photos by James Richards IV

Nick Cave @ the Chicago Theatre

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds brought their new album and their Coachella-bound tour that previously visited SXSW and NYC for three nights, to Chicago Theatre on April Fools Day. Greg Kot writes:

No one paints a picture quite as vividly with lyrics as does Cave, and part of his appeal is built on pure storytelling. In his black suit, jet-black hair and white shirt, he was a dapper gentleman preacher who raved as if the Old Testament were also a scandal sheet, rife with betrayal, temptation, blood and lust. "People," Cave declared, "they ain't no good," and he spent a good portion of the nearly two-hour performance counting the ways.

Continue reading "Nick Cave and Sharon Van Etten came to Chicago Theatre (pics, setlist)"

Pritzker Pavilion lawn (more by Zach Pollack)

The City of Chicago's annual, free music programs at Millenium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, called Downtown Sound and Loops & Variations, will return this summer on Monday and Thursday evenings, respectively. The Downtown Sound lineup features Lee Ranaldo Band with Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog, Sharon Van Etten with Speck Mountain, An evening with Glen Hansard featuring Lisa Hannigan and members of the Frames, Lee Fields & the Expressions with Theo Huff & the Platinum Band, Dawes with the Cairo Gang, Dessa with Psalm One, and more. The decidedly more electronic Loops & Variations series boasts performances by Falty DL with Bill Kouligas, Matmos with Fonema Consort, ICE with Nosaj Thing, Dan Deacon, and more.

Each show for both series' will begin at 6:30PM. Check out the full Millenium Park music schedule below...

Continue reading "Downtown Sound and Loops & Variations return (Falty DL, Sharon Van Etten, Lee Ranaldo, Dan Deacon, Dessa & more)"

The Life & Times

today in Chicago
* Rakim @ The Shrine
* Led Zeppelin 2 @ House of Blues
* Pat Mahoney, Kid Color @ Smart Bar
* Soft Jolts, Swearwords, Innkeepers @ Schubas
* Buddy Guy, Deitra Farr, Jimmy Burns @ Legends
* The Life & Times, Planetsexploder, Redgrave @ Empty Bottle
* Highball, Finishing School, Thrillage, Gunner's Daughter @ Township
* Sons of the Silent Age, Waco Brothers, Death on the Autobahn @ Metro
* Aktar Aktar, Audiences, Canoe Canoe, Norman Toronto @ Subterranean
* The New Balance, The Congregation, Michele McGuire, DJ RC @ Lincoln Hall
* Mako Sica, Variety Lights, Dark Fog, Plastic Crimewave Syndicate, Energy Gown @ Hideout

Rakim plays The Shrine tonight.

Pat Mahoney (of LCD Soundsystem) headlines Smart Bar. James Murphy plays The Mid on January 25.

The Life & Times, Planetsexploder, and Redgrave play the Bottle.

Chicago Psych Fest 4 kicks off at the Hideout tonight.

Watch Sharon Van Etten cover Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' "People Ain't No Good" for Australian radio station Triple J below.

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Follow bvChicago on Instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

As discussed, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds are set to welcome their new album, Push the Sky Away, on February 19 via Bad Seed Ltd. They'll be supporting the LP with a spring North American tour featuring opener Sharon Van Etten. That tour hits Chicago on April 1 for a performance at The Chicago Theatre. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Thursday (12/6) at noon CST. A JAM Productions presale will also be active at 11AM this Wednesday; the password is push.

All Bad Seeds tour dates and a stream of their new single "We Know Who U R" are below...

Continue reading "Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds tickets are going on sale"

photos by Grant MacAllister

Sharon Van Etten at Metro on 11.07.2012

On Wednesday night (11/7) Sharon Van Etten played her largest Chicago club show to date at Metro with support from tour/labelmate Damien Jurado. Aside from playing a fantastic set, Sharon spoke of the previous night's presidential election, "If you see Obama, tell him I say congratulations." As per usual, she also cracked some goofy jokes. Did you have a favorite?

