Bad Religion @ NYC's Irving Plaza, 2010 (more by Keith Marlowe)

Bad Religion are set to welcome their 16th album, True North, on January 22 via Epitaph, but you don't have to wait until the 22nd to hear it. True North is streaming in its entirety at YouTube, and you can take a listen to it at the bottom of this post. The melodious punks will be supporting True North with a North American tour featuring Against Me! and Polar Bear Club. That tour includes a performance at the Congress Theater on April 5. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (1/19) at noon CST. All tour dates are listed below.

All Bad Religion tour dates and a stream of True North are below...

Continue reading "Bad Religion streaming new LP, playing the Congress on tour with Against Me! (dates, stream)"

We've been talking New Year's Eve for quite some time, and since the world didn't end last week, all the great shows and parties we told you about are still happening.

Refresh your memory below...

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"The Screaming Eagle of Soul" himself, Charles Bradley, will be visiting Chicago for a two-night stand at Lincoln Hall on December 30 & 31. Advance tickets are still available for both shows, and though his New Year's Eve performance will cost you twice as much as the 30th, you'll receive complimentary drink tickets, appetizers, and a Daptone Records drop card for a free digital sampler.

Speaking of Lincoln Hall, their sister venue Schubas will be hosting Maps & Atlases on December 30 & 31. Gypsyblood will act as main support on the 30th, Santah will open the show on New Year's Eve, and advance tickets for both shows are still available. There's also a two-show pass for sale.

Screeching Weasel are celebrating their 27th anniversary with a two-night run at Reggie's on December 30th & 31st. Though Night 1 (with The Queers, The Manges, and Vatican Junkies) is sold out, advance tickets for Night 2 (with The Queers, The Manges, and They Stay Dead) are still available.

Local H are playing the Beat Kitchen on December 30 (with State & Madison) & 31 (with All Eyes West). Their NYE show is sold out, but tickets are still available for their 12/30 performance.

Tilly and the Wall are yet another act that will be playing two Chicago shows during New Year's Eve weekend. You'll be able to find them at Subterranean on December 30 (with California Wives) & 31 (with My Gold Mask and DJ CC Rider). Advance tickets for both shows are still available.

Butch Walker and Dick Prall are also playing two nights in Chicago. They'll appear at the Double Door on December 30 and at the Bottom Lounge on December 31. Both shows are sold out.

The Eternals will be performing "the Espiritu Zombi Suite," a piece written for a larger group-version of the band, at the Hideout on New Year's Eve. As discussed, core members Damon Locks, Wayne Montana, and Areif Sless-Kitain will be joined by six additional musicians on vibes, coronet, flute, saxophone, and more. Chandeliers will act as main support and will also play a DJ set around midnight. Advance tickets are still available.

"The Queen of Rockabilly," Wanda Jackson, will be headlining the Double Door on New Year's Eve. JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers, Burlesque le' Moustache, and Soul Summit DJs will open the show. Advance tickets are still available.

Alejandro Escovedo and his band The Sensitive Boys are set to play SPACE in Evanston, IL on New Year's Eve. Nicholas Tremulis will open the show, and advance tickets are still available.

Naked Raygun and The Dwarves are playing the Cobra Lounge on New Year's Eve. Though advance tickets are sold out, there may be a small amount available for purchase at the door.

Denton, TX's The Marked Men are playing the Empty Bottle on December 31 with Bad Sports and Terrible Twos (tickets). As discussed, Marked Men side project Mind Spiders are playing the Bottle on December 29 with The Novice and Dumpster Babies (tickets).

Speaking of the Empty Bottle, they're also presenting Mucca Pazza, White Mystery, and Jon Drake & the Shakes at the Logan Square Auditorium on New Year's Eve (tickets). They're also doing "New Year's Eve: Two Thousand Turnteen" with The Hood Internet, Moon Boots, Only Children, and DJ Esquire at Beauty Bar (tickets).

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound are set to play the final show of 2012 at Mayne Stage on December 31. Advance tickets for that show are still available.

