Tickets are $39.50. Show starts at 7:30pm.
Last night the Brooklyn powerhouse known as Grizzly Bear played the first of their two nights of shows at the Metro, captivating a full house of fans with their always lush and mesmerizing music. The band have swiftly been winning over audiences with their hushed yet forceful sound ever since their debut release Yellow House, including a large following in Chicago after playing twice at the Pitchfork Music Festival.
The Metro stage was adorned with mason jars hanging off of beams that looked like telephone wires, as the band sauntered onto the stage and launched into "Southern Point," a song that I believe Thom Yorke might have wished he wrote for Radiohead. It's a multifaceted and layered track, with a heavy bass beat keeping every part tethered to one another. As the song built speed and crashed at a high point, the mason jars above the band flashed brightly, illuminating them in a soft glow, which complimented the always beautiful lighting set-up at the Metro perfectly. The band was off to a strong start, both visually and musically, already more focused and solid than their performance this summer at Pitchfork Festival.
They played the first few notes of "Cheerleader" the first single of their latest album Veckatimest, as the crowd roared in approval. Live, "Cheerleader" has a more murky and muddled sound, the music almost sounding like a stomp as it plods along. This contrasts perfectly with the clear ringing vocals of Ed Droste, making "Cheerleader" an infectious song that glides smoothly along. Droste's vocals throughout are soft and languid, especially on tracks that showcase his simple sound such as "Knife," which I've deemed personally as the sonic equivalent of a warm bath. It relaxes you, is soothing and calming, and all I want to do is close my eyes and just get lost in the moment. Corny as it sounds, it makes sense when you see Grizzly Bear live. Other memorable moments of the set was the haunting "Colorado," which had a beautiful breakdown towards the end, a strong delivery of "I Live With You," which held tension and built before exploding in sound, and a choice ending for the set of "On A Neck On A Spit."
After first being mesmerized by the band a few years ago at Pitchfork Festival, and then let down by a lackluster performance this past July at the festival, it was reassuring to hear the band so dynamic, forceful, and gorgeous as they were last night. Seeing the multiple instrumentation and the careful craftsmanship of their music live truly shows why Grizzly Bear is one of the most innovated, original, and refreshing bands around today.
Grizzly Bear will play their tonight, Monday September 28th, at the Metro. There are still a few tickets left for the show this evening, but if you plan on going grab a ticket now at the Metro site, because I'm sure the show will sell out. Tickets are $25, it is 18 and over, and doors open at 8pm with the show starting at 9pm.
Growing up very much a part of the metal and hardcore scene, New Orleans, LA has served as one of the most integral and inspiring sources of music for me. Bands like Down, Acid Bath, Soilent Green and Eyehategod — to name only a few — were and are oceans beyond most other bands in this genre. I have a hard time even pairing them together in any way that makes sense. They created their own genre and community. Where one band ends several hybrids have already begun; each adding their own unique piece to the instantly-identifiable whole. While this is representative of artists in New Orleans in general, it's all too apparent in the musical community. They play the music of New Orleans and its inhabitants. They tell the story, good and bad. The beauty that emanates from the city also moves through the music. The devastation, anger and horrible truths that Katrina brought with it will forever be heard in the songs. So will the will to overcome it all. If there is a band that embodies NOLA and this sentiment more than any other, it is Down.
Fun.'s debut album Aim and Ignite was released a mere four weeks ago, but every person in the sold-out crowd at Schubas last night knew every word to every song, often shouting them over the band. Considering Aim and Ignite hasn't left my stereo in the past four weeks either, I was none too surprised at this reaction. If you're unfamiliar, fun. is the new project of former singer of The Format, Nate Ruess, Andrew Dost of Anathallo, and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train. Fun. retains the theatricality of Nate Ruess' songwriting style that I loved in The Format, only slightly more mature and with a more layered sound. I'm not as familiar with Anathallo and Steel Train as with The Format, but having never seen The Format live, I was excited to catch Ruess in action. He sure didn't disappoint.
For the last 20-(cough) years, Ian Svenonius has been an underground mainstay. His music, from early-'90s Dischord-era punk (Nation of Ulysses, Cupid Car Club) to mod garage-gospel (The Make-Up) and even modder psychedelica (Scene Creamers/Weird War), always features the elements of conspiracy rhetoric and ants-in-the-pants dancing.
Svenonius' latest project, Chain and the Gang, is no different, though it sounds far more subdued (no James Brown screaming here, folks) -- more "Folsum Prison Blues" than "N-Sub Ulysses." The band's first album, Down With Liberty... Up With Chains!, is mainly a Svenonius gig, but collaborators include the who's-who roster from K Records, including Calvin Johnson and other members of Dub Narcotic Sound System, Sarah Pedal, Brett Lyman, Karl Blau, Lizet and Veronica Ortuño, and about half of Old Time Relijun.
Catch Chain and the Gang at the Beat Kitchen on Monday, Sept. 28. I'm not sure just who will be in the touring band, but suffice to say it'll be a good ol' down-with-the-Man time. Playing with them is locals D. Rider and The Love of Everything. The show kicks off at 9 p.m., and it'll set you back $10. That is, unless you are the winner of a pair of tickets to the show, courtesy of Gapers Block. Just send an e-mail to contests@gapersblock.com with "Chain and the Gang" in the subject line and your first and last name in the body of the e-mail.Update: We have a winner! Congrats to Eric!
Tomorrow is the type of night when live music fans are simultaneously enthralled and frustrated about living in a town like Chicago. There are a plethora of shows, but only so much time. As much fun as multi-show evenings can be, there's also location, cost and time to factor into a busy night. It'd be a breeze to see alt-country rockers Son Volt at the Vic and then walk over to Schubas for a 10PM show with the trendy electronic trio Chairlift and British experimental musicians Micachu & the Shapes. That'd be two shows within a half-mile for $35. Or you could see the early Empty Bottle show with Swedish electronic rockers Miike Snow and Jack Peñate at 7:30 before walking (or riding your bike or taking a cab) about a mile to the Chopin for the Soft Pack (né Muslims) and Smith Westerns at 10PM. That package comes out to $22. And if you had some ESP to know when sets really begin, I'm sure you could work in Scottish pop band Bell X1 and New Hampshire indie rockers Wild Light at Double Door. But those scenarios don't even include all of the other shows happening on Friday. So let's do a quick rundown of some of Friday's highlights:
In addition to the Miike Snow and Soft Pack shows, Empty Bottle has a Texan double bill I last saw in 2002 with And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and Secret Machines. The show's at Logan Square Auditorium at 8PM for $15.
This past Sunday was a dreary and rainy night in Chicago, but in my mind I was laying in the sun somewhere in a tropical climate far away. No, I wasn't hallucinating nor had I finally lost my mind. I was being swept away by the sweet sounds of Fool's Gold.
Tom Schraeder has been hard at work the last year (and still is) on material for his new album, The Death of St. Thomas. Having heard bits and pieces here and there myself, you'll be surprised at some of the turns he takes on what was originally slated to be three different sounding albums. Perhaps you'll also get a peek at some of his new material tonight as Schraeder brings his special brand of Americana to Beat Kitchen.
Also playing tonight is another of Chicago's own, Scott Lucas with his new band Scott Lucas & The Married Men. If you come expecting to hear another version of Local H, you're in for another surprise since this time around, Lucas has opted for softer and slower with less anger, more sadness and a touch of folk.
Tom Schraeder has even made this special video invitation to tonight's "Cassette Release Party" set to "Patbaby (An Ode To)," one of the tracks from his forthcoming album:
Extra Golden rolls into Chicago this weekend on the tails of the Chicago World Music Festival and boy are we in for a treat. They're playing not one but two shows at the Hideout so you get a doubleshot of one of the most entertaining half Kenyan/half American rock bands out there (well, to be honest, it's likely one of the few Kenya/U.S. musical matchups you're likely to hear at the Hideout, but it's a real good time, nonetheless). A member of the Thrill Jockey label, Extra Golden brings a booty-shaking, finger snapping, hand clapping beat straight from the streets of Nairobi to your eardrums (via D.C.). Currently promoting their latest album Thank You Very Quickly, you might remember Extra Golden from their jubilant song release last fall when Obama clinched the Presidency. Beautiful harmonies, happy guitars, and a truly rump-shaking rhythms are a staple of their new release and a real motivation to see this band live. Their latest effort once again features East African guitars, polyrhythmic drums and songs sung both in English and Luo, but also has a special vibe and more of a polished tone than previous albums. A believer that "tight quarters = tight grooves", the album was recorded mostly in the third floor hallway/laundry room of guitarist Ian Eagleson's parents' house. Given that success, I don't see how a show at the intimate space at the Hideout could be anything but a prime locale for this band.
And hey if you want to follow Alex Minoff (the "second best guitarist in Extra Golden") or Thrill Jockey on Twitter. You can do that, too.
Extra Golden plays this weekend, September 26th and 27th at 9pm at the Hideout located at 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. (773) 227-4433. Tickets are $12. Endless Boogie opens.
Act now and go for $0! We have two pairs of tickets (one for each night) to give away courtesy of the Hideout! Just be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.comwith the subject line "Extra Extra!" and you and a friend can get your dance on for free! First who emails gets to pick their night! Update! We have our winners! Congrats to Eric and Chris!
[MP3]: Extra Golden - Anyango from Thank You Very Quickly
I first saw Scout Niblett perform on June 22, 2008. Whatever else I did that day is long gone, but the performance I saw that night will always stick with me. It was a Sunday night and the show was at Schubas. I was there mostly to see Dax Riggs, but Niblett was opening. She began with "Hot to Death" from her album Kidnapped by Neptune, and she got my attention fast. Intense is not a strong enough word for what happened in that room, on that night. I was only slightly familiar with her before she started that first song. By the end of it I was enamored. I knew I was in for a binge. I bought (yes, bought) all her albums that night.
For those unfamiliar with Niblett, allow me a moment to proselytize: She is from Staffordshire, England, but currently lives in Portland, OR. Her music is very minimal, and consists primarily of vocals accompanied by guitar, drums and the occasional piano. Often, only one of these instruments can be heard at a time. She plays them all.
Niblett's singing is unconventional but fervent. She's cited grunge music and astrology as being major influences. She's worked with Chicago's own Steve Albini on multiple albums; her most recent, This Fool Can Die Now, features a hefty four duets with Bonnie "Prince" Billy. On April 14, 2009 she released the 7" single, It's Time My Beloved through Chicago-based indie label, Drag City. Her current tour comes to a close this Friday, Sep 25 at Subterranean: 2011 W North Ave. 9:30pm. 17 & over. Tickets are $12.
But why pay when you could go for free? That would be ridiculous, not to mention wasteful. We're giving away a pair of tickets. Be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with your full name and "Niblett" in the subject line, and they're all yours. UPDATE We have a winner! Congrats to Dan B.
[This guest review comes to us from reader Sarah Avampato, who also took the pictures.]
In front of a crowd of around 250 people, scattered at tables and chairs across the wide open floor of the Art Institute's new modern wing, Andrew Bird showed yet again why he is a force to be reckoned with in today's music scene. His short set drew mainly from Noble Beast, with a few nice surprises: an unanticipated side trip off into b-side territory ("The Water Jet Cilice"), a reworking of some old songs ("Sweetmatter"), and a new song that he's been working on. The crisp, clean lines of the modern wing were well suited to a night of Bird's music, who commented at one point that the environment made him want to play more legato music, broad strokes, instead of "pointy" things. The space really seemed to give Bird's music the chance to grow and take shape, unconfined, to be whatever it wanted to be, the way his music should really be heard.
Bird opened his set with "The Water Jet Cilice", a song which has popped up a few different times on EPs (Soldier On, Fingerlings 3). The song's long been a favorite of mine, and when I heard the opening strains, the churning violin and startling whistle, from way off in the middle of nowhere, aka where the restroom was, well, let's say I walked just a little bit faster to get back to my seat. After the song, he talked to the audience for a bit, mentioning that he was asked to tell an anecdote about the Art Institute. He shared a story about going to the museum when he was around six, with his mother and some other neighborhood children. In looking at the paintings, he recalled standing in front of one - a Rembrandt - and really having the urge to touch it. So, of course, he did, and promptly got yelled at by the security guard. Somehow, I don't think this was the type of anecdote that the organizers were hoping he would share - I imagine they were hoping for something a little more cerebral - but it suited the audience just fine.
Bands might be losing their buzz swifter than a Kanye interruption, but a potential audience member has to weigh the pros and cons of letting the buzz waves determine their lifestyle. The question is: should you go see Passion Pit for free? On the one hand, every trixie and their mother who's gotten a taste of the band on XRT will be in attendance wearing ironic Cubs T-shirts and pink baseball caps. Hipsters have an irrational fear that Clayton Hauck or the Cobrasnake will pop out at any moment and photograph them as one of these cougars hits on them, or a brah knocks them back with a mighty chest bump. Back to reality though folks. Yes, you might see some people who aren't in a quarter-life crisis, and maybe there will be a lot of them (tickets are being provided solely through XRT VIP points). If you can get your mangy mop-topped brain around the horrors of corporate sponsorship (yes, it's brought to you by Bud Light) and just want a chance to see a pretty decent band play some pretty decent songs in a not-too-big venue, check XRT's giveaway page for details on how to get a ticket - the show will be at Logan Square Auditorium on September 30th at 8PM, and will be 21+.
Folks, I'm gonna lay all my cards on the table; no headline-burying for you lovely souls today. Gerritt is playing in Chicago this Friday (at Metal Shaker, 3394 N. Milwaukee, 9 p.m./$5/21+). For those with chaos-hungry ears, who can (and will) take the time to differentiate between the thousand ways to to make the great din new and exciting, no more need be said, and you've already trampled the messenger on your way to line up at Metal Shaker for tickets. If you're unsure but interested, here's the brief version.
One of my favorite albums as of late has been Bad Veins' self titled debut--from start to finish. The album reminds me a lot of The Killers' debut Hot Fuss--over-the-top, danceable indie-rock with the same longing in the vocals. Bad Veins have a lusher, more orchestral sound though, and aren't afraid of their softer side. You'll find yourself singing along, yelling the full-of-feeling choruses --I often get them stuck in my head and catch myself singing 'I would be lyin if i said i never hated you!' around my house.
While their name might not be in your musical lexicon quite yet, drummer Sebastien Schultz and keyboardist/guitarist/singer Benjamin Davis have gotten quite a bit of attention lately with their single "Gold and Warm" popping up on indie radio stations, as one of MTV's Bands You Should Know, and songs appearing in Gossip Girl and The City.
After a stint in the electronic trio Dead Disco, Victoria Hesketh a.k.a. Little Boots used social networking websites for exactly what they're meant. She released recordings of a slew of covers and, with the Dead Disco name still bright in some minds, grabbed the attention of people who could help further her career as a solo electronic music artist. With Greg Kurstin (Geggy Tah, The Bird and the Bee) and Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) assisting with writing and producing, she released some singles in 2008 that caught the attention of even more people and had her debut album, Hands, ready for a much-anticipated 2009 release.
Where Dead Disco was slightly abrasive, Little Boots isn't. Rough guitar riffs have been replaced by grooving synths reminiscent of female-fronted British electronic pop between Rachel Stevens and Goldfrapp. Hesketh's voice carries from ultra sweet to downright desperate (in a good way). In addition to synths, the relatively new tenori-on plays a significant role on Hands. Floorburners like "Stuck on Repeat" and "Remedy" showcase a talent whose music should blow up in clubs. Downtempo songs like "No Brakes" call to attention a performer who has no trouble dialing it down a few notches.
Little Boots performs at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, on Thursday evening. Boston's Yes Giantess and Chicago's Kid Color open. The show begins at 9:30 and admission is $15.
With the work week starting on a Tuesday, it's easy to let the week get away from you, so you'd better start making plans now because you'll be kicking yourself if you miss something like a great show at The Hideout.
Local pop group Grammar has been playing around town somewhat under the radar lately, but tomorrow they play their first headlining gig. Their self-titled EP is purely pop with catchy hooks and feel good melodies, but lead singer and songwriter Brent Pulse (formerly of Bumpus) also shows that pop has a charming side. Tunes like "Won't Let Go" are pillowy soft and sincere, and you'll still be singing along. The group often brings interesting off-color instruments into the mix--everything from xylophone, to accordion, to melodica--in creating these pristine melodies. If you come by simply because you're curious, you're likely to find yourself dancing in the front row by the end of the show.
Polvo, one of the most intricate guitar bands of the 90's math rock scene comes to the Bottom Lounge tomorrow night. The band has the talent of making dissonance sound as if it belongs and almost pretty, yet still gives you that satisfying feeling of two trains coming at you at the same time. If you missed their sold out show last summer at Subterranean or couldn't stand the crowds to catch them at Wicker Park Fest 08, This Saturday is a good chance. Polvo is supporting their first album since regrouping entitled In Prisim which comes out this Tuesday. Local rock band Haymarket Riot opens just in time for Labor Day, along with fellow Chicagoians, The Poison Arrows for what should be a very loud night. The Bottom Lounge is located at 1375 W. Lake St. (312) 666-6775. 9 PM The show is $15 and it is 21+
It's not Monday, but a Chicago-based indie band will be taking the Pritzker Pavilion stage at Noon today. You've still got about an hour to get down there, so treat yourself to a lunch outside the office today and relax on the lawn while listening to the tunes of the 1900s.
I'm sure all you fine readers are polishing your dancing shoes and laying out your outfits for tomorrow night. Because I know you'll all be attending the 6th annual Gapers Block Party that we told you about last week!
I'll just quickly remind you of the awesome line-up: Nikki Lynette, The Hood Internet, Blane Fonda, and Panda Riot. And the fact that IDM Photography will be there with a photo booth is just the cherry on top of my musical Friday night sundae.
So how could things get any better you ask? How about this amazing poster by Dan Grzeca?
The poster itself says so much about Chicago, and who can resist the adorable charm of an angsty parking meter monster?
So we'll see everyone tomorrow night at the Metro. Remember, come before 9:30pm, and it won't cost you a thing to get in. Free event people, bring all your friends. Don't fret if you're running late, anything later than 9:30pm and it will just cost you $6. And while you are there you can pick up one of these really cool posters to class up your apartment. We'll see everyone tomorrow night, and I'll save a dance just for you.
Riot Fest is the little punk festival that could, a celebration of music only in it's fourth year, but rapidly expanding and gaining a strong presences each year in Chicago. This year the line-up includes an impressive roster, from legendaries like Naked Raygun and Screeching Weasel to hometown heroes Alkaline Trio, and everything in between. And it was with great pride to find out that our "little" festival was spreading out West. So it's with heavy hearts to report that Riot Fest West has been postponed, and even heavier hearts to share the reason why.
The mid-November festival in Los Angeles will be pushed back until Spring 2010 due to health issues challenging the founder, Riot Mike. Very sad news, but we know Riot Fest will still be kicking Chicago's ass later next month, and have no doubt that come Spring 2010 L.A. will get a taste of it as well. Riot Mike's personal statement is after the jump.
Our annual Gapers Block Party is finally here! And this year it's bigger and better than ever -- we're taking over the Metro!
Friday, Sept. 4, head to 3730 N. Clark St. for our killer lineup featuring Nikki Lynette, The Hood Internet, Blane Fonda (featuring ex-members of The Sapiens) and Panda Riot. We have some other fun stuff planned, including a photo booth by IDM Photography, a found imagery slideshows by Big Happy Funhouse and Square America, giveaways and more!
Doors open at 8pm, and best of all, the show is FREE if you get in before 9:30pm! Tickets are just $6 after 9:30pm or in advance through Metro website or ticket office. Look forward to seeing you there!
After the jump, videos of each of the musical acts...
Emily Wells played a beautiful set at Millennium Park on Monday as part of the city's Edible Audible Picnic series, but if you couldn't get out of the office for lunch that day, you have another opportunity to see her tomorrow night at Schubas.
Wells is a multi-instrumentalist (and by multi I mean everything from violin to toy piano to sampler) whose music I can only seem to describe with that one word: beautiful. You might think merging two genres as different as classical and hip-hop would be bizarre, but she somehow makes it just that--beautiful--but with edge. She is talented enough to have turned her nose up at a lucrative major label deal at the age of 17, opting instead to hold on to the creative control that we as listeners are lucky that she did.
On Monday she ruled the equipment switching from instrument to instrument, accompanied only by her drummer, Sam Halterman. Songs started off slow, with her building up the backing tracks that they would explode into as they formed. Her symphonies were sometimes dark and always dramatic, her quivery voice making them all the more haunting, but at the end of the show she switched gears into lighter, more upbeat songs like "Passenger" and "Take It Easy San Francisco."
One interesting thing I read about Wells was that on her last full length album, The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties, she didn't simply play one single violin track over and over to create depth; she actually recorded up to 21 separate tracks to craft her very own symphony. Right now she is touring on the heels of her new EP Dirty, which if you're wise you'll pick up at the show, and if we're lucky, maybe her next album will have "Passenger" on it.
Emily Wells plays at Schubas Saturday, August 22. Tickets are $8 ($10 door). Show starts at 10pm. Horse's Ha and Leroy Bach open. 21 & up. 3159 N. Southport.
Chicago-based Califone have released tour dates and a film trailer in support of their upcoming album, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, due out October 6. The album is a companion-piece of sorts to frontman Tim Rutill's first feature film of the same name. The majority of the tour, which kicks off October 10 and 11 at the MCA, will find them playing a live soundtrack film performance. View the complete list of dates here.
Greg Corner and Jonathan Radtke of Kill Hannah, Matt Skiba and Derek Grant of Alkaline Trio, and Scott Lucas of Local H will all be performing together tonight at Debonair Social Club, according to an announcement made by the band on Q101 last night. No word yet on whether the band will be recording together, however they have yet to pick a band name and will only be playing covers tonight, according to Greg Corner. Check out Greg Corner's Twitter for more information, and Ryan Manno's Twitter for pics from their Q101 visit.
Debonair is located at 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave. The show is free before 11 pm and 21+. According to the flyer, the night will be hosted by someone named Sinnister from VH1's Daisy of Love and some guy will be doing magic tricks. Hmm.
Fate led me to Harvey Danger's last Chicago show at Schubas on Saturday night. Having loved Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? in junior high, they had completely fallen off my radar for the past ten years (yes, I realize I'm losing so much nerd cred right now). Then, one day a couple months ago I'd had my iTunes on shuffle mode and "Flagpole Sitta" started playing. What ever happened to this band? I'd immediately googled them to find out that they were about to call it quits, but not before one last small tour of club shows. The list of dates included Chicago, and lo and behold, tickets had gone on sale that very morning. It was destiny.
So what has Harvey Danger been up to these past several years? For starters, they released two additional albums - King James Version in 2000 and Little By Little... in 2005. The band was on a two year hiatus between the two albums, reuniting in 2004, albeit with a new drummer. Their last album, Little By Little..., was self-released and available as a free download through the band's website and BitTorrent, and was later re-released on Kill Rock Stars. Last May, the band announced they'd be breaking up via an announcement on their website, stating, "The decision is totally mutual and utterly amicable." They started their farewell mini-tour right here in Chicago with two sold-out shows at Schubas. And now we're all caught up.
After the hullaballoo that was last week's Lollapalooza, be thankful that this week's hullaballoo is as fun and crazy, but less wiltingly warm. Mucca Pazza, Chicago's own premiere 30-odd-piece marching band, is playing tonight at the Jackhammer (6406 N. Clark St.), the gay bar that knows no musical boundaries. Mucca Pazza have made a name for themselves for their frenetic shows -- think the best marching band music with a punk energy and cute, smartypants cheerleaders -- and its led them to appearances across these United States of America, on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and hell, on Chic-A-Go-Go. Local rock heroes Detholz! opens the show, and they're fantastically fun as well.
What I'm saying is: It's going to be bananas and you should go. It kicks off tonight at 9 p.m., tickets at the door will set you back $10. For more, and for other shows hosted by The Flesh Hungry Dog Show, check here.
The Breeders are a nostalgic treat for anyone who grew up in the '90s. Anytime I hear the opening riff to "Cannonball" I'm brought back to my high school days watching videos on MTV's "120 Minutes". But they certainly haven't been the easiest band to keep tabs on in recent years. Between the sometimes long gaps in albums, the drugs and the record label issues it is hard to know when the next time we will get to see them will be.
Thankfully, the alternative superstars just kicked off a summer tour, leaving 4AD and self-releasing their newest album Fate to Fatal. This follows last year's Mountain Battles. The twins rockThe Metro this Thursday for the post Lollapalooza show week with with indie soul band Whispertown 2000 opening. Doors open at 8. Show starts at 9.
Lucky for you, we have a couple of pairs of tickets to give away, courtesy of the Metro. Be the first two to email us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Cannonball" and you and a friend will be headed to the show on Thursday night. [Update: We have our winners! Congrats to Oscar and Sarah!]
All Photos by William Hasty and his trusty iPhone. Thanks Will!
"This isn't going to be one of my typical shows," announced Dan Deacon as he set up shop in a warehouse loft nestled between the hum of factories in Bridgeport. "It's been a long day, and I know it's hot and dirty, but let's try and relax," Deacon proclaimed over a room full of sweltering Hipsters who came to see him and a laundry list of bands play a last minute after show Saturday night.
Lollapalooza weekend in Chicago isn't just about sweating with the masses in Grant Park. Since the festival retired the touring shtick and rooted down in Chicago, after parties, pre-parties, and general music festivities have been popping up during Lolla weekend. This year the number of events have been staggering and overwhelming, but if you're looking for a guaranteed good time, put your faith in the hands of one of the most respectable venues in Chicago. The Metro is playing host to a sold out weekend of shows, giving audiences the lucky chance to see acts that usually are reserved for a the confines of a larger venue. Last night the Arctic Monkeys stirred up a packed crowd into a rabid frenzy with their brand of infectious post-punk infused rock 'n' roll.
The latest album from the dark indie collective Crooks and Children builds an almost nostalgic sense of fear and desperation. As you listen through the free 9 song album, Night is a Good Child you can hear the tension in the instrumentation and in the vocal delivery. Through the use of more untraditional instruments, like trumpets, accordions, and uniquely played synths, the band creates an unsettling atmosphere. It takes a few spins to crack through that uneasiness and really enjoy the energy and passion below it. Night is a Good Child has seven different covers all created by local artists, and the copy I received had all seven nicely printed inside. The band is very much aware of how connected music and art can be and should be.
Asher Roth for one reason or another pulled out of his post-Lolla gig at Cubby Bear tomorrow night, and has been replaced by a group you never thought you'd see perform in a Wrigleyville bar: none other than the Swedish trio Peter Bjorn & John. Since the change happened so last minute, no tickets are required and the show is FREE. This is one aftershow we might actually consider hitting up now.
It takes some brass to go with the original name used by both the Grateful Dead and Velvet Underground. But if ever a band were to do that, the Warlocks are probably them. Often drawing comparisons to mid-era Velvets and the Jesus & Mary Chain, the Warlocks headed by Bobby Hecksher (Beck, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Magic Pacer) have been charging forth through this decade.
Despite numerous personnel changes over the last few years, the albums have all remained more or less within the same spectrum without sounding like clones. Early in their career they made a case to be categorized as a lo-fi Spiritualized, but they've moved on to exploring droning (in a good way) shoegaze and neo-psychedelia with the last couple records. Now they might be lumped in better with My Bloody Valentine or even Ride. They still have spaced-out jams, but they're using distortion more effectively. For years they've been lauded for their performances and, hopefully, that holds true the next two days.
The Arctic Monkeys have come a long way from their humble days of Myspace darlings back in 2005. With the rise of their brash and infectious hit "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," the band found themselves touring around the world, including a plethora of festival dates. The band should feel right at home this weekend when they head into town to play Lollapalooza.
They're also one of the many acts this weekend playing small intimate shows while in town. The band is headlining a show Friday night at the Metro before heading to Grant Park Saturday. Obviously the show is sold out, but Gapers Block has a pair for one lucky winner. Just be the first to email us at contests@gapersblock.comwith the subject line "Monkeys!" and you'll be on your way to the show Friday night at the Metro. Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Gordon!
The band is getting ready to release their third album, Humbug, and have been listening to a lot of '60s psychedelic rock and working with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), and these factors show in their new dark and lush sound. Check out the first single "Crying Lighting" below.
Lollapalooza means that everyone and their mother is in town, and probably want to make the most of their time here beyond an hour in Grant Park. They boys of Dark Wave Disco host a cavalcade of stars at the Congress on Friday night, with Italian remixers du jour Crookers headlining and a mysterious Major Lazer (Soundsystem) just underneath them (be prepared for an absent Diplo, Switch or both)? Rounding out the bill is buzz-peaking Kanye protege Kid Cudi, Philly rap diva Amanda Blank, Italians Bloody Beetroots and Chicagoan Willy Joy. Tickets run $25 a pop, which if you do the math, breaks down to a mere $3.57 per act (oh this economy!). When you have this many people, your afterparty has to start a little early, so doors open at 8pm.
But that's not all! We have a pair of tickets to give away to the first person who emails us at contests@gapersblock.com with the subject line "Major Fun!". Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Brian.
Well, here's some exciting news to start the day. This morning, Lollapalooza posted the above image on their website. You must decipher the images to find out who will be playing. So far, the only real info on the site is that tickets go on sale August 6th at 10 AM. No word yet on ticket price or where to buy. Click here to see the official announcement.
Here we go with the second installment of our set-to-set matchup of Lollapalooza's bands. Today's battles rage on as Friday and Saturday's music starts to heat up. Keep reading for our picks on what to hear when.
True story: Four years ago, for an article I was writing for a magazine writing class in college, I had the idea of pairing the experience of two Chicago-based bands/artists -- one up-and-coming, the other more established -- and comparing/contrasting their experiences. I followed around the Mannequin Men for the up-and-coming band, and struggled to figure out who to interview for the more established act. After a few rejections from artists who were "too busy" for an interview, I received a nice e-mail from local singer-songwriter Michael McDermott, who told me he'd be happy if I followed him around for a few weeks and asked him some questions.
We've been trying to play catchup since Pitchfork, so I apologize for the lateness of this little gem, but our intrepid Pitchfork Music Festival photographer, George Aye, caught tons of snaps of some of the best part of the summer fest experience: the people.
Get two of the most explosive front people in rock today on a stage and you naturally expect an incredible show. Jack White's newest project The Dead Weather did not fail in delivering all of what these combined bands have to offer.
A foursome combining The Kills' front woman Alison Mosshart, Queen of the Stone Age's keyboardist Dean Fertita, Raconteurs' Jack Lawrence and of course Jack White. The electrifying combination only intensifies on stage. Of course it appeared everyone was there to see White, but the real attraction is the gritty lustful vocals of Mosshart. Even when she is not singing, you cannot keep your eyes off her black magic movement.
One cannot discount White's talents, which elegantly shifted from drums, lead guitar and vocals. But it is obviously apparent he has been waiting for a project where he experiment with percussion sounds.
This show is a must see if you are able to go tonight or in any other city as they continue their Horehound tour. The abrasive dynamic of this group is magnetizing and a great sound for the summer.
In honor of Lollapalooza and his performance there the next day, hometown violin virtuoso Andrew Bird will play a warm reception at Schubas on August 6th. The show will celebrate Schubas' 20th anniversary and is also a benefit for one of our favorite charities, Rock for Kids who provides free year-round music education to underserved children and teens. 100% of the proceeds will go to Rock for Kids.
Chicago label Bloodshot Records have been cranking out quality music for 15 years now, and to celebrate they're taking over the Hideout and throwing a Beer-B-Q for their birthday!
Sponsored by WXRT and Rolling Rock, the party will highlight some of the artists from Bloodshot's catalog over the the year. The line-up includes: Alejandro Escovedo, The Waco Brothers with Rico Bell, Bobby Bare Jr., Deadstring Brothers, The Blacks, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Scott H. Biram, Moonshine Willy. Also, proceeds will benefit the wonderful organizations Rock for Kids and 826 Chicago.
Save the date (September 12th) and head out to enjoy a day of alt-country rock goodness and wish Bloodshot Records a happy birthday and many more.
The Bloodshot Beer-B-Q is September 12th at the Hideout. It's all ages (there is a provided kids area) and the price is a $10 donation. Doors open at noon.
Violently romantic or romantically violent? Which of these phrases best describes the music of The Veils depends largely on the song; but not entirely. The lines blur. I can feel the gears shifting frequently on every listen. Whatever the destination, the vehicle driving towards it all is longing; an undiluted, lucid longing. Where it shines on the albums, it blinds live. Like many who left The Empty Bottle after Thursday night's midnight rendezvous with The Veils, I'm still trying to blink away the remnants of something like staring into the sun.
A reason to be glad Chicago is on Illinois' border with Indiana, rather than the one with Kentucky: Insane Clown Posse's 10th annual Gathering of the Juggalos is in Cave In Rock, Illinois, August 6-9.
Actually, maybe it's not so bad. After all, what other festival could possibly pull together Ice Cube and Vanilla Ice and GWAR?
The Octopus Project are self-described "collectors of sounds" and their new EP, Golden Beds, is a collection of five songs, each experimenting in different genres. With a couple of tracks coming from their debut album and a subscription-only 7" from last year, Golden Beds begins with the shoegaze tune, "Wet Gold" and immediately switches into rockin guitar and drums on "Moon Boil." The EP conludes with "Half a Nice Day," a lo-fi twee instrumental with cutsey keyboards, but the most compelling song is "Rorol," a streamy avant-garde play with a Siren's call. They utilize the fascinating theremin (an electronic instrument played by without contact from the player, just moving the hands near its two antennas) to create the eerie sound. You can stream the entire EP at Peek-A-Boo Records' website.
Everyone's favorite redheaded button making rock 'n' roll power duo, White Mystery, are keeping it busy this summer. The brother/sister duo of Francis and Alex White just teamed up with HoZac Record's Hookup Klub, where subscribers get ten 7" singles of 500 limited edition pressings from various artists. Sadly you snooze and you loose, because the Hookup Klub is already sold out. But there is hope. Fifty copies will be available at live White Mystery shows, so you've got to hustle if you want to purchase your own little vinyl slice of noisy blues soaked garage rock.
Do not panic though, because you can pick up a copy tomorrow (Friday July 24th) at Permanent Records, where the band will be playing and celebrating the release of their 7". The show starts at 6pm, and is free.
6pm too early for your rock 'n' roll blood? Then check out White Mystery later that night at the Q4 Art show, located at 2716 W. North Ave. The cost is $5 before 11pm, $7 after, 21+, and includes a laundry list of bands, live art, a puppet show, a trumpet, and face painting. Because you know it's a good night when you get to pogo up and down to garage rock while being painted up like a lion.
Jamie Lidell is one wild and crazy guy. Having seen him in concert more than a few times, I can say one thing; you never know what's going to happen. Hailing from Berlin, Lidell is a soul crooner, funk aficionado and beatboxing expert. He is known for his lively stage shows which almost always include a break that turns into an electronic one man show with him looping his voice, layering tracks and singing over them. It's actually quite impressive. He had a couple of hits off his album Multiply, including the title track and the groovy bass line behind "A Little Bit More" which was featured in a Target commercial. His newest album, Jim, was released last year on Warp Records.
Lidell is coming to Chicago on Saturday, July 25th to play Congress Theater with special guest Tortured Soul and we are giving away a pair two pairs of tickets! Just be the first two to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject "Dammit, Jim!" and you and a friend get in for free! [Update! We have our winners! Congrats to Joel and Alec!]
Congress Theater is located at 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. This is a 17 & up show. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $20.
Every time you think your favorite hometown artist is skipping Chicago on tour, they end up announcing something even better (or at least you're even more thrilled when you get the news). Wilco has announced that they will return to Chicago to play at UIC Pavilion on Sunday, Ocbober 18th. Worried you won't be able to get tickets? You're in luck--they are holding two presales beginning today; one beginning at 10am on Front Gate, the second at noon through Ticketmaster. Send an e-mail to chicago@wilcoworld.net to receive the password for presale #2.
UPDATE: A second show has been added for Monday, October 19.
In other news, Jeff Tweedy graces the cover of SPIN Magazine next month, and promises you're gonna dig the story.
A weekend full of interviews with some of the nicest bands around was capped off with Paul and Perrin, two of the musicians in the band Beirut. The guys and I camped out backstage under a tree, chatting about the wonderful staff and actual musicians who work at Pitchfork Festival, their encounter with a drunk Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks, and how part of Beirut was formed in a Haggen-Dazs. Special thanks to WBEZ for reading my mind and taking a shot of the guys a day before during their set, somehow knowing I would get so engrossed in our conversation that I'd forget to snap a picture.
Thanks for tuning in as I sat down with some of the artists this past weekend, and I hope everyone had a wonderful Pitchfork Music Festival 2009.
Early Sunday afternoon we sat down in the shade with the all girl rock trio Vivian Girls. The band spoke about the craziness of playing in front of a massive festival crowd, how Pitchfork is centered around the city, their story of opening for Sonic Youth, and the relaxed the atmosphere at the festival all weekend.
Check back later for our last installment of Conversations at Pitchfork.
Speaking to The Thermals was a lovely start to Sunday at Pitchfork Festival. The Portland trio chatted about what bands they were excited to see, their favorite festival memory of dancing on-stage with the Flaming Lips, their recent move to a new label, and how things are going with Kathy's band All Girl Summer Fun Band.
Thanks to Kirstie for taking some lovely shots of The Thermals, and keep checking back for a few more interviews with bands at Pitchfork Festival.
Hans-Peter Lindstrom is a dedicated guy. He flew all the way from Norway to play Pitchfork Festival. He arrived five hours before his set in Chicago, and told me he was jumping back on a flight Sunday morning to return home. Lindstrom was kind enough to sit down and chat with Gapers Block during his whirlwind weekend of travel, praising the selection of bands that Pitchfork books for the festival, his enjoyment of working alone as a solo artist, and how he selects the music he remixes.
And before Lindstrom could leave, Justin from WBEZ convinced the Norwegian DJ to pony up for an installment of their delightful segment the Wikipedia Files. Of course Justin had to steal our thunder and demand I take a glamor shot of him and his new best friend Hans-Peter. Clearly these two hit it off, and have forged a lifelong friendship. I can only hope this picture will end up framed on the WBEZ office wall.
Keep checking back for more interviews with artists from the festival this past weekend.
What you see above is the true face of festival fatigue. The Antlers sat down with us to chat 10 minutes after performing on Saturday. The guys joined us to have a post show beer and a smoke break, and shared what bands they were looking forward to seeing at the festival, the open mind that festival goers have when checking out new bands this weekend, their preferred location for recording, and how recording Hospice was a therapeutic labor of love.
Keep checking back for more interviews with bands from the festival this weekend.
We'll have a more verbose review of the weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival a little later in the day, but as you ease into your workday, here's a brief recap in pictures. Keep going after the jump, and there's plenty more to see at Flickr from Saturday and Sunday performances. (All photos by our intrepid weekend photographer George Aye.)
The Black Lips closed out Saturday night with a searing set of rough and raw blues fueled garage rock. In person the band is sarcastic and entertaining, much like the stage antics their known for during a live show. The fine folks over at ReadyMade Magazine let me and the band crash their swanky display, as the guys expressed their dislike of festivals (love to play, hate to attend), memories of being chased out of India with their record label Vice, their sinister plan to take over and shut down the festival with their radical ways, and even give the festival itself a Pitchfork style rating.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all week at Pitchfork.
Call it twee, call it shoegazer, or call it whatever you like, but make no mistake about the fact that The Pains of Being Pure at Heart make bright and cheery pop music. Their sunny music matches the bands sweet and friendly disposition perfectly, as I caught up with the band backstage after the brief downpour of rain Saturday afternoon. The band spoke about still being in the honeymoon stage of success, dished the dirt on a pop-punk Warp Tour past, and Peggy disclosed her rebellious ways of sneaking backstage at the first Pitchfork Festival.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all weekend at Pitchfork.
