☛ GAPERS BLOCK FIFTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY! Friday, May 30, 2008 ✧ The Hideout ✧ 1354 W. Wabansia Ave. ✧ 9PM-1AM ✧ More details »
Looking for some action tonight? Head to the Burlington where our very own DJ Lapple Pietunes (aka Lauri Apple) goes head to head with Chicagoist's Tankboy in a DJ battle. Free stuff from both Chicagoist and Gapers Block. The fun starts at 9pm and goes late into the night, with giveaways and more.
Speaking of legislation, City Council is once again trying to push through a "promoters' ordinance" that could severely limit live music in Chicago. Contact your alderman and get this stopped! UPDATE: The ordinance has made it out of committee, and is now headed to the full Council for a vote next week. Which means it's even more important that you voice your concern to your alderman. Jim DeRogatis has the full text of the proposed ordinance up on his blog, along with a statement from the Chicago Music Commission.
New City names the 45 Chicago performers who are keeping the city on the front burner of the national music scene.
It's all about second chances for Chicago's free all-night party, Looptopia, which returns to downtown Chicago Friday night. Can the Loop-illuminating festival charm the city with its musical lineup? Over in Transmission, we take a look at the slate.
The makers of Red Bull have won a six-figure settlement in a lawsuit against the local nightclub Wet for passing off a generic energy drink as their more famous product in their cocktails. The nightclub's website is strangely unavailable.
Chicago blues icon Buddy Guy gets the tribute treatment when he's honored during the Great Performers of Illinois Festival July 20 at Millennium Park. Grammy winner Jimmie Vaughn will headline the free (yes, FREE) concert as part of the three-day music festival.
The final version of the Pitchfork Festival's lineup was released to the unwashed masses yesterday; the July 18-20 event will feature Spoon, Spiritualized, Dinosaur Jr, Public Enemy (playing It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back in its entirety), and Hold Steady. In related news, Business Week estimated that the Pitchfork site annually yields an estimated $5 million in ad revenue. Good year for the roses!
That noise you just heard didn't come from the other side of the world — it's the buzz pop musings of the Chicago band Fake Fictions, and their new album Krakatoa featured this week in Transmission.
Do you like to rock? We're looking to add to our ranks in Transmission.
Get on the phone, code monkeys: Jonathan Coulton is coming to the Lakeshore Theater May 3! Tickets are $20; call 773-472-3492 or hit the online box office.
Chicago's Head of Femur has been on a roller coaster of a career ride. They've been praised by critics, asked to tour with superstars, and then had their label fold, leaving them in the dust. But now they've got a brand-new album, and they're once again garnering loads of lauds. Read the whole story in Transmission.
WFMT critic and interviewer Andrew Patner has a blog covering the arts, classical music, and occasional forays into local politics--all in his inimitable Patnervian style.
New Zealand's former fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo Flight of the Conchords is coming to the Chicago Theater on Wednesday, May 14; tickets go on sale this Friday.
Pitchfork.TV is up and running, currently featuring a live recording of "Bangers and Mash" by Radiohead. Check it now, before the music videos are replaced by crappy reality programming.
The Lollapalooza 2008 lineup will be released this Monday, but the leaked list has been on Jim DeRogatis' blog for a few days (which has apparently brought Perry Farrell much irritation). While the offerings are varied, it's familiar territory: the festival seems to have culled its lineup from past Lollas and past Pitchfork/Intonation Festivals. Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Wilco, Rage Against the Machine, and Kanye West are among the headliners, with Girl Talk, Go! Team, Cat Power, Gnarls Barkley, and Broken Social Scene bringing up the rear. Tickets are on sale now.
The Chicago Cultural Center will be showing the premiere of Movin' On Up, a documentary about Chicago native and music icon Curtis Mayfield Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. Never before seen footage, past performances are featured in the film and on Friday, a post-movie Q&A with director David Peck and surviving Impressions members Fred Cash and Sam Gooden follows the screening. The event is free.
If you've ever seen flyers promoting a show by the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, your first thoughts were probably way off base. The band is neither related to the famous British investigative unit, nor are they a robe-wearing religious singing troupe. What they are, in fact, are rising stars in the Chicago indie music scene, and they're about to make Schubas their home for the month of April.
Osvaldo Golijov, composer-in-residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, brushes off the controversy about his unconventional works. "I love it when music brings people to fistfights," he tells The Guardian.
Throw out the horns for Crystal Lake's Stephen D. Jensen for his limited edition book of rock photography, Music Photography--Volume One. If it contained nothing more than his portrait of GWAR's Beefcake the Mighty, it would still be totally awesome.
Zooey Deschanel graced Northwestern with her presence for a few years, then moved on to bigger and better things, like Almost Famous and Elf. Now, she's got a record.
Dinosaur Jr, Mission of Burma, Jarvis Cocker (of Pulp) and Ghostface and Raekwon (from Wu-Tang Clan) have joined the lineup of the July 18-20 Pitchfork Music Festival.
The New York Times has launched a new blog, Measure for Measure, featuring Darrell Brown, Rosanne Cash, Suzanne Vega and our own Andrew Bird, who gets pride of first post. (Thanks, Sarah!)
BUST Magazine, that 15 year old feminist glossy, has just featured The Cool Kids in their "Men We Love" issue. Hi, BUST? We're Chicago. We already know.
The Hothouse announced today that all of its April shows will be performed at the Viaduct Theater, after being evicted from its space on Balbo last year. It's yet another odd chapter in the historically volatile music venue. Read the press release on A/C.
The WLUW Record Fair is now the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) Record Fair, and it's just a couple weeks away. Get your turntables ready.