The Airborne Toxic Event and On An On play Metro on New Year's Eve. Tickets are still available, and don't forget: Neurosis, Bloodiest, and The Atlas Moth play the venue on December 30 (tickets).

Magic Milk, Rabble Rabble, Vamos, Kodiak Farm Boys, The Electric Dollhouse Groove Buggy, Don't Forget Your Dinosaur, and The Sueves are ALL set to play Quenchers on New Year's Eve. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Outer Minds, The Hello Hello, and Absolutely Not will be performing at The Burlington on December 31.

South Loop dive bar Cal's are closing on New Year's Day. They'll be throwing a farewell // New Year's Eve show, featuring performances by Mercy Mercy, Demerits, and Larroquettes.

Hannibal Buress is playing three shows at Zanies on New Year's Eve. Advance tickets for his three NYE shows in Chicago are sold out, but the Zanies box office might be holding onto some.

Perhaps you're looking for something a bit more electronic? Porter Robinson is coming to Chicago for a two-night stand at the Congress on December 30 & 31. Hardwell and Deniz Koyu will act as main support on the 30th, and Mat Zo and The M Machine will open the show on the 31. Advance tickets for both nights are still available. Paul Oakenfold is also playing Castle Nightclub (tickets).

ALSO: You'll be able to ride the CTA from 10PM - 4AM on New Year's Eve for 1¢. For more information on how that works visit the CTA's website.

What did we miss?

Heading to Austin or New York? We also have a list of shows that are happening in both of those cities.

Happy (almost) New Year!

interior of the Congress during a recent Matt & Kim show (more by Chase Turner)

As troubles for the Congress Theater and owner Erineo "Eddie" Carranza continue, Jim DeRogatis reports that PNC Bank, the bank that holds the Congress' mortgage, have filed a lawsuit with U.S. District Court proclaiming that he has defaulted on a $4 Million Dollar loan and that they're taking the necessary steps to forclose on the venue. You can take a look at the entire 58-page lawsuit, which was filed on Wednesday, November 28, HERE. When reached via email this morning, Carranza's legal counsel Thomas Raines stated, "It's an insurance placement issue, it has nothing to do with non-payment on the loan." The bank have been seeking reimbursement since August of 2011 and haven't said a thing about any insurance.

Stay tuned for more information.

photos by Jimmy Farabi

Crystal Castles at Congress Theater on 11.02.2012

On Friday (11/2) Crystal Castles brought their tour with Kontravoid through Chicago for a performance at the Congress Theater. Chicago's Shuteye opened the show with a DJ set, and we've got more pictures of all three acts below. Crystal Castles' new album, Crystal Castles III (III), hits stores on November 12 via Casablanca/Fiction/Universal Republic. It's now streaming via Spotify and you can listen to it in its entirety at the bottom of this post. It's decidedly more chilled-out than their first two albums, but much like those records, it has got some high points where Alice Glass is screaming her face off.

More pictures from the 11/2 show at the Congress and a stream of (III) are below...

Continue reading "Crystal Castles played the Congress (pics); streaming new LP (listen here)"

Russian Circles @ Lincoln Hall in August (more by Zach Pollack)

Chicago's own Russian Circles are slated to head out on a North American tour supporting Coheed & Cambria and Between the Buried and Me in February. That tour includes a hometown show for RC, at the Congress Theater on February 9. Tickets for that show go on sale this Friday (11/9) at noon CST.

Russian Circles played their most recent Chicago show in August at Lincoln Hall. That show featured support from their Sargent House labelmate Chelsea Wolfe, who will be visiting Schubas in January as part of Tomorrow Never Knows 2013.

All Russian Circles // BTBAM // Coheed tour dates and a video from RC's recent Chicago show are below...

Continue reading "Russian Circles and Between the Buried and Me playing the Congress Theater with Coheed & Cambria"

Crystal Castles @ Hollywood Paladium earlier on tour (more by Wei Shi)

As mentioned, Crystal Castles are currently on tour with Kontravoid and will reach Chicago on Friday night (11/2) for a performance at the Congress Theater. Advance tickets for that show are still available, and we've also got a couple of pairs to give away! Details on how to enter to win can be found at the bottom of this post.

