Shabazz Palaces @ Williamsburg Park in August (more by David Andrako)

Seattle's Shabazz Palaces are currently on tour throughout Europe and have announced plans for a January US run. Most of those US shows will be spent supporting the Helio Sequence, but they'll finish off with a headlining performance of their own at Chicago's The Shrine on February 1. Tickets for that show are not on sale yet, but check The Shrine's website for updates.

Shabazz' excellent Black Up LP arrived in 2011 via Sub Pop. Stream that album in its entirety and check out their 2012 // 2013 tour schedule below...

Continue reading "Shabazz Palaces announce tour, playing The Shrine"

Wild Flag @ Bowery Ballroom in October (NYC) (more by Amanda Hatfield)

today in Chicago
* Res @ The Shrine
* Trevor Hall @ SPACE
* Thomas Dolby @ Park West
* Guster, Jeff Garlin @ the Vic
* Wild Flag, Hospitality @ Metro
* Reptar, Quiet Hooves @ Schubas
* Antiserum, Ill Esha, Bandiit @ Double Door
* Shabazz Palaces, Chandeliers @ Lincoln Hall
* Turisas, Alestorm, Arkona, Huntress @ Reggie's
* The Black Lashes, Integrated Cookbook @ The Mutiny
* Royal Pines, The Fur Coats, Costanza @ Subterranean
* Cains & Abels, Holcombe Waller, Thin Hymns @ Hideout
* Architecture, Some Community, Videotape @ Empty Bottle
* Kill The Alarm, Josh Holmes, Fivestar Deluxe @ Abbey Pub
* The Nesmins, Boxsledder, Finishing School @ Ultra Lounge
* The Ladybirds, The Blind Staggers, Tracer Bullet @ Township
* Buck Gooter, Mounds, I Love You, Colin Liepelt @ The Burlington
* Young Distractions, The Beautiful View, Pinto & The Bean @ Beat Kitchen
* Chicago Rocks: The Honorable Story of the Indie City @ Chicago History Museum

Wild Flag and Hospitality play a sold out show at Metro tonight.

Shabazz Palaces visit Lincoln Hall.

Chicago Rocks tours host a discussion on Chicago-based independent music at the History Museum. Participants include Chris Connelly, Jeff Lescher, Josh Caterer, Scott Lucas, Dag Juhlin, Jon Langford, and Rick Rizzo. There will also be a post-discussion concert.

Jack White has an interesting new video for "Sixteen Saltines." Check it out below.

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Seattle hip hop duo Shabazz Palaces released their Rough Trade-favorite debut LP, Black Up, on June 28th via Sub Pop Records. In support of the album, the enigmatic MCs toured North America throughout spring and summer, tagging Chicago in July to play the Pitchfork Music Festival and an official-fest aftershow at Lincoln Hall with Moonface.

As announced by Lincoln Hall, Palaces will be returning to Chicago to headline the venue on April 5th. Tickets go on sale this coming Tuesday (1/31), at noon CST.

All known 2012 tour dates (more TBA?) and some videos, below..

Continue reading "Shabazz Palaces announce Lincoln Hall show"

Spencer Krug (aka Moonface) @ Sasquatch 2011 w/ Wolf Parade (more by Josh Darr)

today in Chicago
* John Maus, Twin Sister @ Schubas
* Pitchfork Festival (Day 2) @ Union Park
* Soundgarden, The Mars Volta @ UIC Pavilion
* Austra, Cult of Youth @ Empty Bottle (Late Show)
* Sailor Jerry's Music Fest (Day 2) @ Cobra Lounge
* Cages, Anatomy of Habit @ Empty Bottle (Early Show)
* Moonface, Shabazz Palaces, Flow Child @ Lincoln Hall
* Kurt Vile & the Violators, Woods, Arc in Round @ Subterranean
* Deerhunter (DJ Set), Twin Shadow (DJ Set), Ariel Pink (DJ Set) @ Beauty Bar

Continue to live stream the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival.

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - "Tigers" (MP3)

Shabazz Palaces

today in Chicago
* Noose, Birth Deformities, Zero Progress, Risk, Bald Pig @ Treasure Town
* Archer Prewitt, Sam Prekop, Adjagas @ Empty Bottle (Free Show w/ RSVP)
* Warm Ones, Me And My Arrow, Geoff Dolce @ Schubas (Free Show w/ RSVP)

Shabazz Palaces recorded a Daytrotter session.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks have offered another cut from Mirror Traffic for free download. This one is titled "Tigers" and can be found at the top of this post.

