words by Ben Wilkes

Marnie Stern at the Empty Bottle on 4.17.2013 (via)

Marnie Stern hopped up to the mic on Wednesday night (4/17) with hot pink pants on and a Jazzmaster in hand to inform a packed, soggy floor at the Empty Bottle that, "Joe Wong [Stern's touring drummer, also of Parts & Labor] drank a beer, had a coffee, and smoked some weed before this set. I'm excited. We might get to see his penis. I never have." Wong indeed proved an invaluable asset to the set, matching the frantic nature of Stern's guitar style with impressive fills and wild beats; not to mention providing the shirtless body to inspire Stern's consistent encouragement that everyone take their clothes off.

In this sort of environment, it was hard not to have fun. It may be true that Chicago never
dances, but surveying the crowd brought sightings of numerous analytical faces deep in thought about Stern's influences and several drunks nodding their heads ferociously to finger tapped loops. The point being that Stern owned the room, earning the crowd's respect with her guitar neck prowess, and their affection with her comedy. Stern related such anecdotes as, "I don't want to be made fun of when I'm taking a poop," and "No penises have gotten into my vagina for so long, I feel like there's nothing left."

The band played a pleasantly short set of songs off Stern's fantastic new album, The
Chronicles of Marnia, and reproduced them quite precisely. They had a full and powerful sound to match Stern's eccentric anthems, despite being a three-piece - Marnie plays both rhythm and lead guitar parts. Though Stern's voice isn't the most traditionally pretty, in a live setting, her experimental vocals play to her strengths - and her impersonation of Rodney Dangerfield was spot on.

Baltimore's Roomrunner is on tour with Stern this April and played some tracks off their upcoming debut full-length, Ideal Cities, which is due out on May 14th via Fan Death. They made up for technical difficulties and a late start by making humble jokes like "we buy all our equipment off eBay" and playing the perfect set length for an opener. Their angular, dissonant rock is punk as hell, even though their lead singer's failed attempt to break his guitar during the last-song-noise-freak-out was not.

Locals Mayor Daley opened the show, and you can check out some video footage of Marnie Stern and Roomrunner's sets below...

Continue reading "Marnie Stern, Roomrunner & Mayor Daley played Empty Bottle (review, videos)"

DOWNLOAD: Twin Peaks - "Stand in the Sand" (MP3) (Rolo & Grady Session)

Young Chicago dudes and Orwells affiliates Twin Peaks self-released their debut album, Sunken, back in July. It's a strong collection of glam-influenced garage rock that DOESN'T sound as if a bunch of youngsters made it. You used to be able to listen to the whole album via their bandcamp, but they've recently inked a deal with Autumn Tone Records (congratulations, guys!), and it disappeared. AT say they'll be releasing a Twin Peaks album in June, so maybe a reissue of Sunken is first on the docket? Twin Peaks recently recorded Sunken's "Stand in the Sand" for a Rolo & Grady session, which you can watch at the bottom of this post. You can also download an MP3 version of the session above.

As discussed, Twin Peaks will be playing our FREE joint SXSW day party with Epitonic on Wednesday, March 13 at Swan Dive // Barbarella Patio. Their set is at 3:45PM at the outdoor Barbarella Patio stage, and is not to be missed if you'll be down in Austin, TX. The guys are also playing the Hideout's SXSW kick-off party on Saturday afternoon (3/9), and then the NineteenTwenty House at night with Sister Crystals, Method Air, and Bell Labs.

All Twin Peaks tour dates and their Rolo & Grady session are below...

Continue reading "Twin Peaks played a Rolo & Grady session (video, MP3), playing a BV Chicago Day Party at SXSW"

Last month (on 9/11), as you may remember, the Alabama Shakes played an intimate, free 'Dream Show' at Subterranean, courtesy of American Family Insurance. The show, curated by the Alabama band (their "dream" lineup), was with fellow Alabama-based groups The Pollies and Doc Dailey. Did you get in? If so, how early did you get in line to receive a wristband? Either way, you already saw some pictures from that show. Now we've got a few videos as well.

The first one sees the band driving into Chicago, unloading their gear, and performing "I Ain't the Same." In a brief interview before they play the song, frontwoman Brittany Howard speaks about how hard it is for an Alabama band to make it out of the area, and how grateful she is that they've been able to do it. She goes on to say that the catalyst for their success was when the Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood invited the Shakes to tour with them.

AmFam® | Alabama Shakes - "I Ain't the Same"

There's also footage of the song "Be Mine," and two short interview clips. Watch the others below...

Continue reading "watch pro footage from the ALABAMA SHAKES 'Dream Show' (interviews, Doc Dailey & the Pollies too)"

Scott Lucas & The Married Men have a new self-directed video for the Blood Half Moon cut "There Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)." The clip features footage edited from the 1932 horror flick Vampyr, and fittingly, it will be shown as part of the 24-hour Music Box of Horrors festival at the Music Box Theatre this Saturday (10/13). Check out the clip at the bottom of this post, and purchase tickets to the Music Box of Horrors fest HERE.

A three-song bundle of the single "There Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)" hits iTunes today (10/9) via The End Records. There's the original eight-minute track, the four-minute single edit (which they used to make the video), and a live version of the song.

Speaking of live recordings, Lucas and co. recently played a Daytrotter session. The five-song session, which also includes "There Ain't No Grave," was just posted on Monday.

