DOWNLOAD: A Lull - "Try Anything" (MP3)

"Try Anthing" cover art

Chicago indie rockers A Lull are back with a new single. It's a bit of a slow jam called "Try Anything" and that's its cover art above. "Try Anything" is their first new material since releasing Meat Mountain in June of 2012, and hopefully that means a new album is on its way. While you wait for more, download "Try Anything" at the top of this post and/or stream the track below...

Continue reading "take a listen to A Lull's new single "Try Anything" (MP3)"

Purity Ring @ Sasquatch Festival 2012 (more by Chris & Rae Graham)

Aside from the Pitchfork Fest official aftershow of Chromatics and BAIO at Lincoln Hall, two more late night events that are taking place at LH's sister venue Schubas have been revealed. Purity Ring and Born Gold, whose frontman was once a member of Purity Ring, will play Schubas on July 13. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Dirty Beaches, and A Lull will play the venue on July 15. Stay tuned for ticketing info on both aftershows. Tickets for both shows are on sale now.

As mentioned, Father John Misty also plays Schubas on July 14.

Purity Ring recently shared another track, called "Fineshrine," from their forthcoming LP Shrines (out 7/24 via 4AD). Take a listen to the song at the bottom of this post and/or head to BrooklynVegan for a download.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra put out a new single last week, called "I'll Come Back 4 U," as part of Adult Swim's Singles Program. Take a listen to the song via a widget below.

Purity Ring and Unknown Mortal Orchestra song streams below...

Continue reading "Purity Ring, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Dirty Beaches & others playing Schubas during Pitchfork Fest"

DOWNLOAD: A Lull - "Summer Dress" (MP3)

Chicago experimental rockers A Lull are gearing up for the release of their new EP, Meat Mountain (see cover above), due on June 26 via Lujo Records. Download the album's lead single "Summer Dress" at the top of this post and/or stream it below. As announced, A Lull are included on the lineup of the 2012 Pitchfork Festival, happening July 13-15 in Union Park. They play on Sunday (7/15). Meat Mountain will be available on limited edition, single-sided 12" LP and in digital format, everywhere.

UPDATE: The vinyl is up for preorder now.

Take a listen to "Summer Dress" and watch a short album teaser below...

Continue reading "listen to a new track from A Lull's forthcoming EP, catch them at Pitchfork Fest"

As mentioned, Bloomington, Indiana's Murder By Death are coming to town to play Subterranean on both December 30th and 31st. A Lull (who recently covered Bruce Springsteen) will open the first night and The Blind Staggers will support the band on New Year's Eve. Tickets are still available for both performances.

Before their NYE show at Subterranean, Murder By Death have added a 4PM Epitonic Saki Session to their schedule. Catch the band for FREE at the Logan Square record store.

All 2011/12 tour dates, and some song streams, below..

Continue reading "Murder By Death add Epitonic Saki Session; tix still available for both Subterranean shows"

DOWNLOAD: A Lull - "I'm On Fire" (Bruce Springsteen cover) (MP3)

Though we recently announced A Lull's winter tour dates (which didn't include one in the city), they've just agreed to open for Murder By Death on December 30th at Subterranean. Murder By Death will also be playing there on New Year's Eve, but with The Blind Staggers. Tickets are still available for both shows.

The band have just posted their take on the Bruce Springsteen classic "I'm On Fire." Sounding quite different than the original (in a good way of course), we receive a very percussive, artful version of the 1985 single. Download the track above and/or stream it below.

In related news, the Boss will deliver a keynote lecture at SXSW on Thursday, March 15th.

Continue reading "A Lull take on the Boss' "I'm On Fire," playing Subterranean"

DOWNLOAD: A Lull - Epitonic Saki Session (Zipped MP3s)

A Lull @ Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements

As they returned back home from an East Coast run that included CMJ, A Lull were the subject of a late-October Epitonic Saki Session. Playing tracks from both Confetti and Confetti Reprise, the band gave a good taste of what their live show sounds like. Download the entire 6-song session at the top of this post.

A Lull are currently gearing up for a winter headlining run, with support from DC's Deleted Scenes. This largely West Coast tour will wind down at the beginning of February, with a performance at Rock Island, IL's The Rozz Tox on the third of the month. Tickets will be posted shortly.

