As discussed, Naked Raygun will be playing Metro on June 29 with The Arrivals, White Mystery, and Acidic Tree. Advance tickets are still available for that show, and they've also added a second performance, on June 28 with Zero Boys and The Crombies. Tickets for their new show are on sale now.

A couple of Naked Raygun videos are below...

Continue reading "Naked Raygun add second performance at Metro"

Riot Fest Chicago is set to take place from September 13-15 this year in Humboldt Park. Their initial lineup includes Rocket From The Crypt, The Dismemberment Plan, Guided By Voices, Motorhead, Blondie, Public Enemy, FLAG, Bad Religion, Dinosaur Jr., Bob Mould, Screeching Weasel, Mission of Burma, GWAR, Quicksand, and many more acts. Three-day passes are on-sale now, and single-day tickets will be available soon.

Check out the initial Riot Fest Chicago 2013 lineup below...

Continue reading "Riot Fest Chicago announce 2013 lineup (Rocket From The Crypt, The Dismemberment Plan, GBV & more), tix on-sale now"

photos by James Richards IV

White Mystery // A Giant Dog at the Hideout on 5.10.2013

On Friday night (5/10), White Mystery played a record release show for Telepathic at the intimate Hideout with support from Psalm One and Austin's A Giant Dog. From what we've heard, all three female-fronted acts put on a great show. Were you there? If so, what did you think? Pictures from the 5/10 show are the Hideout are in this post. More below...

Continue reading "White Mystery, Psalm One & A Giant Dog played Hideout (pics)"

Chicago-based melodic punks Naked Raygun, who reunited at Riot Fest in 2006 after a 14-year hiatus, have just announced that they'll be playing Metro on June 29. Support will come from The Arrivals, White Mystery, and Acidic Tree, and tickets go on sale this Friday (4/5) at noon CST.

A few Naked Raygun song streams are below...

Continue reading "Naked Raygun playing Metro in June"

White Mystery @ the Hideout, November 2012 (more by Sara Pieper)

Garage rock and Valentine's Day go hand-in-hand, right? If you just so happen to be of that school of thought, catch White Mystery, Absolutely Not, Twin Peaks, and Post Honeymoon at Schubas on Thursday, February 14. Advance tickets are on sale now, and the show is a benefit for the Chris Saathoff Foundation.

Brother-sister duo White Mystery are set to self-release their new album, Telepathic, on April 20. They've already shared "Jungle Cat," "Secret Garden," "Break a Sweat," and "Fun Times" from the LP, and all four tracks are available to stream at the bottom of this post. Telepathic is up for CD/LP preorder via the band's webstore.

A few streams from White Mystery's forthcoming LP are below...

Continue reading "White Mystery, Absolutely Not, Twin Peaks & more playing Schubas on Valentine's Day"

We've been talking New Year's Eve for quite some time, and since the world didn't end last week, all the great shows and parties we told you about are still happening.

Refresh your memory below...

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"The Screaming Eagle of Soul" himself, Charles Bradley, will be visiting Chicago for a two-night stand at Lincoln Hall on December 30 & 31. Advance tickets are still available for both shows, and though his New Year's Eve performance will cost you twice as much as the 30th, you'll receive complimentary drink tickets, appetizers, and a Daptone Records drop card for a free digital sampler.

Speaking of Lincoln Hall, their sister venue Schubas will be hosting Maps & Atlases on December 30 & 31. Gypsyblood will act as main support on the 30th, Santah will open the show on New Year's Eve, and advance tickets for both shows are still available. There's also a two-show pass for sale.

Screeching Weasel are celebrating their 27th anniversary with a two-night run at Reggie's on December 30th & 31st. Though Night 1 (with The Queers, The Manges, and Vatican Junkies) is sold out, advance tickets for Night 2 (with The Queers, The Manges, and They Stay Dead) are still available.

Local H are playing the Beat Kitchen on December 30 (with State & Madison) & 31 (with All Eyes West). Their NYE show is sold out, but tickets are still available for their 12/30 performance.

