Pitchfork Music Festival 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

As discussed, Pitchfork Music Festival 2013 is set to take place in Union Park from July 19-21. The festival's initial lineup featured R. Kelly, Björk, Belle & Sebastian, Joanna Newsom, the Breeders (playing Last Splash), Swans, Rustie, El-P, Chairlift, Killer Mike, TNGHT, Sky Ferreira, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Mac DeMarco, Foxygen, Angel Olsen, Trash Talk, and Tree.

The remainder of the lineup has just been revealed, and includes M.I.A., Lil B, Solange, Wire, Yo La Tengo, Low, Savages, Toro Y Moi, Phosphorescent, Metz, Autre Ne Veut, Mikal Cronin, Parquet Courts, Merchandise, Woods, Julia Holter, Glass Candy, Andy Stott, Pissed Jeans, Frankie Rose, Ryan Hemsworth, Waxahatchee, Blood Orange, Daughn Gibson, Evian Christ, White Lung, KEN Mode, and DJ Rashad.

Three-day passes and single-day tickets are still available.

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

Continue reading "Savages, Pissed Jeans, Wire, Waxahatchee, KEN Mode & more acts added to Pitchfork Festival 2013"

Pitchfork Music Festival 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

As discussed, the 2013 edition of Pitchfork Music Festival is slated to take place from July 19-21 in Chicago's Union Park. You already knew that R. Kelly, Björk, and Belle and Sebastian will be headlining the fest, and today, a bunch of other artists have been announced. Joanna Newsom, The Breeders (playing Last Splash), Swans, El-P, Killer Mike, TNGHT, Chairlift, Sky Ferreira, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Rustie, Mac DeMarco, Foxygen, Angel Olsen, Trash Talk, and Tree will all take the stage in Union Park that weekend.

Three-day passes and individual day tickets are still available.

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

Continue reading "Joanna Newsom, The Breeders, Swans, Angel Olsen & more acts added to Pitchfork Music Festival 2013"

Trevor de Brauw @ Lincoln Hall in June (more by Zach Pollack)

Pelican // Chord guitarist Trevor de Brauw has told us his top 10 favorite things of 2012. As we near the end (of the year, NOT the world), Trevor delivers a list that includes albums, songs, live shows, and major life experiences. Check out his favorite things of 2012 after the jump, but first, a message from the man himself...

There was a fucking ton of good music this year and anyone who claims the contrary needs to stop being a cynic and get on the party train. I feel like almost every one of my favorite bands/musicians made new albums this year, many of which were career highlights. Additionally great new bands are popping up at a rate that's difficult for semi-old-timer's like myself to fathom. For this year's top ten I reluctantly decided it was unfair to include clients from my PR career (difficult because I did press for so many great records, including, but not limited to, OM, Zammuto, OFF!, Codeine, William Basinski, Mono, Hundred Waters, EL-P, etc) - in part because they have the unfair advantage of me automatically obsessing over their albums, but also because it feels weird ranking them against one another. Fuck it, they're all great. But as for things I have less difficulty ranking, here's a small sample of my 2012 obsessions:

Continue reading "Trevor de Brauw's (Pelican, Chord) Top 10 Things of 2012"

Coffinworm @ Power of the Riff East (more by Greg Cristman)

Coffinworm was formed under watchful eye of Choronzon in late 2007. The 'Great Bringer of Night' demo was recorded by Bob Fouts (Basement Rage Studios) in late 2008/early 2009 and led to an alliance with Profound Lore Records shortly afterwards. The 'When All Became None' full-length was recorded by Sanford Parker in December of 2009 within Semaphore Studios, Chicago, and released in April 2010. Summer 2010 saw a lineup change with J. joining the fold on drums and C. moving from behind the kit to guitar." - their bio

Continue reading "Carl of Coffinworm lists his favorite albums & shows of 2012"

Sanford with Nachmystium at the BV Day Party, March 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

Chicago musician and production powerhouse Sanford Parker has graced us with his best of 2012... and not just albums. Check out the Twilight/Minsk/Buried at Sea/Nachtmystium member's contributions below...