As you may already know, HEALTH were on that tour but had to drop off due to circumstances beyond their control. Chicago duo Shuteye have been added to the Congress Theater bill as DJs.

All Crystal Castles tour dates, contest details, and some song streams are below...

Continue reading "win tix to see Crystal Castles and Kontravoid at the Congress"

by Zach Pollack

The xx @ Congress Theater on 10.20.2012

On Saturday night (10/20) The xx brought their tour in support of Coexist through Chicago for a performance at the Congress Theater. John Talabot and 2:54 are along for the ride, and made for a great pair of warm-up acts. Jamie xx's beats were loud and pulsing, and Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim sounded great with their duel lead vocals and blissful guitar/bass tones. But it wasn't exactly an enthralling thing to witness live. All the same, many audience members seemed to enjoy the show just fine.

More pictures from the 10/20 Congess Theater show and The xx's setlist are below...

Continue reading "The xx, John Talabot & 2:54 played Congress Theater (pics)"

Nas @ Rock the Bells 2011 (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

Life Is Good for Nas. The rapper welcomed his 11th studio album, and first since his 2010 collaboration with Damien Marley, Distant Relatives, in July via Def Jam. Speaking of Nas collabs., he's also been working on an album with Common since 2011, called Nas.Com (pretty crafty title). Nas guested on Common's 2011 LP, The Dreamer/The Believer, in the form of a feature on the track "Ghetto Dreams." Stay tuned for more information on their new project.

Nas is continuing his good life streak with a fall US tour. That tour features support from Lauryn Hill on many of its dates, including the Chicago show at the Congress Theater on November 14. Tickets for that show go on sale this Friday (9/21) at 10AM CST.

All Nas tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Nas touring with Lauryn Hill, playing the Congress Theater"

Amon Tobin @ Rock Werchter 2012 (more by Tim Griffin)

Amon Tobin was scheduled to hit Chicago for a two-night stand at the Congress Theater on Friday (9/7) and Saturday (9/8). The Friday night show-- which featured an opening set from tourmate Holy Other, and would have been his Chicago debut-- has been canceled. Tobin WILL be performing at the Congress on Saturday night (tickets).

Holy Other dropped his fantastic debut LP, Held, last week via Tri Angle Records. If you haven't heard it yet, the album is streaming on Spotify.

An updated list of Amon Tobin / Holy Other dates is below...

Continue reading "Amon Tobin cancels one of his two Congress Theater shows (the one w/ Holy Other)"

2:54 @ Bar 96 in Austin, TX (BV-SXSW 2012) (more by Tim Griffin)

UK group 2:54 will be supporting The xx on a number of their North American tour dates. Their run with trio-- whose new album, Coexist, is due out on September 11 via Young Turks-- begins in Hollywood, CA on October 12 and includes an opening set at The xx's Chicago show, at the Congress Theater on October 20. Tickets are still available.

All 2:54 dates and their video for the song "Sugar" off of their debut LP are below...

Continue reading "2:54 opening for The xx at Congress Theater"

As mentioned, Riot Fest is taking place in Humboldt Park and at the Congress Theater, who host the opening night, from September 14-16. Two-day passes and single-day tickets are still available. (Avoid service charges by purchasing passes at The Music Garage and/or The Alley).

They've also just announced a few festival aftershows. Here's a full list of them:

Friday, September 14
Alkaline Trio, Brendan Kelly @ Empty Bottle
Naked Raygun, Dan Vapid & The Cheats @ Subterranean
Frank Turner @ Cobra Lounge

Saturday, September 15
NOFX, The Casualties, The Adicts, The Dickies @ Congress Theater
Fishbone @ Cobra Lounge

Full festival lineup-by-day is below...

