Night 1 Photos by James Richards IV, Night 2 Photos by Sara Pieper

Deer Tick at City Winery Chicago on 5.07.2013

Last week, Deer Tick came through Chicago for a two-night stand at the fancy City Winery Chicago. They were joined by extremely fitting local openers on both nights: Shiloh on Tuesday, May 7 and Twin Peaks on Wednesday, May 8. The band may have been sans drummer Dennis Ryan due to the passing of a relative of his, but they still managed to put on a pair of raucous performances. Were you there? If so, what did you think? Pictures and Deer Tick's setlists from both nights are in this post. More below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick played two nights at City Winery Chicago w/ openers Shiloh & Twin Peaks (pics, setlists from both nights)"

Shiloh

As discussed, Deer Tick are heading to Chicago for a two-night stand at City Winery next week - on Tuesday (5/7) and Wednesday (5/8). Advance tickets are still available, and you still have time to enter to win a pair of standing-room-only tickets to either show from us! Since last time we talked, local support has been announced for each night. Shiloh will open on the first night, and Twin Peaks will take the second.

If you haven't been keeping up with them, Shiloh released their whiskey-soaked second album, Mrs., back in February via Rhed Rholl Recordings. It's a bit of a change from 2011's All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers, when Shiloh was a seven-member band, but all the songwriting is still there as a "stripped-down" quintet. With the recent addition of a fifth member, keyboardist Will Wholesome, their country-rock anthems now have a bit more zing to them in the live setting. They're also planning a house show tour for late-May, which will include a hometown show on May 26. "Venues" are TBA shortly via the band's Facebook. They'll celebrate the completion of that house show tour with a headlining show at Beat Kitchen on May 31 with Departures. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are on sale now.

All known Shiloh tour dates and a stream of Mrs. + a couple of other tracks are below...

Continue reading "Shiloh & Twin Peaks opening for Deer Tick at City Winery Chicago (song streams)"

photos by Cory Dewald

Billy Bragg at City Winery Chicago on 4.13.2013

This past weekend, Billy Bragg came through Chicago on his current North American tour to play three shows at City Winery, one per night from Friday (4/12) through Sunday (4/14). The tour is in support of his new album, Tooth & Nail, which hit stores last month via Cooking Vinyl. Did you catch one or more of the three shows? If so, how was it? A set of pictures from Billy Bragg's 4/13 performance at CWC are in this post.

More of them can be found below, along with some video footage...

Continue reading "Billy Bragg played three shows at City Winery Chicago ----- (night 2 pics, videos)"

Deer Tick @ Brooklyn Bowl in December of 2012 (more by Tracy Allison)

Deer Tick, who are working on a follow-up to 2011's Divine Providence, will be embarking on a U.S. tour later this month. That tour includes a two-night stand at City Winery Chicago on May 7 & 8. Advance tickets (standing room and/or reserved seating) for both shows are on sale now, and we've also got a pair of standing room tickets for each night to give away!

All known Deer Tick tour dates, contest details, and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Deer Tick playing two nights at City Winery Chicago in May (win tix!)"

Calexico @ Osheaga 2012 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Calexico have announced a summer North American tour which surrounds their appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Wakarusa, Bonnaroo 2013, and other festivals. That tour includes a performance at City Winery Chicago on June 3. Tickets for the Chicago show are on presale now (the password is "CALEXICOCWC"), and will go on sale to the general public shortly.

All Calexico tour dates and the music video for "Splitter" from their 2012 LP Algiers are below...

Continue reading "Calexico playing City Winery Chicago on North American tour"

Billy Bragg @ SXSW 2010 (more by Tim Griffin)

Billy Bragg is set to release his first album in five-years, titled Tooth & Nail, on March 18 (UK)/March 19 (NA) via Cooking Vinyl. It'll be available on vinyl, CD, and limited edition CD/DVD with a 36-page booklet. You can download the album's alt-country lead single "Handyman Blues" via the singer-songwriter's website. Bragg and his band will be embarking on a North American tour in late-March in support of Tooth & Nail. That tour includes a two-night stand at City Winery Chicago on April 12 & 13 with Kim Churchill. Advance tickets for the Chicago shows are on sale now.

All known Billy Bragg tour dates and Tooth & Nail's tracklisting are below...

Continue reading "Billy Bragg releasing 'Tooth & Nail,' touring, playing two nights at City Winery Chicago"

Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Glasslands in Brooklyn in 2011 (more by David Andrako)

As seen on BrooklynVegan, Jessica Lea Mayfield begins the "Sibling Rivalry Tour" with her brother David tonight in Geneva, NY. That tour will finish off in their hometown of Kent, OH in mid-December. Jessica will also be heading to Chicago at the end of the month for a two-night stand at City Winery Chicago with Rhett Miller on December 29 & 30. Advance tickets for the 29th are still available and tickets for the 30th just went on sale.

