by Parker Langvardt, photos by James Richards IV

I walked onto the south field of Grant Park on Saturday just in time to catch the last couple Doomtree songs. Within that time, all four emcees (Cecil Otter, Dessa, Mike Mictlan, P.O.S.) had a chance to display their lyrical prowess over the innovative beats produced by Paper Tiger and Lazerbeak, who did some live production.

Shortly after at the neighboring stage, Bear in Heaven's frosty synth tones helped combat the heat. I was disappointed to see Jon Philpot was triggering most, if not all, of the more complex synth parts, but it did allow him to focus on his vocals, which sounded strong and clear. He also played bass for a bit while Adam Wills played soft guitar parts.

Aloe Blacc made up for the dose of soul that I didn't have a chance to get from the grittier JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound earlier in the day. Blacc was backed by a six-piece band that provided smooth funk for his powerful vocals.

Neon Indian

Neon Indian had an array of keyboards on stage for their busy synth pop. The clouds rolled in, and shortly after singer Alan Palomo said their set was cut short due to approaching thunderstorms. He made the following public service announcement, "If this happens to be your first time on psychedelics, drink plenty of water and everything is going to be okay."

As soon as Neon Indian ended, Lollapalooza was evacuated in a lengthy process, putting many thousands of attendees out on the streets of downtown Chicago. After a downpour with lightning and high winds, the park was re-opened with a reworked schedule. A handful of performances were cancelled, including Alabama Shakes, B.O.B., Chairlift, and the Temper Trap (no refunds are being given).

Tune-yards were fortunately rescheduled for 6:30, and Merrill Garbus opened the show solo with the vocal-loop heavy "Party Can". Bassist Nate Brenner and saxophonists Matt Nelson and Noah Bernstein joined her toward the end of the song, following with the jazzy "You Yes You". The refreshed audience sang along to the siren-like vocals in the intro of the wonky hit "Gangsta". After the distorted ukulele jam "Powa", they rocked through the African pop inspired "Bizness".

Bloc Party

I arrived at the north end of the park just in time for Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out," admittedly their only song I'm familiar with. Despite my low expectations, they sounded extremely tight on that and the following song. Bloc Party felt a bit lacking in intimacy though. It wasn't really possibly to get close enough to hear the lower frequencies or what Kele Okereke was saying.

Red Hot Chili Peppers opened with "Monarchy of Roses" from their new 2011 album I'm With You, with Anthony Kiedis using a strange tremolo effect on his voice. The massive crowd cheered as the song ended and Flea launched into a messy distorted jazz solo to lead into the opening bass line of "Around the World" off Californication. Flea and Chad Smith comfortably improvised throughout the part of the set I watched, and Josh Klinghoffer joined in on many of their between song jams. Klinghoffer's tone is much more ambient and noisy than former RHCP guitarist John Frusicante's, making for indistinct but still powerful solos. He skillfully handled the busy clean guitar of "Snow", which Flea prefaced with the statement, "Be kind, be gentle, be nice. Fuck shit up." After another song from I'm With You, they played "Throw Away Your Television", in a rare moment of Kiedis' lyrics making much sense at all.

Flea

Frank Ocean captivated his smaller but substantial crowd with his impressive vocal range; he hit the high falsetto parts with as much power as his lower notes. Backed by a band, his set was a mix of channel ORANGE and Nostalgia, Ultra.

That was it for me for Saturday, but read about Friday if you haven't yet. Sunday review on the way.

More pictures from Saturday HERE. Pictures from Friday HERE.

Lollapalooza 2012 has revealed the full schedule for their 3-day festival, set to take place from August 3-5 in Grant Park. Check it out HERE.

