Marnie Stern @ BV-SXSW 2013 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

LA festival FYF Fest recently announced their amazing lineup of bands including My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TVOTR, MGMT, Beach House, Solange, FLAG, Deerhunter, and many, many more. Tickets go on sale today, Thursday, 5/16, at noon California time.

Speaking of Deerhunter, we now know who will open their previously mentioned September 10 show at Metro. It's Marnie Stern! She'll hit the road in September for a string of dates with Bradford and crew, Chicago included. Tickets for that show are are on sale now.

Check out pictures and a review of Marnie's show last month at Empty Bottle. Tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern opening for Deerhunter; FYF Fest on sale"

words by Ben Wilkes

Marnie Stern at the Empty Bottle on 4.17.2013 (via)

Marnie Stern hopped up to the mic on Wednesday night (4/17) with hot pink pants on and a Jazzmaster in hand to inform a packed, soggy floor at the Empty Bottle that, "Joe Wong [Stern's touring drummer, also of Parts & Labor] drank a beer, had a coffee, and smoked some weed before this set. I'm excited. We might get to see his penis. I never have." Wong indeed proved an invaluable asset to the set, matching the frantic nature of Stern's guitar style with impressive fills and wild beats; not to mention providing the shirtless body to inspire Stern's consistent encouragement that everyone take their clothes off.

In this sort of environment, it was hard not to have fun. It may be true that Chicago never
dances, but surveying the crowd brought sightings of numerous analytical faces deep in thought about Stern's influences and several drunks nodding their heads ferociously to finger tapped loops. The point being that Stern owned the room, earning the crowd's respect with her guitar neck prowess, and their affection with her comedy. Stern related such anecdotes as, "I don't want to be made fun of when I'm taking a poop," and "No penises have gotten into my vagina for so long, I feel like there's nothing left."

The band played a pleasantly short set of songs off Stern's fantastic new album, The
Chronicles of Marnia, and reproduced them quite precisely. They had a full and powerful sound to match Stern's eccentric anthems, despite being a three-piece - Marnie plays both rhythm and lead guitar parts. Though Stern's voice isn't the most traditionally pretty, in a live setting, her experimental vocals play to her strengths - and her impersonation of Rodney Dangerfield was spot on.

Baltimore's Roomrunner is on tour with Stern this April and played some tracks off their upcoming debut full-length, Ideal Cities, which is due out on May 14th via Fan Death. They made up for technical difficulties and a late start by making humble jokes like "we buy all our equipment off eBay" and playing the perfect set length for an opener. Their angular, dissonant rock is punk as hell, even though their lead singer's failed attempt to break his guitar during the last-song-noise-freak-out was not.

Locals Mayor Daley opened the show, and you can check out some video footage of Marnie Stern and Roomrunner's sets below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern, Roomrunner & Mayor Daley played Empty Bottle (review, videos)"

Marnie Stern @ BV-SXSW 2013 (more by Sarah Frankie Linder)

today in Chicago
* The Black Crowes @ the Vic
* Amy Lavere @ Red Line Tap
* Leagues, Tall Walker @ Schubas
* Shuggie Otis, Jesca Hoop @ Lincoln Hall
* Dr. John @ SPACE (Early & Late Shows)
* Chandeliers, Architecture @ The Burlington
* Lil Tits, The Wet, Lezurrection @ Wally World
* Beardyman, My Boy Elroy, Tony Trimm @ The Mid
* Marnie Stern, Roomrunner, Mayor Daley @ Empty Bottle
* Suicidal Tendencies, D.R.I., Wake The Dead @ House of Blues
* Reagan Youth, Dust Angel, Silver Abuse, The Mons @ Ultra Lounge
* Graham Parker and The Rumour, Danny Black @ City Winery Chicago

We're co-presenting Marnie Stern, Roomrunner, and Mayor Daley at the Empty Bottle tonight.

Leagues and Tall Walker play Schubas.

Beardyman headlines The Mid.

Shuggie Otis plays his second of two shows at Lincoln Hall.

Low have a new video for "Just Make It Stop" from their Jeff Tweedy-produced LP, The Invisible Way. Check it out below.

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

Follow bvChicago on Instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Esben and the Witch @ Knitting Factory last week (more by Amanda Hatfield)

today in Chicago
* The View, Many Places @ Schubas
* Timecop, Wild Animalz @ The Burlington
* Bobby Conn, Monica Bou Bou @ Hideout
* Esben And The Witch, Heliotropes, Airiel @ Empty Bottle
* Bad Side, Scoundrel, Bed Sores, Medicine Man @ Albion House
* Kim Gordon, White/Light @ Museum of Contemporary Art (Free Show)

Scotland's The View play Schubas tonight with Many Places.

Esben and the Witch, Heliotropes, and Airiel play the Empty Bottle.

