photos by James Richards IV

The Black Angels at the Vic Theatre on 4.19.2013

On Friday night (4/19), Austin's The Black Angels came through Chicago with tourmates The Allah-Las and Elephant Stone for a performance at the Vic Theatre. They performed many songs from their new album, Indigo Meadow, but also made sure to shift back to the widely familiar Phosphene Dream for "Entrance Song," "Telephone," "Haunting at 1300 McKinley," and more. Despite fronting Elephant Stone, Black Angels sideman Rishi Dir joined them on sitar for "True Believers" and "Black Isn't Black." Were you there? If so, how was it? A set of pictures from their 4/19 performance at the Vic are in this post.

More of them can be found below, along with the full setlist, and a few shots from their in-store at Reckless Records earlier that day...

Continue reading "The Black Angels, Allah-Las & Elephant Stone played the Vic (pics, setlist)"

The Black Angels @ the Bell House earlier on tour (more by PSquared Photography)

As discussed, The Black Angels are slated to visit Chicago later this week for a performance at the Vic Theatre on Friday night (4/19) with tourmates the Allah-Las and Elephant Stone. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available. While they're in town, the band will also be playing a 2PM in-store at Reckless Records' Lakeview location. Admission is free and all ages are welcome; get there early as space is limited.

The Black Angels are touring in support of their great new album, Indigo Meadow, which hit stores earlier this month via Blue Horizon. Take a listen to the LP and check out their full 2013 tour schedule below...

Continue reading "The Black Angels playing an in-store at Reckless Records before their show at the Vic this Friday"

Angel Olsen @ Glasslands in Brooklyn in April (more by Ryan Muir)

Angel Olsen has revealed that she'll be releasing a new album, titled Half Way Home, on September 4 via Bathetic Records. Half Way Home serves as the follow-up to 2010's excellent Strange Cacti. You can stream the album's lead single, an aching country ballad called ''Tiniest Seed,'' at the bottom of this post. The LP was produced by Emmett Kelly (of The Cario Gang), who also contributed some guitar and vocals.

Olsen will celebrate the release of Half Way Home with a 5PM in-store at Reckless Records' Wicker Park location on the same day the album hits stores. If you're looking to pick up a copy, they'll have it before anyone else.

A stream of "Tiniest Seed" and Half Way Home's cover art/tracklist are below...

Continue reading "Angel Olsen releasing 'Half Way Home' (song stream), celebrating with an in-store at Reckless"

outside photos by Milos Markicevic

Jack White @ Reckless Records (photo by saspauld)

Line for Third Man Records Rolling Record Store

Jack White was well represented in Chicago this weekend with a headlining set at Lollapalooza Sunday night, after a surprise in-store at Reckless Records earlier in the day, which wasn't that much of a surprise considering that was the location his Third Man Records Rolling Store was parked. More pictures and video from inside and out, below...

Continue reading "Jack White played a surprise show @ Reckless Records; Third Man was parked outside (pics & video)"

DOWNLOAD: Jaill - "Waste a Lot of Things" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jaill - "Perfect Ten" (MP3)

Jaill @ Sasquatch Festival 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

Milwaukee trio Jaill are set to release their new LP, Traps, on June 12 via Sub Pop. The album was recorded throughout 2011 in band member Vinnie Kircher's "crummy, poorly lit basement" and mixed at NYC's Rare Book Room by Nicolas Vernhes. Download "Waste a Lot of Things" and "Perfect Ten" at the top of this post. Traps' cover art/tracklist can be found below.

Jaill kick off a summer North American tour on June 8 in their hometown of Milwaukee and will hit Reckless Records' Wicker Park location on June 12 to celebrate the release of their new album with an in-store performance. Their set will begin at 6PM, admission is FREE, and space is limited.

All Jaill tour dates are listed below, alongside Traps' cover art/tracklist.

Continue reading "Jaill welcome 'Traps,' playing a record release show @ Reckless"

As mentioned, Damien Jurado hits Chicago TONIGHT (May 16), with tourmate JBM for a show at Schubas. Though the club show is now sold-out (hopefully you grabbed tickets), Damien is also playing a 6PM in-store at Reckless Records in Lakeview. His most recent album, Maraqopa, hit stores in February via Secretly Canadian. Check out the music video for the album track "Nothing Is The News" at the bottom of this post.

All Damien Jurado dates are listed below, alongside the video for "Nothing Is The News."