Tilly and the Wall are yet another act that will be playing two Chicago shows during New Year's Eve weekend. You'll be able to find them at Subterranean on December 30 (with California Wives) & 31 (with My Gold Mask and DJ CC Rider). Advance tickets for both shows are still available.

Butch Walker and Dick Prall are also playing two nights in Chicago. They'll appear at the Double Door on December 30 and at the Bottom Lounge on December 31. Both shows are sold out.

The Eternals will be performing "the Espiritu Zombi Suite," a piece written for a larger group-version of the band, at the Hideout on New Year's Eve. As discussed, core members Damon Locks, Wayne Montana, and Areif Sless-Kitain will be joined by six additional musicians on vibes, coronet, flute, saxophone, and more. Chandeliers will act as main support and will also play a DJ set around midnight. Advance tickets are still available.

"The Queen of Rockabilly," Wanda Jackson, will be headlining the Double Door on New Year's Eve. JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers, Burlesque le' Moustache, and Soul Summit DJs will open the show. Advance tickets are still available.

Alejandro Escovedo and his band The Sensitive Boys are set to play SPACE in Evanston, IL on New Year's Eve. Nicholas Tremulis will open the show, and advance tickets are still available.

Naked Raygun and The Dwarves are playing the Cobra Lounge on New Year's Eve. Though advance tickets are sold out, there may be a small amount available for purchase at the door.

Denton, TX's The Marked Men are playing the Empty Bottle on December 31 with Bad Sports and Terrible Twos (tickets). As discussed, Marked Men side project Mind Spiders are playing the Bottle on December 29 with The Novice and Dumpster Babies (tickets).

Speaking of the Empty Bottle, they're also presenting Mucca Pazza, White Mystery, and Jon Drake & the Shakes at the Logan Square Auditorium on New Year's Eve (tickets). They're also doing "New Year's Eve: Two Thousand Turnteen" with The Hood Internet, Moon Boots, Only Children, and DJ Esquire at Beauty Bar (tickets).

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound are set to play the final show of 2012 at Mayne Stage on December 31. Advance tickets for that show are still available.

The Airborne Toxic Event and On An On play Metro on New Year's Eve. Tickets are still available, and don't forget: Neurosis, Bloodiest, and The Atlas Moth play the venue on December 30 (tickets).

Magic Milk, Rabble Rabble, Vamos, Kodiak Farm Boys, The Electric Dollhouse Groove Buggy, Don't Forget Your Dinosaur, and The Sueves are ALL set to play Quenchers on New Year's Eve. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Outer Minds, The Hello Hello, and Absolutely Not will be performing at The Burlington on December 31.

South Loop dive bar Cal's are closing on New Year's Day. They'll be throwing a farewell // New Year's Eve show, featuring performances by Mercy Mercy, Demerits, and Larroquettes.

Hannibal Buress is playing three shows at Zanies on New Year's Eve. Advance tickets for his three NYE shows in Chicago are sold out, but the Zanies box office might be holding onto some.

Perhaps you're looking for something a bit more electronic? Porter Robinson is coming to Chicago for a two-night stand at the Congress on December 30 & 31. Hardwell and Deniz Koyu will act as main support on the 30th, and Mat Zo and The M Machine will open the show on the 31. Advance tickets for both nights are still available. Paul Oakenfold is also playing Castle Nightclub (tickets).

ALSO: You'll be able to ride the CTA from 10PM - 4AM on New Year's Eve for 1¢. For more information on how that works visit the CTA's website.

What did we miss?

Heading to Austin or New York? We also have a list of shows that are happening in both of those cities.

Happy (almost) New Year!

photos by Sara Pieper

Turbo Fruits at the Hideout on 11.24.2012

On Saturday night (11/24) Nashville's Turbo Fruits toured through Chicago in support of their most recent LP, Butter. They headlined the Hideout with support from local duo White Mystery, and we've got more pictures of both acts below...

