photos by James Richards IV

Cold War Kids at Metro on 4.06.2013

On Saturday night (4/6), Los Angeles-based indie rockers Cold War Kids brought their tour through Chicago for a sold-out show at Metro with Houses. The band leaned heavily on their recently released album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, but still made sure to perform fan-favorites like "Hang Me Up To Dry" and "Hospital Beds." Were you there? If so, what did you think? A set of pictures from their 4/6 show at Metro are in this post. More of them can be found below, along with their full setlist...

Continue reading "Cold War Kids & Houses played Metro (pics, setlist)"

Baths @ Pitchfork Festival 2011 (more by Dominic Mastrangelo)

Baths (aka Los Angeles-based producer Will Wiesenfeld) is set to release his new album, Obsidian, on May 28 via Anticon. You can check out the LP's lead single, called "Miasma Sky," at the bottom of this post. It's a synth-y track with a super catchy hook, sung by the producer himself. Obsidian's cover art and tracklisting can also be found below.

After some April dates with The Postal Service, Wiesenfeld will be embarking on a North American tour of his own in late-May. That tour includes a performance at Metro on June 7 with support from Houses and fellow Anticon artist D33J. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Friday (3/22) at noon CST.

All Baths tour dates, a stream of "Miasma Sky," and album info. for Obsidian are below...

Continue reading "Baths playing Metro, releasing 'Obsidian' (song stream)"

photos by Chris Hershman, words by Claire O'Connor

Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon walked on stage last Tuesday night (11/22) at Lincoln Hall flanked by two dimly lit lamps perched atop a couple of bar stools. The sold out show was simple. With just his keyboards and synthesizers, Powers opened the set with dreamy piano pop song "July", triggering all of his beats with a foot peddle. Longtime pal Logan Hyde on guitar helped fill in Youth Lagoon's massive wall-o-dream sound and made it sound like there were a lot more than two people on the stage. "Cannons" inspired a heartfelt sing-along while songs like "Montana" and "Seventeen" brought the crowd into Trevor's head. Trevor thanked us between songs and gave back a bit of the love that the large audience was giving him.

Houses opened up the night with songs off of their 2010 release All Night. Young Magic (Carpark Records) followed with a visually stimulating set. Adorned with "Planet Earth-like" visuals on a giant backdrop screen and a two-person backing band, Isaac Emmanuel and co. delivered a great show. "You With Air" off of the EP You With Air contained haunting harmonies, while songs like "Sparkly" and "Slip Time" created an almost R&B vibe to Young Magic's otherwise worldly afro-beat, synthed out, Yeasayer-like sounds.

More pictures from the Lincoln Hall show (though none of Houses), below..

Continue reading "Youth Lagoon, Young Magic & Houses @ Lincoln Hall (pics)"

Youth Lagoon in NYC earlier on tour (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Youth Lagoon and Young Magic are currently touring their way to Chicago, for a sold out performance at Lincoln Hall tomorrow night (11/22). Local band Houses will open.

Youth Lagoon played their last Chicago show at the Empty Bottle in October. This time around, they were booked at Schubas, and promptly moved to Lincoln Hall after selling it out (which they did at the larger venue as well). Earlier on tour in LA, before their show at the Echo, the duo played an in-store at Origami Vinyl.

A video of their LA in-store, along with all 2011/12 tour dates is below..

Continue reading "Youth Lagoon played Origami Vinyl in LA (video), playing Lincoln Hall w/ Young Magic tomorrow night"

oOoOO with Butterclock @ PS1 Warm Up (more by Erez Avissar)

today in Chicago
* Block Party @ Cobra Lounge
* Braid, All Eyes West, Fires @ Metro
* Hollows, Radar Eyes, Runnies @ Hideout
* Lost in the Trees, Thin Hymns @ Lincoln Hall
* Houses, Pet Lions, Prussia @ Schubas (Late Show)
* Release The Sunbird, The Glory Singers @ Schubas (Early Show)
* oOoOO with Butterclock, Glitter Bones, Supreme Cuts @ Empty Bottle
* Blah Blah Blah, Sidewalk Chalk, Buckman Page, Magic Milk, The Queue @ Double Door

Hurricane Irene is wreaking havoc on live music, on the East Coast. Note all show cancelations on BrooklynVegan.

What else?

!!! @ Sasquatch 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

FRIDAY
!!!, Yourself And The Air, and Clique Talk are playing the Bottom Lounge.

The War on Drugs, Caveman, and Tammar can be found at Schubas.

Great Lake Swimmers, Snowblink, and The Lumineers are playing SPACE.

Questlove will play a DJ Set at The Mid.

Ghostland Observatory are playing Metro.

SATURDAY
oOoOO with Butterclock, Glitter Bones, and Supreme Cuts will play Empty Bottle.

Braid, All Eyes West, and Fires will play Metro.

Zach Rogue (of Rogue Wave)'s new project Release The Sunbird will play an early show at Schubas, with support from The Glory Singers.

Hollows, Radar Eyes, and Runnies will play Hideout.

Houses, Pet Lions, and Prussia will play a late show at Schubas.

Cobra Lounge are hosting a 3PM - 3AM blockparty, flyer below.

SUNDAY
Peter Bjorn & John will play their 3rd recent Chicago show at Schubas, with support from Bone & Bell.

Continue reading "Weekend Show Roundup (8/26 - 8/28)"