Next up I spoke to Cymbals Eat Guitars, one of my picks from our feature of bands to check out this year at the festival. Earlier the band kicked off Saturday with their brand of fuzzed out '90s style indie rock. Their laid-back music was the perfect soundtrack to a breezy early Saturday afternoon. The guys discussed the extremes of playing both venues and festivals, their favorite memories from early Lollapalooza festivals (including Neil's memory of Cyprus Hill and an inflatable bong), the surreal moments of their success this past year, and their guilty admittance of loving dance rock. And to fully explain their photo, the guys really needed a bathroom break. I was more than happy to oblige their need to express this frustration. Even indie rockers have to cave and use the port-a-potty.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all weekend at Pitchfork.
This weekend Gapers Block is sitting down with some of the artists at Pitchfork to talk about the festival itself, their favorite festival memories, and much more. Keep checking back all weekend for more conversations at Pitchfork Festival.
Before you take a listen, I have to disclose I'm a writer, not a sound engineer, so I apologize for the rough around the edges audio. You'll hear background noise, the occasional siren, and even the cheering crowd of DOOM during one interview. What else would you expect though from a live music festival? Have no fear if you're not a fan of audio, though. I'll be transcribing and posting the transcripts of each conversation throughout the week. Until then, turn up your speakers, and check out what some of the bands play Pitchfork Festival had to say.
I started off my Saturday chatting with the happiest indie pop duo in the world, Matt and Kim. I can say without a doubt, they are two of the sweetest people around, and a ridiculously dedicated band, constantly touring and even sometimes playing multiple shows a day. They shared with us a favorite a festival story of Matt jumping into the most contaminated lake in Norway, expressed their love of top 40 hip-hop, and clued us in on the perks of no longer having to rough it on the road.
Keep checking back for more conversations with artists all weekend at Pitchfork.
Friday night, the throwback day of Pitchfork Music Festival is always filled with bands that I am familiar with, but not intimately. I go in never knowing quite what to expect, but always come away a new fan of a classic indie group. Last night that band was Built to Spill. They were the highlight of the night, closing out the evening. Doug Martsch and crew and the crowd were equally rocking the park. I don't know if it was because it was a crowd-chosen setlist, or as my friend said, they're just really good.
The Jesus Lizard was over the top as expected, and I literally mean lead singer David Yow went over the top of many fan's heads surfing into the crowd--right at the beginning of their set--and again several more times. There was aggressive rock, screaming vocals and general mayhem.
I arrived a little late and only heard a portion of Tortoise's set, but the local group sounded as tight as ever playing all older favorites as part of "Write the Night" but nothing from their new album, Beacons of Ancestorship. Yo La Tengo hit a groove and played the calming soundtrack for getting acclimated with the park and settling in.
In anticipation of witnessing The Entrance Band's blend of psych-rock and blues firsthand, I've listened to their most recent release, 2006's Prayer of Death, more times this week than I can count on both hands. I've repeatedly listened to the title track more than could possibly be considered healthy. As they stand on the brink of releasing their Ecstatic Peace! debut, I was no less than stunned while watching them topple The Hideout tonight. They were an absolute storm in an intimate room; equal parts earthquake and tornado.
Pitchfork Fest is sold out and tickets on Craigslist are going for heinous amounts of money. Still left without a ticket? Do not fear! Pitchfork fun is not just limited to Union Park. Clubs all over the city will be hosting after-parties featuring talent as diverse as the range of artists at Pitchfork (including a handful of bands who will be playing at the festival itself). Think of it as Pitchfork on a budget. And for those at the festival who aren't too dog-tired from dancing in the sun all day, here's your chance to keep the party going.
The sound of sound checks are in the air at Union Park, Ice Cream Man is in Chicago, and a flock of hipsters are descending upon the green line. It can only mean that it's that special time of the year known as Pitchfork Festival.
Gapers Block will be out in full force this weekend, reporting on our favorite sets, shooting some wonderful pictures to share, and holding down the fort at the Gapers Block table at the CHIRP Record Fair (stop by and say hello).
I'll be showcasing some special content this year, as I sit down with various bands at the festival to chat about the matter at hand; music festivals. We'll get the bands take on Pitchfork, their favorite festival memories, and much more. So keep checking back all weekend for freshly ripped and exclusive conversations each day with some of your favorite Pitchfork Festival bands.
We kick things off today with a short conversation with David Yow, the singer for seminal rock band The Jesus Lizard.
Pitchfork Festival has been completely sold out since Wednesday, but we just got word that the festival is releasing some more single day tickets right now.
Due to popular demand (and wanting to offer fans a chance to get a ticket if they missed out without paying the insane offers in Craigslist), they are releasing 300 single day tickets.
So if you waited until the last minute, go get them, because I'm sure they'll be gone in no time, leaving everyone else to pay an inflated price from a third party.
You can purchase the tickets over at the festival's site.
UPDATE: The newly released tickets sold out in about 2 minutes.
It was sometime around 2002, when singer-songwriter-guitarist Guy Blakeslee moved from his hometown of Baltimore to Chicago. It is here in Chicago that he began his solo journey under the name Entrance. The 18 months that followed saw Blakeslee performing regularly at The Hideout. These performances earned him record-label attention and eventually the release of Entrance's debut album, The Kingdom of Heaven Must be Taken by Storm. Entrance went on to release the blues-folk heavy Wandering Stranger in 2004 and the psychedelia infused Prayer of Death in 2006.
Ending up in CA somewhere along the way, and recently signing with Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace!, the somewhat-newly-named The Entrance Band are readying a new release, and are currently out spreading their live show like wildfire. Tonight, Blakeslee and The Entrance Band return to where the spark was started: The Hideout. Tickets are $10; show starts at 9pm.
For years it's been common knowledge that there's something in Austin's water to account for its numerous rock bands that've broken big across the country. (I can't think of a town with a smaller population that claims more popular musicians as its own.) But it's not just the rock bands that are good there. Far from it. On Friday night one of its best live bands, Grupo Fantasma, visit Chicago for their biggest gig here yet.
The Latin/funk/psychedelic 11-piece pulls its influences from early Santana (think Abraxas), Joe Bataan and the Fania All-Stars. Early in their career, especially on 2004's Movimiento Popular, the group's sound was dominated by salsa and cumbia. Over the years they've slid a generous dose of psychedelic rock into the mix. In fact, "Bacalao con Pan" from 2008's Sonidos Gold begins with straight-up psychedelic guitar. But that doesn't mean they've forgotten their roots. The ultra-catchy "Mentiras" from their live album showcases a heavy rhythm section and smooth horns that are solidly entrenched in Latin music. Also on that album is a nod to one of the genre's pioneers with a cover of Ray Barretto's classic "Cocinando."
With slots backing Prince and Spoon (separate gigs, of course) and two appearances on "Austin City Limits" under their belt, Grupo Fantasma won't remain a secret outside of the Latin music community for long. Their reputation as an exciting live band has been growing for most of this decade and they're only getting better at it as they tour relentlessly.
Grupo Fantasma plays at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, on Friday the 17th. Numero Group's Rob Sevier opens at 10PM with a DJ set. The show is 21+ and tickets are $15. (Wear your dancing shoes.)
With the weather in the mid-80's over the next few days, what better way to enjoy the weekend than with some live music in the park? This weekend (July 10th - 13th), over 50 performers from across Illinois will gather in Millennium Park for the 4th annual Great Performers of Illinois Festival. The festival celebrates art unique to Illinois, and provides a something-for-everyone array of musical talent throughout the weekend. Let's just hope the thunderstorms on Sunday will pass quickly.
The record release show concept may have lost a little luster over the last few years of release dates not meaning anything to the typical consumer, but that's not to say they can't still be exciting and meaningful. If future behavior is best indicated by past behavior, Chicago's Mannequin Men have it in them to make Friday's Lose Your Illusion, Too release show at Metro a spectacle. The 4-piece derives its sound from early punk and Midwestern garage rock. Comparisons to Richard Hell and the Stooges are rampant throughout their music. And like any good punk band, they are a force to be reckoned with while on a stage. (Regular touring with Black Lips, another band whose true potential is realized in front of a crowd, has undoubtedly contributed to their live reputation.) They're brash, abrasive and a hell of a lot of fun to watch.
Also on the bill are their Puerto Rican equals - Davila 666. (¡Wepa!) With a self-titled record on In the Red last year, this septet established themselves as gritty punks who take far more influence from their American counterparts than their rock en Español brethren. Like Friday's headliners, Davila 666's also taken inspiration from tour companions in King Khan & the Shrines by incorporating costumes and props into their sets. (They'll also be playing a free show at the Empty Bottle in September.)
Chicago's Stranger Waves and Huntsville, Alabama's Thomas Function also play. The first 150 people at Metro get wristbands for a balcony after-party. Until noon Thursday, tickets are $5 on eTix. After then they're $10/$12 at the door. The show is 18+ and begins at 9PM.
The Human Quena Orchestra. Photo by Elliott Thomas.
When you think 'Free Monday Night Show,' chances are a lineup like this isn't the first one that comes to your mind. The Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western) has created a rock-solid lineup of bands, incorporating doom, drone, industrial, and metal(ic) crunch and thud, and put them together on a free Monday (July 13), or as I like to call it, I-get-to-drink-eight-dollars-extra-worth-of-beer-night.
SF duo The Human Quena Orchestra, touring in support of their second album, The Politics of the Irredeemable (Crucial Blast), are joined by two local acts, one seasoned and one newly minted, and a NYC solo project making her debut in Chicago.
They came together last winter and all of them claim it's been like a marriage with three other people, without the sex. Since, Chicago's California Wives have devoted all their creative effort to their music.
Their sound can be described as 80s new wave, unlike most music coming out of the Midwest. Some have compared them to Franz Ferdinand and New Order. Currently they continue to produce their new EP and play shows around Chicago. This Friday they will be playing at Miska's with Sissy Mena. Also Style 4 Food and Max and Chloe will be selling racks of vintage clothing.
Love in October, who recorded and produced their own new self-titled EP, could be described as rock and power-pop. There is a young innocence in their sound, not surprising since two members are brothers originally from Sweden. Love in October has that Swedish pop feel, with a definite American 90's alternative influence--a hint of Weezer in the guitar on "Permutations" and Blink 182 in the quick paced vocals on "Like Nothing Ever Happened." The album has a reflective, melodic ending on "27-08-08" with a distant voice singing in Swedish (reminding me a bit of Foo Fighters on "Doll").
Join them tomorrow at the Record Release Show for Love in October at Martyrs (3855 N. Lincoln Ave.). The Right Now and Jenny Gillespie will also play. Show starts at 10pm. Tickets are $8. 21 & up. (For your chance to win guest passes to the show, email your name and email address to management@loveinoctober.com by noon TODAY.)
Download a free mp3 of "Like Nothing Ever Happened" at their website.
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy must really love the Emanuel Congregation in Edgewater (the Tweedy family's synagogue). He played two shows at the Vic to benefit the synagogue last February, and this August he'll be playing yet another benefit show, this time in the synagogue itself (though you don't have to be a member to attend). It's a perfect opportunity to enjoy a relaxing evening of music for those not interested in that little music festival going on the same weekend. Peter Grosz, who is a Second City alum and is currently a writer for "The Colbert Report", will be opening the show.
The charity event is taking place August 8th at the Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N Sheridan. If you've got a bit of extra dough, a $200 VIP ticket will get you front section seating, a meet and greet with Tweedy and Grosz, an on-site parking spot and a drink ticket. Mid-section seating is available at $75 per ticket and third-section seating for $54 per ticket, with off-site parking available for $10. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased here. Doors are at 7 pm, show at 8.
You've seen the great debates: South Side vs. North Side, the Trib vs the Times, now NBC's Golden Local is asking you which music festival is better: Lollapalooza or Pitchfork? Cast your vote and check back in 13 days when the voting ends to see what your fellow locals think!
The rain broke, the heat rose with the sun, and there was a free show Monday night at the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. Oh, I was there. The lawn was not quite a Decemberists-level crush of blanket sitters, but the crowd was lively and comfortably dressed in the sundress and bicycle cuff style. Beer was purchased (or brown-bagged), wine was shared, and cheese was added to crackers. The excitement peaked as the sun slid behind the Michigan Avenue wall and a collective sigh rose as Dirty Projectors hit the stage.
Swinging through through hits like "Stillness is the Move" and "Cannibal Resource" and from their latest album, Bitte Orca, the harmonies between Angel Deradoorian and Amber Coffman were magical in the haze of the slow burn of the evening. From where I was sitting, in that soft light, I couldn't make out the band well, but I could clearly see two members of Broken Social Scene (in town to do some recording at Soma with Sea and Cake's John McEntire) Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew sitting, socializing and enjoying the music. You know, there is something very BSS-like in the harmonies and loops that Dirty Projectors utilize. I can see how that's up in their wheelhouse.
DP closed with a seemingly truncated version of "Knotty Pine" (Byrne-less, sadly), but the Park was keeping a tight schedule. [Note: Later Monday night, after heading off toward Detroit, the band got into a car accident. It seems like the initial reports of serious injuries were false, but they're scrapping two shows in Canada and heading to NYC to regroup.]
Starting right on time were the evening's headliners The Sea and Cake, all business and down to it. Unfortunately clocked in as the "older" band by some of the less-familiar in the crowd, Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt led the fellas through the set beautifully and really gained some new fans Monday night. The sound was something else — I repeatedly remarked that the bass was stronger than any other Sea and Cake show I'd heard — in a good way. I felt like even though I was hearing this outdoor performance of great songs like Car Alarm's title track and their older self-titled album tune and audience fave "Jacking the Ball" I was experiencing them for the first time in high fidelity. Likely this is a testament to the fine design of the speakers at the Pritzker. To you, I say, Bravo. I wasn't alone in feeling the love that night — the crowd begat several pockets of bouncy dance circles (one of which spilled over into a post-show drum circle, but that's ok).
Tonight at Schubas, a refreshing indie pop band hailing from Boston stops by on their way to play the Sled Island Festival in Calgary. The Main Drag's music bounces along with driving beats, shimmering guitars, and choruses full of group harmonization, their music blending to create a dreamy, laidback, and fuzzed out sound. The band was recently named "Best Unsigned Artist" by Salon.com, and have already had their music featured in Rock Band 2 and in a Target commercial. They're traveling up to the massive Sled Island Festival, where over 170 bands are expected to perform including Andrew W.K., Liars, Holy Fuck, and Japandroids.
Their latest release, Yours As Fast As Mine, is a mélange of their influences, reminding me at times of the layered and heavy sounds of Broken Social Scene, punctuated with bursts of driving energy and the tight rhythmic composure of bands like Minus the Bear or the Foals.
The Main Drag play at Schubas tonight, Monday June 22nd, at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $6 at the door, and local act King Sparrow will be opening. If you haven't had a chance to check out King Sparrow's debut EP Derailer, do so now. It's a heavy mix of dirty guitars, driving drums, and brash vocals, an impressive debut from the Chicago outfit.
It's been nearly 30 years since California punk band X released their debut album, 1980's Los Angeles but you wouldn't know it from the youthful vigor they played with. Starting off a three-night run at The Double Door, X pleased fans by allowing them to vote on their favorite songs and creating a setlist spanning their entire career and back catalog that was sure to make many devotees in attendance very happy.
Perhaps the only clue that X has been playing music for nearly three decades was how tight they were between the four members. It was great to see John Doe and Exene Cervenka trade off on vocals, Cervenka dancing with the mic in her hand, sometimes while she was singing without missing a beat. Cervenka's voice still retains the ability to soar and be as hearty as those songs demand.
Walking the line adeptly between genres of punk and country, the songs were played slightly faster live and with more of the country overtones emphasized. Between the live chemistry between Cervenka and Doe and the smiling presence of guitarist and original founding member Billy Zoom, the band appeared nothing short of charming in the midst of the energy of their songs.
Though their set was very focused on their music playing, X did encourage the audience to keep voting, which should come to fans no surprise considering their politics. John Doe also voiced appreciation for the crowd and for the city they have played in many times over the years. It was also great to see a good turnout with a crowded room of fans, many of whom when asked insisted that they were planning on attending all three nights. Highlights of their set included: "Los Angeles" "Johny Hit and Run Pauline," "Breathless," and "Sugarlight." Throughout their 90 minute long set, including a four song encore that emphasized More Fun in the New World one couldn't help but notice how well X's songs had held up throughout the years.
Hangovers are the annoying, productivity-inhibiting result of a night spent drinking quite a bit, and yet we still put up with them because it's fun to loosen up, be social, and dance. Sure, it's easy to pop some aspirin, rehydrate and muddle through the morning, but wouldn't it be cool if music could relieve your hangover?
That's the concept behind Exception AM, a free digital compilation from subVariant that aims to present a collection of electronic music to help you feel better in the morning after a night of drinking. To celebrate the release on June 20, the release party will be held at Ai lounge in River North as the first in a series of concept parties called "Artificial Intelligence." Liz Revision will mix the mostly-ambient and downtempo tracks from the compilation together at the beginning of the night and will then hand over the decks to local DJs Silentcorp, Andrew Kevins, Dirtybird, and Droopy to finish out the night with techno and house. The party will be free all night from 10pm-3am.
I have walked in and out of Schubas on many nights over the changing seasons and years. On each of these uniquely beautiful nights I walked out feeling like I had experienced something special. I've seen some great shows at some great clubs, but I do not have this particular association with any others. Last night I walked in to see AA Bondy and Holly Miranda. It was again a uniquely beautiful night; and I walked out knowing I had experienced something special.
It must be an artist's nightmare to fade out of their career after once being successful. Yet it happens all the time. A band achieves great highs, branches out from the sound that propelled them to be stars and doesn't catch that limelight again. Years later on indefinite hiatus, hardly anyone even notices. Brutal. Catherine Wheel deserved a better fate.
After the demise of the band he fronted for a decade, Rob Dickinson made the move to a solo career and released Fresh Wine For the Horses. The first half showcases a musician appealing to the masses. Its alternative radio-friendly songs seem to exist to expel the notion of his former band as musical chameleons. (Let's remember that CW practically alienated many fans with their third album sounding more like the Smashing Pumpkins and Bush than Ride and Lush.) "My Name is Love" is anthem-like and numerous other moments shine across the front side. However, this record's nothing if not back-loaded. It's where longtime fans can hear the strides that Dickinson's made as a songwriter during his break from Catherine Wheel. There are echoes of his many influences - whether the shoegazing that broke CW, what could've plastered them all over "Headbanger's Ball", or even the ethereal mid-era Talk Talk sophistication. (And, oh wow, does "Towering & Flowering" ever sound like Elbow!) His latest release is an acoustic cover of "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want."
Rob Dickinson plays Schubas, Belmont & Southport, on Sunday evening. Local H's Scott Lucas opens. The show is 21+, starts at 8PM and admission is $14.
The official Lollapalooza schedule has been posted! Check out Lollapalooza.com to start making your Lolla plans (click here to go directly to the schedule). The site is overloaded at the moment, but while I wait for it to load I'm crossing my fingers that Depeche Mode and the Beastie Boys won't be playing head-to-head. Lollapalooza takes place August 7th - 9th in Grant Park. Tickets can be purchased here.
On a Monday night in the bloom of summer, you'd expect a fairly young crowd out for the Nylon (magazine) Summer Music Tour, AKA "look at our new label peeps". While the back of the crowd had a decent mix of folk (and of course, Thax), the front pit was a decently-sized mob of college kids or recent grads who certainly didn't look like they were facing a morning commute.
Jaguar Love drew the short straw and played first. Unfortunately, this meant that people who didn't want to stand in the Bottom Lounge for five straight hours were still finishing up their dinners or perhaps going for pleasant evening strolls. Sorry, Jaguar Love.
Following them were the impossibly French Plasticines, whose syrupy accents made their fairly standard Donnas-esque rock a little sweeter. They played their cover of "These Boots are Made For Walkin", and demanded (eventually through an "interpreter", in case the crowd wasn't understanding their English) that everyone had to "go like thees: *clapclapclapclap*" After some trips into the audience from lead singer Katty Besnard, everyone eventually obliged.
Of special note here is that during the break, no one less than Bob Marley was used for fill music. Sure, why not?
Living Things (not to be confused with Peter, Bjorn and John's new album of the same name) are a band with a message, political and social, told through straight ahead rock and roll. Their latest, sophomore album, Habeus Corpus, is fueled by rage from the Bush era, in fact, these guys used to burn posters of the former President on stage. But, don't think we're dealing with a heavy-metal Rage Against the Machine copy-cat here, these guys have drawn more comparisons to the likes of The Ramones and Johnny Rotten punk.
Three brothers from St. Louis comprise the band--lead Lilian Berlin, drummer Bosh and bassist Eve, with Cory Becker on guitar. You might recognize the catchy chorus form the first single from their debut album, "Bom Bom Bom," which was featured in an Apple commercial. The singles released so far from Habeus Corpus, "Let It Rain" and "Oxygen," are more melodic and poppy, but the group shines on grittier tracks like "Brass Knuckles" and "Cost of Living" which are more representative of the album as a whole.
Living Things are slated to play Lollapalooza in August, but you can see them at Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake St.) on Monday, June 15 as part of the Nylon Summer Music Tour. They will open for Patrick Wolf, along with Plasticines and Jaguar Love. The show starts at 7pm. Tickets are $ 15. 18 and up.
Most festivals in Chicago are put on by large-scale production companies such as C3 or Jam productions. These are huge corporations that have the manpower and money to put on massive, successful, wonderful events, yet sometimes balk at the DIY ethics that are a staple in the modern music industry. This weekend the tables will start to turn though, as the Chicago Noise Machine host the massive I AM Fest at the Congress Theater.
Unless an artist is playing a residency, you usually don't get to enjoy an incredibly talented act multiple nights in a row. Usually a band will come through town, put on a wonderful show, and leave you wanting more. But if you're a greedy music fan like me, you may have lucked into seeing St. Vincent twice this week, as she rolled into town Sunday to perform at the Metro before heading over Monday night to play the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
As if Stubhy Pandav hadn't found enough success as the lead of Lucky Boys Confusion and Shock Stars, he's created another band by the name of The Insecurities who debuted to a sold out crowd at Elbo Room last June. What started as "an outlet for my songs that I loved but, for one reason or another, never made the cut in previous projects," Pandav says, can now boast that they will be opening for 311 and Ziggy Marley as the winners of an online Q101 contest.
With a familiar Stubhy power-sound, The Insecurities are piano-infused rock taking influences from Ryan Adams, The Counting Crows and Bright Eyes. They have an EP out now called Ban The Kiss Hello: A Social Commentary, and are currently writing songs a full-length album due out in August.
The annual Q101 Block Party will be held at Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island on Sunday, June 14. The show starts at 7pm and tickets are $37.
Gogol Bordello can't be classified merely as standard live music. They are closer to a music festival all on their own. The gypsy punks bring their own party with an entourage that encourages the energy behind their lyrics. Not surprisingly, the crowd echoes back with its own energy of moshers, pogoers, dancers, and those who just want to have a shared experience over the music.
Likewise, Eugene Hütz isn't merely a singer but one of the most expressive and personality driven leaders of a group of musicians whose work could dissolve into a chaotic mess if they weren't following his every frantic move. Luckily, the other musicians on stage are also talented musicians all on their own and back up the songs well with supplemental vocals, drums, violin, accordion and more.
The avant-garde art/music space Lampo (219 W. Chicago Avenue, 2nd Floor) always attempts to bring new and unique experiences to the ears and minds of Chicagoans eager for something different, but Saturday's performance (9:00 p.m., $12 door) should prove to be especially engaging and unusual, especially for devotees of not just art and music, but the strange fringes of overloaded technology.
The event, loosely known as MAGIC MATRIX MIXER MOUNTAIN, is a collective ensemble of experimental musicians, software developers, visual artists, and circuit-bending mad scientists. The process sounds complicated, so I'm going to let the Lampo info sheet explain it:
During the performance and installation at Lampo, five of the artists will build the MAGIC MATRIX MIXER MOUNTAIN on-site while two are connected remotely via the Internet. All of the artists (foothills) will feedback and feedforward to expose the graceful musicality of faulty technologies. Decoding and rebugging digital media, the MAGIC MATRIX MIXER MOUNTAIN will exist for one night only but will be accompanied by an operator's instruction manual, to be written, arranged and printed live in realtime along with the performance of the audio, video and datastreams.
For a sense of what the group's about, you can visit their blog, which includes a ton of images, short films, and things that twitch and bleep and follow you around the room with a stinky eyeball. The tone and texture of the piece, as well as the love of re-purposing dead/dying media reminds me of the project 8-bit Construction Set, not to mention dorkbot Chicago (with which this group shares members Jon Cates and Jake Elliott) or even the long-running trio I <3 Presets, whose ranks MMMM shares member Jon Satrom (also of Magic Missile) with this group and who are similarly devoted to technological obsolescences in their death-throes, turning error warnings into haikus and bluescreens into percussive solos.
Above: The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
It's worth repeating, in case you're thinking that you read that wrong: this Thursday, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) will present five short pieces by legendary composer Iannis Xenakis, as performed by the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), an up-and-coming group dedicated to performing modern and classic works of the avant-garde and, in their words, "advancing the music of our time." Xenakis' structurally difficult works require virtuosos who not only possess outstanding chops, but excellent instincts and problem-solving abilities, as the pieces often demand something beyond perfection from its performers, requiring them to make sounds not easily coaxed from their instruments, and to play them perfectly each time. As a result, the ground-breaking Greek composer's works are seldom performed, and even more rarely by an ensemble so dedicated to making them EXACTLY RIGHT, making this event a rare and essential musical event.
ICE will perform five of Xenakis' pieces (roughly a 75 minute performance, with intermission) in the MCA's auditorium. Tickets are $25, and the performance starts at 7:30 p.m.
I'll be honest, most of the time I find solo singer/songwriters kind of boring. But, then I heard Kevin Devine. Devine is an artist that can cross many different genres and put his stamp on each one. His new LP, Brother's Blood, is in a word, outstanding. He excels with energetic indie-rock jams like "I Could Be With Anyone" and several tracks -- including "All Of Everything, Erased" and "It's Only Your Life" -- that sound like they could have been on the Garden State soundtrack. He also has a talent for creating powerful swelling songs like "Carnival" and title track, "Brother's Blood."
In listening to the album, I found myself associating him with artists from Ben Gibbard to Ryan Adams to Albert Hammond Jr. to Sam Beam to Jeff Tweedy, but even those comparisons don't capture his wide range. There is "Fever Moon" -- a sexy Latin croon that you wouldn't expect, but it works. Then there is the deceivingly cheery ukulele tune "Murphy's Song" about a pup with a Marley & Me ending. The album hits its peak at the middle with epic desperation in the nearly eight-minute "Brother's Blood" followed by the steamy "Fever Moon."
Devine has worked and toured largely under the radar and was almost lost after his dismissal from Capital Records during their merger with Virgin, but he came out unscathed, and frankly, better off than he went in. This fifth album, released on the Favorite Gentleman label, is a self proclaimed "sprawling, confident mission statement about conscience, culture, and personality."
A few weeks back, we mentioned an upcoming two-day festival of black metal, drone, ambient, and harsh noise called Matchitehew Assembly. It's still happening Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, same time, same place, same everything, except that one more act's been added, and it's a doozy. A collaboration between West Coast noise/experimental artist John Wiese and Midwest drone industrialist Hive Mind has been added to the Friday lineup, bringing each day's lineup to eleven acts.
Wiese is known to harsh noise fans for his limitless array of recordings, both under his own name, and with such collaborative projects as Sissy Spacek, Heavy Seals, LHD, and Waves. His work with Sunn o))) also more than cements his reputation in the world of experimental metal. His most recent album is titled Circle Snare, and is available on the No Fun Productions label.
Greh Holger, aka Hive Mind, has mined an obsessively bleak shaft of darkness for many years, with such classic albums as Tunnel Birth, Death Tone, and Cast Through Shallow Earth to his credit. He also runs the Chondritic Sound label, where you can still find an example of this duo's collaborative possibilities in the form of a 10" record entitled "...Trick Satanism."
The festival is taking place at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, with tickets priced at $25 for one day, or a two-day pass for $40. More info on the festival, including up-to-the-minute updates and directions to the venue can be found at the Matchitehew Assembly web site.
When I grow up, I want to be Karen O, the electrifying front woman for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. During their sold out show at the Aragon last night, O never lost the giant grin she wore while parading around stage and leading the band through some of their best songs and showcasing new work off their latest album, It's Blitz. You want to know what it's like to love your day job? Go see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
At first it sounded like too much of a gratuitous pairing, if not something akin to a shotgun wedding -- the merging of two of the leading names on the international electronica scene. But the proof is in the results, and with the release of their album this past month, the collaborative trio Moderat (that being two parts Modeselektor to one part Apparat) proved that the venture makes total sense.
On prior releases, the duo Modeselektor have established themselves as deft craftsmen and versatile collaborators -- switching styles at the drop of a hat while working with everyone from Thom Yorke to glitchcore nutter Otto Von Schirach. Likewise for the moody and pop-minded Apparat (aka Sascha Ring), who showcased his own creative flexibility when he partnered with Ellen Allien for the brilliant 2006 album Orchestra Of Bubbles.
It's been five years since the last time we heard from The Prodigy, but they're making one hell of a comeback. Invaders Must Die, the new album which the band self-released, jumped to #1 on the UK charts and has gotten worldwide recognition. And for good reason - this raucous, soul-blasting album proves the band is back with a vengeance. Lucky for us, they're hitting up the Congress Theater tonight, which will undoubtedly be a sweaty fun dance party. I had the chance to chat a bit with Maxim, The Prodigy's MC/vocalist, on the phone last week (albeit with a few technical difficulties) about the upcoming show and his thoughts on the album.
"It's kind of like a new thing for us, getting back together as a band and getting back into the studio. This is kind of like a family united. It's triumphant. You can hear the togetherness of the band on the album." explains Maxim.
The track I find myself playing constantly, "Run with the Wolves", features none other than Foo Fighter Dave Grohl. "He's a good friend of ours, so it happened quite naturally. It wasn't a case of our manager contacting his manager - Dave contacted us and said he likes creating beats. He had just finished a tour, so we went to the studio and laid down some beats. It happened quite quickly and we came together on a natural level."
What can we expect from tonight's show? According to Maxim, "full-on energy."
The Prodigy play tonight at the Congress Theater, along with Canadian DJ/producer Tiga. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased here. The show is 17+ and starts at 7 pm.
Back in the '90s, perhaps no one figure played more of a single-handed role in reshaping the German electronic music scene than Cologne-based producer and musician Wolfgang Voigt. Issuing recordings via a plethora of pseudonyms and short-run labels, Voigt was at the center of a network that stepped up to challenge the supremacy of rave-centric Berlin techno; all of which would eventually lead to his co-founding the broadly influential Kompakt label. But in the years since, Voigt's legacy has mostly rested on the work he did throughout the late 1990s under the alias Gas.
Over the course of numerous albums and EPs, Voigt developed an enigmatic and impressionistic take on dance music. The average Gas track struck the ear like a soft-focus pastorale -- all awash in layered, sweeping timbres that sounded like an orchestral string section sawing away at Mahler's Sixth in slo-mo, with the muted throb of a persistent beat thumping through the atmospheric haze. Musically, it was more the stuff of dreamscapes than dancefloors; but a decade after the fact it seems that Voigt's now in a position to trade on his work's lasting appeal. This past year's seen the Nah und Fern 4-disc boxset reissue of the Gas discography, as well as a book of Voigt's artwork with an accompanying CD via the Raster-Noton label.
If you're a fan of stripped down garage rock, loud drums, and/or redheads, meet your perfect match. White Mystery is the two-piece brother/sister duo of Alex and Francis White. Alex is best known as the guitar rockin' front women of Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra, but with her latest venture with brother Francis, she strips it down to a guitar and heavy-handed drum garage rock sound. The twosome put on an energetic show, and had one of the most killer tambourine and guitar rock outs I've ever seen recently when they appeared in ChicaGoGo (as evident in the photo above).
Also playing is noteworthy act, Stranger Waves, who were recently picked as the "Best Rock or Pop Act" by The Reader. The trio of 18-year-old rockers supposedly puts on one of the best and most rowdy local shows around, creating a racket of noise with two guitars and driving drums. I'm looking forward to finally checking them out live myself. The music will be gritty, loud, and it will make you bounce all around Hideout's floor.
White Mystery and Stranger Waves play The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, tomorrow night (May 23rd) at 9pm. Tickets are $8, and the show is 21+
"They killed our DJ's and stole our airwaves... this means WAR!"
Vertigo Kidd is musical disguise of Chicago Public Radio reporter Michael Rhee. This past week he, along with Austin Bale, Erik Rasmussen and others, released the debut ep, Pirate Radio and in turn waged a personal war on mainstream radio. This release is filled many of the elements of traditional pop, but since it was done independently will not be granted the attention it deserves. Blending electronics with a more traditional sense of rock, the ep crosses genres (and oceans, "Hawaii") effortlessly in just four songs. The album and beautiful cover by Becca Heuer can be purchased digitally here, or you can attend Vertigo Kidd's release party tomorrow night (May 22nd) at Silvie's Lounge, (1902 W Irving Park Rd). Also performing tomorrow night will be Blue Eyed Jesus and John Drake band, and it all begins at 9:00pm.
DJ Z-Trip, who brought us his Obama Mix: Party for Change (which we had on repeat through the election) and Victory Lap: The Obama Mix Pt. 2, is coming to Chicago with Q-Tip as part of Bacardi's B-LIVE Tour. The Chicago stop on the tour takes place at House of Blues on June 12, 2009, but The FADER magazine is presenting a "warmup" next Wednesday, May 27th at Evil Olive. The event, dubbed SOUNDCHECK, will have complimentary beverages from 9-midnight with music by DJ Ghetto Division. Evil Olive is located at 1551 W. Division. 21 & up. RSVP for SOUNDCHECK here.
Rumor has it that Repo, the newest release from the Brooklyn-based experimental music trio Black Dice, has a few of the band's longterm devotees crying "sell out!" It's difficult to see what any sort of fuss might be about, especially considering that Repo doesn't signify any big change in artistic direction. As with their other four albums, the group's sticking with their usual technique of tweaking and twisting samples and loops into lopsided rhythms. But Repo finds them forgoing some of their prior austerity and greatly expanding their sonic vocabulary in terms of source material. And this time out the tracks are denser and more richly-layered constructions, with the guys running loops and sounds around a deeper acoustic space, bouncing them about like tennis balls in a clothes dryer.
The end result is an album that contains a newfound sense of playfulness and some genuinely hilarious moments. Case in point, the woozy percolating bloopiness of "Lazy TV," and the delirious psychedelic cartoon stomp of "Glazin" as it uncoils around the wobbly sounds of a Hawaiian slide guitar and (what sounds like) loops pinched from "Crimson and Clover" and "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy." If anything, it all reveals a group that's finally reached a certain comfort level with what they're doing. Enough so, that they can loosen up and have a little fun with their chosen mode of noise-making.
Canadian bred indie rocker/tongue-in-cheek zinger of all things too indie, Dan Bejar, aka, Destroyer is performing a solo show at the Empty Bottle on Sunday night. Bejar, who, for far too long, has been lumped into the New Pornorgraphers clique, has been cranking out albums under the name "Destroyer" since the mid '90s. Last year's Trouble in Dreams was album eight for Bejar, who has been speeding along and alone in his roadster built of irreverent quips and lyrics on a road headed somewhere (just not too specific of a destination, please) with his forays as a contributor alongside the NPs and others serving, more or less, as roadside curios. The audience should expect Dan, an acoustic guitar and a set list showcasing his vast catalog of Destroyer, New Pornos and Swan Lake songs. Fingers crossed, he busts out the same new material that has numerous message boards all-a-tizzy!
Destroyer plays at the Empty Bottle, Sunday, May 17th at 9:30pm. Tickets are $12.
I've preached my love of local band Raise High the Roof Beam before here at GapersBlock. Their charming brand of music shimmers both live and recorded, and their shows are a swirling mix of funhouse whistles and balloons wrapped around earnest lyrics delivered affectionately by lead singer Thomas Fricilone. Raise High the Roof Beam are not dastardly in the nature of their music, striving to create layered, quirky, and bold anthems instead of playing it safe and blending into a mundane world of indie pop rock.
The band just released their latest EP, The Majestic Beast of The Flatlands, and are getting ready to leave our fair city and head out on the road for a bit. To celebrate a tour and some new tunes, they are having a show/party tonight at Volcan Gallery. You know the type of venue and show. BYOB, donation at the door, an intimate show with a bunch of strangers while discovering some great new local music. Sounds like a great plan for a rainy Friday night. Sure beats staying inside watching movies on Lifetime.
The show is tonight, Friday May 15th, at Volcan Gallery, 1917 W Irving Park. It's all ages, and the music starts at 8:30pm, a suggested donation of $7 at the door (which will get you music from four bands) and the event is BYOB. I say bring a bottle of wine, no one will bat an eye if you sip straight from the bottle.
King Khan at the Pitchfork Music Festival, July 2008. (photo by George Aye)
If a friend showed up at your house wearing gold lamé underwear, a cape, and toting a cooler of dry ice, you just might back away slowly and bolt the door. When it happens at a rock show, you know you're in for something special, and you press as close to the front as you can. That's what was in store for the crowds at the Pitchfork Music festival last summer when King Khan & the Shrines took the stage.
Somewhere between Neo-Soul and performance art, this lovechild of James Brown and Sun Ra truly is a rock n' roll showman. King Khan struts, he preens, he screams, he sings! He also seems to enjoy making the rounds in Chicago, as he's been back a few times in the past year, always stopping in at the Bottom Lounge (where he'll perform Friday night). The large music space accommodates King Khan and the Shrines' flamboyant, exuberant performance style (complete with elaborate costumes and a disco cheerleader), while keeping a show feeling intimate. The group's sound is somewhere between a balls out soul scream (think Brown's "I Feel Good") and a sweaty, summer rooftop dance party. I doubt there will be anyone who will walk away from Friday's show saying that King Khan didn't bring it. Pick up a copy of their album What Is?! for a good listen, or check the tracks below for a taste.
The Kills brought their brand of sultry, gritty, and exuberant rock 'n' roll this past weekend to a sold out crowd at the Metro. Sharing the bill with them on their tour is the UK gothic glam punk outfit The Horrors.
Photos by Steve Gasikowski
[More, including more photos by Steve Gasikowski after the jump.]
Pick up your average, non-comprehensive "names for babies" book, and it's unlikely you'll come upon one of the more sinister-sounding names available to you -- "Matchitehew." It's an Algonquin name meaning "He has an evil heart." Hell of a way to bring a new child into the world, eh?
The name does, it seems, evoke just the right tone as the name of an upcoming two-day festival in Chicago. Matchitehew Assembly, taking place on June 5 and 6 at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, wears its evil heart on its sleeve by offering 21 bands and performers, joined by a shared love of funereal doom. Projects from the genres of black metal, drone, power electronics, and harsh noise will blanket the city just as heat and sunlight begin to attempt their timid return.
Tickets are $25 per day, $40 for both day, all ages. All info, including times and directions, can be found at the festival's website.
Come hell or health problems, Mike Watt doggedly adheres to his age-old ethos of "jamming econo" and working the "thud" end of things.
Arguably the punk movement's most technically adept and hardest-rocking bassist, Watt first came to prominence in the 1980s with his work in the Minutemen and fIREHOSE. And in the intervening years he's managed to stay indefatigably busy and prolific. Recently, he served as the bass player for the resurrected line-up of the Stooges, and he's also continued to record and tour with a dizzying number of bands and projects.
