Big Star's iconic Third turns 35 this year(!). In celebration of that, and in memory of the late Alex Chilton, Jody Stephens (Big Star), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star), Tim Rutili (Califone), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Chris Stamey (The dBs), Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), Ken Vandermark, and many more will gather at the Vic Theatre on June 28 to perform Third (and some older material) with a twenty-piece chamber orchestra. Tickets for the special Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (5/18) at 10AM CST; this is definitely not one to miss.

You also might want to watch the recent documentary on the band, Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me, which premiered at SXSW 2012. Check out its impactful trailer below...

Continue reading "Jody Stephens, Ken Stringfellow, Tim Rutili & more to perform Big Star's 'Third' at the Vic Theatre with an orchestra"

Foals @ Coachella 2013 (more by Wei Shi)

As discussed, Foals are headed to Chicago to play a sold-out show at the Vic Theatre this Saturday (5/18) with tourmates Surfer Blood and Blondfire. If you didn't manage to grab tickets, or if you'd just like to keep the party going after their show at the Vic, members of Foals will be DJing at Primary at 10PM tomorrow night with Greg Corner, Redux, and Fleege. Advance tickets are still available. They'll also be back in Chicago in August to play Lollapalooza 2013.

Earlier this year, Foals welcomed their third studio album Holy Fire. It was produced by Flood and Alan Moulder, and is pretty fantastic. If you haven't heard it yet, Holy Fire is available to stream at the bottom of this post.

All known Foals tour dates and a stream of Holy Fire are below...

Continue reading "Foals DJing at Primary after Vic Theatre performance"

photos by James Richards IV

Jim James at the Vic Theatre on 4.20.2013

On Saturday night (4/20; Record Store Day), Jim James came through Chicago in support of his triumphant new solo album, Regions of Light and Sound of God, for a sold-out show at the Vic Theatre with tourmate Cold Specks (aka Al Spx). James performed the LP in its entirety (and in order), and used his encore to dabble in My Morning Jacket, Monsters of Folk, and New Multitudes tunes. Were you there? If so, what did you think? A set of pictures, some videos, and the full setlist from the 4/20 show are in this post.

Speaking of My Morning Jacket, they'll hit the Chicago area on Bob Dylan's AmericanaramA: Festival of Music tour for a pair of shows in July. Those shows happen at Chiefs Stadium on July 11 and Toyota Park on July 12. Presale tickets for the Toyota Park show are on sale now; the password is festival. Tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday (4/27) at 10AM CST. Presale tickets for the Chiefs Stadium show will be available starting on April 30 at 10AM.

More pictures, some videos, and the setlist from Jim James' performance at the Vic are below...

Continue reading "Jim James & Cold Specks played the Vic (pics, setlist, videos)"

photos by James Richards IV, words by Milos Markicevic

How to destroy angels_ at the Vic Theatre on 4.23.2013

Trent Reznor's How to destroy angels_ came through Chicago on Tuesday night (4/23) to play a sold-out show at the Vic Theatre. The band just recently hit the road for their first-ever tour after making their live debut at Coachella 2013. This small tour is a big deal for many fans since it's the first time Reznor has performed live after he put Nine Inch Nails on a hiatus in late 2009.

Brooklyn's DIIV were supposed to open the show but didn't make it on time after getting caught in some snow on their way to Chicago. Local DJ Trancid filled in last minute, and played a fitting mix that was equal parts industrial, synth rock, and disco. The set resonated well with most of the crowd, but it didn't stop one fan from yelling out "Where's Trent?"

How to destroy angels_ finally took the stage, and hid behind some high tech lighting gear that looked like LED-string curtains. Two large strobe lights flickered on and off repeatedly, like exploding flash bangs, while the band menacingly whispered the opening to "The Wake Up." More lighting effects were projected behind the band as their set went on keeping with the glitchy aesthetic that adorns their album artwork.

During their third or fourth song the LED curtains suddenly folded to reveal the band, which made fans cheer even louder than before. Almost every song the band played was punctuated by a loud "fuck yeah" by a guy near the front of the stage. There was no denying that the fans packed at the front shared his enthusiasm. Luckily, fans won't have to wait another four years to see Reznor back in Chicago, as he's slated to play Lollapalooza 2013 with Nine Inch Nails.

A set of pictures from their 4/23 Chicago debut and the full setlist are below...