Continue reading "Turbo Fruits & White Mystery played the Hideout (pics)"

Outer Minds @ Pitchfork Festival 2012 (more)

The Reader B-Side and the Empty Bottle are set to host another one of their booze cruises on Lake Michigan this month. On Thursday, September 13 they'll be setting sail with Outer Minds, The Yolks, and White Mystery (DJs) in tow. Line up begins at 6PM on Navy Pier and the ship leaves at a prompt 6:30PM. Tickets are on sale now, and include drinks / food.

Headliners Outer Minds are prepping their new LP, Behind the Mirror, for release in late-October via FDH and Red Lounge. Take a listen to the album's lead single, which they shared earlier this summer, called "We Are All Stone" below.

Continue reading "Outer Minds, The Yolks & White Mystery (DJs) playing a Chicago Reader B-Side Booze Cruise"

today in Chicago
* Hounds of Love @ Schubas
* Killer Moon, Deathtram, Del Mas Alla, The Clams @ Township
* Windbreaker, E.T. Habit, Handsome Tyrants, Chemtrails @ Empty Bottle
* The Red Plastic Buddha, Creepy Band, Dumpster Babies @ The Burlington

Tonight's Windbreaker-headlined show at the Bottle is free with RSVP before 5PM.

Shana Gray, The Cavepainters, and other Chicago musicians perform the music of Kate Bush at Schubas tonight.

White Mystery are playing Audiotree at 7PM CST tonight. Live-stream their performance.

Duran Duran were supposed to play the Ravinia Festival tonight, but they've canceled.

The Luyas have a new video for "Fifty Fifty." Check it out below.

Melody's Echo Chamber has a new video for "I Follow You." Watch it below.

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

White Mystery @ HoZac Blackout Fest 2012 (more by John Yingling)

White Mystery, who recently opened for Garbage at Metro, are set to play an intimate hometown show at the Fireside Bowl on Tuesday night (8/14). Support with come from Madison, WI's The Hussy, Absolutely Not, and The Eeries, and tickets will be for sale at the door.

WM's next upcoming Chicago show after the Fireside Bowl gig is a performance on Sunday (9/16) of Riot Fest. Two-day and single-day passes are still available.

All White Mystery dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "White Mystery playing Fireside Bowl on Tuesday w/ The Hussy, Absolutely Not & The Eeries"

Like they did last year, Sailor Jerry will return to Cobra Lounge (235 N Ashland) for three nights of Pitchfork Fest afterparties, and if you can't tell from the killer (free!) lineups listed in the flyer above (...White Mystery, Human Eye, King Tuff, Natural Child, Psychic Paramount, Coathangers, Heavy Cream...), each night is going to rock very hard. We predict packed houses of Sailor Jerry intoxicated fans, great music and trouble getting to Union Park on the following days in time for the Pitchfork Fest opening bands go on.

Oh, and more bands are still TBA! July 13-15, 9 p.m., FREE with RSVP, 21+

Andrew WK in NYC in April (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

As mentioned, Riot Fest Chicago 2012 goes down from September 14-16 in Humboldt Park, and now also at Congress Theater, who will host the opening night. Joining the initial lineup of Iggy & the Stooges, Elvis Costello, Descendents, Gogol Bordello, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Gaslight Anthem, The Promise Ring, Screaming Females, Built to Spill, and more is a second wave of artists including Andrew W.K. (full band), Hot Water Music, Minus the Bear, The Adicts, Henry Clay People, The Adicts, Pegboy, Imagine Dragons, Dead Sara, Fireworks, The Infected, Neon Trees, and still more to come.

Day-by-day lineups have now also been revealed which you can check out below. Multi-day passes are almost all sold out, but a few options are still available, and single day tickets go on sale today at 10 AM.