Check out the Ravinia Festival website for the 2008 season lineup. Scheduled acts include Feist and...The Backstreet Boys? Yep. Tickets go on sale April 17.
There's an indie documentary being made about Chicago's hip hop scene, and a whole bunch of raw footage can be seen on YouTube.
A digital tribute to Kanye West and Daft Punk's "Stronger."
The Sun-Times' Jim DeRogatis profiles the city's newest upstart rock clubs, Reggie's and the (soon-to-reopen) Bottom Lounge, whom he says are giving the local music scene a much-needed kick in the pants.
Local jazz-infuenced art rockers The Sea and Cake discuss their upcoming inaugural series of concerts in the Land Down Under (um, Australia).
Local ragtime/blues/country musical outfit the Northside Southpaws bill themselves as the only all-left-handed, all-resophonic mandolin/guitar duo in the world. Actually, isn't there a group of lefty banjoists in... Well, how about... Nah, I got nothing.
Who knew? Industrial music godfather Al Jourgensen (Ministry) is a big Blackhawks fan. So big that he has written a new anthem for the team, "Keys To The City", that will debut on March 5. Jourgensen said he hopes the song "inspires some awesome fights on the ice."
A documentary on the inimitable Chicago-based artist and rocker Wesley Wills debuts tomorrow (Friday) at the Noise Pop Festival in San Francisco. The late Willis was known for his headbutts and requests for fans to "say rawr."
Jim DeRogatis has a list of Chicago's next big musical acts -- start brushing up so you can pan them when they "sell out."
If you missed Andrew Bird performing with Wilco at the Riv on the 20th, you can find a quality recording here, and gape at the crowd here.
Found on Songza: The Theme from Hot Doug's by bee.
The Cool Kids get some love from Chicago magazine, comparing them to the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J.
More allegations of inappropriate behavior are surfacing about R. Kelly. This time it's with a woman he'd known since she was "a little girl."
If you're looking for a consolidated classical music calendar, check out the resources at Chicago Classical Music. In addition to an easy-to-use calendar for events, they have a blog and a decent blogroll of many art organizations around Chicago. (Aside: Make time to see any pieces performed by Osvaldo Golijov; the performance of his piece Ainadamar tonight was fantastic.)
Chicago's own Common has been chosen to play Green Lantern in the coming Justice League of America film.
Over in Transmission, we've listed all the Chicago bands performing at SXSW in March, along with all the ones within reasonable driving distance. Plus a couple unofficial shows and persistent rumors. Get on it.
As Logan Square gentrifies, the owners of the Congress Theater hope to renovate it to match the neighborhood -- but keep it available and affordable to local organizations.
In '06 and early '07, we featured excerpts from The Third Coast, a book about life by the Great Lakes by Ted McClelland. It's finally published, and we're celebrating tonight at the Hideout from 6 to 8:30pm. Ted will read excerpts from the book, and Marquette, MI, musician Sycamore Smith (featured in the book and in Detour) will perform. It's free!
This week in Transmission, we take a look at three stellar releases from Chicago jazz label, Delmark. We've got small ensembles with big performances, big ensembles with even bigger performances, and sweet licks burned onto CD and DVD. So hot it'll melt your snowpants!
So why isn't Chicago as big a draw for the world's music fans as Austin or Nashville? An article in the Reader offers some explanations. But the city is making one attempt at promoting homegrown talent: it's going to feature Chicago-only music on the loudspeakers at O'Hare and Midway. No Smashing Pumpkins or Fall Out Boy, though. They suspect that loud rock will rattle the nerves of already-frazzled passengers.
Claire Zulkey (who got the profile treatment in Time Out this week) interviews Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis about "Sound Opinions," music crit and the Chicago hip hop scene, among other things.
Chicago rapper Kid Sister tips her hat to I-Go on the Canadian MuchMusic blog. [via]
Rob Bochnik, guitarist and vocalist of Irish band The Frames will be performing songs from his first solo record Blowing Out the Cobwebs from 12:15-1pm today at the Goodman as part of their Playtime series. Leave your lunch in the breakroom fridge: mini corned beef sandwiches and bangers will be provided by Emerald Loop Bar and Grill for the event. If you loved last year's great movie Once, which starred Bochnik's bandmate Glen Hansard, this is an event to see. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online or at the Goodman.
The Chi-Town Daily News looks into the lives of musicians in the CTA subway.
Following recent job cuts, the Sun-Times moved to a slightly smaller format yesterday.
Local hip-hop artists The Ivy League will be rockin' your television during a commercial break on MTV's new year's extravaganza ... if you have Comcast. Check out other NYE music news in Transmission.
Chicago Public Radio recently announced it will host OFFICE in January at The Biograph. Also: MTV tells us why the band received a package from a porn star.
Tonight at 7:30PM, the much-anticipated opera Dr. Atomic opens at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Earlier this week at a panel discussion, Nobelist Norman Ramsey, who worked at Los Alamos on the first A-Bomb, told us that we should be more worried than ever (about the bomb, not the opera).
Chicago Classical Music recently revamped their site and is promoting it with a contest for free tickets and other swag. Log in as a registered user before the 19th to be eligible to win.
Speaking of doomsday scenarios, the Lyric Opera's upcoming run of Doctor Atomic gave the Tribune reason to explore the opera, its Chicago connections and the life of Robert Oppenheimer.
John C. Reilly will take the stage at the Cubby Bear tonight - in character as Dewey Cox - to promote his upcoming film Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Fingers crossed that Chris Gaines joins him for a number or two. [via]
Chicagoclassicalmusic.org, a blog and calendar produced by a consortium of regional classical organizations, relaunched this week and is offering free stuff.
