Spanning 10 city blocks, the Do Division Street Fest returns this year June 4th & 5th. In addition to the standard street fest fare of vendors, food stalls, and family activities, Do Division boasts an incredible line-up of local and national live bands. Featuring two stages, with one curated by the Empty Bottle, the other by Subterranean/House Call Entertainment, almost two dozen acts will appear during the 2 day fest.
There will be a $5 donation requested for admittance to Do-Division that will benefit local non-profits: the West Town Chamber of Commerce, Division Street Committee, and three local elementary schools: A.N. Pritzker, LaSalle Magnet II, and De Diego. Hours of operation both days are noon to 10 pm (and the Family Fun Fest is open from noon to 6 pm both days). For more info, call 312-850-9390.
#1 – Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part II – Capitol
Originally slated for release back in 2009, Hot Sauce Committee Part II hits the streets today, at least in CD and Digital form. The vinyl will be following shortly.
Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince, the duo that make up the blues punk band The Kills, will be hitting The Vic this Wednesday in support of their latest release, Blood Pressures. Released just last month on the Domino label, it is the fourth album from the pair, who got together after Mosshart’s Florida based punk band Discount disbanded in 2000. Blood Pressures is the first full-length from the band since Mosshart took up lead vocal duties for The Dead Weather in 2009.
Joining The Kills on the bill are The Entrance Band. Currently residing in Los Angeles but with roots in Chicago, heavy psych trio The Entrance Band are the brainchild of Guy Blakeslee, who got his start with The Convocation Of… in Baltimore, later moving to Chicago and performing solo under the Entrance moniker. Entrance became The Entrance Band with the addition of drummer Derek James and bassist Paz Lenchantin (Zwan, A Perfect Circle) in 2006.
Opening the show is Brooklyn synthpop act Cold Cave, whose latest disc Cherish The Light Years was released last month on Matador Records.
The Kills with The Entance Band and Cold Cave
Wednesday May 4th, doors 7pm, show 8pm.
The Vic Theatre – 3145 N Sheffield Ave
Tickets are $21 and can be purchased here, or at the Vic box office.
Sour Soul bring their “Laughs & Silly Dancing” tour to Double Door on May 8th, and we want you to go for FREE!
Hailing from Mexico City, Sour Soul play psychedelic inspired soulful pop, and are currently on the road in support of their latest release, L’appel du Vide. The album title is French for “the call of the void” but is more often used to refer to the instinctive urge to jump from high places.
Now, to get your FREE tickets to what Relix Magazine has called “a must see energy explosion”, all you have to do is, in the comments below, tell us the most exciting live band you’ve ever seen!THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS 12 NOON ON MAY 3rd!
Sour Soul with Bear Lake, J.W. Basilo, and Jeremy Thornton, Sun 5/8, Doors: 7:30 pm / Show: 8:00 pm
A major announcement from The Smashing Pumpkins this week- beginning this Fall, the bands stellar back catalog will be remastered, expanded, and reissued. Working chronologically through the catalog, the first batch of re-releases will include their 1991 debut full-length Gish, the critically acclaimed follow-up Siamese Dream, as well as their 1994 collection of b-sides and rarities, Pisces Iscariot.
Following in early 2012 we’ll see the the remastered Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Adore, and The Aeroplane Flies High. Completing the reissue series in 2013 will be a combined release of Machina/The Machines of God and Machina II: The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music, potentially completely re-mixed. A new album, titled Oceania was also announced, an album-in-an-album of sorts, as it is being considered part of the bands ongoing Teargarden By Kaliedyscope series.
Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan hints that extra content to be included will include unheard b-sides, recordings of early practices, and live material. Making this announcement extra sweet is news that all of the reissues will be available on vinyl!
TVD Austin contributor Mike Harrell wanted to share a few words about the passing of Poly Styrene on Monday:
X-Ray Spex lead singer Marian Joan Elliott-Said AKA Poly Styrene passed away from complications due to breast cancer Monday April 25th.