Continue reading "Riot Fest Chicago expands lineup (Andrew WK, Hot Water Music, Minus the Bear, The Adicts & more)"

photos by John Yingling

DOWNLOAD: Redd Kross - "Researching the Blues" (MP3)

Redd Kross @ HoZac Blackout Fest on 5/19/2012

HoZac Blackout Fest 2012 took place this past weekend at the Empty Bottle. A set of pictures from Saturday (5/19) of the festival are in this post.

Saturday night was headlined by Redd Kross, serving as one of the group's two recent US shows. As mentioned, their first album in over 15-years, Researching the Blues, hits stores in August via Merge. Download the album's title track at the top of this post and/or listen below. Along with the pictures, we've also got a few videos of their headlining set.

Gentleman Jesse & His Men, Homostupids, Fungi Girls, Teledrome, Pleasure Leftists, Far Out Fangtooth, Ketamines, Barreracudas, and White Mystery all played the Bottle on Saturday as well.

A full set of pictures from Saturday of Blackout Fest, some Redd Kross videos, and a stream of their new single below...

Continue reading "Saturday of HoZac Blackout Fest in pictures (Redd Kross, Gentleman Jesse, Fungi Girls, White Mystery & more)"

Riot Fest Chicago 2012 is set to take place in Humboldt Park from September 14-16.

They've just announced their initial lineup of Rise Against, Iggy & the Stooges, The Offspring, Elvis Costello, A Day To Remember, Coheed and Cambria, Gogol Bordello, Descendents, Dropkick Murphys, NOFX, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Gaslight Anthem, Alkaline Trio, Slapstick, Awolnation, The Promise Ring, Chiodos, GWAR, August Burns Red, Frank Turner, Built To Spill, Reverend Horton Heat, Fishbone, No Bunny, A Wilhelm Scream, Screaming Females, Teenage Bottlerocket, Off With Their Heads, Sister Crayon, Deals Gone Bad, White Mystery, Larry and His Flask, The Story So Far, and Japanther. Two and three-day passes are on sale NOW.

Current lineup below...

Continue reading "Riot Fest Chicago 2012 - initial lineup & tix (Iggy & the Stooges, Elvis Costello, The Offspring, Descendents, Gogol Bordello, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Promise Ring & more)"

Total Slacker's Thrashin' LP

Brooklyn bands Total Slacker and Night Manager are going on tour this June. They'll kick things off at the beginning of the month in NYC, and will reach Township for a performance on June 8. White Mystery, who have a tour of their own with Shonen Knife coming up, will headline the Chicago show. Locals Swimsuit Addition are also on the bill, and advance tickets are on sale.

Total Slacker released their debut LP, Thrashin', in March of 2011 via Marshall Teller Records. Night Manager self-released their Ghost EP in December of 2011. You can stream tracks from both albums in this post.

All known 2012 tour dates and song streams below...

Continue reading "Total Slacker & Night Manager are going on tour (dates), playing Township w/ White Mystery"

With the addition of The Soft Pack, Gypsyblood, the Mutts, Young Jesus, and Magic Milk, the 2012 Do Division Street Festival has sealed its schedule. The free street fest (suggested donation of $5), taking place from June 1-3 in Wicker Park, also features a sidewalk sale from participating local shops and tons of food vendors.

Full lineup below...

Continue reading "Do Division finishes off lineup w/ The Soft Pack, Gypsyblood, the Mutts, Young Jesus & Magic Milk"

White Mystery @ Hotel Vegan (bvChicago-SXSW 2012) (more by Tim Griffin)

Chicago duo White Mystery have been touring non-stop this year. They've just announced a brand new summer run, acting as main support for Tokyo's Shonen Knife. Kicking off in Philly in July, the tour will reach the Empty Bottle on August 2. Advance tickets are on sale. White Mystery are also playing HoZac Blackout Fest and Do Division.

All 2012 tour dates and the band's awesome new animated video for "Rapid Overdrive," below...

