Artist Mon Feb 08 2010
I had been steering away from singer songwriter and folk music lately, opting to listen to more rock and electronic since that is just what has been speaking to me, but good music is good music and Gia Margaret is just that.
Her song "Distorted Boots of Spanish Leather" immediately tugged on my heartstrings, the distorted effects making her longing vocals even more sorrowful, yet still endearing. This classically trained 22 year old is an eager songwriter with a hankering to share everything she creates, which has led to her giving out raw bedroom piano sessions (including songs like "Onofrio", a bright melody that will make you forget you're not sitting in a French cafe smoking a cigarette).
Margaret is also among the few local musicians making the trip to SXSW, appearing at Paradise on March 17th. If you want catch her before she takes off for Austin though, make your way to Schubas tonight where she'll be playing as part of the 2010 New York Songwriters Circle's Chicago Showcase. Tickets are $10 and the show gets started at 8pm. Other NY Songwriters performing include: Dave Cavalier, Shelley Miller, Josh Kim, Nick Deustch, plus a surprise guest band. 3159 N. Southport. 18+
— Michelle Meywes /
Concert Fri Feb 05 2010
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.
— Lisa White /
News Fri Feb 05 2010
When we're not taking way too much time deciding which variety of orange juice to buy, we're online checking out these sites:
- Chicago Underground Duo's latest album Boca Negra reviewed at The Deli Chicago.
- Hollywood and recording industry star power gathered on Monday to record an updated version of "We Are The World" with the aim to send the single's profits to Haiti Earthquake victims. Chicago angle: Jennifer Hudson, Vince Vaughn (?!?) and Kanye contributed to the track.
- Speaking of Kanye West, Gil-Scot Heron's latest efforts apparently has "Flashing Lights" samples. Not sure if this is the best thing or most disappointing thing ever. But it is a good hook. (via)
- CreamTeam offers insight into Minneapolis-based house music providers The Moon Goons whose digital track rarity is a legend.
- Greg Kot takes a look back at Soul Train, hosted by Southsider Don Cornelius. A documentary airs on VH-1 February, 6th. Anyone else have lots of memories of the Soul Train opening as the cue that Saturday morning cartoons had ended? Check out some sweet video clips.
- Familiarize Yourself blog has a recap of a sweet night with a lot of lady (bands) at Lincoln Hall last week including sets by Scotia Widows, The Maybenauts, Leslie Hunt and The Wanton Looks.
— Anne Holub /
News Fri Feb 05 2010
True to their word, our numeric-rating-centric neighbors have announced the first acts for this year's Pitchfork Music Festival. To no one's surprise (thanks to Greg Kot) Stephen Malkmus will be coming back with some band who's not the Jicks. Modest Mouse will be floating through their own Friday night performance (which so far has not been designated as a single-album performance, so keep your eyes peeled). Saturday night brings none other than LCD Soundsystem and Raekwon (who hopefully won't face any mixing board problems - James and the chef would be the last ones I'd want to sonically offend). On the other end, who knows what kind of production notes are given for Lightning Bolt on Sunday - suffice to say there won't be any napping going on at that point. But fear not! The charming St. Vincent, old-timey-but-not-that-old Cass McCombs, and rising duo of Sleigh Bells will be around to soothe you at some point Sunday as well (maybe directly after - Laughing With a Mouth of Blood could reach a whole new level with Brian Chippendale's drums tearing a cameo through it).
Here's the schedule so far:
Friday, July 16th:
Modest Mouse
Saturday, July 17th:
LCD Soundsystem
Raekwon
Sunday, July 18th:
Pavement
St. Vincent
Lightning Bolt
Sleigh Bells
Here We Go Magic
Cass McCombs
Tickets go on sale today at noon, and can be purchased here. The price has gone up a bit this year, but Friday's festival will be starting at 4 pm (much earlier than past years). And hey, unless you scored yourself some Golden Tickets, it's a heck of a lot cheaper than Lollapalooza. Single-day tickets are $40, and a full three-day pass will cost you $90. Weekend passes will not be available this year.
[Stephanie Griffin also contributed to this post.]
— Dan Morgridge /
Album Thu Feb 04 2010
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.
Continue reading this entry »
— Aharona Ament /
Concert Thu Feb 04 2010
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.
— Michelle Meywes /
SXSW Wed Feb 03 2010
From the looks of things, 2010 will be a light year for Chicago at SXSW Music Festival down in Austin. Our list of local and regional bands performing in official showcases is pretty short:
Chicago:
The Hood Internet
I Fight Dragons
Joe Pug
Kidz In The Hall
Dick Prall
Psalm One
Waco Brothers
Via Tania
Region:
Cheap Trick (Rockford)
Jookabox (Indianapolis)
Stephen Jerzak (La Crosse, WI)
Diplomats of Solid Sound (Iowa City, IA)
FINALE (Detroit)
Goober and the Peas (Detroit)
The Hounds Below (Detroit)
Note that I had to include Detroit as "regional" this year -- we usually don't cast quite so wide a radius to gather this many bands. On the other hand, there seem to be quite a few more international bands on the roster (which stands at 230 so far).