More pictures from the 11/7 show at Metro continue below...

Continue reading "Sharon Van Etten played Metro with Damien Jurado (pics)"

Beach House @ Central Park Summerstage in July (more by Amanda Hatfield)

today in Chicago
* Mos Def @ The Shrine
* Little Green Cars @ Hideout
* Generationals, Devin @ Schubas
* Beach House, Poor Moon @ the Riv
* Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie @ Allstate Arena
* Social Distortion, Lindi Ortega, Biters @ the Vic
* Frightened Rabbit, Arc in Round @ Lincoln Hall
* Old Lights, Mazes, Canoe Canoe @ Empty Bottle
* Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Los Lobos @ United Center
* Making Movies, Radiant Devices, Gangi, Fall Classic @ Subterranean
* A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, A$AP Mob @ Congress Theater
* Rocket Miner, The Foreign Resort, The Luck of Eden Hall @ The Burlington

Dublin's Little Green Cars are in the US to perform at CMJ in NYC. Catch them at the Hideout tonight.

Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) plays the Shrine tonight.

Beach House play the Riv tonight with support from Poor Moon.

Social Distortion play their first of two shows at the Vic tonight.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse and Los Lobos play the United Center.

A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Danny Brown, and the A$AP Mob play the Congress Theater tonight.

Watch Jessie Ware perform "Wildest Moments" and Sharon Van Etten play "Serpents" on Later With Jools Holland below.

Death Grips have a new video for "World of Dogs." Check it out below.

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

Follow bvChicago on Instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Tickets for Jane's Addiction and Franz Ferdinand's Lollapalooza aftershow at the Aragon Ballroom on August 4 go on sale today (7/13) at 10AM CST.

Tickets for what could be Mannequin Men's final show, at the Empty Bottle on August 17, go on sale today at 10AM CST.

Tickets for Om's show at the Empty Bottle on August 24 go on sale today at 10AM CST.

Tickets for all three of Shellac's 20th anniversary shows at Lincoln Hall (8/24-26) go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Teengirl Fantasy's September 1 show at Lincoln Hall go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Bob Mould's second show at Metro, on September 14, go on sale this Saturday (7/14) at noon CST.

Tickets for Local H's show at the Bottom Lounge on September 18 go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Willie Nelson & Family's show at The Chicago Theatre on September 20 go on sale this Saturday (7/14) at 10AM CST. A presale begins today at 10AM CST. Password: family.

Tickets for both of Deerhoof's shows at Schubas on September 22 go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Slash's show at the Riv on September 28 go on sale today at 10AM CST.

Tickets for Mike Watt & The Missingmen's show at Schubas on October 8 go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Grimes' show at Metro on October 23 go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Daniel Johnston's show at the Bottom Lounge on November 3 go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Sharon Van Etten's show at Metro on November 7 go on sale today at noon CST.

Tickets for Amanda Palmer's show at Metro on November 10 go on sale today at noon CST.

Sharon Van Etten @ Lincoln Hall in February (more by Grant MacAllister)

Sharon Van Etten is currently on tour in the UK and has announced a fall North American run, which hits Metro on November 7. Damien Jurado will act as main support for the Chicago show, as well as on a number of her other dates. Tickets go on sale this Friday (7/13) at noon CST.

As mentioned, Sharon will also be in Chicago next month to play Lollapalooza.

All 2012 tour dates are listed below, along with her video for "Leonard."