What else?

DOWNLOAD: Moonface - "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm" (MP3)

Spencer Krug with Wolf Parade @ Sasquatch 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

Moonface (aka Spencer Krug) is set to release his debut LP, Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I'd Hoped on August 2nd via Jagjaguwar. Starting today, the album is available for pre-order via SC Distribution.

Spencer has also shared a non-album track with us titled, "The Way You Wish You Could Live In The Storm" which you can download at the top of this post.

To compliment the track; he's offered a bit of an explanation:

It's a song that was cut from the record - an angry duck that didn't get along with the other songs on the Organ Music LP. That is not to say it's a bad song (though not to say it's a good song, either), it's just something I made that I don't know what to do with. It's more techno, or something, than the rest of the Organ Music LP. Less silky. But still, I thought it was worth sharing, for anyone who cares. It's more than a pile of wet leaves. Maybe it's something you can listen to while you do the dishes, or draw, or teach your baby to dance.

Thanks,
everyone and anyone,
for caring enough to get even this far.

sincerely,
Moonface

As mentioned, Moonface will be headlining Lincoln Hall on July 16th, as supported by Shabazz Palaces (whose new LP came out today). Tickets are still available.

Head below to view all 2011 tour dates.

Continue reading "Moonface shares non-album track, pre-order the LP today!"

DOWNLOAD: Shabazz Palaces - "Swerve...the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shabazz Palaces - "an echo from the hosts that profess infinitum" (MP3)

Black Up LP Cover

Shabazz Palaces have joined forces with Sub Pop Records to release their newest LP, Black Up on June 28th. The somewhat secretive MC, and collaborators will see their first proper release with Black Up; having self-released two mini-albums in 2009 via their website.

Sub Pop offered:

Black Up is the new sonic move from Shabazz Palaces. Like rich velvet hijabs or gold threaded abayas. Luxury as understood by the modest. Shabazz Palaces. If Bedouins herded beats instead of goats and settled in Seattle instead of the Atlas Mountains, this would be their album. Forward thinkers but nostalgic for a sparer time when ancient astronomers only recognized five planets. Hip hop. Black light uses electromagnetic radiation to eradicate microorganisms, but shabazz didn't come to kill a sound, just to shine their own incandescent lamp on this. Hear. Hard and clear. Fifty thousand years in the making. Honorable.

You can stream Black Up it its entirety via NPR; and download two album tracks at the top of this post.

Shabazz Palaces will be performing on Sunday of the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival, and oddly enough will be opening up for Moonface (aka Spencer Krug) at Lincoln Hall the night before. Tickets are still available.

You can view Black Up's track listing, and all 2011 tour dates below..

Continue reading "Shabazz Palaces to release 'Black Up', playing Pitchfork Festival (plus an 'Aftershow'), & other 2011 dates"

Pitchfork Festival has announced four unofficial aftershows, taking place each night of the festival at either Schubas, Lincoln Hall, or both.

All aftershows are on sale as of now, and a limited amount of discounted tickets will be held for sale at the door; day of.

FRIDAY, JULY 15TH
Sun Airway, PS I Love You @ Schubas (10:30PM) 18+

SATURDAY, JULY 16TH
Twin Sister, *Special Guest* @ Schubas (11PM) 18+
Moonface, Shabazz Palaces @ Lincoln Hall (10:30PM) 18+

SUNDAY, JULY 17TH
Yuck, Unknown Mortal Orchestra @ Schubas (10:30PM) 18+

"As previously announced, the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place on Friday, July 15th through Sunday, July 17th at Chicago's Union Park! Tickets went on sale on March 4th, and sold out in a record time of 24 hours! That being said, single-day passes can still be picked up at the rate of $45 per day.

Friday will see the addition of Guided By Voices and Neko Case; Saturday's lineup will feature No Age, Gang Gang Dance, G-Side, and Chrissy Murderbot; Sunday's stellar lineup now includes The Fresh & Onlys, Radio Dept., HEALTH, Shabazz Palaces, Baths, How To Dress Well, Kurt Vile, and Twin Sister. Stay tuned for more bands still to be announced in the coming weeks!"

Head below to view the full lineup by day...

Continue reading "2011 Pitchfork Festival expands initial lineup"