One such current project is the ensemble Unknown Instructors, whose fourth album, Funland, drops via the Chicago-based Smog Veil label this month. The group marks an all-star reunion of alumni from the SST stable of yore. In addition to Watt, Unknown Instructors also includes former Minutemen drummer George Hurley, guitarist Joe Biaza from Saccharine Trust and Universal Congress Of, with Joe Carducci -- former SST maestro and author of the aesthetic tome Rock and the Pop Narcotic -- handling the product boards. Vocal duties go to Watt and Toledo-born poet Dan McGuire, with contributions from Pere Ubu frontman David Thomas and former Black Flag sleeve artist (and current art-world big cheese) Raymond Pettibon.
The cavernous Bottom Lounge is a daunting place to fill on a Thursday night, but a small crew manned the upstairs bar, a decent gang resided in the main bar, and a downright impressive (if not quite capacity) swell of folks filled the back room for a three-bill musical spectacle. Starting things off were Anticon's Serengeti & Polyphonic, the latter playing mild-mannered beats under the incomprehensible rhymes of the former. Everyone has off nights, and some tastes are more acquired than others, but the audience was about as fully involved in their own conversations and drinks as they could be without facing completely away from the stage. Several points found lyrics giving way to a stuttered f-bomb in lieu of a rhyme, and when they did come, it was with treats like "a stolen chandelier/barfing from the womb".
After a quick recuperation, Maps and Atlases took the stage. The three string-players were lined across wearing Hoodie, vest, flannel - a front line hipster triumverate. But there was no posing here. Singer Dave Davison has the bent yelp and polite plead of a Van Morrison and a Cat Stevens in his singing, and plays a mean guitar to boot. Erin Elders joins him for some fancy fretwork - if you've never seen finger-tapping outside of metal videos or your drunk friend at a party, rest assured it can be a powerful weapon when used in pop melodies. Shiraz Dada kept the pace on bass, and Chris Hainey broke out just the right amounts of cowbell, xylophone, and wood block to create a refreshingly new but sugar-y sweet simple pop that would probably make Vampire Weekend punch the windows out of their parent's Bentleys. After rousing versions of "Every Place Is A House" and "Ted Zancha" the band was in full control of the audience, and after a few more songs, left to a big burst of applause.
The foursome of Deerhoof, now a year and change into their current line-up, took the stage softly and carried a big stick. Vamping through a short opener, the band then hit the jangly first notes of "Chandelier Spotlight" with Satomi greeting everyone appropriately for the windowless venue - "welcome to the underworld..." A strange group of bros in the front kept shouting in unison for "wolf head" (?) during the song breaks. Satomi coolly asked are you from "wis-con-sin? Wis-con-sin! Wis-con-sin!" to much approval from the gents and the audience in general. Having saved the day, she returned to her far corner of the stage. Although almost obscured from view, she kept her presence known with her usual fantastic vocals and the occasional flying kick.
Always an eclectic performer who loves to bring his music right into the crowd, Dan Deacon didn't disappoint last night at his show at the Metro. See more photos after the jump.
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of the Dex Romweber Duo's new album, Ruins of Berlin. The album was put out by Chicago's own Bloodshot Records, and it's a great record. Listening to it as often as I have been lately, honestly, I can't imagine a better, more energetic show that I'd like to see. Thankfully, Dex will be in Chicago tomorrow night.
Dex and his sister, Sara will be rocking out the Double Door Wednesday night, May 6th. They won't be alone, either. Also on the bill are the Blackbelts and the always entertaining (and fellow Bloodshot recording artists) Detroit Cobras. If you want in, we've got you covered. We have not one, not two, but three pairs of tickets, and we'd really like to give them to you. Here's what you have to do: Just email us at contests@gapersblock.comwith the subject line "Dex Duo" and you and a friend get to go for free! (21+) The first three get 'em, so email away! The show starts at 9pm, at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Update: We have our winners! Congrats to Matthew, Erin, and Kurt!
Over the years, the Hideout has not only played a vital role in fostering the local music scene, but it's also often linked up with various organizations that strive to improve the social and cultural quality of life in the city of Chicago. This weekend, they bring these two traditions together yet again as they host a three-way benefit event, and a superb lineup of Chicago acts have signed on to take part.
Kicking off at 4 PM and continuing throughout the evening, the benefit features a rich and diverse billing of Chicago artists. The roster includes a double dose of homegrown avant-folk from Spires That In The Sunset Rise and Pillars & Tongues, some Puerto Rican styled bomba y plenta from the percussion & dance ensemble Afri Caribe, as well as a set of spaced-out latin psychedelic pop from local favorites Allá. The band Roommate will also be putting in an appearance, and headlining for the evening is Baby Alright -- the funk/soul covers project whose lineup includes Dan Bitney of Tortoise and poet/former D-Settlement frontman Marvin Tate. This being a Saturday night, the Hideout's Dance Party follows, with DJ Céline.
See the full schedule for the event below, after the jump.
Ah, Grand Rapids: native hometown of former President Gerald Ford and the nation's Furniture Capital (of office furniture manufacturing). Mustard Plug proudly claims Grand Rapids as their base of operations, where they've held court over the local ska scene since 1991. That's a whole lotta years of skankin' to offbeats, folks.
The boys are obviously good at the game by now, so do yourself a favor and head to the Beat Kitchen on Friday, May 1 to check them out as they headline with The Pinstripes and Scissors. The show kicks off at 9:30 p.m. and will set you back $12. You can find online tickets here.
As it happens, the Lumpen-organized Version>09 is winding down for the closing night of its eighth annual arts and media activities this Saturday with the Chicago Art Parade and this year's episode of the Journey To The End Of The Night street-game event. As it happens, all of this coincides the latest cross-country tour from the Olympia-based K Records stable rolling into town, so it looks as if the two parties decided to merge paths for an evening of music at the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Headlining for the occasion is Chain And The Gang, which effectively makes for the latest musical incarnation of Ian Svenonius -- previously the frontman for Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and author of the 2006 subcultural polemicist screed The Psychic Soviet. Also on the bill in a supporting role are the Hive Dwellers. Both bands, reputedly, are more or less the same groups of musicians; an ensemble of various members of bands from the K Records network -- except that as C&G they back Mr. Svenonius and as the Hive Dwellers they accompany K Records founder and former Beat Happening/Dub Narcotic Sound System impresario Calvin Johnson. And if that billing wasn't confusing and incestuous enough, Calvin Johnson is slated to get the evening's show rolling with a set of solo material.
The first (and only) time I saw Mastodon was at the Pitchfork Music Fest in 2007. I knew who they were and I'd heard a couple of songs, but I was completely unprepared for the amount of rock that they unleashed. It was one of the highlights of my weekend, way better than Yoko Ono's light show that night. They're heavy metal the way it should be; loud and fast.
If you haven't heard of them yet, you should pick up their newest album, Crack the Skye (you can listen to it here, too). If you have heard of them, then you're probably one of the people that can't get in to their sold-out show this Thursday night (4/30) at the Metro. Lucky for you, we can help. Thanks to the tour's sponsors, ShockHound.com, we have two pairs of tickets to give away. E-mail us at contests@gapersblock.comwith the subject line "Mastodon" to enter. We'll pick two lucky winners on Tuesday morning! It's as simple as that. I assure you, you want to see this show. If you can't make it to the show in Chicago, perhaps you can find another date on their schedule that suits you. Good luck! Update! We have our winners! Congrats to Casey and Ryan!
Superdrag returns to Chicago this weekend (Saturday April 25th) to perform at The Metro with longtime Chicago veteran Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra and Van Ghosts. This show is in support of their new album Industry Giants, and follows on the heels of the recording of their Daytrotter session. In sound, this is very much the Superdrag you may remember from the late nineties, but lyrically frontman John Davis is taking the band in new direction. John had a life changing experience in 2001 that eventually sparked the bands four year hiatus and his new found faith is tastefully splattered though out this album. Don't get me wrong, Superdrag is not a Christian band, but there is a positive spirituality that sets a clear and refreshing tone.
Really Quick Contest! We have a pair of tickets to give away courtesy of Superdrag for the first person to email us at: contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject line "Super!". (FYI: This show is 18 and over.) Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Ryan.
Recently, I was able to ask John a few questions about the direction of band and the new album.
What's better than a day full of Chicago's own power pop rockers OK Go? There's certainly no shortage of opportunities to see them today. This afternoon, they're handing out burritos to the homeless along with volunteers from Inspiration Corporation. If you'd like to help out, head over to OKGo.net for more information (you'll have to be able to meet up at noon and bring your own burritos). The band will even take you out to lunch before you hit the streets.
Not able to make it out at noon? No worries! OK Go will be doing an in-store performance at the Michigan Avenue Apple Store at 4 pm. I'm a big fan of in-store performances at Apple because they have platform seating so you'll have a good sight-line no matter how far back you are. Unfortunately, I'll still be stuck at the office at 4 pm. If you're caught in the same situation, do not fret! The band will be performing again tonight at the Double Door, as part of the venue's 15 Year Anniversary series. If you're an OK Go fan, you pretty much have no excuse to not see them today.
The Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tonight's show is 21+ and starts at 9 pm. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. U.S. Royalty opens.
You wanna talk geek cred? MC Chris has it in spades: For years, he served as a writer and voice talent for Cartoon Network, working on The Brak Show, Sea Lab 2021, and notably, on Aqua Teen Hunger Force as MC Pee Pants, the most famous giant spider rapper to wear a shower cap.
Oh yeah, and he raps. In 2001, Chris captured geek hearts far and wide with underground hits including "The Tussin" and "Fett's Vette" (with the excellent hook "My backpack's got jets/ I'm Boba the Fett/ I bounty hunt for Jabba the Hut/ To finance my 'Vette." Many albums later, MC Chris is back on track with his latest CDs, 2008's MC Chris is Dead and 2009's Part Six Part One.
Want to spend an evening rhapsodizing about action figures? Of course you do. Check out the MC Chris show on Friday, April 24 at the Beat Kitchen. He'll be performing with Jacksonville, FL, punkers Whole Wheat Bread. The show kicks off at 7 p.m. and will set you back $14 at the door.
Really Quick Contest! The first one to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject "Pee Pants" gets a pair of tickets to the show on Friday night! Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Eric!
That whistling band from Sweden. That's how most would probably describe the band Peter Bjorn and John, that exploded on the US music scene two summers ago with the catchy song "Young Folks." The rest of Writers Block followed along this trend with more whistling and more pop songs, but also some darker experimental tracks, hinting of what was to come from this group. Last year the group put together a mostly instrumental album (with some spoken word) called Seaside Rock that varied in genre from caribbean jam to, well, seaside rock. Their latest album, Living Thing, is the trio at it's finest thus far--serious, percussion heavy, minimalist indie rock (with a couple paul simon-esque tracks thrown in for good measure...).
While the trio has been busy together, they also have solo projects on the burner as well. Peter Moren released a solo album last year (on Chicago's own Touch and Go label) venturing more into the singer-songwriter arena, while Bjorn Yttling has been busy producing other artists such as fellow Sweed breakout Lykke Li.
Opening for Peter Bjorn and John at Metro this Thursday, April 23, is the charming Chairlift, whose debut album, Does You Inspire You was released just this week. Their song "Bruises" is yet another song you probably heard in an iPod commercial. Both bands were among the lineup announced this week playing Lollapalooza, but if you want to catch either of them in a smaller venue than Grant Park this year (at least in the city of Chicago), this will likely be your last chance to do so. Tickets are still available for tomorrow night's show, but act fast, because getting all the way to the venue just to find out that it sold out that day, well, it really sucks. The show starts at 9pm. Tickets are $20. 3730 N. Clark St. 18 & up.
The word amicability can be defined as having a disposition characterized by warmth and friendliness (wordreference.com), and on their latest album, aptly titled Amicability, A Light Sleeper oozes warmth in every notes. A few years back a band called The Knife released an album called "Silent Shout", and that phrase has always left a certain image in my mind. It's an image of wanting to scream, but not having an outlet, not fully releasing it. Amicability is very much a gentle and refined scream, or perhaps it is that welling up just before the scream. The eight tracks build and wind through layer of jazz, ambience, and chopped up vocals while the listener drifts along. Moments are built and then drained as this trio melts all snow and allows the spring to full capture the spotlight. It's that creeping warmth, that mounting scream, that release from a tortuous winter and a bursts of truly inventive musical exploration.
This is the first musical release from the new nonprofit group Another New Calligraphy. This is a project that helps musicians and writers establish and maintain an effective visual and tactile presence in an ever-increasingly virtual world, all while building an artistic community with a powerful, unifying identity. Their hope is that by making albums or manuscript visually recognizable, they can help art stand out in the American media overload. Operating outside the realm of traditional record labels and publishing houses allows them to work under a new model based on the simple acts of creating and sharing. It is an ambitious mission, but they have chosen an exceptional album to launch the project.
The Streeters, finally coming back out from their recording binge and much needed winter hibernation, are playing Quenchers this Wednesday April 22nd. I interviewed Chris Stelloh and Dan Stone of back in December a few days before they played at Subterranean, opening for Rulet. They invited me by their apartment with apologies for the lack of whiskey, and offered up some stove brewed coffee instead. It was a cold and miserable night, almost as nasty as this hail and snow on the forecast these next two days.
I had no idea really what to expect from an interview with The Streeters. Stelloh I've known for a good while from the neighborhood. Most folks would probably pick him out of the crowd, though maybe without knowing where they'd seen him before. That's how it is sometimes when you run into the bartenders who work at Estelle's. Dan on the other hand I hadn't met. Getting the two of them in one room though... I should have brought along an interpreter.
Stelloh is one for rapid-fire conversation. Talking to him is like to leave the listener a bit breathless to compensate. The gamut of topics he's likely to touch upon will also leave a person reeling a bit. Add Dan into the mix though and suddenly it was another language being spoken in front of me. The layers of reference left me with the feeling I'd just barely missed the punchline of some hilarious joke. Bits of "Venture Brothers," Mitch Hedberg and Trading Places seeped in between what must have been just old shared hijinks.
Our conversation started with Dan providing a soundtrack on a particularly beat-up acoustic guitar. Stelloh requested that he play some zombie songs.
Dan: "I was under the assumption that everything was a zombie song."
Stelloh [to me]: "Everything has to be played on an acoustic guitar. So you can still play after the zombie apocalypse."
Dan: "I hate acoustic guitars. Except this one."
No stranger to the pioneering fringe of experimental music, Kieran Hebden was a key member of the forefronting U.K post-rock trio Fridge back in the early 1990s before he delved into electronic music under the name of Four Tet just over a decade ago.
In the past few years have, Hebden's stayed unusually active and prolific. He not only brought Fridge out of hibernation for a reunion album and series of concerts, but also releasing collaborative albums with avant-jazz drummer Steve Reid, putting in a guest appearance on Vashti Bunyan's 2006 LP Lookaftering, as well as continuing work under both his own name and under his Adem alias. Somewhere amidst it all he found time to check in under his Four Tet guise with last years last year's Ringer EP. While it largely leaned toward bleeps-and-beeps mesmerism, the EP still hinted as Hebden's usual modus -- folktronic tapestries of electronic and organic instrumentation laced with samples, beats and loops that as equally evoke the rich sweep of pastoral expanses as the recesses of inner space or the dancefloor.
Pontiak are the trio of brothers Van, Jennings, and Lain Carney, who -- after having scattered across the map to pursue various musical careers -- came together in Baltimore a few years ago to form their own band. From there the brothers relocated to a house in the less populated Blue Ridge environs of Virginia, set up their own rehearsal and recording space, and got to work.
For the most part, the brothers' third album Maker is as weighty and daunting as its title implies. The story has it that guitarist Van blew out two amps (Mogwai style) during the album's recording sessions, which wouldn't be surprising given the sound of the thing. At first listen, much of Maker wafts along on heavy boulder-rolling buzzriffs and sludgey rhythms -- much of it amounting to a tub of stoned kozmic blues so thick you could stand a rowboat oar in it.
Kori Gardner of Mates of State (photo by Jeff Trost for Transmission).
It's always a bit of a heart-swell to watch Mates of State perform together. Whether it's at festival stages, touring with This American Life at the Chicago Theatre, or on the indie stage at the Metro, they're always cutting sweet smiles at each other throughout the set. Kori Gardner (keyboard/vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums/vocals) are the masterfully in-tune married duo that are Mates of State. I've seen them several times live, and each time you just can't help come out of their set happy. A Metro all-ages show that ended on the early side of last Saturday night, the crowd that came out to see SUNBEARS!, Black Kids, and the Mates were certainly in the mood for dancing and good times and definitely left giddy.
Jason Hammel of Mates of State (photo by Jeff Trost for Transmission).
Jeremy Barnes of Hawk and a Handsaw (photo by Kirstie Shanley)
10:00 p.m. on a Thursday is a little late for a school night, but Jeremy Barnes of A Hawk And A Hacksaw was not having it from the Hideout audience. "You know, we were in Ann Arbor last night, and I hate to say it, but they were a little more active than you. I'd like to see some more movement," he requested politely. While the spots in the audience did give him a few pockets of shimmies and twirls, most of the evening was marked by a rapt (or at least least sleepily respectful) audience.
With a bevy of instruments laid out in the center of the room, the mildly unexpected Hats took the audience through some jazz improvisations — wild trumpet outbursts, saxophone wails, and a xylophonist armed with four mallets of fury. The band had breakdowns showing off each of the members that went off wildly before returning lock-step to each other — the highlight being the xylophonist's literal deconstruction of his instrument, pulling the bars out for a clattering crescendo.
Branded is a new series of events brought to you by Time Out Chicago and the people behind Revolution No. 9 New Years Eve with Justice. They aim to fuse the worlds of art, fashion, rock, hip hop, and electronic culture, and are kicking off the series with a show this Saturday night at the Congress Theater with a big line-up of some of the electronic world's finest. Graphic artist Dan Stiles will be creating limited edition posters, t-shirts, and skate decks for the show.
Headlining the concert is Grammy-nominated Toronto electro DJ Deadmau5 (aka Joel Zimmerman). Expect an insane light show and a giant costume mouse head. Aside from taking the electronic world by storm, he's recently released a new iPhone application that allows users to remix their favorite Deadmau5 songs directly from their phone. Also on the bill are international acts Crookers, Late of the Pier and The Whip. Local artists Zebo, Willy Joy, Loyal Divide, and Noise Floor Crew will be sharing the bill.
Branded takes place Sunday night at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are $21 and available to purchase online here, or at Gramaphone Records, 2843 N. Clark St, Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave, or the Congress box office. The show is 17+ and lasts from 8 pm to 3am. Ticket purchase includes a one-year subscription to Time Out Chicago.
Really Quick Contest! We're giving away 2 pairs of tickets to the show, courtesy of the good folks with Loyal Divide. Just be the first 2 to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject "Branded!" and you'll be the winners! [Update!] We have our winners! Congrats to Michelle and Matthew!
Dancing, chant-along choruses, girls shaking maracas, audience invasions by the performers -- and maybe even some dancing, singing, and maracas-shaking from atop the bar. All of that, plus a surreal puppet show to wrap things up. So it goes on an average night with Mr. Quintron and Miss Pussycat.
After nearly a decade of releasing records and building a small cult audience, the New Orleans-based Quintron rubbed shoulders with a broader audience in 2005 when his Swamp Tech LP was picked up for distro by Kid606's Tigerbeat6 label. Largely operating as a one-man band, Quintron's sound -- - roughly two parts psychobilly to one part juke-joint organ music -- has remained fairly consistent throughout the years. But 2008's Too Thirsty 4 Love LP found him expanding on his usual style and bringing some new moves to the floor.
When you enter a club that has a warning posted "there will be excessive strobe lights used in tonights show," you can pretty much bet you're going to have a good time. Such was the case Friday night, when electro-pop heavyweights The Faint and Ladytron kicked off their two nights of co-headlining shows at the Metro.
[More, including more photos by Kirstie Shanley after the jump.]
Every time I see pop duo The Ting Tings (Katie White and Jules De Martino), all I can think is that Katie is basically what every little girl wanted to be when they "grew up" after watching Jem and the Holograms. She bounces all over the stage with her fluffy blonde hair, Technicolor outfits (clothes which she designs herself) and sugary voice chanting cheerleader-style or serenading a sweet little melody.
Remember Chicago post-rock band Volta Do Mar? Like many bands, they were put out to pasture or sent to the farm to run free for the rest of eternity (whichever scenario you'd like to believe). Yet thankfully out of the ashes rose a new band. Oso brings to the table the creative and talented sounds that were captured in Volta Do Mar, yet add in a rich Eastern European gypsy flair to the mix. With exceptional musicianship and impressive delivery, they offer up music that is fresh and eclectic in its sound, creating a mix of genres and styles that meld perfectly.
The band will be making the trek back to Chicago to play tomorrow night at Ronny's up in Logan Square at 9pm. It's the last show before Oso heads over to Europe to tour, so make sure to stop by and send them off with a proper farewell. The show is 21+ and is only $6. Make sure you spend your Friday night getting schooled in the art of world infused rock music courtesy of Oso.
MySpace Secret Shows have been bringing big names to small venues since 2006 (think Lily Allen, The Decemberists, Neko Case, Depeche Mode, etc.) They brought us Moby at Smartbar back in 2008 and City and Colour to the Beat Kitchen earlier this year. Attendees to each concert also receive a limited edition poster. Who doesn't love getting stuff for free?
Tonight they'll be bringing Ontario's MSTRKRFT to Co-Prosperity Sphere down in Bridgeport. I caught this electro duo back in October at Double Door, complete with a seizure-inducing light show and a packed house of sweaty dancing kids. My kind of night. The show is going down at 8 pm tonight, but get there early as it will probably fill up fast. It's free and all ages, so what are you waiting for?
Co-Prosperity Sphere is located at 3219 S. Morgan St (Orange Line to Halsted or Red Line to Sox/35th). Bird Peterson opens.
Minneapolis-based Cloud Cult is the type of band that makes you want to be a better person. Eschewing offers from major labels, singer Craig Minowa created Earthology Records, built with recycled materials and run on geothermal energy. They use 100% post-consumer recycled or reused materials for all of their merchandise. The band accepts donations of old CD jewel cases, which they then clean and use to package their new albums, and the scraps created from manufacturing the CDs themselves are recycled into milk cartons. They even plant ten trees for every 1,000 albums sold. How cool is that?
It's hard not to fall in love with these guys at first listen. Their latest album, Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes), is a celebration of life and love, without being preachy about their ideals. The songs envelop you with a big indie collective-type sound you'll find with artists like The Arcade Fire or Polyphonic Spree, only with about half the amount of people actually playing instruments. They've got two visual artists in the band, who create paintings during each show which are then auctioned off at the end of the night. I don't think they could get any more charming.
Max Tundra clearly does not like to waste ideas. Listening to his music is to hear an olio of popular music history in a compact time frame. Pop songs are buried underneath layer upon layer of electronic beats, leftfield samples, thick guitar hooks, lounge-inspired piano... you get the idea. This is the musicification of "everything but the kitchen sink." (And I'm not sure what the kitchen sink would be in this case.)
Armed with an Amiga 500, some sequencing software, and a range of live instruments, Max Tundra has thrived in this decade as a consummate musical hunter/gatherer. Some Best Friend You Turned Out to Be and the critically-lauded Mastered By Guy at the Exchange showcase his talent for schizophrenic electronic composition. But it's his latest album Parallax Error Beheads You that shines brightest with time. As an immediately bewildering aural experience, it is admittedly not a record for every time, every place or every ear. But when the atmosphere's right (and it often is), the listener is roped into the music similar to how Since I Left You makes a person listen keenly, even during the hundredth time it's on. Though, every play doesn't need to be heard with undivided attention to be enjoyable. When it's all boiled down, it's still just pop music.
On stage, Max Tundra is a one-man show surrounded by gear. And even though he's reconstructing the precision found on his albums, he still finds the space to drop in surprises here and there. On this tour, he's been covering the KLF's "What Time is Love?" and another classic, but from a very different genre. He opens for Junior Boys at Metro on Thursday at 9PM. The show is 18+ and tickets are $15. (Junior Boys aren't too bad either, by the way.)
The month of April is going to be a busy one for the folks at the soul-slinging Chicago-based Numero Group.
Firstly: this Saturday evening at the Park West Theater, the label presents its first-ever live event, The Eccentric Soul Revue. The evening's billing features sets by top-flight R'n'B veterans Syl Johnson, The Notations, and Nate Evans; as well as reunion performances by Renaldo Domino, The Kaldirons, and the Final Solution. Chicago's own deep groove merchants The Uptown Sound will also be on hand to provide backup throughout. It's an all-ages show, tickets are $22, and it gets underway at 7:30 PM Saturday.
The label's also putting the finishing on the next edition in their Eccentric Soul series of archival anthologies for a scheduled release date in late May. Entitled Smart's Palace, the volume will chronicle the story of the Smart family, who were prime movers and organizers on the R'n'B scene in Witchita, Kansas in the 1960s and early '70s. This atop their deluxe audio & DVD package Local Customs: Downriver Revival, which officially releases this week.
Bob Mould is modern rock legend among few others. Leading Hüsker Dü in the '80s, Sugar in the '90s as well as putting out nine solo albums since 1989, few can compete with Mould's prolific catalog of work. Last night's show at The Old Town School of Folk Music was a musical tour in his extensive career and life.
I was sitting next to one of Bob's friends from D.C. Who kept getting text messages from Mould backstage saying 7:30 sharp! Mould had to get up early the next day for another show so I expected the set to be short and rushed. (The show didn't actually start until 7:50pm.) Keeping these expectations, the set started out fast and one song blended into another as Mould played but barely addressed the crowd.
Mould was accompanied by a prepubescent bass and guitar player, who was adorable in his own right, but failed to match the energy Bob brought to the house. Mould's voice soured and growled in Songs like "Hoover Damn" and "See a Little Light" while the tween bopped along singing backup and matching hooks. There were some joyous moments in his accompaniment when the duo allowed distortion into the set and for a second seemed to have a great dynamic and the ability to play off each other, but they always seemed to lose their chemistry. The show would have held up better if Mould had played alone.
The Empty Bottle booked the Mountain Goats and John Vanderslice to perform at Epiphany on April 1 -- and promptly sold the show out, leaving a whole lot of sad fans out in the cold. If you were one of them, here's some news to cheer you up: The show has been moved to the much bigger Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., which means more tickets are now available, still at the low $16 ticket price.
Even better, we've got two pairs of tickets to give away! All you have to do is email contests@gapersblock.com with your full name and the subject line "Cubs in Five" by Sunday at 9pm. We'll choose two lucky winners at random from the submissions. Good luck!
UPDATE: We've got our winners! Congatulations to Matthew and Casey!
If you're not able to make it out to Margot & the Nuclear So and So's headlining gig at the Metro next Wednesday, you are in luck! Tonight, Richard Edwards and select other members of the band will be doing an intimate acoustic performance at Inconvenience Art Space. Whispertown 2000, who you may remember opening for such acts as Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, and The Elected, will also be performing. (A little bit of trivia: The Morgan sung about in Rilo Kiley's "The Absence of God" and "Papillon" is none other than Morgan Nagler, lead singer of Whispertown 2000 and best friend of Jenny Lewis.) Jake Bellows of Neva Dinova will be opening the night.
Catch all three acts tonight for free at Inconvenience Art Space, 3036 N. Lincoln Ave. The show is all ages and free, though donations to the touring band are welcome. Make haste! It all starts at 7 pm tonight.
Photo taken from the Margot & the Nuclear So and So's MySpace.
Blue Note Records. To the general public, that name means jazz. Along with Impulse Records ("The House that Trane Built") and some others, their catalog and distinctive style in the jazz heyday from the 40s to 60s has persevered to the present day.
This year, they celebrate their 70th anniversary as a label with a tour and retrospective. Friday night, at Symphony Center, the Blue Note 7, a collection of artists, ran through a number of representative pieces that have been recorded in Blue Note's history.
Most anyone can tell you something about Miles or Trane, who both recorded for Blue Note at some point in their careers, but the legacy of Blue Note lies in the strong compositional minds who called the label home. Minds like Wayne Shorter and Horace Silver exemplified not only mastery of their instruments, but new ways to bring out new sounds via different arrangements, and still do so to this day.
This was not a night for shining a spotlight on Blue Note's A-listers. This was a night for pieces representative of the efforts of the label to stay crent and advance the jazz form. Grant Green's "Idle Moments" was the lone "slower" selection; the rest of the compositions were faster, more involved, and more bop-oriented. Lee Morgan's "Party Time" rocked and rolled. The uptempo work of vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, drummer and leader Art Blakey, and eccentric pianist and composerThelonious Monk rounded out a pretty good two hour retrospective and sample of the work of the venerable jazz label whom, in times like these, are wondering what they're going to do next.
Last summer, after major delays on their flight from Australia, Cut Copy arrived late for their Sunday night headlining spot at Pitchfork Music Festival. Once they finally got to Union Park, they quickly unpacked their gear and were able to play for 20 minutes before the City's outdoor silence ordinance went into effect. And what a 20 minutes it was. Dancing, fist pumping, and "lights & music"--they packed the amount of energy into that mini-set that you would expect from a full length show. It left me wondering, though, whether the group could match that vivacity for an entire show, minus the dramatic circumstances. The answer was yes. Last September they played the Metro and killed it. Laser lights of every color of the fluorescent rainbow hit the crowd as they played track after track of 80's influenced electropop.
Cut Copy's newest album, In Ghost Colours, received much praise and landed on many of '08's Best Albums lists. Tonight they return to Chicago, this time gracing the stage at The Vic, but alas, this show is sold out (like most of the rest of the dates on their tour). Also playing tonight are the twee-fueled duo Matt & Kim. The Vic Theater is located at 3145 N. Sheffield. The show starts at 7:30pm. 18 & up.
For his first album in five years, Tricky's return to the city of Chicago would be worth the trek out just to see what has fermented in that smoky brain of his in half a decade. But if you've already heard Knowle West Boy and have made up your mind for better or worse, nostalgia for old favorites would probably draw just as many out of their '90s slumber and into a church on Friday the 13th. As it stands, a last-second venue change nearly lost the crowd (Epiphany had some plumbing issues that moved the show to Logan Square just hours before showtime). But the fans followed, not about to let a pipe or two stop them from five or more years of waiting for one of the '90s most inventive minds. While he's
now come and gone, the internet has a few snippets here and there — a video (barely) showing him knocking into his classic cover of Public Enemy's "Black Steel", a note telling of his friendly farewells to the audience.
Our own Kirstie Shanley has some photos of the event for Gapers Block: Transmission.
When asked about his recommendations for dinner music in a recent GQ profile, high-profile Chicago restaurateur Donnie Madia responded, "Tindersticks. Any of their records...can work well in any dining room." Funny how tastes evolve over time. Especially seeing how when Tindersticks first appeared on the indie music scene in the early-mid 1990s, the common opinion was that their tunes were ideal fodder for Serenade Hour In The Lovesick Ward of a methadone clinic. But that was then.
Over the course of six albums, the U.K.-based band earned a cultish fan base before ceasing activity in 2003. After a five-year hiatus from recording and touring, they returned to the spotlight this past April with the release of a new album, The Hungry Saw. Even though the band now sports a revised line-up, core members David Boulter, Nail Fraser, and frontman Stuart A. Staples are still at the helm. And from the sound of the recent album, nothing much has changed with the band's music. There's the easy tempo blue-eyed soul that drives "Yesterday's Tomorrows" home, the lounge-ish Latin shuffle of "E-Type," and -- on the punchier side of things -- bursts of yakkety rockabilly guitar punctuating the otherwise sparse "Mother Dear." In the end, The Hungry Saw features a dozen new achingly delicate arrangements, all of them woven together with strains of piano, vibes, flutes, brass, and subtle string accompaniment.
Two recent topics of posting in Transmission collide this weekend at the Double Door for the after party of the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival. We first mentioned the festival last week in a spotlight feature piece of some of the screenings to check out. We also recently reviewed the stellar new album from Bloodshot Records own Dex Romweber Duo. You're in luck this Saturday as Romweber and a slew of talented acts take the stage to celebrate the inaugural CIMM festival.
One of the bands to make sure you check out on the bill is fellow Carolinians (the homeland of Dex Romweber Duo) The Old Ceremony. Their new album, Walk On Thin Air, has a sultry soulful vibe yet still rocks the house with their jangly piano driven southern tinged rock 'n' roll. The bands played with the likes of CAKE, Chuck Berry, and The Avett Brothers, so combine those sounds and you've got a good idea of what The Old Ceremony sounds like. Which if you weren't paying attention, they sound like a good time. Expect a rollicking good night from start to finish Saturday.
The CIMMF after party is Saturday night at Double Door, located at the intersection of Milwaukee, Damen, and North. The show starts at 9pm, and is $12 or $9 if you show your CIMMF badge (even more the reason to go check out a screening our two).
U2 have been playing a series of surprise concerts around the globe before they embark on their official tour (dates to be announced March 9th) in support of their new album, No Line on the Horizon. They'll be stopping by Chicago next Tuesday, March 10th at an undisclosed venue for a secret show (though I'm fairly certain it won't stay a 'secret' for long). Ms. Shirley Manson is rumored to be hosting the event. A quick Google search tells me the Metro and Vic are both free March 10th, although I'm not sure Bono's ego would fit into venues that tiny. The Riv or Aragon seem like more viable options, and both venues are free that night as well.
Details are still a bit sketchy, though it looks like both 101.9 The Mix and 93 XRT are going to be giving away tickets this week. Good luck U2 fans! I'm sure it will be an unforgettable night to anyone who can finagle a way inside.
Edit: While it's elusively being billed as an "intimate event", some sources are saying this will be a concert while others claim U2 will be DJing only. Either way, U2 fans are flipping their collective wig.
The city of Atlanta, GA has offered up its share of notable indie rock artists in recent years, and 2008 saw the emergence of a new addition to that lineage -- the trio All the Saints. The release of the band's debut Fire on Corridor X via the Killer Pimp label caught the attention of the folks at Touch & Go, who quickly re-issued the album to wider distro back in September. The album would later turn up on several bloggers' lists as one of the most overlooked releases of 2008, and prompted a number of reviewers to reach for such descriptives as "psychedelia" and "Southern shoegaze." While of few of the tunes on ...Corridor X sprawl in a mood of come-down languidity, the trio's penchant for heavy, clangoring riffs and propulsive drum-fills points in the direction of their flatland Alabama roots. And when it comes to melodic hooks, they're a lot closer to Dead Confederate than, say, Deerhunter -- if the former red-dirt denizens ditched the quasi power-ballad fare and had been raised on a steady diet of Hüsker Dü.
The best way to solve a dreary Chicago day is to end the evening with a decent drink and some good music. Well thank the lucky stars that for a measly $5 donation (recession friendly as well) you can get just that when Chicago outfit Raise High the Roof Beam play Quenchers this evening.
We first mentioned Raise High the Roof Beam when they played the last free Monday show over at the Empty Bottle in December. Since then the band has been busy working on music and playing to the masses with their delectable brand of indie pop-rock.
Come drown your rainy weather blues tonight (I'll be there with my umbrella and a beer), and check out a local act worth taking notice. The show starts at 9:00 pm and Quenchers is located at 2401 N. Western (the intersection of Western and Fullerton).
Judging from their activity, it seems These Are Powers are a band who don't sit still for long. Only a few months after the release of their EP Taro Tarot, the trio arrived in Chicago for their latest Windy City summering stint and began trotting out a batch of new material. Much of what they debuted during their summer gigs has now turned up on a new release, All Aboard Future, which dropped via the Dead Oceans label earlier this month.
Chicago's own Company of Thieves have been creating a buzz on the national level the past few months, following their single "Oscar Wilde" being the featured discovery on iTunes and a killer performance on Last Call with Carson Daly last month. Today the band is re-releasing their debut album, Ordinary Riches, with new artwork and bonus tracks on Wind-Up Records. They just released their debut music video for "Oscar Wilde" via iTunes and will also be hosting a live chat today at 2 pm via their MySpace. As one of the most talented group of artists coming out of our fair city right now, I'm expecting Company of Thieves to be the band to watch in 2009.
I had the pleasure of catching them at the Double Door on Thursday night, opening for Thriving Ivory. When CoT took the stage, my friend Doug turned to me and said, "Some artists make music because they like to. She seems like the type who makes music because she has to." Way to hit the nail on the head, Doug. Singer Genevieve Schatz's passion is infectious, and her powerhouse energy is further heightened with the intensity of guitar player Marc Walloch and drummer Mike Ortiz. The band has a very cool bohemian vibe, with the combination of a classic rock sound and the softness of sweet Regina Spektor-ish vocals. Genevieve is completely mesmerizing during soulful tracks such as "Quiet on the Front" and "Pressure", but the real treat of their live show is their danceable songs "In Passing" and "Oscar Wilde".
Catch their television debut on Last Call with Carson Daly below:
I am of the firm opinion that James Earl Jones narrating anything is cool. Saturday night, a sold out Symphony Center shared that sentiment.
The Lincoln Bicentennial Tribute at Symphony Center featured the backing of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, who alone may not be enough to pull people out to a southern Michigan Avenue address in what seems to be an everlasting winter. The program featured music that old Abe himself liked; marches, symphonies, and lighter fare. But the main draw was undoubtedly James Earl Jones himself.
Making his debut at Symphony Center, he, along with Kevin Gudahl and Gerard McBurney, put the "words" into the program's theme of "A Likeness in Words and Music". Jones read poetry by Walt Whitman and Carl Sanberg, while Gudahl and McBurney read some of his letters and articles of the day that attempted to portray Lincoln as a man with a good sense of humor as well as personable to others. Of particular interest were the recollection of Lincoln's first inauguration ball and a letter he wrote his wife while still an Illinois representative.
The second part of the evening, after intermission, was the Orchestra's rendition of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, for which quite a few people stayed around for. But Jones earned the star of the night as he recounted a series of Lincoln quotes, including the Gettysurg Address. And when he boomed out, that James Earl Jones way, the last few lines - " that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"- that was, without exaggeration - pretty damned awesome.
There will be another engagement on Tuesday, but sources tell me those tickets are long sold out.
EDIT: No, tickets are NOT sold out. Tickets are available in the boxes and in the lower balcony. Get over and buy, forthwith!
I dated this stoner dude in college who was a crappy boyfriend, but he clued me in on a few bands that to this day warm the cockles of my punk-rock heart. One of these bands is the New Bomb Turks, a Columbus, Ohio-based group that released their first full-length, !!Destroy Oh-Boy!! in 1993. At the time, they were loud, fast, snotty, funny, and fun; if their clips are any indication, they still are.
To be honest, I had no idea they were still touring, but lo and behold, the Turks are playing at the Cobra Lounge (235 N. Ashland Ave.) on Saturday, Feb. 21. Opening for them are the Mannequin Men, Distinguished Gentlemen of Leisure, and Teenage Tits. The show kicks off at 9 p.m., and blessed be, it's free.
A shadowy presence stalks the land. He (for it is a he) can be felt in moments of absolute isolation, in the presence of darkness so absolute that one's position in the room, or the world, or one's own mind, cannot be determined. He has made his presence felt in Chicago only two other times, once in 2000 and again in 2003. He brings fear and unease, disturbing sounds and visions, but he also brings liberation from inhibition and new methods for breaking out of old ruts. He is John Duncan.
This Saturday, Duncan returns to Lampo (216 W. Chicago Avenue, 2nd Floor) for a new composition, titled "The Hidden." The piece features "digital audio debris, generated audio noise, field recordings, and shortwave radio static," and follows in the style of his many legendary studio recordings, including the seminal Riot LP (1984, AQM Recordings, reissued 1991 on CD) which uses recordings of military Morse code, computer program transmissions and "atmospheric interferences" to create an aura of dread and illogic, but also gritty, industrial beauty.
