Stage Buzz
Japandroids preview
Schubas, Chicago October 9 + 10, 2009 Nearly 20 years ago, Mac McCaughan adenoidally howled “Slack Motherfucker” above a din that was only just being recognized as indie rock. He, on Superchunk’s essential single, was chiding a lazy, fellow Kinko’s employee. Japandroids, using two mouths to pierce essentially the same din, are now singing about […]
Lou Barlow preview
Vic, Chicago Thursday, October 15, 2009 Lou Barlow’s inability to get a song in edgewise for J. Mascis Band, a.k.a. Dinosaur Jr., led to both his ouster and some fantastic sides for his burgeoning Sebadoh project. After some songs spent blasting Mascis, becoming Folk Implosion, ditching Sebadoh, going “solo” . . . he’s back in […]
The Wiitala Brothers preview
The Wiitala Brothers Schubas, Chicago Tuesday, October 6, 2009 Before we dig into influences and who brings what to the table, let’s get one thing out of the way: Chicago’s Wiitala Brothers have not hitched their wagon to moniker-punctuation ’09, a.k.a. the double “i” bands like Miike Snow and Sliimy. Maybe they’re Finnish (slick-skating defenseman […]
Poco preview
Cubby Bear, Chicago Friday, September 25, 2009 Despite being a hitching post for a number of big-time ’60s and ’70s rockers and an important torchbearer during country rock’s lean years, few people really know Poco, much less know to seek specific info about the version popping up at Cubby Bear on Friday: Who’s in it?
Oh My God preview
Double Door, Chicago Saturday, September 26, 2009 All summer, in anticipation of Oh My God’s The Night Undoes The Work Of The Day (Split Red), I’ve been writing in “File” about the Chicago band’s massive, organ-ish keyboard attack. Well, the album arrived. No organs.
Soulsavers preview
Double Door, Chicago Sunday, September 27, 2009 Despite the weight of his contributions, Soulsavers is not Mark Lanegan. It’s nothing to do with Greg Dulli either, though the English group’s noir-rock feel is a sister sound and thus why Lanegan seems so integral to their music.
Sondre Lerche preview
Schubas, Chicago Saturday, September 19, 2009 Despite having a name most Scandinavian metal bands would die for (SON-der LARE-kuh), this diminutive Norwegian has battled to reconcile his lolli-pop with his taste for electric guitar.
Fool’s Gold preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago Sunday, September 20, 2009 Being yacht-deck-dressed white musicians with African beats whipped up quite a backlash for Vampire Weekend last year, but not enough, apparently, to deter Fool’s Gold.
Death preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Saturday, September 26, 2009 If you feel exhausted by a parade of artists who are only now getting their due for either influencing punk or freak folk or electronic music or raga . . . you’re excused. Whether Radio Birdman, Zero Boys, Rocket From The Tombs, or Vashti Bunyan, there’s no shortage […]
YACHT preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Friday, September 11, 2009 Yachts are a great metaphor for ’80s oblivion, big, honkin’ seafaring jungle gyms with little intrinsic value other than to the people who buy them and those they pay to maintain them.
Alexis Gideon preview
The Whistler, Chicago Sunday, September 13, 2009 Not to slight Alexis Gideon, but people who saw the Chicagoan perform as half of rap duo Princess years ago probably went home thinking it was an elaborate farce, waxed about what great commentary it was on the joke existence of commercial rap, and bedded down for the […]
Polvo preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago Saturday, September 5, 2009 You either knew Polvo or you didn’t. There were veteran indie-rock bands who mattered not to the mainstream press or major labels — even after Nirvana (gasp!) — yet floated around the Sub Pop/Merge/Touch And Go/Matador pool, won a few thousand fans, and disappeared when it came time […]
Ramona Falls preview
Chopin Theatre, Chicago Friday, September 11, 2009 It’d be interesting to watch the members of Menomena daily — making toast, turning a television on, walking. A self-designed computer program gave them their first album, which came with an 80-page flipbook (the vinyl cover folded like origami). The critically acclaimed follow-up, Friend And Foe, continued with […]
The Cult preview
House Of Blues, Chicago Wednesday, September 2, 2009 The Cult frontman Ian Astbury thinks the idea of making albums is passé. The reunited band won’t be making them anymore (yes to maybe the odd song), but this leaves them more time for ideas like Love Live, a reproduction of a classic album in concert.
Dar Williams preview
Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago Sunday, August 23, 2009 Dar Williams is handy enough with a pen that the GLBT community praises her for her humanizing insight despite being straight. But, like many from the Lilith Fair era, her music occasionally helps sustain rumors that a Sarah McLachlan assembly line exists somewhere. A […]
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