A bunch of official aftershows have also been announced, happening from August 1-5. Here's a number of them (more TBA, including unofficial shows):

August 1
Alabama Shakes, First Aid Kit, Dry The River, Filligar @ Metro
Delta Spirit, FIDLAR @ Lincoln Hall

August 2
Passion Pit, GIVERS, Kishi Bashi @ House of Blues
Kids These Days, Overdoz @ Schubas
Dr. Dog, Kevin Devine, The Dunwells @ Lincoln Hall
Zedd, Gus K, DJ Gordo, DJ Torio @ The Mid

August 3
Bear in Heaven, YAWN @ the Empty Bottle
NERO (DJ Set), Die Antwoord, Anamanaguchi @ Congress Theater
Frank Ocean @ Metro
tUnE-yArDs, Washed Out @ House of Blues
The Black Angels, Night Beats @ Double Door
The War on Drugs, Milo Greene @ Schubas
Blind Pilot, Kopecky Family Band @ Lincoln Hall
Porter Robinson, Madeon @ The Mid
The Growlers, JEFF the Brotherhood @ Subterranean
Paper Diamond, Minnesota @ Bottom Lounge

August 4
White Rabbits, Dum Dum Girls, Oberhofer @ Cubby Bear
Doomtree, Naledge of Kidz In The Hall @ the Empty Bottle
Zeds Dead, Big Gigantic, Midnight Conspiracy, Big Chocolate @ Congress Theater
The Afghan Whigs @ Metro
Of Monsters & Men, Yellow Ostrich @ House of Blues
Trampled By Turtles, The Devil Makes Three @ Double Door
Childish Gambino @ the Vic
The Temper Trap, Poliça @ Park West
Gary Clark Jr., LP @ Schubas
Twin Shadow @ Lincoln Hall
Calvin Harris, Nathan Scott @ The Mid
The Big Pink @ Subterranean
Bombay Bicycle Club, Hey Rosetta! @ Bottom Lounge

August 5
Chairlift w/ Alt-J @ the Empty Bottle
The Walkmen @ Lincoln Hall

Company Flow @ Creators Project in Brooklyn in October (more by BBG)

today in Chicago
* CIMMFest (Day 1)
* Pure Prairie League @ SPACE
* Caveman, Night Moves @ Schubas
* Big Empty, Wet Heat @ The Burlington
* Sam McPheeters @ Permanent Records
* Zebra Katz, JD Samson, Shuteye @ Berlin
* Sam McPheeters @ Columbia College Chicago
* The Bears of Blue River, K.Serra @ Lincoln Hall
* Dirty Ghosts, Sleepy Kitty, Magic City @ Empty Bottle
* Rodrigo y Gabriela, C.U.B.A. @ The Chicago Theatre
* Solemn Meant Walks, Boyfrndz, The Mommies @ Township
* Shaggwell, The Lucky Dutch, The Earth Is A Man @ Double Door
* Screaming Females, Mayor Daley, Deth Warrant @ Subterranean
* Mutts, Driftless Pony Club, Sharpless, Hemmingbirds @ Beat Kitchen
* Company Flow, 4th Pyramid, Qwel & Maker, ADaD, DJ Intel @ Metro
* Soundwalls, We Killed The Lion, Blind Pets, Dinosaur Party @ Ultra Lounge
* David Allan Coe, The Krank Daddies, Coldcock Jones & The Shithawks @ Reggie's
* The Waco Brothers, The Blisters, The Academy For Global Citizenship, RedStreak Cider @ Hideout

The Chicago International Movies and Music Festival (CIMM) begins today.

Caveman and Night Moves play Schubas tonight.

Catch Sam McPheeters readings at both Columbia College and Permanent Records.

Rodrigo y Gabriela and C.U.B.A. visit The Chicago Theatre.

Screaming Females headline Subterranean tonight.

Company Flow make their Chicago debut at Metro before heading to Coachella.

tUnE-yArDs have a new video for "My Country." Check it out below.

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

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 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?"

