Logan Square's Cafe Mustache are looking to expand into a live music venue. They already host shows in the cafe, but are seeking a dedicated space for such endeavors. The storefront adjacent to theirs is about to become available, and they're hoping you're willing to contribute to the expansion via Kickstarter. They've raised $4,242 of their $20,000 goal as of this post, and there are 22-days left to go in the campaign. They're offering some great rewards too, like free coffee for a year. Help them reach their goal // spread the word!

As discussed, Secret Chiefs 3 hit Chicago this week for a pair of shows: they played Schubas on Tuesday night (5/21), and were scheduled to play Beat Kitchen tonight (5/22), but that show has now been moved to Township. BK tickets will NOT be honored (refunds should be coming shortly), and Township tix are on-sale now.

An updated list of Secret Chiefs 3 tour dates are below...

Continue reading "tonight's Secret Chiefs 3 show moved from Beat Kitchen to Township"

exterior of the Congress Theater in December of 2011 (more by Matt Ziegler)

According to a press release sent out earlier this week, the Congress Theater is scheduled to go under the knife for extensive renovations this fall. This includes getting up to code in regards to the current mechanical and electrical standards, adding retail spaces and more studio apartments for rental, and improving the cosmetic appearance of the venue.

In order to make this all happen they've partnered with Doejo, a Chicago-based agency startup, who will be spearheading the operation. Congress owner Eddie Carranza stressed, "I don't want this building to be a cookie-cutter franchise-type building. I want to give it its own character, this isn't a strip mall, this is Logan Square. We want to grow that indie spirit not break it up with a bunch of franchises. I'd like the Congress to be a great community center in Logan Square of diverse, independent boutique businesses--we're looking for entrepreneurs with great ideas to invest in and grow with our space."

Reunited Swedish post-hardcore outfit Refused play the venue on Thursday night (7/26) with OFF!.

Read the entire Congress Theater press release below...

Continue reading "Congress Theater talk renovations"

photos by Carmelo Espanola

Sick/Tired @ Treasure Town on 6.29.2012

The final show at longstanding DIY venue Treasure Town went down on June 29.11-bands played and here's a set of pictures that includes about half of them.

Also, this Craigslist "missed connections" will serve as a memento:

treasure town, friday night - w4m - 30 (little village )

my friends and i were standing around the 'merch table,' (not really our scene) and you sat there the whole night as well. we were doing really, really bad coke which i dont normally do coke but since i quit drinking, sometimes i experiment with other things. it just made me crabby, i didnt even feel good. otherwise i would have asked you things like, "did your band play?" "was it as shitty as these other bands?" "you dont look like youre from here. where are you from?" "how did you get so handsome?" :)

Continue reading "belated pics from the final Treasure Town show "

As mentioned, Andrew W.K. will be touring North America behind his 2001 party-anthem LP, I Get Wet, this spring. His Chicago stop, a March 25th performance at Metro, sold out very quickly and has now been moved to the much larger Riviera Theatre. Math the Band have been added as support for the Chicago show.

All tickets purchased for Metro will be honored and more go on sale this Saturday (2/11), at 10AM CST.

An updated list of 2012 tour dates and some videos, below..

Continue reading "Andrew W.K. sold out Metro, moved to the Riv"

today in Chicago
* The People Speak, Live @ Metro
* Write Club @ Hideout (Early Show)
* a benefit for About Face Theatre @ Schubas
* The Dogpatch Ramblers @ Hideout (Late Show)
* Lenny Kravitz, Raphael Saadiq @ Chicago Theatre
* Office Space vs. The Big Lebowski @ Lincoln Hall (Free Double Feature)
* Hay Perro, Knife of Simpson, Today's My Super Spaceout Day @ Empty Bottle
* Strong Nods, Nature, The Jerkwater Reunion, Megachurch @ Township (formally Panchos) (Free Show)

Okay, so, Panchos has changed its name to Township. Tonight (1/31), they are hosting, "A free show with some familiar local bands playing under assumed identities. Why all the secrecy? Because surprises are fun." Do you know who any of those fake band names actually belong to? Comment below.

Liturgy have a new video for "True Will." Check it out below.

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

Empty Bottle (photo by Clayton Hauck)

The Empty Bottle has stood at the corner of Western and Cortez for almost 20 years now. Recently the venue underwent a major remodel, receiving a much needed face lift.

A.V. Club Chicago's Selena Fragassi writes:

The decision to renovate was not an easy one according to the unassuming owner [Bruce Finkelman], who says the staff had to draw straws to see who'd take the first strike at the walls. "No one wanted to do it," he remembers. "It's almost scary to give up a feeling of place. When we opened in the '90s, we operated on as much of a shoestring budget as possible, but knew the place would need some TLC someday."

A few sticker plastered walls, and some cracked wooden flooring were among the first things to be repaired. Don't fret, the Empty Bottle will still offer great music for very low prices.

Head over to the A.V. Club Chicago's website to view more photos of the changes.