Lou Barlow @ Green Music Fest (more by Rachel Angres)

Dinosaur Jr. was one of the many artists who played the 2012 edition of the Pygmalion Music Festival in Champaign-Urbana in September. The band's Lou Barlow listed it as one of his top three moments of 2012... he's just having trouble remembering what it's called...

#3 a festival in Champaign Illinois that featured almost every newish band i wanted to see, one after the other.. Willis Earl Beal , Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Lower Dens .. Grizzly Bear .. Willis was as odd as i could have expected, UMO was as fucked up and soulful as i could have desired and Lower Dens were.. sublime.. sounding nothing like Sublime , of course but, y'know..spare and beautiful..i love how younger kids these days sound like the older guys from my day.. the late 70's early 80's new wave/post-punkers from new york that wore big framed glasses and captured my teenage imagination.. i also saw Cloud Nothings that day which was interesting because they sounded like all the bands sebadoh played with in the mid-90's -combined- .. in conclusion , a great festival i can't remember the name of ...another musical highlight..

Lou's full list of three 'Best Moments' of 2012, below....

Continue reading "Lou Barlow loved the Pygmalion Music Festival (he just can't remember the name)"

Willis Earl Beal @ Pitchfork Fest 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro)

Chicago eccentric Willis Earl Beal, currently on tour in Australia, gave Pitchfork his 'Best of 2012'. Sadly it includes a place he'd like to move. Not surprisingly it includes a note about him doing what he wants. It also notes he recently got married. Congrats Willis! Check out his full list below...

Continue reading "Willis Earl Beal's Best of 2012"

Willis Earl Beal @ Cole's Bar in February (bvC-presents) (more by Ben Rodig)

As you might recall, Willis Earl Beal's first large tour was with SBTRKT. He's now on another large tour-- one that makes a whole lot more sense-- with Cat Power. That tour visits New York City tonight, and will head to Chicago this Sunday (10/28) for a performance at the Vic. That show was originally booked at the Riv, but has been moved. All tickets will be honored, and there are still some for sale. X-Ray Eyeballs are also on this tour.

Willis had to cancel some of his own dates to make this Cat Power run work. His updated 2012 tour schedule can be found below...

Continue reading "Willis Earl Beal opening for Cat Power this Sunday, which has been moved from the Riv to the Vic"

photos by James Richards IV, Chase Turner & Fred Pessaro

"Vegan" (photo by James Richards IV)

"Rain controlled the tempo of Pitchfork Music Festival day one early on, but the clouds eventually gave way to sun shine and music from an eclectic and entertaining lineup of acts. At its close, Friday of Pitchfork Fest 2012 was a humid but fun time that was definitely not short on memorable moments." [LoudLoop]

"In a sharp programming shift, Day 1 went from the psychedelic pop of Olivia Tremor Control into the mixtape hip-hop of A$AP Rocky. The only similarity I can think of between the two acts is that there are higher than average odds that both their listeners partake of illicit substances." [Jim DeRogatis]

"Dirty Projectors, a six-piece New York band with some highly acclaimed albums in its resume, demonstrates seriously accomplished chops during a set full of art-pop songs. [Greg Kot]

We already posted up one set of pictures from the first day of Pitchfork Fest up on BrooklynVegan. Here is a BV Chicago exclusive set and it continues below....

Continue reading "#P4K Festival 2012 pictures (part 2) -- ASAP Rocky, Japandroids, Big K.R.I.T., Dirty Projectors, Clams Casino, Flatstock & more)"

Sleigh Bells @ Terminal 5 in February (NYC) (more by Chris La Putt)

Pygmalion Music Festival, set to take place at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana from September 27-29, have just added a ton of new acts to the lineup. These additions include Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, Laetitia Sadier, Eternal Summers, Hundred Waters, Night Beds, and more. An updated version can be found below.

Some of these acts have already been assigned to venues, like Sleigh Bells, who will kick off the festival with a performance at The Canopy Club on September 27. Dirty Projectors play the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on September 28, and later that night you can catch Best Coast at The Canopy Club. On September 29, Grizzly Bear and Dinosaur Jr. will headline a full day of music on two stages in Downtown Champaign. Many more shows are TBA.

Laetitia Sadier, one of the fest's many headliners, is set to release her second solo LP, Silencio, on July 24 via Drag City. The Stereolab member recently shared the album's first single "Find Me the Pulse of the Universe," which you can check out HERE. Before hitting Pygmalion, Sadier will play Schubas on September 15. Tickets go on sale this Friday (6/15) at noon CST. Full tour TBA.

An updated lineup for the 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival is below...

Continue reading "Sleigh Bells, Best Coast, Laetitia Sadier, Eternal Summers, Hundred Waters & more acts added to Pygmalion Music Fest"

The 2012 Pygmalion Music Festival is set to take place from September 27-29 at various venues throughout Champaign-Urbana. They've just announced their initial lineup of Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Frankie Rose, Owen, Willis Earl Beal, Lotus Plaza, Julia Holter, Lord Huron, Oh No Oh My, Big Freedia, Craft Spells, Zeus, My Jerusalem, and more. Current lineup below. Early Bird passes go on sale tomorrow (May 9) at 10AM CST.

Continue reading "Pygmalion Music Festival 2012 - initial lineup (Grizzly Bear, Dinosaur Jr., Cloud Nothings, Tennis, Frankie Rose, Owen, Willis Earl Beal, Lotus Plaza, Julia Holter & more)"

photo & video by John Yingling

Willis Earl Beal @ the Hideout

Last night (Thursday, April 19), Willis Earl Beal played a sold-out hometown show at the very intimate Hideout. Unlike his recent set at the House of Blues, Willis was the centerpiece and the packed crowd cheered loudly after each song. Were you there? What did you think of the show? Check out some live video footage at the bottom of this post.

This week's Chicago Mixtape (Mixtape 062) features a live version of "Sambo Joe From The Rainbow," a cut off of Willis' debut LP Acousmatic Sorcery. CM will post a new tape on Monday, so you have until then to download the current one, which also includes tracks from Santah, Joan of Arc, Bloodiest, and others.

Willis plays the Questlove-curated "Shuffle Culture" in Brooklyn tonight. His next hometown show is a performance on Friday (July 13) of Pitchfork Festival 2012. All known 2012 tour dates and some video footage from last night's show, below...

Continue reading "Willis Earl Beal played the Hideout (video); featured on the Chicago Mixtape"

photos by Ben Rodig & Zach Pollack

SBTRKT @ the House of Blues on 4/07/2012

Willis Earl Beal @ the House of Blues on 4/07/2012

On Saturday night (April 7), SBTRKT toured through Chicago, making a stop at the House of Blues. As per usual, vocalist Sampha was along for the ride and aside from being the project's mouthpiece, he also handled some live keyboard duties. Late in the show, local rapper Rockie Fresh made a cameo for the song "Never Never," which he samples heavily in his own track of the same name (check out a video clip of that below). The duo's set was energetic and enjoyable, as was opener/label-cousin Willis Earl Beal's.

Willis just finished up a short string of North American dates with SBTRKT , that probably shouldn't have happened in the first place. The crowd (at least at the Chicago show) was far too geared towards the electronic music scene and the stark contrast between the opener and headliner stuck out like a sore thumb. Nonetheless, Willis put on a powerful live set though not many concertgoers seemed to care (read: it was depressing).

If you'd like to catch Willis in a more suitable setting, head to the Hideout on the 19th. He'll also be performing at Pitchfork Festival in July.

A full set of pictures from Saturday night and a video clip of Rockie Fresh's cameo, below...

Continue reading "SBTRKT & Willis Earl Beal played the House of Blues (pics)"

Cloud Nothings @ Mercury Lounge earlier on tour (NYC) (more by Joe McCabe)

today in Chicago
* Eve 6 @ Cubby Bear
* The English Beat @ SPACE
* Neon Indian, Friends @ Metro
* First Aid Kit, Peggy Sue @ Lincoln Hall
* Nonagon, Phantom Works, Mastro @ Township
* Cloud Nothings, A Classic Education @ Schubas
* Adventure Club, M Machine, DJ Solo @ The Mid
* The Juan Maclean, Samone Roberts @ Smart Bar
* Ryan Duggan's Time To Make The Donuts @ Saki
* Brand Nubian, Chubb Rock, DJ 33 1/3 @ Double Door
* Lord Mantis, Indian, Regrets, Hunters @ Cobra Lounge
* Jeff Parker, Matthew Hale Clark, Frank Rosaly @ Hideout
* Alcest, Clad In Darkness, The End Of The Ocean @ Reggie's
* Dinosaur Feathers, Sister Crayon, Box Jellyfish @ Empty Bottle
* Goodbye Cleveland, The Burrows, Cavepeople @ Ultra Lounge
* Joie De Vivre, Into It Over It, Droughts, The Please And Thank Yous @ Subterranean

Check out Willis Earl Beal's new video for "Monotony." He plays a hometown show tomorrow at the House of Blues (opening for SBTRKT).

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

Zulu Winter

today in Chicago
* The Milk Carton Kids @ SPACE
* Mortified Chicago @ Lincoln Hall
* Zulu Winter, Magic City @ Schubas
* Asher Roth, Nina Sky, DFM @ the Riv
* Dastardly present "Megachurch" @ Hideout
* Blasted Canyons, Running @ The Burlington
* Saul Williams, Spoek Mathambo @ Bottom Lounge
* Jennifer O'Connor, Tim Foljahn, Advance Base @ Township
* George Swayne, Intrinsic Vibe, Jip, American Wolf @ Subterranean
* Super Minotaur, KG Price, Cut Yourself, The Jam Band @ Empty Bottle
* The Company We Keep, Stay Golden, Adora, Late In The Playoffs @ Reggie's
* Duller Colors, The Fuckers, About Nothin', The Black Box Revelation @ Double Door

UK indie rockers Zulu Winter headline Schubas tonight.

Dastardly present "Megachurch," the group's take on a Western variety show, at the Hideout tonight.

The Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Ledisi played Leno last night. Footage below.

Watch Willis Earl Beal's 36-minute set from a recent Berlin festival, below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Pitchfork have just announced the initial details of their 2012 festival, taking place July 13-15 in Chicago's Union Park.

The fest's initial lineup includes: Vampire Weekend, Feist, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Hot Chip, AraabMUZIK, A$AP Rocky, the Field, Liturgy, Kendrick Lamar, Grimes, Cloud Nothings, Tim Hecker, and Willis Earl Beal (who we recently hosted at Cole's Bar). Over 30+ more acts TBA.

Tickets go on sale NEXT Friday (March 9), at noon CST.
$45 per/day or $110 for a 3-day pass.

Stay tuned for any/all lineup additions.

----
Feist played the Riv in November.
Grimes plays the bottle on March 14.
Cloud Nothings play Schubas on April 6.
GY! BE-related project Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra played Lincoln Hall in January.

photos by Ben Rodig

Willis Earl Beal @ Cole's Bar on 2/21/2012

On Tuesday night (February 21), we hosted a 7" release show for Chicago phenomenon Willis Earl Beal at Cole's Bar in Logan Square. The focus of the night, his "Evening's Kiss" b/w "The Later Parade", hit stores yesterday via XL Recordings imprint Hot Charity.

Looking back on his Tomorrow Never Knows 2012 performance at Schubas, this time around Beal played less guitar and utilized more of that gorgeous reel-to-reel player, pouring every ounce of passion into his vocal delivery. One concertgoer said, "Backed only by a reel-to-reel player, Willis Earl Beal delivered more in 25 minutes on Tuesday night than most arena rockers can in 2.5 hours." We agree.

The night kicked off with a fantastic opening set from experimental musicians Pillars and Tongues, who are currently at work on a new album. Paired with Willis' anti-folk and soul, their lush, drone-y stylings made for quite a varied show.

Did you make it out to Cole's? What did you think?

A full set of pictures from the show and a brand new animated video for "Evening's Kiss," below..

Continue reading "Willis Earl Beal & Pillars and Tongues played a BVC Presents show @ Cole's (pics)"

Slow Club

today in Chicago
* The Engines @ Hideout
* Nate Herman & June Shellene @ SPACE
* J Crist, As Is & Galloz, Dre Chi @ Reggie's
* Dastardly, Kentucky Knife Fight @ The Whistler
* Eunoia, Potions, Oshgood Slaughter @ Subterranean
* Slow Club, Air Waves, Love of Everything @ Empty Bottle
* The Parallel Fuzz, Flying Cars, Robot Hilarious @ Martyrs
* The Blank Standard, Atlanta Is Burning, Marmora @ Ultra Lounge
* David Paige And The Skyline, Lee, Enoch, Wait, What? @ Beat Kitchen
* Dhalgren, Price, Trump Duo, Green Pasture Happiness, Big Sandwich @ Township

Thanks to everyone who came out to Cole's last night to see Willis Earl Beal and Pillars and Tongues! Did you purchase Willis' first-ever 7"? Stay tuned for a full recap of the show.

Korallreven have a new video for "Sa Sa Samoa." Check it out below. They make their Chicago debut at Lincoln Hall on March 6.

Jim DeRogatis reviewed Sleigh Bells' Reign of Terror and Cloud Nothings' Attack on Memory.

Tonight's show at the Ultra Lounge is also Arriver's record listening party.

Dastardly said, "Tonight at The Whistler, we will be performing Lana Del Rey's "Born to Die" long playing album in its entirety. Half of the band will be performing it ironically while the other half will find it charming and relevant." Whether or not this actually happens, head to The Whistler to catch one of Dastardly's last hometown shows for awhile.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Wednesday?"

Zola Jesus during CMJ 2011 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Willis Earl Beal @ Schubas during TNK 2012 (more by Zach Pollack)

today in Chicago
* Sarah and the Tall Boys @ Hideout
* DJ Krush, Orchard Lounge, Maker @ The Mid
* Britt Dignan, Brown Bag, Safe Haven @ Martyrs
* Buxton, The Down Feathers, Spells @ Empty Bottle
* Bronze Radio Return, Katz Company @ Beat Kitchen
* Hennessy Youngman @ Museum of Contemporary Art
* Zola Jesus, Talk Normal, Chris Connelly @ Lincoln Hall
* In Flames, Trivium, Veil of Maya, Kyng @ House of Blues
* Jabberjosh, T'Bone, Truck or Dead Horse @ The Burlington
* Willis Earl Beal, Pillars and Tongues @ Cole's Bar (Free Show)
* All Eyes West, Bully In the Hallway, Eastland Disaster @ Township
* Future Ghosts, Sleep Static, Rocket Miner, The Flips @ Subterranean
* The Mahones, Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers, The Great Whiskey Project @ Double Door

Tonight, we're presenting a FREE 7" Release Show for Willis Earl Beal at Cole's Bar in Logan Square, with an opening set from Pillars and Tongues. Doors are at 9:30PM.

Zola Jesus headlines Lincoln Hall with support from Talk Normal and Chicago's own Chris Connelly + band.

DJ Krush hits The Mid tonight, as part of his 20th anniversary tour.

@LollaLeaks threw in the towel yesterday and admitted that all of the info was fake, but not before seriously pissing off Perry Farrell.

Bon Iver (but really Justin Vernon and Sean Carey) played a stripped down 4AD//Jagjaguwar session. Check out all 25-minutes of it below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

photos by Benjamin Cohen

As briefly mentioned in What's Going on Monday?, video design and new media installation collective Luftwerk opened up their brand new project Luminous Field to the general public on February 10. Within Millennium Park - more specifically at the site of Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) - are massive video projectors that cycle through many different patterns and colors, syncing up with its programmed musical scores.