All known Jessica Lea Mayfield tour dates and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Jessica Lea Mayfield is going on tour, playing two nights at City Winery Chicago with Rhett Miller"

Rhett Miller @ NYC's Webster Hall in October (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Old 97s frontman Rhett Miller has a handful of US solo shows scheduled from Novemeber - January. A stop at City Winery Chicago on December 29 is included in that run, and advance tickets are on sale. Rhett will also be playing at City Winery in NYC, and makes stops in Texas, Delaware, and West Virginia. His current 2012 // 2013 tour schedule can be found below.

Old 97s recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of their album Too Far to Care by touring it throughout North America. Their most recent album, The Grand Theatre, Volume Two, arrived in 2011 via New West Records. Rhett welcomed a new solo album this past June, titled The Dreamer, via his own Maximum Sunshine Records. Take a listen to his solo LP at the bottom of this post.

All Rhett Miller tour dates and a stream of The Dreamer are below...

Continue reading "Rhett Miller is going on tour, playing City Winery Chicago in December"

Matthew Friedberger wrapped up an ambitious eight-album project, titled Solos, earlier this year and is set to deliver yet another LP this fall. It's called Matricidal Sons of Bitches, boasts 45-tracks outlined in four-movements, and is due out on October 30 via Thrill Jockey. It was written and recorded in Paris, where he currently resides, and was inspired by the films of Poverty Row. You can read his lengthy explanation of the LP at Thrill Jockey's website. That's Matricidal Sons of Bitches' cover art above, and its daunting tracklist can be found below.

In October, Matthew will head out on a North American tour with his Thrill Jockey labelmates The Sea and Cake (who are also welcoming a new LP). That tour includes a Chicago show at City Winery on October 29. Advance tickets are still available.

All Matthew Friedberger dates and Matricidal Sons of Bitches' tracklist are below...

Continue reading "Matthew Friedberger releasing new LP, supporting The Sea and Cake on tour (City Winery performance included)"

My Brightest Diamond @ Castle Clinton in 2011 (NYC) (more by Amanda Hatfield)

My Brightest Diamond (aka Shara Worden) has a short fall tour schedule ahead of her. Shara's great backing band-- featuring the chamber ensemble yMusic and drummer Brian Wolfe-- will on board for some of the dates, and others will be solo performances. As mentioned, one of those solo performances will be at City Winery on October 6. Judson Claiborne will act as main support, and advance tickets are on sale.

Shara's most recent LP, All Things Will Unwind, hit stores in 2011 via Asthmatic Kitty. It's a fantastic album complete with lush string arrangements, blaring horns, little-to-no electric instruments, and powerful vocals. Take a listen to All Things Will Unwind in its entirety at the bottom of this post.

All MBD dates and a steam of All Things Will Unwind are below...

Continue reading "My Brightest Diamond playing City Winery (& other dates)"

Kaki King @ MoMA in 2011 (NYC) (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Guitar virtuosa Kaki King is working on a new album with producer D. James Goodwin, which will hit stores sometime this fall. In June, King said Goodwin was putting the final touches on the mixes for the LP, that features a sting quartet, bagpipes, and other surprises. The album is currently untitled and doesn't have an exact release date.

UPDATE: The LP is titled Glow and is due out on October 9 via Velour Music Group. Her tour has also now been announced in full; all dates are listed below.

Kaki will be supporting the album with a world tour. That tour hasn't been announced in full, but we do know that she'll be visiting City Winery for a performance on November 2. Advance tickets are on sale.

All known Kaki King dates and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Kaki King prepping new LP, playing City Winery in November"

Bettye LaVette @ Highline Ballroom in 2010 (NYC) (more by Jacob Blickenstaff)

As seen on BrooklynVegan, Bettye LaVette is celebrating the 50th anniversary of her music career with a new LP, called Thankful N' Thoughtful, due out on September 25 via Anti-, and an autobiography, A Woman Like Me, co-written by famed music biographer David Ritz due to hit stores on September 27 via Blue Rider Press/Penguin. The album was produced by Craig Street and features songs written and/or performed by Tom Waits, Neil Young, The Black Keys, The Pogues, and others. Check out LaVette's version of The Black Keys' "I'm Not The One," which appears on Thankful N' Thoughtful, at the bottom of this post. Thankful N' Thoughtful's tracklist and an album trailer are also below.

In celebration of her 50th anniversary and in support of her new LP and autobiography, Bettye LaVette will be heading out on a fall US tour. That tour begins in September and visits City Winery for a two-night stand on November 9 & 10 with Eilen Jewell. Advance tickets for both shows are on sale.

All dates, album info, and a stream of LaVette's Black Keys cover are below...