The band formed in England in 1976 and is one of the more influential punk bands of the era. Although they only released one album, Germ Free Adolescents, they left a mark on the punk rock world that few could deny.
Arguably their finest moment was the single “Oh Bondage Up Yours!” which was not included on the original album (it was placed on the CD re-release in 2005). Musicians of all types, such as Billy Bragg, Kathleen Hanna, The Beastie Boys, and Boy George have all been influenced by her and all have paid tribute.
If you are not familiar with her fine work as a vocalist then go out and pick up a copy of this album. It may be more difficult to find on LP but it’s worth the hunt. Rest in peace Poly and thank you for changing the face of music forever.
In case you missed it over night, the full line-up of this years fest was revealed at midnight. Over 130 performers will be taking the stage over the course of the festival’s three days, and over the next few months, we’ll be walking you through them. Today we give you Part 1: Chicago Bands.
Black Cards
This is the new electro-pop project from Pete Wentz of the suburban Chicago formed pop band Fall Out Boy.
Disappears
Heavy on the the fuzz and reverb, their latest album Guider is psych tinged garage at its finest. This is one of the acts were looking forward to most at Lolla.
Gold Motel
Featuring singer-songwriter Greta Morgan, of The Hush Sound, they’ve been building quite a following, playing to packed houses in town and on the road.
Kids These Days
A “Chicago-based band that draws on hip-hop, jazz and classic soul to create groove-oriented songs featuring bluesy vocals, instrumental improvisation and rap vocals.”
Maps & Atlases
Catchy folk inspired indie-pop, their debut full-length, Perch Patchwork was released last year to rave reviews.
Young Man
Colin Caulfield was discovered on YouTube by Deerhunter front-man Brandon Cox, leading to widespread attention to his folkish originals and incredible covers.
As you hopefully already know, Chicago has been blessed with one the most active and exciting independent music scenes in the world. John Yingling, the man behind Gonzo Chicago, has taken it upon himself to document our vibrant scene, filming nearly 500 performances over the last four years. Recently, John decided to kick it up a notch, taking to indie fund raising site IndieGoGo, in an effort to raise to funds to replace and upgrade broken and outdated equipment, which will help him better capture the scene he (and we) love so much. We recently got to ask John a few questions, to find out a bit more about who he is, and what he does.
TVD: So, what made you pick up the camera and start filming bands?
JY: I grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, and started going to punk-rock shows 30 minutes away in Green Bay at a venue called Concert Cafe. When I was 16, my brother took me to see my first show (the Blue Meanies) and I’ve been in love with shows and live music ever since. Green Bay had a huge DIY scene back then. It was there I met Andy Junk, who’s been a good friend for over 10 years. He was in a band called The Fragments at the time. Andy invited me over for a show. I think it was The Fragments and Catholic Boys. Being so young, I didn’t know what a “basement show” was.
My mind was blown. A lot of those guys live in Milwaukee now, and are still in bands together, like Holy Shit!. I’ve always had a passion for photography and film, so I decided to combine two of my favorite things. I moved to Chicago, and it was just too spectacular to not try to grab something good from every happening around me. I like to try and capture the moments that make these shows and this scene so special. When you can see the sheer joy on people’s faces. I’d try to check out a band and I just could not find a single video or song of some of these bands, anywhere. How dare they not have instant, rapid accessibility! I just want to help people hear what these people, bands, and communities are pouring 100% of their hearts and souls into.
TVD: You’ve filmed literally hundreds of performances over the years, any that particularly stand out in your mind, good or bad?
JY: Endless amounts stick out immediately. Chinese Stars in a pitch-black art gallery in Pilsen. The cops came and left right before they played. Crazy paintings were hung sideways and strewn everywhere with this ominous glow from the lights they set up. Everyone was twisted, tired and you could literally feel the energy from them explode in the room. Jeremy Enigk playing solo at Abbey Pub + Bottom Lounge. People were actually giggling uncontrollably, because of Jeremy, up there alone, his voice, and a guitar. Pure musical energy, like The Walkmen at Schubas a year or two ago. I honestly thought my face was going to be stuck in a permanent shit-eating grin. Clues. Lightning Bolt at “Bitchpork”. Handsome Furs blowing everyone away with 75% unheard material at “Tommorow Never Knows” 2011. Nobody knew what to expect, and they just bust out these shimmering, new-wave, brainiac-meets-bowie synth-punk on everyone! Ridiculously great live band, nice people, with the best chemistry on stage.