Continue reading "How to destroy angels_ played the Vic (pics, review, setlist)"

photos by James Richards IV

The Black Angels at the Vic Theatre on 4.19.2013

On Friday night (4/19), Austin's The Black Angels came through Chicago with tourmates The Allah-Las and Elephant Stone for a performance at the Vic Theatre. They performed many songs from their new album, Indigo Meadow, but also made sure to shift back to the widely familiar Phosphene Dream for "Entrance Song," "Telephone," "Haunting at 1300 McKinley," and more. Despite fronting Elephant Stone, Black Angels sideman Rishi Dir joined them on sitar for "True Believers" and "Black Isn't Black." Were you there? If so, how was it? A set of pictures from their 4/19 performance at the Vic are in this post.

More of them can be found below, along with the full setlist, and a few shots from their in-store at Reckless Records earlier that day...

Continue reading "The Black Angels, Allah-Las & Elephant Stone played the Vic (pics, setlist)"

The Black Angels @ the Bell House earlier on tour (more by PSquared Photography)

As discussed, The Black Angels are slated to visit Chicago later this week for a performance at the Vic Theatre on Friday night (4/19) with tourmates the Allah-Las and Elephant Stone. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available. While they're in town, the band will also be playing a 2PM in-store at Reckless Records' Lakeview location. Admission is free and all ages are welcome; get there early as space is limited.

The Black Angels are touring in support of their great new album, Indigo Meadow, which hit stores earlier this month via Blue Horizon. Take a listen to the LP and check out their full 2013 tour schedule below...

Continue reading "The Black Angels playing an in-store at Reckless Records before their show at the Vic this Friday"

This August will mark the 13th anniversary of Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia, the third full-length album from Portland's The Dandy Warhols. Naturally, they'll be embarking on a summer North American tour in celebration. That tour includes a performance at the Vic Theatre on June 8. Ticketing information for the Chicago show is forthcoming, but check JAM Productions' website for updates. Presale tickets for all dates are available now via the band's website.

All Dandy Warhols tour dates and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Dandy Warhols playing 'Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia' in full at the Vic Theatre"

photos by Cory Dewald

Local Natives at the Vic on 3.21.2013

You may have already seen pictures from Local Natives' early, free show at the Empty Bottle on Thursday night (3/21), but they really came through Chicago to play a sold-out show at the Vic Theatre with Superhumanoids later that night. Did you go to either show? If so, what did you think? A set of pictures from their Vic Theatre performance are in this post. More below...

Continue reading "Local Natives & Superhumanoids played the Vic (pics, setlist)"

Local Natives @ Aragon Ballroom, December 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

As discussed, Local Natives will be touring through Chicago later this week in support of their excellent second album, Hummingbird. They'll play a sold-out show at the Vic Theatre on Thursday, March 21 with support from Superhumanoids; we hope you grabbed tickets in time. In addition to that performance, they've also just announced that they'll play a FREE, 5PM show at the Empty Bottle that night. No tickets // RSVP needed, and admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis. The bar opens at 3PM and doors for the show will be at 4:30PM. (Leave work early... really early.) Enter to win guaranteed entry for two HERE.

All Local Natives tour dates and their video for "Breakers" are below...

Continue reading "Local Natives playing a FREE show at the Bottle this Thursday (before their Vic Theatre performance)"

photos by James Richards IV

Tame Impala at the Vic on 3.06.2013

This past Wednesday (3/6), Perth's Tame Impala toured through Chicago to play a sold-out show at the Vic Theatre with The Growl. The Growl opened with their bluesy repertoire, and the in-demand Australian headliners were heavy on their 2012 album Lonerism. Were you there? If so, what did you think of the show?

More pictures and a couple of videos from their 3/6 performance at the Vic are below...

Continue reading "Tame Impala & The Growl played the Vic (pics, video)"

Big Boi @ North Coast Festival 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

As seen on BrooklynVegan, Big Boi and fellow Atlantan Killer Mike are slated to embark on a large spring North American tour together. That tour kicks off in Athens, GA in April, and will reach Chicago for a performance at the Vic Theatre on May 1. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (3/9) at 10AM CST.

Big Boi will also be performing at the Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, IL on May 26. The Chicago-area festival kicks off on May 24, and features Sir Lucious L. Leftfoot himself, Diplo, Maps & Atlases, and many more acts. Three-day passes are still available, and individual day tickets will go on sale sometime next month.

All Big Boi // Killer Mike tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Big Boi & Killer Mike playing the Vic Theatre on tour"

Patti Smith @ Escape to NY in 2011 (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

As discussed, Patti Smith & Her Band have a few upcoming North American dates on their 2013 tour schedule. That tour includes a performance at the Vic Theatre on May 6, which is now sold out, so they've added a second show on May 7. Tickets go on sale this Saturday (3/2) at 10AM CST.