Itchin' for a dance party rife with '90s nostalgia? Need more Aaliyah and Busta Bus in your life? Relive the hits at the Whistler tonight with the TTTTotally Dudes dance party, headed by CHIRP's Dr. Drase and DJ Manwich.
The boys will play sets in and around hip-hop and turntablist turns by Serengeti and Meat Number 5. Should be a tasty evening out, folks. Best of all, there's no cover. See you there.
Whistler is located at 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square. Music starts at 9:30pm.
If I remember correctly, Wilco didn't play the Chicago show on the Neil Young tour because they felt that we'd simply seen enough of the band lately. Let's see if I can dig up that quote....ah yes, here's Wilco publicist Deb Bernadini talking to the Sun-Times, "They just felt it was time for a break." It seems that break isn't over yet, either. Wilco announced their Spring 2009 tour and we've been left out in the cold again. Sure, you can head out to Milwaukee or Athens, OH but there won't be any Chicago on this leg. Their site also has a group of festival dates in the summer announced and it's worth mentioning that August 7-9 (the dates of this year's Lollapalooza) are still open.
Ever been to Metal Shaker? Its existence is news to to me, I'll admit it. The bar (3394 N. Milwaukee) bills itself as "A heavy venue on the northwest side of Chicago," and looking at its lineup for these next two months, which are of course the heaviest of all months, I feel it is no hyperbole, friends. Nearly every day in the month of March seems to have an opportunity to see bands with names like If He Dies, He Dies, Embryonic Devourment, and Arbogast, as well as every Sunday's "Blackened Sabbath" nights, where local musicians spin their favorite death and thrash metal.
This Friday (February 20, 9 p.m.), the Metallic Shaking ones will encourage the ever-shifting barriers between black metal and experimental noise crumble just a bit further with a lineup of bands that work the necessary nexus between riff and wail, distortion and dissolution.
Acting as a record release party of sorts, the night's lineup will include the blessedly infernal Locrian, who will have copies of the their first pro-pressed CD release, Drenched Lands, available (co-released by Wisconsin's Small Doses label and At War With False Noise in the UK). I've written about them before on this site, and with the release of each new album, including their great CD-R on Bloodlust!,Rhetoric of Surfaces, the band hones their barbarous approach to drone-played-as-doom-metal to a jagged edge, capable of inflicting wounds that don't close. Soak 'em up, folks, this is the last Locrian show until summer, at least.
Also on board: The similarly-blackened duo Winters in Osaka, recent Ohio transplant David Russell (also head of the A Soundesign Recording label), and new duo Ratatosk (Jason Soliday of Enemy Space, Magic Missile, Coeurl, etc., and Ben Billington of Druid of Huge) will all lock hands and close the circle.
None of the signs I've seen say anything about cost of admission, but it is a bar (21+, yes), so make sure you have $5 in your pocket. If they don't ask for it at the door, buy yourself one of those newfangled beers the kids are drinking these days.
I'm a huge fan of psychedelic music. Mostly I'm a sucker for anything sweet, harmonic and dreamy. So when I heard Future Clouds and Radar, Robert Harrison's new follow up band to Cotton Mather, described as "somewhere between the 13th Floor Elevators and ELO I knew that I would have a good time listening to their 2008 release Peoria. And as I expected I was swept up in a dream like melodic frenzy that was soulful and comforting. With elements of The Flaming Lips, Guided by Voices and Big Star, this is musical comfort food with a trippy edge.
You can gather the feel of this soothing band when they play at the Empty Bottle this Friday, February 20, opening for twang rockers Deer Tick. Anni Rossi starts the night. (To make things even better you can "Pick your Poison" at the bar where your choice of any special drink is $5.) Music starts at 10pm, tickets are $10.
[video] Future Clouds and Radar's "The Epcot View" from the album Peoria
Some month ago, our GB editors allowed a pair of aspiring contributors to participate in a CD-review session for our Transmission page on a trial basis. The experiment was -- in our opinions -- not entirely successful and barely suitable for print. But in recent weeks, one of the involved parties came knocking on our door again, petitioning to join the Transmission team as a contributor with the claim that he'd "redeemed" himself. Being gracious sorts, we decided to give him another chance; this time putting the prospective reviewer (PR) under the supervision of one of our Transmission staff members (TS). What follows is a transcript of the resulting listening-party session.
PR: ...And so that's why they call it a "whoop tube."
TS: Fascinating. At any rate, we've got to get to the matter at hand. We're supposed to review this new CD by a local artist. It's called The Sons, by the local artist Kaspar Hauser.
Hailed by Tyondai Braxton of Battles and Stereogum, Brooklyn's Extra Life have made a name for themselves with their hypnotic combination of math rock and chamber pop. Extra Life hits up the Empty Bottle tonight in support of their album, Secular Works, released last year through Planaria Recordings. Gapers Block had the chance for a quick chat with lead singer and guitarist Charlie Looker before the show.
Gapers Block: Where did the title Secular Works come from?
Charlie Looker: The title Secular Works is a reference to Medieval and Renaissance music, periods which I am deeply into. Composers from those periods wrote sacred music (masses) and then also would write secular songs in the popular forms of the time. When you buy a CD of Early Music, you will often find records of so-and-so's "secular works". So for Extra Life, the title is somewhat ironic. However I'm very influenced by Early Music, both sacred and secular. I have also become interested in religion, simply as a human phenomenon, an outlet for the human will.
The first time I saw Iron & Wine was at Pitchfork Music Festival. Outside. In the middle of the day. Not exactly the best way to take in the troubadour's soft melodies--the mood kind of gets swallowed by the expansive open air.
Now you have a chance to see Sam Beam in a room more suited to his music during a short tour where they will only be playing small, intimate venues. The tour comes in support of Around the Well, a new 2-CD/3LP collection of rare tracks to be released May 19th. The band stops by Chicago on May 13th at Schubas, and May 12th at the not quite as cozy, but still comfortable Lakeshore Theater. Tickets for both shows go on sale Feburary 20th.
Another added bonus: beginning March 6th, you can vote for which songs will be played at each of the shows on their website.
A couple of years ago, Zach Condon -- multi-instrumentalist and maestro for the indie band Beirut -- took a detour from his usual Balkan-ized musical fare and ventured into different terrain. Approached to do the soundtrack for a film to be set in Mexico, Condon traveled to a remote village in the province of Oaxaca in order to conduct some musical field research. There he worked with a local ensemble -- a 13-piece Jiminez funeral marching band, to be more precise -- and began crafting a new series of songs influenced by the Oaxacan style of banda music.
In the end, the film's backers reputedly opted for a soundtrack of the more generically cinematic variety. But the result of the journey was the new Beirut recording March Of The Zapotec, which is now seeing release in its U.S. vinyl edition via the Chicago-based Obey Your Brain label. The album features six tracks of the new Beirut material born from the Mexican sojourn, as well as five additional tracks (grouped under the title Holland) of Condon's bedroom electronics work under his pre-Beirut alias Realpeople.
Coupleskate today isn't exactly the same as Coupleskate a few years ago. The band has had some personnel turnover and, hence, an evolution in sound and aesthetic. 2006's Trophy EP doesn't seem like the natural predecessor to 2009's Don't Scare the Horses. The former has splashes of a lo-fi Archers of Loaf. The latter has been chiseled into a wrought piece of indie-pop reminiscent of a fuller Blood Red Shoes with hints of Metric (especially in the vocals) and maybe even some Redd Kross. "Laws of Physics" and "The Fringe" kick off the record with stomping beats and spiky guitars that demand a listener's attention. The title track and "Foreign Exchange" drop the musical intensity a notch, but the lyrics remain aggressive and snarky throughout. And there are some very dark moments here, especially in regard to the state of relationships, which makes it totally appropriate that they've decided to put out the album over Valentine's Day weekend.
On Friday the 13th at the Empty Bottle they'll play the new album from beginning to end, accompanied by Tiffany Kowolski and Mahjabeen Karim on strings. And according to them, "We might have a few [Valentine's Day] tricks up our sleeves." Jade Tree alumnus and Don't Scare the Horses producer Ryan Rapsys (Owls, Gauge) also performs as Euphone. Reds and Blue open, as well. The show starts at 10PM and admission is $8.
Despite the awful winters, the corrupt politics, and the rising unemployment rate, Chicago is one of the best cities in the world, especially for live music. With numerous acts constantly stopping in Chicago, it's no surprise that important events happen in our fair city. So it was definitely no surprise when seminal 1980s British rock band The Godfathers announced their return to the U.S. for the first time in 20 years would happen at the Metro in Chicago this Valentine's Day. And that the show would be the first St. Valentine's Day Massacre show (a tradition of theirs) outside of London ever. Gapers Block: Transmission had the chance to chat with lead singer Peter Coyne about the upcoming show, music, and what it's like being in a groundbreaking band like The Godfathers.
Normally, I don't go to open mic nights. They're just not my thing. You know you're going to end up with one of two choices at an open mic night. There will either be a group of talentless people plowing through 80s covers and enticing their drunken guests to sing along or you're going to get some musicians that may actually know what they're doing but they play their own stuff and you, the audience member, don't really know how you fit into that equation.
Of course, this is the part where I tell you about the open mic night that you could go to tonight, instead. Tonight and every Wednesday, the Leadway Bar at 5233 N Damen hosts two guys called The Co-op who, in turn, host an open mic. "Hosting" is, of course, a relative term as the guys get to play a few tunes of their own and halfway through the night, the evening becomes an open mic poetry slam, if you're into that sort of thing. You won't see me on stage for either section, but I can often be found at the bar. On top of your atypical open mic night, you get the drink specials. $2 PBR, $3 shots, $4 bombs, $5 White Russians. I can personally recommend every one of those specials.
The presskit that accompanies Mother of Curses, the debut album by Todd Rittmann's new outfit D. Rider, goes out of its way to emphasize that this is not an art-rock record, but rather a record that rocks. Considering that D. Rider is the latest musical outfit headed by Todd Rittman -- former guitarist for the '90s avant-rockers U.S. Maple, and more recently involved in the bands Singer and Cheer-Accident -- the distinction might be warranted. Because let's face it, if what you're wanting is something linear and un-ironic in the way of a conventional rock "song," then Rittmann's probably the last guy in town who's gonna give it to you.
But D. Rider does indeed rock. Joining Rittmann in the band are Andrea Faught on keyboards and cornet, Mucca Pazza saxophonist Noah Tabakin, and Theo Katsounis (lately of A Tundra) stepping in to take the drummer's seat. And Mother Of Curses finds Rittmann checking much of his affinity for musical abstraction and disjointedness at the door. Over the course of eight tracks, he and his associates doling out a batch of tunes spooled on skulking basslines, some fractured Crazy Horse riffage, and heavy rhythms that lurch and lunge against the moorings. Musically, it's very reminiscent of a certain breed of indie rock animal that used to stalk the expanse of the Midwestern plains back in the early-'90s (specifically that pig-poking subgenus that once made up the bulk of the Touch & Go roster). On the vocals, Rittmann's often in trademark form -- sometimes singing as if he had developed an entire book of style from the fragmented, schizoid narrative that Bowie laid down on "Breaking Glass," at others yammering about who-knows-what like David Yow on an amyl nitrate bender.
House legendFrankie Knuckles will be spinning at Smartbar, 3730 N. Clark, for free this Wednesday, Feb. 11. The show goes on at 10pm; Ralphi Rosario backs him up. Red Bull drinks are on special, since they're sponsoring the gig.
Lykke Li is on fire right now. The Swedish pop star brought her music to the US last year courtesy of Bjorn Yttling (yes, that Bjorn) who produced her album, Youth Novels. The starlet's debut made its way onto a lot of year-end "Best of" lists for '08. I must admit, I didn't really like the album the first time I heard it, but now I'm totally getting into her dreamy hopeful ambiance and sugar-sweet vocals. Sometimes all it takes is a second listen...
After a stint in Europe, she's now on the US leg of her tour and she comes to Chicago tomorrow night. Tickets for the Metro show are still available, but I imagine they won't be for long--I've heard her live show is not to be missed. Wildbirds & Peacedrums open. Tickets are $18 ($20 day of show). Show starts at 8pm. All ages. 3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-0203.
Lykke Li - "Tonight"
(Directed by Christian Haag, and shot in one live take in Stockholm)
A show that falls in the middle of the week is a tough gig in the first place, but add in the wrong size venue and you've got a set up for an unmemorable performance. Such was the bad luck of Lady Sovereign, the cheeky British rapper who exploded on the scene a few years back with a slew of radio friendly pop-rap gems.
The show was originally scheduled a few weeks back at The Empty Bottle, but due to visa issues the date and venue was changed. This was the first red flag upon entering Logan Square Auditorium last Wednesday night, when a crowd that would have seemed pleasantly packed at The Empty Bottle came off as sparse and awkward. My friend put it best when she stated "it feels like we've crawled out our bedroom window to go clubbing on a school night."
Despite their dodgy, censor-baiting name, the Toronto-based punk outfit Fucked Up hit the indie-rock mainstream in a big way in 2008. But there's no small irony in the fact that their success arrived when a major shift in the socio-political tide was taking place. The irony was enough to prompt one critic, in a review of the band's latest LP The Chemistry Of Modern Life, to muse: "In times like these, can a band like Fucked Up continue to be relevant?"
Fair enough. In many ways, Fucked Up adheres to the ethos of classic Reagan-era hardcore punk. In its first-gen, early 1980s prime, hardcore howled -- red-faced and fist-waving -- against the social climate its day; giving the middle-finger salute to reactionary politics, to apathy in the face of injustice, to living in the shadow of potential nuclear annihilation, etc. Since first coming together in 2001, the group has drawn heavily from classic hardcore's spirit of defiance and protest -- from its cathartic bombast, right down to adorning their records (26 seven-inch releases and counting) with graphic references to radical political movements of the past.
It's pretty ballsy to drop the word "supergroup" in one's band bio. Headed by the likes of longtime hip hopsters Gift of Gab, Lateef the Truth Speaker, and producer Headnodic, The Mighty Underdogs feel they've earned supergroup status. If their names alone don't sell it, the sheer weight of alt-hip hop talent that appears on their latest album, Dropping Science Fiction, (including Damian and Julian Marley, Mr. Lif, Lyrics Born, DJ Shadow, Zumbi from Zion I, Tash from the Liks, MF Doom, Casual, and Raashan Ahmad) should definitely lend some credit.
Catch the Def Jux boys on tour with Galactic this Friday, Feb. 6 at the Vic.
Andrew already clued you in to Jeff Tweedy's upcoming shows at the Vic to raise money for Emanuel Congregation in Edgewater, Near North Montessori, and Kawasaki disease that are coming up on February 13 and 14. What he didn't know at the time (none of us did, really) was that these won't be the only shows that Tweedy is going to be doing for a good cause.
The Wilco frontman will be hitting the Northeast with shows March 26 in Burlington, VT, March 27 in Northampton, MA, and March 28 in Beacon, NY. Remember, this is a charity show so tickets probably won't be cheap once they go on sale. You can pick them up here. Here's hoping that there are people reading this outside of Chicago that can make use of that info.
Daniel Martin-McCormick and Jacob Long of the Bay-area trio Mi Ami once seasoned their chops as former members of the D.C. art-punk ensemble Black Eyes. Judging from the sound of Mi Ami's debut album Watersports, they've brought some of the Eyes' jagged, agitated energy aboard for their latest musical enterprise. Martin-McCormick squeals and shrieks while wrangling out furrows of scratchy riffage and short peels of feedback. All of that aside, the bulk of the unit's focus falls squarely in the rhythmic department -- with the trio tightly interlocked in navigating the turns of their own breed of knotty, spiraling tribal-funk. And while they douse it all down with generous amounts of reverb, their echo-soaked "drum punk" sounds like it owes less to the spliffed-out spaciousnees of traditional Jamaican roots-rocker dub than it does to, say, the delirium of a fever dream. It seems the band's won over its share of enthusiasts. As one scenester put it on a recnt music-blog post, "I never get to shoot any pictures of this band, because I'm too busy dancing during their sets."
The album art for their latest album, What Year Will You Have the World? looks more like and ad for a children's television program with its bright colors and cartoon images, but it's fitting upon listening to the happiness inside. Peachcake reminds me a lot of the first time I heard Aqueduct back in 2003, with an electronic sound reminiscent of fantasy video games of the 80's. But, their fun, playful music takes on a whole new meaning when you consider what the band has been through in the last few years.
When the band was flying high selling out shows and getting press, they were confronted with a number of obstacles including the death of singer Stefan Pruett's brother (and Peachcake keyboardist) Alex in September 2007. At this point, John O'Keefe (DJ JohnO) and Stefan (aka Space Panda) decided to press on and use their experiences as fuel. Their mission became to spread positivity and hope and make the world a safer, better, happier place through music and art. They bought themselves out of their record contract so they could self-release What Year Will You Have the World?, and then implemented a series of community events, youth outreach programs, and teen hotlines.
Tonight Peachcake bring their lively stage show to Subterranean with A Lull and The Wiitala Brothers opening. The show is all ages and starts at 7pm. Tickets are $10. 2011 North Ave. 773-278-6600.
Forget AutoTune. Forget singing over rap beats (with apologies to Mary J. and Nate Dogg). Forget where modern day pop R&B is going, and we can talk about The Foreign Exchange.
Word is that the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords will be performing at Arie Crown Theater (2301 McCormick Dr. at McCormick Place) on April 28th. New Zealand's "fourth most popular folk parody duo" recently began the second season of their cult hit show on HBO, which airs Sunday nights at 9pm.
Tickets are $38.50 and go on sale Feburary 7th on Ticketmaster. So, all you superfans, um, I mean Mel, you know what to do...
Flight of the Conchords - Business Time
It seems the work of Lindstrøm has struck a deep chord with a number of listeners. After the success of his tune "I Feel Space" back in 2005 and subsequent remix work for the likes or LCD Soundsystem and Franz Ferdinand, anticipation had been running high for the Norwegian electronic producer's full-length debut. The debut in question, Where You Go I Go Too, finally arrived via the Smalltown Supersound label this past August -- meeting with unanimously glowing reviews. By year's end, the album was ranked as one of the best releases of 2008 by such publications as XLR8R, Pitchfork, and Dusted.
When it comes to making electronic music, Hans-Peter Lindstrøm's working process is mostly an organic one. He plays and lays down parts with guitar, keyboards and drums himself; then brings them all together by layering these components into sweepingly panoramic soundscapes. On Where You Go I Go To, tracks sprawl to epic lengths as sonic vistas unfurl and undulate like nebulae over a 4/4 beat. If anything, his sound hails back to the synth-splashed, psychedelic explorations of The Orb and (going further back into the canon) Tangerine Dream than anything from the usual house or techno end of the spectrum. It's an expansive, exploratory breed of electronica that a few critics have dubbed "space disco;" but one could just as easily imagine it accompanying a long helicopter tracking shot from some early '80s Michael Mann flick as, say, providing the soundtrack for the TV edition of Cosmos.
It's 2009. Metallica is being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, selling millions of albums, and playing to full arenas. The crowds are a hodgepodge that's discovered the band at various points throughout their much storied career. Books could be (have been?) written about what people have or haven't liked about them during their 28 years. But people adore them. And even those who have some issues with them still go to their concerts.
At last night's show, the first of two at Allstate Arena near the end of a tour that began in October, Metallica roared out with the first two songs from their latest album before indulging those who apparently shun the band's recent output. (Definitions of "recent" tend to vary, naturally.) Any mention of "new stuff" by James Hetfield was met with lukewarm applause. Even his clever attempts to draw in longtime fans ("We figured out what goes good with the new stuff - old stuff") were met with some hesitancy. But that dissipated as soon as the band tore through the old stuff that almost everyone can agree is good. "Creeping Death" and "Ride the Lightning" back-to-back early on injected some energy into the crowd and kept the momentum rolling for most of the 120-minute set. However, just to show that Metallica can't even please all of their fans, I saw someone roll their eyes for "Master of Puppets" and a stoic girl in front of me texted "I hate this song" during "Enter Sandman." Other than them and some people commenting "Lots of new songs tonight, huh?", everybody seemed pretty pleased.
For the past two years, MySpace Secret Shows have been bringing large bands to small venues for free intimate concerts. You may remember Moby's secret DJ set at SmartBar last April. They've also brought such acts as The Cure, The Decemberists, Lily Allen, and even Neil Diamond to clubs around the country.
This Thursday night, MySpace Secret Shows return to Chicago with Ontario's City and Colour (the acoustic side project of Alexisonfire's Dallas Green). Joining him on the bill is The Color Fred (the side project of Taking Back Sunday's Fred Mascherino).
The show is Thursday night, January 29th, at the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W Belmont Ave. The show starts at 7 pm and is all ages. It's first come, first served, so plan to arrive early. The first 15 people who bring a printout of their MySpace page with Turbotax in their top friends will get express entry.
Click below for City and Colour's new music video, "The Girl".
On one of the most commercial holidays of the year, you can't beat spending the evening with some good old rock music at a show with the word massacre in it. I can't think of a more romantic sentiments to a sweetheart or a more awesome first date. Add in the factor of being part of music history, and you've got yourself a pretty prolific evening courtesy of the Metro and legendary English rockers The Godfathers.
The Godfathers were a alternative garage rock outfit from London, forming in the mid 1980's as a beacon of hope in a UK market dominated by New Wave and Electro. The band was bursting with gritty rock that possessed swagger and soul, were known for their explosive live shows, and basically helped lay the foundation for much of the Brit Rock music and movement of the 90's.
And the band is choosing our fair city for their first US show in 20 years! Also the first St. Valentine's Day Massacre show (a staple of their career, always done in London) ever on US soil. This guarantees that huge music nerds in the Midwest are rejoicing, while those around the world just let out a collective sigh.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of. The show is 18+ and doors open at 8:00 with the band scheduled to go on at 9:00. Grab a pair of tickets and get on your music nerd sweetheart's good side this Valentines Day.
In recent days, the local duo Coltrane Motion leaked a pair of free new tunes via their own website. More specifically, they leaked a pair of cover versions by which band members Michael Bond and Matt Dennewitz offer their own reworkings of the Bruce Springsteen songs "I'm On Fire" and "I'm Going Down."
Those familiar with CoMotion's fuzzed-out electronic psych-pop might find the choice of cover material a little surprising. As the band explains on their website:
"After hearing Bruce's cover of a Suicide song ('Dream Baby Dream'), Michael attempted to invert the formula, drowning two of his favorite Springsteen songs in the droning keyboards and mechanical beats that Messrs. Vega and Rev pioneered. But the result doesn't sound much like Suicide or Springsteen..."
As it so happens, the arrival of these tracks coincides with (1) the release of The Boss' new album, which hits in stores on Tuesday; and (2) Coltrane Motion's performance this Friday evening at Reggie's Music Joint in the south Loop.
You may remember when I complained that Mr. Bird wasn't showing much hometown love, so consider me speechless after two surprise Hideout shows and then a tour date announced for Chicago's Civic Opera House (which sold out in 2 and a half hours). Now a second show has been added at the Opera House for April 9th. Pre-sale tickets go on sale today at 11am. Once those are gone, they will be available online starting January 31st, or at the Civic Opera House Box office on January 30th.
Andrew's latest album, Noble Beast, is now available on Fat Possum Records.
Hailing from Queens, The Beatnuts originally got introduced to the music industry by Afrika Bambaata in the early 90s. The duo, composed of JuJu and Psycho Les, immediately garnered attention as producers. Working with such artists as Common, Fat Joe, and MC Lyte, it was only a matter of time until JuJu and Psycho Les decided to try their hand at rapping. 16 years and several albums later, The Beatnuts have cemented their reputation as hip-hop royalty and don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Considering the genre has seen super popular acts like Ja Rule, DMX, and Ma$e fade away, it's pretty impressive The Beatnuts have been at it this long.
This Sunday, Scion is sponsoring a free Beatnuts show at Metro. Doors open at 9pm and attendance is not guaranteed, so don't be late. Also, remember to RSVP on the Scion website. 21+
Who's doing what to whom, now? Well, Rick Potts, he of the esteemed Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS) will play playing THIS SATURDAY at Lampo (216 W. Chicago, 2nd Floor) at 9 p.m. $12 at the door.
Potts is a member of the hippest lot on the west coast throughout the '70s (and beyond), the LAFMS, a group that preciently sucked up gargantuan chunks of avant-garde weirdness, modern classical discipline, pop-cultural flippancy for stodginess, and a love for learning to do things in the most unintuitive way, and mashed them all together into a bundle of color and sound whose reverberations are still being felt. The core of some of the craziest Japanese sound of the late '70s and '80s pledged their allegiance to LAFMS, and today, scenes in San Francisco, Portland (who now host longtime LAMFS'ers Smegma), and elsewhere show strong traces of the then-unheard combination of righteous pursuit of new sound with tongue-lolling cartoon-mallet-to-the-head craziness.
Potts, a founding member of LAFMS mainstays Le Forte Four, Dinosaurs With Horns, Airway, and Solid Eye, performs a solo set at Lampo. Pieces will include "Carousel of Progress," a piece that promises "an abstracted audio history of technology, inspired by the Walt Disney / General Electric promotional amusement park ride that displayed with human-like robots how life has improved for us each decade because of the invention of new household appliances," performed on "samplers with carousel sounds, musical saw, the "Mando-Bird" hinged-neck electric mandolin, synthesizer and effects." The second piece, "Kaspar," is named after a cat that arrived at the Potts family's back door the day their beloved dog died, is "a freeform mix of chopped up percussive rhythms and synthesizer sounds with pre-recorded, record manipulated, thrift store LPs providing the vocal track" in which "with a little help, the machines play themselves."
This musicially colorful event, Potts's first performance in Chicago, will go down at 9 p.m., and will cost $12 at the door. A previous appearance by LAFMS alum Joseph Hammer during Lampo's 2007 season was astounding, touching, and quite possibly one of the best shows I've ever seen. I'm equally excited for this one, and I hope you are as well.
Who: Dead Machines, The Haunting, Bruce Lamont, Folk & Violence, Face Worker Where: The Mopery, 2734 N. Milwaukee When: Friday, January 23, 9:00 p.m. How much: $5
What: Back around 2000, right around when John Olson (he of the 800 releases-and-counting American Tapes label, as well as umpteen projects like Spykes, Universal Indians, Weapons, Full Scales, Graveyards, etc.) joined Wolf Eyes, spearheading an atomic fireball of new energy into an already great band, he started another project that at the time met with a bit less fanfare, but which has grown into one of the best noise/improv duos on the planet. Dead Machines, a project between Olson and his wife, Tovah (she also of Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice, Tovah D-Day, the Jasons, and others, and proprietor of the Tovinator label), churned out a steady torrent of top-qual basement brain gargling, not only on the hyper-prolific American Tapes, but labels like Hanson, Ecstatic Peace!, Hospital, and Troubleman.
Philadelphia's The Disco Biscuits got their start playing the party scene at UPenn in the mid-90's. Now over a decade later, they've created a loyal, dedicated fan base of die-hards touring the jam band circuit with their mix of electronica, jazz, and rock, dubbed trance-fusion. You may remember them from Lollapalooza 2006 or touring with the likes of Umphrey's McGee. They're known for their long, intense sets, like all jam bands, and they never play a song in the same way twice - performing parts of their songs at different points throughout their set and even playing songs backwards. Their fans call their unique style for converting studio tracks into groovy live performance as "bisco" — a method that makes each live show by this band a unique experience. In taking such risks, their live act can be hit-or-miss, sometimes a bit self-indulgent but other times you'll leave their show with your jaw on the ground, making it a risk worth taking.
The band had taken a break in 2008 from the constant touring that is their norm to record their first studio album in seven years, release date to be determined. It's been over a year since The Disco Biscuits have played in Chicago, but you can catch them continuing to build the bridge between the jam band and dance world this Saturday at the Congress Theater. Joining The Disco Biscuits on Saturday is Philadelphia's underground hip hop DJ/producer RJD2, who is also putting the finishing touches on a new album, and IDM artist Prefuse 73, who you may remember from Wicker Park Fest this past summer.
Catch all three acts this Saturday, January 24th, at the Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. The show starts at 8 p.m. and is 18+. Stick around after the show for DJ sets by Skyler and Derek Specs in the lobby of the Congress.
Free Tickets Contest! The first two readers who email us at contests (at) gapersblock.com with the subject line "Disco" will each win themselves a pair of tickets to the show on Saturday at the Congress Theater! Update! We have our winners! Congrats to Mark and Dave.
Click below to watch TDB's music video for "World is Spinning" from the album The Wind at Four to Fly.
Transmission had a couple friends head to D.C. for the Inauguration festivities and of course they were excited to visit The Black Cat to check out the Hideout's curated Big Shoulders Ball. Tonight's entertainmentincludes the following exciting lineup (lineup times EST):
Judson Claiborne (7:30)
Freakwater (8:00)
David "Honeyboy" Edwards (8:30)
Icy Demons (9:10)
Ken Vandermark (9:35)
Tortoise (10:00)
Andrew Bird (10:30)
Thomas Frank (11:00)
Waco Brothers (11:05)
Ted Leo (11:30)
Eleventh Dream Day (12:00)
Jon Langford w/ Sally Timms (12:30)
Bloodshot Records rollicking punk rock infused country band is warming up Wednesday next week when they play the DogFloydAPalooza festival at the Bottom Lounge.
The evening is a collaboration between Dogfish Head and 3 Floyds breweries to celebrate all of their excellent brews. The festival will be in the Volcano Room at the Bottom Lounge and also rocking that evening will be Big Science, who made many a local year end list with the recent release of their EP The Coast of Nowhere.
If you haven't yet witnessed the greatness known as a Waco Brothers show, Wednesday would be a perfect excuse to drag yourself out in this snow and thaw off with some high energy kick ass tunes while throwing back some quality brews. And nothing warms you up more than a decent amount of alcohol.
DogFloydAPalooza is Wednesday, January 21st. The Bottom Lounge is at 1375 W. Lake Street. Tickets are $10, the show is 21+ and the doors open at 9:00pm.
Hey trusty reader! Are you headed to D.C. for the inauguration? Are you also lucky enough to have a ticket to the Hideout's sold out Big Shoulders Ball (featuring scads of Chicagotalent) at Black Cat on Monday night? If so, and you'd like to do some live blogging (or text messaging, or photography) for Transmission, give me a shout! Email me at transmission {at} gapersblock {dot} com with the subject line "Big Shoulders".
Thought you couldn't go to the Kings of Leon show at the House of Blues next week because it was sold out? Think again. A limited number of tickets will be released for sale this Friday at 5pm on Ticketmaster. Tickets will be $200 for general admission and $250 for VIP. If this sounds like a lot, consider that you could be paying $300 to $500 on Craigslist for the same ticket, and half that profit would be going into somebody's pocket instead of to the kids at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. Proceeds will benefit pediatric cancer treatment and research at Comer.
The Dare 2 Dream concert is presented by The Lisa Klitzky Foundation and takes place next Saturday, January 24th beginning at 6pm. The Whigs and The Jakes will open for Kings of Leon. The House of Blues is located at 329 N. Dearborn. 312-923-2000. All ages.
A certain number of "Golden Circle" tickets have been held for parents from the school and Emanuel members for $250. General admission tickets go on sale this Friday, Jan. 16, at noon via Ticketmaster or at the Vic box office, 3145 N Sheffield. Early reports pegged general admission at $150 a pop, but Ticketmaster lists them as $100.
Here's the humble beginnings. Six years ago, when Department Of Eagles were calling themselves Whitey On The Moon U.K., one wouldn't have guessed that they were likely to evolve into any sort of Big Indie Darling Thing.
When the songwriting duo of Daniel Rossen and Fred Nicolaus first started collaborating, they were a couple of NYU dormmates -- bored college kids farting around with a sampler, making silly beat compositions with fragments of Gil Scott-Heron, bits of classical Indian music, and snippets from old Steve Martin comedy records. By the time they got around to recording a debut LP in 2003, they'd grown more serious about songwriting and musicianship and aimed to make a proper pop album. The result was a wonderful and brilliantly eclectic collection of songs that were likely to provoke dancing, laughter, or -- in a few cases -- that were just flat-out beautiful. By the time the album became something of a creeping indie-world fave (thanks to its belated U.K. reissue), Rossen had drifted off to find greater success as a member of the band Grizzly Bear; for a time leaving the status of DOE in suspended animation.
It's a fact that 'tomorrow never knows'. You can never predict what the future will bring, although you can try. Schubas will attempt to do just that, or at least offer you some candidates for the future of indie music. Tomorrow Never Knows is a festival presented each winter at Schubas and showcases some of the up-and-coming musical acts from all over the country, including Chicago. The Soft Pack, Department of Eagles (see our preview here), Cursive, Hey Champ, and Bishop Allen are just some of the bands appearing. The festival begins this Wednesday, January 14th and continues through Sunday, January 18th. Tickets for each night are $15 and can be purchased at Schubas' website, where you can also purchase a 5-day pass good for entry to every show for $55 (UPDATE: 5-day passes have sold out). Thursday and Friday individual tickets are already sold out, so act fast (or pick up a 5-day pass) if you want to see any these acts in the home-y confines of Schubas before you're stuck seeing them in a larger venue...
Schubas is located at 3159 N. Southport. All shows begin at 9pm and are 18 & up.
And for a glimpse a little further into the future, don't forget to see the Paul Green's School of Rock students present British Invasion on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Tickets can be purchased separately for $10 ($15 at the door), but admission is included if you opt for the 5-day pass.
Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration in DC is fast approaching, and that also means that The Hideout presented Big Shoulders Ball is coming up as well! The lineup was already stacked, but since the initial announcement, there have been some big additions: Andrew Bird (who will likely be playing material from his much anticipated Noble Beast--out on Inauguration Day) was added shortly after the announcement, and now Ted Leo (on Chicago's Touch and Go label) has joined the party. The Hideout is calling him their "ambassador" to DC since they say The Black Cat his "home club." Author and U of C alum Thomas Frank ("The Wrecking Crew," "What's the Matter with Kansas," The Baffler) has also been added as a special guest, and The Hideout promises that there's still more to come. If you're even thinking about going to the Capital for the inauguration, I'd get my hands on these tickets fast because they're bound to sell out.
The Big Shoulders Ball takes place the night before the inauguration (Monday, January 19) at The Black Cat in Washington DC (1811 14th St. NW WDC 20009). Tickets are $50. You can get them from The Black Cat's website, or pick them up in person at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 773-227-4433. (UPDATE: The ball has sold out.)
Lambchop is a band that seems to, somehow, fly under everybody's radar until they're pointed out by somebody from Nashville. It's a shame, too, because the very large group has some extremely talented members and some incredibly wonderful music. Led by Kurt Wagner's often unexplainable lyrics, the band has a knack for finding their way into my musical rotation often. Being that they're from Nashville, your first thought might be to lump them in the country or folk music category, but their sound is ever-expanding and difficult to define. Their latest album, OH (ohio) is a whimsy tale that goes from interested, to unhappy, to excited, and back to interested. That doesn't make much sense, but if you'd like to see them and attempt to give a better description to their sound, may I invite you to see Lambchop at the Old Town School of Folk Music on January 24th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 and still available.
Here's a late announcement to get excited about: Lady Sovereign is scheduled to play The Empty Bottle on Wednesday, January 28th. UPDATE: The show has been rescheduled for Feburary 4th at Logan Square Auditorium. Tickets from the original show will be honored.
The last time we saw the 5 ft 1 English rapper was at Lollapalooza in '06 rocking hits from her debut album Public Warning, and chugging and spitting on whoever--and she hadn't even hit 21 yet. She's been down for a couple years working on her new album, Jigsaw, set for release in April. Always the rebellious girl, she left JayZ and Def Jam and started her own label, Midget Records (under the EMI umbrella) in order to have more control. Now she's come into her own and doing things her way. Seeing Lady Sovereign at a venue as small as the Bottle is an opportunity you might not see again...
For a taste, go to her website to download "I Got You Dancing" for free.
The show starts at 8pm and tickets are $12. 1035 N. Western Ave. 2539 N. Kedzie. 21+ All Ages. Call 773-276-3600 with any questions.
The first time I saw Fujiya & Miyagi in concert, I almost thought they were joking with their funky krautrock shtick, but the gig didn't stop and I actually started digging it. You've probably heard the heavy baseline from their song, Collarbone, in that Miller Light "Beer Heaven" commercial. Their third album, Lightbulbs, was released in September and is a continuation of the same groovy tracks from 2006's Transparent Things. Fujiya & Miyagi make another stop in Chicago on Thursday, February 12 at Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake). Brooklyn trio School of Seven Bells will also play. Show starts at 9pm. Tickets are on sale now for $16 ($18 day of show). 18 & up.
New Years Eve celebrations are usually decadent affairs. The Dandy Warhols made sure that the Metro was no exception this year when they rolled into town with their catchy brand of psychedelic pop to set off the start of 2009.
Truly independent music has an urgency that you don't always find in major label or even indie label releases. Perhaps it is the fact that the band has something more substantial invested or that they are more focused on each step of the process, but as you listen to the debut album from the suburban band Kid You'll Move Mountains you can feel that urgency. Formed from the ashes of Lookout! Records Troubled Hubble, KYMM has been playing together locally since 2006. Members Jim Hanke, Corey Wills, and Nina, Andrew and Nate Lanthrum, see 2009 as their opportunity to launch their sound and their new self-released album Loomings into the national eye.
Loomings is a mixture of the indie pop and alt-country with the kick being the alternating vocals by Jim and Nina. When the two trade off lead vocals, as in the lead single "Volts", the results are, well... electric. In other songs like "Inside Voice", the two lay their melodies over an aggressive bed of piano pop. To keep the album local the band enlisted local designer and musician Marky Hladish of The Felix Culpa and Venna and his company MidwestLove Art & Design to work on the cover. The result is an album that is a visually appealing as it is musically, and an album that the band will officially be launching with a release party this Friday, January 2nd at the Metro with three other great up and coming Chicago bands. Joining them that night will be The Sapiens, Picture Books (who are also releasing a new ep that night), and Pool of Frogs. Tickets are $8 and the show starts at 9:00pm.
If you are like me (and a few million other folks) you spent the past day or so traveling back home from numerous Holiday celebrations. And what better way to burn off the 12 glasses of eggnog you drank and get back into the swing of city life then to catch a free show tomorrow night.
The eclectic five-piece create charming and infectious pop music while utilizing an array of instruments from synthesizers to banjos, ukuleles, and mandolins. An explosion of sound dissolves into earnest lyrics, creating some incredibly catchy multi-layered songs. Also the band compares their sound to "The Arcade Fire meets The Muppets," and anything remotely involving Muppets is alright in my book.
The Empty Bottle is at 1035 N. Western Ave. The show is free (hence Free Monday show) and also playing will be The Black Fortys and Soft Speaker.
If you've yet to finalize your plans for New Years Eve and you'd like an evening of electronic music with a less hefty cover charge, you can head over and catch The Abbey's NYE billing of eclectic grooves featuring performances by Future Rock, Daedelus, and Dark Party.
Dark Party is the duo of Elliot Lipp and Leo123, and exists as a side-project for Lipp's when he's not recording and performing solo. While based in New York, Lipp comes through town fairly frequently -- partially because he likes playing in Chicago, and partly because Chicago is presently the home of his Dark Party colleague, West Coast transplant Leonardo Ciccone. Reputedly, the duo's recorded a debut album that'll be coming out on the Mush label some time in 2009. Unlike the sleek, chrome-plated sheen of Lipp's usual style of electronica, Dark Party offers a doper, more bumpin' ride; with Lipp laying down the bleeps and textures as Leon punches out labyrinths of twisting rhythms that owe more than a little to the pop-locking 808 beats of oldskool hip-hop and electro-funk pioneers like Mantronix and Newcleus.