Continue reading "Riot Fest 2012 announce aftershows (on sale now)"

Justice @ Lollapalooza 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

Justice released their New Lands EP in June and have since toured the summer festival circuit including Rock Werchter, Osheaga, and Lollapalooza (as pictured above). The French duo are set to return to return to North America for a string of October tour dates, and have just added a Chicago show-- at the Congress Theater on October 24-- to their schedule. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (8/18) at 10AM CST.

All known 2012 tour dates and the duo's 80s-influenced video for "New Lands" are below...

Continue reading "Justice add Congress Theater show to fall tour"

The Weeknd @ Music Hall of Williamsburg in April (BKLYN) (more by Bao Nguyen)

In-demand R&B singer The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye), who performed at Lollapalooza earlier this month, is beginning to announce a fall North American run. After a couple of September tour dates with Florence & the Machine (they also play a few more in October together), Abel and co. will visit Chicago on September 21 for a performance at the Congress Theater. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (8/18) at 10AM CST.

All known Weeknd dates and a stream of his Echoes Of Silence mixtape are below...

Continue reading "The Weeknd touring, headlining the Congress Theater"

Miike Snow @ Terminal 5 in April (NYC) (more by Joe McCabe)

Miike Snow, who were recently in Chicago to play Lollapalooza, have tacked on a string of October dates to their international tour schedule. One of those new dates is a performance at the Congress Theater on October 17. Tickets go on sale this Friday (8/17) at 10AM CST. Their October run also includes a stop at the previously announced Moogfest 2012 in Asheville, NC.

All Miike Snow dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Miike Snow playing Congress Theater in October"

Matt & Kim @ Terminal 5 in 2011 (NYC) (more by Diana Wong)

Impossibly perky Brooklyn-based duo Matt & Kim are gearing up for the release of their new LP, Lightning, due out on October 2 via Fader. Take a listen to the album's bubbly lead single "Let's Go" at the bottom of this post.

The high-spirited pair will support Lightning with a large fall North American tour. That tour will make its oh-so-merry way to Chicago's Congress Theater for a show on November 10. Tickets go on sale this Friday (8/3) at 10AM CST.

All Matt & Kim dates and a stream of their new single are below...

Continue reading "Matt & Kim releasing 'Lightning,' touring, playing the Congress"

photos by Carmelo Espanola

Refused @ the Congress Theater on 7/26/2012

On Thursday night (7/26) Refused visited Chicago's Congress Theater to play their first area show since 1996 (at the very tiny Fireside Bowl). The Swedish quintet played most of their 1998 album The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombination in 12 Bursts and also touched on their sophomore effort Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent. OFF! joined the group for a string of North American dates earlier this month, which included last week's Chicago show. After playing their opening set, OFF! frontman Keith Morris took the stage with Refused to partake in a pair of Black Flag covers -- "Police Story" and "Nervous Breakdown." Though both bands played top-notch sets, I couldn't help but to wonder what the show would have sounded like elsewhere. The sound seemed to lack the necessary bass frequencies, which left both groups sounding slightly flat in the lofty venue.

More pictures from the Congress Theater show continue below, along with Refused's setlist and some videos.

Continue reading "Refused, OFF! played the Congress Theater (pics/setlist/video)"

DOWNLOAD: Crystal Castles - "Plague" (MP3)

Crystal Castles @ Lollapalooza 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

Crystal Castles are set to release the follow-up to 2010's Crystal Castles II in late-September via Universal Republic/Casablanca, and will be heading out on a North American tour with HEALTH and Kontravoid that month. The first taste of their new album, a track called "Plague," surfaced yesterday and you can download it at the top of this post and/or stream it below. That fall tour includes a stop at the Congress Theater on November 2. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (7/28) at 10AM CST.

All Crystal Castles dates and a couple of song streams are below...

Continue reading "Crystal Castles ready new LP, touring w/ HEALTH & Kontravoid, playing Congress Theater"

exterior of the Congress Theater in December of 2011 (more by Matt Ziegler)

According to a press release sent out earlier this week, the Congress Theater is scheduled to go under the knife for extensive renovations this fall. This includes getting up to code in regards to the current mechanical and electrical standards, adding retail spaces and more studio apartments for rental, and improving the cosmetic appearance of the venue.

