INCOMING: Streetlight Manifesto at The Riviera Sunday May 17th

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

VIA Our Friends at Streetlight Manifesto:

All of you non-East Coasters that kicked and screamed when we did October’s micro-tour will be happy that we set up a mini-tour just for you! 18 Show in 18 days, from Cleveland to Spokane! From May 14 to May 31! From La Jolla to Leo Carillo, and up to Pismo (sorry, we had to).

Tickets on sale NOW. As always, we will tell you right now: MOST OF THESE SHOWS WILL SELL OUT, SO PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY. Nowadays we tour when the stars align, so get it when it’s there to be gottened.

We’re so incredibly pumped for these shows! Support will come in the form of Dan Potthast on all shows except for the first three, where Kevin Seconds will play in his place. Also, Sycamore Smith will be on the entire damn tour! Huzzah!

Lovely poster art provided by the inimitable Zelda Devon (www.zeldadevon.com)!

See you guys at the shows!

5/14 Cleveland, OH
5/15 Pittsburgh, PA
5/16 Detroit, MI
5/17 Chicago, IL
5/18 Lawrence, KS
5/19 Denver, CO
5/20 Salt Lake City, UT
5/21 Las Vegas, NV
5/22 Phoenix, AZ
5/23 Los Angeles, CA
5/24 San Diego, CA
5/25 Anaheim, CA
5/26 San Francisco, CA
5/27 Portland, OR
5/28 Seattle, WA
5/29 Victoria, BC
5/30 Vancouver, BC
5/31 Spokane, WA

INCOMING: Ukrainian “ethnic chaos” band DakhaBrakha Rocks Mayne Stage With 2 Shows THIS Sunday 4/

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

This Sunday, April 19, at the Mayne Stage do not miss the band Rolling Stone has dubbed the "Best Break Out," DakhaBrakha, will return to Chicago to perform two shows, one at 6:00pm and again at 8:00pm. Click here for full show details and to order tickets. (18+) $25 General Admission | $30 Day Of | $40 Preferred Seating.

Fresh from lauded appearances on Prairie Home Companion and at Bonnaroo, DakhaBrakha is touring the U.S. this spring. Rolling Stone gushes that DakhaBrakha had "one of the most responsive crowds of the weekend" of their Bonnaroo performance.

DakhaBrakha is a world-music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reflecting fundamental elements of sound and soul, Ukrainian “ethnic chaos” band DakhaBrakha, create a world of unexpected new music.

The name DakhaBrakha is original, outstanding and authentic at the same time. It means “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language.

DakhaBrakha ...

Refined yet saucy, eerie yet earthy, Ukrainian music has languished in relative obscurity, though its achievements are diverse and sophisticated: complex polyphonic singing with interlocking lines so tight the ears buzz, long and philosophical epics, humorous ditties, instrumental virtuosity, and raucous dance tunes.

DakhaBrakha knows these sources well: the three female vocalists have spent many summers traveling around Ukraine’s villages collecting songs and learning from elder women in remote areas. Like these village tradition-bearers, they have spent years singing together, a fact that resonates in the beautifully close, effortlessly blended sound of their voices.

Now the group is ready to share this music with the U.S.! 

Ethno-Chaos: DakhaBrakha Reinvents Ukraine’s Unsung Roots Music With Global Finesse

A shadowy procession to the pounding of drums, to the murmur of a cello, morphs into an anthem, an invocation, a wild and wacky breakdown. Drones and beats, crimson beads and towering black lambs-wool hats all serve as a striking backdrop for an unexpected, refreshingly novel vision of Eastern European roots music. This is the self-proclaimed “ethno-chaos” of Ukraine’s DakhaBrakha, a group that feels both intimately tied to their homeland, yet instantly compelling for international audience.

“We just want people to know our culture exists,” muses Marko Halanevych of DakhaBrakha, the remarkable Kyiv-based ensemble that has broken down the tired musical framework for Ukrainian traditional music. “We want people to know as much as possible about our corner of the world.”

The quartet does far more than introduce Ukranian music or prove it is alive and well. They craft stunning new sonic worlds for traditional songs, reinventing their heritage with a keen ear for contemporary resonances. With one foot in the urban avant-garde theater scene and one foot in the village life that nurtured and protected Ukraine’s cultural wealth, DakhaBrakha shows the full fury and sensuality of some of Eastern Europe’s most breathtaking folklore.

