CHIRP's annual Record Fair is set to return for an 11th year this Saturday (4/13) at Plumbers Hall. In addition to local vendors like Captcha Records, Saki, HoZac Records, Tandem Shop, and more, the fair will also have offerings from Irazu, Handlebar, Goose Island, and Dark Matter. Early admission (8AM - 10AM) will run you $25, while regular admission (10AM - 7PM) is $7 ($5 with coupon). Check out the full list of vendors HERE, and head to Plumbers Hall to support local businesses this Saturday.

Kevin Rieg's Many Places will be following up their excellent debut LP, Another Oath, with a new EP, titled Home + Departed, on February 12 via local label Tandem Shop Records. In search of a bigger sound, Rieg and co. headed to Humboldt Park studio Minbal to track the album, but it's no less intimate than their self-recorded Another Oath. The rich-voiced frontman howls over raw-yet-full accompaniment, reminding me of exactly why their debut frequently makes its way into my rotation. You can take a listen to Home + Departed in its entirety (via Chicago Reader) at the bottom of this post.

Many Places don't have any upcoming local shows at the moment, but I doubt it'll be all that long before they announce some. They'll also be heading to SXSW in Austin, TX in March.

A complete stream of Many Places' forthcoming Home + Departed EP is below...

Continue reading "Many Places releasing new EP (stream it here)"

by Parker Langvardt

DOWNLOAD: Many Places - "Helmet Hug" (MP3)

Singer-songwriter Kevin Rieg had been performing around Chicago for several years before putting together Many Places, his folk project that includes members of the indie rock group Honest Engines. Their self-recorded debut album, Another Oath, will be released on Tuesday (5/29) via local label Tandem Shop. Preorder a copy of Another Oath via the label's webstore.

For being recorded at home, Another Oath sounds surprisingly studio-quality. It's a bit on the lo-fi side, but there is a great ambience that helps contribute to the relaxing and serious tone. Rieg began writing the songs for this album as far back as 2009 before shaping them during the recording process. The instrumental interludes frame the album well, from the ambient opener "No One & Everyone," to the mid-album acoustic guitar experiment "Blankenship," and the gently bouncing "Brontosaurus" prior to the closer. Download the album's lead single "Helmet Hug" at the top of this post and stream Another Oath in its entirety below.

Many Places will be celebrating the release of this album on June 10 at The Whistler with folk singer-songwriter Zapruder Point. As always, shows at The Whistler are FREE.

Stream Another Oath below...

Continue reading "meet Many Places (stream their debut LP, see them @ The Whistler)"