Today Transmission brings you volume seven of our ongoing series on local record stores in Chicago. Click on over and read about a North Side and a South Side shop you've just got to check out.
MyOpenBar is hosting a Drambui party at the Hideout tonight from 7 to 10pm. Andrew Andrew, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players and Gabriel Kahane play, all for free. RSVP here.
OFFICE will be doing a special acoustic set tonight at Schubas: most of it will be frontman Scott Masson playing stripped-down versions of new material. The full band will be on for a few songs, too, as well as some special guests. Show starts at 9:30pm; $5 gets you in.
Now on sale: Volume 4 of the Old Town School of Folk Music's songbook series CDs, on which they have the school's instructors recording classic folk songs with some musician friends (including on this volume Andrew Bird, Tom Paxton, John Prine, and the Sons of the Never Wrong). CD available at the school's music store or online at iTunes with bonus tracks.
Wilco, those ramblin' Chicago sweethearts, have released a European tour edition of "Sky Blue Sky". The new album features a bonus disc of three new tracks and two live recordings. The songs are FREE!...provided you already own "Sky Blue Sky". Album owners can download the bonus tracks here. Non-owners will just have to suck it up. Or buy a copy. Whichever.
The Metro is doing a survey right now; fill it out and you have a chance at two free tickets a month for all of 2008!
The city's Office of Tourism has produced a virtual tour detailing the history of Chicago Blues. The tour is narrated by that consummate blues man Buddy Guy and available at downloadchicagotours.com.
She's recorded with Bob Mould, cites Jimi Hendrix as an influence and kicks out the jams on a cello. Helen Money (aka Alison Chesley) brings her classical/rock mash-up to The Old Town School of Folk Music this Friday, Nov. 16, 7 p.m. when she opens for Tuvan throat singers Huun Huur Tu, in one of the most eclectic double bills of the year.
Donda West, mother of musician Kanye West and former chair of the Chicago State University English Department, died Saturday night in Los Angeles at the age of 58. The cause of death is unknown at this time, and her death was apparently sudden.
The Magnetic Fields are playing six shows at the Old Town School of Folk Music in March, and tickets are on sale now -- buy them at the school, by calling 773-728-6000 or online at TIX.com.
Emmanuelle Haïm, the Lyric Opera's first female conductor, will conduct Julius Caesar [pdf] starting on November 2. Listen to a podcast interview with her [mp3] for additional information.
Head of Femur celebrates the release of its new EP, Leader and the Falcon, at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, tonight at 10pm. Here's a little taste (mp3). You could maybe head there after a drink with us.
Fans of Chicago House music should be excited to see this trove of mix sets from WBMX in the '80s.
Videogame music has come a long way since Super Mario Brothers. Next March, the US debut of Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy will be at the Allstate Arena, performed by the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra. Tickets will range from $35 to $150!
This week's Transmission feature covers some local music blogs you may not have heard of.
Post-Rock Orlok: As part of Macy's Day of Music, Tortoise will provide the score to F. W. Murnau's classic silent horror film Nosferatu, Saturday night at Symphony Center. You can see the entire film, with a more traditional soundtrack, here.
Want tickets to tonight's Patrick Wolf show? Slip over to Transmission for a quick contest. [Update: We have a winner!]
Over in Transmission, Craig talks with Rachel Ries about her new album and the possibility of leaving the city she loves.
The '07-'08 season at the Lyric Opera will be conductor and artistic director Bruno Bartoletti's last, after 51 years with the company. Despite this and other distractions, the Lyric's La Traviata opened last weekend to very good reviews.
Today in Transmission we take a nice, long look at Chicago's independent Rococo Records. They've brought you a rainbow of colors in vinyl from the likes of Les Savy Fav, Velcro Lewis and His 100-Proof Band and KK Rampage. They've also got a thing for penguins, but we won't judge.
The Complaints Choir of Chicago is getting ready to rehearse for their performance this fall, and they need your help: "Detractors, muckrakers, grouches and all citizens of Chicago: this is your chance to unite and voice your concerns and complaints in a hilarious choir conducted by Jeremy Jacobsen." Send your complaint and contact info to: complaintschoir@yahoo.com.
The Lyric Opera has launched "Backstage at Lyric," a podcast that "features in-depth interviews with the singers, conductors, and creative minds behind the productions of the 2007/08 season."
Champaign's own REO Speedwagon plans to play while sailing down the mighty Chicago River on the Star of Chicago. Ride the storm out, guys!
Chicago's Festival Season isn't Over Yet! World Music Fest runs from Sept 14th - 20th and features an eclectic and diverse cast of artists performing around the city. Keep an eye on Slowdown for some recommendations.
Greg Kot tips us off to a major folk music event happening at the end of the year: The Old Town School of Folk Music is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a huge concert featuring Jeff Tweedy, Bela Fleck, Roger McGuinn, Jon Langford, Sally Timms, and a whole bunch of other artists that are connected somehow to the school. Tickets will be on sale on Saturday the 15th (or Monday the 10th, if you're an Old Town School member). For full details see the Old Town School Website.
Jim DeRogatis asks, who speaks for the local music scene? The answer, in part, is the Chicago Music Commission, which just released an economic impact survey of the city's music industry.
We probably don't have to tell you that the Chicago Jazz Festival is under way; here's a schedule and guide if you need one.
Jazz Showcase, the late lamented venue, will rise again at Dearborn Station this winter. (Meanwhile, the old Jazz Showcase space on Grand is La Madia, an upscale pizza and wine place.