Continue reading "Damien Jurado is here, playing an in-store @ Reckless & Schubas TONIGHT"

Decatur, IL group Spires That in the Sunset Rise are gearing up for the release of their fifth full-length album, Ancient Patience Wills It Again, on April 17 via Hairy Spider Legs (US) / Norman Records (UK). The 5-track, 37-minute LP features soaring string arrangements, drone-y passages, and brooding vocals. Take a listen below....

Spires have a number of upcoming shows including a Record Store Day performance at Reckless Records' Wicker Park location and a FREE record release show at the bottle on May 7 (no RSVP needed).

All known dates and LP stream below...

Continue reading "meet Spires That in the Sunset Rise (LP stream, live dates)"

DOWNLOAD: Victor Villarreal - "Enters" (MP3)

Victor Villarreal of Cap'n Jazz and its related projects (Joan of Arc, Owls, Ghosts & Vodka) is set to release his debut solo effort Invisible Cinema, out January 24th via Joyful Noise. The album's first track (and single) "Enters" is available for both download above, and to stream below. To quote BrooklynVegan's Andrew Sacher:

Like his guitar work in his previous bands, "Enters" is filled with math rock noodling through pretty chord progressions. The largely acoustic guitar and string arrangement-led track is most reminiscent of fellow Cap'n Jazz member Mike Kinsella's work in Owen, but when the vocals finally come in at the end, he reveals a much starker voice than Owen's brokenhearted throb.

Villarreal will kick off a month-long run with Meryll on January 20th, at Mike & Molly's in Champaign. The following day, he'll play a 5PM instore at Reckless Records and then at Panchos that night with Meryll, A Tundra, and White/Light. Tickets are on sale now. His final in-state show will be on January 27th, at Owen Pye's in Lebanon (which is about 5-hours outside of Chicago). In support of the full tour, he's launched a Kickstarter campaign to help with its costs. At the time of this post, the campaign has hit $730 of his $1,900 goal (with 17 backers).

Invisible Cinema's tracklisting, a song stream, and all 2012 tour dates, below..

Continue reading "Victor Villarreal (of Cap'n, JoA, etc.) to release solo LP, playing 4-IL shows (2 in Chicago)"

Blitzen Trapper @ Reckless Records in Lakeview (photo by Tina Campbell)

Blitzen Trapper hit Chicago yesterday (11/3), to play a 6PM in-store at Reckless Records' Lakeview location and then a proper show at Metro later on, with Dawes and Belle Brigade. The band are currently touring North America behind their recently released LP American Goldwing.

FM News 101.1's Janine Schaults said of their Metro performance:

If they ever remake "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," the Oregon-based rock outfit, Blitzen Trapper should top the list of frontrunners to take care of the soundtrack. The brazen five-piece would make those tumbleweeds strut instead of blowing along aimlessly.

photos by Chris La Putt

Bleached @ Public Assembly -- BV CMJ 2011

LA group Bleached lead by sisters Jessica and Jennifer Clavin (ex-Mika Miko) will hit Chicago today to play two shows. First up is a FREE, 6PM in-store performance at Reckless Records' Wicker Park location, and then later on they'll play a headlining set at the Crown Tap Room with support from This Is My Fist.

Smack in the middle of their 2011 North American tour, Bleached visited NYC for CMJ. They played a bunch of shows including an early, but rockin set at the BrooklynVegan Friday Day Party at Public Assembly. More ictures from our party are below, along with all 2011 tour dates...

Continue reading "Bleached are here: Reckless & Crown Tap Room tonight, played CMJ (BV Day party pics)"

Yuck @ Pitchfork Festival 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

today in Chicago
* Yuck, Porcelain Raft @ Double Door
* Trans Am, Majeure, Arriver @ Empty Bottle
* Jens Lekman, Geoffrey O'Connor @ Lincoln Hall
* BOBBY, Netherfriends, Cross Record @ Schubas
* Jens Lekman @ Reckless Records (Free; In-store)
* Still Flyin', The Bears Of Blue River @ Ultra Lounge
* Emblems, Leslie Sisson, Little Light, Simon Flory @ Beat Kitchen
* Adam Franklin & Bolts of Melody, Castor & Pollux, Remaindermen @ Subterranean

If you didn't grab tickets to Jens Lekmen's now sold out show at Lincoln Hall, catch him for FREE at 6PM, at Reckless Records (Belmont).

Speaking of Lincoln Hall, win a pair of tickets to see BOBBY tonight (10/3) at their sister venue Schubas.

What else?