Continue reading "Sharon Van Etten visiting Metro w/ Damien Jurado"

Man or Astro-Man? @ Bowery Ballroom in '10 (more by Nathaniel Shannon)

today in Chicago
* West Fest (Day 1)
* Dark Star Orchestra @ Park West
* The Sadies, Jon Langford @ Schubas
* The Young, Judson Claiborn @ Hideout
* Weekend At Beer Me's (Day 2) @ Township
* CAVE, Paperhead, D. Watusi @ The Burlington
* Tenacious D, Urge Overkill, The Sights @ Aragon Ballroom
* Beak, Rabid Rabbit, Ganon, Big Black Bird @ Ultra Lounge
* Names Divine, Lutheran, Maude Flanders, Dog Day @ Nowheresville
* Man or Astro-Man?, Dumpster Babies, Stagnant Pools @ Empty Bottle
* Slick Idiot, Mona Mur/En Esch, Promonium Jesters, Go Fight! @ Cobra Lounge
* Twin Peaks, White Mystery, The Yolks, The Funs, Slushy, The Orwells, Honey @ Heartland House

West Fest 2012 kicks off at 1PM with a set from locals Summer Girlfriends. Man or Astro-Man? also play the festival tomorrow, and then the Bottle at night.

Austin, TX's The Young headline the Hideout.

Tenacious D play the Aragon Ballroom. Check out BV's pictures from their NYC show.

Twin Peaks are embarking on a summer tour and play one last Chicago show, in the backyard of Heartland House, before they split. It starts at 1PM and features a bunch of great bands including The Yolks, The Funs, and Slushy.

Nardwaur recently interviewed a very giggly Sharon Van Etten. Check it out below.

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Suckers @ Terminal 5 in 2010 (NYC) (more by Matthew Eisman)

today in Chicago
* Old 97's @ Cubby Bear
* Over The Rhine @ SPACE
* Baby Teeth, Spl:t S:ngle @ Hideout
* Rusko, Sigma, Zebo @ Congress Theater
* Suckers, Santah, Turn To Crime @ Empty Bottle
* Better Than Something screenings @ Public Works
* Local H, Monkey Paw, Boots With Spurs @ Double Door
* Alcoholic Faith Mission, You Won't, Hot As Hell @ Schubas
* Carolina Chocolate Drops, Po' Girl, Bhi Bhiman @ Lincoln Hall
* The Lifeline, The Action Blast, Comasoft, Real Friends @ Metro
* Autopsy, Cianide, Bones, Cardiac Arrest, Reign Inferno @ Reggie's
* Wild Jesus And The Devils Lettuce, Black Bear Combo @ Township
* Oceano, War Hound, Burn The Remains, I Killed Everyone @ Bottom Lounge
* Old Black And Blue Eyes, Samantha, The Dewtons, The Hairlips @ Ultra Lounge
* Third Time's A Charm, She's Alive, Phoenix Down, Run And Punch @ Beat Kitchen
* Mahogany, Devon Kay and the Solutions, Shaggwell, Finding Valor @ Subterranean
* Natalie Grace & The Boombox Face, Away From Luka, Original Folks @ The Burlington
* Dan Vapid and The Cheats, Chinese Telephones, Tim Schweiger, Textbook @ Cobra Lounge

Happy Cinco de Mayo.

When Sharon Van Etten was here in February to play two shows at Lincoln Hall, she also found time to record a session with Sound Opinions. Check out a few videos below.

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

As seen on BrooklynVegan, this year's Lolla lineup includes everthing hinted on the #LOLLA ads, and much more....

Continue reading "Lollapalooza 2012 lineup announced (Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Shins, Passion Pit, JC Brooks, much more)"

The Men @ Bowery Ballroom in November (more by BBG)

today in Chicago
* Nneka, Fatbook @ Double Door
* Megafaun, Field Report @ Schubas
* Georgia Anne Muldrow @ The Shrine
* Van Hunt, Vintage Trouble @ Lincoln Hall
* Throne of the House of Good and Evil @ Hideout
* High Contrast, Netsky, Hostpital Recs @ The Mid
* Jeremy David Miller, Curtis Evans @ The Whistler
* Del Mas Alla, COMP, Foxy Roxy @ The Burlington
* The Men, Nude Beach, Mac Blackout @ Treasure Town
* The Soul Citizens, Ruined America, Prototype @ Reggie's
* Poontoof, Fornication Station, Big Black Bird @ Ultra Lounge
* A Place To Bury Strangers @ Reckless Records (Free; In-store)
* The New Diet, Battle Ave, Shy Guy Says, Fox The Cat @ Township
* Narrows, All Pigs Must Die, An Unfortunate Woman @ Subterranean
* North Highlands, Death Ships, Lightfoils, On Again Off Again @ Beat Kitchen
* A Place To Bury Strangers, Apteka, The Big Sleep, DJ bradiy @ Empty Bottle

Brooklyn's The Men hit Treasure Town tonight.