Once upon a time, a band named Fugazi regularly toured the country, providing great joy to children everywhere. Yet it has been five years since That Wonderful Band toured, and many of those children have grown up. Those Children of Yesterday may now buy a new pressing of Fugazi shows, such as that from Peoria in 1995.
Movie trailer watchers and late night WBEZ listeners familiar with Ken Nordine may want to check out his website Word Jazz, which includes a blog with unusual poems starting with "Maybe the moment" and a podcast of his late night stylings.
Both 50 Cent and Chicago's Kanye West have new albums that are scheduled to be released on the same day. In a recent interview, 50 Cent is quoted as saying "If Kanye West sells more records than 50 Cent on September 11... I won't put out anymore solo albums." //Edit: Hm. Guess not.
Spanning four venues and over 100 artists and musicians, A/V XPLO is a four day event running this Wednesday and through Saturday. Offering up a mixture of music, art, film and photography, there's a lot to keep the senses occupied. More info on the bands and artists in Slowdown, and at avxplo.com.
Apparently everything was going swimmingly for Pearl Jam at an AT&T site that carried their Lollapalooza set until Vedder sang "George Bush, leave this world alone" and "George Bush, find yourself another home." AT&T swears it's a mistake, but Pearl Jam's now asking for other examples of artist political censorship from the company.
Noted drug-free, bowhunting, conservative minstrel Ted "The Nuge" Nugent recently dedicated a memorial to his mom, Marion Nugent, in front of Palatine's Durty Nellie's. The slightly grey-haired among us might remember when Ms. Nugent wrote the Ma Nugent's Mail column for IE.
The Jazz Institute of Chicago has put together a half-dozen free jazz concerts, beginning tonight at 6:30 PM in Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, and closing on 27 August with a performance by the acclaimed Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. You can't go wrong with any of these concerts, which--aside from featuring local jazz greats like Dee Alexander and Von Freeman--also open with performances by Chicago's NEXT jazz generation: the likes of the South Shore Youth Jazz Ensemble, Gallery 37 After School Matters Jazz Band, and the Jazz Links Ensemble. Individual concerts are listed in Slowdown; click here for a complete schedule. AND THERE'S MORE: If you mosey over toward the BP Bridge starting around 7:30, volunteers from Adler Planetarium will share their telescopes so you can get a good look at the moon and nearby planets.
Eric Clapton spoke with Greg Kot about his lifetime fascination with South Side blues and meeting and playing with the greats back in his Yardbird days. Muddy Waters was cool. Sonny Boy Williamson II, eh, a trifle mean.
The Old Town School of Folk Music wants to set the Guinness World Record for largest music lesson as part of its 50th anniversary. All they need is you and your guitar. And by "you" I mean everyone. Register online or by phone at 773-728-6000, then show up with your ax at the Welles Park Gazebo on Tuesday, August 7, around 6-ish to get all tuned up. The lesson starts at 7:30, and it's totally free.
You've seen this in Transmission already, but in case you missed it, Wilco will be playing Millennium Park on September 12th. It'll cost you $45 to get a seat and $10 to get on the lawn. More details in Slowdown.
It's getting a little crazy, but Chicago music legend Steve Albini is answering a wide variety of questions in the Two Plus Two forums.
Not that we need more than books, but literary and non-literary types will get into The Printers' Ball tonight. In addition to an assortment of print materials and people, some swell performers and other activities will be going down. Personally, I'm hoping for a performance of "Waiting Room" (mp3). Details in Slowdown.
With the thousands of rock kids jammed into every nook of Millennium Park for the Decemberists/GPO show last night I thought for sure following Shylo's lead would park me in craigslist missed connections heaven. Actually it's pretty sparse, but this guy totally stole my idea and cast a wide net.
We've got three pairs of three-day passes to the Pitchfork Music Festival July 13-15, courtesy of Boost Mobile and Schubas, and we're giving them all away! To be entered in the drawing, send an email including your name, address and phone number to contests@gapersblock.com by July 9! Good luck!
Seems like it's a buyer's market for tickets to see the Police perform at Wrigley Field next week.
The Reader now offers its restaurant, film, music and event listings in a mobile version for your phone. Could come in handy the next time you're planning with friends who "dunno, whadda you wanna do?"
The Trib reports that HotHouse, the South Loop venue for innovative jazz and world music, is due out of its Balbo St. digs by the end of July because of funding shortfalls, management disputes, etc. You can donate to HotHouse here, or volunteer here.
Jack Flash, singer-guitarist for the local band Bang! Bang!, has been wearing thrift-store ties cut into lightning bolts for some time -- and now you can too. Bang Bang Ties are professionally tailored (not by Flash) and are available online and at Strange Cargo. [via]
People who miss The Show with Ze Frank should check out the Wheezy Waiter, a video blog by Craig, the lead singer of Driftless Pony Club. It's not exactly the same, but hopefully it'll help with your jones. [via]
Punk Planet is ceasing publication. The 13-year-old independent magazine has fallen victim to the same distributor bankruptcy issues (though a different distributor) as McSweeney's, and find themselves with no option but to close down. PunkPlanet.com and the book publishing unit will continue on, but PP #80 will be the last.
Jim DeRogatis examines the stranglehold TicketMaster maintains over tickets for concerts, theater, sports and other events, and points out that LiveNation, TM's biggest customer, recently began selling tickets for all local venues (all the way out to Alpine Valley) at the House of Blues box office, without a service fee. The Metro and Schubas have long offered the same option. (DeRo runs down the fees, and also reminds us that the war on TicketMaster started here in '94.)
