Windy city avant-pop combo Chin Up Chin Up will play their final show on May 15th at the Empty Bottle in Chicago, IL.

Here is what Lead Singer Jeremy Bolen had to say about the Break up:

I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we really had intentions to keep making music together for an infinite amount of time, but just as this band began in a natural way it is naturally coming to an end. Thank you to the hundreds of people who have helped us along the way, we have been truly lucky, and as cliché as it may sound, we could not have done any of this without you. Much love -Jeremy [Myspace]

No-longer-side-project Vacations (made of Chin Up members Bobby Burg, Jeremy Bolen, Greg Sharp) announced on March 27th a "pay what you wish" album titled I Was Bikini/But Rain Afraid, now online through the Record Label record label. The "album" is really a "5 song 7-inch on sunset colored vinyl [I Was Bikini] + a download code for 8 bonus songs [But Rain Afraid]." Physical copies of that 7-inch are on sale at Flame Shovel Records.

Chin Up Chin Up drummer Chris Dye also announced that he's joined Chicago band Speck Mountain.

According to Chin Up Chin Up's site, that'll make the band's February 2007 NYC shows at Mercury Lounge and Union Hall their last ever in the city.

Chin Up Chin Up videos below...

Continue reading "Chin Up Chin Up breaks up, members now in other bands"

Chin Up Chin Up are playing the free BrooklynVegan show @ Fontana's on Friday November 3rd @ 2:35 pm. Their official CMJ showcase is later that night (midnight) @ the Knitting Factory tap bar. They're also playing an in-store at Sound Fix Records @ 6:00 pm on November 2nd. All tour dates at their site.

Name and occupation?
Jeremy Bolen/Chin up Chin up Toll booth operator/Camp Counselor

Is this your first time playing CMJ?
No its the 3rd.

How did you like CMJ last year?
It was great and so easy to park. I saw a band on an old boat, that was nice. Bands on boats.

What else do you plan on doing or seeing while you're in NYC?
I heard stomp is the bomb.

Previously
A pre-CMJ interview with The Big Sleep | Tour Dates
Chin Up Chin Up vs. Voxtrot (part 2) | Pic

DOWNLOAD: Chin Up Chin Up - This Harness Can't Ride Everything (new MP3)

"Chin Up Chin Up's new album on Suicide Squeeze will drop October 10, 2006 and the band will hit the road with Cursive in October." Before and after the Cursive/Thermals dates, Chin Up will play a lot of shows with Sub Pop's Oxford Collapse who will play even more shows while Chin Up's busy with Cursive. All dates below...

Continue reading "Chin Up Chin Up & Oxford Collapse | 2006 Tour Dates"

CHIN UP CHIN UP (listen @ Myspace)

Pitchfork reports, "In addition to signing a deal with Seattle's hotshot Suicide Squeeze Records, Chin Up Chin Up recently announced that Jesse Woghin of the Narrator will serve as the full-time replacement for bassist Chris Saathoff, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver on February 14, 2004......The only Chin Up Chin Up live date scheduled at the moment is an appearance at the Suicide Squeeze showcase at SXSW, which will take place at Emo's on March 16. Joining them will be new labelmates Minus the Bear (minus keyboardist Matt Bayles, who recently departed the band to concentrate on being a producer), Crystal Skulls (sophomore album Outgoing Behavior due April 11), and Baltimore teenagers Metal Hearts (debut album Socialize due February 21)."

ONE PIC, TWO BANDS (from here)

VOXTROT (listen @ Myspace)

Voxtrot release an EP called Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives on April 4th, or March 21st of you order it from their website. It'll "have 5 songs on it, 4 of which have been live staples in the band's set as of late".

Sparrow House is Voxtrot's Jared Van Fleet (solo). Gorilla Vs. Bear posted an MP3.

And Voxtrot is going on tour again. They'll be at Mercury Lounge in NYC on April 10th (with Irving). All dates below...

Continue reading "Chin Up Chin Up & Voxtrot making news, tours, MP3s"

I wanted to go to the Clap Your Hands Say Yeah appearance on KCRW (listening right now...wish I went), catch the Patti Smith performance (Bob Dylan thing at Lincoln Center), see the Hold Steady at day stage, attend a panel about blogs, etc... Instead I did nothing during the day for the third day in a row.