Fresh from lauded appearances on Prairie Home Companion and at Bonnaroo, the group is touring the U.S. this autumn. Rolling Stone dubbed the band Bonnaroo's "Best Break Out," gushing that they had "one of the most responsive crowds of the weekend."

Refined yet saucy, eerie yet earthy, Ukrainian music has languished in relative obscurity, though its achievements are diverse and sophisticated: complex polyphonic singing with interlocking lines so tight the ears buzz, long and philosophical epics, humorous ditties, instrumental virtuosity, and raucous dance tunes. Ritual and ribaldry, urbane composition and rural celebration, Asian influences and Western harmony all combined to give contemporary musicians a true wealth of potential sources.

DakhaBrakha knows these sources well: the three female vocalists have spent many summers traveling around Ukraine’s villages collecting songs and learning from elder women in remote areas. Like these village tradition-bearers, they have spent years singing together, a fact that resonates in the beautifully close, effortlessly blended sound of their voices. Marko grew up steeped in village life, and draws on his rural upbringing when contributing to the group.

Yet the young musicians and actors were determined to break away from purist recreations and from the stale, schmaltzy, post-Soviet remnants of an ideology-driven folk aesthetic. Urged on by Vladyslav Troitsky, an adventuresome theater director at the DAKH Center for Contemporary Art, a cornerstone of the Kyiv arts underground, the group resolved to create something radically different. They wanted to experiment, to discover, to put Ukrainian material in a worldly context, without divorcing it from its profound connection to land and people. That’s why tablas thunk and digeridoos rumble, filling out DakhaBrakha’s sound, and yet never overshadow the deeply rooted voices and spare, yet unforgettable visual aesthetic.

“The beginning was pretty primitive,” recalls Halanevych. “We tried to find rhythms to match the melodies. We tried to shift the emphasis of these songs. We know our own material, our native music well, yet we wanted to get to know other cultures and music well. We started with the Indian tabla, then started to try other percussion instruments. But we didn’t incorporate them directly; we found our own sounds that helped us craft music.”

Through this experimentation and repurposing of instruments from other cultures to serve DakhaBrakha’s own sound, the band was guided by the restraint, the elemental approach that owed a debt to the emotionally charged minimalism of Phillip Glass and Steve Reich.

“At the same time as we explored ethnic music, we got interested in minimalism, though never in a way that was literal or obvious,” Halanevych explains. “The methods of minimalism seemed to us to be very productive in our approach to folk. The atmospheric and dramatic pieces that started our work together were created by following that method.”

This mix of contemporary, cosmopolitan savvy and intimacy with local traditions and meanings cuts to the heart of DakhaBrakha’s bigger mission: To make the world aware of the new country but ancient nation that is Ukraine. “It’s important to show the world Ukraine, and to show Ukrainians that we don’t need to have an inferiority complex. That we’re not backward hicks, but progressive artists. There are a lot of wonderful, creative people here, people who are now striving for freedom, for a more civilized way of life, and are ready to stand up for it.”

Don't miss this! Sunday, April 19, at the Mayne Stage, DakhaBrakha will return to Chicago to perform two shows, one at 6:00pm and again at 8:00pm. Click here for full show details and to order tickets. (18+) $25 General Admission | $30 Day Of | $40 Preferred Seating.

TOMORROW: Chicago Theatre Week Tickets on Sale Tomorrow 1/6/15 #ChicagoTheatreWeek

Due to overwhelming success, Chicago Theatre Week is expanding in 2015. The upcoming celebration of the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago is returning for its third year and will take place February 12 – 22, 2015, spanning a week and two full weekends for the first time. More than 100 productions are expected to participate as part of the 2015 lineup. Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres in partnership with Choose Chicago.

Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at 10:00am at www.ChicagoTheatreWeek.com.

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more via ChiIL Live Shows. 

