Delta Spirit @ Metro, March 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

The annual Taste of Chicago Festival is set to take place from July 10-14 in Chicago's Grant Park this year. The initial music lineup features an opening night performance from fun. on July 10 at the Petrillo Music Shell, with openers Delta Spirit. There are more Petrillo shows to be announced, and tickets will go on sale sometime in May. As per usual, lawn seating is free. According to Greg Kot, there will also be a second stage at the South side of the festival. It'll feature Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials and The Congregation on July 12, Company of Thieves on July 13, and Kelly Hogan on July 14.

That's it for now. Stay tuned for more details on Taste of Chicago 2013.

Continue reading "Taste of Chicago 2013 - dates, initial lineup"

Delta Spirit, who just played Lollapalooza, will tour this fall in support of their eponymously-titled new album which came out back in March. (Stream it at Spotify.) The tour includes a stop at House of Blues on Nov 19. Tickets for the House of Blues show will go on presale tomorrow (8/9) through the band here and the regular on-sale will be Friday (8/10).

Video of Delta Spirit performing "California" at Lollapalooza and all tour dates are listed below.

Continue reading "Delta Spirit touring this fall, including House of Blues (dates)"

Delta Spirit @ Metro in March (more by James Richards IV)

When we said Lollapalooza-related after/side party announcements were beginning to pour in, we weren't yanking your chain. Here's another, presented by Conflict Of Interest/Taco Bell's Feed The Beat, that is set to take place on August 2 (the night before the fest begins) at the Double Door.

It features Delta Spirit (who play Lincoln Hall one night earlier), FIDLAR (who open for Delta Spirit at Lincoln Hall AND play Subterranean with JEFF the Brotherhood the following night), Royal Teeth & Ambassadors. The show is FREE (with RSVP) and attendance is subject to venue capacity; make sure you get there early.

Headed to Lollapalooza? Both Delta Spirit and FIDLAR play on Saturday, August 4.

FIDLAR also recently hit Chicago to play the Vic with The Hives.

Delta Spirit released their new, self-titled LP in March via Rounder. Stream the album in its entirety, and check out a poster for the show below...

Continue reading "Delta Spirit, FIDLAR, Royal Teeth & Ambassadors playing free show @ the Double Door"

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

As seen on BrooklynVegan, this year's Lolla lineup includes everthing hinted on the #LOLLA ads, and much more....

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2012 lineup announced (Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shins, Passion Pit, JC Brooks, much more)"

photos by James Richards IV, words by Shelby Shaw

Friday's sold-out show at Metro began with San Francisco band WATERS playing a set that can only be (positively) described as a show in your closest friend's living room on a rainy day (where is this weather coming from anyhow, Chicago?). Frontman Van Pierszalowski (formerly of Port O'Brien) led his clean-cut band through catchy songs from Out In The Light, the only album they've released so far.

Delta Spirit came on backed by an assembly of giant, homemade black triangles (deltas) covered in bulbs that lit up the stage behind them. They opened their 14-song set (plus 3-song encore) with "Empty House" which immediately got the packed venue in the right mood. They never introduced songs by name, but many knew the words to every song, and those who didn't found themselves quickly discovering the rhythm. The band held everyone's attention the whole night. The lit-up deltas alternated in luminosity and speed in relation to each song's tempo (although occasionally it seemed like whoever was in charge of lighting may have lost the rhythm for a second).

Frontman Matthew Vasquez, with his rockabilly hair lick, wooed the crowd with his twang and kind words. Before launching into "Tear It Up", complete with Brandon Young drum solo, Matt said he hates only coming to the Windy City twice a year. "This is bullshit! I want to be here all the time!" To score extra points with the already-pleased crowd he added, "And as a rule of thumb you guys are pretty good drunks."

"We haven't played this one in five years," Vasquez said before they played, to the crowd's excitement, "House Built For Two." The energy skyrocketed with the perfect pick-me-up of "Bushwick Blues." They dipped into a little Americana with a harmonica to start "St. Francis", and used a trashcan lid as an alternate drum on, of course, "Trashcan" during the encore.

The band never seemed tired, although it got a little more difficult to understand Vasquez's words by the end, and they never seemed to take the show's supportive audience for granted.

Catch them on their extensive ongoing tour and listen to the new self-titled album which is out now on Rounder Records.

Full setlist and more pictures from Metro below...

Continue reading "Delta Spirit & WATERS played Metro (pics, review, setlist)"

Daedelus @ BV SXSW 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

LA-based DJ/producer Daedelus has a few upcoming tour dates, which includes a performance at Chicago's The Mid on February 17th. Tickets are on sale now.

Black Milk @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Black Milk is set to headline Subterranean on March 9th, with support from Psalm One, Add-2, and Black on Black Rhyme. Tickets are on sale now.

Delta Spirit @ Lollapalooza 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

Delta Spirt have a new LP on the way and also have announced that they'll be heading out on tour this spring with WATERS. The two bands will hit Metro on March 23rd. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (1/14), at noon CST.

White Rabbits @ United Palace in 2010 (NYC) (more by Chris Gersbeck)

White Rabbits are set to release their third LP, Milk Famous, on March 6th via TBD Records. A full tour has been announced, which will reach Metro on April 8th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at noon CST.

Perfume Genius @ Knitting Factory in 2010 (BKLYN) (more by Chris Gersbeck)

Perfume Genius (aka Mike Hadreas) is gearing up for the release of his new LP, Put Your Back N 2 It, out February 20th via Matador Records. Catch him at Schubas on April 10th, as part of a full North American tour in support of the LP. Tickets go on sale this Friday (1/13), at noon CST.

Damien Jurado @ BV SXSW 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Damien Jurado and JBM are playing Schubas on May 16th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Death From Above 1979 @ Williamsburg Waterfront (more by Vincent Cornelli)

today in Chicago
* Delta Spirit, Reptar @ Lincoln Hall
* Cults, Guards, Riter @ Empty Bottle
* Death From Above 1979, Metz @ Metro
* Smith Westerns, Bare Mutants @ Schubas
* Crystal Castles, The Naked and Famous @ House of Blues
* Two Door Cinema Club (DJ Set), Team Bayside High, DJ Tankboy @ Beauty Bar
* The Joy Formidable, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Lord Huron, Little Hurricane @ Double Door

What else?