Calexico @ NYC's Webster Hall, October 2012 (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

As discussed, Calexico will be heading to Chicago for a two-night stand at City Winery on June 2 & 3. Tickets for their 6/2 performance are still available (6/3 is sold-out), and we've got a pair of tickets to give away for each night! Contest details can be found at the bottom of this post.

The long-running Southwestern group welcomed their seventh studio album, titled Algiers, in the fall of 2012. The LP is a bit more roots rock-centered than their previous efforts, but it makes for a nice addition to their discography. If you haven't had a chance to give it a spin yet, a stream of Algiers is in this post.

All Calexico tour dates, contest details, and a stream of Algiers are below...

Continue reading "win tickets to see Calexico at City Winery Chicago"

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ Lollapalooza 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

today in Chicago
* Andrew Belle @ Schubas
* Electric Daisy Carnival Chicago (Day 1)
* Idiot Glee, Yawn, Riites @ Subterranean
* Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Tunde Olaniran @ Lincoln Hall
* Jimmy Whispers, Magic Milk, Names Divine @ Hideout
* Soft Speaker, Radar Eyes, Bitchin Bajas @ Empty Bottle
* Woolen Men, Lame Drivers @ Permanent Records (Free; In-store)
* Onra, Impala Sound Champions @ Chicago Reader B-Side Booze Cruise
* Blank Realm, Apache Dropout, Thee Tsunamis, Uh Bones @ The Burlington
* Hospital Garden, Woolen Men, Lame Drivers, Handsome Lady, Puritan Pine
@ Cole's Bar (Free Show)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. headline Lincoln Hall tonight.

Soft Speaker, Radar Eyes, and Bitchin Bajas play the Bottle tonight.

Woolen Men and Lame Drivers play a 6PM in-store at Permanent Records, and then Cole's Bar later on.

Onra and Impala Sound Champions play the Reader's B-Side Booze Cruise.

Grizzly Bear played "Yet Again" on Ellen... check out the footage below.

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What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

The Cairo Gang -- Tiny Rebels

Emmett Kelly (aka The Cairo Gang) is a longtime Bonnie 'Prince' Billy // Angel Olsen collaborator. On July 23, he'll welcome a new "mini album," titled Tiny Rebels, under the solo moniker via Empty Cellar Records. Its lead single (and title track) is reminiscent of the intricate simplicity found on Low's "Plastic Cup," and you can take a listen to the song at the bottom of this post. Preorder a copy of Tiny Rebels via Empty Cellar's webstore.

The Cairo Gang have a pair of upcoming Chicago shows. They'll open for Dawes at Downtown Sound on July 8, and then will play The Owl later on that night with Outside World. Admission is free for both shows.

Take a listen to "Tiny Rebels" below...

Continue reading "The Cairo Gang releasing new LP, playing 'Downtown Sound' & The Owl in July"

Eleanor Friedberger @ BV-SXSW 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As mentioned, Eleanor Friedberger is set to welcome her second solo album, Personal Record, on June 4 via Merge. The LP's lead single, "Stare at the Sun," is as fun and well-crafted as anything on 2011's Last Summer, and you can check out the music video for it at the bottom of this post. Eleanor and co. will be embarking on a summer North American tour with TEEN next month, which includes a performance at the Empty Bottle on June 7. Advance tickets are still available, and she'll also be playing a 6PM in-store at Reckless Records' Wicker Park location that evening. Admission is free, but space will fill up quickly.

All Eleanor Friedberger tour dates and that video are below...

Continue reading "Eleanor Friedberger playing an in-store at Reckless Records before her show at the Empty Bottle"

Trail of Dead @ BV-SXSW 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As discussed, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead will be heading to Chicago for a performance on Saturday (7/20) of the 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival. Festival passes and single-day tickets are still available, and they've just announced that they'll also be playing the Double Door with fellow Austinites Ume on July 18. Tickets for the club show go on sale this Saturday (5/25) at noon CST.