A few of Chicago Theatre Week’s 2015 participating productions include The Selfish Giant at Chicago Children’s Theatre; Waiting for Godot at Court Theatre; Rapture, Blister, Burn at the Goodman Theatre; Tannhäuser at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; Tommy at Paramount Theatre; Marie Antoinette at Steppenwolf Theatre Company; Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play at Theater Wit; and Samsara at Victory Gardens Theater. The complete list of participating theatres are listed on www.chicagotheatreweek.com. In the past two years, more than 200 shows have offered value-priced tickets to more than 600 performances in one week. Visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout Chicagoland.

“The decision to expand Chicago Theatre Week comes in response to the overwhelming success this celebration has seen over the past two years,” comments Deb Clapp, Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres. “We are so thrilled to be able to share the amazing work this theatre community produces with audiences during this 10-day celebration.”

“Choose Chicago is excited to be a partner for Chicago Theatre Week in 2015,” declares Melissa Cherry, Vice President of Cultural Tourism & Neighborhoods of Choose Chicago. “This is a perfect moment for visitors to experience the city, and shine a light on Chicago's amazing theatre scene.”

Kate Lipuma, Executive Director of Writers Theatre and Chair of the League of Chicago Theatres adds, “The reach of Chicago Theatre Week has expanded so much that one week just wasn’t enough! The 10-day celebration in 2015 will offer Chicagoans and visitors even more opportunities to visit their favorite theatres and explore new companies all across Chicago.”

The hotel partners for Chicago Theatre Week 2015 are ACME Hotel Company and The Dana Hotel & Spa.  For information about Special Theatre Week rates, visit www.chicagotheatreweek.com.

About Chicago theatre

Chicago theatre is a leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theaters to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 that have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. In 2012-13 alone, Chicago theatre companies produced more than 130 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year, Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world. 

About the League of Chicago Theatres

The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to promote, support, and advocate for Chicago's theatre industry locally, nationally, and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theatre in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theatres and theatre professionals.

For a comprehensive list of Chicago productions, visit the League of Chicago Theatres website, www.chicagoplays.com.  Half-price tickets are available each week at www.hottix.org.  Additional information about Chicago Theatre Week is available at www.chicagotheatreweek.com.

INCOMING: Honey & the 45's at Lincoln Hall and Quinn Tsan at Martyrs (Both 21+)

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

SATURDAY 1/10: Honey & the 45’s play Lincoln Hall on Saturday, Jan. 10th. Check out their site here.

SHOESHINE BOY PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS:

HONEY AND THE 45'S

JORDAN ENGELHARDT

REDFIELD

LEONUM

$10.00 [$12 DOORS] 21+
8:00 PM 

TUESDAY 1/13: Estonia’s Tartu Popi ja Roki Instituut is performing at Martyrs’ on Tuesday, Jan 13. Chicago’s Quinn Tsan will be on hand as support. Check 'em out! Full details here.

Tue, Jan 13 - 8pm - $7 21+

TONIGHT: Slayer, Suicidal Tendencies, Exodus at Horseshoe Casino (21+)

INCOMING: Who's down for some heavy duty music therapy tonight?! Get there early for openers Exodus. We caught Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies at the past 2 Chicago Riot Fests respectively and they've still got it and more. They killed it live. If you live for inhumanly fast riffs and punk tinged metal, go already. You'll regret it if you miss this.

SLAYER WITH SPECIAL GUESTS SUICIDAL TENDENCIES AND EXODUS

Slayer with special guests Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus hit the stage at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino Saturday, December 6 at 7:30pm.

Check out Gary Holt, guitar player in Slayer, on the new EXODUS album, entitled Blood In, Blood Out, newly released October 14, 2014 via Nuclear Blast records.

Check out ‘Salt The Wound’ featuring Metallica’s Kirk Hammett (who originally played in Exodus before joining Metallica). This puppy had over 100,000 views in less than 24 hours! Exodus has over a million FB fans and countless “regular” fans (ha) worldwide! Also one of the original singers, Steve “Zetro” Souza is BACK in the band for this new album.

EXODUS ‘Salt The Wound’ 

Featuring METALLICA’s Kirk Hammett 

New Album “Blood In, Blood Out” Available October 14, 2014 via Nuclear Blast

Bay Area thrash metal pioneers EXODUS unleash their blistering new track ‘Salt The Wound’, which features an intense guitar solo from none other than original EXODUS/Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett! ‘Salt The Wound’ is cut from the new EXODUS album Blood In, Blood Out, which hit stores on October 14, 2014 in North America via Nuclear Blast. 

Guitarist Gary Holt explains that Hammett was more than ready to play on Blood In, Blood Out. “Having Kirk play on the new EXODUS record kind of came about after I played so many shows with Metallica while touring with Slayer over the past four year. It started the same way most of these things do, as a lot of chatter while having a good time, but Kirk was more stoked to play on the new record than anyone. He never got to play on anything with EXODUS since the first demo despite being a founding member, so I think it really meant a lot to him. Coming full circle so to speak. So I chose the song "Salt the Wound" since I thought the rhythm section for the first lead was right in his wheelhouse, and he killed it! He came in and busted out several takes and his solo compliments mine perfectly. Then we drank beer and ate barbecue! Epic time!”

“It felt really casual, really cool – just like it did back in 1980 when we were all just hanging out back in the day,” Kirk Hammett stated to RollingStone.com in July.

Kirk Hammett isn’t the only special guest to grace Blood In, Blood Out. Crafting an industrial sound bed on the intro to the album opener ‘Black 13’ is electronic music producer Dan the Automator (GORILLAZ, MIKE PATTON, DELTRON 3030), and TESTAMENT’s Chuck Billy lends his signature roar to the track ‘BTK.’

TASTY--Vegan Metal Meals! Did you catch EXODUS’ Gary Holt Sept 10th as a guest judge on Top Chef Duels on Bravo! The guest judges panel also features fellow heavy metal frontrunners Rob Zombie and Scott Ian, judging a full vegan meal. For more information on the show, the judges and the contestants, click here.

Blood In, Blood Out now out. Get yours from  Nuclear Blast USA Webshop in CD, digi-pak, 2-LP exclusive yellow vinyl, and imported limited edition boxset formats.  Bundles include a t-shirt with exclusive artwork for North America + a poster (while supplies last). 

Track listing for the deluxe digi-pak version of Blood In, Blood Out is:

01 – Black 13 (featuring Dan the Automator)

02 – Blood In, Blood Out

03 – Collateral Damage

04 – Salt The Wound (featuring Kirk Hammett)

05 – Body Harvest

06 – BTK (featuring Chuck Billy)

07 – Wrapped In The Arms Of Rage

08 – My Last Nerve

09 – Numb

10 – Honor Killings

11 – Food For The Worms

BONUS DVD includes:

-“Blood Upon The Goat” making-of footage

-Behind-the-scenes tour footage

-Footage from Kirk Hammett’s Fear FestEVIL After Party at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con

The digital version of Blood In, Blood Out will include the digital bonus track “Angel Of Death” (ANGEL WITCH cover). The album’s Japanese edition includes the “Protect Not Dissect” bonus track featuring Rat from THE VARUKERS/DISCHARGE.

Produced by Andy Sneap (ACCEPT, KREATOR, MEGADETH), Blood In Blood Out features cover illustration by Swedish artist Par Olofsson (PSYCROPTIC, ABYSMAL DAWN, REVOCATION).

EXODUS will join fellow metal titans Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies on tour this November! The Scion-sponsored leg of this U.S. tour launched on November 11^th with two shows at The Fox Theater in Oakland, California.  The 26-show trek includes nine headlining off-dates with additional performances to be announced soon.  Tickets are on sale now via the links on the official EXODUS Facebook page.

Due to the overwhelmingly demand, EXODUS VIP Experience packages are now available for the entire tour via SLOtix.com. Visit the site for tour package details. All EXODUS VIP Experience attendees will be included in a giveaway for either an autographed Gary Holt signature guitar or an EXODUS guitar.  At the end of the tour, Gary Holt will personally call the winner himself to announce that they’ve won!

EXODUS in North America with Slayer & Suicidal Tendencies

11/11 – The Fox Theater - Oakland, CA (2^nd show added!)