Continue reading "Sanford Parker shares his 'Top 10 Albums' and 'Top 5 Bloody Marys' of 2012"

photos by Grant MacAllister, words by Zach Pollack

Swans at Metro on 10.24.2012

On Wednesday night (10/24) Swans brought their sonic assault to Chicago's Metro for a performance with tourmates A Hawk and a Hacksaw. Michael Gira and co. quietly took the stage, and launched directly into a brand new song titled "To Be Kind." That song is kind of a slow-burner at first, but then come these massive crashing sections towards the end of the track. 2012's fantastic The Seer's "Avatar" followed, showcasing just how well the three guitar players work together in a twisted and beautiful fashion. Gira opts to make high-pitched stabs at his guitar, lap steel player Christoph Hahn's output is deep and powerful, and longtime guitarist Norman Westberg handles the midrange, creating a nice basis for everyone else to contribute to. The way in which Swans took the stage was just about the only quiet thing they did last night. Bassist Christopher Pravdica is possibly the loudest of the bunch, cranking out a deep, warm, and bone-rattling tone. Gira rocked back and forth during the more subdued drone-y parts, in anticipation of the next wave of dense sound. When those waves came-- and they came often-- Gira thrashed about the stage, knelt down on the floor, screamed, and overall felt the music more than I feel I've seen anyone do in a very long time. Strangely, while he was doing this, he almost looked like he was drowning. It's a weird thought, but a thought that did not exit my mind for the remainder of their set.

Swans, to me, is ethereal, almost relaxing. I realize this notion makes me sound like a nutjob, but their output is just so spiritual and awakening. It's about expression in its most basic form: pure emotion. Swans is primal, deafening, and near perfect. Their perfection lies in their willingness to experiment, to vamp on the uncomfortable for five-plus-minutes. After the show, Gira headed to the merch room to sign posters/CDs/etc. and talk with fans. He was kind, personable, and relaxed. An older woman, who I learned has seen Swans more than a dozen times, simply asked him, "How are you?" "Well, I'm breathing," he quipped with a grin on his face. Aren't we all.

More pictures from the 10/24 show at Metro continue below...

Continue reading "Swans played Metro with A Hawk & A Hacksaw (pics, review)"

Swans at MHoW (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

The previously discussed Swans trek expands ever so slightly with the addition of a few more live dates with A Hawk & A Hacksaw. The shows include stops in NYC, Toronto, and a freshly announced Chicago stop at Metro on October 25th. Tickets go on sale at noon CST on Saturday (6/30).

The shows are in preparation for Swans' second foray back into the studio, the new LP The Seer due at the end of August.

Swans @ Roadburn 2011 (more by Stefan Raduta)

Post-punk legends Swans have been on the road for much of September with Sir Richard Bishop, and together they'll play Chicago's Bottom Lounge this Thursday (9/22). This will be the reunited band's second Chicago show in a year. They played the same venue in October of 2010...

"If there were ever any doubts that Swans has made some of the most illustrious experimental music in recent years, all were shattered after last night's show at the Bottom Lounge. The band, an ever changing gang lead by Michael Gira gave a strong performance that was rich with both new and older material as well as a testing of the audience's generous patience. You can gage a band's legendary status by the level of entitlement the audience has and Swans are well beyond this level. The fans needed to suck every morsel of sound and be as close to the stage as they could. Many were determined to get their way no matter how many people they had to squeeze through to get closer. It is a sweet testament for a large group of fans to show love for a band with a history as rich as Swans, you just don't want to get caught in the middle." [Gaper's Block]

Swans' dates with SRB culminate with a performance at the ATP fest in NJ on October 1st. Check out their full schedule for the next few weeks below.

Continue reading "Swans on tour w/ Sir Richard Bishop, playing Bottom Lounge on Thursday w/ Daniel Knox"

Mark Kozelek (of Sun Kil Moon & Red House Painters) is playing Lincoln Hall on July 8th.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, at noon CST.

Soundgarden, and The Mars Volta are playing UIC Pavilion on July 16th.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, at 10AM CST.

Timber Timbre, and Marissa Nadler will share the bill at Schubas on July 21st.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, at noon CST.

Tally Hall are playing Lincoln Hall on July 23rd.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, at noon CST.

Bon Iver, and The Rosebuds are playing The Chicago Theatre on July 24th.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, at 11AM CST.

Ani DiFranco is playing the Vic on September 21st.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, at 10AM CST.

Swans, and Sir Richard Bishop will play the Bottom Lounge on September 22nd.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, at noon CST.