If you're looking for something to do other than (or while) drinking yourself into a coma in the dark and lonely days after Christmas, you can see a genuine Chicago master of the tenor saxophone, Von Freeman, square off with Edward Petersen (of Covington, LA) on saxophones at The Green Mill this Friday and Saturday. The 86-year old Freeman is a local institution, having been active in Chicago jazz since the early '50s and playing with luminaries like Charlie Parker, Sun Ra and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The Mill itself is one of the few pieces of Chicago jazz history that predates Freeman; it's the perfect room for the kind of intense, intimate performances that these shows should prove to be. 9pm Friday, 8pm Saturday; $12 cover; 4802 N. Broadway.
What better way to spend the holidays than to see some great live music and give back to the community? The Greater Chicago Food Depository distributes donated food to almost 500,000 adults and children in need per year. This year, the Metro is teaming up with the Chicago Independent Radio Project (C.H.I.R.P.) for a series of concerts to benefit the food depository. Concert-goers are encouraged to bring canned food items to the show, and on December 22nd a canned food item will get you $3 off the ticket price of the show!
Home for the Holidays kicks off tonight with The Hush Sound, Treaty of Paris, and This is Me Smiling, and runs until December 28th with the Midwest Ska Fest. All shows will be at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark Street. Tickets will be available at the Metro box office.
Please note that the Greater Chicago Food Depository is most in need of canned chicken and tuna, canned corn beef, canned fruit, canned vegetables, dried or canned beans, fruit juice, jelly, macaroni and cheese, pasta, peanut butter, rice, and whole grain cereal.
Come check out what's new in the Chicago music scene while giving back to those in need. Full schedule to follow.
Chances are that if you haven't heard Golden Birthday play live during any of their recent appearances around town, you might've heard their name of late. On the eve of the release of their debut album, they've been getting some heads-up attention (see here and here) in the local press. If any of that's made you the least bit curious, tonight's your opportunity as they play at the AV-aerie performance space in the West Loop this Friday evening.
Golden Birthday's sound is a distinctively moody one -- languid, dreamy, drenched in a reverb haze, a bit tenuous, tinged with filigree and shadow. Anyone who was once familiar with the proto-shoegaze of Felt or a number of artists that graced the 4AD roster back in the mid-'80s will probably experience a pleasant sense of déjà vu, and those with less seasoned ears will no doubt find Golden Birthday's music strikingly unique. Also on the bill for Friday's show are local fauve-folk favorites Bird Names and the blippy, tribal abstractionists of the Mahjongg satellite-project Waterbabies. 2000 W. Fulton. Admission is just $5, and the doors open at 9:30 PM.
Chicago's own Scotland Yard Gospel Choir has been making waves opening for the likes of The Arcade Fire, Spoon, The Violent Femmes, and Of Montreal. This chamber pop collective mixes dark humor with an eclectic mix of instruments and styles, at times sounding like The Ramones hired a backing orchestra, and at other times straight-up Belle & Sebastian-influenced folk. They're currently finishing up a new album, due out in the spring, and will be ending 2008 headlining a show at the Double Door tomorrow night. SYGC's shows are always high-energy, which is almost inevitable for a band of this size in an intimate venue like the Double Door but is mostly due to their strong attention to detail and effort put into their live act. This is surely a show you will not want to miss.
Catch SYGC this Friday, December 19th, at the Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. The show starts at 9 pm, but arrive early because the first 100 people through the door will receive handmade buttons and mix CDs from the band. Tom Schraeder and His Ego, The Fabulous Putterbaugh Sisters and DJ Screeble Dee will open. As always, the Double Door is 21+. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online here or at the Double Door box office.
Really Quick Contest! One lucky reader can win a pair of tickets to the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir show tomorrow, Friday 12/19 at the Double Door. Just be the first to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject "La La La" and you and a friend can have sweet night of free entertainment, courtesy of Bloodshot Records. UPDATE: We have a winner! Congrats to Brandon!
What are you doing on New Year's Eve? If you haven't made up your mind, here are two opportunities to have it made for you.
The Dandy Warhols are going to be performing at the Metro's NYE party, with Robert Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club DJing to open. The show is 18 and over, and doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $55 in advance ($65 at the door), or $125 for VIP, which get you special seating, four free drinks and limited edition posters.
The Metro is running a contest to upgrade one lucky ticketholder and three of his or her friends to VIP status. All you have to do to enter is purchase your tickets by Saturday, Dec. 20. Winners will be announced on Monday the 22nd.
But that's not all! The Metro has also given Transmission two pairs of tickets to give away! Enter to win by emailing contests[at]gapersblock.com with "NYE" in the subject line; include your full name in the body of the email. We'll select two winners from the entries on Friday, Dec. 19, so that if you don't win you still have time to enter the Metro's contest. Update! We have our winners! Congrats to Kit and Aubrey!
If you've got plans to go to DC (and a place to stay...) for Obama's Presidential Inauguration, you can celebrate the night before with the folks from The Hideout at The Black Cat where they, with Interchange, present The Big Shoulders Ball: a Chicago concert celebrating change. Hideout co-owner and staunch Obama supporter (as is evident by the ENORMOUS picture of Obama hanging on the front of The Hideout), Tim Tuten, has chartered two buses to take the bands and company on the cross country trip. Why am I getting a feeling of America ala 60s full of VW buses, hippie braids and peace signs... Anyway, the lineup is stacked; Tortoise, Waco Brothers, Ken Vandermark and Icy Demons are among the local artists already slated to play. Tickets go on sale today at 4pm and are $50. You can get them from The Black Cat's website, or pick them up in person at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia). (UPDATE: The ball has sold out.) The exact date of the show is Monday, January 19 (just in case you've been living under a rock and hadn't heard when Obama would take over as Commander in Chief). The Black Cat is located at 1811 14th St. NW WDC 20009.
**UPDATE** Andrew Bird has been added to the line-up as well!
Owned and operated by the crew at the Shape Shoppe studio and members of affiliated groups Icy Demons and Chandeliers, the recently-launched Obey Your Brain label aims to showcase the work of the Shoppe's allies, associates, and fellow travelers alike -- of adventurous musical artists from Chicago and from across the country. This Tuesday evening, the folks at OBY take the venture one step further as they kick off a series of monthly events that will be hosted by Sonotheque.
The lineup for the first show of the series features a headlining set from the Mahjongg side-project Waterbabies, and DJs Alex Valentine and Smart Cousin are scheduled to spin. Piling onto the bill at the eleventh hour are DJ HoloGram Trav (of the band Killer Whales) and a set from Warhammer 48K offshoot CAVE. Word has it that Nashvillian underground hip-hop emcee Count Bass D, who recently recorded some new material to be released via Obey Your Brain, might -- repeat: might -- also be in the house. Admission is free and doors open at 9 PM. 1444 W. Chicago Ave.
What with Hyde Park's recent high profile, Jimmy's (aka "The Woodlawn Tap"; don't be fooled, nobody calls it that) has been fêted by everyone from local CBS news to the New York Times. It is, for better or worse, in good times and bad, Hyde Park's neighborhood tavern. And if you can successfully dodge the undergrads on the way in, the back room is pretty excellent Sunday night music destination.
Since time immemorial, they've been hosting a Sunday evening jazz session back there. The cast of characters is ever-rotating, but the basic combo centers around Curtis Black (trumpet) and Doug Mitchell (drums), who have been at this for longer than anyone really knows. Their tastes run to pretty classic stuff: think Sonny Rollins, Monk, '50s and early '60s style Miles Davis, etc. The musicians are different every night, but you're usually in for good guest spots on sax, keys, and guitar, particularly in the second set, when the band stretches out a bit. The acoustics aren't great, but the dark-room-and-stiff-drinks factor is not to be underestimated. The music starts around 9pm (there's usually a blues session earlier in the afternoon) and there's no cover, but it's good form to drop something in the tip jar when it comes your way. Jimmy's is at 1172 E. 55th St., at Woodlawn.
You and Me and the Mountain, the newest EP by Chicago progressive math rockers Maps & Atlases, is the type of album you can listen to again and again and still find a new aspect of each song with every listen. And you will want to hear them again and again, as their endearingly quirky sound quickly becomes addictive. This band is able to create chaos in such a way that sounds natural and beautiful without ever becoming over-indulgent. I've been meaning to catch these guys live for quite some time now, as it would be interesting to see their complex music translated into a live format. I am expecting the vivacity and enthusiasm in their music to translate well on stage during their headlining show at Subterranean this Saturday. If you like smart, complicated music that is still catchy, this is a show not to miss!
Maps & Atlases will be playing tomorrow night, December 13th, at Subterranean, 2011 W North Ave. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here. The show is all ages and starts at 8 pm.
Check out a video showcasing their unique manipulation of the guitar in the song "Ongoing Horrible" after the jump.
It's never a good sign when a lead singer reveals "we haven't played a show in a long time" to a packed crowd during the second song of a set. But this is the type of obstacles you encounter when attending a corporate and free concert.
The Bravery played to a large throng of fans (and fans of free stuff) at The Metro Wednesday night in honor of Puma turning 60 years old. Now there are always pro's and con's to attending a free sponsored concert. Sometimes the music will lack quality (thankfully not the case Wednesday night), sometimes their will be annoying adverts for the sponsor (Puma kept the in your face advertising still present yet to a minimum, a much appreciated gesture), and then the fact you are seeing a show that people didn't pay for, so much of the audience may not be fans of the band at all. These multiple factors played into a very long and strange night that I spent Wednesday with The Bravery.
Rick Froberg's history has warranted a pretty decent following. However, that's not to say he takes advantage of it by doing anything weak. His various music projects speak for themselves and his design work is almost universally lauded. The man clearly understands how to not take a project too long. None of his bands have ever outstayed their welcome. From Pitchfork to Drive Like Jehu to Hot Snakes, he and John Reis have always been an excellent team to deliver aggressive rock'n'roll music.
Now without his longtime collaborator in Reis, Froberg's new band Obits has been generating buzz since playing their first show in New York earlier this year. Their only release so far is a single ahead of 2009's full-length record. While the sound is more melodic than its predecessors, it's not a huge departure from Hot Snakes' post-garage rock urgency and Froberg's vocals still carry a distinct desperation.
Obits open for Constantines, who absolutely slay live, at the Empty Bottle tomorrow evening. The show begins at 10PM and admission is $12. Light Pollution also plays.
If The Smashing Pumpkins are now irrelevant has-beens, the thousands who bought tickets to their five sold out shows - their first proper Chicago shows in eight years - must have missed the memo. I attended the first night at the Chicago Theater, the add-on night at the Aragon Ballroom and the final show at the Auditorium Theater, and each concert was a completely unique experience. I feel I must preface this review by saying that The Smashing Pumpkins are the band that made me begin to love music for the first time when I was 11 years old, and therefore I frequently romanticize this band. That being said, I was a bit apprehensive about Smashing Pumpkins v. 2.0 and feel that Zeitgeist was over-produced and lacked the personality that made the original band so great. Still, of the three nights I saw them in Chicago, they put on a good 2.5 solid performances.
WelikeJustice at Transmission. (And, for the record, we liked that other Justice too.) They've graced our city a few times and given us some good memories from their thump-driven performances. From Smartbar to Metro to the Riv, they've worked their way up the venue ladder and become better showmen as their popularity has skyrocketed over the years. In a few weeks, the French electro duo will put on their biggest Chicago party yet with a New Year's DJ set at the Congress. It may hark back to a time when their claim to fame was remixing Simian and Britney Spears or it may go in a completely different direction. They probably don't even know until five minutes before they hit the stage.
Their Ed Banger labelmates So Me and local trio Hey Champ will open, as will numerous local DJs. (Oh, and Peanut Butter Wolf too!)
And because we at Transmission appreciate our readers so much, we're giving away a pair of tickets to what'll obviously be one of the most fun ways to bring in 2009. Just be the first to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject "Justice!" and you'll be the lucky winner of a pair. For those who don't win, the show runs from 7pm to 3am and tickets are $60. The Congress is located at 2135 N. Milwaukee. UPDATE Hold the phone! We have a winner! Congrats to David.
Looking for something to do Friday night? Craving a bit of New Wave for a change? Then head over to The Hideout for the EP release show for local act Big Science.
Big Science was formed in 2007 out of the ashes of a former band, and just finished their new EP, The Coast of Nowhere. The EP offers up some dreamy New Order/Joy Division-esque tunes, and at this point should probably already have an opening slot for The Killers on their next tour. Not the usual sound that comes out of much of the Chicago musical landscape, The Coast of Nowhere is a very strong, heavy, and infectious release.
The Gunshy will also be playing and then following the show will be a DJ set from Tankboy.
Show starts at 10 p.m. and is $8. As always, The Hideout is 21+
Our friends over at Chicagoist just broke the news that hometown hero Andrew Bird has two shows listed on his site at The Hideout on December 14th and 15th.
I'm assuming it's a last minute surprise, since it's not actually listed on The Hideout's website.
And even more odd, according to Ticketweb, the shows are already sold out. What is going on Andrew Bird? Stop teasing and confusing us!
The shows are 21+ December 14th and 15th at 8 p.m. I'd suggest heading over to Craigslist and try your luck at finding at ticket!
Have any idea what it sounds like when sexy robots make sexy love? I imagined a lot of creaking and clanging, but I think Sebastien Tellier has a much better idea on his latest album, Sexuality. With ample production help from Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk, the trilingual singer (French, Italian, and English) nails French dance pop, adding his own disarmingly heartfelt lyrics to the robo-beats. And best of all -- dude looks like a thinner and slightly better-dressed Rick Rubin. What a country!
Check Tellier's thick rhythms, romantic songwriting, and bushy beard at his show at Schubas on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Local electro-heads Hey Champ open.
It's by no means the strangest opening act/headliner pairing I've seen, but Daniel Knox isn't the first person I would think of to open for Kristin Hersh, particularly the Kristin Hersh of The Shady Circle, her current show. Now, let's be clear about two things: first, I'm not saying it was a bad pairing; second, I tend to think about stuff like this (to excess) in purely musical terms, even though I realize that the vicissitudes of touring often make strange bedfellows.
It's always nice to travel back to your hometown, and probably even better if your playing in one of the most successful current rock bands to a sold show for a concert that is being taped to air on television. So is the life of Fall Out Boy, the punk pop hometown heroes that returned to their roots and rocked out The Chicago Theatre Tuesday night. The show was brought to town by Fuse television in celebration for the guys' new album Folie à Deux, which is out December 16th, the same day the concert will air on Fuse.
If you're looking for something to do tonight, think about heading over to Bottom Lounge for a concert that's a little different than the usual rock show. He is a member of local indie rock band All Things Lucid and runs Kilo Records. She is a master cellist who has played with Phillip Glass, Kanye West, and even the Foo Fighters in their 2008 Grammy Awards performance. Together, Miles Benjamin and Michelle Morales form the experimental duo The Loneliest Monk. Their cool, ambient music is a nice departure from the standard 4-piece rock or jazz group. It's little bit rock, a little bit classical, a little jazz infused, and all intriguing. They open up for The Loyal Divide (Album Release). Shapes And Sounds and Gaberdine also open. Show begins at 8pm. 1375 W. Lake. 21 & up. Tickets are $6.
*The Loneliest Monk will be handing out "Magic Buttons" at the show that you can bring to the Empty Bottle on December 21st (their first headlining show) for a handmade Loneliest Monk Christmas gift. The buttons were designed by Aaron Albarran, and will reveal their new logo.
Given that this stretch of the Greater Midwest has long been a hive for breakcore activity, it's weird how little of it ever goes off in Chicago. Maybe it's because the breakcore crowd largely adheres to the original rave happening em-oh, and such events are most likely to take place in a warehouse on the outskirts of Pittsburgh or (no, not kidding) a barn in Wisconsin than at a legit/above-ground venue with a liquor license and neighbors who just might be inclined to complain about the noise.
When it comes to breakcore, many would argue that Venetian Snares (aka Winnipeg's Aaron Funk) pretty much rules the roost. Back when Aphex Twin dropped off the radar as Most Innovative And Fanatically Revered Mad Genius of the electronic-music community about five or so years ago, Mr. Snares immediately stepped in to fill the breach. Averaging about 3-4 albums' worth of released material per annum, he's widely hailed in breakcore subculture as the artist who defines (and pushes to re-define) the boundaries of leftfield extremist "electronica." Case in point: In the past few years, he's even made a few side-stepping excursions into composing beatless orchestral and chamber music.
Venetian Snares will be playing at Reggies Rock Club tomorrow evening, Friday the 5th, headlining an evening of nosebleed-inducing splatterbeats and bleeps. Joining him on the roster will be fellow and high-productivist squelch-wrangler Otto Von Schirach, who's currently traveling with VSnares as part of their "Detrimental Disco Wibble" joint tour. Cyrusrex, DJ Naha, Surachai, and Flashbulb are also piling onto the bill. With visual accompaniment by VJ Dizypixl. It ain't a party until someone calls for a medic! Doors open at 8 PM, and it's a 17 & over show. Tickets are $20, $25 the day of. 2109 S. State Street.
New York and Los Angeles have churned out boatloads of hip hop superstars, while Chicago has recently been experiencing a hip hop revolution of sorts. Yet, no one seems to talk about smaller Midwestern cities like Kansas City. Perhaps that's why it may be a surprise to some that heartland America has also produced notable hip hop talent over the years. Minneapolis-based label Rhymesayers (of Atmosphere fame) has taken notice long ago, showcasing talented Midwesterners such as Brother Ali and Mac Lethal. The latter, also known as David McCleary Sheldon, hails from Kansas City and should be on every hip hop fan's iPod.
Look no further than Mac Lethal if you're craving some underground hip hop this Christmas season. His sound ranges from aggressive anger-fueled rhymes where he threatens to "whoop your mother's ass," to slower harmonica-backed melodies that will get the crowd square dancing and clapping their hands in no time. Mac Lethal's bag of tricks definitely has an ample supply of versatility. In fact, it wouldn't be surprising one bit if he moonlighted as a comedian or folk singer in his free time. Just when you think you're beginning to get a feel for Mac Lethal's style, he unloads a fierce Twista-inspired machine gun flow that crashes into your eardrums like a grizzly bear driving a garbage truck. The lyrics are also often impressive, showcasing memorable lines such as "fuck veganism, give me some General Tso's chicken," and "Wilco is great and Ice-T is still clever, but no matter what it's Wu-Tang forever!"
Sunday night, I headed out to the Double Door for a good dose of metal, and I got what I had hoped for. It was a unique night, though, beginning with a cab driven by the one and only Ray St. Ray, the Singing Cab Driver. Knowing that I was going to a concert for an artist whose work I am only marginally familiar with, I was a bit skeptical of the whole night. Of course, that seems to be how I look at every concert these days. Ray's songs got me in the mood, though. Honestly, if you're on your way to see ohGr, it's always best to start your night out with a cab driver who sings a large collection of songs that range in about "Love! Sex! Social Significance! Dreams!" (Or "Other!" as the case may be).
Some things in life you just have to learn for yourself -- usually the hard way. But often times, especially during one's younger and formative years, there's some guardian or elder figure there to offer warnings or advice. For instance, one of my Cajun great-uncles once told me: "The one thing you need to know is how to stay outta trouble. Because the thing about trouble is that it's real easy to get into; and once you're in it, it's a total bitch to get out of." Words like that often go a lot further when you're hearing them from someone who knows what they're talking about.
It seems Sharon Jones, by virtue of her age and experience, knows a good bit about trouble. About being in it, staying out of it, and knowing it when you see it. And to hear her sing, it also sounds like she also knows a good deal about other big things in life; about heartbreak, tenderness, forgiveness, knowing when to put your foot down and not be played for a fool, and -- perhaps more importantly -- about patience for the sake of That Love You Gotta Work On Because One Day It'll (Hopefully) Be Worth It.
I always get a little nervous when going to an 18+ show at the Metro. You simply never know what you're getting yourself into. Such was the case Saturday night when I ventured out to see Nada Surf. I had concers about what I would find what I would find inside, as I honestly had no clue what kind of audience even goes to a Nada Surf concert. All I know about this band is their new album and the fact that I used to sing "Popular" all throughout high school. Would the rest of the audience be my age or would they all be 18 and 19?
A change has come to the band that inspired the phrase "beard rock", and now the Brooklyn foursome are now a trio. Akron/Family's discography has found them collaborating with Michael Gira of Swans and his Angels of Light project, as well as master percussionist (and Chicagoan) Hamid Drake, swaying back and forth between the yelping jammy joy of freak-folk and experimental jams utilizing their musical chops. With the departure of Ryan Vanderhoof, the band is adjusting to new dynamics and enjoying the ride. We sat down with Dana Janssen from the band to discuss the influences for the new record, last-second Chicago venue changes, killer Scrabble moves, and our predictions on how exactly the band will sell out to the man.
Kristin Hersh made her name in the '80s and early '90s as the voice and songwriter, along with stepsister Tanya Donelly, of Throwing Muses. (Donelly left the group in 1991 for The Breeders and later Belly.) Signed to the pathologically eclectic 4AD, the band's songs were (and are) intelligent, angular, unorthodox compositions full of catchy, hard hitting hooks. Among other current projects, she's performing a show called "The Shady Circle", based on the dark end of Southern and Appalachian folk music; the show makes Chicago on Saturday at the Old Town School of Folk Music. (See the entry in Slowdown for more info.) It's a solo performance, with Hersh accompanying herself on guitar. The setting is intimate; previous shows have been in living rooms, including one from 9/25 that was recorded and is available for download.
In an introduction to the show, Hersh says with some humor that "almost all of [the songs] are about murder ... some are about Jesus, but mostly it's about getting drunk and killing your girlfriend." Country-ish rockers with a fascination for the dark side of folk songs are nothing new, (particularly around here) so the bar is set a little high, and in general, it's easy to feel that this sort of thing amounts to musical window dressing. That said, this particular show doesn't make slavish devotion to the historic tunes, from the distorted guitar sounds to the inclusion of the Throwing Muses song "City of the Dead" and a cover of the Latin Playboys' "If". It has a sound all its own, which prevents the feeling that you'd be happier listening to old Ralph Stanley records. Some of the best moments ("To A Man", "I'm Waiting For The One Train") remind one of the brooding blues of "To Bring You My Love"-era PJ Harvey; Hersh's voice and guitar have a lot of the same slow-burn intensity that makes that record work. Moreover, it allows her to seamlessly set down rock material next to classic ballads like "Wayfaring Stranger", mixing their qualities and evocations. All in all, the show has a lot of genuine appreciation for classic material, and is forward thinking enough to show how rock and roll fits in here.
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International is just what their name suggests... a band that will make you want to get up and dance with their West African grooves. Even if you don't know how to dance the meringue, you'll pretend like you do. The different members have backgrounds in jazz, rock and African music, and they all bring something to the table.
This summer they performed at Pitchfork Music Festival and Chicago's Summerdance series. They also opened for Andrew Bird at his Pritzker performance in September. They have a lot more to come including free downloads you can get at the news section of their website. Catch them tonight at Schubas where friend W.W. Loman opens. 3159 N. Southport. 10:30pm. 21 & up. Tickets are $10.
Clouds had been on tour for a good while before being invited to join back up with Boris for a jaunt through the Midwest and on back east. They hit Chicago on Saturday, November 29th, rolling into the Empty Bottle just in time to cure everyone of their excessive exposure to turkey and family. Based out of Boston, for all that they haven't seen that east coast city for a while, Jim Carroll chatted of the cities they've seen and the bands they've seen those cities with.
This past March Clouds hit SXSW promoting the release of their album "We Are Above You" on Hydra Head Records. As always, the four day music fest an onslaught of music from around the worlds, as well as a showcase of fans' willingness to flock to Texas to see their favorite, or soon to be favorite bands. SXSW may swell the population of Austin by about ten times, but according to Jim, the vibe is really the same that weekend as on any given Monday night.
Puma (yes, the shoe company) is turning 60 years old and will be celebrating right here in Chicago with a party at the Metro. The party will have free food and (of course!) birthday cake, along with DJs and drinks.
Retro rockers The Bravery will be headlining the event. They may not be the most original band (think Franz Ferdinand + New Order), but the show will certainly be high energy and entertaining. I've never seen them live before, but I hear they have a pretty intense stage presence. If you're into heavy synths and catchy guitar hooks, you'll most likely enjoy this. Plus, it's free! What have you got to lose?
The party is happening on Wednesday, December 10th at 9 pm at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark Street. The concert is free, but you must pick up a ticket beforehand at the Puma Store, 1051 N. Rush Street. Throw on your best kicks and head over there ASAP as there are a limited number of tickets available. The show is 18+. Email info@puma.com/bday48 for more details.
Don't listen to the rumor mill on this one — there are definitely still tickets left for the Kid Sister show at the Metro Wednesday night. On your way to the visit with the fam come Thursday? You can head out the night before and head off some of those Thanksgiving calories with some seriously fun dancing. Kid Sister's debut album Dream Date doesn't hit the shelves until January, but her single "Get Fresh" is already blowing up the airwaves (web and otherwise). She'll be celebrating the release of the tune tonight in her hometown. What better way is there to do it? None.
Kid Sister takes the stage Wednesday night, November 26 at the Metro with DJ duo Flosstradamus and mashup kings The Hood Internet opening. It's a trio of Chicago talent! The show is all-ages and the music gets going at 7pm. Tickets are $16, but if you're quick, and email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject line "Get Fresh" you and friend could be on your way to the show for free! Update: We have our winners! Congrats to Eric and Catherine!
The folks at Subterranean are smart. They know if they're going to get a crowd in on Thanksgiving Eve they should probably go after those who will be dining here over the feast filled holiday. They also know that to get people out that night they'd better book a pretty exciting show.
Maybe something involving dancing Pilgrims? Something celebrating various kitchen utensils? Well isn't it lucky we have a band like Skybox right here in town to fit the the bill! This Wednesday they're playing a 17+ show promoted by the video below, dancing pilgrims included.
A small crowd was huddled into the Metro on Friday night, huddled together in the center of the room after begrudgingly dropping off their outer layers at the coat check. The crowd huddled closer once The Acorn took the stage, drawn either to the rope lights that adorned their mic stands or the chance to generate more heat.
The five young Canadians launched into the most polite set of indie rock to feature two drummers at the same time. A pair of mandolins were passed around the band, and it seemed that all six of the gents were taking turns at nearly every instrument in their collection. The girl at my side summed them up best as "homework rock". Aside from a couple of peaks, the band played a consistent and mellow set, leaving the crowd to decent applause.
By ten, the crowd had nearly doubled, and after the usual wait, Marty from XRT came out to introduce...Joey Burns and a lap guitar player? Joey sang an impromptu ditty about Chicago, and declared that because his fingers were blue from the cold, he would sing "Bisbee Blue". As the final words repeated, he shifting into introductions — John Convertino and the rest of Calexico were here after all, thank god — (no offense Joey, but we need the whole package).
The Congress Theater may be huge, but I still went into the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival Saturday afternoon wondering how the festival's organizers were going to fit everything they had promised into an indoor space. Let me assure you, each inch of the theater was utilized, with music pouring out of every nook and cranny. Still, I never felt cramped, and concert-goers were allowed to wander around the different stages and booths with ease. With two stages of music plus bands playing in the balcony, a comedy troupe, marching band, delicious food, art and jewelry vendors, and dancers, there was something entertaining happening at every moment to satisfy each member of the diverse crowd. Best of all? The festival was 100 percent independent, meaning you weren't bombarded with banners for cell phone companies, beer companies, or electronics stores everywhere you turned. One thing is for certain - music festivals aren't just for summer anymore.
See additional pictures from the festival after the jump. (The Avett Brothers pictured above)
Tonight's Smashing Pumpkins concert at the Auditorium Theater has officially been postponed until Monday, December 8th. Word is Billy Corgan has a pretty killer cold right now. All tickets purchased for tonight's show will be honored for the December 8th concert, which will still be located at the Auditorium Theater.
If you are like me and already trying to avoid set list spoilers like the plague, be prepared to steer clear of Pumpkin-related websites for an additional two weeks. For the rest of you, make sure to take advantage of the inevitable onslaught of tickets available below face value on Craigslist and eBay.
One of my favorite joints in town, Metro, just announced this evening that their guest for their New Years Eve show will be no other than The Dandy Warhols.
Best known for their mix of electro pop infused with psychedelic rock, The Dandy Warhols have been kicking out the jams for the past 12 years and were the focus of the wonderful and award-winning 2004 documentary Dig!
Tickets are $55 in advance, which isn't too shabby for a New Years Eve event. If you have a whole group you can splurge for the lovely $500 VIP table, which includes 4 tickets, 4 seats, 4 limited-edition posters and 4 drink tickets per person. The show is 18+ and if you like ringing in 2009 staring at a dreamy hunk of rock god, I'd get a ticket. Lead singer Courtney Taylor-Taylor (yes, two Taylors) definitely has a way with the ladies, and for others that prefer the female kind, you can still rock out to some good tunes. Tickets are available through Metro's website or at the venue box office.
Female rappers have always received a lot of flak. Despite the effort of many artists to reform the hip hop scene, misogyny and aspersion still remain commonplace. Perhaps that's one of the reasons Chicago rapper Melisa Young is such a breath of fresh air. Instead of grumbling about beefs, she'd rather have everyone going wild on the dance floor. Known as Kid Sister, she blew up on the radar almost overnight after the release of her single "Pro Nails". Also featured in the single is Chicago's own Kanye West, whom you may have heard of. Since then, she's been busy popping up on magazine covers, getting interviewed, and working on Dream Date, her debut album.
Getting your fingernails done, telephones, and beepers--these are just some of the finer things in life that Kid Sister focuses her rhymes on. They help define Kid Sister as a carefree party starter rather than just another female rapper people compare to Missy Elliot. Fans love her upbeat personality, hip fashion sense, and catchy beats. To an extent, Kid Sister is a throwback to old school hip hop acts that focused on having fun as opposed to east coast-west coast rivalries. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince immediately come to mind.
If you're planning on hitting up the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival this weekend, you're going to want to take a look at this. The final schedule has been released (finally) and as expected, it looks like it's going to be a blast from start to finish. Check out our preview here.
SHOW SCHEDULE
*2 Stages, a Balcony, 18 Acts, and Costumed Marching Band "Environmental Encroachment" parading throughout the venue at impromptu times.
MAIN STAGE 12:30-1:15 - Donnie Biggins
1:15-1:30 - Tangleweed
1:30-2:15 - Dollar Store
2:15-2:45 - Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe "Cell Camp"
2:45-3:30 - Billy Childers
3:30-4:00 - Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe "Cell Camp"
4:00-4:45 - Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
4:45-5:15 - Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe "Cell Camp"
5:15-6:15 - Majors Junction
6:15-6:45 - Tangleweed/Chicago Sketch Comedy Troupe "Cell Camp"
6:45-7:45 - Ha Ha Tonka
7:45-8:15 - The Giving Tree Band
8:15-9:45 - David Grisman Quintet
9:45-10:15 - The Giving Tree Band
10:15-However Long They Want - The Avett Brothers
JamBase's 312 PAVILION STAGE
Noon-12:45 - Blue Room Hero
1:00-1:45 - Cobalt & the Hired Guns
2:00-2:45 - Lindsey O'Brien Band & Friends
3:00-3:45 - Mike Mangione
4:00-4:45 - Jessica Lee
5:00-5:45 - How Far to Austin
6:00-6:45 - Blue Mother Tupelo
7:00-8:00 - Blackdog
The festival is tomorrow at the Congress Theatre, and there are still tickets available for $31 here.
Skanking, crowd surfing, limbs flailing, spending almost as much of the show leaping around and from the stage as planted on the floor banging out licks. When they first hit the scene in 1985, Fishbone were the sort of band that could only have come about under certain odd and unique auspices. Fist coming together in junior high school, they were initially just a bunch of rambunctious kids who wanted to make some noise by blowing some horns and banging on trash-can lids.
As a group of young brothers (in both the literal and figurative sense), the Fishbone crew had obviously grown up knee-deep in the funk of James Brown, the P-Funk family, the Isleys, Curtis Mayfield and such. But hailing from south central Los Angeles, they'd also gained exposure to a plethora of other types of music via L.A.'s club circuit and thriving punk culture -- all of which resulted in Fishbone coming up with their own polychromatic purée of hard rock, metal, punk, ska, reggae, funk and soul.
Theirs was the sort of wtf, strange musical brew that sometimes thrived in the fragmented and stylistically promiscuous margins of the 1980s music scene, and which -- more bafflingly -- would occasionally get signed to a major label deal in that era. Over the next eight years, they'd release four albums via Columbia, graze the Billboard charts, net a little airtime on MTV, land themselves a sizable "crossover" cult audience, and earn a reputation as the one of the world's funkiest and most energetic live bands.
Suburban hometown heroes Fall Out Boy are heading home next month to celebrate the release of their new album Folie à Deux. The band is partnering up with Fuse TV for a December 2nd concert at The Chicago Theatre, which Fuse will tape and premier December 16th at 9:00 PM EST to coincide with the release of Fall Out Boy's album earlier that day.
Folie à Deux is the follow up to their 2007 release Infinity on High, which sold to date 1.3 million copies worldwide. I'm not a math whiz, but that adds up to a lot of skinny jeans and eye liner, and is pretty impressive for a band that started as a side project fueled by teenage mall rat angst.
The new album promises a few surprise guest, including the confirmed inclusion of Elvis Costello on one of the new tracks, making this a collaboration of two bands I wouldn't have thought I would ever mention in the same breath.
Fall Out Boy has consistently released a stream of sugary pop punk tracks that although sometime sophomoric in their nature, always possess the qualities of a hit. I sometimes find a FOB track sneaking up on my car stereo, and you can't help wanting to belt along with the earnest vocals of Patrick Stump and feel like a pop punk kid all over again.
Relive some youthful exuberance and welcome the hometown boys back to Chicago on December 2nd at The Chicago Theatre. Select tickets go on sale at Friday November 28 at 10:00 AM for $10 via Ticketmaster. There will be a two ticket minimum/maximum per order. The majority of tickets will be available at The Chicago Theater box office only on the day of the show on a first come, first serve basis.
Glenn Kotche is the drummer for a little Chicago rock band you might have heard of called Wilco. What you may not know, is that Wilco is just one of Kotche's many projects.
Kotche joined Wilco in 2001, right before the band went rogue (sound-wise and label-wise) with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Its no surprise that Wilco took an innovative turn at that time, when you consider Kotche's background and other projects. He was in the experimental rock trio Loose Fur with Jeff Tweedy and Jim O'Rourke when Tweedy asked him to join Wilco. Currently, he makes up half of the jazz experimental duo On Fillmore with Darin Gray. He also recently collaborated with fellow local Andrew Bird for one of Bird's upcoming albums. And on top of all this, right now he is busy recording a new album with Wilco.
As if that wasn't enough to keep your plate full, Kotche has a burgeoning solo career of his own. In 2006 he released his third solo album, Moblie (Nonesuch Records). His creative exploration of rhythm and the space between is nothing you would expect and incredibly intriguing. It's also diverse, from the ambient title track "Mobile Parts 1 & 2" to the intense jam beats on "Projections of (what) Might."
Tonight he appears with indie classical group eighth blackbird at Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph Dr.), where they will perform works from Mobile, and Kotche himself will perform a solo set. What can you expect? Lots of unorthodox percussion instruments and a departure from rhythm you're used to hearing.
Two-thirds of Hey Champ originated from Rockford, therefore dooming the trio to a lifetime of Cheap Trick comparisons. Perhaps that's a small price to pay when considering their newfound success. Hey Champ was recently signed to Lupe Fiasco's 1st and 15th label, instantly catapulting them to "up-and-comer" status. They've also been touring with Lupe and blogging about the difficulty and excitement of it all.
So what's the big deal about these guys, anyways? For one, their music is a refreshingly catchy mélange of indie pop, rock, and dreamy synth sounds. Hey Champ manages to capture the "I just want to boogie" synthesizer sound and fuses it with a sleek guitar and drums that get your head bobbing. The end result will get just about anyone dancing in no time, including your grandma. Additionally, Hey Champ continues to work on their DJ skills. It's a safe bet to assume that their experience with banging dance anthems contributes to their musical versatility. Expect for these guys to remain cutting edge for a while.
If you're like me, when you hear the term "music festival" you'll automatically think of relaxing on the lawn in a sea of people, lapping on sunscreen as you squint to catch a glimpse of some of your favorite artists. This Saturday, KingTello Presents (a recently formed alliance of Chicago promoters and producers) will integrate elements of the traditional summer music festival into a more intimate setting fit for the winter months as they host the inaugural Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival at the Congress Theater. The festival will not only offer 12 hours and 2 stages showcasing two genres of music that have heavily influenced modern indie rock, folk, and Americana, but will also include improv comedy, a live-art exhibition and indoor gallery, DJs, raffles, a marching band, and an indoor smoking lounge. Additionally, the concert will be filmed by Wiggle Puppy Productions for use as a feature concert documentary and live album to be available as a digital download.
With our city's thriving independent music scene and rich history in creating a unique blues sound, the festival would not be complete without some local talent. Chicago-based blues label Alligator Records and roots-rock label Bloodshot Records are teaming up and sharing a bill for the first time at the festival to bring some homegrown flavor into the mix. Bloodshot artists Ha Ha Tonka and Dollar Store will be performing at the fest, while Alligator Records is contributing classic Chicago Blues artist Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials. Oak Part artist Donnie Biggins, winner of Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival's "Last Banjo Standing" contest, will be kicking off the festival's main stage at 12:30 PM.
The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival takes place this Saturday, November 22nd, at the Congress Theater, 2135 N Milwaukee Ave. The music runs from 11am-midnight and tickets are $31 (through Ticketweb). A portion of each ticket sale is donated to the Saving Tiny Hearts Society, which benefits the research of congenital heart defects. The show is all ages.
Keep reading for a full schedule along with our three picks for the must-see artists at the fest, plus a chance to win yourself a pair of tickets.
Minneapolis hip hop duo Atmosphere has been around the block. Slug and DJ/producer Ant have risen to the top of the underground hip hop scene over the years and today remain immensely successful. Hardcore fans will remember discovering 1997's Overcast! among stacks of other CDs at their local hip hop music shop and trying to get their friends to listen to it instead of Master P. MC Spawn (aka Rek The Heavyweight) lent his lyrical swordsmanship to the album, giving it a notably different feel. The result was a collection of infectiously dark and sleepy beats fused with introspective lyrics and an old school rhyming style that helped Atmosphere garner respect among the hip hop community.
Fast forward a decade or so. Master P is long gone, but Atmosphere is still trucking along and is known by anyone who calls him or herself a fan of hip hop music. This year's When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold may sport a higher production value and crisper sound than Atmosphere's debut, but fans still can't get enough. In fact, the album peaked at #5 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Ever since emerging from the acid jazz/rare-groove scene of early '90s London, The Herbaliser have been serving up a top-notch blend of dusted beats, downtempo vibes, and cinematic soul. At the core of the outfit, the duo of DJ Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry have worked with a revolving door ensemble of musicians and vocalists -- as well as teaming up with notable indie hip-hop emcees like Roots Manuva, MF Doom, and frequent collaborator Jean Grae. After a 10-year run with the Ninja Tunes label, the Herbaliser's new album, Same As It Never Was, was recently released on the Studio !K7 imprint.
The album's kick-off, title track -- building off a horn-section riff reminiscent of "Hold On, I'm Comin'" -- hits the mark that the band's aiming for these days and gives the listener an ideal taste of what to expect. While there's still some traces of The Herbaliser's trademark filmic tendencies breezing in now and again (check the glitzy Mancini-esque swing of "Amores Bongo"), this time Teeba and Wherry have crafted a polished and floor-friendly LP -- one that's pointedly more steeped in the fat, rich sounds of throwback roadhouse soul than, say, those of '60s spy-movie soundtracks. A decade-plus on, the band has not only kept it's vibe, but has proven that it still has a few tricks up its sleeves.