A Place To Bury Strangers play a 5PM in-store at Reckless Records (Wicker Park) and then headline the bottle later on.

While The Shins played Letterman last night, Sharon Van Etten visited Conan. Footage from both performances, below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Lower Dens @ South Street Seaport in 2011 (NYC) (more by Jessica Amaya)

today in Chicago
* Katie Herzig @ SPACE
* Jefferson Starship @ Reggie's
* Jon Langford, Sarah Vowell @ UP
* Howler, The Canoes, Mooner @ Schubas
* Lower Dens, Judson Claiborn @ Subterranean
* Yellow Ostrich, 1,2,3, Tin Tin Can @ Empty Bottle
* John Oats, Van Ghost, The Stay Smooth DJs @ Lincoln Hall
* Herra Terra, White Witches, Black Arrow, Leper @ Ultra Lounge
* Milksheet, Pathos Green, The Hooves, The Wild Finish @ Stage Bar
* Saint Motel, Speck Mountain, Miracles of Modern Science @ Hideout
* Tonstartsbandht, Mystreater, Lolita Poaching, Double Morris @ The Burlington
* The Head and the Heart, Drew Grow and the Pastors' Wives @ the Vic (Night 2)
* Creepy Band, The Bingers, An Aesthetic Anaesthetic, Ormen Lange @ Township

Yellow Ostrich put out their new record, Strange Land, earlier this week. They headline the bottle tonight.

Jon Langford performs at UP comedy club tonight. He's also on the lineup for the Woody Guthrie tribute taking place at Metro.

Sharon Van Etten has a new video for "Leonard." Check it out below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Shearwater @ Lincoln Hall on 2/16/2012 (more by Grant MacAllister)

Austin band Shearwater welcomed their eighth LP, Animal Joy, on February 14 via Sub Pop Records. To me, Animal Joy is the full realization of what the band were aiming for on 2010's The Golden Archipelago, keeping the Peter Gabriel-like core intact, but firming it up into an interesting rock record. As we've mentioned a few times, the album is still streaming via NPR and can be purchased via Sub Pop's webstore.

Two days after the record hit stores, Shearwater toured through Chicago with Sharon Van Etten, playing two sold out nights at Lincoln Hall. Some pictures from night one (February 16) are in this post. Head HERE for a full review and all photos from the show.

If you missed Shearwater this time around, don't fret: they've just been added as main support to St. Vincent's spring North American tour. The tour hits the Vic on May 11. Advance tickets are on sale.

All 2012 tour dates, more pictures from Lincoln Hall, and some videos, below..

Continue reading "Shearwater released 'Animal Joy,' played LH w/ Sharon Van Etten (pics); were added to St. Vincent tour (the Vic included)"

photos by Grant MacAllister, words by Zach Pollack

SVE @ Lincoln Hall last night

Last night (Thursday, February 16), Sharon Van Etten played her first of two Chicago shows on this tour at Lincoln Hall, with support from current tour mates Shearwater.

Shearwater, who just released their eighth LP and debut for Sub Pop Records, Animal Joy, kicked things off with an incredibly powerful set dominated by the album. Like Active Child's Pat Grossi (who recently played Lincoln Hall and will again soon), frontman Jonathan Meiburg sports a full, choirboy-like voice (though not as cinematic) - floating effortlessly over washes of thick guitar and intricate keyboard leads. Sadly, longtime-members Thor Harris and Kim Burke are not a part of Shearwater's touring act this time around, but nevertheless, the five-piece outfit we saw last night seemed comfortable and well-practiced. Purchase Animal Joy via Sub Pop's webstore and stream the LP in its entirety via NPR.

