by Zach Pollack

John Cale // Zola Jesus at BCoPA on 9.21.2012

Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements kicked off on Friday night (9/21) at the Riverfront Theater. Zola Jesus began the night with a great opening set for former Velvet Underground member John Cale. Cale and his band performed 17-songs, a few of which were from his forthcoming album, Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood.

BCoPA continues; stay tuned for more coverage. More photos from Friday night (9/21) continue below...

Continue reading "Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements in pics: Night 1 --- (John Cale & Zola Jesus)"

The second-annual Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements festival is slated to take place from Friday, September 21 to Sunday, September 23 at the Riverfront Theater. Unlike last year's festival, which went down in the nearby Eckhart Park, BCoPA 2012 features smaller, more classic songwriter-centric bills.

The fest kicks off on Friday (9/21) with a headlining performance from John Cale, with opener Zola Jesus. As mentioned, Cale's new record, Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood, hits stores on October 1 via Domino Records imprint Double Six. You've already heard the Danger Mouse-produced "Let Me Talk 2 U," and another track called "Face to the Sky." Look for him to preview material from his forthcoming album, and to perform songs from his expansive career. There's also a FREE, 10PM comedy show featuring Seaton Smith, the Puterbaugh Sisters, James Fritz, and Brandon Wetherbee.

On Saturday, September 22 you can catch Conor Oberst with opener and multifaceted legend Van Dyke Parks. As of late the 69-year old hasn't been up to too much, though his very lengthy (and still ongoing) career speaks for itself. As a composer, arranger, producer, and musician, Parks has worked with everyone from Frank Zappa to Joanna Newsom to Brian Wilson. He contributed lyrics to the Beach Boys' SMiLE, which finally saw its release in 2011. Also on Saturday: a 5PM matinee show from El Circo Cheapo, and another FREE late comedy show from Jon Benjamin (aka the voice of Sterling Archer on Archer), Drew Michael, Megan Gailey, and Brian Babylon.

BCoPA finishes off in a big way on Sunday (9/23) with a headlining set from Bobby Womack with Helado Negro, who has other shows this weekend. Booming soulman Bobby Womack's career slowed down in the late-90s/early 2000's, then, he resurfaced in 2010 with two killer guest spots on the Gorillaz' excellent Plastic Beach ("Stylo" and "Cloud of Unknowing"). His collaborations with Gorillaz mastermind Damen Albarn haven't stopped there. He was also featured on the Gorillaz' The Fall, and Albarn produced his 2012 LP, The Bravest Man in the Universe. Due to some health problems, Womack doesn't do very much touring. If he's on your live-show-bucket-list (I can't be the only one that has such a thing), this might be your only easy shot at it.

Tickets for ALL BCoPA shows are still available.

The Sadies

today in Chicago
* Robbie Fulks, Sally Timms @ Hideout
* The Kickback, Magicks @ The Whistler
* Blitzen Trapper, Sarah Jaffe @ Lincoln Hall
* Black Breath, Burning Love, Enabler, Culo @ Empty Bottle
* The Sadies, James Vincent McMorrow @ Jay Pritzker Pavilion (Free Show)
* Mornin' Old Sport, Actor Slash Model, Sanctified Grumblers, Shiloh @ Double Door
* Hotegaia, Coffin Ships, Sugar Skulls, Fleeting Image, Mitar @ Township (Free Show)

The Sadies and James Vincent McMorrow, who plays SPACE on Tuesday (7/10), play a free show at Pritzker Pavilion as part of Downtown Sound tonight.

Black Breath, Burning Love, and Enabler hit the Empty Bottle tonight on the Southern Lord tour. Local band Culo are also on the bill.

Today is Jack White's Birthday (Happy Birthday, Jack!). He recently played two shows in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He'll also be here next month to play Lollapalooza.

Zola Jesus, who opens for John Cale in September, has a new video for "Seekir." Check it out below.

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

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements will make its return with a second incarnation of the fall festival, set to take place from September 21-23 at the Riverfront Theater, not far from where last year's fest went down in Eckhart Park.

The eclectic BCoPA music lineup includes John Cale, Bobby Womack, Conor Oberst, Zola Jesus, Van Dyke Parks, and Helado Negro with more acts TBA. There will also be free late-night comedy shows on Friday (9/21)(Seaton Smith, Drew Michael, Megan Gailey, Brandon Wetherbee) and Saturday (9/22)(Jon H. Benjamin, James Fritz, The Puerbaugh Sisters, Brian Babylon), and matinee performances by El Circo Cheapo on both Saturday and Sunday (9/23).

Single-day tickets go on sale on Tuesday (6/26) at noon CST.

Check out the current lineup-by-day below...

Continue reading "Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements 2012 (John Cale, Bobby Womack, Van Dyke Parks, Zola Jesus & more)"

photos by Zach Pollack

Zola Jesus @ Lincoln Hall on 2/21/2012

On February 21, Zola Jesus toured her way through Chicago, playing a packed show at Lincoln Hall with openers Talk Normal and Chris Connelly. More pictures from the Tuesday night concert continue below..