11/12 – The Fox Theater - Oakland, CA

11/14 – The Forum - Inglewood, CA

11/15 – Comerica Theatre - Phoenix, AZ

11/17 – Coca Cola Bricktown Events Venter - Oklahoma City, OK

11/18 – ACL Live at the Moody Theater - Austin, TX

11/19 – Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie - Grand Prairie (Dallas), TX

11/21 – Hard Rock Café/Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL

11/22 – The Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA

11/23 – The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC (EXODUS ONLY)

11/24 - Empire - North Springfield, VA (EXODUS ONLY)

11/25 – Washington Avenue Armory - Albany, NY

11/26 – Sands Bethlehem Event Center - Bethlehem, PA

11/28 – The Palladium - Worcester, MA

11/29 – Wellmont Theatre - Montclair, NJ

11/30 – Tower Theater - Upper Darby (Philadelphia), PA

12/02 – Agora Theatre - Cleveland, OH

12/03 - Madison Theatre - Covington, KY (EXODUS ONLY)

12/04 – Egyptian Room at Old National Centre - Indianapolis, IN

12/05 – The Fillmore Detroit - Detroit, MI

12/06--Horseshoe Casino--Hammond, IN 

12/07 - Aftershock - Merriam, KS (EXODUS ONLY)

12/08 - Gothic Theatre - Denver, CO (EXODUS ONLY)

12/09 - Pub Station - Billings, MT (EXODUS ONLY)

12/10 - The Hop - Spokane, WA (EXODUS ONLY)

12/11 - Studio Seven - Seattle, WA  (EXODUS ONLY)

12/12 – Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR  (EXODUS ONLY)

Tickets are on sale now via the links on the official EXODUS Facebook page.

ABOUT EXODUS

With a career spanning 34 years, EXODUS have not only helped shape and define the thrash metal genre for over three decades, but continually seek to raise its standards. One of the forefathers of the Bay Area scene that became known and envied throughout the world, the band’s 1985 debut album, Bonded By Blood, has since become a legacy album featuring mandatory live staples such as "Strike Of The Beast," "A Lesson In Violence," and the album’s title track. Formed in 1980, the band’s original members included Tom Hunting on drums, Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Tim Agnello on guitars, and Carlton Melson on bass. With a line-up that has evolved throughout the years, the current incarnation of EXODUS charges into the future with returning frontman Steve “Zetro” Souza on vocals, Gary Holt and Lee Altus on guitars, Tom Hunting on drums, and Jack Gibson on bass. In 2014, EXODUS closed the first half of the year with stellar performances at Kirk Hammett’s Fear FestEvil and Rock On The Range, as well as a groundbreaking tour with fellow thrash legends Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies. To date, EXODUS has released nine studio albums, two live albums, and one compilation. Their most recent release, Exhibit B: The Human Condition, debuted in the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in 2010.

Visit EXODUS online at www.EXODUSATTACK.com.

Like: www.facebook.com/EXODUSATTACK

Follow: Twitter.com/_EXODUS

Watch: www.YouTube.com/EXODUS

TONIGHT: The Singles at LiveWire Lounge Chicago 11/25/14 (21+)

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

US Tour  Look How Fast A Heart Can Break LP Out Now Photo Credit: Don Lupo

The Singles are Vince Frederick (guitar/lead vocals) and Nicky Veltman (drums/back-up vocals). Both originally from Detroit, the two joined forces in LA in 2012 to restart Vince's project The Singles. Their sound combines elements of garage rock, power pop, glam, blues, and punk. The band is now touring in support of their album Look How Fast A Heart Can Break, produced by Rick Parker (who has worked with bands including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Von Bondies, and Lord Huron). You can watch the new video for "We Don't Talk Anymore" on Brooklyn Vegan.

