photos by James Richards IV

METZ at Lincoln Hall on 05.12.2013

On Sunday night (5/12), Toronto-based abrasive punks METZ toured through Chicago to play their largest headlining show here yet at Lincoln Hall with No Joy and TV Ghost. As per usual, feedback reigned supreme throughout the performance, and all three members were drenched in sweat by the time it was said and done. Were you there? If so, what did you think? Pictures and a few videos from the Lincoln Hall show are in this post.

Between their non-stop touring schedule, METZ somehow managed to make it into the studio to begin working on their second album. Guitarist Alex Edkins told Exclaim!, "We did manage to find some time after the European tour to get into the studio, and we recorded a new track that will probably see the light of day in a month or two on the internet," he explains. "But it is tough to find the time to focus on new material when you're going from club to club. We're hoping come September, when our touring schedule is all finished, we can focus on the new record." As discussed, you can also catch METZ at the 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival in July and at Pygmalion 2013 in September.

More pictures and some videos from their 5/12 Lincoln Hall show are below...

Continue reading "METZ played Lincoln Hall with No Joy & TV Ghost (pics, video), working on new LP"

Janelle Monáe @ Coachella 2013 (more by Wei Shi)

Hyper-talented R&B weirdo Janelle Monáe is prepping her second studio album, titled The Electric Lady, for release this coming fall via Bad Boy Records. 2010's The ArchAndroid remains on constant rotation for me, and her new single "Q.U.E.E.N." featuring Erykah Badu doesn't disappoint either. Monáe only has a couple of upcoming shows, and both are collaborations with symphony orchestras. One of the two is a performance with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on May 20 at the Symphony Center. Advance tickets for what should be awesome are on sale now.

All known Janelle Monáe tour dates and a stream of her new single are below...

Continue reading "Janelle Monae collaborating with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for performance next week"

Lollapalooza 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

As discussed, Lollapalooza 2013 is set to take place from August 2-4 in Chicago's Grant Park. The festival have now revealed their full schedule with set times, and there aren't as many direct conflicts as you might think. Though you might have to leave some sets after just a few songs if you want to see everything, the one major head-to-head happens on Friday, August 2, and is New Order at one end of the fest and Queens of the Stone Age all the way at the other, both at 6:15PM. Check out the full 2013 schedule HERE.

FIDLAR @ the Vic, June 2012 (more by Sarah Frankie Linder)

FIDLAR and The Orwells are just beginning to announce a fall North American tour. That tour kicks off in late-September, and includes a performance at Subterranean on Halloween (October 31). Tickets for what begs to be a barn-burner go on sale this Friday (5/17) at 10AM CST. All dates are listed at the bottom of this post.

As discussed, The Orwells' new EP, Other Voices, is slated to arrive on June 25 via East End/Canvasback. Though it's title track was produced by Dave Sitek, the band have now revealed a self-produced version. It's a little less slick, which is a good thing, and you can check it out along with FIDLAR's full tour schedule below...

Continue reading "FIDLAR & The Orwells teaming up for tour, playing Subterranean on Halloween"

Deafheaven @ Public Assembly in March of 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

Deafheaven are set to release their second album, Sunbather, on June 11 via Deathwish Inc.. So far, they've allowed the excellent "Dreamhouse" to slip out of the gates, which is equal parts punishing and atmospheric. You can stream the single at the bottom of this post. Preorder Sunbather via Deathwish's webstore.

In support of Sunbather, Deafheaven will embark on a summer U.S. tour with Marriages. That tour includes a performance at Subterranean on July 6. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (5/18) at 10AM CST.

All known Deafheaven tour dates and a stream of "Dreamhouse" are below...

Continue reading "Deafheaven & Marriages playing Subterranean on summer tour"

Kurt Vile @ Coachella 2013 (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

today in Chicago
* Chandeliers @ Hideout
* Lady Lamb The Beekeeper, Xenia Rubinos @ Schubas
* Masaki Batoh's Brain Pulse Music, The Body @ Empty Bottle
* Health & Beauty, Conductive Alliance, Hands In @ Subterranean
* Kurt Vile & the Violators, Jessica Pratt, Steve Gunn @ Lincoln Hall

Chandeliers continue their May residency at the Hideout tonight.

Lady Lamb The Beekeeper headlines Schubas.

Kurt Vile & the Violators play a sold-out show at Lincoln Hall.

Kendrick Lamar's "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" has finally gotten a visual accompaniment. Check it out below.

Follow @bvChicago on Twitter, "Like" us on Facebook.

Follow bvChicago on Instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Iron & Wine @ AV Fest / Hideout Block Party 2012 (more by Sara Pieper)

Iron & Wine, the project of singer/songwriter Sam Beam, recently welcomed their new album, Ghost On Ghost, via new home Nonesuch Records. They've got a few upcoming U.S. shows in support of the LP, and then will head to Europe for a string of summer tour dates. Sam and co. will then return stateside for a fall North American tour, which includes a performance at The Chicago Theatre on September 27. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (5/18) at 10AM CST. Stay tuned for a JAM Productions presale.

All known Iron & Wine tour dates and a stream of Ghost On Ghost are below...

Continue reading "Iron & Wine expand tour to include Chicago Theatre show, released a new LP"

Save Money

As part of Red Bull's ongoing Sound Select series (BrooklynVegan just held an SS show in NYC), Fake Shore Drive will be presenting Gunplay, Save Money, Lil Herb & Lil Bibby, and Tink at Double Door on May 30. As per all Sound Select shows, advance tickets are super cheap ($5 a pop, including fees).

Save Money, which is actually a large crew and not just a solo artist, should be a very interesting thing to catch live. SM includes but is not limited to Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Caleb James, Joey Purp, Kami de Chukwu, and Tokyo Shawn. We're not entirely sure which members will be making an appearance aside from Tokyo Shawn, who's currently prepping an album for French label White Colours. You can take a listen to the soulful, laid back "Wonder" from that project at the bottom of this post.

A poster for the upcoming RBSS show and a few song streams are below...

Continue reading "Gunplay, Save Money & others playing a Red Bull Sound Select show at Double Door"

Pinback @ Metro, November 2012 (more by Grant MacAllister)

There are few things I enjoy more than a well-packaged tour, and damn did they hit this one right on the money. Pinback will hit the road throughout North America in late-August, and then as September rolls around, they'll be joined by Deathfix (the project of Fugazi's Brenden Canty). The fall leg of that tour kicks off with a performance at Lincoln Hall on September 3. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Friday (5/17).

All known Pinback // Deathfix tour dates and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Pinback & Deathfix playing Lincoln Hall on fall tour"

Bosnian Rainbows @ Bottom Lounge, February 2013 (more by Zach Pollack)

Bosnian Rainbows, the new-ish project of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (At The Drive-In, The Mars Volta) and Teri Gender Bender (Le Butcherettes), have announced that they'll be touring throughout the U.S. this summer. That tour includes a performance at Bottom Lounge on July 24, where they played on their first-ever North American tour in February. Tickets for the Chicago show are on sale now.

As you might know from seeing Le Butcherettes, Teri is an absolutely insane (in the best way possible) frontwoman. She's even a little crazier in BR, as she doesn't play guitar or keyboards like she does in her main project. Bosnian Rainbows' debut, self-titled LP is slated to hit stores on June 25 via Sargent House. You can check out their recently-released video for "Turtleneck" and full 2013 tour schedule below...

Continue reading "Bosnian Rainbows playing Bottom Lounge on summer U.S. tour"