Continue reading "White Mystery are touring w/ Shonen Knife this summer (dates)"

Hozac Records, the folks behind the annual Blackout Fest - taking place at the Empty Bottle this year from May 18-20 - have announced that their lineup will include Roky Erickson, Davilla 666, Gentleman Jesse, Human Eye, Bare Mutants, Fungi Girls, Mentally Ill, Rayon Beach, Pleasure Leftists, Ketamines, Teledrome, Plateaus, Video, Cozy, Spider Fever, ET Habit, Barreracudas, White Mystery, Estrogen Highs, and Medication.

The above acts are in addition to the previously announced: Redd Kross, Screaming Yellow Zonkers, Homostupids, and Far-Out Fangtooth.

Three-day passes (now sold out) and single-day tickets were just posted for sale.

Current lineup-by-day, below..

Continue reading "Roky Erickson, Davilla 666, Gentleman Jesse & more to play Blackout Fest 2012 - tix on sale NOW"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound @ Hotel Vegan

"...Before we were able to bask in the glory, we were driving in MAD traffic to get across town to Hotel Vegas to play Brooklyn Vegan's "Hotel Vegan" party. We barely got to the stage in time, screeched up, lept out of the van like we were the A-Team. Set up. Go. 11 people in the room, tops. The big names are outside in the back. And then something clicked, we just continue to be locked in. I look up five songs later and the room is packed. Wall to wall hipsters, including friends from Gypsy Blood, The Pinstripes, and Kane Place Record Club. It was a riot. Like a real house party. Next thing I know, we're shaking hands and getting in cell phone pictures and some real cool guy from Chicago with a little city pride takes us all out to dinner..." [JC Brooks SXSW Tour Diary]

Special thanks to a Sailor Jerry, Brooklyn Brewery, HobNob Wines, and Honest Tea for providing refreshments. Thanks also to our backline partners Korg, Vox, and Blackstar Amplification for helping make the sound happen,

Thanks especially to everyone who stopped by and to the many artists who played. Check out more pictures from the whole day, below...

Continue reading "pics: Chicago represented @ Hotel Vegan in Austin (with JC Brooks, Maps & Atlases, Flosstradamus & many more)"

We're excited and pleased to announce BV Chicago's first-ever Austin event, a full stage of Chicago musicians along side TWO MORE BrooklynVegan-programmed stages, at Hotel 'Vegan' (aka Hotel Vegas & Volstead Lounge at1500 E. 6th Street) on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from noon - 6PM. Hotel Vegan will be runing from Wednesday through Saturday during SXSW Music, and we're excited to be showcasing Chicago bands on one of the three stages, on the first of those four days.

Headlining the BV Chicago stage will be JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound (who just announced a big hometown show at Metro). Also on the bill: Flosstradamus (which one half of, J2K, performed at a recent BV Chicago event) with a special guest, The-Drum (who shared that bill with J2K), Maps & Atlases (who have a new album and big hometown show at Metro + tour coming up), White Mystery, FIELDED, Gypsyblood, and Minor Characters (who have a pre-SXSW show at Schubas).

It looks like this:

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 - bvChicago Stage at Hotel 'Vegan'
12:00PM - Minor Characters
12:35PM - Gypsyblood
01:15PM - FIELDED
02:00PM - White Mystery
02:45PM - Maps & Atlases
03:30PM - The-Drum
04:15PM - Flosstradamus
05:00PM - JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

Thanks to our backline partners Korg, Vox, and Blackstar Amplification for providing the gear to make this party possible.

And stay tuned for the rest of the "Hotel Vegan" lineups soon!

UPDATE: Here's what another one of the Wednesday stages looks like.

White Mystery @ Subterranean in December (more by James Richards IV)

As mentioned, White Mystery kicked off a massive North American tour this weekend, with a show at Treasure Town on Friday night (2/10). Were you there? How was it?

They've also just added a February 26th show at the Empty Bottle to their schedule, which will be your last chance to catch a hometown performance from the duo until they return in May. Earthquake Party! and Dark Fog will open, tickets are on sale now.

