Ides wide shut
Did Marc Antony and Octavian overreact when avenging Caesar’s death on the senate floor? The Ides Of March was Rome’s traditional feast day for warrior-god Mars, and maybe things got a little out of hand on the 15th. Peter Mulvey, the Abbey’s St. Paddy’s deal, When Clouds Attack, and K-Holes all converge in Chicago because of it.
That’s the butterfly effect, right? None of these artists would be in Chicago this weekend if it weren’t for a tyrant’s murder. Food for thought.
Peter Mulvey acknowledges the theory on The Good Stuff, a compendium of cover songs he often spotlights on tour. Recorded properly with a full band, he hits some standards but nothing terribly obvious. Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo” lopes like a Randy Newman number for a Pixar film (in a good way), while Thelonious Monk’s wee-hours “Ruby, My Dear” gets fed through Wes Montgomery first. On the more modern end of his collection, he checks in with Joe Henry, Jolie Holland, Concrete Blonde, and more, knowing if they hadn’t, neither would he. (Friday@Schubas with Kevin Mileski.)
For the 39th time in as many years, the spectre of St. Patrick will darken the doors of Abbey Pub. This year, leaning on the threshold and ready to tumble in are American English, Larry Nugent, The Great Whiskey Project, Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers, Shannon Rovers Bag Pipers, and The Sandcarvers. That’s not all, of course, because in Irving Park the holiday is a three-day sweatshop. There’ll be fried fish, and corned beef, maybe some bangers. They’re all bangers. Full details. (FridaytoSunday@Abbey Pub.)
Years ago, when it was invented, the term “post rock” betrayed a rather sensual musical spawn as something academic and uppity. Now that we are truly headed in a post-rock ‘n’ roll direction, When Clouds Attack have turned their post-rock toward the two emerging winners — hip-hop and electronic pop — and chosen to go with synths. The local trio’s instrumental Young Blood EP teeters on the bliss of chillwave, but with a heavy, ponderous heart. That’s not to say the tracks are lethargic — to the contrary — but machines can take pause, too. (Saturday@Beat Kitchen with Blue Eyed Jesus and Swearwords.)
Having fallen on their own swords or been hacked off the bodies of bands like Black Lips and Golden Triangle, the members of K-Holes can look a motley sort. But Dismania (Hardly Art) plays not “brother can you spare a bandage,” preferring chamber-pot psychedelic blues rock, like Boss Hog (the band) melting in Brooklyn’s summer. The chaotic, purposefully muddy mix gets holes punched in it by stray distortion pops, brass, and vocal tics, and despite its relentless, spazzy nature, something sexy also resides within. (Monday@Empty Bottle with Bare Wires and Bezoar.)
— Steve Forstneger
Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly
