Ty Segall @ MHoW last weekend (more by PSquared Photography)

today in Chicago
* YOB, Indian @ The Flat Iron
* Retribution Gospel Choir, Stagnant Pools
* Brian Posehn, Jeremy Essig @ Abbey Pub
* Ty Segall, Ex-Cult, Zath @ Empty Bottle (Late Show)
* The Maccabees, Reputante, Gambles @ Lincoln Hall
* Ty Segall, Ex-Cult, Trin Tran @ Empty Bottle (Early Show)
* Lasers and Fast and Shit, Speck Mountain, Weatherman @ Hideout
* Wally Dogger, The Flowers, Husband & Wife @ Cole's Bar (Free Show)
* Geoff Rickly, Vinnie Caruana, A Loss For Words, Koji, Brian Marquis @ Beat Kitchen
* Coheed & Cambria, Between the Buried and Me, Russian Circles @ Congress Theater
* Randy Tuesday and the Two Two Tuesdays, RC Pro Am, Jovontaes, The Hecks @ Township

YOB and Indian play an anti-Valentine's Day party at The Flat Iron.

Retribution Gospel Choir and Stagnant Pools play Schubas.

Ty Segall plays two shows at the Empty Bottle tonight.

Lasers and Fast and Shit, Speck Mountain, and Weatherman play the Hideout.

Frightened Rabbit have a new video for "Today's Cross." Check it out below.

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

Follow bvChicago on Instagram.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Saturday?"

Exterior of the original Kuma's Corner (via) // future location of Kuma's Too

Heavy metal and foodie haven Kuma's Corner are set to open a second Chicago location in Lincoln Park. While the Woodfield Mall and/or Naperville joint is still rumored, Kuma's Too will be setting up shop at 666 W. Diversey Pkwy. within the next few months(!). According to Chicago Magazine, the new restaurant will be replacing current tenants The Counter. Hopefully, like the original location, the menu will feature items named after YOB, Neurosis, Weekend Nachos, High On Fire, and more.

Stay tuned for more information on Kuma's Too.

photos by Carmelo Espanola

YOB @ Beat Kitchen on 9/12

Yob and Norska (with Aaron from Yob) played Beat Kitchen on 9/12 joined by a supporting appearance from Beak. The show, part of a string of dates for Yob/Norska, was partly a coming-out party for Norska, who recently dropped a re-release of their LP via Brutal Panda. More pictures from the show are below.

Continue reading "Yob and Norska played Beat Kitchen with Beak (pics)"

Aaron Rieseberg w/ Yob @ Bell House in May (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Doom metal lords Yob are slated to hit the road in the US in September, with direct support from Norska. Aaron Rieseberg of Norska (pictured above) is also currently playing bass for Yob and will be pulling double-duty this fall. The two bands will hit Chicago's Beat Kitchen on September 12 with support from Beak. Advance tickets are on sale.

Norska are also re-releasing their debut LP, due out on vinyl for the very first time on September 18 via Brutal Panda. Stream the track "Cholera," which premiered on BrooklynVegan today, at the bottom of this post.

All Yob / Norska dates and a stream of "Cholera" are below...

Continue reading "Yob touring w/ Norska in September, playing Beat Kitchen"

photos by Carmelo Espanola, words by BBG

YOB @ Empty Bottle

Mike Scheidt of thundering doom gods YOB attempted to show off the fact that his musical prowess goes beyond glowing tubes at The Empty Bottle on January 25th. The guitarist/frontman played a rare acoustic set to open the show, which also featured his main project, as well as Chicago favorites Anatomy of Habit. Pictures from the show are in this post.

YOB, with drummer Travis Foster instead of fill-in Rob Shaffer of Dark Castle, is currently on tour in the US supporting Tool and the Chicago show was one of a handful of headlining gigs as part of that round of dates. Soon after the Tool trek comes to a close, Scheidt will begin preparation for his solo debut due on Thrill Jockey this year.

More pictures from the Empty Bottle are below.

Continue reading "YOB played the Empty Bottle with Anatomy of Habit and a solo set from Mike Scheidt (pics)"

Chicago-based independent record label Thrill Jockey are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a bunch of reissues from seminal artists, plus some new releases too.

All six of Tortoise's albums and two 7"s (Mosquito, Lonesome Sound), six Sea and Cake records, four Trans Am LPs, the Fiery Furnaces' I'm Going Away, Califone's Roomsound and Heron King Blues, and many more releases will be repressed this year. New releases from Golden Void, Golden Retriever, Barn Owl's Jon Porras, Yob's Mike Scheidt, Plankton Wat, kandodo, and Man Forever will all hit the stores in 2012.

Speaking of Tortoise, tickets are still available for their January 24th performance at the Empty Bottle. As mentioned, band member John McEntire is keeping busy this month, recording Anatomy of Habit at Soma Studios.

In semi-related news, Chicago indie label Drag City's preview party for their film Dragonslayer is TONIGHT (1/18), at Rodan. The documentary will premiere at The Music Box on the 24th, along with performances by Mayor Daley and Bitchin Bajas (members of CAVE). More information HERE.

All 2012 Tortoise dates and some videos, below..

Continue reading "Thrill Jockey celebrates 20-years w/ reissues & stuff; tix are still available for Tortoise's show @ the Bottle"

by BBG

Yob at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC (more by Markus Shaffer)

As discussed, the mighty Yob, who released one of my fave albums of 2011, will occupy Empty Bottle on January 25th (a few days before they head out on tour with Tool). To sweeten the deal, they'll be joined at the Chicago show by Anatomy of Habit. While that pairing is enough to blow your socks off, the most intriguing bit is the opening act: Yob frontman Mike Scheidt playing a solo set. Not a fluke either. Mike writes:

"I have played acoustic guitar for many years but never really considered doing an acoustic album until very recently. My influences for acoustic music are all over the place: Townes Van Zant, Dead Can Dance, Scott Kelly, Son House, Merle Travis, Michael Gira, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills and Nash, Reverend Gary Davis, and the list goes on. All of a sudden I had an intense need to record a collection of original acoustic music. So I did. It's kind of all over the place, and I had an immensely pleasurable time writing and recording these songs. I hope that translates to folks out there in the quantum soup." -[Mike Scheidt]

Until then, make sure and head down to catch Scheidt (and his little project called Yob) at Empty Bottle (tickets are still available).

Show and tour flyers are below...

Continue reading "Yob show to feature Mike Scheidt solo set (updated dates)"

As the band points out, though the Empty Bottle haven't announced it yet, Anatomy of Habit are in fact opening for Yob and Mike Scheidt (solo) on January 25th. Tickets are still available. This will most likely be their only January show, as they previously had shunned the idea of playing out at all due to being camped out at Soma Studios with John McEntire (of Tortoise).

Reggie Watts @ the Eugene Mirman Comdey Fest in 2010 (more by David Andrako)

today in Chicago
* Vaz, Pygmy Shrews @ Panchos
* Steely Dan, Sam Yahel @ Ravina Park
* Mad Decent Block Party @ Wicker Park
* Reggie Watts @ Mayne Stage (Late Show)
* Reggie Watts @ Mayne Stage (Early Show)
* Gridlink, Phobia, Maruta @ Reggie's (Free Show w/ RSVP)
* Dillon Francis, Lunice, Kito, Reptar, Willy Joy @ Double Door (Mad Decent Afterparty)

Stream YOB's new LP Atma in its entirety via NPR.

What else?

Archers of Loaf @ Webster Hall (more by Chris Gersbeck)

today in Chicago
* Chip Tha Ripper @ Metro
* Mark Kozelek @ Lincoln Hall
* Dave Matthews Band 'Caravan' (Day 1)
* YOB, Dark Castle, Indian @ Subterranean
* The Wooden Birds, Roommate @ Hideout
* Local H, No Joy, Planetsexploder @ Empty Bottle
* Archers of Loaf, Blank Banker @ Bottom Lounge (Night 1)
* The Flaming Lips, Marnie Stern @ Aragon Ballroom (Night 2)
* The Lonliest Monk, Stephen Paul Smoker, Flying Cars @ Reggie's

What else?

the Flaming Lips @ Sasquatch Festival 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

Archers of Loaf @ Webster Hall on 6/26 (more by Chris Gersbeck)

FRIDAY
The Flaming Lips, and Marnie Stern will play a second night at Aragon Ballroom. Marnie also hosts a guitar clinic earlier in the day.

Archers of Loaf begin their two night run at the Bottom Lounge.

Local H, No Joy, and Planetsexploder will play Empty Bottle.

The Wooden Birds, and Roommate will play Hideout.

Mark Kozelek will play Lincoln Hall.

Chip Tha Ripper will play Metro.

Reggie's will host The Loneliest Monk's record release for their new 7", featuring special guests: Stephen Paul Smoker, and Flying Cars.

YOB, Dark Castle, and Indian will play Subterranean.

The Dave Matthews Band 'Caravan' starts today.

SATURDAY
West Fest kicks off today.

Liturgy, and Dope Body will play Empty Bottle.

The Bronx will play Subterranean.

Jerry Lee Lewis will play the Congress Theater.

SUNDAY
Ladybug Transistor, Tammar, and Tiny Fireflies will play Schubas.

Wild Nothing, and Ducktails will play Subterranean.