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Woodsist Day One@Fernwood (Big Sur, CA) Friday, July 30th, 2011
An incredibly intimate and rare treat to see so many East Coast musicians amongst the West Coast mountains of Big Sur.
22 July 2011Timber Timbre with Marissa Nadler-Schubas Tavern (Chicago, IL)Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Timber Timbre is a trio from Montréal, Canada but their sound seems to have emerged straight from the heart of Twin Peaks. Needless to say, their moody tracks don’t seem to fit along with those of any other bands hailing from their city and that’s perfectly fine because it makes their songs even more intriguing. Taylor Kirk establishes an ambiance which is both unnerving and charismatic. His vibrato delivery makes one think of Elvis, if Elvis was possessed by darker and much more interesting spirits.
21 July 2011Julianna Barwick
“When I think of rhythm, I think of trains going over tracks and things like that. I also like the sounds in forests—whispering kinds of sounds and birds singing.”
17 July 2011Pitchfork Music Festival: Highlights and Photos: Saturday, July 16, 2011 @Union Park (Chicago, IL)
Saturday’s offerings at Pfork included a wide range of eclectic styles from the more experimental but deeply enriching music of Julianna Barwick and woods to the dream pop of Wild Nothing, the angular rock of The Dismemberment Plan, the gothy synth pop of Cold Cave, the punk rock of OFF! the dj stylings of DJ Shadow, and the folk music of Fleet Foxes. It would be impossible not to love a couple of bands from that kind of lineup and it seems many people were able to see bands they hadn’t listened to before and found it an enjoyable experience.
16 July 2011Pitchfork Music Festival: Highlights and Photos: Friday, July 15, 2011 @Union Park (Chicago, IL)
Day One at Pitchfork provided a rather eclectic lineup, offering a little something for everyone, including legends like Thurston Moore and Guided by Voices and relative newcomers like Tune-Yards and Ema. It was marvelous to witness both the creativity in the more experienced bands as well as the inventiveness of those newer to the scene. Much like the varied ages of the bands on stage, fans of all ages gathered to enjoy their favorite bands as well as be exposed to new music.
5 July 2011Pitchfork Preview and Recommendations: July 15-17, 2011 at Union Square Park (Chicago, IL)
It’s that time of year again, Chicago. We’re all recovering from that epic BBQ holiday weekend wondering what we have to look forward to next…well, here it is!
4 July 2011Bill Callahan-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
It’s possible there is no musician finer to see on the eve of Independence Day than Bill Callahan. Considering both his prolific nature and the distinctiveness of his voice, he recalls a stunning and vibrant modern Johnny Cash.
22 June 2011Sondre Lerche-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)Sunday, June 19th, 2011
One might not immediately expect the Norwegian singer/songwriter Sondre Lerche to have a dynamic stage presence.
18 June 2011Art Brut-The Double Door (Chicago, IL)Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
One can’t witness the charming spectacle of lead singer Eddie Argos without thinking of a reincarnated (though straight) version of Oscar Wilde.
15 June 2011Keren Ann-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)Monday, June 13th. 2011
Keren Ann is somewhat of an atypical chanteuse.
25 April 2011An Interview with Zac Pennington of Parenthetical Girls
While I like a lot of experimental music, I really like the specific ways you can communicate through pop music that you can’t communicate with any other medium. I really like pure pop music. I feel most attracted to pop music made by experimental musicians just dabbling in pop music.
22 April 2011Low-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)Thursday, April 21st. 2011
Low sings many of their songs as if they have an anguish to share with their very willing fans. After 4 years of staying away from these parts, the audience at Lincoln Hall was more than eager to listen.
10 April 2011Sharon Van Etten-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)-Saturday, April 9th. 2011
Van Etten has the ability to carry a show on her own and has demonstrated this many times.
6 April 2011The Joy Formidable-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)-Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
The Joy Formidable may look to have a simple more bare bones set up compared to a great deal of indie bands today. The three piece is comprised only of drums, guitar, and bass and while some of their guitar pedals create a sense of spiraling near shoegaze effect for some of the songs, the structure seems first and foremost and a clear sense of a very accessible and strong sounding rock band emerges.
4 April 2011The Golden Dogs-The Vic Theater (Chicago, IL)-Saturday, April 3rd, 2011
It’s difficult not to notice the professional musicianship inherent in many bands from Canada these days. Toronto’s four piece, The Golden Dogs, is no exception. Like fellow Canadians Sloan, the band members switch up instruments without ever missing a beat and deliver on rock moves that might seem cheesy if the band didn’t seem to be so obviously having a great time. With that kind of joy projected, the feel good vibes are infectious and made for a perfect Saturday night musical experience.
21 February 2011Wild Nothing-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)-Friday, February 18, 2011
Wild Nothing, the brain child of Virginia’s Jack Tatum, has been to Chicago before but this is the first time he’s come with a secured headlining gig. Tatum more than deserves all acclaim considering the strong release of 2010’s Gemini. He’s only claiming his natural spot in an indie rock kingdom meant for blissful pop music. For, Wild Nothing is an appropriate band name, not because the music disintegrates with a reckless abandon, though one might see Tatum pursuing that direction in the future. Instead, the title suggests a sweet reverie like a piece of chocolate that melts in your mouth. Gone forever, sure, but it’s the kind of thing a longer of lush treats truly appreciates.
17 January 2011The High Dials-Double Door (Chicago, IL), January 15, 2011
The High Dials are largely a band of unsung heroes, led consistently by the brilliant Trevor Anderson, who was previously known for his work with the band The Datsuns. The Montréal five piece have recently released their fourth full length album, 2010’s Anthems For Doomed Youth and visited Chicago to play some of their new songs as well as old favorites last Saturday night.
1 November 2010The Dandy Warhols with Blue Giant-The Vic Theater (Chicago, IL)-Saturday, October 30th, 2010
The fact that The Dandy Warhols could play such a strong tracklist for two straight hours and still leave out some of their arguably best tracks (“Cool as Kim Deal” or “Minnesoter” for example) only serves as a further testament to both their longevity and quality as a band that so few others in the music industry are able to proffer. It also led to an unforgettable show.
30 October 2010Two Door Cinema Club-Lincoln Hall (Chicago, IL)- Wednesday, October 27, 2010
We’re in an age where it seems each and every day a new band forms and the challenge sometimes becomes to create something refreshing and new as well as distinctly memorable from both the wreckage and glory of the long history of music. In Two Door Cinema Club, you won’t find too much that is new right now but you will spot a potential in the band in terms of their catchy energy and their rising fan base.
11 October 2010Teenage Fanclub-Lincoln Hall (Chicago)-Wednesday, October, 6th, 2010
It goes without saying that Teenage Fanclub, Glasgow’s power pop darlings know their way around a stage. They have two decades worth of experience behind them and it shows. When they play a song live whether it’s from their most recent album, 2010’s Shadows or all the way back to 1991’s Bandwagonesque, their dynamic stage presence can’t be denied. Even more so apparent, however, is their genuine love for music and a passion that helps them put on one of the top shows you’ll see all year.
20 September 2010Titus Andronicus-Cabaret Metro (Chicago)- Saturday, September 18, 2010
It’s no wonder that lead singer of Titus Andronicus, Patrick Stickles, has cited Bruce Springsteen as an influence. Both NJ natives have a sense of anthemic rock that has the ability to be widely embraced with passion from all who are lucky enough to hear it.
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