It all started at Tribeca Rock Club at 5 PM with the Loose Record / Woxy show featuring Voxtrot, Chin Up Chin Up, and Dios Malos.

VOXTROT @ TRIBECA ROCK CLUB

CHIN UP CHIN UP @ TRIBECA ROCK CLUB

After the first two bands played, I asked them if they wouldn't mind posing for a picture.

DIOS @ TRIBECA ROCK CLUB

The Cribs also played the Tribeca show, but I had to be at Tonic by 8:30 for the return of Magneta Lane.

MAGNETA LANE @ TONIC

Conveniently, another Canadian band called Camouflage Nights went on right after Magneta Lane.

"Camouflage Nights are ex-Thrush Hermit members Ian McGettigan and Rob (Tigre) Benvie. Benvie is also formerly of The Dears and currently in Presse. Camouflage Nights are not just McGettigan and Benvie; on disc they are joined by any combination of many people, including Feist, Buck 65, City Field’s Matt Murphy, Sloan’s Chris Murphy and many more." [Being There]

CAMOUFLAGE NIGHTS @ TONIC

CAMOUFLAGE NIGHTS @ TONIC

While trying to figure out what to do next, I walked by Mercury Lounge. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah weren't even going on for a few hours...

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH @ MERCURY LOUNGE

(line to the corner in both directions)

I like Secretly Canadian so I stopped by their showcase at Scenic (where I now see I missed a J Mascis side project earlier in the day). I saw this guy who sits on the floor and does lots of weird stuff open for TV on the Radio once. There he was again. Now I'll remember that his name is Ty Braxton. He was just finishing his set. Though I wanted to see Wilderness who were coming on later, I wasn't in the mood to try out Big Bear who were coming on next.

TY BRAXTON @ SCENIC

Then I realized a bunch of bands I wanted to see were playing the Kill Rock Stars showcase at Knitting Factory, and I made it there in time to catch a bit of The Robot Ate Me in the basement before the venue forced him off stage. (He said he was playing a house party somewhere in Brooklyn on Saturday for those who wanted more though.)

THE ROBOT ATE ME @ KNITTING FACTORY

Next I saw the Gossip for the first time (on the main stage). I'm sorry I waited so long. They were awesome - like awesome-awesome.

THE GOSSIP @ KNITTING FACTORY

Listen to the Gossip at Myspace.

After such a great performance, I couldn't I couldn't justify staying out any later for a (supposed) 2 AM Lady Sovereign show at Bowery Ballroom. Turns out I made the right choice... Bowery wouldn't let the under-21 performer in the venue!

Previously
Chin Up Chin Up vs. Voxtrot (part 2) | Pic
Cloud Cult @ 169 Bar, NYC | CMJ DAY 2
CMJ Day 1 - A recap in Pictures
Dios Malos @ Webster Hall, NYC | Pics
Magneta Lane "The Constant Lover" Video

It wasn't an easy task, but I managed to round up all 10 members of Voxtrot and Chin Up Chin Up after they were finished playing their 5 and 6 PM sets at Tribeca Rock Friday evening.

Previously
During-CMJ w/ Voxtrot, Chin Up, Dios & The Cribs
Voxtrot @ Magnetic Field, Brooklyn, NY | Pics
Chin Up Chin Up vs. Voxtrot

If I was responsible for a another show during CMJ, the lineup might of looked something like this:

Loose Record and WOXY.com presents...
Voxtrot (5pm)
Chin Up Chin Up (6pm)
Dios Malos (7pm)
The Cribs (8pm)

Friday, September 16th (during CMJ) @ Tribeca Rock Club [Doors (4pm) 21+]
Tickets are $7.50 (advance) / $9 (door)

Previously
Kano vs. Voxtrot
Voxtrot @ Magnetic Field, Brooklyn, NY | Pics
Chin Up Chin Up @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics
Dios Malos @ Webster Hall, NYC | Pics
Chin Up Chin Up vs. Voxtrot
Voxtrot | Rothko Saturday
Startime 2005 CMJ Showcase @ Scenic w/ Tom Vek, Dios, etc..
Chin Up Chin Up-date

Chin Up Chin Up are releasing an "expanded re-release of their self-titled debut EP" on August 9th. The track list includes songs off We Should Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, some remixed, some acoustic, and some other stuff.