The group also have a handful of upcoming tour dates, two of which are hometown shows. They'll play Township on November 9 (tickets) and the Double Door on November 17 (tickets).

All tour dates and their new video for "There Ain't No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down)" are below...

Continue reading "watch a new Scott Lucas & The Married Men video, which will be shown at the Music Box of Horrors festival this weekend"

Mister Lies

Young Chicago via Connecticut, Lefse-signed producer Mister Lies made his Chicago debut at the Empty Bottle on July 11 as part of a PORTALS showcase. Supreme Cuts, The-Drum, Different Sleep, and Soleman were also on the bill. Were you there? How was it? Watch his set via a few videos at the bottom of this post. He performed songs from his debut EP Hidden Neighbors, played around with some samples (including Ludacris' "What's Your Fantasy"), and also slipped in some of his newer work.

Speaking of newer work, Mister Lies has three new tracks on the recently released Svengali Label Compilation Two. They are called "Dive (Into It)," "...And Then...," and "Apollonian." "Dive (Into It)" samples a few lines from Bjork's "The Anchor Song." Stream all three at the bottom of this post and take a listen to Compilation Two via bandcamp.

The-Drum, who also performed at the PORTALS showcase, released their new EP Sense Net today (7/17) via Mishka. You've already heard its lead single "/SYS" and you can now download the EP for free via bandcamp.

Mister Lies song streams and videos from the Bottle below...

Continue reading "Mister Lies made his Chicago debut @ the Bottle (video); download The-Drum's 'Sense Net'"

Father John Misty @ Hotel Vegan in Austin, TX (BV-SXSW 2012) (more by Tim Griffin)

After after his show at Schubas on Saturday night (7/14), Father John Misty (aka J. Tillman) made his way over to Alice's Lounge for karaoke and belted out R. Kelly's late 90s hit "I Believe I Can Fly." Watch it below...

Continue reading "Father John Misty sang "I Believe I Can Fly" @ Alice's Lounge (video)"

Chicago mainstays Local H are back with a double album, titled Hallelujah! I'm A Bum, due out on September 18 via Slimstyle Records. The LP was produced by Sanford Parker and tracked at Engine Studios. You can take a listen to the song "Night Flight to Paris" at the bottom of this post, which is set to footage shot during the recording process. Hallelujah! I'm A Bum serves as Local H's first new material since 2008's 12 Angry Months. In the meantime, guitarist Scott Lucas has been keeping busy with his other project the Married Men.

Local H will be touring in support of the LP this fall, which kicks off with a record release show on September 18 at the Bottom Lounge. Tickets for their hometown show go on sale this Friday (7/13) at noon CST.

All Local H dates are listed below, along with Hallelujah! I'm A Bum's tracklist and cover art, and a stream of their new tune.

Continue reading "Local H releasing 'Hallelujah! I'm A Bum' (song premiere), beginning tour at the Bottom Lounge (dates)"

Tom Waits stopped by The Late Show With David Letterman last night to play the Bad as Me opener "Chicago" and to chat with David (mostly about a primitive rat trap from the 19th century that he picked up on eBay). Footage from both the performance and chat below...

Tom is also set to perform on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon tonight.

Continue reading "watch Tom Waits perform "Chicago" on 'Letterman'"

A stage painting from Cloud Cult's Lincoln Hall show on Sunday night (6/17) (via)

Minneapolis group Cloud Cult headlined Lincoln Hall on Sunday night (6/17) with support from Caroline Smith & The Good Night Sleeps. Were you there? How was the show? The painting above was created by visual artist Connie Minowa on stage during their set. Check out some video footage of the song "Transistor Radio" at the bottom of this post.

As we briefly mentioned, Cloud Cult play the Jay Pritzker Pavilion tonight (6/18) as part of the FREE Downtown Sound series. Judson Claiborne kicks things off at 6:30PM; go find yourself a nice seat on the lawn.

Cloud Cult have just a handful of summer tour dates ahead of them, including a performance at the Summer Set Music Festival in Wisconsin in August.

All dates are listed below, along with video footage from their Lincoln Hall performance.

Continue reading "Cloud Cult played Lincoln Hall (video), playing Pritzker Pavilion tonight"

Radiohead @ Bonnaroo on 6/8/2012 (via)

Last night (6/8) Radiohead closed out Friday of Bonnaroo 2012 with a headlining set on What Stage. As they've been doing recently, the band kicked off their festival set with "Bloom" into "15 Steps." Twenty-two more songs were played including "The Daily Mail," "Lotus Flower," "Idioteque," "You and Whose Army?," "Supercollider," and new one "Identikit." Video footage and the setlist from their festival performance below.

Before playing "Supercollider," Thom Yorke took a minute to dedicate the song to Jack White. He said, "This song is for Jack White. We saw him yesterday. A big thank-you to him, we're not going to tell you why but you'll find out." As many have speculated, this could mean that Radiohead have recorded/will be recording a Third Man single. We'll see.

The group's next stop on tour is the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park, IL on Sunday (6/10). Seats are sold-out though a number of lawn tickets are still available.

Video footage and the setlist from Radiohead's Bonnaroo performance below...

Continue reading "Radiohead played Bonnaroo (video, setlist), making their way to First Midwest Bank Amphitheater (lawn tix still available)"