Patti Smith's current 2013 tour schedule and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Patti Smith adds second show at the Vic Theatre"

Earlier this week, we let you know that Trent Reznor's How to destroy angels_ will be embarking on a U.S. tour in April. At the time, dates and cities had been revealed but not venues. We now know that How to destroy angels_ will play the Vic Theatre on April 23. Tickets will go on presale on Wednesday, February 27 via the band's website. "Tickets will be available through regular ticket outlets shortly after."

All known Htda tour dates and their video for "How long?" are below...

Continue reading "How to destroy angels_ playing the Vic Theatre on 2013 tour"

Tomahawk @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2012 (more by Glen Brown)

Tomahawk, the supergroup that features Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle), Duane Denison (The Jesus Lizard), John Stanier (Battles, Helmet), and Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle), put the crew back together this year and released Oddfellows, their first LP since 2007's Anonymous. Much like their other albums, it bounces back and forth between hard rock and metal, and is overall pretty agressive. Take a listen to Oddfellows in its entirety at the bottom of this post.

Tomahawk are set to kick off an Australian tour this weekend, and have announced that they'll be playing some U.S. dates in June. That U.S. run includes a performance at the Vic Theatre on June 7. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (2/23) at 10AM CST.

All Tomahawk dates, a stream of Oddfellows, and a video for "Stone Letter" are below...

Continue reading "Tomahawk playing the Vic Theatre in June"

Foals @ NYC's Terminal 5, May 2011 (more by Kurt Christensen)

Foals' third full-length LP, Holy Fire, hits stores tomorrow (2/12), and serves as an excellent follow-up to 2010's Total Life Forever. The slick album was tracked by famed production duo Flood (aka Mark Ellis) and Alan Moulder, and doesn't feature a dud within its 11-tracks. Check out music videos for Holy Fire's "My Number" and "Inhaler" at the bottom of this post.

Foals will embarking on a spring North American tour that is centered around Coachella 2013. That tour includes a performance at the Vic Theatre on May 18 with Surfer Blood and Blondfire. Ticketing information for the Chicago show is forthcoming, but check JAM Productions for updates.

All Foals dates and videos for "My Number" and "Inhaler" are below...

Continue reading "Foals playing the Vic Theatre on 2013 North American tour"

Jeff Tweedy @ the Civic Opera House, December 2011 (more by Matt Ziegler)

Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has announced that he'll be playing his annual pair of shows at the Vic Theatre on March 13 & 14 this year. Tickets for both of the youth scholarship fundraising events go on sale this Friday (2/01) at noon CST.

As discussed, Tweedy is currently working with Mavis Staples on a follow-up to their 2010 Grammy-winning collaboration, You Are Not Alone. The LP is due out sometime this year via Anti-. In December, the pair teamed up with Sean Lennon to perform the John Lennon // Yoko Ono tune "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" on The Colbert Report. Check out that clip, and a few others, below...

Continue reading "Jeff Tweedy playing two nights at the Vic Theatre in March"

The Specials @ Hyde Park 8/12/2012 (more by Dana (Distortion) Yavin)

As discussed, The Specials will be kicking off their spring North American tour in Chicago. They have just revealed when and where that will be happening: the Vic Theatre on March 11. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (2/02) at 10AM CST. We already know that they'll be at SXSW in Austin, TX, but all other tour info. is forthcoming.

A couple of Specials videos are below...

Continue reading "The Specials announce show at the Vic Theatre"

Patti Smith @ Castle Clinton in 2011 (more by Tamara Porras)

Patti Smith & Her Band have just added a performance at the Vic Theatre on May 6 to their growing list of 2013 tour dates. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (2/02) at 10AM CST; stay tuned for presale information.

All known Patti Smith tour dates and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Patti Smith announces show at the Vic Theatre"

Jim James w/ MMJ @ Lollapalooza 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

As seen on BrooklynVegan, My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James is set to welcome his new solo album, Regions of Light and Sound of God, on February 5 via ATO Records. You can head to NPR to stream the forthcoming LP in its entirety.

Jim has just revealed a full North American tour in support of Regions of Light and Sound of God, which makes a stop at the Vic Theatre on April 20. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (2/02) at 10AM CST.

All Jim James tour dates and streams of two LP tracks are below...