EDIT: Some folks questioned where we got our info -- our original list was based on the official SXSW band list. Chicago acts in unofficial showcases are beginning to trickle in -- the list is below. If you know of an act performing at SXSW, either officially or unofficially, drop us a line (transmission@gapersblock.com) or leave a comment. Stay tuned for more news and updates!
Unofficial Showcases:
Coco Coma
Hollows
Mickey
Moneypenny
This is Versailles
Tyler Jon Tyler
White Mystery
My Gold Mask
The Loyal Divide
Pretty Good Dance Moves
Willy Joy
UPDATE: Chicago.com/Music is hosting a "Chicago Beats" showcase on March 19, featuring A Lull, Breakers Broken, Yawn, Loyal Divide, The Down Feathers, Danny Chaimson, The Giving Tree Band, Kellen & Me, Remington Pettygrove, Scott Wesley Band and Matt Kelly.
— Andrew Huff /
In case you weren't already thinking longingly of summer already, Pitchfork has announced that their always appropriately-named Pitchfork Music Festival will be happening this July 16 - 18 at Union Park. If squiggling a little circle around those dates on your calendar doesn't do it for you, fear not - come this Friday, the first line-up announcements will be made, and tickets will go on sale at the official website. Single-day tickets will run for $40 and three-day passes for $90 - sorry two-day fans, you'll have to commit one way or the other.
— Dan Morgridge /
Event Wed Feb 03 2010
In addition to the regular Saturday time slot on NPR for the radio broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion, Thursday's taping will be broadcast live via satellite from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN to movie theaters across the country, including several in the Chicago area. Elvis Costello will appear as a featured guest, as well as the Minnesota performers Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele, New York-based singer/songwriter Heather Masse, and the folk duo Robin and Linda Williams. If you've always wanted to catch Garrison Keillor's long-running show, but the thought of traveling to St. Paul in the winter keeps you close to home, this could be the perfect opportunity.
Show starts at 7pm, tickets are $22. For more information and tickets, visit A Prairie Home Companion.
— J.H. Palmer /
News Fri Jan 29 2010
When we're not eating too many gummi bears, we're standing right behind you! Nah, just kidding, but we are online a lot.
- Timbaland did little to entertain fans at HOB last week.
- You can now join a Wax Trax remembrance group on Facebook.
- Want to get your valentine something special-izzle? Snoop Dogg is bringing his show to the Metro 2/16! Tickets go on sale Saturday at noon. Details on a special presale code in Twitter.
- Set your Tivos to record Jennifer Hudson, Bob Dylan, John Legend, and others at the White House's next "In Performance at the White House" series to honor music from the civil rights movement set to air online and again on PBS in early February.
- Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick spends his days pining over a Thank You note from Paul McCartney that never was.
- Big Rock Candy Mountain interviews Toronto's The Speaking Tongues who prove even Canadians get the blues.
- Video of Lupe Fiasco performing live over at Chicago Now.
- Country Music Chicago interviews aspiring Evergreen Park native (and aspiring country music star) Katie Quick.
— Anne Holub /
Preview Fri Jan 29 2010
I love head music, the kind that goes on seemingly for days and leaves you soothed yet unsure of what just happened when the song ended. I also love indie rock with a progressive edge. They meet from time to time and local band Hail The Black Dragons creates a great sound using both these elements.
The band should get the Blue Ribbon at the Indie Rock State Fair for their brave, awesome name. For newcomers calling themselves Hail the Black Dragons, one better have a sound that matches in epic quality and in my opinion, they do.
While more rock than anything else, some songs give a trance like mood, while others go more punk dance party. HTBD mixes progressive rock, punk and a bit of space rock with a feel that lets you have all the numbness of cerebral centered music, but with a groove factor, loud vocals and infectious songs that had me singing along. I'm excited to see what they are like live when they play tonight at Reggie's. I'm expecting an Iggy Pop/J. Spaceman hybrid sound that will be talked about for awhile.
Hail The Black Dragons plays tonight at Reggie's Rock Club. The Last Good Year, Process, Far Things and Counterfeit I open.
The show starts at 8. Reggie's Rock Club is located at 2109 S. State St. (312) 949-0121. 18+.
— Aharona Ament /
News Fri Jan 29 2010
Neko Case's Middle Cyclone was one of my favorite albums of last year, and not just for the stunning album art, which is absolutely outstanding on its own. Kathleen Judge, long-time Hideout bartender and design artist, designed the cover and is being recognized with a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. It's also pretty well known that Case, who is up for Best Contemporary Folk Album as well, once upon a time tended the Hideout bar herself.
See more of the Hideout's Grammy connections on DeRo's Sun Times blog.
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards air this Sunday at 7pm CT on CBS.
— Michelle Meywes /
Concert Thu Jan 28 2010
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.
— Kara Luger /
Concert Wed Jan 27 2010
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.
— J.H. Palmer /