Rising stars of the Chicago soul scene JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound are set to take the stage at the Bailiwick next week, making thier theatrical debut in the Tony award winning rock-musical Passing Strange.
The first production by renowned singer/songwriter turned playwright Stew, Passing Strange is a coming-of-age tale, which follows The Youth (played by JC Brooks) through a “hilarious story of a young bohemian who charts a course for “the real” through sex, drugs and rock and roll.”
Since its initial opening in 2006, Passing Strange has racked up dozens of awards. The final performances of its 2008 Broadway run were filmed by director Spike Lee, and turned into a film which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Passing Strangeruns April 21 – May 29 at theBailiwickChicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St. – Tickets may be purchased viathis link.
Record Store Day 2011 may have come and gone, but that’s no reason to avoid stepping into your local record shop for some regular Tuesday new release action! The post RSD load is a bit lighter then usual, but there are still some excellent titles hitting the street today! Also, Chicago’s record shops have some great in-stores lined up for this week, so keep reading to find out who’s playing where!
Our most anticipated release this week comes from Brooklyn’s Xray Eyeballs, releasing their debut full-length LP, Not Nothing, on Kanine Records. The easiest label to apply would be garage-pop, but that wouldn’t do the band justice. Take the fuzz and feedback of My Bloody Valentine, the goth underpinnings of The Cure, and mix in the sounds of the more bubblegummy Nuggets acts, and you start to get the idea. And you can dance to it.
Led by O.J. San Felipe of the (now defunct?) Golden Triangle, there have been a only few cassettes and and a phenomenal 7″ for Chicago’s own HoZac predating Not Nothing, which may prove to be the group’s finest release to date. Check out the (slightly NSFW) video for the lead single Crystal below!
The Oxford, Mississippi based Bass Drum of Death hit The Empty Bottle tonight, bringing along their high-energy brand of fuzzed out garage. The of duo of guitarist John Barrett and drummer Colin Sneed combine the catchiness of The White Stripes with the rawness of bands like The Reatards or Black Lips to create some highly infectious tunage. Released just last week on Fat Possum, their debut full-length LP GB City has been picking up heaps of rave reviews.
As this is a FREE SHOW, we highly recommend showing up early. You will be rewarded for doing so by being able to catch Cool Devices, the latest band from local rocker Jason Frederick (The Means, Love Story In Blood Red). Their latest self titled effort can be streamed free here.
The 21+ show starts at 10pm, and admission is FREE. The Empty Bottle is located at 1035 N. Western Avenue.
We’re less than 24 hours away from Record Store Day 2011, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the last week pouring over TVD Nashville’sComprehensive Release GuidePart 1 and Part 2, trying to make your wish list match your wallet. In case you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, here are ten best bets to help make your Record Store Day a winner!
The Black Angels – Another Nice Pair – Light In The Attic – 12″ red vinyl – 2500 copies – the band’s first 2 EP s on vinyl for the first time! Comes with in an “old style/tip-on” sleeve. Red vinyl. 100 inserts signed by the band will be RANDOMLY packed through the pressing.
Various Artists – Local Customs: Pressed At Boddie – Numero Group – 12″ vinyl – 1000 copies – You can never go wrong with a Numero Group release, and this is no exception. This cross genre compilation represents the gems unearthed after their acquisition of the Boddie Recording Company. Housed in a gatefold sleeve, and includes a poster. Television – Live At The Old Warfield – Rhino – 2×12″ white vinyl – 3000 copies – Live At The Old Waldorf (San Francisco 6/29/78) was originally given the Rhino Handmade treatment back in 2003. That was CD only in an edition of 5,000 units. This Record Store Day 2011 version is 2LPs pressed on white 180 gram vinyl. Read More »
The Rentals announced yesterday that a new album titled Resilience will be released on vinyl and CD May 3rd via the Ernest Jenning Record Co., with all proceeds going towards the ongoing relief efforts in Japan by the Red Cross.