If you're still on the fence about going to tonight's Chicago Regional of the U.S. Air Guitar Championships, perhaps this preview from the Tribune will sway you. Details in Slowdown.
The Hideout Block Party is no longer being curated by the Metro; they've moved their big 25th anniversary shindig to an as-of-yet unnamed elsewhere. (No hard feelings between the venues, apparently, just a change of plans.) But the show will go on; so far Andrew Bird is the only confirmed performer. (Speaking of Mr. Bird, he'll be on Conan O'Brien tonight.)
On Wednesday, Q101 became the first radio station to play the new White Stripes album. Two hours later, a very displeased Jack White called the station.
R. Kelly crazy. Here's why! In the spring/summer issue of Hip-Hop Soul magazine, he says: "I'm the Ali of today. I'm the Marvin Gaye of today. I'm the Bob Marley of today. I'm the Martin Luther King." Where's Dave Chappelle when you need biting, R. Kelly-based mockery?
If you're interested in every last detail of Tuesday's Morrissey concert, check out the Morrissey Solo message board. Documented are the set list, crowd reactions, number of times people rushed the stage, merchandise quality, and, well, every last detail.
Here's a clip of "Tarantula"-- new song by Smashing Pumpkins, as recorded off of Q101.
Carey Bell, harp player with Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, has passed away at age 70. Bell learned from the likes of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Big Walter Horton, and played on the Delmark and Alligator record labels. Play on, Mr. Bell.
The Sun-Times TechVenue column reminds you that even if the world's Web 2.0, there's plenty of pure nerdery still to be had. To whit: This week's AIIT (?) meeting "The Face-Off Between The MFP's and the Scanners" is as exciting as a monster truck competition for... scanners. Scenic Itasca is hosting the 2007 Digital Signage Summit where the "who's who of digital media" meets to learn how to "align various pieces of digital signage solutions". (Some of us haven't even gotten over the blast that was the 2006 Summit. Itasca rocks!) And then there's these technology guys who meet and dress in chipmunk outfits...
What happens when a group of bushy-haired rockin' dudes from Nottingham, England watch too many gangster flicks and decide to write a song about Al Capone? You get Paper Lace's "The Night Chicago Died," a geographically and historically confused account of gangland Chicago performed by guys who never set foot in the city. When the real Mayor Daley received a copy of the song from the group, he declared the band "Nuts." Yes, indeed!
The lineup for the Taste of Chicago musical performances has been announced. We'll all see each other at the Kenny Rogers show, I'm sure.
...and we're not talking Skippy. It seems like everyone's suddenly into the IKEA-tastic pop trio Peter Bjorn and John (and I'm no exception; the whistling bit from "Young Folks" is totally my current ringtone). If you don't have tickets to one of their two sold-out shows at the Empty Bottle May 8, or to Lollapalooza, where they'll be on the bill as well, the Apple Store on Michigan Ave. has announced a free in-store by the soft-rock Swedesters that afternoon.
Attention, chimbley sweeps and barrow boys: The Decemberists are giving a free concert in Grant Park on July July July-y-y-y 18. Hear their wistful tales of woe and revenge backed up by the Grant Park Orchestra as part of the Metro's 25th Anniversary happenings.
The Lollapalooza lineup as reported by the Onion A/V Club earlier today is confirmed in print in an inside-back-cover ad in "tomorrow's" issue of Time Out Chicago. If you didn't buy your advance tickets, now is the time.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is taking great strides to expand its audience and influence, notably including a retooled nationally syndicated radio program and a performance and educational video series.
From the establishment of the Hull House Theater to the World's Columbian Exposition, the Sun Times lists their take on "The 50 Greatest Chicago Moments."
The WLUW Record Fair & Other Delights is next weekend, and there are still a couple booths available should you want to unload some of your music -- or posters, crafts, clothes, whatever. Get on it now!
It's not every day that we get to report on a concert consisting of the oldest song in recorded history (Tribune link, includes video of the performance).
The final installment of the Chicago Opera Theater's Claudio Monteverdi series, The Return of Ulysses, is earning strong reviews, including accolades for Rafael Viñoly's minimal set design. There are three performances remaining, so get hoppin'.
Some dude at The New York Sun just said that the Chicago music scene is the "capital of the budding New Mellow." Whatever that means.
Anthony Lovato, former lead singer of the suburban punk ensemble Mest, is being held in an LA jail on $1 million bond for allegedly stabbing a guy to death in a parking garage.
If you're looking for more SXSW news (besides what you're finding on Transmission here), "Sound Opinions" aired its SXSW wrap-up show this weekend. Check out the episode, which features some Chicago bands and a drunk-ish sounding Greg Kot waxing super-poetic about music.
The kind folks at the Wicker Park Food Co-Op have penned a tune that fairly sums up just about everyone's frustrations with the city's recycling program: The Blue Bag Blues. (Warning: it's an mp3 download.)
Put in your order for gladiola now. Morrissey's playing a slew of dates across the Midwest this May, mostly in smaller theatres. This extended tour augments his November appearance at the Aragon -- which was totally amazing.
Over at the Beachwood Reporter, Don Jacobson has been collecting and evaluating songs that namedrop the city that works. Unsurprisingly, few of the tunes are happy-go-lucky toe-tappers. Subjects include blood, drugs, ghettos, guns, and elevator repair.
The Chicago Classical Music community covers multitudinous classical music happenings, musicians, composers, and directors in Chicago and elsewhere. No one can accuse them of having too many notes.
The Police will not be here to create disorder, the Police will be here to preserve disorder. Better start looking for a parking space now.
