CSS @ Metro in 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

CSS are gearing up for the release of their new album, Planta, which is due out on June 11 via SQE Music. It's their first without guitarist Adriano Cintra, who left the band shortly after 2011's La Liberación hit stores. The group joined forces with producer Dave Sitek in Los Angeles to record the LP, and you can check out its poppy "Hangover" at the bottom of this post.

CSS will be heading out on a summer North American tour in support of Planta. That tour includes a performance at Lincoln Hall on June 29 with tourmates IO Echo. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are on sale now.

All CSS tour dates and a stream of "Hangover" are below...

Continue reading "CSS releasing new LP, playing Lincoln Hall"

The Flaming Lips @ GoogaMooga 2013 (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

The Great GoogaMooga is a partially-free food and music festival that debuted in Brooklyn's Prospect Park in 2012. It's put on by Superfly (Bonnaroo, Outside Lands) and Gapers Block are reporting that permits have been submitted for a Chicago festival in Lincoln Park. It looks like JAM Productions will be assisting Superfly, and that the fest, if it happens, will take place in late-August. A formal announcement hasn't been made yet.

If this does actually happen, hopefully Chicago has better luck than they had so far in Brooklyn where the first year was too packed and refunds were given to all VIP ticket holders and the second year was plagued by last minute band cancellations and rain all weekend. In fact, yesterday (Sunday, 5/19) was supposed to be the third day of the 2nd year of GoogaMooga, but was completely cancelled shortly after doors were scheduled to open.

Stay tuned for more information...

San Francisco's The Fresh & Onlys are gearing up for a large summer European tour. They'll return stateside in the beginning of July, and have just a couple of U.S. shows scheduled. One of the two is a performance at Beat Kitchen on July 6 with support from Radar Eyes. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are on sale now. The Fresh & Onlys' most recent album, Long Slow Dance, hit stores in September of 2012. While you wait for their next effort, check out the video for Long Slow Dance's "Presence of Mind" and the band's full tour schedule below...

Continue reading "The Fresh & Onlys playing Beat Kitchen in July"

Brother JT

As discussed, Come will be heading out on a summer North American tour in support of the reissue of 11:11, which is out now via Matador. That tour includes a performance at the Empty Bottle on July 12, and it has now been announced that Brother JT and Wrekmeister Harmonies will act as main support. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available.

In related news, we just told you about Wrekmeister Harmonies' forthcoming album, You've Always Meant So Much to Me, and Empty Bottle-presented record release show on June 22 at the Bohemian National Cemetery (tickets). Visit our previous post to take a listen to the LP's punishing teaser clip.

An updated list of Come tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Brother JT & Wrekmeister Harmonies opening for Come at the Empty Bottle"

Mikal Cronin's impeccably crafted MCII hit stores earlier this month via Merge Records. As discussed, Mikal and his band will be embarking on a spring // summer North American tour in support of the LP with Shannon & the Clams. That tour includes a sold-out performance at the Empty Bottle on June 11, and they've now added an early show to their schedule. Grab tickets while you still can. Mikal and co. will then return to Chicago in July to play the 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival.

All Mikal Cronin dates, a stream of MCII, and his new video for "Changes" are below...

Continue reading "Mikal Cronin adds a second show at the Bottle (updated dates)"

James Blake in NYC earlier this month (more by Jono Bernstein)

As mentioned on BrooklynVegan, James Blake just announced a fall North American leg of his ongoing 2013 tour which just hit Chicago for a show at Metro earlier this month. The new leg brings James to the Riviera Theatre on November 13. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet but you can check JAM for updates.

All dates are listed at BrooklynVegan.

Cults @ NYC's Terminal 5, December 2012 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

As discussed, Cults will be heading to Chicago in July to perform on Saturday (7/27) of Wicker Park Fest 2013. Surrounding their appearance at the street festival, Cults will also be playing a club show at Subterranean on July 26. Advance tickets are still available.

In related news, Guards, which is fronted by Cults leader Madeline Follin's brother Richie, also have some upcoming Chicago shows. They'll play the House of Blues on June 20 with Portugal. the Man, as well as Lollapalooza 2013.

All known Cults tour dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Cults playing Subterranean & Wicker Park Fest in July"

Detroit-based electro duo ADULT. welcomed their new album, The Way Things Fall, last week via Ghostly International. It's their first since 2007's Why Bother?, and you can stream the LP in its entirety at the bottom of this post. Adam Lee Miller and Nicola Kuperus are currently touring throughout Europe in support of their new LP. They'll return stateside later this month for a handful of shows, including a performance at the Empty Bottle on June 22 with Ritual Howls and Especially Good. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available.

All known ADULT. tour dates and a stream of The Way Things Fall are below...

Continue reading "ADULT. playing the Empty Bottle, released a new LP (stream it)"

Jacuzzi Boys @ CMJ 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Miami three-piece Jacuzzi Boys will be teaming up with Man or Astro-Man? for a string of U.S. tour dates in June. As discussed, the two groups will make their way to Chicago for a pair of shows at the Empty Bottle on June 14 & 15. Advance tickets for both performances are still available. And while they're in town, Jacuzzi Boys will also be playing an in-store at Permanent Records on June 15 at 4PM. Wymyns Prysyn and Crosss will get things started, and as always, admission is free // open to all-ages.

The guys are currently prepping their third studio album for release sometime this year. While you wait for the LP, you can check out these photos of the band in the studio.

All known Jacuzzi Boys tour dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Jacuzzi Boys playing an in-store at Permanent Records while in town w/ Man or Astro-Man"

As discussed, Owen (aka Mike Kinsella) is set welcome his new album, L'Ami du Peuple', on July 2 via Polyvinyl Records. You've already heard "Bad Blood" from the LP, and can now check out "Blues To Black" (via Rolling Stone) HERE.

Kinsella has a brief U.S. tour scheduled for this summer. That tour includes a pair of Chicago shows at Beat Kitchen on June 29. The first is an early (7PM), all-ages performance, and the second is a 21+ late show. Advance tickets for both shows are on sale now.

All known Owen tour dates and a stream of "Bad Blood" are below...

Continue reading "Owen prepping new LP, playing two shows at Beat Kitchen"