Stage Buzz
Polkaholics preview
Quenchers, Chicago Saturday, August 1, 2009 For the longest of times, we thought Chicago’s Polkaholics had done wrong by both polka and punk bands — or right. We forgot which. They’re certainly doing right by Walter “Li’l Wally” Jagiello, whom they brought back here from Florida and played with ’til his 2006 death.
The Warlocks preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Wednesday, August 5, 2009 Thursday, August 6, 2009 Far from the cold-eyed evildoer of their namesake movie, The Warlocks’ music is religion to them, a dirge-like moan that emanates like prayer from a Buddhist temple — contextualized by pop melodies and heavy drug use, of course.
As Tall As Lions preview
Bottom Lounge, Chicago Thursday, August 6, 2009 If they don’t kill each other, You Can’t Take It With You is a place where prog-rock, R&B, and Death Cab fans can harmonize.
Trainwreck Riders preview
Ronny’s, Chicago Sunday, July 26, 2009 Alt-country bands can come from anywhere, which is why there’s no need to raise a brow at Trainwreck Riders’ Frisco origins. In fact, it’s a boon for the band to have a little hometown weird on tap.
Foreign Born preview
Empty Bottle, Chicago Thursday, July 23, 2009 If you’ve never been to Los Angeles, you no doubt still feel you know it. Movies and TV are clearly responsible, and we’ve been clubbed with the idea of an “L.A. band,” as if, post ’80s, the phrase still has meaning. It doesn’t define Foreign Born, anyway.
Grand Duchy preview
Subterranean, Chicago Friday, July 24, 2009 Black Francis must be in a good place right now. With the Pixies having exhausted their reunification options, he can put the band back to rest without having to hear that question for awhile. He has even stuck with his name, which he inverted when he went solo back […]
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara preview
Millennium Park, Chicago Thursday, July 16, 2009 Robert Plant isn’t the only member of his band to have a feel for African and Middle Eastern sounds. Of course, you could credit guitarist Justin Adams for merely being sold on the idea of Juldeh Camara’s weapon of choice: the west African spike fiddle.
Pitchfork Music Festival preview
Union Park, Chicago Friday, July 17 to Sunday July 19, 2009 While we’re still waiting for Pitchfork to hire one of the black-metal bands they wrote so much about in 2008, there is a change in store for this weekend’s festival that proves they’re paying attention.
Judson Claiborne preview
Schubas, Chicago Monday, July 20, 2009 Former Low Skies frontman Christopher C. Salveter and band Judson Claiborne continues their July Schubas residency, spilling stories and playing covers that, for one reason or another, were ill-suited to his former band’s swooning dynamics.
Balthrop Alabama preview
Reggie’s Music Joint, Chicago Thursday, July 9, 2009 When this ragtag batch of Alabaman New Yorkers opened for Dawn Landes at Hideout last year, it was hard not to daydream a sequel to Waiting For Guffman, where Corky grows disillusioned and moves to Brooklyn.
Cryptacize previewed
Hideout, Chicago Friday, July 10, 2009 It’s ludicrous to guess the intentions behind anyone’s art, but with Mythomania it feels like Cryptacize actually see a future in what they’re doing.
Micachu & The Shapes preview
Schubas, Chicago Monday, July 13, 2009 Though the “chu” attached to Mica Levi’s first name refers to her hybrid guitar, it’s also an appropriate description of her music. It’s as if, short on ink for a Rorschach test, she sneezed on staff paper instead.
The Horse’s Ha preview
Schubas, Chicago Friday, July 3, 2009 Chicagoans Janet Bean (Eleventh Dream Day) and Jim Elkington (The Zincs) have made their Horse’s Ha side-project official. Sommeliers across the county can relax, as they’ve moved on to more salt-of-the-earth venues like Schubas.
Cage preview
Reggie’s, Chicago Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Cage has never really been the typical MC, but within the past four years, the New Yorker has moved further into his own alternative sonic existence.
Better Than Ezra preview
House Of Blues, Chicago Saturday, June 27, 2009 Most people you’d ask either love or hate Better Than Ezra, but the reason is probably the same: they’re full of hooks and they’re pretty good at fishing an audience with them. The band have never taken themselves too seriously, opting instead to show their fans […]
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