If you're planning on attending concerts at the Ravinia Festival this summer, you may want to check the schedule [pdf] extra early this year. Why, you ask? Cicadas.
Regard this as your early invite: The Metro has announced it will celebrate its 25th anniversary at the annual Hideout Block Party, September 7-9. Bring your dancing shoes, and check the venues' websites for more information.
John Hasbrouck is a local guitarist who just can't stop joining bands. There's his "jugless" jug band Hardscrabble, local band Cracklin Moth, his mandolin accompaniment to songwriter James Curley, the countrified stylings of the Lawrence Peters Outfit, and others. Hurry up and see the fleet-fingered Hasbrouck before he drops dead of exhaustion.
Lollapearljamalooza?! It sounds as if Chicago's own Lollapaooza will feature Pearl Jam (fronted by Evanstonian Eddie Vedder) as the headliner. If you'd been reading Transmission, you'd already know this.
Innovative, Chicago-born free jazz violinist Leroy Jenkins has just passed away. Mr. Jenkins is not to be confused with bizarre Internet meme figure/WoW figure of scorn Leeeeeeroy Jenkins (explanatory video here).
Speaking of the Oscars, here's one of the more novel tie-ins I've heard of: The Delafields will be playing at Simon's Tavern, 5210 N. Clark st. -- but only during the commercials and "boring parts," allowing you to catch the awards and a concert.They'll also have an Oscar pool, with prizes like a massage and tax consultation -- from members of the band! How's that for service?
Got a kick-ass Stephin Merritt CD mix that you're dying to share with the Chicago music community? Head on over to Radio Free Chicago's latest Bandwidth concert Thursday night at Subterranean, and participate in a CD mix swap with some of the bands from previous Bandwidth shows, as well as RFC staffers. Details on Bandwidth at Slowdown.
Crew, "Chicago's premier gay sports bar + grill" has been voted the city's best sports bar, flat-out, by readers of AOL City Guide.
As if you need another reason to head into the tropical climes of the Lincoln Park Conservatory, you have until the end of the month to check out Shawn Decker's "Chorus," playing in the oh-so-warm Fern Room.
GB reported in December that the Dave Matthews Band was slated for a pair of concerts at Wrigley Field on the Fourth of July weekend. Well, today the Sun-Times reports that Matthews will not be at the concerts, since his wife is due to have a baby in early July. Even though there's no act scheduled, Alderman Tom Tunney is still planning to authorize the concerts, so don't worry: there WILL be music at Wrigley Field this Fourth of July.
The New York Times writes about Chicago musician Ted Atkatz, who left a tenured post at the CSO to devote his time to local rock band NYCO.
The Chicago Symphony Orcehstra (CSO) has been working hard to bring a more diverse audience to its performances and the results are showing. This Friday brings "Friday Night at the Movies", when the orchestra will play well-known classics featured in films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Rocky Horror Picture Show. I doubt the CSO has sweet transvestites (midi) however, so if want the real show head up to the Music Box and see the real Rocky Horror Picture Show at their midnight showing.
If you missed Deerhoof at the Metro Saturday you can watch a video of them performing "The Perfect Me" on pitchfork's YouTube page; not a bad spot to watch in general for clips of bands performing in Chicago.
The 47th Annual U of C Folk Festival is coming up. And if funds are tight and you want to see some of the performers (including "one of Missouri's foremost fiddlers"), then volunteer. For every two hours volunteered, you get a free ticket. More info at the Festival's volunteer page.
Tense Forms, the collaborative multi-disciplinary, project-based workgroup, is holding their 2nd annual Winter Showcase at Subterranean on February the 2nd at 8pm onwards. The showcase features an insane amount of buttons (1000+), a wall of televisions screening all kinds of visual art as well as live music.
Lowen & Navarro are playing tomorrow night at the Park West, and friends of GB Tin Horse are opening for them. The show is nearly sold out, but Tin Horse has your hook-up: enter their raffle by 3pm today and you could win a pair.
The Tribune offers a fine selection of art exhibits worth checking out in the coming months, including some out-of-the-way gems. Other informative prospective pieces include features about architecture, dance, and jazz, to name a few.
Speaking of song a day projects, the local band Beatnik Turtle just launched TheSongoftheDay.com, which, true to name, delivers a new off-beat song daily. (Thanks, Greg!)
If you need a laugh to get you through to the ides of January, Chicago's sixth annual Sketch Comedy Festival starts today at the Theatre Building on Belmont.
Eight Forty-Eight interviewed musician and teacher Michael Droste this morning about his just-completed One Song Every Day project , which began as a New Year's resolution in 2006. Listen to the interview here (mp3).
After the death of rock'n'roller/chronic schizophrenic Wesley Willis, his friends started a campaign to raise money for a tombstone for his remains. The Chicago Journal has an update on the plan, which involves burying his ashes in Rosehill Cemetery under a tombstone with the image of a train.
Another Chicago landmark will be closing its doors this weekend: the Jazz Showcase, an important jazz club that's been running for 59 years. Although its Website says that it's relocating, the latest news is that they still don't have a new location to re-open in. There will be some fundraising in the new year, so keep your eyes out for news on the return of the Showcase.
The Cubs are trying to set up a new pair of live concerts at Wrigley Field. These concerts, the second in two years, would be on Fourth of July weekend of next year, and would feature the Dave Matthews Band. Insert your own joke about 800 pounds of human waste here.
The most recent episode of Chicago Public Radio's Sound Opinions featured their annual visit from DJ Lo-Fi, aka Andy Cirzan, who played the most amazing Christmas mix of obscure songs from his record collection. His 2006 holiday mix is now available for downloading at the Chicago Public Radio Website for you to use at your Christmas party. And for some more great Christmas songs, don't forget to check out this week's Out of 5.