Philly's Bad Side play the Albion House with Scoundrel, Bed Sores, and Medicine Man.

Kim Gordon plays a free show at the MCA with White/Light.

Marnie Stern has a great new video for "Immortals." Check it out below, and you can still enter to win tickets to her show at the Empty Bottle on April 17.

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

Follow bvChicago on Instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Marnie Stern @ BV-CMJ 2010 (more by Andrew St. Clair)

As discussed, guitar heroine Marnie Stern is gearing up for the release of her album, The Chronicles of Marnia, which is due out on March 19 via Kill Rock Stars. You've already heard "Year of the Glad," "East Side Glory," and "Nothing is Easy" from the LP, and NPR are now offering a complete stream. Though her virtuosic style is still present, The Chronicles... sees Marnie really honing in on her songwriting.

Marnie and co. will visit Chicago on their North American tour with Roomrunner for a BV Chicago-presented show at the Empty Bottle on April 17 with openers Mayor Daley. Advance tickets are still available, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away! Details on how to enter to win can be found at the bottom of this post.

All Marnie Stern tour dates, contest details, and a few song streams from her new LP are below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern streaming new LP; win tickets to her show at the Empty Bottle with Roomrunner & Mayor Daley"

Tickets for Screaming Females' April 11 show at Subterranean go on sale this Saturday (2/16) at 10AM CST.

Tickets for Marnie Stern's BV Chicago-presented April 17 show at the Empty Bottle are on sale now.

Tickets for Tera Melos' April 26 show at Subterranean go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Purity Ring's May 3 show at Metro go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Generationals' May 4 show at Lincoln Hall go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Kurt Vile's May 14 show at Lincoln Hall go on sale this Friday at noon CST.

Tickets for Youth Lagoon's May 15 show at Metro go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Foals' May 18 show at the Vic go on sale this Friday at 10AM.

Tickets for Of Monsters & Men's May 22 show at Aragon Ballroom go on sale this Saturday at 10AM

Tickets for Die Kreuzen's May 25 show at the Double Door go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Bolt Thrower's June 1 show at Reggie's go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Man or Astro-Man?'s June 14 & 15 shows at the Empty Bottle go on sale this Friday at 10AM.

Marnie Stern @ Panchos in 2011 (more by John Yingling)

As seen on BrooklynVegan, Marnie Stern is gearing up for the release of her new album, The Chronicles of Marnia, which is due out on March 19 via Kill Rock Stars. ...Marnia is her first without usual skin basher Zach Hill (who's a little busy with his band Death Grips), and instead features the equally bombastic Kid Millions (of Oneida) on percussion. So far, she has revealed two album tracks, called "Year of the Glad" and "East Side Glory," both of which seem to be centered around songwriting rather than guitar heroics. Although that's true, Stern's output hasn't gotten any less bonkers. Take a listen to both of her new songs at the bottom of this post.

Marnie will be touring in support of her hilariously-titled forthcoming LP this spring. That tour hasn't been announced in full, but we're proud to be presenting her Chicago show at the Empty Bottle on April 17 with Roomrunner and Mayor Daley. Tickets go on sale TODAY (2/11) at noon CST.

All known Marnie Stern tour dates and a couple of streams from ...Marnia are below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern playing the Empty Bottle with Roomrunner & Mayor Daley (BV Chicago presents)"

words & photos by John Yingling

Before her sold out show opening for the Flaming Lips at the Aragon, Marnie Stern hosted a guitar clinic at a small Latin American restaurant named Panchos. Marnie brought her full band with her, and they played a few songs before demonstrating each. She worked one on one with everyone more than once, signed people's guitars, and talked with the lucky few who attended. A unique event, that ended up being really fun for everyone involved. [John Yingling]

You can view more pictures of Marnie's guitar clinic below..

Continue reading "Marnie Stern hosted a guitar clinic @ Panchos (pics)"

photos by Josh Darr

Wayne Coyne beginning to mutate on stage..

The Flaming Lips were camped out at Aragon Ballroom this past Thursday (7/7), and Friday (7/8) with support from Marnie Stern.

They played their 1999 LP The Soft Bulletin in its entirety (in order too), only leaving out the UK bonus track "Slow Motion."

BV Chicago's Josh Darr was in attendance on Thursday night, camera in tow.
You can view more of his pictures (like the one above), and the Lips' setlist below..