The Herbaliser is currently touring stateside to support Same As It Never Was, bringing with them their new vocalist Jessica Darling and a full band -- including a full horn section. They'll be playing at Darkroom this coming Tuesday evening, headlining on a bill that also includes Shala, and DJ Intel and Striz. 2210 W. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 the night of, and doors open at 8 PM.
If you haven't heard Nada Surf's new album yet, then you're probably not alone. The band has been plugging away ever since 1992 but their past two records had to be released on an independent label after they were dropped by Elektra in 2000. This has made getting their sometimes rocking, sometimes soothing songs to the public at large a tad more difficult. Case in point, their latest effort, Lucky was released all the way back in February & it's just recently being passed around dorms and break rooms.
The album is a consistent release, at times soft and calming & at other times, abrasive and rocking. Throughout a listening, though, you'll be reminded that these guys have been playing together now for over 10 years and they know what they're doing. Again, the key word here is consistent. The highlight of the album, for me was one of the last tracks, "The Fox." The track begins with what can only be labeled as a haunting, almost lethargic bit of music. Once the lyrics kick in, the scariness is just ratched up another notch. "We're in a different war
With ourselves, and with some of you," sings Matt Caws and you have no choice but to believe him.
Nada Surf is playing Saturday, November 29th at The Metro. It's an 18+ show and tickets are $20. The show starts at 9. I'll be there with a review to follow.
Some of us look back on our teenage years with anguish and humiliation. Others think of high school as the glory years (yikes!). Michael Dunlap looks back on this period with humor, writes poppy tunes about it and tours the country armed with just a guitar and an iPod. Under the stage name Totally Michael, he sings about the merits of the cheerleading squad vs. the drill team ("the hardest choice you'll ever make"), crushing on Winona Ryder ("I'm not a high-class retail outlet / But I'd love for you to steal my heart"), and stealing your girlfriend ("When you look away she'll be all over me"), a throwback to the childhood of nerds everywhere. Creating high-energy electro beats with a pop-punk influence, Totally Michael sounds like a mixture of Atom & His Package and Matt & Kim. I must warn you, take one listen to any track on his debut self-titled LP and you won't be able to get it out of your head for days.
Totally Michael will be playing Sunday at the Abbey Pub, 3420 West Grace. Tickets are $12 and doors open at 8 PM. The show is 18 & over. He'll be opening for nerdcore hip hop artist and Libertyville native MC Chris. If you don't take yourself too seriously, remember what it's like to be an awkward teenager and want to dance your pants off Sunday night, you'll definitely want to be there.
Normally, you wouldn't find me listening to a pop-industrial album. It's just a segment of music that I don't appreciate all too often. I may have just changed my mind about that, though & it's all thanks to Skinny Puppy's Nick Ogre and his new album. His group, ohGr, have been going strong for quite a while now and the music has really evolved. Nowadays, it's a superb mix of metal, industrial, pop, electronic, and something very close to being considered spoken word. If you're scratching your head and asking yourself how this could possibly be something that you'd want to listen to, then you're not alone. A couple of trips through the Devils in my Details, though, you'll be wondering why you never listened to this stuff before. The album, simply, rocks. The most interesting and endearing bits of the album, for me, are the brief poetry-laden interludes, such as one gem titled "Feelin' Chicken." The kicker of that particular track is the hook: "You're killing me with bacon, America!" which Ogre manages to punch in just the requisite manner.
Nick Ogre will be bringin the ohGr sound to the Double Door Sunday Nov. 30, tickets are $20. Chris Connelly will be opening up. If you can't make the show, there's another way to get your dose of Ogre; he's in the incredibly hyped, Paris Hilton featuring, goth musical, REPO! The Genetic Opera.
Tom Schraeder is 24 years old, but sings with the sorrow of a man twice his age. Upon first listening to his new EP, Lying Through Dinner, I found it a nice little Americana album, but it wasn't until a few more listens that I was really gripped by the heart in his songwriting. There is some real emotion in this album. There is heartache, a couple of foot-stomping singalong moments, and some passages that can make you feel the lost hope of someone drinking alone in an empty bar at closing time. Tom has a talent for evoking the feeling you've been there before, even if you haven't. He is such an excellent songwriter, that while you feel the hurt and yearning in his songs, he is still a joy to listen to. And somehow, with all the pain experienced in his lyrics and acclaim he's received, he still manages to keep a cool head.
Tom Schraeder & His Ego are back in Chicago for one show this Saturday at Schubas before heading out on tour. It's a record release show and everyone will receive a free copy of Lying Through Dinner with the purchase of advance tickets. Watch the promo video after the jump to get a little preview of the first song on the album, "Needle Will Bite."
It's hard to try to explain Damion Romero's awesomeness without first starting by saying that he built his own automobile -- a 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner -- from scratch. Said automobile can be heard on his self-released 2003 3" CD titled Idle. It's just that -- an unprocessed recording of 20 minutes in the driveway with the Roadrunner. Idling. It happens to be one of the 2000s' finest experimental/noise documents, a constantly engaging series of rumbles and clatterings, more persnickety in tone than any car you've heard. Despite its unconventional name, his '90s project, Speculum Fight, redefined elegant, monolithic audio (the low-end theory, mostly) at a time when deliberate filthiness in avant garde sound was the law of the land.
But that's Damion. He's a builder, a tinkerer. He approaches sound with a with a scientist's intuition and love of play. He builds his own musical equipment, and has a comprehensive knowledge of acoustic properties, like Alvin Lucier without the resultant academic stodginess. As such, his live performances often have a strong art installation quality to them, but a sound that tends to be fuller, more emotional than most installation fare. Witness the Feedback in a Lover's Telegraph CD, which utilized a long wire stretched in a room, a bucket with some piezo mics, and a series of reverberant objects to induce wave upon wave of self-perpetuating deep-string excitations.
This Saturday (November 15) at 9 p.m., Romero turns Lampo (216 W. Chicago Avenue, 2nd Floor) into a highly reverberant space with a new performance created especially for the location. Using tone generators and a devices known as geophones, which are used to pick up vibrations in the ground. Using these devices with other equipment meant to generate internal feedback, Romero will essentially play the space itself, drawing out the vibrations of the walls and floors while sending the resultant sounds back into themselves, building a perpetual feedback loop that will surround the listener with all manner of physically and emotionally-charged low end sonics. If you haven't been to the new Lampo space yet, this is a great opportunity to get a feel for the new location, as every square inch of it will be put to the test.
Brooklyn duo Matt & Kim are headed to Chicago, and they like us so much, they're settling in at Wicker Park's Subterranean for a two-night stint [Update: their Wednesday night show has just been canceled. That means you've only got one chance to catch them this tour. BUT tickets purchased for Wednesday night's show will be honored Tuesday]. That's right, the adorable, electric pair are going to bang around the room upstairs Tuesday and Wednesday, with a sweet gang of openers to boot. Tonight, get there early to hear Chicago's Vyle as well as Hollywood Holt, and Texas' Best Fwends open.
It may be getting dark and cold early now, but Matt & Kim surely won't disappoint the crowd. I don't know where these kids get their energy from, but I want it in my coffee every morning. Their sound is part crash bang, part giddy pop thing. If there ever were a cure for the onslaught of winter weather in Chicago, these two are it.
Tickets are $10, each night. Tonight's show gets going at 9pm (17+) and Wednesday's starts early at 6pm with a special all-ages night. Subterranean is located at 2011 W. North Ave. in the heart of Wicker Park.
Quick like a bunny! If you're the first to email us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) come with the subject line, "M&K", you'll win a pair of tickets to Tuesday night's show at Subterranean. Update! We have a winner! Congrats to Jeff!
Grails, a Portland-based quartet concerned with the deep, dark night of the curiosity of ritual, shamble their way into the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western) on Tuesday, armed with booming drums, zithers, electronics, and other devices meant to levitate pyramids and scrolls and ankhs and other such ancient imponderables. The band's web site is stuffed with totemic images, including plenty of mountains, but two things really put the band's sound into modern-day hip perspective: 1) their recent tour with Silver Apples, advertised on the splash page, and 2) their links, which include portals to like-minded hobbits like OM, Neurosis, Truman's Water, Jandek, and Eluvium. Shake, strain, serve, enter rebirth.
On the home front, Chicago brings its two finest next-world ambassadors, with the motionless-sky guitar orchestrations of Lichens (plays second) dragged into the ground by Locrian's aggressive shouting-at-the-ground black metal-esque primevalism (opening act).
Imagine the biggest house party you've even been to, and the best DJ you've ever heard is playing every single one of your favorite songs and guilty pleasures. Now multiply that by a gazillion. That might come close to matching the excitement at Congress Theater on Saturday night.
Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) is not a DJ, he's an artist, a master at mixing together snippets of songs that already exist, and that you've already heard into a new, completely different animal. His latest album, Feed The Animals, is a mashup of samples running into and over each other from Nirvana to Roy Orbison (?!?!) along with over 300 others.
It was a party from the moment you walked in. There was a DJ set up in the lobby blasting you in the face with music and stage smoke right as you entered. It was a bit of a shock at first, coming in from 30-degree temperatures outside, but it quickly wore off once you got into the theater. I noticed once inside, that all the seats on the floor level had been removed making for maximum dance-floor. A couple of minutes after Gillis took the stage and introduced himself, the confetti popped and ridiculousness ensued. A mass of party-goers rushed on to the stage, and there were guys running across the stage shooting toilet paper streamers into the audience. Gillis mixes his shows live in the midst of fans dancing almost on top of him, this time playing a lot of familiar clips from Feed the Animals, with a lot of new, impromptu mashup material as well.
In 2005, following his success as the frontman of Orange County's Something Corporate, Andrew McMahon was set to release the first album of his side project, Jack's Mannequin. On the day the last song of the album was remastered, McMahon was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The album, Everything in Transit, was still released as planned on the same day McMahon received a bone marrow transplant from his sister.
Three years later, McMahon is cancer-free and has a story to tell. His new album, The Glass Passenger, captures a darker and more introspective side of him than what we have seen in his previous albums. Filled with piano ballads fueled by desperation, struggle, and most importantly, hope (particularly "Swim" and "Caves"), Jack's Mannequin set themselves apart from the usual pop punk archetype. McMahon is just happy to still be here, and we're happy to have him.
Meanwhile, McMahon has also started his own label, Airport Tapes and Records, who signed Chicago pop rockers Treaty of Paris last year. Jack's Mannequin and Treaty of Paris play together on Sunday night at the Bottom Lounge, 3206 N. Wilton Ave, at 5 pm. Fun, featuring former lead singer of The Format, Nate Ruess, is also on the bill. The show is SOLD OUT, although there are a few tickets available on Craigslist.
Ghostland Observatory is made up of two guys from Austin. Thomas Turner dances around the stage wearing a get-up that looks like American Indian meets '70's hippie while Aaron Behrens wears a Dracula cape and plays the drums. There are colorful laser lights everywhere, and that's just their stage show. The title of their latest album, Robotique Majestique is a good indication of what the soundtrack is like: electro pop of the future, a very groovy future.
They play the Metro tonight with DJ sets by Mister Wolf. 3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-0203. 18 & up. Tickets are $25, get them at the Metro's website. Show starts at 9pm.
Regardless of the content of his lyrics it is hard to take Holding Mercury frontman Matt Hoffer seriously. For starters his music sounds like a slightly glammed-up Gin Blossoms cover, but it is mostly because of his national television debut. Yes, Matt Hoffer was a contestant on Rock Star Supernova. Well, if you are like me and don't remember or have never heard of Rock Star Supernova, a quick check of Wikipedia reveals that it aired back in 2006 and was hosted by the lovely Brooke Burke and Dave Navarro (how quickly they fall!). Matt was able to perform "Yellow" by Coldplay and "Planet Earth" by Duran Duran before being eliminating the first week of the contest. Supernova's loss is Holding Mercury's gain. There is a certain strength in Hoffer's vocal and an uncommon bit to his lyrics.
Holding Mercury consists of Andrew Titchenal, Jason Batchko, Ashok Warrier, and Matt Hoffer. Their latest album, Downfall of An Empire (Bad Nero Records), is an album about struggle, conflict, and political turmoil. The highlight for me, as I sit here in a beige cubical and down my fifth cup of coffee, is "Stuck in a Box". It's an arena rock anthem for the underpaid and overworked and it kicks off this ten track mainstream melodrama. The package is shiny, the music is clear and fast-paced, and it is all paart od the product. The cover and interior artwork for the album was down by fellow Chicago rocker and artist David Downs, and is like a beautiful mini-graphic novel about the downfall of life and times.
The crowd was definitely dedicated for the Swedish psych-pop rockers Dungen show last night at The Bottom Lounge. For one, it was a school night, and the relatively young crowd looked like they could have been skimping on some mid-term studies in favor of hitting up the late set by the quartet. Still, it was a joyous group of music fans, seemingly familiar with Dungen's entire back catalog of albums (including their latest album, 4). I still can't wrap my mouth around pronouncing the Swedish lyrics, but the band's simple banter with the crowd was so charming, I nearly blushed. The four-piece worked their way around a solid set of both long psychedelic jams and short pop originals, with astonishingly beautiful projection by lead singer and multi-instrumentalist Gustav Ejstes, backup vocals and bass by Mattias Gustavsson, superior rhythm guitar work by Reine Fiske, and lovely percussion by new drummer Johan Holmegard. The group plays like a band of brothers, linked telepathically to each other, working in unison to deliver a lovely evening of music. At the end of the night, Gustavsson took his "traditional" photo of the crowd, and we all squeezed together to try to get a hand or eye or elbow in the shot. I have to say, I agree with their declaration to the crowd, "I'm so happy you're here."
Here's our visual scrapbook of the sold out King Khan & BBQ Show at the Bottom Lounge. The duo headlined the venue's Halloween party which also marked the Lounge's 6th Anniversary. The crowd was ramped up, and some slam dancing and surfing ensued. Overall, an appropriately rockin' time was had by all. Photos by Kirstie Shanley.
Given the unruly and eccentric sonic universe that the Brooklyn quartet Gang Gang Dance have inhabited these past 5 years, it seems fairly fitting that they'd title their new, fourth album after a patron saint of the abject and afflicted. Specifically Saint Dymphna -- the martyred Celtic pagan princess who protects those who suffer from a variety of mental illnesses and neural disorders, epilectics and sleepwalkers, as well as victims of rape, incest and sexual abuse; blesser of families and institutions who strive to shield or heal the damaged from the psychic shocks and traumas of life.
With Saint Dymphna, GGD have taken a few steps toward what some would consider "accessibility." Gone are the avant jaunts into abstraction and the subsuming reverb-drenched haze that murked up some of their prior recordings. Instead, the band's sounding much more polished and linear - offering a new batch of material that twists along on serpentine, trans-global rhythms, foregrounded melodies, and awash in shimmering synth textures. And while the album is being touted as the band's "pop" or "club" move, at its core one finds the band still traveling along the arc of their own delirious and celebratory Fourth-world urban psychedelia.
Gang Gang Dance are currently touring to support Saint Dymphna, a tour that'll probably prove extensive given that the group was recently picked up for international distribution by the prestigious UK label, Warp Records. They're playing the Empty Bottle this Monday night, headlining on a bill that also features touring companion and Kill Rock Stars recording artist Marnie Stern. Tirra Lirra get things started in the opening slot. 1035 N. Western Ave. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, and it all gets underway at 9:30 PM.
Even when I took that Ingmar Bergman film class in college, I didn't feel as compelled to learn Swedish as I do after listening to the latest album by the band Dungen. Pronounced "DOON-ghen" (or, so I've been told), the acclaimed outfit put out its fourth studio album, appropriately titled 4 this fall, and head to Chicago this coming weekend.
Listening to 4 I'm struck over an over how the lyrics, all in Swedish (granted, it's the band's native tongue), and all hardly even pronounceable by my lazy Southern tongue are simply gorgeous. Typing in a few phrases to an online translator, I discover simple lines, like the refrain in the track "Det Tar Tid" means (I think) "It takes time", which is a perfect answer to the song's breezy, yet straightforward structure. For once, I'm not hung up on memorizing lyrics (I can hardly wrap my mind around the words), but I'm focused on the progression of the songs, which is appropriate with Dungen's evolving music style on this album. Somewhere between psychedelic pop, folk music, Jethro Tull-ian flute ragas, and jam band guitar noodle, Dungen is kind of a delicious musical stew. There are piano, organ and perhaps even a xylophone in the mix, and it all works in this wonderful psych-pop melange.
Songs like "Fredag" (an instrumental piece) and "Samtidigit" with its psychedelic jams are perfect for nodding to on the train in the fall light, or rocking to as the band hits the stage this weekend at The Bottom Lounge. Tickets are $15 (adv) and $18 (door) and the show is 18+. Headdress, Chandeliers, and Life On Earth open.
Hey, hey! Right now, the first reader who writes us at contests (at) gapersblock (dot) com with the subject line "Swedish Fish!", will win a free copy of Dungen's album 4. Chop chop! UPDATE: We have a winner! Congrats to Jessica!
Can't decide what Halloween show to hit up? Here are a few ideas on what to hear at some of the music venues in Chicago:
Thursday, Oct. 30
The Abbey Pub: Pre-party your Halloween. Join a myriad of local acts as they don musical costumes to perform not as themselves! Performances include: B1G T1ME as Tom Waits, Jinx Titanix as Meatloaf, Canasta as The Decemberists, All City Affairs as George Michael, The Webstirs as Flaming Lips, The Delafields as Velvet Underground and The Getouts as Neil Young. Doors open at 8pm, show starts 8:30pm. Tickets $8 (adv) or $10 (door). 21+. The Abbey is located at 3420 W. Grace. 773-478-4408.
Friday, Oct. 31
The Bottom Lounge: Celebrate Halloween as well as The Bottom Lounge's 6th anniversary with King Khan & the BBQ Show. (Transmission will have a review with pictures from the hijinx on Nov. 1.) Opening: Women, CoCoComa, and The Goblins. Show 9pm, Tickets $10, 18+. The Bottom Lounge is located at 1375 W. Lake St. 312-666-6775.
The Metro. Get your Goth On at the Annual Nocturna All Hallow's Eve Ball with DJ Scary Lady Sarah. Sponsored by American Gothic Productions (and we don't mean pitchfork-carrying farmers, here). Tickets: $10 with costume, $15 without costume, 18+. Doors: 11pm / Show: 11pm. Tickets will be available at the door. The Metro is located at 3730 N. Clark St. 773-549-0203.
The Double Door: DD definitely doesn't take a break from its yearly musical costume show. This time around they're offering performances by: The Sleepers as Aerosmith, Blackbox as Michael Jackson, The Midnight Shows as Eddie Money, My Cold Dead Hand as The Cramps, The Slingerland Ride as Tom Waits. Tickets $10. Doors open 8pm, show 9pm. 21+. The Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-489-3160.
Sonotheque: Get your dance on at Sonotheque's Dark Wave Disco Halloween featuring The Villains and residents Trancid & Mark Gertz along with Kid Color. Hosted by PaulinChicago, with visuals by Panic Films. Party from 9pm-2am. Tickets at the door are $8 before 11pm, and $12 after 11pm. Sonotheque is located at 1444 W. Chicago Ave. 312-226-7600.
The Abbey Pub: The musical costume swap continues with a whole other lineup of acts. Performances include: Dead Electric as AC/DC, Bon Motts as Tom Petty, Fringe Benefits as The Cars, Phil Angottti as The Who, Nick Tremulis as The New York Dolls, John Aselin as Tommy James and the Shondel, and Avalanche Rescue Team as the Smiths. Doors open at 8pm, Tickets $8 (adv) or $10 (door). 21+. The Abbey is located at 3420 W. Grace. 773-478-4408.
Martyrs': Enjoy mid-EVIL themed tunes from Cealed Kasket with opening support by vlad the impaler (with Martyrs' owner Ray Quinn, booking guy Bruce Krippner, and veteran bartender Jon Van Bladel). Tickets $10 (adv or door), Show starts at 10pm. 21+. Martyrs' Pub is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-404-9494.
Darkroom: More dancy dancy at the Darkroom's Halloween party. It's Life During Wartime's Halloween Hellection dance party with resident DJs Bald Eagle and Mother Hubbard with very special guests Shout Out Out Out Out and San Serac. Doors open at 9pm, 21+. Tickets are $12 adv/door or $10 with costume at door. Prizes will be given for best costumes, along with candy and glow stick giveaways. Darkroom is located at 2210 W. Chicago Ave. 773-276-1411.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Darkroom: Get over your candy hangover with some nice Reggae at the Darkroom. Spinning is Tidal Wave with selector Slacky J and special guests. Enjoy fresh tunes and fresh dub plates. Doors open at 9pm. Tickets are $8 (cover after 11pm) 21+. Darkroom is located at 2210 W. Chicago Ave. 773-276-1411.
"We laughed so much our chests caved in" is an interesting way to begin an album, but it doesn't sound at all out of place on Roommate's We Were Enchanted. The electronic instrumentation plus the wonderful strings laid out like pop, indie-rock or even contemporary classical at times is what makes this album a pleasure to hear with surprises throughout. I've never heard a record before with so many out of left field instruments sounding like they're meant to be played at the same time. Who else is playing güiro and keytar on the same song? What about Game Boy and harpsichord? (With this in mind, I would love to know what "brownie*" means in the liner notes for "New Steam." Speaking of that tune, there are elements of it that are awfully close to "March of the Siamese Children" from The King & I.) The 8-minute title track encompasses many of the features that make this the fullest-sounding Roommate record yet, though it's the simple "Night" (strangely enough, also the one that almost doesn't sound like it belongs) and closer "Isn't Radio" that stick out most. Kent Lambert and company have created an album that takes over the air and captures the listener's imagination.
Note: Roommate's Kent Lambert wrote in explaining the brownie: "The brownie is a homemade musical instrument created by David S. Moré (a sound artist/musician once based in Baltimore who now lives in Chicago). It's basically a Brownie Super 8 camera box with metal springs mounted on/in it and two contact mics--one suspended in a spring inside the box and the other stuck to an inside surface of the box. The mics output to 1/4" jacks that can be connected to mixers, pedals, etc. The springs can be struck with mallets (Mr. Moré made his from barbecue skewers and superballs) to make deep, gonglike sounds. Also mounted on the top of the box are three steel strings which can be tuned to various spooky notes." Also, the above photo should be credited to Sarah Gross.
Roommate plays at the Bottom Lounge this Sunday, October 26, with the Judy Green, Jeff Harms and Rock Falls. Admission is $9 at the door. (That's $2.25 per artist.) The show begins at 8PM.
What would the result be if three talented musicians allowed there ideas and unique sounds to come together in moments of spontaneous exploration? Not exactly like free jazz, but a sonic exploration, an adventure in song and form. Chicago's Pillars and Tongues, Evan Hydzik, Elizabeth Remis, and Mark Trecka, find as much joy and satisfaction in the process as they do they product, but as a listener you get a strong sense of soul in their experiments. As its core, I imagine you could call this gospel music, but only in the most primal sense of the word.
Last week this trio released Protection, their debut for Chicago's Contraphonic, a four track conversation, a musical dialog, pushing the idea of structure to its furthest levels. First performing together years ago as part of Static Films, on stage they execute both prepared and improvised work, responding to the environments in which they are playing. Tonight they make one last appearance in Chicago before spending the next month touring France and Italy.
Chicago's Tirra Lirra released their debut ep Breathe Bodies back in August of 2007 on Static Station Records. They mix traditional rock with pounding, almost tribal, rhythms, modular synthesizers and samplers. Chris Mathis, Jared Sheldon, Tony Janas, Brian Hank Henry have been playing shows around the city for the past two years, and with each performance improving on the primal nature of their sound. Last week the boys found themselves in New York playing with fellow Chicago outfit Magical, Beautiful. Not being in a band myself, I can only image the feeling of being on tour, and introducing a whole new audience to your live sound. When I asked Tirra Lirra about their experience in New York, they had this to say, "Our show this past weekend @ Death By Audio in Brooklyn was blessed by a 10 story neon VOTE OBAMA sign on the building next door, and our first encounter with THOTH of the Angel Tunnel in Central Park. Expect us to channel one or both on Saturday at the Bottom Lounge".
Tirra Lirra will be performing the Saturday (Oct. 25th) at The Bottom Lounge with Chicago's Clique Talk and Fujiya & Miyagi. The show starts at 9:00pm, and tickets are $15. This is an 18+ show.
Well, not it, per se, but Diplo's coming to the Abbey Pub Thursday, Oct. 23, which means plenty of opportunity to dance your face off. The renowned DJ, whose work has led to collaborations with Santogold and Martina Topley-Bird, will be joined by Abe Vigoda, Boy 8 Bit, and Telepathe. Abe Vigoda (No, not that one. I wish.), for one will be promoting their new album, the edgy-and-happy-about-it Skeleton. Should be a good show, yo.
It was three years in the making, but this past May Chicago's The Atomica Project released their sophomore album, Grayscale. It is a beautiful album filled with down tempo electronic beats, and unlike their debut, a heavy dose of live instrumentation. Wade Alin is the man behind the programming, and when I talked him back in June he had this to say about Grayscale. "The concept of the album is definitely inspired by Chicago and all of its climatic highs and lows. The Midwest in general has some top notch storms. They're dramatic and sometimes unforgettable." Dramatic and unforgettable much like the vocals Lauren Cheatham, who has been compared to Tracey Thorn on more than one occasion. Lauren's voice has a certain strength in its delivery, but she also has the ability to adjust to softest moments of the tracks. The lead single from Grayscale is called "Gravity", and it is perfect example of what this duo has to offer.
The Atomica Project will be performing TONIGHT @ Darkroom with Woven and Panda Riot. The show starts at 8:00pm and the cover is $7.
Local trio and thrill Jockey recording artists Pit Er Pat aren't averse to playing home-town gigs, so chances are you might've caught them playing at the Hideout or elsewhere lately. In case you haven't, the word on the streets for a while has been that they've altered their sound recently -- specifically that frontwoman and vocalist Fay Davis-Jeffers has largely set her keyboard aside in favor of a guitar, and that the band's moved into territory that bears a "dub reggae influence." Judging from the band's new High Time CD, which releases on Thrill Jockey this week, there's more than a little truth to the rumor.
Yes, Pit Er Pat has largely abandoned their prior post-rock/fusion cocktail lounge sound; the one so richly crafted and fleshed-out via John McEntire's production of the band's last LP, 2006's Pyramids. What chiefly remains, however, are the band's frail, elusive melodies -- except now they're intertwined with some roots-rocker grooves that give drummer Butchy Fuego and bassist Rob Doran something meatier to tuck into. And the pair seems to enjoy themselves on tunes like "Evacuation Day" and "Copper Pennies" as they tie and untie various rhythmic knots and guide the tunes through unexpected and crafty transitions.
Has it been a while since you've seen a fun, wackadoo band? Well, I'm not promising anything, but there's a good chance Bearsuit will fit the bill. The UK sextet are touring in support of their latest album, OH:IO, which conjures up images of space suits, pep squads, and Camera Obscura. What I mean is, Bearsuit is twee enough for those who like to put hats on their cats, and yet is enough of a screamy freakshow to placate the irony-friendly ex-punkers. Featuring girl/boy vocals and styles ranging from space pop to electro-bop and punk rock, if anything, their performance should give you something to talk about the next day.
So you thought you had already met you folk-pop quota for month? Well, hopefully you can make an exception for the upbeat strum and squeal of Portland's Jared Mees. As the co-founder of Tender Loving Empire, a media and arts collective, a record label, a publishing company, a gallery, a concert production house and a custom screen printer, Jared was in control every piece of his second full-length album, Caffeine, Alcohol, Sunshine, Money (stream the album here). From the production to the incredible screen printing, this album is a perfect extension of the aesthetic TLE has been building over the last few years.
Accompanying Jared on the album and on the road is a collection musicians known as The Grown Children. There is percussion/drum work from Ezra Holbrook (The Decemberists, Dr. Theopolis), viola and string arrangements by Jordan Dykstra, (Marriage Records, Valet, Atlas Sound), accordion, piano and organ from Eric Gilbert (Finn Riggins), and vocals by Megan Spear as well as contributions from a host of others. Together these musicians play a fun brand of indie folk pop that when mixed with Jared's insightful and witty lyrics becomes quite addictive.
Who doesn't loves kittens and toy piano's? Well it is clear that singer/songwriter Russell Baylin is a fan, and as his latest band My My My prepares to release their first album, Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave, you can't help but smile at that cute little kitten. My My My claims to be suitable for fans of the supergroup New Pornographers, and that is not completely off target, but there are clearly a few more influences in Baylin's sound. His voice has a depth and clarity that is very distinctive and enjoyable, and when mixed with the beautiful harmonies of Sarah Snow the results are magnetic. A perfect example of this can be found on bouncy duet "Middle Age Hardware and Youthful Indiscretions", which has me spinning in circles and jumping up and down. Where the rhythms generally stay up beat, the mood of the album shifts between light and dark, but it can all be shiny kittens and toy pianos. Ultimately, Baylin is one of the strongest unsigned singer/songwriters that I have heard in quite sometime, and Little Cat Plays the Alpha Rave is an album worth checking out.
My My My will play a record release show for "Little Cat" this Saturday, October 11 at Subterranean with Baby Teeth and Oh My God. Doors open at 9:00 and the show begins at 9:30. Tickets are $12 and this is a 17 and over show.
It's not always easy to drag yourself to a show on a "school night." Yet when the show happens to be Jamie Lidell, it's worth the schlep. Wednesday night caught the British-born, now Berliner producer and neo-soul singer at Metro. If you ever get the chance, don't pass up this multi-talented performer who sings like a cross between Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse and flips out smooth and tasty beats across five tracks simultaneously. Overarching playful, Lidell's retro-future electronic soul fusion left a stamp of upbeat positivism on the audience, one that's hard to forget.
To understand Lidell just look at his pants. Long and flowing black-and-white striped cotton things, like pajama bottoms. Not so unlike those stocking caps you see in a Dr. Seuss story, only they were stocking pants, overflowing onto his funky pointy black shoes with silver buckles. And to complement this silliness Lidell had on a white tunic-like shirt. Clearly the guy doesn't take clothing seriously, almost like an afterthought. But boy can the guy sing. What Lidell creates onstage reflects the two halves of his musical identity — one part electronic music producer, the other part neo-soul singer. He switches between belting out songs with unabashed emotion, like "Another Day" and "Wait for Me" from his recently release album Jim, to performing in one-man band fashion, from his amalgam of equipment that included two Powerbooks, mixer, fader, sampler and more.
Audience members were of the fashionable, stylish variety. Band members kept the playful theme running high in various costumes — the saxophonist in a red, full-length kimono, guitarist wearing a white jumpsuit and cape. At one point during a particularly free wheeling jam, the drummer jumped down into the audience with a tambourine, rocking along with the boisterous audience. The feel good factor in a Lidell show overall infectious, you can't help but sing and dance along.
Robert Beatty is known primarily to many noiseniks as the electronic blood flowing through the band Hair Police. For many years, Beatty, an original member of the group, honed his craft within the band's tumultuous live shows and increasingly frightful live shows, fighting through the drums, guitar, and vocal vomit to conjure waves of shortwave attack signals and deep-space transmissions of fear and agony, coaxed out of low-tech and decidedly home-modified instruments.
As the group honed their nefarious crafts and grew more adept, Beatty's electronics, originally primitive and beepy (triggered by a primitive set of drum machine pads), grew increasingly assured and multi-tonal as he attacked his machines with renewed purpose. Along with his many other band projects, such as Eyes & Arms of Smoke and Sick Hour, Beatty inaugurated his solo project, Three-Legged Race, as an all-electronic ode to the final transmissions from a submarine, sinking deep into the sea with no hope of recovery. Furthermore, his work scoring for the films of Takeshi Murata further reinforces Beatty's desire to travel with equal confidence within academic or visceral music circles.
This Saturday (October 11), Lampo presents a program of Beatty's work as Three-Legged Race, debuting two new pieces, "Falling Order I and II," for the crowd. Devotees of Beatty's recent work will notice the word "order" as a recurring motif, such as the pieces on his highly acclaimed LP for Tone Filth, Living Order/Mourning Order. It suggests Beatty's redoubled commitment to compositional techniques, in direct contrast to his more improvisational gestures in Hair Police and other groups.
The new Lampo space is located at 216 W. Chicago Avenue. The show begins at 9 p.m., and admission is $12.
Make no mistake, the Chicago quartet Chandeliers are enamored with keyboards and tricky beats in a big way; but thankfully they don't have much truck with the sort of electro or that chincey, flat blog-house fare that's so glutted the indie market these past two years or so. Comprised of various members of local outfits like Icy Demons, Bronze, and Bablicon, they're one of many local projects that's spiraled out of the South Loop-based Shape Shoppe network. After numerous appearances about town and putting out a 3-song EP, Chandeliers have made their full-fledged recording debut with the recent stateside arrival of their debut LP, The Thrush.
With the opening track "Mr. Electric," Chandeliers lay their aces on the table, giving the listener a strong sense of what's in store. The music glides on a spacey shimmer inspired by vintage Italo-disco, with slight electro and synth-pop nuances billowing to the fore every now and again. The more crafty and complex underpinnings of the band's em-oh, however, reveal a deeper debt to early 70s jazz-fusion and astro-funk (a la Headhunters-era Herbie Hancock). Beneath all the sheen and shimmer, Chandeliers delight in the interplay of contrasts and balances -- the interplay of playing warm tones off versus cold, luster over grit, hefty riding shotgun with lite, and often floating crafty rhythmic shifts and sleights-of-hand against stark drones and subtle modulations.
At last night's My Morning Jacket show in Iowa City, singer Jim James fell headfirst into the crowd and was hospitalized. Tonight's Jim James solo performance at a Barack Obama Victory Fundraiser has been cancelled and My Morning Jacket's sold out Chicago Theater shows later this week have been postponed. There's no word yet on a rescheduling.
If you really need to see a show on Thursday and/or Friday, may I suggest STNNNG and Cougars at the Beat Kitchen, Kid, You'll Move Mountains and the Fake Fictions at the Bottom Lounge, Silver Jews at Metro or Stereolab at the Vic?
As Preston Lovinggood took the stage, acoustic guitar and white sweet towel in hand, he did not look the part. I don't know if it was the well-trimmed hair or the clean shaven face or maybe the sweater worn over a button-up shirt, but he really did not fit the look the of the rest of the band. He talked about how they were glad to be back in Chicago, and how they had spent a month here back February playing a residency at Schubas. Wild Sweet Orange then proceeded to play every song in their catalog, and completely blow the crowd of maybe 90 people away. After that I don't think anyone care what he looked. What draws you into the music of Wild Sweet Orange is the passion, energy, and sincerity that Preston brings to each and every song. Through out the performance the emotion was visible across his face and in his voice, and the band matches that intensity every step of the way. The first of two big surprises came as an electronic beat arose just before Preston launched into "Ten Dead Dogs", and it remained through out the song. It served as almost remix version of the original. The second surprise was the closing track. Preston asked the audience if they wouldn't if they closed on a softer note (having just played "Tilt"), and the crowd applauded the opening notes of "Sour Milk". What was interesting is the band joined in in full force half way through the song, and really rocked what it typically a quiet acoustic song. Preston thanked the crowd, and said everyone had made the launch of their fall tour an enjoyable one.
Opening the show was Chicago's Otter Petter, and they were extremely fun and entertaining. I had never fully understood the Ben Gibbard references until I saw Michael Pritchard perform live. The sound is as if Ben Gibbard had moved to Chicago and decided to play dusty bar room rock, and there is nothing wrong with that. After Otter Petter, Audrye Sessions changed the mood lighting with bright white Christmas lights. The California group filled the room with their effects and experiments. Every second of their performance was filled with sound, and some of those sounds were quite exciting. For example, I can't remember the last concert I attended with an accordion player. They were the loudest performance of the night, and for me the most surprising.
Wild Sweet Orange will be on tour with Audrye Sessions through October, and then they will open a few shows for Counting Crows before spending the last leg of the tour with Margot & The Nuclear So & Sos. The tour ends where it began at The Bottom Lounge on November 22nd. Image above by Dominick Mastrangelo (taken at the Bowery Ballroom in New York in May).
Among the corn and college students, Champaign's Headlights have managed to create quite a bit of buzz lately. Not only they embarking on a 23 stop European Tour this month, they are also providing the theme music to CNN's election coverage. That's right, all of CNN election promo will feature the song "Get Your Head Around It" taken from their 2008 album Some Racing, Some Stopping. You can check out one of the promos here. In addition, Champaign's Polyvinyl records just announced that the Headlight's will be releasing a remix album on December 9th featuring remixes by several of their friends including Chicago's Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.
[MP3] Headlights - Cherry Tulips (TJ Lipple Remix) from Remixes
Headlights will be perfoming at Schubas with Helicopters and World's First Fyling Machine TONIGHT at 10:00pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.
Otter Petter, whose members include brothers Michael (guitar,vocals) and William Pritchard (drums), Jojo Yang (keyboards and vocals), Raphael
Dussaussoy (guitar), and Alex Barandi (bass), came together in 2005 with the intention of playing indie pop and playing it well. Over the last three years that is exactly what they have done. Releasing their debut ep that same year, this Chicago band started to gain a local following and by the end of 2007 they had tour East Coast and finished recording their debut full-length album. On January 22nd they self-released Fireflies and Lamp Lights which is a perfect blend of roots rock, sugary pop, and more complex indie rock. As they continue to tour and record they grow as a unit, and into a solid fixture of the Chicago scene.
Otter Petter will be opening for Audrey Sessions and Wild Sweet Orange this Sunday at Schubas. The show starts at 8:00pm and tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. This show is 18+.
Check out Born Ruffians at Schubas tonight. The show should be fun; Born Ruffians bring lots of energy and have an infectious, jangly sound often reminiscent of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, if you know, CYHSY grew a pair. Locals Percolator open.
Late notice, but better late than never: Tonight's Hot Chip show at the Metro isn't sold out yet, so the Metro is offering $5 off the $25 ticket price if you order online and use the code "madeinthedark".
If I was to say that Kevin Martin is a legendary electronic music producer would you know who I was talking about? Much like Scott Herren (Prefuse 73, Piano Overlord, etc.) or Tadd Mullinix (Dabrye, James Cotton, etc) or even Luke Vibert (Wagon Christ, Plug, etc), Martin changes his alias to suit his mood and type of music his wants to create. However, whether it is the free jazz of Ice or the industrial hip-hop of Techno Animal or the hyper dancehall and reggae beats of The Bug, Martin is sure to move the crowd. "I've always exploited my obsession with bass frequencies," explains Martin as The Bug. "How bass moves people, and provokes intense physical reactions." On his most recent release as The Bug, London Zoo (Ninja Tune, 8/08), bass is exactly what Martin throws in your face. It pounds and vibrates and keeps you shaking from track to track. With appearances from Warrior Queen, Flowdan, Tippa Irie, and many more, this album really does feel like a zoo showcasing several different talents over Martin's beats. Regardless of the alias, you can expect to move when standing by the speaker of Kevin Martin a.k.a. The Bug.
The Bug will be performing with Ghilain Poirier ft MC Zulu and Dj C at Subterranean on Wednesday (10/1). Doors open at 8:30pm and the show begins at 9:00. This is a 17+ show, and tickest are $13.00 ADV. / $15.00 DOS.
Over the last two years, San Fancisco based LoveLikeFire has self-released two ep's that have garnered a regional following and a fair amount of blog buzz. Lead by the powerful vocals of Ann Yu, these eps were packed with indie rock anthems and melodies that lead the listener to believe there were bigger things ahead. Earlier this month the UK label Heist of Hit Records announced that LoveLikeFire had been signed and were locked away in San Francisco's Tiny Telephone studios working on their full-length debut.