After a long set changeover, Sharon Van Etten and her new band took the stage around 10PM. "How are y'all doing tonight," she asked. The packed crowed roared with excitement. Coming off as she was nervously awaiting our response, the songstress laughed and said, "Oh, thank god!" before launching into "Warsaw" off of her fantastic new LP Tramp. Fan-made video footage was displayed on the projector screen above, providing a nice and unexpected visual element to her live show. Longtime band member Doug Keith played more guitar than ever last night, especially squealing out leads over the appropriately heavy track "Serpants." New live member Heather Broderick, who has been a member of Efterklang, Horse Feathers, Loch Lomond, Laura Gibson's backing band, and more, provided excellent backup vocals while handling some bass/keyboard/guitar duties. As expected, the setlist drew heavily from Tramp. It included the uplifting ballad "Kevin's", showcasing Sharon's full range. Of course it's up for debate how uplifting a song with a line like "you dig your own grave" can be considered, but the track does hold a certain ethereal quality to it.

In-between songs we received hilariously awkward commentary, in only that quirky Sharon-way we've come to be so familiar with, learning of her father Steve's aspirations to tour as an interpretive dancer/merch guy (yikes!), Heather's deep obsession with the arcade game Moon Patrol, and much more. About halfway through their 12-song setlist, the band played an older favorite of mine, "Don't Do It," complete with a cool vocal-looped intro passage. Trading her guitar for an omnichord, the appropriately titled "Magic Chords" came next, whose album version is made dark and stormy by the brooding National frontman Matt Berninger. The group closed out their set with Tramp's "I'm Wrong," which saw Doug furiously attacking his guitar with a violin bow and an overall interesting extended jam.

Returning for a two-song encore, Sharon and co., with Shearwater in tow, tackled a raucous version of the Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destroy You," which she also covered at a show on New Year's Eve along with Ted Leo. Shearwater then exited the stage and the night finished with fan-favorite "Love More."

And they do it again tonight (2/17). Some more pictures and the full setlist from night one of her Lincoln Hall stay, below..

Continue reading "Sharon Van Etten & Shearwater played Lincoln Hall --------- (Night 1 pics/setlist/review)"

Veronica Falls @ MHoW earlier on tour (BKLYN) (more by Amanda Hatfield)

today in Chicago
* Lizz Wright @ SPACE
* Veronica Falls @ WBEZ Studios
* Chaperone, Juniper Tar @ The Burlington
* Pictureplane, Triple Six Sound Club @ Berlin
* The Dirty Guv'nahs, David Ramirez @ Schubas
* Ode, Kellen and Me, Jennifer Hall @ Abbey Pub
* Pandava, Drekka, Scott Tuma, Bound @ Township
* Rachele Eve, Ty Maxon, Duck & Goose @ Hideout
* Akbar, Pseudo Slang, Green Wilder @ Double Door
* Fort Knox Five, Intel, Maker, DJ Merk 1 @ Smart Bar
* Sharon Van Etten, Shearwater @ Lincoln Hall (Night 1)
* Panda Riot, Nerves Junior, Tiny Fireflies @ Subterranean
* 12th Planet, Flinch, Nameloc, Subnoxious @ Bottom Lounge
* Veronica Falls, Brilliant Colors, The Halamays @ Empty Bottle
* English Dogs, The Casualties, Toxic Waste, Havok @ Reggie's
* Things To Come, Acidic Tree, The Island Of Misfit Toys @ Beat Kitchen
* Jet W. Lee, The Saturday Giant, Property of Saints, Panoramic & True @ Ultra Lounge

The 10-song Epitonic Saki Session that Hospitality recorded during Tomorrow Never Knows has been posted.