In order to make this all happen they've partnered with Doejo, a Chicago-based agency startup, who will be spearheading the operation. Congress owner Eddie Carranza stressed, "I don't want this building to be a cookie-cutter franchise-type building. I want to give it its own character, this isn't a strip mall, this is Logan Square. We want to grow that indie spirit not break it up with a bunch of franchises. I'd like the Congress to be a great community center in Logan Square of diverse, independent boutique businesses--we're looking for entrepreneurs with great ideas to invest in and grow with our space."

Reunited Swedish post-hardcore outfit Refused play the venue on Thursday night (7/26) with OFF!.

Read the entire Congress Theater press release below...

Continue reading "Congress Theater talk renovations"

A$AP Rocky @ Pitchfork Festival 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

A$AP Rocky and the A$AP Mob are slated to head out on the LongLiveA$AP tour in late-September, which features Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q. All three acts hit Chicago earlier this month to perform at the 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival. That tour will reach Chicago on October 11 for a show at the Congress Theater. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet, but check Ticketfly for updates.

In related news, Rocky was arrested in NYC last week after a brawl with some photographers, which caused him to miss his scheduled performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Brawls are kind of his thing.

All LongLiveA$AP dates are listed below...

Continue reading "A$AP Rocky touring w/ Danny Brown & Schoolboy Q, playing the Congress Theater"

Kendrick Lamar @ Pitchfork Fest 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

Kendrick Lamar, who was here last weekend to play the Pitchfork Festival, is set to release a new LP, titled good kid, m.A.A.d. city, on October 2 via Interscope/Aftermath/Top Dawg (his major label debut). Much like his set at Pitchfork Fest, BV points out (via an interview that Lamar did with HipHopDX) that the LP will feature little to no guests. Take a listen to its lead single "Swimming Pools (Drank)" at the bottom of this post.

Kendrick will embark on a September/October U.S. tour in support of the album. He'll kick things off in Norfolk, VA and make his way to Chicago on September 23 for a show at the Congress Theater. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet, but check Ticketfly for updates. Kendrick (and his fellow Black Hippy member Schoolboy Q) will return to the area much sooner than that though, for a show at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater on July 27 supporting Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller (who is being sued).

All Kendrick Lamar dates and a stream of his new single/a video of him performing it at Pitchfork Fest below...

Continue reading "Kendrick Lamar releasing 'good kid, m.A.A.d. city' (song stream), touring, playing Congress Theater"

The xx have shared the first taste of their new album, Coexist, due out on September 11. The lead single/album opener is called "Angels" and you can stream it at the bottom of this post. If you preorder Coexist, you'll get an immediate download of the track. That's Coexist's cover art at the top of this post and you'll find its tracklist below.

The group have announced a fall North American tour, which begins in early-October in Canada. They'll make their way to Chicago for an October 20 performance at the Congress Theater. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (7/21) at 10AM CST.

All xx dates are listed below, along with a stream of "Angels" and Coexist's tracklist.

Continue reading "The xx have a new song and tour, playing Congress Theater"

UK artist Holy Other is releasing his debut album, Held, on August 28 via Tri Angle and will be making his US live debut shortly after its release. He will be acting as main support for Amon Tobin's ISAM live. That tour hits the Congress Theatre on September 7 & 8. Holy Other will only be playing on the 7th (tickets) due to his inclusion on the lineup of Warm Up at MoMA PS1 in New York with Thom Yorke's Atoms for Peace (DJ set), Rustie, Maria Minerva, and Justin Strauss.

Held's lead track, "Love Some1," can be streamed at the bottom of this post. It features murky bass, chopped vocal samples, and enveloping synth lines.

All Holy Other dates are listed below, along with a stream of "Love Some1."

Continue reading "Holy Other playing the Congress Theater w/ Amon Tobin"

Lollapalooza 2012 has revealed the full schedule for their 3-day festival, set to take place from August 3-5 in Grant Park. Check it out HERE.