Russian Circles @ Bowery Ballroom in NYC earlier on tour (more by BBG)

today in Chicago
* Auto Body, Krewella @ Beauty Bar
* Poi Dog Pondering @ Metro (Night 2)
* Jerry Lee Lewis @ Congress Theater
* Jaill, Heavy Times, Broncho @ Schubas
* Blackbelts, Strychnine @ Viaduct Theater
* Lisa Lampanelli @ Horseshoe Hammond Casino
* Adam Carolla @ Park West (Early & Late Shows)
* Eleventh Dream Day, Coffin Pricks @ Empty Bottle
* Mannequin Men, VeeDee, Nicholas Rouley @ Hideout
* Savvy, Genome, New World Ancients @ Subterranean
* The Knux, Jordy Towers, Vanity Theft, JTX @ Reggie's
* Thin Hymns, Bigcolour, Houtakker, Gel Set @ Panchos
* Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market @ Pulaski Park Fieldhouse
* Electric Hawk, self-evident, Buildings, Guzzlemug @ Quenchers
* Russian Circles, Young Widows, Anatomy of Habit @ Lincoln Hall
* Life and Times, Office of Future Plans, All Eyes West @ Beat Kitchen
* Deadbeat Darling, The Mediocre Fight, esh, Tiffany Thompson & Jenn Bostic, Faraz Chaudry @ Double Door

tUnE-yArDs played an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Check out the footage below.

The Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Market kicks off today (12/3).

YACHT have a new video for "I Walked Alone." View it below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

photos by Matt Ziegler, words by Parker Langvardt

With a dash of white paint on her face, tUnE-yArDs' Merrill Garbus walked on stage to face a sold out crowd for the first show of a two night run at Lincoln Hall on Wednesday night, (11/9). She sang a single note and took a deep breath, leaving time for an audience member to start clapping. Garbus laughed, leading everyone to cheer and clap. She talked briefly, seeming to work out any nervousness before starting over. Her voice rang through the room with tribal inflections, gritty accents on lower notes, and loud, rhythmic breathing between each phrase. She began to loop her voice, layering it densely until she stopped the loop and began clicking the rim of a floor tom. The rest of her band walked on - a bassist and two saxophonists- as Garbus finished creating a jazzy hip-hop beat comprised of loops. All four of them hopped in circles as the song built to a climax of enjoyable grooves and slightly discordant melodies.

Similarly to Battles, tUnE-yArDs pair strong rhythms with bizarre harmonies and scales to create strangely catchy music. It was fun to hear the crowd singing along to the siren-like vocal loops of "Gangsta," and see them dance to the off-kilter bass lines. The band fielded some questions, and Garbus revealed she doesn't eat wheat (not to be confused with meat), and therefore eats Ezekial 4:9 cereal- "the cereal of the righteous," as she joked about the Christian food company. When asked who her favorite muppet was, she misheard, "Are you a muppet?" and fired back, "Yes, that's the secret behind tUnE-yArDs."

Before playing the African-styled song "Hatari," which means "danger" in Swahili, Garbus excitedly told the audience that an anonymous donor gave them $5,000 to send to any charity. She chose Action Against Hunger to relieve East African famine, and offered $5 hugs outside the merch booth after the show in an attempt to match the donation. I found I only had $2 in cash, and opted for a handshake. They were able to collect $1,600 and will be continuing the hug sale throughout the tour.

Pat Jordache, the stage name of Montreal-based musician Patrick Gregoire (formally of Sister Suvi, Islands) opened both nights.

Check out more pictures from night one at Lincoln Hall below..

Continue reading "tUnE-yArDs & Pat Jordache played two nights @ Lincoln Hall (night 1 pics)"

photos by Matt Ziegler, words by Parker Langvardt

With a dash of white paint on her face, tUnE-yArDs' Merrill Garbus walked on stage to face a sold out crowd for the first show of a two night run at Lincoln Hall on Wednesday night, (11/9). She sang a single note and took a deep breath, leaving time for an audience member to start clapping. Garbus laughed, leading everyone to cheer and clap. She talked briefly, seeming to work out any nervousness before starting over. Her voice rang through the room with tribal inflections, gritty accents on lower notes, and loud, rhythmic breathing between each phrase. She began to loop her voice, layering it densely until she stopped the loop and began clicking the rim of a floor tom. The rest of her band walked on - a bassist and two saxophonists- as Garbus finished creating a jazzy hip-hop beat comprised of loops. All four of them hopped in circles as the song built to a climax of enjoyable grooves and slightly discordant melodies.