Head below for all 2012 tour dates..

Continue reading "A Lull played an Epitonic Saki Session (MP3's), touring w/ Deleted Scenes this winter"

photos by John Yingling & Zach Pollack

Shellac


The first-ever Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements went down back in September. You may remember we posted some pictures from the first day, but never finished what we started. A belated set of pictures from the second and third days of the Chicago fest continue below...

Continue reading "Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements (belated pics)"

Marketa Irglova @ MFNW 2011 (more by Autumn Andel)

Mister Heavenly have added a Chicago gig at Subterranean on November 13th.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (9/23), at noon CST.

Yakuza, Batillus, and The Swan King are playing Subterranean on November 23rd.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (9/23), at noon CST.

Scattered Trees, A Lull, and Urbanites are playing Lincoln Hall on Black Friday (11/25). Tickets go on sale tomorrow (9/23), at noon CST.

Marketa Irglova (of The Swell Season) is releasing a solo album, and heading out on tour in support of it. She'll play Lincoln Hall on November 26th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (9/23), at noon CST.

The String Cheese Incident are playing December 8th, 9th, and 10th at Aragon Ballroom. Tickets go on sale for all three shows tomorrow (9/23), at 11AM.

As mentioned many times, Wilco are playing the Civic Opera House on December 24th.
I spoke too soon on JAM Productions not having their own pre-sale. If you missed the band's own yesterday, tomorrow (9/23) from 10AM to 10PM CST you can still have an early jump. Password: imight. General tickets go on sale this Saturday (9/24), at 10AM CST.

A Lull

Chicago-based band A Lull have jumped from local opener to National touring act; all in less than a year. Following the May 2009 release of their Ice Cream Bones EP, came an April 2011 release of their critically acclaimed, debut full length record Confetti.

In 2011 alone, the band have headlined venues such as Schubas, were the main support for Cold War Kids on tour, and ventured down to SXSW.

On August 16th they'll be releasing a Confetti b-sides EP, aptly titled Confetti Reprise.

In the process of writing and recording Confetti, the band accumulated almost 70 finished and partially-finished songs before narrowing it down to the final tracklist. A Lull choose only those songs that they were thoroughly satisfied with - and then realized that the album was 20 minutes too long. Emphasizing song flow over all other factors, four songs were eventually removed. As the tracklist discussions were happening, it was clear that whatever was cut would need to eventually be released. [Mush Records]

You can stream Confetti Reprise in its entirety via a widget below.

Just yesterday, Daytrotter posted a session that they had done with the band in the beginning of February. Check it out here.

Head below to view their summer tour schedule (though no Chicago date).

Continue reading "A Lull recorded a Daytrotter session, touring the mid-West +++ releasing 'Confetti Reprise'"

West Fest

West Fest will be taking place on Saturday, July 9th, as well as on Sunday, July 10th. With two stages on Chicago Avenue, (one at Wood St., and one at Damen Ave.) there will be live music from noon to 10PM each day.

Notable acts rounding out the lineup include: Local H, No Joy, Liturgy, Those Darlins, King Khan featuring Gris Gris Sound, A Lull, and a DJ Set from Juan Maclean.

Sponsored by a slew of great companies such as, Blue Moon, Yelp, and Time Out Chicago just to name a few; there is bound to be loads of giveaways!

Admission is donation based; with a suggested contribution of $5 per person.

Head below to view the full West Fest lineup.

Continue reading "West Fest 2011 - full lineup & details"

Black Lips @ Brooklyn Bowl 3/23/2010 (more by Gabi Porter)

today in Chicago
* Arcade Fire, The National @ UIC Pavilion
* Eleventh Dream Day, The 1900's @ Lincoln Hall
* A Lull, Yourself & The Air, Heypenny @ Schubas
* The Boxer Rebellion, We Are Augustines @ Double Door
* Maritime, Tin Tin Can, The Nothingheads @ Empty Bottle
* MNDR (DJ Set), North Shore Pharmacy (DJ Set) @ Beauty Bar
* The Black Lips, Vivian Girls, Outer Minds @ Logan Square Auditorium
* Chicago Thrash Ensemble, Fuck the Facts, Ken Mode, Bongripper @ The Mutiny

TV on the Radio's show at Metro tonight is canceled, due to the untimely death of bassist Gerard Smith.