All Trail of Dead dates and a stream of their most recent LP, Lost Songs, are below...

Continue reading "Trail of Dead playing Double Door w/ Ume before Pitchfork Festival"

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English musician Emma "Scout" Niblett welcomed her new album, It's Up To Emma, earlier this week via Drag City. It's her first since 2010's The Calcination of Scout Niblett, and is lead by the single "Gun." On "Gun," Niblett channels the raw power of PJ Harvey and angular guitar chops of Kurt Cobain as she sneers, "I think I'm gonna buy me a gun / A nice little silver one." You can check out the video for the track at the bottom of this post. The remainder of the album is great too, and you can grab a copy via Drag City's webstore.

Niblett's about to hit the road in Europe in support of It's Up to Emma, and will head stateside in late-August for a North American run. Dope Body will act as main support on many of her North American dates, including a performance at the Hideout on September 21. Ticketing information for the Chicago show is forthcoming, but check Ticketfly for updates.

All Scout Niblett tour dates and a stream of // the video for "Gun" are below...

Continue reading "Scout Niblett released 'It's Up to Emma,' playing the Hideout with Dope Body on fall tour"

Laura Marling @ Prospect Park, June 2012 (more by Jessica Amaya)

today in Chicago
* Pokey LaFarge, Al Scorch @ Lincoln Hall
* Bike Cops, Le Tour, Today's Hits @ Quenchers
* Laura Marling, Liam Hayes @ Athenaeum Theatre
* Taught Abroad, Software Giant, K. Serra @ Hideout
* Brett Newski & The Corruption, Elephant Gun @ Empty Bottle
* Architecture, Landmarks, The Father Costume @ The Burlington
* Brownie Mountain, Rhone, Yeesh, The Welcome @ Subterranean
* Vamos, An Unfortunate Woman, La Cosa @ Township (Late Show)
* Saturday Looks Good To Me, Like Pioneers, Mister Suit @ Schubas
* Shaved Women, Manipulation, Warrior Tribes, Tensions @ Township (Early Show)

Laura Marling headlines the Athenaeum Theatre tonight.

Pokey LaFarge and Al Scorch play Lincoln Hall.

Brownie Mountain, Rhone, Yeesh, and The Welcome play Subterranean.

The National performed "Sea Of Love" on The Colbert Report. Check out the footage below.

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What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Michigan's Destroy This Place are comprised of ex-members of Thunderbirds Are Now!, New Grenada, and Friendly Foes. The quartet welcomed their new self-titled album earlier this month via Bellyache Records, and it's a really nice mix of power pop and harder-edged fuzz rock. Co-frontmen Ryan Allen and John Nelson split those duties respectively, yielding a well-balanced core sound. You can, and really should, take a listen to the LP at the bottom of this post.

DTP just came through Chicago for a show at Quenchers, but they'll be returning for a performance on August 10 with Tight Phantomz and Lifted Bells at a TBD venue. Stay tuned for more info on the Chicago show.

All known Destroy This Place dates and a stream of their new LP are below...

Continue reading "Destroy This Place put out a new LP, playing Chicago in August with Tight Phantomz"

Marc Ribot, who's know for playing guitar for Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, John Zorn, and many others, just recently welcomed a new LP with his trio Ceramic Dog. It's called Your Turn, and was produced // mixed by Deerhoof's Greg Saunier. You can check out a video of the group performing Your Turn's "Masters of the Internet" at the bottom of this post.

As discussed, Ribot and co. will be headed to Chicago next week to open for the Lee Ranaldo Band at Downtown Sound on Monday night (5/27). They'll also headline Mike Reed's Constellation on May 28, and advance tickets are still available.

Watch Ceramic Dog perform "Masters of the Internet" below...

Continue reading "Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog playing 'Downtown Sound' & Constellation next week, released a new LP"