Similarly to Battles, tUnE-yArDs pair strong rhythms with bizarre harmonies and scales to create strangely catchy music. It was fun to hear the crowd singing along to the siren-like vocal loops of "Gangsta," and see them dance to the off-kilter bass lines. The band fielded some questions, and Garbus revealed she doesn't eat wheat (not to be confused with meat), and therefore eats Ezekial 4:9 cereal- "the cereal of the righteous," as she joked about the Christian food company. When asked who her favorite muppet was, she misheard, "Are you a muppet?" and fired back, "Yes, that's the secret behind tUnE-yArDs."

Before playing the African-styled song "Hatari," which means "danger" in Swahili, Garbus excitedly told the audience that an anonymous donor gave them $5,000 to send to any charity. She chose Action Against Hunger to relieve East African famine, and offered $5 hugs outside the merch booth after the show in an attempt to match the donation. I found I only had $2 in cash, and opted for a handshake. They were able to collect $1,600 and will be continuing the hug sale throughout the tour.

Pat Jordache, the stage name of Montreal-based musician Patrick Gregoire (formally of Sister Suvi, Islands) opened both nights.

Check out more pictures from night one at Lincoln Hall below..

Continue reading "tUnE-yArDs & Pat Jordache played two nights @ Lincoln Hall (night 1 pics)"

Har Mar Superstar with Gayngs @ Stubb's in Austin, TX (more by Tim Griffin)

today in Chicago
* Tim Minchin @ the Vic
* Robbie Fulks @ SPACE
* Redgrave, Coins, Gel Set @ Quenchers
* tUnE-yArDs, Pat Jordache @ Lincoln Hall
* Joe Lally, I Kong Kult, Helen Money @ Schubas
* Yonder Mountain String Band @ House of Blues
* Algebro, Madeline, Bone and Bell @ Bottom Lounge
* Gringo Star, Village, Minor Characters @ Subterranean
* Mr. Gnome, Ornery Little Darlings, The Reptoids @ Empty Bottle
* Har Mar Superstar, Ghosthouse, Pyro Fighter @ Double Door
* Morrissey, Kristeen Young @ Congress Theater POSTPONED
* Reckless Ones, Horror is Dead, Shotgun Gambling, Eastside Wildcats @ Reggie's

Friendly Fires have a new video for their track "Hurting." Check it out below.

tUnE-yArDs and Pat Jordache play their second of two shows at Lincoln Hall tonight.

Morrissey's Congress Theater performance has been rescheduled. More info HERE.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Thursday?"

Starfucker @ Lincoln Hall in April (more by Grant MacAllister)

today in Chicago
* Lucy Wainwright Roche, Anne Heaton @ SPACE
* Starfucker, Beat Connection, Alexico @ Lincoln Hall
* Frankie Rose, Dirty Beaches, Magic Milk @ Empty Bottle
* PS I Love You, The Field Auxilary, Carnivores @ Schubas

Tune-Yards have a new video for "Gangsta." Check it out below.

Fleet Foxes played Letterman. Video below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

tUnE-yArDs @ Pitchfork Fest 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

Cut Chemist @ CMJ

As announced,

tUnE-yArDs is releasing a 12" single for w h o k i l l's "Gangsta" on September 27 via 4AD. The 12" features the album version of the track, an Ad Rock (of Beastie Boys) remix, a Cut Chemist remix, the instrumental version, and an cappella version.

Cut Chemist has an upcoming Chicago gig at The Mid on October 7th, with Quantic.
tUnE-yArDs are playing both November 9th & 10th at Lincoln Hall with Pat Jordache.