Download Two Songs
For All the Tanning Salons in Texas (MP3)
Fuck You, Elton John (MP3)

First MP3 found at Flameshovel records which also has the complete tracklist.
Second MP3 linked on sixeyes who has MP3s from other bands too.

Chin Up Chin Up are back in NYC to play Insound's pre-Siren Fest Party at Rothko on July 15th. The Ponys, Be Your Own Pet, and Rahim are also on that bill. Tickets are $5.00. Other tour dates here.

Voxtrot has an EP coming out on July 5th. You can order it on their website.

Download One Song
The Start of Something (MP3)

That's not the first time I posted that song (though this one might be a higher quality version), but and it's still catchy. Voxtrot is back in NYC to play Magnetic Field in Brooklyn on August 11th and Rothko on August 12th. All tour dates here.

Previously
Chin Up Chin Up @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics
Voxtrot | Rothko Saturday

Here are some photos from Chin Up Chin Up's Thursday night performance at Mercury Lounge, NYC (Feb. 10th, 2005)

reviews of this show here and here.

Continue reading "Chin Up Chin Up @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | Pics"

Pitchfork finally reviews Chin Up Chin Up...

Chin Up Chin Up's sound owes much to artists like 90 Day Men, June of 44, Slint, and Tortoise; the album's busy guitar parts, xylophones, and unwieldy song titles all scream math-rock. Yet on this record, the band sound like they're growing out of and beyond that scene.

Read the rest of the review

Previously

Chin Up Chin Up returning to NYC

Chin Up Chin Up-date

Chin Up I'm Still Up

Chin Up Chin Up | Get Ready for the Hype

Chin Up Chin Up: Feb 10th, Mercury Lounge.

Opening for....Soft. hmmm. Soft may be ruined in our minds forever thanks to their billing as 'Super Secret Headliner' at the Voxtrot show.

Previously

Chin Up Chin Up-date

Pitchfork reviews "Collide the Tide"

Fluxblog posts "Virginia Don't Drown"

Chin Up Chin Up revamps their own website

Mundane Sounds reviews "We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers"

Previously

Chin Up I'm Still Up

Chin Up Chin Up | Get Ready for the Hype

Just got back from Chin Up Chin Up at The Delancey. The damn show was moved from Wednesday night at Rothko to Tuesday night at Delancey. Then it was moved from 10 pm to 1 am. The 1 am part was the worst because I sold my Muse tickets to go, and it ends up I could of went to both, and I should of been sleeping in the first place. I even called Delancey to make sure the set times they posted on their website were accurate, but when I got there they had changed. oh well.

I (sleep) walked around for 3 hours in the freezing cold. It ended up being worth it. A drunk, but not too drunk, Chin Up Chin Up played (a free show) to an intimate crowd in the basement of the Delancey. They were drunk because they also had three hours to kill after finding out about the time change. They kicked ass. They're still young. They can only get better.

Here's two pics. More when I get the chance. I'm already running on no sleep and I have to be up in about 4 hours... :(

Now that you can't imagine listening to Arcade Fire's Funeral for another minute, and their debut EP has even worn thin, I bring to you Chin Up Chin Up. CUCU's debut album, We Should Never Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers, may be the new flavor of the month. Released on October 26th, there's already a lot of buzz. It's selling like hotcakes over at Insound.

Chin Up Chin Up are from Chicago and their bassist recently passed away. There is a foundation in his name (RIP). Their debut EP, which you may have missed, came out on Brooklyn's 'Record Label,' and their new one is on Flameshovel Records (home of The Natural History, Low Skies and Joan of Arse). Both albums are available at Insound. Use the coupon code chinup for 15% off your order until Nov. 9th.

They've been compared to Modest Mouse, Pinback, Slint, Joy Division, Pavement, a John Hughes movie soundtrack, Versus, Aden, True Love Always, Sea and Cake, !!!, Onelinedrawing, Jet By Day, the And/Ors, American Analog Set, and Les Savy Fav. Confused? Their members are/were in Tekulvi, Nymb, and Punjab.

Those in NYC can catch them November 10th at Rothko (hopefully) (one night before The Arcade Fire at Bowery Ballroom). You may have seen them recently at the Delancey for CMJ. Those elsewhere can check out all their tour dates. There are a lot of them coming up.

Download

Collide The Tide

We Should Never Have Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers

Virginia Don't Drown