White Mystery closed out Tomorrow Never Knows 2012, headlining Schubas with support from Mannequin Men, Mister Loveless, and City Center on January 15th. Five Penn Films were also in attendance and captured some face-melting video of the band's set.

Check out the footage from TNK along with an updated list of 2012 tour dates, below..

Continue reading "White Mystery add show @ the Bottle, check out some live footage from TNK (video)"

White Mystery @ Schubas during TNK 2012 (more by John Yingling)

Chicago's White Mystery are gearing up for a spring North American tour which will take the brother-sister duo down to SXSW, out to California, and even to the East Coast for a few dates.

Their entire West Coast run will feature support from Atlanta's The Coathangers, who are also playing SXSW. Check out White Mystery's full 2012 tour schedule below.

Before they leave Chicago for a few months, you can catch the band at Treasure Town on Friday night (2/10), with support from Univox, T'Bone, and LionLimb.

All 2012 dates and some videos, below..

Continue reading "White Mystery announce North American tour dates"

photos by John Yingling

White Mystery @ Schubas on 1/15/2012

On Sunday night (1/15), White Mystery closed out Tomorrow Never Knows 2012 at Schubas with some help from Mannequin Men, Mister Loveless, and City Center. Pictures from the show are in this post.

White Mystery will be DJing the previously announced Jonathan Toubin benefit at the Empty Bottle, tomorrow night (1/20). Speaking of garage rock DJ sets, they'll take over WXRT's Eclectic Company show on January 24th at 10PM, premiering new White Mystery songs and spinning vinyl from their personal collection. If you'd like to see this in person, head to The Charleston the following night.

DJ sets aside, the duo also have a bunch of full band shows coming up too. As part of GlitterGuts' Dance Punk Circus, Alex White and Francis Scott Key White will headline Metro on February 4th. Environmental Encroachment, Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Perfect Kiss, Clique Talk, Pure Magical Love, and more are on the bill. Tickets are on sale now. They'll also play the Cowboy Monkey in Champaign on February 11th, with Dirty Feathers. A short tour in March will bring the band down to SXSW; check out their full schedule below.

More pictures from the final night of TNK, all 2012 White Mystery dates, and more, below..

Continue reading "White Mystery played Schubas w/ Mannequin Men, Mister Loveless & City Center (TNK pics); playing Metro & other dates"

White Mystery @ Subterranean (more by James Richards)

today in Chicago
* Carter Tanton @ Saki (Free; In-store)
* Freakers Ball: A Tribute to Shel Silverstein @ Hideout
* John Bellows, The Clams, Young Moons @ Empty Bottle
* Two Gallants, Carter Tanton, Boy, Death Ships @ Lincoln Hall
* Michael Serafini, Plastic Plates, Kid Color, Adulture @ Smart Bar
* Hopspin, Jon Connor, Teejay, Thello Jay Era, Mayo @ Reggie's
* Les Animaux, Run And Punch, Something To Do @ Double Door
* Ramblin Pan, East and the Sea, Families, Mundelein @ Stage Bar
* White Mystery, Mannequin Men, Mister Loveless, City Center @ Schubas
* My Big Beautiful, Cadence Fox, Downfall of Society, The Dead End Yuppies @ Panchos

Tomorrow Never Knows wraps up tonight. If you're headed to see White Mystery at Schubas, get there at 8PM for a Goose Island-hosted open bar for all ticket holders.

What else?

Karen O - Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ a JT benefit (NYC) (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)

About a month ago, NYC DJ Jonathan Toubin was involved in a freak car accident in Portland, which consisted of a cab crashing into his hotel room. There have been many NYC benefits to raise money for the DJ (who is still in stable, but critical condition) and now there will be a Chicago event as well.

In two weeks from today (Friday, January 20th), the Empty Bottle will have Radar Eyes, Outer Minds, and House Sounds, plus DJ Sets from James Porter, Emilie Jaeger, Kristin Marx, Naomi Walker, Alex White (White Mystery) & Brent Zmrahl.

Tickets are on sale now for $8.