Continue reading "Bettye LaVette celebrating 50th anniversary w/ new album, book & tour, playing two nights at City Winery"

John Wesley Harding (left) @ City Winery NYC in 2011 (more by Chris Graham)

John Wesley Harding (aka Wesley Stace) is gearing up for a September US tour with Strawbs, who will be playing acoustic. That tour begins on September 5 in Vienna, VA and hits Chicago on September 18 for a show at City Winery (who are hosting their first official one tonight (8/15)). Advance tickets are on sale. Stace is somewhat of a regular at City Winery NYC-- with his Cabinet of Wonders variety shows-- so this will mostly likely be his first of many visits to the new Chicago venue.

Stace released his most recent record, The Sound of His Own Voice, in 2011 and gave his 1996 LP, John Wesley Harding's New Deal, its first-ever vinyl release last month via Yep Roc. You can stream The Sound of His Own Voice in its entirety at the bottom of this post.

All J.W.H. // Strawbs tour dates and a stream of The Sound of His Own Voice are below...

Continue reading "John Wesley Harding touring w/ Strawbs, playing City Winery"

Mavis Staples @ Austin City Limits in 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Mavis Staples is keeping busy. The Chicago singer has a number of upcoming tour dates, many of which are with Bonnie Raitt. Staples is slated to hit the road in early-August and will be touring throughout North America for about a month, with a few scattered shows thereafter. She'll play a pair of hometown dates after Thanksgiving, on November 23 & 24, at the new City Winery. Advance tickets are on sale, and Kelly Hogan will open both dates.

Staples headlined the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park in June. Were you there? How was it? Check out a video of Mavis and her band performing "You Are Not Alone" in Grant Park below.

All Mavis Staples dates are listed below, along with live footage of "You Are Not Alone."

Continue reading "Mavis Staples playing shows, including two at City Winery"

DOWNLOAD: The Sea and Cake - "Harps" (MP3)

The Sea and Cake @ the Empty Bottle in May (more by Grant MacAllister)

The Sea and Cake have announced the release of their 10th LP, Runner, due out on September 18 via their longtime label Thrill Jockey. Download the album's lead single "Harps" at the top of this post and/or stream it below. Runner's cover art and tracklist can also be found below.

In support of the LP, the Chicago outfit will be heading out on a North American tour this October. That tour includes a hometown show at the new City Winery (which opens next month) on October 29. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet, but check City Winery's calendar for updates.

Speaking of Thrill Jockey, the label are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year by reissuing albums and putting on special shows across the country. Among those reissues are The Sea and Cake's 1994 self-titled LP, The Biz, Oui, One Bedroom, Sam Prekop's 1999 self-titled LP, and his 2005 effort Who's Your New Professor. Take a look at their full list of reissues HERE. Stay tuned for a Chicago 20th anniversary show.

All Sea and Cake dates, a stream of their new single, and album info for Runner below...

Continue reading "The Sea and Cake releasing 'Runner' (MP3), touring, playing City Winery"

Patterson Hood @ the Congress w/ Drive-By Truckers (more by James Richards IV)

Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood is set to release his new solo LP, Heat Lightning Rumbles In The Distance, on September 11 via ATO Records. Take a listen to the album's lead single "Come Back Little Star," which features Kelly Hogan, at the bottom of this post.

Hood will be heading out on tour in support of Lightning Rumbles In The Distance in September, which reaches Chicago's new City Winery for a two-night stand on September 22 and 23. Advance tickets for both performances are on sale.

All Patterson Hood dates and stream of "Come Back Little Star" are below...

Continue reading "Patterson Hood releasing new solo LP (song stream), touring, playing 2 nights @ City Winery"

City Winery NYC (more by Ryan Barkan)

City Winery Chicago, located at 1200 W. Randolph St., will open its doors this August. The venue have put their brand new website live, which is now showing over 100-events through December 2012. If you happen to be a member (or are willing to sign up to be one right now), tickets for all shows are on sale. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 11.

Greg Kot reports:

"...City Winery Chicago, which is scheduled to open a 300-seat concert hall in the West Loop by late July, announced Monday that it has hired Colleen Miller as its program director. Miller, 47, has worked as the primary talent buyer at the Old Town School of Folk Music for the last 17 years, and previously booked and managed the Coronet Theatre in Evanston and co-owned Biddy Mulligan's.

"It's a classic case of going to New York and falling in love with the venue," Miller said of City Winery, which has been thriving in New York since 2008. The venue is expected to book 200 shows a year, including multi-night residencies by musicians and singer-songwriters spanning genres such as rock, folk and jazz.

Though the concert venue, part of a 30,000-square-foot restaurant-and-winery complex at 1200 West Randolph Street, will be competing with Old Town and other venues such as Lincoln Hall, Space in Evanston and the Park West for certain artists, Miller says Chicago is a vibrant concert town that will have no problem accommodating another well-run club...." [Chicago Tribune]