Girls @ Bowery Ballroom (more by Ryan Barkan)

Somewhat randomly, Thursday night (9/29) in Chicago has a bunch of very big shows. What will you choose?

Girls play a sold out one at Lincoln Hall with support from Nobunny and Papa. Check out pictures and read a review from one of the two recent NYC shows, HERE. If you didn't score tickets, they are also playing a 2PM in-store at Reckless Records.

Panda Bear will headline the Vic. Tickets are still available, How To Dress Well was just added as opener.

James Blake and Chairlift will play Metro. Tickets are still available.

Fucked Up, Wavves, and Culo will play the Logan Square Auditorium. Tickets are still available.

Those are probably the big four (in our mind), but it doesn't stop there...

Japanther, The Unstoppable Death Machines, Terrior Bute, and Lechuguillas will play Panchos. Tickets are still available.

Carlos Giffoni, Grouper, Starlicker, and Vockah Redu & The Cru will play Empty Bottle as part of Adventures in Modern Music. Tickets are still available.

Dar Williams and Joan Osbourne will play Park West. Tickets are still available.

What else? What are you gonna do?

photos by Ben Rodig

Marissa Nadler

Timber Timbre

Last night (7/21), Marissa Nadler, and Timber Timbre co-headlined Schubas with support from Faces on Film. Ben was there to catch all three sets, view more of his photos below.

Earlier on in the day, Marissa also played an in-store at Reckless Records (Belmont). Her recently released, Kickstarter funded, self-titled LP has become a frequent listen for me.

She continues her headlining run until the 30th of this month; all dates here.

Continue reading "Marissa Nadler, Timber Timbre, & Faces on Film played Schubas (pics)"

Marissa Nadler

today in Chicago
* Bela Fleck & The Flecktones @ the Vic
* RX Bandits, Zechs Marquise @ Bottom Lounge
* Eleanor Friedberger @ Saki Records (Free; In-store)
* Animal City, Chaperone, Geronimo!, Mutts @ Lincoln Hall
* Timber Timbre, Marissa Nadler, Faces on Film @ Schubas
* Marissa Nadler @ Reckless Records - Belmont (Free; In-store)
* The Soft Moon, Unur, Claw Toe, DJ Nonformat @ Empty Bottle

What else?

As we failed to mention, Marissa Nadler will be playing a 3PM in-store at Reckless Records (Belmont) tomorrow.

Later on tomorrow night, she'll be co-headlining Schubas with Timber Timbre, and additional support from Faces on Film (who will also act as her backing band).

Tickets will be available online, until 5PM CST tomorrow.

Talk Normal @ Mercury Lounge in 2010 (more by David Andrako)

today in Chicago
* Peter Gabriel @ United Center
* Talk Normal, Noveller, U.S. Girls @ Empty Bottle (Free Show)
* Brain Killer, Sin Orden, Manipulation, Kontaminat @ Albion House
* Kings Go Forth, Ben L'Oncle Soul @ Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Free Show)
* Paul Metzger, Heresy of the Free Spirit @ Permanent Records (Free; In-store)

Reckless Records is hosting a listening/release party for Bon Iver's new self-titled LP (which scored a 9.5 & the 'best new music' tag from Pitchfork).

We'll be playing and selling the new Bon Iver album on Monday, June 20th at Rodan starting at 9pm. We'll have a limited edition version with a bonus disc & a free poster, we'll also be selling the Calgary 12" one week early.

Bon Iver will appear on The Colbert Report tonight, at 10:30PM CST.

What else?

Record Store Day 2011 is upon us tomorrow (4/16)! We've got a list of Chicago record stores to visit, plus must-see in-stores taking place sporadically throughout the day. With many limited-run releases from a great list of participating artists, hopefully these independent record stores will rake in a good amount of money.

RECKLESS RECORDS
With three locations throughout the city, Reckless has become one of the most visited retailers for physical music releases. They've got in-stores for you at all three locations, you can view the details below...

Wicker Park Location (1532 N. Milwaukee Ave.) In-stores:
1PM Tyler Jon Tyler
2PM Joan of Arc
3PM Candy Golde (with Bun E Carlos of Cheap Trick)
3:30PM Jeff Parker (of Tortoise, solo guitar)
4PM Singleman Affair
5PM Cairo Gang

Lakeview Location (3126 N. Broadway) In-stores:
12PM Cult of Youth
2PM Owen
3PM Population
5PM Raw Nerve

South Loop Location (26 E. Madison) In-stores:
2PM Roommate
3PM Slow Witch (Angela of Sybris)

All Reckless Records Locations open up at 10AM.