Pre-order the 12" HERE, and stream/download Ad Rock's contribution below..

Continue reading "Cut Chemist remixed tUnE-yArDs, playing The Mid w/ Quantic"

Sarah Jarosz

today in Chicago
* Jeff Parker @ Rodan
* Sarah Jarosz @ Schubas
* Alkaline Trio, Smoking Popes, River City Extension @ Metro
* PHENOM, Shami Sosa, Ghetto Caviar, Raj Mahal, DJ Sich Mang @ Empty Bottle
* Disembodiment, Odonrot, Psychopathic Daze, D Railed, Alchemy Rising @ Double Door (Free Show)

Tune-Yards played "Gangsta" on Fallon last night, with a little help from The Roots. Check out the footage below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

tUnE-yArDs @ Pier 54 in NYC this past Thursday (more by Chris La Putt)

Never mind just packing Pier 54, playing the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival, and looking towards an upcoming string of dates in Europe; tUnE-yArDs have also just announced a fall North American tour!

The tour will consist of 29 shows from late-September to late-November, stopping in Chicago for a two-night run at Lincoln Hall on November 9th & 10th. Support for both nights will come from Pat Jordache. Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Head below to view all 2011 tour dates, and some videos from Pier 54.

Continue reading "tUnE-yArDs announce North American tour (two nights @ LH!)"

photos by Josh Darr

James Blake

Animal Collective

The 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival took place this past weekend in Union Park.

A set of pictures from day one (Friday, 7/15) of the festival continue below..
Head to BrooklynVegan to check out even more pics.

Continue reading "Pitchfork Fest 2011 -- Day One in pics"

tUnE-yArDs @ Central Park Summerstage in 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

today in Chicago
* Sickoids, Pukoid @ Pancho's
* The Fiery Furnaces @ Schubas
* tUnE-yArDs, Buke and Gass, Prussia @ Lincoln Hall

The Fiery Furnaces will play Schubas again tomorrow night.

What else?

As previously announced, the 2011 Pitchfork Music Festival will be taking place on Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17 at Chicago's Union Park! Three-day passes are sold out (gone within 24 hours!), That being said, single-day passes can still be picked up at the rate of $45 per day.

The Pitchfork Music Festival is stoked to round out its 2011 lineup with a slew of new acts. Friday welcomes Thurston Moore, Battles, tUnE-yArDs, Gatekeeper, and EMA. Saturday's lineup sees the most new performers, with DJ Shadow, Zola Jesus, Twin Shadow, Toro Y Moi, Cold Cave, Wild Nothing, Julianna Barwick, and OFF! Sunday's additions are Superchunk and Darkstar. And there we have it: The lineup for the always engaging Pitchfork Music Festival is complete.

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

Continue reading "Pitchfork Festival finalizes lineup (Superchunk, tUnE-yArDs, Battles, & more)"

April 19th marks the release of the second album from Merrill Garbus' tUnE-yArDs. Entitled w h o k i l l, the album was recorded shortly after Garbus transplanted herself from Montreal to sunny Oakland, California having extensively toured debut album BiRd-BrAiNs through 2009 and 2010.

w h o k i l l retains the honesty of the lonely bedroom confessionals of her early work, but with the addition of the fangs, claws and dented metal of her new surroundings. Indeed, Oakland's particular landscapes serve as primer for what you hear on the album, with the city's unique vitality fuelling the brightness of w h o k i l l. By applying the tUnE-yArDs live approach to her studio work for the first time, Merrill's added more buttons and joints to those already being used - one essential new joint is dexterous bass member Nate Brenner, who co-wrote a few songs.

tUnE-yArDs will play Lincoln Hall on May 10th, with current tour mates Buke & Gass. Tickets for the show are on sale now.

All 2011 tour dates, and the video for the w h o k i l l single "Bizness" can be found below.

Continue reading "tUnE-yArDs announces new LP, playing Lincoln Hall, & other 2011 dates"