A bunch of official aftershows have also been announced, happening from August 1-5. Here's a number of them (more TBA, including unofficial shows):

August 1
Alabama Shakes, First Aid Kit, Dry The River, Filligar @ Metro
Delta Spirit, FIDLAR @ Lincoln Hall

August 2
Passion Pit, GIVERS, Kishi Bashi @ House of Blues
Kids These Days, Overdoz @ Schubas
Dr. Dog, Kevin Devine, The Dunwells @ Lincoln Hall
Zedd, Gus K, DJ Gordo, DJ Torio @ The Mid

August 3
Bear in Heaven, YAWN @ the Empty Bottle
NERO (DJ Set), Die Antwoord, Anamanaguchi @ Congress Theater
Frank Ocean @ Metro
tUnE-yArDs, Washed Out @ House of Blues
The Black Angels, Night Beats @ Double Door
The War on Drugs, Milo Greene @ Schubas
Blind Pilot, Kopecky Family Band @ Lincoln Hall
Porter Robinson, Madeon @ The Mid
The Growlers, JEFF the Brotherhood @ Subterranean
Paper Diamond, Minnesota @ Bottom Lounge

August 4
White Rabbits, Dum Dum Girls, Oberhofer @ Cubby Bear
Doomtree, Naledge of Kidz In The Hall @ the Empty Bottle
Zeds Dead, Big Gigantic, Midnight Conspiracy, Big Chocolate @ Congress Theater
The Afghan Whigs @ Metro
Of Monsters & Men, Yellow Ostrich @ House of Blues
Trampled By Turtles, The Devil Makes Three @ Double Door
Childish Gambino @ the Vic
The Temper Trap, Poliça @ Park West
Gary Clark Jr., LP @ Schubas
Twin Shadow @ Lincoln Hall
Calvin Harris, Nathan Scott @ The Mid
The Big Pink @ Subterranean
Bombay Bicycle Club, Hey Rosetta! @ Bottom Lounge

August 5
Chairlift w/ Alt-J @ the Empty Bottle
The Walkmen @ Lincoln Hall

Gojira in the studio

French metal band Gojira are set to release their fifth LP, L'Enfant Sauvage, on June 26 via their new label Roadrunner Records. L'Enfant Sauvage, French for "The Wild Child," serves as their long-awaited follow-up to 2008's The Way of All Flesh, and was co-produced/engineered by Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier and Josh Wilbur (who was behind the boards for Lamb of God's Wrath and Resolution). Stream the album's title track at the bottom of this post and check out its visual accompaniment at BrooklynVegan.

Gojira are currently touring throughout Europe on their own, and will head to the states in August to begin a US tour with Dethklok and Lamb of God. The three acts will hit Chicago on August 21 for a performance at The Congress Theater. Advance tickets are on sale.

All Gojira tour dates are listed below, alongside a stream of "L'Enfant Sauvage."

Continue reading "Gojira releasing 'L'Enfant Sauvage,' playing Congress Theater on tour w/ Dethklok & Lamb of God (dates)"

Riot Fest Chicago 2012 is set to take place in Humboldt Park from September 14-16.

They've just announced their initial lineup of Rise Against, Iggy & the Stooges, The Offspring, Elvis Costello, A Day To Remember, Coheed and Cambria, Gogol Bordello, Descendents, Dropkick Murphys, NOFX, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Gaslight Anthem, Alkaline Trio, Slapstick, Awolnation, The Promise Ring, Chiodos, GWAR, August Burns Red, Frank Turner, Built To Spill, Reverend Horton Heat, Fishbone, No Bunny, A Wilhelm Scream, Screaming Females, Teenage Bottlerocket, Off With Their Heads, Sister Crayon, Deals Gone Bad, White Mystery, Larry and His Flask, The Story So Far, and Japanther. Two and three-day passes are on sale NOW.

Current lineup below...

Continue reading "Riot Fest Chicago 2012 - initial lineup & tix (Iggy & the Stooges, Elvis Costello, The Offspring, Descendents, Gogol Bordello, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Promise Ring & more)"