Chelsea Wolfe played Daytrotter. Stream "Benjamin" and "Mer" from the session, below.

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

Sharon Van Etten plays her first of two shows @ Lincoln Hall tonight (2/16), with Shearwater.

Veronica Falls play an early-afternoon session at the WBEZ Studios and then headline the Bottle tonight.

Pictureplane heads up CULT.

Dubstep-cat, below (you'll see)..

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

The Juan Maclean @ Bowery Ballroom in 2008 (NYC) (more by Tim Griffin)

today in Chicago
* Dan Telfer @ Mayne Stage
* Good Neighbor @ Schubas
* The Juan Maclean (DJ Set) @ Berlin
* Sigur Ros's INNI @ Gene Siskel Film Center
* Pet Lions, The Hudson Branch, Tiger Bones @ Metro
* Black Arrow, The Wires, Richard Feppora @ Stage Bar
* Fielded, Mayor Daley, Oozing Wound @ Crown Tap Room
* Calendar Boys, Freakish Reasons, Blizzard Babies @ The Burlington
* Milano, Audiences, Mosquito Fleet, Republic Of Lights @ Beat Kitchen
* This Is My Fist, Canadian Rifle, Daylight Robbery, Scabs @ Empty Bottle
* Parts Per Million, Geoff Dolce, Magatha Trysty, Kerosene Stars @ Martyrs
* Sequoia, Along the Parallel, Among the Flood, Vaudvileins @ Ultra Lounge
* The Cell Phones, Bully In The Hallway, Rodeo, Velocicopter @ Subterranean
* Nature Show, Kory Quinn & The Comrades, Jonas Friddle & The Majority @ Hideout
* Nomad Planets, Dana Lynn and The Dirty Creeps, The Love Shots, Nina Ferraro @ Reggie's
* Eat That Plastic, Thrift Store Heroes, Cenobites, Eske, Johnny Vomit, The Deeper End @ Double Door
* Cobalt and The Hired Guns, Otter Petter, Warm Ones, Duck and Goose, Smell My Roses @ Lincoln Hall
* The Brokedowns, The Manix, Rad Payoff, 97-Shiki, Wide Angles, Arms Aloft, Dead North, Boxsledder, Hawkbit @ Panchos
* TAFKAV Band, The Electric Black Oil Brothers, Sunken Ships, Ellie Maybe and Vee Sonnets, Danny Doom @ Quenchers

Sharon Van Etten played Fallon last night while tUnE-yArDs played Kimmel. Check out footage from both, below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Sharon Van Etten @ Lincoln Hall in April (more by Grant MacAllister)

Brooklyn-based, singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten is getting ready to release her as-of-yet untitled follow up to 2011's Epic via her new label Jagjaguwar.

Currently, she only has one announced show, and that's a supporting slot for her friends The National on December 13th at the Beacon Theatre in NYC. Van Etten has just added two more shows to her schedule, which are both right here in Chicago! She'll play Lincoln Hall on February 16th & 17th with support from Shearwater. Tickets go on sale this Friday (11/11), at noon CST.

Stay tuned to BrooklynVegan for a possible full tour to hit other cities.

photos by Grant MacAllister

I walked into Lincoln Hall just in time to catch the tail end of Chicago-based In Tall Buildings' set; then wishing that I had arrived just a bit earlier. The Whistler Records signees looked extremely comfortable playing to the already large crowd. After a short set change, it was time for Little Scream. They announced that it was their last show on tour with Sharon Van Etten, and that it has been an honor to work with her. Little Scream consists of two strong female singers (playing guitar and violin respectively), plus an also guitar-toting drummer. Their sound referenced the likes of Andrew Bird-esque violin plucking, interwoven with streams of freak folk and choral arrangements. Little Scream will go out with The Antlers on their Burst Apart tour, starting in mid-May. The tour will hit Metro on June 11th.