Continue reading "The Flaming Lips & Marnie Stern played Aragon Ballroom (Night 1 pics & setlist)"

Archers of Loaf @ Webster Hall (more by Chris Gersbeck)

today in Chicago
* Chip Tha Ripper @ Metro
* Mark Kozelek @ Lincoln Hall
* Dave Matthews Band 'Caravan' (Day 1)
* YOB, Dark Castle, Indian @ Subterranean
* The Wooden Birds, Roommate @ Hideout
* Local H, No Joy, Planetsexploder @ Empty Bottle
* Archers of Loaf, Blank Banker @ Bottom Lounge (Night 1)
* The Flaming Lips, Marnie Stern @ Aragon Ballroom (Night 2)
* The Lonliest Monk, Stephen Paul Smoker, Flying Cars @ Reggie's

What else?

the Flaming Lips @ Sasquatch Festival 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

Archers of Loaf @ Webster Hall on 6/26 (more by Chris Gersbeck)

FRIDAY
The Flaming Lips, and Marnie Stern will play a second night at Aragon Ballroom. Marnie also hosts a guitar clinic earlier in the day.

Archers of Loaf begin their two night run at the Bottom Lounge.

Local H, No Joy, and Planetsexploder will play Empty Bottle.

The Wooden Birds, and Roommate will play Hideout.

Mark Kozelek will play Lincoln Hall.

Chip Tha Ripper will play Metro.

Reggie's will host The Loneliest Monk's record release for their new 7", featuring special guests: Stephen Paul Smoker, and Flying Cars.

YOB, Dark Castle, and Indian will play Subterranean.

The Dave Matthews Band 'Caravan' starts today.

SATURDAY
West Fest kicks off today.

Liturgy, and Dope Body will play Empty Bottle.

The Bronx will play Subterranean.

Jerry Lee Lewis will play the Congress Theater.

SUNDAY
Ladybug Transistor, Tammar, and Tiny Fireflies will play Schubas.

Wild Nothing, and Ducktails will play Subterranean.

Tinariwen @ Central Park Summerstage in 2010 (more by Andrew Frisicano)

today in Chicago
* Tinariwen, Afro-Zep @ Lincoln Hall
* The Spares, Josh Moshier, Mike Lebrun @ SPACE
* Flaming Lips, Marnie Stern @ Aragon Ballroom (Night 1)

Check out the Arctic Monkeys' video for the Suck It And See track, "The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala" below.

Check out Warpaint's new video for well.."Warpaint" below as well.

The War On Drugs have a new video for "Baby Missiles". Watch it after the jump. Download the MP3 of the track here.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Marnie Stern @ Santos Party House (more by Andrew St. Clair)

The previously announced, (and a bit confusing) Chicago 'Guitar Clinic' hosted by Marnie Stern now has a proper ticket link and etc.

It will take place this Friday (July 8th), from 3PM to 5PM at Panchos. Later on that night, and also the one before; she'll be the main support for The Flaming Lips at the Aragon Ballroom. Tickets for their July 8th performance are still available.

Marnie will be heading out on a North American tour in September with No Joy. This will bring her back to Chicago on September 24th to play Subterranean. Tickets will be on sale shortly.

UPDATE: Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at 10AM CST.

Before that tour kicks off, No Joy will play Chicago twice this weekend. First, at Empty Bottle supporting Local H, and then as part of the previously announced West Fest.

Earlier today, guitar virtuosa Marnie Stern tweeted the following..

We have no further details regarding clinic fees, or anything else for that matter.
We'll keep you updated as more information becomes available.

As previously announced, Marnie will be opening for The Flaming Lips on both July 7th, and 8th at the Aragon Ballroom. Night one is sold out, however tickets are still available for night two.

Marnie Stern @ Santos Party House (more by Andrew St. Clair)

Marnie Stern has been touring non-stop in 2011. The guitar virtuosa has just announced a short Midwest tour, slated for the month of July.

She'll hit Chicago on both July 7th and 8th, serving as the opening act for The Flaming Lips at Aragon Ballrom. Night one is already sold out, and tickets are going fast for night two. Grab some now, while you still can!

Meanwhile, Marnie will trek through Europe in May, and has also been announced to play ATP's Nightmare Before Christmas on December 9th in Minehead, UK.

You can view all 2011 tour dates below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern announces Midwest tour, opening for The Flaming Lips in Chicago"

Marnie Stern @ Santos Party House 3/5/2011 (more by Andrew St. Clair)

today in Chicago
* Spare Parts @ aliveOne
* Jessica 6, Chances DJ @ Double Door
* Marnie Stern, Tera Melos @ Subterranean
* Tommy Castro Band, Will Jacobs @ SPACE
* The Singleman Affair, Neighborpoem @ The Whistler
* Esben And The Witch, Wise Blood, Family Band @ Empty Bottle
* Portugal, The Man, Kellen & Me, The Soil and the Sun @ Lincoln Hall
* The Pretty Reckless, Runner Runner, A Thousand Horses @ Beat Kitchen
* The Uma Thurmans, The Cellphones, Katie Knaub, Dun Bin Had @ The Mutiny
* Catacomz, Unstoppable Death Machines, Skankwolf and the Mange, Lechuguillas @ the Ball Hall

What else?