by Zach Pollack

John Cale // Zola Jesus at BCoPA on 9.21.2012

Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements kicked off on Friday night (9/21) at the Riverfront Theater. Zola Jesus began the night with a great opening set for former Velvet Underground member John Cale. Cale and his band performed 17-songs, a few of which were from his forthcoming album, Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood.

BCoPA continues; stay tuned for more coverage. More photos from Friday night (9/21) continue below...

Continue reading "Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements in pics: Night 1 --- (John Cale & Zola Jesus)"

The second-annual Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements festival is slated to take place from Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 23 at the Riverfront Theater. Unlike last year's festival, which went down in the nearby Eckhart Park, BCoPA 2012 features smaller, more classic songwriter-centric bills.

The fest kicks off on Friday (9/21) with a headlining performance from John Cale, with opener Zola Jesus. As mentioned, Cale's new record, Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood, hits stores on October 1 via Domino Records imprint Double Six. You've already heard the Danger Mouse-produced "Let Me Talk 2 U," and another track called "Face to the Sky." Look for him to preview material from his forthcoming album, and to perform songs from his expansive career. There's also a FREE, 10PM comedy show featuring Seaton Smith, the Puterbaugh Sisters, James Fritz, and Brandon Wetherbee.

On Saturday, September 22 you can catch Conor Oberst with opener and multifaceted legend Van Dyke Parks. As of late the 69-year old hasn't been up to too much, though his very lengthy (and still ongoing) career speaks for itself. As a composer, arranger, producer, and musician, Parks has worked with everyone from Frank Zappa to Joanna Newsom to Brian Wilson. He contributed lyrics to the Beach Boys' SMiLE, which finally saw its release in 2011. Also on Saturday: a 5PM matinee show from El Circo Cheapo, and another FREE late comedy show from Jon Benjamin (aka the voice of Sterling Archer on Archer), Drew Michael, Megan Gailey, and Brian Babylon.

BCoPA finishes off in a big way on Sunday (9/23) with a headlining set from Bobby Womack with Helado Negro, who has other shows this weekend. Booming soulman Bobby Womack's career slowed down in the late-90s/early 2000's, then, he resurfaced in 2010 with two killer guest spots on the Gorillaz' excellent Plastic Beach ("Stylo" and "Cloud of Unknowing"). His collaborations with Gorillaz mastermind Damen Albarn haven't stopped there. He was also featured on the Gorillaz' The Fall, and Albarn produced his 2012 LP, The Bravest Man in the Universe. Due to some health problems, Womack doesn't do very much touring. If he's on your live-show-bucket-list (I can't be the only one that has such a thing), this might be your only easy shot at it.

Tickets for ALL BCoPA shows are still available.

(via)

today in Chicago
* Xiu Xiu, Mister Lies @ Schubas
* Lightning Love, Wally Dogger, Jamaican Queens @ The Burlington
* Sanctified Grumblers, Bubbly Creek Bluegrass Band, Lawrence Peters Outfit @ City Winery
* Dblbbq, Plastic Crimewave Syndicate, Mimi Von Schnitzl, Flux Bikes @ Empty Bottle (Free Show)

Happy Labor Day!

Today's Sanctified Grumblers-headlined show at City Winery is part of the venue's first annual "Labor Day Bubbly Q."

Dblbbq is a new Chicago outfit comprised of members of CAVE, Great Society Mind Destroyers, and Jerusalem & the Starbaskets. They headline a FREE show at the Bottle tonight (no RSVP needed).

John Cale, who is set to perform at Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements later this month, has a new video for "Face To The Sky." Check it out below.

Follow @bvChicago on Twitter, "Like" us on Facebook.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday? (Labor Day)"

Founding member of The Velvet Underground and high-output solo artist/producer in his own rite John Cale is set to release his new LP, Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood, on October 1 via Domino imprint Double Six. Cale crafted the album at his LA studio, receiving help from Danger Mouse on the LP opener "Let Me Talk 2 U." The track was released today (7/9) as a digital single via iTunes. You can stream it at the bottom of this post and can also check out a trailer for the fantastically-titled album which features the song.

Information on a complete North American tour in support of the LP is forthcoming, but we do know that Cale will make his way to Chicago for a September 21 performance at Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements. Tickets for his show, which will be opened by Zola Jesus, and all others are still available.

All John Cale dates are listed below, along with a stream of his new single.

Continue reading "check out a new track from John Cale, who is playing Brilliant Corners"

Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements will make its return with a second incarnation of the fall festival, set to take place from September 21-23 at the Riverfront Theater, not far from where last year's fest went down in Eckhart Park.

The eclectic BCoPA music lineup includes John Cale, Bobby Womack, Conor Oberst, Zola Jesus, Van Dyke Parks, and Helado Negro with more acts TBA. There will also be free late-night comedy shows on Friday (9/21)(Seaton Smith, Drew Michael, Megan Gailey, Brandon Wetherbee) and Saturday (9/22)(Jon H. Benjamin, James Fritz, The Puerbaugh Sisters, Brian Babylon), and matinee performances by El Circo Cheapo on both Saturday and Sunday (9/23).

Single-day tickets go on sale on Tuesday (6/26) at noon CST.

Check out the current lineup-by-day below...

Continue reading "Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements 2012 (John Cale, Bobby Womack, Van Dyke Parks, Zola Jesus & more)"