Spending the last few months with producer Bill Racine (Mates Of State, Rogue Wave), Ann and the boys (Dave Farrell, Robert Kissinger, and Ted Parker) are ready to hit the road for a 35+ date US tour. A tour that will include an appearance Monolith Festival at Red Rocks, and has them rolling into NYC end of October for the 2008 CMJ Music Festival.
[MP3] LoveLikeFire - Unlighted Shadows (from 2007's An Ocean in The Air)
[Video] LoveLikeFire - I Will (Official Selection of SXSW 2008 Film Festival)
LoveLikeFire will be appearing at Schubas with Star and Seabird on Sunday (9/28). The Show starts at 8:00pm, and tickets are $8. This is a 21+ show.
Just when you thought she could just do one style - torch-style jazz, slow blues - she comes with a new way to approach music from another genre's angle. Accomplished singer, songwriter and composer, she visits Symphony Hall at the CSO Friday night. She is promoting her latest, Loverly and may play a bit of "Harvest Moon", her contribution to the soundtrack of "My Blueberry Nights", a critically acclaimed film from this summer.
Totally true: The best way to celebrate the end of a week is with hip-shaking. Celebrate this Friday with The Occidental Brothers Dance Band International at Martyrs' at 10 p.m. Their flavorful indie-via-Africa rock makes a perfect companion to the dub/punk/jazz/beat infusion of The Eternals. The show is 21+.
With a name like Tobacco you are bound to have a few "F***ed Up Friends". Well, I am sure Black Moth Super Rainbow member Tobacco is not actually named Tobacco, but I do believe he has a few strange friends. One of those friends just happens to be the very talented emcee Aesop Rock who appears on the lead single "Dirt" from Tobacco's solo debut album F***ed Up Friends (Oct. 14th, Anticon). One of the most inventive hip hop songs I've heard in awhile, "Dirt" can be streamed here. As a whole, this album finds Tobacco exploring a darker and more complex sound then that of BMSR. Mostly instrumental and filled with analog synths and monstrous beats, this album takes you from the truck stop to the back woods and makes no apologies for the stops along the way. There are still traces of the sunshine and hazy that abounds in the dreamlike world of BMSR, but in Tobacco's world there is a storm approaching.
Tobacco will be opening for Why? This Friday (9/26) at The Bottom Lounge. This is an 18+ show that starts at 9:00pm. Tickets are $11 adv $13 day of show
This Thursday, 9/25, head up to Evanston to check out one of the area's newest venues — SPACE — and hear the croonings of Chicago performer Tom Schraeder & His Ego to boot. Schraeder, a native of Chicago, brings a solid swagger to the stage with some Austin-influenced Alt-country stylings, and a easy-going relationship with the mic. His voice sounds familiar, in that "we dated one summer", kind of relationship one has with the lead singer in the popular college band. His lyrics have a scruffy honesty that's comforting and comfortable — like an old pair of jeans you just can't be apart from.
Tickets to the show Thursday are just $10, but thanks to the nice folks at SPACE, enter in "transmission" on their ticketing page, and get in to the show for free!
Tom Schraeder & His Ego performs Thursday night at SPACE located at 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston (near the Dempster stop on the Purple Line). Doors open at 8pm, and Scott Lucas (of Local H) and Chris Seleski open. For more info. call (847) 492-8860.
Sometimes I like to take a step back when looking at a band and think, "Where will they be in five years?" There's no better band to do that with then England's Noah and The Whale since they themselves like to think about what life will be like in "5 Years Time". There are a couple factors to consider when evaluating a bands potential longevity. The first factor would be their current popularity compared to their current age as a band. Well, Noah and The Whale formed in late 2006, and spent most '07 tour England and playing wherever they could. They released their debut single in late 2007. Their popularity is really off the charts, seeing that their video for "5 Years Time" was added to youtube in June and has received over a million hits in just three months. However, much of this popularity can be attribute the Saturn Commercial featuring their song. If you think back to 2003, the band Jet had a song featured in an I-pod commercial, and seemed to blow-up over night much like Noah & The Whale. Where is Jet today?
The second factor is the actual music that the band is playing. Is it original, is it something that fans will continue to want, is there room for growth and longevity? After listening to The Whales debut album, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down, I would have to say yes to all of these questions. They have found a sound that is as timeless as that found on the now 10 year old album, In the Aeroplane Over The Sea. There is love and sadness, fantasy and reality, horrible outfits and big dreams. They have ability to have commercial success and still resonate with the hipster elite. It should be a formula that will endure, but only time will tell where they will be in "5 Years Time".
Noah and The Whale will be appearing at Av-Aerie for an ALL AGES show on Sept 25th with Light Pollution. Tickets are $5. They will also be performing a free show at Reckless Record on Saturday (9/26) at 6:00pm, and following that up with a show at the Empty Bottle that evening. Tickets for the Empty Bottle performance are $10 advance, $12 at the door. This show starts at 10:00pm.
Even though a sanitation vehicle parking lot may not be the most ideal setting for a summer music festival, the Hideout Block Party is one of the best music weekends in Chicago. This year as part of the World Music Festival, the Hideout's lineup featured acts from Hungary, Czech Republic, Israel and Mali, among others. Last week in Transmission we mentioned some acts that we thought would be highlights. Today we look back on what happened during the last weekend of summer.
The British garage duo Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip hyped up the crowd, especially after comparing them to the previous night's motionless crowd in Ames, IA. After that humbling, the crowd got some energy and bounced along to the UK hit "Thou Shalt Always Kill", "Beat That My Heart Skipped" and "Letter From God to Man" that samples Radiohead's "Planet Telex." (The first recognizable notes of "Planet Telex" may have actually received a bigger cheer than for the song.) Following them was the Czech psychedelic rock band Plastic People of the Universe in front of a much larger crowd than their Hideout gig earlier in the week. Clearly inspired by Frank Zappa and the Velvet Underground, the Plastics also sound at times like a coarser and heavier West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Unfortunately, they didn't really keep the audience's attention as people drifted in and out of the lot at an alarming rate. But when they were on with the more rock-influenced songs, they sounded fresh, as if the songs hadn't been from nearly forty years ago.
Israeli metal band Monotonix has been discussed more for their insane live performances than their music. And that may be warranted since their record Body Language is pretty good, but their shows are total chaos. Instead of setting up onstage, they set up among the crowd. A few songs into their set on Saturday, they moved 20 feet. After another few songs, they moved again. Singer Ami Shalev made Les Savy Fav's Tim Harrington look tame while disrobing, crowdsurfing, humping an elephant sculpture and screaming at the top of his lungs. Guitarist Yonatan Gat played a heavy dose of Sabbath-like riffs while drummer Ran Shimoni spent significant time hovering over the crowd on top of his bass drum as his kit was carried around by dozens of hands. Again proving that good bands can become great bands in the right moment, Monotonix was by far Saturday's most entertaining set.
Formed in 2001, in the halls of an unnamed Chicago high school, the boys of Caw! Caw! have been around the block a few times. They have played the local venues, even the men's room the aforementioned high school, but have never taken the show to the national stage. Originally a punk band, through the years they have experimented with a few different sounds. From atmospherics to jangle pop, this trio has now come to play and record somewhat of a hybrid sound. Still heavily guitar driven, they kick off their first national tour this Tuesday in support of their new ep Wait Outside (Slanty Shanty Records).
Wait Outside is an energetic set of seven songs about fantasy and escape, with plenty of thoughts about friendship. It is filled with patchwork guitars and driving rhythms. However, one of my favorite aspects is the wonderful cover art by Liz Born. Unfortunately on my copy the cover is hidden by a huge sticker, but if you were to purchase the album at their record release show this Tuesday at the Abbey Pub I'm sure there would not be a sticker.
Caw! Caw! will be performing at The Abbey Pub with Sam Knudson and the Shame Train and Sugarfoot on Tuesday Sept 23rd. Doors at 7pm and show at 8pm. Tickets $6 in advance and $8 at the door. This show is 18+.
"I stopped thinking in terms of traditional songwriting. I worked on shapes, forms, and textures, scents and colors. Elements which are more earthy and organic inspired me."
Youtube sensation Theresa Andersson is one talented woman. I say ONE woman because she is able to create every part of her music live all by herself. Every song she performs live is a perfectly orchestrated and choreographed dance with her drums, guitar, fiddle, dulcimer, tambourine, record player, 2 mics and her 30 odd loop pedals. She tracks every instrument and vocals live and loops them within the live performance by operating her pedal loops through out the show with her toes. It is incredible.
Her debut album, Hummingbird, Go! was released on Sept. 2nd by Basin Street Records. Recording each part herself in her New Orleans kitchen, Andersson then took album to Sweden and left it in the hands of friend and producer Tobias Froberg. While the album was being mixed Theresa needle felted 1,500 individual CD jackets for the teaser EP "I the River."
Theresa Andersson will be performing at SPACE in Evanston this Sunday (9/21) with Janelle Kroll. The show starts at 8:00pm and tickets are $10.
[Thanks to Drive Thru editor Robyn Nisi for this review of Paul Weller's recent show in Chicago]
While many music acts from the '80s are living off the fame grid, save for the occasional reunion tour or award show appearance, Paul Weller is still working hard. The former frontman of The Jam and The Style Council has built a very respectable and varied solo career. While his music is popular in Europe, Weller is virtually unknown in the States, despite his unique brand of soul-tinged rock.
The crowd at the House of Blues last night was sizeable (although not sold out) and for the most part looked like a crowd of middle-aged, well-dressed parents at a football game. Touring for his most recent album 22 Dreams (Yep Roc), Weller is incredible shape, jumping around onstage nursing drinks, and smoking (gasp! Are Brits exempt from the smoking ban?) throughout the evening. His energy matched his set, which covered his career reaching as far back as his days leading The Jam and lasted almost two-and-a-half hours. From the set's opener "Peacock Suit" to the third encore, a cello-tinged cover of "All You Need is Love," Weller's vocals remained strong. The most delightful part of seeing him live is hearing extended, jam-length versions of his songs. "Wild Wood" had an intense, dub-heavy revision, and "Shadow of the Sun" took a trip into Thin Lizzy territory with guitarmonies between him and guitarist Steve Cradock (of Ocean Colour Scene).
Despite how entertaining and rich his entire set was, the crowd was quiet the entire evening but briefly rallied for Weller's best-known hits from the Jam's era, "Town Called Malice" and "That's Entertainment." Many in the crowd, who were likely fans of Weller's music when it debuted thirty years ago, were now in sport jackets and Dockers jumping up and down screaming in delight alongside Weller's younger fans. As I stood next to a dead ringer for imprisoned former 'N SYNC manager Lou Pearlman who was clapping his hands and dancing on the floor, I thought about a somewhat crass line that comedian Chris Rock has said: "You are always going to love the music you were listening to when you first got laid." It seemed like "Malice" loosened up the self-consciousness of the audience, and despite however awkward it looked, people of all ages finally felt free to boogie, albeit for a few minutes. Weller smiled and danced around himself as the floor went wild for his famous chords. Maybe he had the same nostalgia on his mind, too.
-Robyn Nisi
I know we are in the middle (or maybe the final years) of a raging '80's revival in music, fashion and just about everything else, but is it too early to talk about the early signs of a '90's revival? When I first played the new EP from San Francisco's The New Up I was instantly transported back to the early 90's and began craving my flannel shirts and Doc Martins. Theirs is an irresistible combination of power pop with just enough attitude, "grunge" if you will, to keep you interested. By the end of the 24 minute six track romp that is Broken Machine, I find myself searching for my copy of Veruca Salt's American Thighs, Siouxsie and The Banshees' Superstition, Belly's Star, PJ Harvey's Rid of Me, and even my copy of Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde.
The New Up, originally formed here in Chicago, are led by the powerful vocals and Linda Perry-like dreads of singer/songwriter Es Pitcher. In 2003 they fled for the warmth and history of San Francisco and released their self-titled debut album the next year. In August they self-released their latest EP, the first of three that will be released over the next 18 month's, Broken Machine (stream). Touching on the "lonely machinery that distracts us from our lives," and themes of pollution and technology, this album is not only packing with 90's glory, but some serious topics as well. Es is supported by guitarists Noah Reid, drummer Jack McFadden, bassist Dain Dizazzo, and the fascinating flautist/electronic wizard Hawk West.
For the third straight year, the aptly named musician/promoter collective Umbrella Music will bring improvisers and jazz musicians from around the country and globe to Chicago for five days of music, November 5th through 9th.
The festival is perhaps without peer in the United States in terms of bringing cutting edge European acts to perform stateside, and its emphasis on musical meetings between local musicians and those from other cities and countries adds an alchemical element to the proceedings. The festival will once again open with a free multi-stage evening of performances at the Chicago Cultural Center and then move to venues across the city for concerts.
This year's festival brings in free jazz luminary John Tchicai, Italian free noise punk power trio Zu, New York based cornetist and composer Taylor Ho Bynum, and Globe Unity Orchestra founder Alexander Von Schlippenbach to town, amongst many others. For a full list of the offerings, visit umbrellamusic.org
When faced with the challenge of picking a band name T. Thurston, like most, was lost. Flipping through the pages of his notebook he found a side note he had written, "Remember the Magic and the Beauty". It was something of a mantra or maybe just a reminder that no matter where are or what has happened or hasn't happened, you have to remember the "magic and the beauty" of life or music or all that you love and enjoy. So what better way to consistently reminder yourself then to name your band Magical, Beautiful.
A former member of Head of Femur, T. is a veteran of the Chicago music scene. He has played piano for Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, and spent time in a band called Northwest. He has learned something new from each band, and has been creating music on his own for several years now. When performing live, T. gathers a group of like-minded musician to help bring his sound to life. Over the years that has included 14 different individuals, but his line-up tomorrow night will be Charlie Vinz on banjo, bass, and violin; Nick Broste (Shape Shoppe) on organ and trombone; Chris Keener on synth, melodica and vocals; Alance Ward on drums & trumpet. M,B's most recent release was a single called "Right, Rock" which was filled with layered sample, surprising tropical undertones. A 12" Vinyl version of "Right Rock" should be coming out before the end of the year with two new songs on the b-side.
Of existence borne by celebrity, is it better to bow out gracefully or flame out, attempting to keep the streak going while disaffected fans largely turn from you? No one wants to be the one who touts the "return" of a heavyweight when they're not really sure he can stand up to the blows of an ever-changing public. Especially when most of that public last saw him in xXx: State of the Union. You did see that, right?
Ice Cube's had his hands in a lot of different pots, but his base is being a rapper. He'll still give you the Scowl (which is trademarked). He'll still be backed up by above-average production. What old fans aren't sure of is if this is the end of the caricatured Ice Cube, who was such a departure from his image when he first showed up as a member of NWA in the late '80s. It's a testament to PR efforts that, in this age of questionable "authenticity", where hardcore thugs hawk vitamin supplements and hedonistic rockers find God, he can still produce an album that a few people will check for.
His constant recreation as cuddly actor to funny straight man and more on the big screen mirrors the change from hard-lined revolutionary to Puffed-out materialism to coast-based set-trippin'. So I guess you can excuse the buying public, especially those that watched him move through these stages, from buying too much into the "he's back! The Ice Cube I used to know and love is back!"
The rapper known as Ice Cube will take the stage tomorrow night at the House of Blues. His reticence in the past to doing "old shit" may not bode well for those who want "It Was a Good Day" or even "Bow Down." I know, though, that the scowl will still be there.
The music and imagery that Portland's Ryan Sollee is able to conjure up has the feel of an old southern saloon, a gospel church, and a nursery rhyme all at the same time. Where Colin Meloy wallows in tales of the sea and fictional bird people, Ryan focuses on coal miners, bodies at the bottom of the lake, and blood on the train tracks. In both cases, they are building lore, creating eloquent pieces of fiction and setting them up top music filled with acoustic guitar, accordion, and so on. Yet, The Builders and The Butchers bring an added element of sing-a-long gospel choruses, audience participation, and don't forget the old bullhorn. The Builders' thrive on the audience often distributing tambourines and washboards to get the crowd involved.
Originally intend to be a band that performed funeral music, Sollee started writing and singing songs about dead relatives, coal mines and the creepiest bodies of water, lakes. As he played these songs for friends they decided to join in and the tempo and mood began to elevate to the level that is today. On June 10th, Bladen Country Records rereleased the bands self-titled debut album that was original released in 2007. They are on tour all month, and a band that should not be missed.
One of the trendiest bands around these days is New York's Ra Ra Riot. Their debut album, The Rhumb Line (Barsuk Records), was released last month and has brought an unbelievable amount of praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, New York Times, and of course Pitchfork. Earlier this month the even appeared on the indie friendly Conan O'Brien. They have drawn comparisons to other trendy bands like Vampire Weekend and Noah & The Whale, and musically these comparisons make sense. However, if you are repulsed by the style of Vampire Weekend, but find yourself humming along anyway then this is your band. As strange as it may sound, they actually seemed more concerned with their music then their appearance.
Highlighted by the fine cello play of Alexandra Lawn, Ra Ra Riot came together in 2006 at Syracuse University. Releasing their debut EP on Rebel Group records in 2007, and were quickly signed to the major label V2. In May they signed to Barsuk, and now are both an indie and major label band, for whatever that's worth. If you are looking for quality cello-based trendy pop then check out Ra Ra Riot tonight at Subterranean.
Ra Ra Riot are playing tonight (9/11) at Subterranean with Chicago's dance pop duo Walter Meego and Pepi Ginsberg. Doors open @ 9:00 PM and the show starts @ 9:30 PM This is a 17 & over show and tickets are $12.00.
For the 10th straight year, world music gurus Mike Orlove and Brian Keigher of the Department of Cultural Affairs will deliver a smorgasbord of music from across the globe over the course of 7 days in September. This year's festival runs from the 19th through the 25th, presenting over 70 concerts at more than 20 venues.
Amongst the large City run public music festivals in Chicago, the World Music Festival stands as a unique event. The format differentiates itself from the Grant Park monoliths, the Blues Festival and Jazz Festival, branching out from Millennium Park to venues across the city. In addition, it's the longest running and largest international music festival in the United States, and the variety and depth of music programmed is truly impressive.
Given the variety of music being presented a musical preview would be difficult, but to help us navigate the offerings, the Department of Cultural Affairs has made a preview site with audio to check out the artists.
Although it was a stormy Monday evening that for every reason should have been as banal as any other waterlogged expanse of American humdrum, Spiritualized swooped down to lift the roof off emotional stagnation, breathing life and soul into vast internal choirs.
Kristin Gundred of Grand Ole Party. (Photo by Kirstie Shanley)
Arrived around half past 8 at Metro. Grand Old Party, who hails from San Diego, kicking out bluesy rock on stage. Singer/drummer Kristin Gundred belts out songs about love and its many vices with full gospel fortitude. Accompanied by bassist Michael Krechnyak and guitarist John Paul Labno, the trio held the audience captive with songs like "Nasty Habits." Note: at this point I took a look around the crowd to find, frighteningly (but in a good way), a sea of doppelgangers all around — quasi-hipster intellectual types bespectacled and thoughtfully listening to the music. More than a handful of guys sporting hooded sweatshirts, and women of all shapes wearing all kinds of (read: in mode) glasses.
Gundred, a woman with the Herculean vocal prowess of Beth Ditto and the angst of PJ Harvey, a welcome and necessary antidote to recent developments (read: a dangerous anti-feminist V.P. candidate) in actual Grand Old Party. The band's piercing garage band rock fueled by unfettered female disquietude a soothing kind of electrical relief. And doing a solid job of warming up the audience for gospel/space rock of Spiritualized.
Spiritualized hits on stage around 9:20pm. Jason Piece, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, and of course sunglasses stands parallel to the audience, still it's the closest I've ever come. I saw them at Pitchfork this summer but this performance starkly contrasts. In a smaller venue Pierce connects more intimately with the audience — he's less of a distant rock star performing on a far away planet before thousands and more of a man pouring out profuse intensity and soaring emotion. And although this time he still didn't utter any words outside his songs, he clapped along with everyone at the beginning and end, and appeared more interconnected with the audience's response.
Two gospel singers, also in white, behind Pierce, with Kevin Bales on drums, Richard Warren on bass, Tony "Doggen" Foster on guitar, and Tim Lewis on keyboards. The first song, "Amazing Grace," fills the room with humble, yet soul-baring transcendence. "Shine a Light," from the group's 1992 progressive debut album, Lazer Guided Melodies, follows, a song that aptly sums up the performance: plaintive yet profoundly moving. Unlike at Pitchfork, at which mostly saw songs from the band's recent album, Songs in A&E, predominated, last night saw a good number of the old but good ones, like "Ladies and Gentleman, We Are Floating in Space," and "Come Together," both from the 1997 acclaimed album of the former song title. And songs like "Soul on Fire," and "Death Take Your Fiddle," both from Songs, had the audience rocking out, building into the guitar frenzy (sans gospel singers), because, let's face it: once a spaceman, always one. By the end the audience begging for more, enraptured. Like music in a gospel church, Spiritualized leaves you transformed and transfixed.
The encore sees the gospel singers return and like "Amazing Grace," which kicked off the show, another spiritual-sounding hymn, "Lord Can You Hear Me When I Call," — from the 2001 album, Let it Come Down, bathes the audience in a particular kind of affectionate light.
And afterward, out on the street, the storm had lifted.
The first time that I heard the terms "Baile Funk" and "Favela" (which means shanty town) was in 2005 and the release of Diplo's compilation of Brazilian dance music. It was the first compilation that was not published in Brazil. I was hooked by the infectious beats mixed with the tropical feel and DIY punk/underground aesthetic. There was this energy and excitement surrounding the off-key vocals shouted vocals over the dirty dance tracks, and finally it was brought to the public's attention. Since that time the spotlight has been on Brazil, and acts like Bonde Do Role and CSS were instant successes, but now Sao Palo has given us a new act with a slightly different sound.
Singer Mylene Pires and DJ/producer/drummer DJ Periferico (aka Erico Theobaldo) make up the duo Telepathique, and on August 5th they released their debut album Last Time on Earth (The Control Group). This album, originally released in South America in 2006, is filled with diverse sounds from pure dance, to guitar tinged funk, to electro-hyper-sexual grooves. It's complex, but extremely enjoyable, and it adds a whole new dimension to the music of Brazil. Their live performance is set-up like a hip hop show with the DJ and singer, and they always keep the crowd moving.
Have you ever gone to a concert expecting to see a great dance band or your favorite electronic musician perform, and all you get is a guy in a hoodie hunched over a laptop? True, the smoke machine wasn't as cheesy as you thought it would be, but you could have lived without see him drink that glass of water during the set. And that video of his cat is not making anyone dance. Translating dance music to the stage is not easy, and you have to put forth a little effort to keep the crowd involved. Toronto's Woodhands is full of effort and they even leave the laptops at home.
The brainchild of Dan Werb (vocals, synths, drum machines) and Paul Banwatt (drums, vocals), Woodhands has gathered national press in Canada and was tagged as one of 5 bands to watch in 2008 by Exclaim! Magazine. Seeing that their debut album, Heart Attack, was just released last week most of this buzz has come from their on stage presence. Even though their sounds is pounding dance music, fast and fascinating, while on stage they strip it down the roots of the sound. Armed with a keytar and analog synths, Woodhands brings forth the attitude and swagger of glam rock while pounding out their big beats.
Woodhands will be performing tomorrow night (9/5) at The Empty Bottle with The Juan MacLean and Beau Wanzer. The show starts at 10:00pm and tickets are $14.
I'm not sure who Laura is or what she ever had to do with a five piece rock band from Phoenix, but she sure left a mark. She also left behind a wide range of stories and melodies that Danny Godbold (keys, guitar, vocals), James Mulhern (guitar, percussion, vocals), Greg Muller (drums), Mitch Freedom (bass) and Jacob Woolsey (everything else) have managed to condense and package as their debut album Thinks and Feels. In fact, they used to call their band What Laura Say Thinks and Feels, but they decided that was to long of a band name. I suppose some should say something to Alec Ounsworth (Clap You Hands and Say Yeah), but I will leave that up to someone else.
All of the different parts of the band came together in 2006, and they began working on Thinks and Feels. After self-releasing the album in 2007 they caught eye (or ear) of the young North Carolina collective Terpsikhore. Run by members of Annuals, they were glad to add the band to their growing roster of talented bands and they reissued the bands debut album last month. Musically, WLS blends piano pop with southern flares and classic roots rock. They are easily compared to bands like Cold War Kids or Wild Sweet Orange.
I am always amazed by duos that can create massive sounds with just two instruments. Examples that come to mind are The Black Key's and the full on roar of Daniel Auerbach or the room shaking sound of Matt & Kim or The Dodos. If I had just one word to describe the sound of Shalloboi it would be reverb; room filling, ever-growing and growling reverb. This Chicago duo, consisting of Tyler Ritter and Stefanie Goodwin, has figured out a way to capture their impressive sound without too much processing. Recorded through utilizing natural room sounds, mic placement, doubling and pure volume, Tyler is able to use this as an additional instrument. The huge drone makes for an unsettling, but always interesting platform for the hazy and wondering vocals of Stefanie Goodwin. All of the vocal effects were achieved through the use of natural reverbs courtesy of an abandoned stairwell in the apartment building where the band lives and several spaces in the congress theater. I'm not sure if I would want to live in their building, but I love how their latest album turned out.
Down To Sleep is actually their fifth record, and it took about two and half years to record. The opening track, "The Sun is so Bright" begins like a sunrise, slowly moving and illuminating the edges of the sky. It is clear and clean with faint electronics, tambourine, and whispered vocals. However, at the 4:37 mark the song filled with a forceful and heavy drone. The sound is powerful and unexpected, and it can be followed through the rest of album. Shalloboi is a member is cllct.com so this release and all five of their albums can be downloaded for free.
If you want to hear some great jazz Sunday evening and don't feel like fighting the crowd at Millennium Park for Ornette Coleman, head to the Checkerboard Lounge to hear the GMG trio. Featuring special guest Corey Wilkes on trumpet, the Chicago-based trio is comprised of Greg Spero (keys), Graham Czach (bass) and Makaya McCraven (drums).
GMG sums up their sound as "well-structured, yet improvisatory songs that build and release tension with an energetic frenzy." Their recently released self-titled debut more than lives up to that claim—and with Wilkes, artist in residence and board member of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, as the special guest, this performance should be energized and fresh.
And get there early: The first 50 people to arrive can purchase the GMG debut album for $5 instead of $15.
Show starts at 7:30. $10 admission, or $5 for students over 21 with IDs.
Sure, you could sit out all in the Millennium Park glory that is the Pritzker Pavillion on Wednesday, September 3rd along with every other indie music lover in the midwest and wait for Andrew Bird to take the stage for a free show, or, you could put your money where your mouth is, and do some good for the children at the same time. Rock For Kids, the same awesome non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth in Chicago through a variety of music-oriented programs is auctioning off not one but two chances to meet Mr. Bird and sit your butts in some cushy premium seating at his upcoming event downtown. Bid here or here, but do it soon — the auction ends on Monday, September 1.
We here at Gapers Block Transmission aim to cover the local music scene and emerging Chicago artists as much as our resources permit. What follows is the transcript for a proposed review of the new CD Eve, Adam & the Apple by Chicago-based artist Slow Gun Shogun. The editors fanned the CD out to a potential contributor (PC) and an unaffiliated party (UP) in a focus-group styled experiment. What follows is a transcript of the results. Believe it or not, the transcript that follows was heavily edited and abridged in order to remove the more pedantic, digressive, and profanity-strewn passages. Needless to say, we will not be hiring either party for any future assignments.
UP: Yeah, but I don't feeling like getting up to get it just yet. What have we got?
PC: Some new CD by an artist who calls himself Slow Gun Shogun.
UP: Can't say I'm familiar.
PC: Local guy, apparently. It's a seven-song EP called Eve, Adam and the Apple. Judging from this, he plays a lot of the instruments himself -- one-man band style -- with the help of one "Miss Palanti" on drums. Appears to be self-released, on a label called Devil's Bedpost.
Your plans are probably made for tonight; either watching the speech or avoiding it, but we at Transmission would be remiss if we did not mention the Chicago Jazz Festival. Four days of the celebration of a true American art form in a city that's done so much as a showcase and as stomping grounds for its luminaries and its everyday practitioners.
The Chicago Jazz Festival is being bookended by two legends of jazz; Sonny Rollins tonight, and Ornette Coleman on Sunday night. Both men are nearing 80 and are still creating and playing gigs worldwide.
Other publications have done excellent recaps of both men's careers; Rollins as possibly the greatest saxophonist alive, Coleman as one of the fathers of free jazz. But we'd like to stress that, while the titans bookend the event, the musicians in the middle aren't slouches. Very few will play "straight ahead" jazz, as that has seemed to fall out of favor in favor of standards and histrionics, but there's something for everyone. Schedule is over here. Here's to hoping that a (mostly) dry weekend will get you out into the sun and into some good music.
Long weekend with nothing to do? Enjoy the last lingering days of summer weather, my friends, at the Bash on Wabash festival. It runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 30-31 at 1300 S. Wabash Ave. A $5 donation benefits the Greater South Loop Association. Catch the usual festival fare, including crafts, booths, kids activities, and gobs of bands. Check the music line-up:
Saturday
Noon: Columbia R&B Band
1:10 p.m.: The Artist Formally Known As Vince
2 p.m.: Margaret Murphy
2:50 p.m.: The Sleepers
3:40 p.m.: The Wabash Cannonballs
4:30 p.m.: Velcro Lewis & His 100 Proof Band
6 p.m.: The Steepwater Band
7:30 p.m.: Waco Brothers
9 p.m.: Mucca Pazza
Sunday
Noon: Columbia Rock Band
1:10 p.m.: School of Rock
2 p.m.: Cooler by the Lake
2:50 p.m.: The Stacks
3:40 p.m.: Indignant
4:30 p.m.: Todd Hembrook & the Hemispheres
6 p.m.: North of Memphis featuring Michael McDermott, Vanessa Davis and Howard Levy
7:30 p.m.: William Elliott Whitmore
9 p.m.: Murder by Death
Missouri born TK Webb has been on the scene for a few years now, and released his second LP, Phantom Parade, back in 2006. He is no stranger to the stage, and over the years he has found a unique way of combining rock sounds with dirty delta blues. Last summer, Webb decided that he needed a fuller sound on his next record and so he formed The Visions. Consisting of Brian Hale (ex-Love As Laughter) on 2nd guitar, Nic Gonzales (The Comas, Love As Laughter, Blood on the Wall) on drums, and Jordan Gable on bass, they begin a full on rock assault on their new release Ancestor (Kemado Records, Sept. 2nd). They band clearly has gelled quickly, and they will be put to the test on a lengthy cross-country tour in September. Here is what TK had to say about the decision to bring a band together. "It felt like gravity pulling the sound towards being bigger. From solo acoustic to a trio to a four- piece electric group. I found myself surrounded by bland half-baked folk acts and wanted out. This project feels right. It feels like a band should."
A solid rock album is pretty much what we have come to expect from the New York label Kemado. Since its inception back in 2002 they have released an incredible catalog of intense and obscure rock albums, including releases from Turzi, Witch, Dungen, Langhorne Slim, The Sword, and others. TK Webb's Ancestor fits perfectly in the Kemado catalog.
TK Webb & The Visions will be playing at the Double Door this Sunday (8/31) with Roky Erikson and the Explosives and The Wisebloods. Doors open at 8:00pm and the show starts at 9:00pm. Tickets are $20 adv. / $22 dos.
The Hideout announced the full lineup for this year's Hideout Block Party today. The big news is that Neko Case (who, as the legend goes, is a former Hideout bartender) will be headlining both nights. On Saturday, Sept. 20, she'll play with her own band, and will perform unreleased songs from her upcoming album; it'll be her only performance in Chicago this year. Then on Sunday, Sept. 21, she'll play with The New Pornographers -- who are about due for some new material too, come to think of it.
Kicking off the party on Saturday will be Plastic Crimewave's Vision Celestial Guitarkestra, a do-it-yourself musical experience; last year's performance featured more than 60 performers contributing to a semi-harmonious drone. If you've got an instrument and amp, you can get in for free and play along, provided you arrive by 11:30am. No experience necessary, and yes, you can stick around for the rest of the show.
One- and two-day passes are now on sale at HideoutBlockParty.com; it's $25 for one day, $45 for both. The full lineup is below the fold.
From the sound of top-40 radio these past couple of years, you'd think that a good portion of the pop-music industry had been taken over by robots. Little surprise that there's been talk in some quarters lately of a grassroots backlash -- something along the lines of a Citizen's Council for a 15-Year Moratorium Against the Use of the Vocoder. But back in 1982 when deejay Afrika Bambaataa and his crew the Soulsonic Force delivered "Planet Rock," synthesized vocals were still very much a novelty. An instant dance-club smash and b-boy anthem, "Planet Rock" was a hybrid of Kraftwerk keyboard riffs undergirded with liquidic rhythms and 808 kicks, and sported a crowd-rousing cybernetic call of Bam asking party people, "Can y'all get funk-ay?" As history shows, the answer was a unanimous yes. Not only did the tune birth a new breed of boom called electro-funk, but it also inspired more than a few producers down South to take a few moments off from contemplating thongs, turn their attention to some other low-end affairs, and engineer the Miami Bass sound.
It was, however, Bambaataa's work as a pioneering DJ in the 1970s that earned him the title "Godfather of Hip-Hop." And while that may have been three-plus decades ago, he hasn't shown any signs of waxing complacent or slacking off to rest on any honorific laurels. On the decks, Bam's kept his game up. He demonstrated as much when he was in Chicago back in January of last year to spin a headlining set at Smart Bar. He entered the DJ booth donned in a silver lamé hood-and-cloak affair, which he soon shed for optimum mobility as he got busy with the wax and wheels. For the remainder of the night, he threw a long, tight, and relentless set of old-school joints that kept the dancefloor packed and jumping for the full duration. It was lively, it was dope, and it left a good many attendees sore from dancing for a few days thereafter.
So if you missed it last time, this weekend's your chance to recoup. Afrika Bambaataa will be returning to town to play a headlining set at Smart Bar this Friday night. DJs Tone B Nimble and Intel will be spinning in the warm-up slots. 3730 N. Clark St. Doors open at 10 PM and tickets are $15.
When you think of the Wham City Art Collective, what is the first image that comes to mind? For me it is a sweaty, oversized-glasses wearing, dancing Dan Deacon with a robed choir behind him. However, there are many members of the Baltimore collective, and they don't all make chaotic electronic music like Dan Deacon. The collective is home to writers, artists, filmmakers, and more. One member, Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez is both a musician and an artist. Lesser will be releasing his debut album, Why Is Bear Billowing? on Sept. 9th via Carpark Records, and he recently hit the road with Jana Hunter. He is designing the concert posters and t-shirts for tour, and has come up with several great designs. You can check out his other work at thinplastic.com.
His debut album is a quiet affair, his only accompaniment is an acoustic guitar. It reminds me, at times, of another famous Gonzalez, but Lesser's sound is more whimsical and adventurous. He shows a healthy respect for the classic song structure of the genre of folk music while still moving forward. With songs like "A Twist In The Sky" and "Mostly A Friend", this is a perfect album for this time of year as the season begin to change. He may even bring some of that Cuban heat to your autumn nights.
Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez will be performing at Schubas with Jana Hunter and Judson Claiborne on Wednesday August 27th. The show starts at 9:00pm and it 21+. Tickets are $8.
Labor Day weekend is upon us and that can only mean one thing -- the close of the city's music festival season with the 2008 Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park. And this year's CJF schedule showcases an especially solid line-up.
The Festival kicks off Thursday evening at the Pritzker Pavilion with a keynote performance by the venerable Sonny Rollins. Other headlining acts for this year include Latin jazz master Eddie Palmieri, Gerald ("Viva Tirado") Wilson and his Orchestra, and free-jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman.
Some other noteworthy attractions on this year's billing are appearances by the AACM-/Tortoise-affiliated ensemble Isotope 217, a tribute to the legacy of the AACM as led by Roscoe Mitchell and Wadada Leo Smith, vocalist Dee Alexander joining up with Eight Bold Souls, plus a performance and composer's talk by pianist Vijay Iyer (who's debuting a specially-commissioned piece for the Festival).
Those, however, are only some of the highlights. If you've yet to see the full schedule, you might want to avoid any of the City org's clunky and byzantine sites and instead dial up the Jazz Institute of Chicago page for the most compact and comprehensive listing. Or just click here.
So you may be thinking that you have never heard of the Decibelle Music and Culture Festival before, and you would be right. This actually the 6th annual (and poorly named) Estrojam Festival under a new name. However, the mission of building a supportive artscommunity that inspires, educates, breaks down stereotypes and encourages bold creative expression remains the same. The event takes places September 23-27th, and features headliners as interesting as Miss Kitten, Lady Tigra, writer Michelle Tea, and the newest member of the Tommy Boy family Plushgun.
It was nearly a year ago that I had the pleasure to meet Plushgun and talk with him about his future. At the time he had this to say, "I would like to get a record deal down the line, more than anything else, it makes the business a lot easier, not to mention distribution. If anything, I just hope to continue making music people like without having to comprise." I am sure he had no idea he would be the only male act in the six-year history of a woman oriented music festival. Regardless, he is a rising star who just sign a record deal last month and a great reason to make it out to this festival.
Decibelle Music and Culture Festival, formerly known as Estrojam Music and Cultural Festival, is an annual 5-day (9/23 - 9/27), Chicago based, music and cultural festival that has presented hundreds of successful events during the past six years. Decibelle features three concerts, a film festival, literary readings, parties and workshops in Chicago's most popular nightspots. For more information and set times please visit the Decibelle website.
With all of the excitement surrounding the local hip-hop scene right now it is all too easy to overlook all of the other quality sounds coming from the city's clubs. One of the most impressive and original "scenes" is what some are calling avant-rock. I've never been one for names or genres but bands like the Icy Demons and Mahjongg are starting to carve a path in sound that is wild, aggressive, and completely fun to dance to. As highlighted in last month's feature by Graham Sanford, a great deal of this sound is stemming from the Shape Shoppe. Chris Kalis, Dan Jugle, Scott McGaughey, and Harry Brenner, otherwise known as Chandeliers, are residents at the Shape Shoppe and they will be releasing their debut album The Thrush via Chicago's Obey Your Brain on October 14th.
Coming together in 2004, the band has spent the last four years perfecting their live performance. When they arrive at shows they pack no guitars, just synths and drums. This gives them a sound that reaches deep into the '80's and pulls out something fresh. Their impressive and entertaining live show began to attract attention and saw the band sharing the stage with like-minded acts like Jamie Lidell, Cluster, Bobby Conn, and a trip to SXSW to open for Icy Demons and Man Man.
The Thrush (Obey Your Brain, Oct. 14th)
1. Mr. Electric
2. Maldonado
3. Mango Tree
4. The Thrush
5. Big League
6. Gold Rush
7. Bamboo
8. Grafitti
10. Body Double (UK Mix)
In a city where street fairs and festivals are a dime a dozen, it's refreshing to see a new one pop up with a pretty cool name and some good acts too. The Raven makes it debut this weekend at Chase Park (between Ashland & Clark off Leland) with a few stages, lots of bands that would draw good audiences at Schubas or the Empty Bottle, and even a Kids' area.
Saturday evening is headlined by Minneapolis' music blog darlings Tapes 'n Tapes, who're out promoting their latest record, Walk It Off. The Columbia, MO/Brooklyn sextet White Rabbits plays as a tough act to follow since its members switch instruments throughout their shows, even mid-song. (They're pretty entertaining.) Another Missouri band, the horrendously-named Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, and Chicago's own Chin Up Chin Up also play on Saturday. Brooklyn's shoegazing Dirty on Purpose and Chicago's poppy M's, whose new album Real Close Ones is fantastic, highlight Sunday's lineup. Local bands Bound Stems, who were at last week's West Fest, and Detholz! also play late Sunday afternoon.