RIP Gerard.

What else?

Arcade Fire @ Madison Square Garden in 2010 (more by Bao Nguyen)

FRIDAY
Arcade Fire, and The National will play their first of three (4/22, 4/24, & 4/25) shows at the UIC Pavilion.

The Boxer Rebellion, and We Are Augustines will play the Double Door.

Head to the Empty Bottle to catch Maritime, Tin Tin Can, and The Nothingheads.

Lincoln Hall will host Eleventh Dream Day's record release show with special guests: The 1900's.

You'll find The Black Lips, Vivian Girls, and Outer Minds at Logan Square Auditorium.

Schubas will host A Lull's record release show with special guests: Yourself & The Air, and Heypenny.

MNDR, and North Shore Pharmacy will both perform DJ sets over at Beauty Bar.

Chicago Thrash Ensemble, Fuck the Facts, Ken Mode, and Bongripper will play The Mutiny.

SATURDAY
Duran Duran will play the House of Blues.

José González's Junip will be performing at the Empty Bottle along with Acrylics.

Subterranean will host Ezra Furman and The Harpoons' record release show with special guests: Tristen, and The Apache Relay.

DJ ?uestlove will headline The Shrine with support from the Chicago Afro Beat Project.

Steve Ignorant will be playing some Crass songs, and more of his own at the Bottom Lounge.

SUNDAY
Arcade Fire, and The National will play their second of three Chicago shows at UIC Pavilion.

Joan As Police Woman, and Bone & Bell will share the bill over at Schubas.

Junip, and Acrylics will play their second Chicagoland area show in two nights, at SPACE.

Uh Huh Her, and Diamonds Under Fire will play the Double Door.

Cold War Kids @ Terminal 5 1/29/2010 (more by Bao Nguyen)

today in Chicago
* Diplo, Willy Joy @ The Mid
* Jonathan Richman @ Metro
* Cold War Kids, A Lull @ the Riv
* Richard Shindell @ SPACE (Early Show)
* Dick Prall, Rachele Eve @ SPACE (Late Show)
* Human Eye, Drugs Dragons, Birth @ Empty Bottle
* Suns, Bailiff, The Mutts, The Field Auxiliary @ Beat Kitchen
* Maps & Atlases, Light Pollution, Gypsyblood @ Lincoln Hall
* The Get Up Kids, Miniature Tigers, Brian Bonz @ Bottom Lounge
* Flogging Molly, Moneybrother, The Drowning Men @ Congress Theater
* Hüsker Düdes, Econoline, SSt DJs Bobby Burg & Matt Holland @ Hideout
* The Future Laureates, Kingsley Flood, How Far to Austin, Nelken @ Mayne Stage

What else?

The Get Up Kids @ Webster Hall 3/2/2011 (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Middle Brother

Alright Chicago, ahead of us is a weekend packed with amazing shows. This is the last weekend before SXSW, and it's almost overwhelming what we have going on in just three short nights.

FRIDAY NIGHT
We recently mentioned that The Get Up Kids were in town to play two shows this weekend. Friday night they'll be at the Bottom Lounge, and Saturday they'll play Lincoln Hall. Support on both dates comes from Miniature Tigers, and Brian Bonz.

Friday night at Lincoln Hall, is a really killer lineup of Maps & Atlases, Light Pollution, and Gypsyblood. All of the bands on the bill are Chicago based acts, who are not necessarily confined to just this city anymore.

Competing with those for your attention are singer/songwriter Jonathan Richman at Metro, and The Cold War Kids supported by local up-and-comers A Lull at the Riv.

SATURDAY NIGHT
Catch Obits at Empty Bottle along with Jaill, Loose Dudes, and The People's Temple.
Crystal Castles are playing at the Riv, along with Teen Girl Fantasy.
Middle Brother, Dawes, and Deer Tick are playing at Metro, and then we've also got The Get Up Kids for the second night in a row, this time at Lincoln Hall.

In the afternoon, Hideout is having a SXSW send off for a bunch of great Chicago based bands including: Chaperone, Rabble Rabble, and Joan of Arc.

SUNDAY NIGHT
Ice Cube will be headlining the Mid with support from Mikkey Halstead.