While usually associated with their moog-heavy new wave inspired pop released in the nineties, the 18 tracks that make up Resilience are instrumental compositions culled from their ambitious yearlong multimedia project Songs About Time, which was released throughout 2009. Performed by the duo of founding member, and ex-Weezer bassist Matt Sharp and Lauren Chipman, who has been a constant since the bands 2005 post-hiatus lineup, these pieces were recored as original scores for the short films that were released each week as part of the project.
Given the stark, emotive qualities qualities of the compositions, fluidly transitioning back and forth from somber to uplifiting, Resilience is a hauntingly beautiful album, and as Derrick Taruc puts it on the bands site “With its orchestral gestures, delicate piano and poetic interludes, the music paints a fitting tribute to the character and resilience of the Japanese people.”
Pre-orders for physical copies of the album, on limited edition 180 gram vinyl or CD, went live yesterday, and are available from the band and the label. A digital release is immediately available here.
Record Store Day is only 4 days away, and Chicago’s record shops are ready with tons of in-stores and some shop specific exclusive releases! Here’s what stores in the city have lined up:
Dusty Groove – 1120 N Ashland Ave Exclusive Releases: N/a
Not only will they be participating in RSD, but they will also be celebrating the stores 15th birthday, with free refreshments, gifts, & prizes! Doors open early at 9am, and the first 50 customers get a free CD. Live entertainment and DJs start at 1pm.
Laurie’s Planet of Sound – 4639 N Lincoln Exclusive releases: A new Vee Dee 7″ on Blvd Records, red vinyl, 200 copies
Laurie’s will open early at 9am for all your RSD needs! In-store entertainment will be provided by Candy Golde (feat. Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick!), Vee Dee, and Population, as well as DJs throughout the day!
Numero Group Pop-up Store – 1371 N. Milwaukee Exclusive Releases: New Eccentric Soul series 7″, limited to 100 copies
The Chicago based record label Numero Group will be setting up shop for one day only, bringing in thousands of used LPs, as well as their own titles, including the super limited RSD only 7″. They will also be taking over the airwaves broadcasting “your favorite Numero tracks alongside vintage commercials, weather reports, air checks, and news updates” on 89.9FM. Read More »
As part of this years’s CIMM Fest, the legendary “anti-lectual sub-urban insult rock band” Tutu and The Pirates be reuniting for a gig at the Double Door on April 16th, and we want you to be there! Keep reading to find out how to get your FREE tickets!
Arguably Chicago’s first punk band, the Pirates came together in 1977, taking their cues from proto-punkers like The Stooges and MC5, as well Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention, and during their brief existence, they opened for early punk greats such as The Ramones and The Undertones.
Tutu and The Pirates were recently featured in the excellent documentary You Weren’t There: Chicago Punk, 1977–1985 by Chicago filmmaker Joe Losurdo, who will be in attendance to screen footage from the early days of the Chicago punk scene. Also taking the stage will be masked garage rockers The Goblins and local post-punk band Nones.
Now, to attend this show for FREE, all you have to do is tell us your favorite punk band in the comments below!
The winners will be chosen at random from comments received by Friday (4/15) at noon, and receive a free pair of tickets to the show! Make sure the email address you enter is valid so we can contact you if you win!
The show takes place Saturday April 16th at Double Door, 1572 North Milwaukee Avenue, doors 7:30, show 8:00.
Spanning 10 city blocks, the Do Division Street Fest returns this year June 4th & 5th. In addition to the standard street fest fare of vendors, food stalls, and family activities, Do Division boasts an incredible line-up of local and national live bands. Featuring two stages, with one curated by the Empty Bottle, the other by Subterranean/House Call Entertainment, almost two dozen acts will appear during the 2 day fest.