Store Only Exclusives: RAW NERVE "Tall Tales" Youth Attack Records YA67 "Overdue vinyl collection of the demo, remixed & remastered "Teens in Heat" EP, Mailorder LP cassingle, and the Nervous Habits cassingle. These will be pressed on white vinyl and limited to 200 copies with art by Dan Rossiter. This release will be available ONLY from Reckless Records in Chicago in commemoration of Record Store Day on April 16th."

Various Artists NO PEACE/WAR 7"
Organized Crime Records have teamed up with some amazing bands to bring you the No Peace/ War 7" compilation. No Peace/ War was conceived nearly 2 decades ago by Dwid Van Hellion of INTEGRITY. The compilation was to include some of his favorite western hardcore bands paying homage to ...some of his favorite Japanese hardcore bands. Originally it was scheduled to be one of the seminal Blood Book 7" singles. Unfortunately No Peace/ War was indefinitely shelved due to unforeseen forces. Now 17 years later the compilation will finally see the light of day. Included on No Peace/ War are exclusive tracks by INTEGRITY, GEHENNA, VVEGAS, CAPE OF BATS and ROT IN HELL each covering their favorite Japanese hardcore songs.

WHITE MYSTERY "Blood & Venom"
Reckless is proud to be one of the few local stores to be carrying the new album by Chicago brother/sister duo WHITE MYSTERY a few days earlier than their 4/20/11 release date

PERMANENT RECORDS
Located at 1914 W. Chicago Avenue, Permanent Records has become a staple of the Ukrainian Village neighborhood.

Permanent will open at 12:01AM on Saturday and stay open until 2AM, to give you a jump on RSD purchases! They'll also have free grab bags (while supplies last). Permanent will re-open at 11AM for general store hours.

In-stores:
5PM Bad Drugs
6PM Silver Abuse
7PM Zaireeka Party

Store Only Exclusives: Purling Hiss / Puffy Areolas split 12" EP. A mere 750 copies of this release were pressed, 200 ON WHITE VINYL AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM PERMANENT!

SAKI RECORDS
Located at 3716 W. Fullerton Avenue, these folks will be open from 9AM to 9PM! They've got a slew of events, and promotional deals plus in-stores.

In-stores:
1PM Distractions
2PM Bob Dey's Tank Engine Man
3PM Chaperone
4PM The 1900s
5PM Rabid Rabbit
6PM In Tall Buildings
7PM This Is Cinema

DAVE'S RECORDS
Located at 2604 N. Clark Street, this is an ALL VINYL shop and they pride themselves in being so. Dave's opens at 11AM, and you can view a list of all the RSD releases they will be carrying here.

In-stores:
4PM I Was Totally Destroying It (Acoustic Set)

LAURIE'S PLANET OF SOUND
Laurie's has made it clear that they will not be opening at midnight, however you can visit 4639 N. Lincoln Avenue from 9AM to 9PM for all of your RSD needs. You can view a list of Laurie's Record Store Day basics here.

In-stores:
11AM DJ Peroxide (Late Bar, Bittersweet, Shimmer)
12PM DJ Rachel Hinsdale (Squish, The Kate & Rachel Show)
1PM Candy Golde (with Bun E Carlos of Cheap Trick)
1:30PM DJ Mike Bennett (CHIRP)
2:30PM DJ Mark Richardson (Pitchfork Media)
3:30PM DJ Josh Rosenthal (Plaguebringer)
4:15PM DJ Rebecca Flores (Tyler John Tyler)
5:00PM Vee Dee
5:45PM DJs Eric Marsh & Alex Foucre Stimes (BLVD Records)
7PM DJ Owen Harris (CHIRP, Kiwi Brunch)
8PM Population
8:45PM DJ Eliah Einhorn (Scotland Yard Gospel Choir)

Store Only Exclusives: Vee Dee "Miss Lucy" ltd. 7" 500 (200 red, 300 black) Will be for sale ONLY here at Laurie's on Record Store Day.

Thou @ ABC No Rio in 2010 (more by Jesse Lindmar)

today in Chicago
* Datarock, J+J+J @ Bottom Lounge
* Thou @ Reckless Records (Belmont Location)
* The Ex, Follows, Ken Vandermark, Zerfu Demissie @ Lincoln Hall
* Brandt Brauer Frick, Red Electric Rainbow, Colony Park @ Empty Bottle

What else?