Gramophone reports that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is recording albums again -- under its own label, CSO Resound. January's release of Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with the Chicago Symphony Chorus and mezzo Michelle DeYoung will be the first since 2001, and will be available on iTunes. The CSO also announced a return to radio broadcast in '07 with the debut of the BP Chicago Symphony Orchestra Radio Broadcast Series on WFMT. Read the official press release here.
You've been hearing about live band karaoke for years, but you've never tried it. Well, now that the holidays are here, there's no excuse: get up there and belt out "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" or "Jingle Bell Rock" to break the ice. You can blame it on the egg nog if you bomb.
As fellow Illinois senator Dick Durbin drummed up support for Barack Obama's possible presidential bid, Obama met with Ludacris earlier today. "We talked about empowering the youth," the rapper said. No word on whether Pepsi was served.
Lupe Fiasco's star just keeps rising: GQ named him the Breakout Man of the Year, and he'll be on "the Late Show with David Letterman" tonight. Check Transmission to find out how to see him free at the Park West Friday night.
Tonight's your first chance to catch the new improved Thax Douglas, Rock Star™. His band, Chicken and the Chick Flicks, performs at the Beat Kitchen tonight at 5:30pm (ahead of Pat McCurdy's regular Monday night gig.)
Jay-Z will be swinging through Chicago for half an hour on Saturday as part of a seven-airport tour of the country in support of his new album, Kingdom Come. Anybody know exactly where he'll perform? Or even which airport he'll be at? Email us at inbox[at]gapersblock.com.
Pitchfork has a long, thoughtful obit for Malachi Ritscher. Worth reading. (Thanks, Jen.)
Set your alarm clock: tomorrow morning at 8:00, complimentary tickets will be available for the annual LaSalle Bank Do-It-Yourself Messiah. This is the 31st year for the event, which allows an audience of amateur singers to perform the chorus parts of Handel's Messiah at the Civic Opera House. Check the LaSalle Bank Website for details on the event, tips on preparing for the performance, and times and dates for the event.
The Bastion comedy blog reports that Gunther Murphy's has been sold and will be closing December 1 for remodeling. That means Tuesday night's Chicago Underground Comedy showcase will be finding a new home. No word on what the news means for live music at Gunther's, but considering that ChUC cast member Mike Bridenstine says the bar's being turned into a "Lincoln Park-style Trixie bar", it doesn't look good.
Now that the Sears Centre is officially open, the Daily Herald offers a review of its first night in action, and the Sun Times and the Trib provide some background.
It's official: a 5-year deal with Lollpalooza has been approved by the Chicago Park District board.
As Anne pointed out last week, Bob Mehr is leaving the Reader. The final installment of his column "The Meter" bids farewell on a note of musical diversity: police officer "Skipper" Keyes's quest to resuscitate the soul music of local legends and Alex White's plan to form a redhead-only rock 'n' roll band.
The fabulous RuPaul will be performing at Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted, tonight. The doors open at 10pm, but the diva won't hit the stage until 1am and finishes up at 5am -- better hit those energy drinks! Tickets are $20.
Best headline about Jeff Tweedy punching out a fan who ran onstage comes from this blog posting on Billboard: I Am Trying To Break Your Nose.
Inspired by the closing of CBGB's in New York, The Beachwood Reporter remembers a similar event in Chicago's music scene: the closing of Lounge Ax.
Regardless of whether your reaction to Lily Allen's show last night was hurrah or ho-hum, chances are good you had a better time than Tyler Too Much Awesome, who passed out, and not thanks to over-imbibing. Not only was he mortified by causing a commotion, his mother didn't offer much comfort after the fact. Quoth Mrs. Much Awesome, "Well, it was your fault so it's understandable why you feel embarrassed." Gee, thanks, mom.
Not doing anything Monday? The Metro, 3730 N. Clark, plays host to "Stand Up Against Poverty," a benefit for the international nonprofit Concern Worldwide's 2006 campaign to end world hunger. It'll be a night of great Irish music, with the legendary Scott Cleland (founder of the Drovers), Celtic band Baal Tinne and singer/songwriter Nancy Stone performing. Tickets are $10 in advance at the Metro box office or $20 at the door.
MTV's "My Block," a show that takes viewers through the neighborhoods where artists came from, not just their nouveau-riche cribs, takes a tour through Chicago today. Here's a video preview of the episode.
The Vic and the Riviera each debuted newly Jammed-out websites this week, matching the (rather clunky) design of their corporate sib Park West. Seriously, frames? Active Server Pages? No page titles? I guess Jam is partying like it's 1999.
One week before their site re-launch party, the guys at Radio Free Chicago heard that their headlining band, The Dirty Things, broke up and won't be playing the gig. RFC is now scrambling to find a replacement band for the upcoming show. Update: according to a comment on the RFC site, All City Affairs will be filling in for the missing band.
Last night, as we mentioned they would, the Chicago Sinfonietta asked audience members to skip vibrate mode and let their ringtones, well, ring. Morning Edition offers a snippet and a reminder: the group (and its patrons) will be performing again tonight. ETA: The uniqueness of the concert attracted the attention of the Times, which describes the sound as "like an aviary gone mad."
Estrojam, the festival that mixes women's art and activism, starts this evening with a film showcase, but it kicks into rock gear tomorrow, as queercore legends Team Dresch headline a night of music at the Abbey Pub. Events continue throughout the weekend and include a b-girl battle, a zine-writing workshop and concerts featuring Lesbians on Ecstasy. Sound fun and/or empowering? Check the schedule for the full scoop.
