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"

Pitchfork Music Festival // Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements booker and renowned jazz drummer Mike Reed will be opening Constellation, a new performing arts center, in the old Viaduct Theater space (3111 N. Western Ave.) The multi-room venue will open on April 1 with dance showcase Fraction, and features additional dance and jazz performances throughout the month.

We're excited to check out the new spot, and you should be too.

Codeine @ NYC's Le Poisson Rouge, July 2012 (more by Louis Caldarola)

Codeine are set to release a live album, titled What About the Lonely, on April 20 (Record Store Day) via The Numero Group. The album was recorded in 1993 at the now-defunct Lincoln Park venue Lounge Ax, and features special guest David Grubbs (Bastro, Squirrel Bait, Gastr del Sol) on two-songs. Grubbs had contributed to both their 1992 EP Barely Real and their 1994 LP White Birch. 2000-vinyl copies of What About the Lonely will be available on Record Store Day.

What About the Lonely's tracklisting, and some footage of Codine playing Boston's TT the Bear's in 1993 are below...

Continue reading "Codeine releasing live LP recorded @ Lounge Ax in 1993"

a preview of Yuck! (via Saki)

Delicious Design League began as the rock poster design/screenprinting moniker of pals Jason Teegarden-Downs and Billy Baumann in 2006. They've since grown into a full-time design and illustration studio that has cranked out work for just about everyone under the sun (Mozilla / Firefox, Chicago Reader, Lincoln Hall, Empty Bottle, Nike, Insound, etc.). This month, Delicious Design League are exhibiting Yuck!, a collection of screen-printed works, at Saki Records. There will be an opening reception party on January 18 (from 6-9PM), with food provided by Uptown Naturals, beverages provided by Saki, and a musical performance from Trevor de Brauw (Pelican/Chord/solo).

Check out a few pieces of Delicious Design League's work below, including the jaw-dropping album packaging they've done for Pelican and Chord...

Continue reading "Saki Records exhibiting Delicious Design League's 'Yuck!'; Trevor de Brauw playing its reception party this month"

Beloved South Loop dive bar Cal's will be closing their doors on New Year's Day after spending 65-years at 400 South Wells Street. Over the years they've been known for cheap drinks, and more recently, weekend punk shows. Catch one last show at Cal's, on New Year's Eve, with performances by Mercy Mercy, Demerits, and Larroquettes.

RIP, Cal's.

Four people were shot during an altercation at a private party at Ultra Lounge early Wednesday morning (Tuesday night) (12/5).

One of the wounded, a 29-year-old man, showed up at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, nearby. Three other men -- ages 24, 26 and 33 -- were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. All four were stable, according to police.

The club had been rented out for a private party because it had not booked a band for the evening, a spokeswoman for the club's owners said. "(This) was a pretty uncharacteristic night. It's a rock bar," she said.-[Chicago Tribune]

interior of the Congress during a recent Matt & Kim show (more by Chase Turner)

As troubles for the Congress Theater and owner Erineo "Eddie" Carranza continue, Jim DeRogatis reports that PNC Bank, the bank that holds the Congress' mortgage, have filed a lawsuit with U.S. District Court proclaiming that he has defaulted on a $4 Million Dollar loan and that they're taking the necessary steps to forclose on the venue. You can take a look at the entire 58-page lawsuit, which was filed on Wednesday, November 28, HERE. When reached via email this morning, Carranza's legal counsel Thomas Raines stated, "It's an insurance placement issue, it has nothing to do with non-payment on the loan." The bank have been seeking reimbursement since August of 2011 and haven't said a thing about any insurance.

Stay tuned for more information.

Longman & Eagle owners Bruce Finkelman (also of the Empty Bottle and Bite Cafe) and Craig Golden (of SPACE and Union Pizza) are set to open a new restaurant/bar/venue, called The Promontory, in Hyde Park in 2013. The venue is named after Hyde Park's Promontory Point, and is located at 1539 East 53rd Street. Chef/partner Jared Wentworth, who helms the kitchen at Longman & Eagle, will also be running the show at this spot.

Stay tuned for more information.

The Walkmen @ Metro during Tomorrow Never Knows 2012 (more by John Yingling)

As mentioned, Tomorrow Never Knows 2013 is set to take place from January 16-20 at Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Metro, Smart Bar, and the Hideout. A limited amount of presale passes for the festival go on sale this Friday (8/17) at noon CST.

Stay tuned for more information on this year's festival.