Gates open at noon both days. A $5 donation goes toward the renovation of Chase Park's playground.
In a recent interview, Matthew Dear stated that he feels he doesn't quite fit in anywhere. Not surprising, seeing how he kicked off his musical career but relocating from his native Texas to the more sketchy, metropolitan digs of Detroit. Add to that all of the traveling and globe-trotting he's done as an electronic musician, producer and DJ, and a sense of dislocation or rootlessness is bound be of a part of one's life.
Chances are, however, that it has more to do with the artistic and stylistic restlessness that's fueled Dear's approach to making music. When recording and performing under his own name or with his band Big Hands, he's specializes in techno-infused pop songs that often fall on the fidgety, slightly soulful, and more moody perimeter of the dance-music spectrum. Imagine David Bowie re-recording Low with the assistance of Jamie Lidell, and you're in the general neighborhood.
But it's when recording and DJing under his Audion alias that Dear seems to feel most at home. As Audion, he's proven himself a capable and crowd-pleasing tone-twister -- churning out austere tech-house tunes that ride on subtle rhythmic progressions, sultry basslines, and no shortage of crafty digital left-hooks and subtle pop trimmings.
Those who might've spent some time in the Biz3 tent at Pitchfork Fest two summers ago might've witnessed how Matthew Dear took to the decks and got a tent full of people dancing to their hearts' content. (In 103-degree heat, no less.) This Friday night, Matthew Dear returns to Chicago to spin a headlining DJ set at Smart Bar that'll keep the crowd moving. Joining him on the evening's roster are DJs Daniel Mnookin and Brian Ffar. 3730 N. Clark. Doors open at 10 PM. Admission is $10 before midnight, $15 after.
Kelan Phil Cohran is Chicago's resident musical shaman. His musical history runs the gamut of Chicago experimental music, having been a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, the founder of the legendary Afro-Arts Theater run in the late 60s, and leader of the band that spawned Earth Wind & Fire and The Pharoahs from its ranks.
In addition to his musical progeny, Cohran has also been prolific in his own familial reproduction, and a group of his sons make up the members of Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, a band that got its start playing on the streets of Chicago, eventually moving to New York, and now enjoys gigs playing with hip hop artists like Mos Def.
Location can be everything, indeed. The best live recordings come from such circumstances, occasions where an artist finds herself at home with a warm, and responsive crowd, and the result is a friendly and intimate interaction between performer and audience. Live albums like Etta James Rocks The House and Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison and Roland Kirk's Kirk In Copenhagen leap to mind, but there are plenty of others in the history of recorded music that serve as evidence to this effect.
Better yet, there's nothing like returning to a welcoming fold of friends after a long journey. Such was the case when Mavis Staples played a homecoming show at the Hideout this past June. Alighting from an extensive tour, Staples and her band played a 14-song, career-spanning set to a sold-out house. Given the Hideout's modest digs, the crowd topped out at about 200 attendees, making for a cozy and up-close show. Reviews and reports of the performance were radiant across the board, and the Anti- label was on hand to document the whole thing.
And now from the Hideout and the artist's website comes word that the resulting disc, Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout, is scheduled for an official release date of November 4th. Check the Hideout's website for the full tracklisting, links to reviews, and photos.
Next season's showlist is beginning to take shape as more and more great acts announce their fall tours. Naturally, you should hold on to summer as long as you can, but give yourself props for living in Chicago as you take note of some of the shows announced recently for the coming months:
After an overflowing Lolla set, Girl Talk finally arrives at a place that can hold his sound and his fan-base. He'll rock the Congress Theater Sat, Nov 8, @ 7:30. Grab your $15 tickets here.
Beck sets up some dates at the Aragon Ballroom October 2nd and 3rd in support of the Danger Mouse-produced new album Modern Guilt. Though it was thought for awhile that he may close out the tour here, that honor has moved to New York. Fortunately, MGMT scored the opening gig, so why are you still bummed? Oh right, because tickets are $37.50.
The Mountain Goats bring their grown-up lo-fi to Park West 10/13 with folk-sters Kaki King. They call the tour "The Last Happy Night of Your Life." That slightly sour taste in your mouth must be the irony.
Of Montreal certainly created a well-deserved spectacle with their last album and overwhelming performance at the Metro last year. Their live show confirms the brilliant insanity of frontman Kevin Barnes, but gives you no choice but you put your fate in his hands. They'll set out to do it again, this time with a new album and a larger venue I can't even imagine how they'll set out to handle. If you're not at the Riveria 10/27, you best have a note from your doctor.
Quick(er) List:
GZA (performing Liquid Swords) @ House of Blues, 9/7
Stars @ the Riv, 9/24
Sigur Ros @ Chicago Theatre, 9/24
My Bloody Valentine @ Aragon, 9/27
Buckethead @ the Vic, 9/27
Cold War Kids @ the Vic 10/11
Against Me! @ the Riv 10/17 **JUST ANNOUNCED: TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS will be opening**
TV on the Radio @ the Riv 10/22
Cheaper shows and venues generally don't have the luxury of planning months in advance, so stay tuned for more (and better?) shows as dates get closer.
When I think of Omaha's Tilly and the Wall, with their sweet boy-girl vocals and indie sing- and stomp-alongs and specifically their tap-dancing "bodily percussionist," I can't help but think of that Simpsons episode where poor Lisa tries to learn to tap (that's episode 246, "Last Tap Dance in Springfield," you nerds).
I'm sure Tilly and the Wall is far better than Lisa's floundering, but just in case, why don't you go check it out? They'll be playing at the Abbey Pub Wednesday, Aug. 6, along with The Ruby Suns, Star, and Bart Davenport.
I am not enough of a Radiohead fan to accurately review one of their concerts. But I am enough of a fan of the English language to know that they need to take a clearer look at their stage show:
Notice anything around the 40-second mark of that video? "Everything in It's Right Place"? Even one of the biggest bands in the world shouldn't be above proper grammar. Otherwise, I can't be the only person to think that the Field Museum should receive an assist for the unintentionally perfect fireworks display that took place behind Radiohead's headlining Lollapalooza set on Friday evening. The synchronization between those fireworks and "Fake Plastic Trees" was truly trascendent.
Madison’s The Box Social play party rock, and there is nothing wrong with that. Without party rock what would you play at parties? Bon Iver? No, you need that driving guitar, sing-along pop tunes, to get you going. The tracks on their debut full length, Get Going, buzz with youthful energy and excitement, and they try to carry that over to their live performances.
Lead by singer/songwriter Nick Junkunc, The Box Social, have actually been together in various combination since 2002. Their name is taken from an episode of The Simpsons in which Marge tells Homer "no par-tays, no shindigs, no chiggers, no hootenannies, no mixers, no raves, no box socials!" in order to keep him from holding parties at Mr. Burns's home.
Really, how wrong can you go with a band named Polka Madre?
One thing is for sure -- it'd sure help if I'd taken Spanish in college instead of Norwegian (hey, it was North Dakota, okay?) Instead, gringo fans of the Mexican gypsy-polka-punkers have to rely on Google's language tools, which muddles through translating the band's MySpace bios: singer and vocalist Eric is Finnish by birth, and he "Dance on stage and sings like an idiot, according Palera and good friends, in the wave Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave." Meanwhile, Raymundo plays the... er, "battery," and apparently "Junky proudly and vague, leaving everything to surrender to the music."
Check them out at their show tomorrow, July 31, at the Empty Bottle. If Polka Mother's band members dancing like idiots and playing what may be batteries isn't enough to reel you in, consider the rest of the line-up, including Chicago's own Black Bear Combo and Lamajamal.
I’m not sure why I was handed this disc by the band Percolator, it could be my intense addiction to caffeine or maybe it was proximity to the mail box, but nonetheless I am in possession of a homemade disc containing 6 songs by Percolator and 4 song by hometown Jagjaguwar giants Odawas. Local bands take note, this is a very cleaver way to promote a show. In the hand written note the band says they are opening Odawas, one of their favorite bands. Naturally, I expected to hear some influence or similarities, but to my ear there were none. Percolator has a raw, basement band sound, full of energetic bass lines and pop melodies.
The tracks on this disc were taken from their full-length debut album, Man is Not a Bird!, which they currently have streaming on their website. The album was self-recorded last year and self-released last month, and is rich with a multitude of styles culminating in a solid debut. If all of that was not reason enough check out this up-and-coming band their logo/mascot/illustration should put you over the top. I’m not sure what it all means, but I love looking at it!
Percolator are opening for Odawas tonight (yes, tonight, 7/29) at The Subterranean. It is a 21+ show and tickets are only $8. Also appearing are The Four Kicks and The Grownup Noise, and the show starts at 8:30pm, but doors open @ 8:00.
At last week's Pitchfork, Chuck D noted that some people didn't know that Will Smith used to be a rapper named Fresh Prince. And to add unto that wisdom, Jazzy Jeff wasn't always the bumbling friend, but also a world renown DJ and producer.
Will Smith doesn't rap much any more, but DJ Jazzy Jeff keeps doing his thing. This Thursday, as part of the BlackBerry Luxe Club Series, Jeff will man the 1s and 2s at Lumen, 839 West Fulton Market. Get your RSVP on and see how professionals do it. Even those you may have seen on TV. Show starts at 9.
A young singer/multi-instrumentalist sounds similar to a revered music figure. Hardly a press item about the singer's debut album fails to mention the vocal likeness. Even the production is reminiscent of that on the idol's best records. It's a lot to live up to when everyone's gut reaction is to compare the two - the 22-year old from Michigan and the dead glam rock star from Britain. Yet the debut receives critical praise. The Moonstation House Band may have led to David Vandervelde mentioned in the same sentences as Marc Bolan a lot, but Vandervelde himself would probably say he's been influenced more by Emmit Rhodes.
On the forthcoming Waiting for the Sunrise (Secretly Canadian; August 5), Vandervelde calms down a bit and turns out a perfect summer record. While "Lyin' in Bed" and "Knowledge of Evil" bring to the table some of the electricity that "Nothin' No" and "Jacket" injected into Moonstation, the vibe on Sunrise is generally more in line with 70s pop (as first single "I Will Be Fine" makes clear) than glam or power pop. However, in the past, Vandervelde and his band have been much more raw live than the records would suggest.
David Vandervelde performs at Schubas on Sunday, the 27th. The show starts at 9PM with Danny Black opening and admission is $10.
One of the reasons I really love Chicago in the summer is all the shit there is to do. As eloquently as that was just stated, it's true. There is so much free music going on in the city, from the Music Without Borders at Millennium Park, Stevie Wonder at the Taste, and every neighborhood throwing together their own street fest loaded with some pretty solid names. Radius clauses aside, there is always a good show to go to, no matter where or when.
This weekend is no exception, with the Wicker Park Fest setting up shop at the intersection of Milwaukee and North. The lineup hits all bases on the head. Hip hop DJ Bassnectar, who holds his own huge cult following, headlines on Saturday night. Electronic Barcelona DJ Prefuse 73 and experimental instrumentalist Daedelus also share the stage on Saturday. Two music stages make this a bigger fest then most (and only one stage smaller and 40 dollars cheaper than another festival). The North stage holds a more indie cast of characters, giving us Chicago favorites the 1900s, Bishop Allen, and Ra Ra Riot. Sunday brings more of that local indie effort with Aleks and The Drummer, Maps & Atlases, and Algernon. The Dub Trio have too much metal in their jams to accurately follow their name, but it's some strong rock either way and will hold it down Sunday evening.
Above: Locrian. Inset: Cover of Greyfield Shrines LP (Diophantine Discs)
Like a raven perched on an electrical transformer, Locrian summon elemental human dread, the type hinted at in medieval passion plays and Shakespearean dramatic interludes, but do so electrically, without the pretense of ancient wisdom or nostalgia-laden "spectral folk." The duo of Andre Foisy and Terrence Hannum stalk the barren forests (or maybe not, since the cover of their LP contains a picture of an abandoned shopping mall…"Leave the City," anyone?) with delay-laden guitars and round, full, low-end synth textures. Although their music is steeped in darkness, Locrian never condescend to the darkness, nor do they invoke it cheaply or take shortcuts to bring us there. Each summoning is done carefully, thoughtfully, and with considerable toil.
This week, Diophantine Discs releases Greyfield Shrines, the band's debut vinyl LP.
Travis Wiggins, aka Essex Chanel, is one busy bastard. He's continuously recording and performing his solo work, and still finds time to work on other projects, including The Summer Salts and Fetla.
Check out the Essex Chanel show at Schubas on July 30; after all, the Dancing at Weddings release was a good time, so there's no reason the show won't rock. The Summer Salts will also be performing, along with The Zerostars. Free Essex sampler CDs go to the first 100 people to show, so get there good and early.
Another summer, another incredible series of jazz concerts in Millennium Park. This year's series starts tomorrow, July 24th, and spans six concerts that will bring an incredible variety of free programming to Chicago residents and tourists. From an Iraqi maqam-jazz hybrid concert featuring Chicago native Amir ElSaffar to a tribute to Sun Ra from Phil Cohran, this summer's programming promises a diverse and high level of music in every instance.
Working through the night, our fearless photographer George Aye has compiled 72 hours of Pitchfork Music Festival mania into some really tremendous photo sets on flickr. It's a great way to slide into your Monday (or to try and remember how you spent your Saturday afternoon). We've got you covered, Pitchfork Festival, from Animal Collective to !!!.
If you've got great Pitchfork pictures to share, load them up to our Transmission pool on Flickr, where we're always glad to see your Chicago music pics!
(Keep an eye out here in Transmission for more Pitchfork recaps later today.)
Once upon a time, in a section of Brooklyn called Browsnville, two dudes got together and decided to make hip-hop. So in 1993, they released their debut single, "How About Some Hardcore?" and fans worldwide reacted to the promise of violence not seen since Onyx. Billy Danz and Lil Fame brought unfocused anger to the masses in the form of Mash Out Posse, or M.O.P. for short.
For a while they toiled in relative anonymity outside the Northeastern corridor. After a series of albums, mixtape appearances, and general mayhem, then came "Ante Up: Robbin Hoodz Theory". That success brought their brand of New York tinged wilding and an admittedly grimy aesthetic to pockets of hip-hop preciously infatuated with the G-funk and materialism prevalent in 2000. In fact, "Ante Up" was a direct response to the bling, promising the stripping of said consumer goods if common sense was not exercised.
And, thanks to Scion's Live Metro event series, where an online RSVP will get you in, M.O.P. brings it to Chicago tomorrow night. This will not be a place for hipsters standing on the wall. The duo has no auspices to pop credibility, let alone sensibility. There will be adrenaline. It will be hot, muggy, kinetic, and violent.
Even Bert and Ernie get into it. They won't be at the show, though.
RSVP here. 21 and over, show is supposed to start at 9:30.
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**
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.
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.
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?
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!
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"
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.
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.
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!)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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+.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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+.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 appearance on David Letterman. Even Vampire Weekend had to wait until after their LP to get on SNL.
All this is either a testament to the speed of the Internet or to the greatness of Tokyo Police Club. We’ve all heard the electric keyboards and frenetic drumming backed by youthful vigor before (The Go! Team, CYHSY), but nobody can hide under the spotlight and tonight we will see if this band is worth its Canadian salt. But the real reason (or hipster excuse) to venture out to the Metro tonight is to catch Maps & Atlases, our city's experiment in energy and pop. They seem to be a good fit to open for TPC, but I wish these guys would get some love on the headlining level. So come early and support your scene.
Tokyo Police Club plays tonight at Metro with Smoosh and Chicago’s Maps and Atlases. Tickets are $15, the show is 18+, and doors open at 7pm. You can order tickets online here.
You know, the first time I saw local purveyors of wackadoo angular pop-rock, Detholz! it was at last year's equally bonkers Empty Bottle Halloween show. There the band presented themselves as a inspiration seminar-cum-tent revival show, all while playing fantastic, reimagined rock covers. So it was a weird mix of surprise and oh-yeah-that-makes-sense to find out that the band has a evangelical Christian past -- perhaps they took notes on how to get the parishioners rolling.
Any way you cut it, Detholtz! put on a damn fine show. Check them out when they play with fellow Chicagoans Singer and fuzzy psychadelicans Cloudland Canyon at the Empty Bottle on Friday, May 9.
Chicago’s very own Mannequin Men will once again embrace the glamour that is the Empty Bottle, but this time bassist Rick Berger will not join them. According to their semi-new blog, Berger has left the group to join his fiancé in doing that whole move to New York to start a new life thing. The split was amicable, so there should be no fall out or bad vibes when new bassist (and blogger from the Chicago Reader’s Crickets music site) Miles Raymer joins the group for a warm up in Cincinnatti before his hometown debut at the corner of Western and Cortez.
The band seemingly has no worries, but the first couple shows with a new member are always chaotic and somewhat loose. But for a band that feeds off those qualities, now may be a good time to reintroduce yourself to the Mannequin Men, because if you miss this show, you will miss the best house party you never went to in college and one of the best live bands in Chicago will rock on without you. Tis all good, though, they play the Flameshovel showcase with Maritime at the Double Door on May 25th as a consolation prize.
The show is May 2nd at the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western Ave.) with openers Sic Alps set to go on around 8pm. Tyvek and, then the Mannequin Men, to follow, but ask around for the after show spot, as these guys usually do their city proud on gig night. Tickets are $8 in advance and can be bought here on the web or by phone (866-468-3401). You can also wait and get them for $10 at the door. If you don’t already have a copy of their excellent Flameshovel debut, Fresh Rot, you can pick up a copy here or stream samples of all the songs here.
In a story the narrator fills in the details, supplies background information, and keeps things moving along. As with any good story, The Narrator has played vital role in the story that is the Chicago music landscape over the last five years. Producing three solid high-energy albums on the local label Flameshovel (Youth City Fire (EP) 2004, Such Triumph 2005, and All That to the Wall 2007), this now trio has decided to go their separate ways. Making the announcement via myspace and the front page of Flameshovel, mysteriously no reason or future plans have been given.
Their line-up, as it stood in 2008, consisted of Singer/guitarist Sam Axelrod, Bassist James Barron, and singer/guitarist Jesse Woghin. During the recording process of 2007’s All That to the Wall their drummer left the band, and they were forced to call on friends from Oxford Collapse, Russian Circles, Bound Stems, Sybris, Tight Phantomz and Lying In States to help complete the album. I suppose that may have been the beginning of end for The Narrator, but no one really knows.
They will try to tell the final chapter of their story this Saturday, May 3rd @ The Empty Bottle. This will be their final Chicago performance and also appearing will be Joan of Arc, Tight Phantomz, and Mannequin Men DJs. The show starts @ 10:00pm and tickets are $10.
The announcement earlier this month that Sly & the Family Stone would play at the Vic this Saturday evening was greeted by potential concertgoers with emotions ranging from absolute glee to serious hesitation. Not surprisingly, considering Sly's erratic behavior over the last, oh, nearly 40 years, Saturday's gig has been cancelled "due to health reasons." Whether that is actually the case or not may remain a mystery in the same way that the Minneapolis cancellation the night prior is due to "scheduling conflicts." Reviews from last weekend's shows in Los Angeles (here and here) indicate inconsistent performances highlighted only by moments of greatness among many of mediocrity.
In other news about events that aren't happening, this weekend's rescheduled grand opening of the new Bottom Lounge has been postponed. Last weekend's Earth show had been moved and this weekend's shows by Urge Overkill and MU330 (They're still around?) have simply been postponed. Hopefully, the proper Ts and Is are crossed and dotted before next weekend's shows.
The Houston, TX outfit Indian Jewelry has never been an easy entity to get one's head around. Operating like a shadowy cult, it seems the band's revolving-door line-up contracts and expands with each appearance. They switch record labels frequently; and in the past have performed under a host of aliases such as Swarm of Angels, The Corpses of Waco, Electric Fuck-all, and the Perpetual War Party Band. And while they might initially be mistaken as yet another sprawling clan of freak-folkateer noodlers, their output instead consists of keyboard-and-feedback heavy psychedelic drones of the most sentience-nulling caliber.
The band is set to release its latest album, Free Gold!, on the Baltimore-based We Are Free label in a few weeks. It's a cleaner-sounding excursion than the group's prior recordings. This time around, the listener finds something floating more distinctly through the stifling haze of Indian Jewelry's keyboard buzz and guitar squall -- that being the group's underlying affinity for psych-pop melodies of the J&MC, Spacemen 3, Brian Jonestown Massacre variety. Animating the music with a slightly dreamy quality, it's these pop leanings that help lift the group's music out of the opiated, wall-of-noise morass. Imagine the Stooges and Stereolab collaborating on an extended cover of the Monkees' "Porpoise Song" and you've got the general idea.
Indian Jewelry are playing at the Hideout this Saturday night. Reputedly, the band puts on a stupefyingly intense show. On the opening bill is local heavyweight stoner-rock, math-metal revisionists Warhammer 48K. Warhammer's largely been off the scene for the past eight months or so, with some of its members appearing around town under their side-project alias CAVE in the interim. From the looks of it, they're back on their feet and gearing up for a new round of activity. They're heavy, they're tightly gnarled, they're bewildering, they're loud, and they might be one of the best bands operating in Chicago these days. Given the low-ceilinged acoustic of the Hideout, hearing protection is advised. 1354 W. Wabansia. Doors open at 9 PM, admission is $8.
Several times a year someone, somewhere, proclaims that this or that singer is the "new Dylan". An equal number of times the world is let down when the "new Dylan" doesn't emerge at all and the singer songwriter fades back into the woodwork. Steve Forbert was shackled with that tag back in 1978. He nearly made the comparison stick though with the release of his sophomore record and the hit, and now classic song, "Romeo's Tune". In the years that followed he got tied up in record label red tape and didn't release any new music. He's had several comebacks over the last twenty years including two records on Geffen, a Grammy nomination for his tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, and a decade or so of a 100 dates a year touring.
On May 1 he brings his brand of country folk to Fitzgerald's. Expect to hear some of his classic songs, as well as new ones from 2007's Strange Names & New Sensations. Oak Park resident Matthew Francis Andersen opens up. Show starts at 8pm and is $18 at the door.
Here's a song from Any Old Time: Songs Of Jimmie Rodgers.
French pop music that makes its way to America often has an electronic tint to it, with Daft Punk and Justice representing the most recent success. Tonight, francophiles can see another example of how the french do it better with 25 year-old Yelle performing in Logan Square. Yelle is a MySpace product that got her break back in 2005 when she posted a song poking fun at the lack of fun poking she got from Cuizinier, a member of the French hip-hop group TTC. When that song made the rounds, she teamed up with producer GrandMarnier to polish her tribute to Cuizinier and complete a debut album. Out of that collaboration came Pop-Up, a testament of the Tecktonika scene featuring singles "À cause des Garçons," which has been featured in everything from video games and runway shows to an episode of The Hills, and the insanely catchy despite the language barrier "Je Veux Te Voir," which appeared in an episode of Entourage and made the top five singles chart in France.
Despite her success in France, Yelle has only received praise in the US from bloggers and the aforementioned media crossovers. Not to worry, fans of jumping and flailing about will soon be hip to her when she expands her tour to more than the few cities she has scheduled in the new world. She played Coachella over the weekend, but so did a lot of other people, so maybe she knows tonight is an important night in her effort to win over America's heartland.
Chicago's jazz and improvised music scene has produced a disproportionate share of iconoclasts and radicals in its long and colorful history. The city that works nurtured Sun Ra and Andrew Hill, Roscoe Mitchell and Lester Bowie, to name just a handful. While Jason Ajemian hasn't reached the musical heights or accomplishments of the aforementioned bunch, he certainly belongs to the Chicago constellation of musical individuality. His concept and approach is anything but traditional, but the results are unique and sometimes extraordinary.
His recent Delmark release with his band Smokeless Heat, The Art of Dying, is emblematic of his approach and musical values. The core of the band consists of Ajemian on bass, Tim Haldeman on saxophone, and Nori Tanaka on drums. Haldeman and Ajemian have a deep musical connection nurtured over years of Sunday sessions that Ajemian held at the Bridgeport Coffee House, where they'd play for hours as a duo with an occasional extra guest. Nori Tanaka was a natural choice for the drummer spot in the band, given his association with Ajemian in A Cushicle, a band that includes Jeff Parker. These chains of collaboration are endemic in the Chicago scene, and they produce the kind of music that we find on The Art of Dying. On the release they are also joined by Jaimie Branch, Jason Adasiewicz and Matt Schneider.
Last November I received a mysterious e-mail, “What’s your address? Thanks, Tony”. Unsure who Tony was or what he wanted to send me I gave him my P.O. box number and anxiously waited. With in days I was holding in my hand a brown cardboard cd case with an image that looked like it may have been from the twenty’s of a woman posing with a stuffed tiger. I turned the package over and saw the imprint Sanitary Records, and still questioned the sound or content of this album metaphorically called, This is Sometimes a Riverbed. I placed in the disc in the car stereo and waited for answers. Somber acoustic guitars filled the spaces between the rich but fading vocals, as the singer nearly cried, “Life is Easy” (Yes, Still). I am nearly hypnotized by the potent mixture of joy, despair, melody, and lo-fi glory.
You see, Tony is actually Tony Presley, the deep baritone voice behind the name Real Live Tigers. He is from Austin, TX and has come to survive off of DIY tours and small indie releases. Fresh off of a tour of the United Kingdom and parts of Germany with the like minded Dustin & The Furniture, Tony lands in Chicago this weekend for three shows. Often performing bare foot and rocking on his knees, the meditative nature of soulful tones become vivid and clear and nearly lift the crowd from their basement or backyard location to the “Flood Plains” or riverbeds he likes to mention in his songs.
Real Live Tigers will be playing at the Lowercase Collective (2307 N. Springfield Ave.) on May 1st @ 7:00pm, The Foster Home (4136 Lawn Ave, Western Springs, IL) on May 2nd @ 6:00pm $5, and South Union Arts (1352 S. Union) on May 3rd @ 8:00pm $8.
When it comes to liberation fronts there aren’t a lot of positive connotations associated with them. You think of animals being freed from cages already carrying an infectious disease, or domestic terrorists sinking whaling ships or blowing up oil refineries. However, when speaking sonically, liberation can be a very powerful thing. To think of a trumpet or saxophone being let out of its cage and allowed roam free, soar even, over chaotic liberated bongo drums. Voices, not restricted by words, chant and echo around the mix. This is musical freedom!
Philadelphia’s Sonic Liberation Front is an octet fronted by percussionist Kevin Diehl, a protégé of free jazz pioneer Sunny Murray. Their latest album, Change Over Time, was released in 2006 (High Two), and received high praise for advancements in both the world of jazz and in world music. “The Next Thing That Happens” opened the album at frantic pace with the rapid patter of bongos leading to vivid horns and surprising electronics.
Sonic Liberation Front will be playing at Uncommon Ground (1401 W. Devon Ave.) tomorrow night @ 10:00pm. Many events SELL OUT only reservations (773-465-9801) guarantee seating and there is a $20.00 per person minimum.
I heard a sad rumor that the Flowershop (2159 W. 21st Place, at Leavitt north of Cermak) is closing their doors to shows in June. While the Pilsen location may have seemed out of the way to far-north (or suburban) show-comers, the space seemed to kickstart a whole rash of smaller venues in Pilsen and surrounding areas, making the south and west sides of Chicago the hot spots for all manner of neck-snappin' experimental madness. And now, like Sanjuro, the Flowershop is raising an eyebrow, and with a brusque "see ya around," is walking off into the sunset, eh?
Well, not yet.
This Friday (April 25), THRILL to the sight and sound of six hot-roxxs experimental scienticians flexing their musical lab-coats for one more major hoo-rah before the Flower Shop goes back to...well, I don't know. Selling flowers? Before they go, they invited on rather big-name mofo to see 'em off. All the way from Oberlin, Ohio (by way of Ann Arbor, MI), give it up for...
We here at Transmission were excited, EXCITED, to hear that the yearly Rock the Bells Tour was opening in Chicago in July. An all-star lineup! The reunification of A Tribe Called Quest! Whatever Wu Tang members decide to show up! De La Soul! Rakim! Local hip-hop makes good in Kid Sister and The Cool Kids! All that, and more, and outdoors!
Except, um, it won't be in Chicago proper.
Initial announcements say that it'll be at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. Know where that is, kids? Tinley Park. Better than, say, road-tripping to Indy or Madison, but to say "Chicago" brings up thoughts of, well, not a Metra ride to the burbs, into "Chicagoland".
Check the site for further info, mailing lists, giveaways, and other niceties.
Immediate Sound, the series curated by Umbrella Music presenter Mitch Cocanig and musician/presenter Ken Vandermark, has been successfully putting on concerts every Wednesday for the past two years at the Hideout. To celebrate two years of presenting top notch music that is often marginalized by traditional media outlets and mainstream culture, they are hosting a special Friday and Saturday night program of music this Friday, April 25th and Saturday, April 26th.
I first saw Chicago’s Dan Tedesco perform last October in a small corner of the Full Moon Bar & Grill in Batavia, IL. Ripped jeans, worn t-shirt, harmonica around his neck, acoustic guitar, and a serious love for rock n’ roll, Dan was ready as he entered the bar. There were maybe fifteen people in place, some cared and some didn’t, but the quantity of people was not important to him. As he tuned and prepared his guitar, he was almost giddy as if everything between performances was meaningless. Waiting for the show to begin I thought about the true meaning of rock n’ roll, the true purpose of music. Records sales, mp3’s, blogs, promos, none of these things crossed my mind. At the heart of music is the passion to share your story and your song. To share with the audience, yes, but to also share with those who came before you and those who will follow. As Dan began to sing it was clear he was filled with this passion, and even though he was in the same room as me he was singing and stomping and strumming for a purpose way beyond me, way beyond that bar. Dan sings to keep the record spinning, to contribute a line to the song, to play rock n’ roll.
Drawing comparisons to both Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, but he plays and writes in a voice that is all his own. He relentlessly tours the Midwest, in fact he has four shows in the area this week, including a rare appearance with a full band called The Long Haul. For all of his upcoming shows, and a few free downloads, please visit his ReverbNation page.
Everybody is familiar with bands who go through the motions live and leave crowds shrugging at the end. Even great songs can sound mediocre after such performances. But there's a rarer creature out there - the band who improves on their recorded output in front of an audience. This is what Toronto's Constantines do. They're the type of band who you see live and think, "Why can't they make these songs sound this good on an album?!" Now, that's not implying that their records are anywhere near bad. It's just a testament to how dynamic they are live.
Whether it's Bryan Webb's raw vocals or Steve Lambke's intricate guitaring or Doug MacGregor's drumming assault, there is a little something extra in their music when they're in the same room as opposed to on the stereo. The trudging songs that the band has perfected over the years ("You Are a Conductor", "Time Can Be Overcome") stand out right along with the brooding rock anthems ("Nighttime/Anytime (It's Alright)", "Working Full-Time"). There is no reason to believe that they won't do live for the upcoming Kensington Heights what they've done for its predecessors.
Constantines headline the Empty Bottle on Thursday. Brooklyn's Oakley Hall and Austin's The Fall Collection open the show at 9PM. Tickets are $12.
If you were to believe all the heavy-breathing banter from the likes of NME, the Observer, and Drowned In Sound over the past 9 months or so, Foals just might be this year's contender for Big U.K. Breakout Band of The Year. But then again, we're used to hearing those sorts of proclamations coming over the big water every other season. That's just the British music press being the British music press. And there's plenty of reasons to be skeptical this time around, seeing how so many people drank the kool-aid of that Klaxons hype back in 2007.
In the case of Foals, some of the advance hubbub for their debut album Antidotes started washing up on these shores months ago. It was bound to. Foals had been through the rounds of the usual Brit music-biz grooming – which means singles, a video for each single, TV appearances, etcetera. Then along came word of a debut album recorded with TVOTR's Dave Sitek in New York with some assistance from the Antibalas horn section, capped off with a signing to Sub Pop for U.S. distribution. Talk about sailing through customs with all the right stamps of indie-pop credibility on your passport.
Nevertheless, Foals seem about as wary of the industry machinations as anyone else. There's more than a few sarcastic taunts and self-deprecating barbs scattered throughout Antidotes, with the band seeding the field for critics, haters-in-waiting, and would-be fans alike. And no doubt it all has something to do with why they describe themselves as "SNOTTY ART SCHOOL DROPOUTS HUNGRY FOR THE DOLLAR" on their Myspace page.
Sometimes the pull of stereotype is too strong. Somehow, you look at Sean "Slug" Daley and there's no way he can really be a wordsmith that's any good. You look at Anthony "Ant" Davis and think that there was no way this guy makes beats of any merit. They're white (looking) and appear in photos, well, not very hip-hoppy.
But to hell with appearances. Ant and Slug make up Atmosphere, and the new album out Tuesday is "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold". They'll be at the Metro for the next couple of days on the album-support tour, and Ant himself will be working the merch table.
Because it's not gangsta, and it's not all that "urban", the mantle of "king of emo rap" has been bestowed on Slug's head, and it's just funny how the stereotypes come into play when the norm of what's "hip-pop" and "real" comes into play. Ant's sonics don't fit the sample-heavy orchestrations that certain artists thrive on. Slug's subject material is pretty far from the mainstream norm, as failed relationships and storytelling involving some decidedly non-glamorous subjects (blue collar workers, children living with unhappy parents, etc.) that probably lends him to be tagged with a label that would assure him indie popular appeal. Appeal hasn't translated into multi-plat album sales, but appeal nonetheless. Hey, the internet love counts for something.
Atmosphere enjoys a loyal fanbase in the Midwest, being from Minneapolis and all, and the Chicago shows should be absolutely packed. Tuesday is all ages, with doors at 6 and show at 6:30. Wednesday is 18 and over, doors at 8, show at 9. Tickets are $20, $22 at the door.
After a string of missed opportunities and tragically plagued shows in Chicago in the last 6 months, Colin Meloy leaves the Decemberists as he embarks on his third solo tour, and first extended one, in support of his debut solo album, Colin Meloy Sings Live!
The album was recorded during his last solo tour in 2006 and includes a fair mix of hits from the Decemberists catalog as well as his own solo work. The album is generally a good listen, in part due to the fact that I never want Colin Meloy to stop singing, ever. The overall feeling, however, is like an understated Decemberists album. Obviously, the covers are greatly stripped down, but not in the quaint, approachable sense you like from an acoustic cover but instead slightly emphasizes the missing Decemberists. Red Right Ankle and other predominately Meloy songs, however, emerge with an almost rustic simplicity that make you appreciate them that much more. At one point in reference to the songs, Meloy asks the crowd to simply "imagine it's harder", a good overall point to how one should listen to the album. In addition to the Decemberists Unplugged cuts, the solo works of Colin Meloy very effectively make you really sad. If you'll come with me on an extended metaphor for a second, these acoustic works are written to soundtrack the part of the movie of your life when you're driving cross country away from your significant other before you realize it's all been a terrible mistake and you promptly turn around and fly back into their arms.
Included in the album are the fun quips and banter so characteristically Meloy. Throwing the few bits of humor into an otherwise emotional and anything but uplifting album, the chit chat in between the songs makes him seem like a real person beyond the brilliant and mysterious intellectual that Colin Meloy plays.
Colin Meloy will be playing Park West tonight with special guest Laura Gibson. Doors 6 PM/ Show @ 7:30. $20, All Ages.
Love or hate Moby, you have to concede the point that he has done a lot to mainstream electronic music in the US. His live shows are quite entertaining however, and he obviously has an ear for good sounds. Moby plays a DJ set at the SmartBar tomorrow night as part of a Myspace secret show. Doors at 7 PM, show at 9 PM, first come first served, so expect a line up.
Bon Iver was the big, inexplicable blog success story of 2008. Inexplicable because his down tempo folk music is so low key as to be absolutely sleepy and that's typically not the music that rockets to the top of the blogosphere. And inexplicable to me because I actually like it. Who's next then? Could be Chicagoan Joe Pug.
Like Bon Iver, Joe's got someone in his corner helping to get the word out. And like Bon Iver, Joe's a singer-songwriter who wears his influences on his sleeve. It's too obvious to list those influences here. Just listen to "Hymn #101" below to figure it out for yourself. So is Joe Pug the next blog success story? I don't know; it's a mystery how these things happen. But with a brand new EP called Nation Of Heat, a record release show at Schubas on May 3rd, and a growing fanbase I wouldn't bet against him.
The Bloomington based roots rock band Backyard Tire Fire probably had great expectations and lofty goals when they were just starting out playing in their brother's/uncle's/great aunt's garage but somehow I bet playing a set at Sun Studios was not one of them. To play at the studios where Elvis, Jerry Lee and Johnny all recorded their seminal work must have been a dream come true. Here's the video the band can show to their grandkids in 50 years.
The band plays on a crazy triple bill tonight at Metro opening up for Nashville Pussy and Reverend Horton Heat.
[video]: Backyard Tire Fire - "Honey To A Bee"
P.S. Here's a song or two from an acoustic set the band performed in February in their home town of Bloomington, IL.
A friend of mine from Austin, Texas is trying to convince me to head out to The Gourds at Schubas tonight. He's seen the band 10 or 11 times and is still excited every chance he gets to see them live. This is the same guy who tried to convince his freshman dorm that The Flaming Lips were the best band ever (and that was in 1987).
The band's blend of bluegrass, country, soul, blues and rock make this a show I don't need to have my arm twisted to hard to attend. Their closest contemporary band is probably the other Texas based group not afraid to blend all these genre's in a sonic stew - namely The Asylum Street Spankers. The Gourds play two shows at 7pm and 11pm tonight.
The band released their ninth record last year called Noble Creatures. These songs are from 2004's Blood of the Ram.
It's a magical week for those of you with iron ears, lead-lined stomachs, and a taste for strong, bitter musical substances, because for the next three days, two different Chicago venues (The Empty Bottle on Tuesday, AV-Aerie on Wednesday and Thursday) will present no less than TWENTY FOUR different acts for your mid-week surrender to the void. Watch your productivity at work plummet to just-short-of-grounds-for-dismissal levels, as a whole slew of crazy mofos keep you out all night, whether you're jumping up and down, frugging, throwing horns, or just standing in the back and nodding approval. Your choice man - nobody's here to judge.
From the sound of it, Meat Beat Manifesto has fallen in love with bass all over again.
As pioneering veterans of the industrial music scene of the early '90s, Meat Beat Manifesto has stayed prolifically active over the years. New albums have consistently appeared every few years, with frontman and maestro Jack Dangers also tirelessly issuing work via a plethora of solo- and sideline aliases in the off seasons. (Some of them quite serious, others not-so.) While MBM have never strayed too far from the initial dark, dystopic, and paranoid demeanor of their industrial origins, their work of the past decade or so has found them venturing further afield into more abstract and experimental terrain. Chalk it all up to Dangers's workaholic craftsmanship and attention to sonic detail, his encyclopedic knowledge of electronic music, and his obsessive gearhounding of analog sound equipment; but MBM albums have continued to surprise or engage listeners over the years.
It's like playing your stereo loudly with the door closed after a funeral. The sense of loss, but the need to keep going, if only to be thankful for still being here, but also a renewed vigor to leave something tangible behind when it is time to go.
That's the general mood of New Orleans-based artists since Hurricane Katrina, and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra brought a little flavor of what remains of Sin City South with them in their performance Friday night.
An almost capacity crowd were treated to a two hour show that took on a somber, yet celebratory tone as second line, for the hard and brash solos, and maybe a surprise or two, and the musicians d
Photos by Stephanie Griffin
Our annual Gapers Block Party is finally here! And this year it's bigger and better than ever -- we're taking over the 
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