The Chicago Short Film Brigade rises from the ashes of the late lamented Prime Shorts Film Festival to "present a wide variety of local and international short films to the public in non-academic, non-festival environments." Screenings start in January and will be quarterly (they're looking for submissions, btw). Andrew Bird is on the Brigade's board, and he's doing a quartet of shows to benefit it. Unfortunately, those shows will be in Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Minneapolis and Madison -- but what a great excuse for a road trip!
Good news if you've got a MySpace account: This Sunday, Jet will be playing a free show at Schubas -- you can get in (if there's space) only ifyou bring a printout of your profile with "MySpace Secret Shows" among your top eight friends. (Thanks, Mike!)
The Chicago Sinfonietta will soon kick off its 20th season, and it's doing so in rather unusual fashion: asking audience members to turn on their mobile devices. As part of a concert set to feature more traditional fare like Liszt, the group will give the world premiere of David Baker's sonic metaphor for order and chaos, "Concertino for Cell Phones and Orchestra."
World music fans have a problem tonight. Check out the US premiere (in Millennium Park) of "Nu Art Claiming Earth," an amalgam of Basque, West-Indian, and African influences, performed by an orchestra supplemented by 10 Bordeaux musicians, 20 Chicago jazz artists, and 20 Chicago students? Or dive into the Cultural Center's one-night showcase?
Glorious Noise unveiled a new redesign this week, and also posted details on their 5th anniversary celebration next month, which will feature plenty of live music (Riviera, Quasar Wut-Wut, and Healthy White Baby) and many more surprises.
How well do you know your Dylan trivia? Well enough to connect, say, Sid Vicious to Robert Zimmerman in six steps or less? Find out with Coudal Partners' latest diversion and you could win some cool stuff.
The 8th annual Chicago World Music Festival begins tomorrow and will stage dozens of concerts around the city, by artists from a gazillion countries. We've highlighted many of them in Slowdown (mostly the free ones), but you can find a complete schedule here.
Tonight, if there's commotion outside the House of Blues, it's because Buju Banton is in, well, the house. The Gay Liberation Network will be protesting the dancehall artist in response to lyrics that graphically portray and advocate the killing of gay men (there are, for instance, Uzis involved). The controversy's no surprise: over the years, a number of Banton's concerts, especially those scheduled in the UK, have been either cancelled or banned due to concerns over hate speech and incitement to violence. [via]
Photos are still getting posted to flickr from three long days of rocking West Wabansia this weekend. Check the tags HideoutBlockParty, TouchAndGo and Hideout, for starters.
Spotted in Austin, a bathroom wall tribute to Andrew Bird. Chicago, it seems, "hearts" him. And, speaking of Mr. Bird, is it too soon to start making plans to escape your family and spend some of Thanksgiving weekend with him at Logan Square Auditorium? Of course not! Tickets are available through the Empty Bottle.
If you've not bought tickets to the Touch & Go Festival yet, don't bother heading to the Hideout this weekend: there's no more room at the inn. Don't fret, though -- Slowdown has some good alternatives.
Want some more Girl Talk? Today's interviewee at Transmission was also interviewed yesterday at Pitchfork's Website.
Yesterday the official line-up of The Hideout's 10th annual block party was announced. The event, which will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of Touch and Go Records, will feature over 30 bands performing over a long weekend in September. Among the bands: Quasi (featuring ex-Sleater-Kinney member Janet Weiss on drums); local favorites the Didjits in their original lineup; and as reported previously a reunited Big Black, who will be playing only "a couple of songs." The full line-up is at Transmission.
Who's in the mood for a little brit pop? Then put on your moddest dancing shoes and head to Darkroom at 2210 W. Chicago for Panic! Fom 9pm to 2am, you can sway to the best of the brits and maybe win tix to the upcoming Pet Shop Boys show at the Chicago Theatre. Send your song requests to panic [ at ] gmail-dot-com.
Taking another step away from scissors, glue, and late night photocopying sessions, our city's very own Punk Planet has redesigned and expanded its website. Of particular note is the addition of user blogs.
Gloria Gaynor performs in Chicago on Thursday as part of KC's Boogie Blast, a tribute to the 70's tour led by KC and the Sunshine Band, along with Tavares and Sister Sledge. Gaynor's smash hit song, "I Will Survive" (1979) continues to be embraced as an anthem of emancipation, especially in Europe, where the singer enjoys a revived career. Still an icon to women and the gay community around the world, Gaynor holds rank as the undisputed queen of disco.
In a very heartfelt letter to fans, locals The Katie Todd Band announced that their guitarist is moving to Portland. This means you have now until the rest of the summer to catch them in their current line-up, including a gig Wednesday at The Double Door with Hoosier rockers Margot and The Nuclear So-Sos. After that, Katie's going to hole up in her apartment and write new music, so we'll see what the spring will bring for KTB.
What does it take to revive the '60s soul music of The Birmingham Sound? A concert at the Hideout a few weeks back. Birmingham Weekly reports on how Ralph "Soul" Jackson, Roscoe Robinson and other Magic City musicians got their groove back.
Enjoy a steamy Brazilian night tonight at the Hothouse (31 E. Balbo) with a performance led by the 7-piece band, Chicago Samba, which blends up a cocktail of samba, bossa nova, batucada and other spirited dance rhythms. Seasoned Brazilian dance professional Edilson Lima provides samba lessons during intermission. Tickets are $10 -- both in advance and at the door. The show starts at 10pm.