Continue reading "Zola Jesus, Talk Normal & Chris Connelly @ LH (belated pics)"

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?"

Sound Opinions co-hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will pick apart some of Chicago's most influential musical movements of the 80s, when they sit down with three very special guests at the Museum of Contemporary Art on March 6th for a round-table discussion.

"Chicago Sounds in the 80s: Underground Incubator" will feature Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry), 'Godfather of House' DJ Frankie Knuckles, and Santiago Durango (Naked Raygun, Big Black) in a conversation about the music and politics of the decade.

The MCA are presenting the discussion in conjunction with their "This Will Have Been: Art, Love & Politics in the 1980s" exhibition, which you can receive a complimentary tour of after the event.

In related news, Chris Connelly will be opening for Zola Jesus and Talk Normal on February 21st at Lincoln Hall. Tickets are still available.

Chris Connelly

Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, ex-Ministry) recently released a solo album titled Artificial Madness via Relapse Records. The LP was produced by Sanford Parker and recorded with the help of current and former members of Nachtmystium (who play the Cobra Lounge on the 30th), Wolves In The Throne Room, Minsk, Indian, The Swan King, and more. The post-punk leaning effort is packed with driving guitars, commanding vocals, and all around lush instrumentation. He played a record release show at the Hideout on December 8th, which you can now stream/download an audio recording of. Take a listen to the album's title track and another called "Classically Wounded," below.

Though Connelly told Windy City Rock his "life does not allow for touring right now," he's set to open for Zola Jesus at Lincoln Hall on February 21st along with her tour mates Talk Normal. Tickets are still available.

Speaking of The Swan King, they'll play The Burlington on January 14th with Backs and Bongripper. Tickets are just $5 at the door.

Song streams, album art, and tracklisting, below..

Continue reading "Chris Connelly released an LP, playing LH w/ Zola Jesus"

Los Campesinos!

UK-based band Los Campesinos! released a new record titled Hello Sadness this past fall. In support of the well-received album, the band will hit North America for a string of dates this winter. Catch them at Metro on January 27th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (12/10), at noon CST.

Zola Jesus @ Le Poisson Rouge (NYC) in October (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Zola Jesus has announced some 2012 tour dates, which place the gothic songstress in Chicago on February 21st, at Lincoln Hall. Tickets go on sale NEXT Friday (12/16), at noon CST.

The Wedding Present @ South Street Seaport in 2010 (more by Chris La Putt)

The Wedding Present have announced some plans to tour their '91 classic Seamonsters in 2012. They're also prepping a new LP titled Valentina, due out in March. They'll visit Chicago during that month (on the 27th to be exact), to play the Double Door with tour mates The Jet Age. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (12/9), at noon CST.

Gotye

Australian solo artist Gotye is set to hit North America this February, reaching Chicago's Park West on April 3rd. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at 10AM CST. His track "Somebody That I Used To Know" is one hell of a catchy number.

Speaking of Australians, Gotye's fellow Aussie Ben Lee is playing Martyrs on February 27th. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at 10AM CST.

----------
Stay tuned for more show announcements.

DOWNLOAD: Zola Jesus - "Vessel" (MP3)

Zola Jesus @ Pitchfork Fest 2011 (more by Josh Darr)

As previously announced, Zola Jesus' first full length record Conatus is set to hit stores on October 4th via Sacred Bones. You can grab its amazing single "Vessel" above.

Two days after the record drops, she'll kick off a fall tour in Portland, OR. One of the tour's first few stops will be Lincoln Hall on October 12th, with support from Xanopticon.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, at noon CST.

Head to BrooklynVegan to view all 2011 tour dates.

photos by Josh Darr

Zola Jesus

Destroyer

A set of pictures from day two (Saturday, 7/16) of the festival continue below..
Head to BrooklynVegan to check out even more pics.

Day one here.

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

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)"

Jeff Tweedy @ Maxwell's in 2010 (more by Chris Gersbeck)

today in Chicago
* Jeff Tweedy @ the Vic
* Zola Jesus, Cult of Youth @ Empty Bottle
* Chandeliers, On You, Windbreaker @ Hideout
* John Wesley Harding @ Lincoln Hall (Early Show)
* Tobacco, Beans, Shapers @ Lincoln Hall (Late Show)
* Mike Watt & The Missingmen @ Schubas (Late Show)
* The Damnwells, Harper Blynn, Howard Jennings @ SPACE
* Loudon Wainwright III, Kim Richey @ Old Town School of Folk Music
* Front 242, En Esch, Guenter Schulz @ Metro (Wax Trax Anniversary)
* We Jam Econo: The Story Of The Minutemen Screening @ Schubas (Early Show)
* Light Pollution, RYAT, Panda Riot, Joywheels, Billy Crystal Meth @ The Observatory

Record Store Day 2011 is tomorrow! Have you checked out the releases list yet?

What else?