Sharon Van Etten took to the stage at 11, sans band. "How is everybody doing?", she offers. The crowd cheers, "That's a relief, otherwise this would be weird!" she quirked back. The Brooklyn, NY songbird then dove into "Call It A Joke", and "Consolation Prize" before inviting her band out to join her on Epic's breakout track "Peace Signs". The crowd was silent, pleasant, and seemingly appreciative to simply have her in town. As an artist, what more could you ask for? The trio gave a flawless performance, that rivaled their set at the 2011 BrooklynVegan SXSW Official Showcase. Sharon's voice really carried throughout the cavernous hall, settling down evenly in the eardrums of adoring fans. Referencing Rod Stewart's show at the United Center she said, "I know some people are probably here begrudgingly. I will never be Rod Stewart, but I hope to have his haircut one day." The Epic heavy set also consisted of older songs, like the now reworked full-band version of "Tornado". Just like her pals The National, Sharon also has one of those wooden bellows pianos, and employed it on tracks such as "Love More". Late into her set, Sharon pulled out an unlikely but amazing rendition of Blaze Foley's "Ooh Love". Speaking of covers, on the second song of her encore her band, and all of Little Scream joined the stage to take part in a version of Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy". As prefaced by Sharon, the Onion A.V. got that same version earlier on in the day. I think I speak for everyone involved, in saying that we'd love to have her back again as soon as possible.

You can view more of Grant's photos, and Sharon Van Etten's setlist below...

Continue reading "Sharon Van Etten, Little Scream, and In Tall Buildings played Lincoln Hall (pics, setlist)"

Sharon Van Etten @ Central Presbyterian Church during SXSW (more by Chris Gersbeck)

today in Chicago
* Wire, Lasers And Fast And Sh!T @ Metro
* Emmylou Harris @ Old Town School of Folk Music
* O'death, Grandchildren, Chaperone @ Beat Kitchen
* Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs, Smoke Dza @ Bottom Lounge
* Sharon Van Etten, Little Scream, In Tall Buildings @ Lincoln Hall
* Daedelus, Tokimonsta, Shlomo @ Bottom Lounge (Volcano Room)
* Robert Plant & The Band of Joy, North Mississippi Allstars @ Auditorium Theatre

Wire recently hit Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to play "Red Barked Trees" & "Map Ref 41N 93W". We've got videos of both below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Cut Copy @ Terminal 5 (more by Diana Wong)

The weather is finally starting to turn up, so head out this weekend and catch some great shows!

FRIDAY
Cut Copy, Holy Ghost!, and Kid Color are playing the Riv. You can stream Holy Ghost!'s debut LP over at their label DFA's website. Afterwards, Cut Copy has a DJ Set over at Debonair Social Club, and Holy Ghost! has their own at Smart Bar.

DOM, Heavy Hawaii, and Blane Fonda are playing Subterranean.

Davila 666, The Yolks, and Day Creeper are playing Empty Bottle.

The David Bromberg Quartet are playing both Friday night, and Saturday night at SPACE with Angel Band.

SATURDAY
Sharon Van Etten is playing Lincoln Hall with Little Scream, and In Tall Buildings. Little Scream will be opening up for The Antlers on their Burst Apart tour, starting in mid-May. That'll hit Chicago on June 11th at Metro.

Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs, and Smoke Dza are playing at Bottom Lounge.

Wire (who stopped by Fallon on Tuesday night to play "Red Barked Trees" & "Map Ref 41N 93W"), and Lasers And Fast And Sh!T are playing Metro.

Daedelus (who played the BrooklynVegan / M for Montreal Day Party at SXSW) is playing Bottom Lounge with Tokimonsta, and Shlomo.

O'death is playing Beat Kitchen with Grandchildren, and Chicago favorites: Chaperone.

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy , and the North Mississippi Allstars are playing the Auditorium Theatre.

Emmylou Harris will be performing at the 2011 Blue Jean Gala, which is the annual benefit for the Old Town School of Folk Music.

SUNDAY
Franz Nicolay & Major General, David Dondero, and The Faders are playing Schubas.