Continue reading "Jim James streaming new LP, playing the Vic on tour"

Tickets for Autre Ne Veut's March 2 show at Schubas go on sale this Friday (1/25) at noon CST.

Tickets for Parenthetical Girls' March 30 show at the Empty Bottle go on sale this Friday at 10AM.

Tickets for Sky Ferreira and How To Dress Well's March 30 show at Schubas go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for The Joy Formidable's April 2 show at the Vic go on sale this Saturday (1/26) at 10AM.

Tickets for Talib Kweli's April 13 show at the Double Door are on sale now.

Tickets for Akron/Family's April 16 show at the Empty Bottle go on sale this Friday at 10AM.

Tickets for Black Angels' April 19 show at the Vic go on sale this Saturday at 10AM.

Tickets for Wax Idols' April 20 show at the Empty Bottle go on sale this Friday at 10AM.

Tickets for The Besnard Lakes' April 20 show at Schubas go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Clinic's April 24 show at Lincoln Hall go on sale this Friday at noon.

Tickets for Goat's May 2 show at the Empty Bottle are on sale now.

The Black Angels @ Lollapalooza 2012 (more by James Richards IV)

Austin, TX's The Black Angels are set to welcome their fourth album, Indigo Meadow, on April 2 via Blue Horizon. Stream Indigo Meadow's lead single "Don't Play with Guns" and check out its cover art at the bottom of this post. The Black Angels will be heading out on a two-month North American run right after Indigo Meadow hits stores. That run includes a Chicago show at the Vic on April 19 with Allah-Las and Elephant Stone. Tickets for their Vic Theatre performance go on sale this Saturday (1/26) at 10AM CST. All dates are listed below.

Openers Elephant Stone is the project of Black Angels sideman Rishi Dir. Elephant Stone will be releasing their new self-titled LP on February 5 via Reverberation Appreciation Society. Their video for the album track "Heavy Moon" is also below.

All Black Angels tour dates, a stream of their new single, and Elephant Stone's video for "Heavy Moon" are below...

Continue reading "Black Angels releasing 'Indigo Meadow,' touring, playing the Vic"

Rock n' roll purists Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are set to release their seventh album, Specter At The Feast, on March 19. No music from their forthcoming LP has been shared yet, though they have been releasing a series of album teasers. You can watch the first three teasers at the bottom of this post.

BRMC will be supporting Specter At The Feast with a spring North American tour. That tour includes a stop at the Vic Theatre on May 17. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (1/19) at 10AM CST. All dates are listed below.

All BRMC tour dates, a few album teaser videos, and Specter At The Feast's tracklisting are below...

Continue reading "Black Rebel Motorcycle Club ready new LP, touring, playing the Vic"

Local Natives @ Aragon Ballroom, December 2011 (more by Grant MacAllister)

Local Natives are gearing up for the release of their second album, Hummingbird, which is due out on January 29 via French Kiss/Infectious. Check out music video for Hummingbird's lead single "Breakers" and stream another album track, called "Heavy Feet," at the bottom of this post. The group will be supporting Hummingbird with a North American tour, and a Chicago show at the Vic Theatre on March 21 with Superhumanoids was just added to their schedule. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (1/19) at 10AM CST. All dates are listed below.

All Local Natives tour dates, the video for "Breakers" and a stream of "Heavy Feet" are below...

Continue reading "Local Natives announce Chicago show at the Vic Theatre"

Every year between Christmas and New Year's, we catch up on unposted photo sets. This year is no different...

photos by Sarah Frankie Linder

Portugal. The Man @ the Vic 4.17.2012

As part of their spring North American tour with The Lonely Forest, Portugal. The Man hit Chicago on April 17 for a performance at the Vic Theatre. Locals Minor Characters opened the show, but we unfortunately missed them. More pictures from 4/17 show at the Vic continue below...

Continue reading "previously unposted pics: Portugal. The Man, The Lonely Forest @ the Vic"

Josh Ritter @ BookPeople in Austin, October 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band are gearing up for the release of their fifth full-length album, The Beast in Its Tracks, which is due to hit stores on March 5. You can take a listen to the LP's lead single, "Joy To You Baby," at the bottom of this post.

Ritter & the Royal City Band will begin touring in support of The Beast in Its Tracks in February. That tour includes a stop at the Vic Theatre on April 27. Advance tickets are on sale now, and each purchase includes a digital download of the album (available on 3/5). All tour dates are listed below.

All Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band tour dates and a stream of their new single are below...

Continue reading "Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band releasing new LP, touring, playing the Vic"