We think they should test the system out with some Kraftwerk (who just announced 8-NYC shows), Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and CAVE, but that's a different story. Earlier this week, BV Chicago photographer Benjamin Cohen went to check out the scene for himself. More of his pictures can be found at the bottom of this post.

Chicago-based experimental band Pillars and Tongues will be playing at Luminous Field this Sunday (2/19), though unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) in a very near-by heated tent and NOT directly at Cloud Gate. They are scheduled to perform in the tent from 7 to 10PM, with "doors" set for 6:30PM. Admission is FREE, but we suggest getting there early as space is limited.

As announced, Pillars and Tongues will also be opening for Willis Earl Beal at Cole's Bar on Tuesday night (2/21), at our BV Chicago Presents: 7" release show for the singer-songwriter. Like Luminous Field, admission at Cole's Bar is also FREE. Join us, it will be a great show.

Ben's pictures from Luminous Field, Cole's show flyer, and Luftwerk promo video, below..

Continue reading "here's some pictures from Millennium Park's Luminous Field; Pillars and Tongues (also playing a BVC Presents show @ Cole's) play there Sunday"

As mentioned, we're hosting a FREE 7" Release Show for Willis Earl Beal on Tuesday, February 21st at 9:30PM at Cole's Bar in Logan Square (21+).

Fellow Chicagoans Pillars and Tongues will play an opening set. Stream some of their music at the bottom of this post.

Come join us at Cole's next Tuesday! Facebook event HERE.

Continue reading "Pillars and Tongues to open for Willis Earl Beal @ Cole's Bar (BV Chicago Presents)"

Willis Earl Beal @ Schubas during TNK 2012 (more by Zach Pollack)

While browsing at Myopic Books this past February, I saw a peculiar flyer: "I want some friends & stuff," it read. "I am not a Weasel." It included a name--Willis Earl Beal--along with a phone number and a drawing of a slender black man, apparently a self-portrait. I tried calling the number that day--and then several more times over the next few months. In late May, I finally talked to somebody at the other end.

Beal, 27, turns out to be an aspiring artist in several disciplines--he draws, plays music, and writes poetry and fiction. "I like to believe I do art because I have to do it--it's like vomit," he says. "I don't do art because I love it so much. Not that I don't, but it's a natural thing."... [Chicago Reader]

A lot has changed since that late-July Reader story, namely the fact that Beal has been signed to XL Recordings imprint Hot Charity, who will be releasing his debut LP, Acousmatic Sorcery, on April 3rd. As mentioned, he's also been tapped by label cousin SBTRKT to open a number of his North American tour dates before heading out on the road with WU LYF..

Before any of the above takes place though, Beal will be releasing an "Evening's Kiss" 7" b/w "The Later Parade" on February 21st, and BV Chicago is proud to present a FREE Willis Earl Beal 7" release show that's happening that night, at Cole's Bar in Logan Square, at 9:30PM. Opener TBA. First come, first served. Stay tuned for more details.

Video and all dates, including an April 19th show at The Hideout, below....

Continue reading "BV Chicago Presents: Willis Earl Beal @ Cole's Bar (for FREE)"

photos by Zach Pollack, words by Andrew Sacher

Willis Earl Beal @ Schubas

SBTRKT, who was last in town to play Bottom Lounge, just announced a North American leg of his massive international tour which he is currently on. That tour brings him to Chicago on April 7 at House of Blues with support from Chicago's Willis Earl Beal. Tickets are not on sale yet but check livenation for updates. All dates, including SXSW, are listed below.

Speaking of Willis Earl Beal, he just played Schuba's during Tomorrow Never Knows (1/14) with Wild Belle, Polica, Class Actress and Chairlift. A couple of pictures of his set from that show are in this post. He also recently signed to XL's new Hot Charity imprint, and will release his debut LP, Acousmatic Sorcery, on March 20 for the label. Check out an up close and personal sounding lead track from that album, "Evening's Kiss," below.

All dates, more pics, and stream below...

Continue reading "SBTRKT playing shows w/ Willis Earl Beal who signed to Hot Charity, played TNK 2012 (pics & dates)"