Tour Dates 11.05 - Ace of Cups - Columbus, OH 11.06 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH 11.07 - Cattivo - Pittsburgh, PA 11.08 - Bug Jar - Rochester, NY 11.09 - Silver Line Tap Room - Trumansburg, NY 11.10 - TT The Bear's - Cambridge, MA 11.11 - AS220 - Providence, RI 11.12 - BAR - New Haven, CT 11.13 - Pianos - New York, NY 11.15 - The Fire - Philadelphia, PA 11.16 - Galaxy Hut - Arlington, VA 11.17 - Pour House - Raleigh, NC 11.18 - Green Room - Athens, GA 11.19 - Mammal Gallery - Atlanta, GA 11.20 - The Basement - Nashville, TN 11.21 - Bar DKDC - Memphis, TN 11.22 - Heavy Anchor - St. Louis, MO 11.23 - New Vintage - Louisville, KY 11.24 - The Drinkery - Cincinnati, OH 11.25 - LiveWire Lounge - Chicago, IL 11.28 - The Magic Stick - Detroit, M Links Website Facebook Twitter Instagram SoundCloud THE SINGLES are Vince Frederick (guitar/lead vocals) and Nicky Veltman (drums/back-up vocals). Garage rock, power pop, glam, blues, and punk all find their way into the band’s sound. Both originally from Detroit, the two joined forces in LA in 2012 to restart The Singles — a moniker Vince had used in the past to release his songs. With friend’s stepping in on bass, the band began playing locally as a 3-piece, bringing their raw, frenetic live show to the LA music scene. Things got serious once they met producer Rick Parker. Having worked with countless rock n’ roll bands (including Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Von Bondies, and Lord Huron), he had the right energy and ideas to work with the duo. Together they went into the studio to record a full-length album. The Singles released "Look How Fast A Heart Can Break" on April 1st, 2014 to critical acclaim in both the US and Europe. Neil Hussy at Shindig Magazine UK, said the album was filled with “perfectly formed pop jewels.” Popmatters said, “The Singles excel in American power pop, all crunchy chords, catchy melodies and killer harmonies.” And USA Today said, “If you need a rock ’n’ roll release… I think I have the perfect song” referring to lead off single ‘Inamorata’. The album, and songs from it, have broken into the top 20 on national indie radio charts. Since the release, the band has toured the US extensively. Gigs have included Southern California festivals, and support for national touring acts Brody Dalle, Holly Golightly, and The Weeks. The Singles will play over 100 shows this year with plans to tour internationally in 2015. Press Quotes "If you need a rock ‘n’ roll release… I think I have the perfect song. The Singles’ ‘Inamorata’ hooked me instantly. The duo, which formed in Detroit, pulls from some of my favorite bands to create a glam garage sound all its own."   -USA TODAY  "Throughout 13 tracks, you’ll find sundry, buzzed love (Inamorata), sorrow-fueled twang (It’s So Hard To Get Over You) and the misleadingly optimistic (We Don’t Talk Anymore)."  -CMJ "The Singles do karaoke, pay homage to T. Rex in new video." -AV CLUB "…perfectly formed pop jewels crammed full of catchy hooks. A lovely, feelgood gem of a record." -NEIL HUSSEY, SHINDIG MAGAZINE UK "Los Angeles via Detroit rockers The Singles excel in ’70s/’80s style American power pop, all crunchy chords, catchy melodies and killer harmonies." -POPMATTERS

INCOMING: 10th Annual Barn Dance Apocalypse, featuring The Golden Horse Ranch Band (17+)

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar

10th Annual Barn Dance Apocalypse, featuring The Golden Horse Ranch Band, at Thalia Hall on Saturday, Nov. 8.

What began as a gathering of friends at Open End/Av Aerie has grown into huge crowds at unique and undisclosed locations around Chicago. After taking a tour of the unfinished Thalia Hall in 2013, The Golden Horse Ranch Band knew this old dancehall would be the perfect location for the 10th annual Barn Dance Apocalypse.

Third generation square dance caller Annie Coleman summons her roots of calling dances at her grandparents dude ranch, after which the band is named. While the band plays street festivals, city-sponsored events, and weddings year-round, the real deal is the Barn Dance Apocalypse. It's loud, wild, and loaded with love, with a strong queer following. Friends and lovers have met and a beautiful community of friends has been built.

This is the band's first ever public Barn Dance. In the past, the underground spaces have filled to the brim quickly, and a big crowd is expected for this exciting event at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport in Chicago, on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 8PM CST.

http://www.goldenhorseranch.com/

TONIGHT: Nick Waterhouse at Lincoln Hall 21+ #ChiILPicksList

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

ChiIL Live Shows ChiILPicksList

Tonight we'll be shooting stills at the Nick Waterhouse concert at Lincoln Hall. Highly recommended. We catch his fantastic live shows every time he comes through Chicago, and have also shot 2 of his concerts before. Check out some of our past coverage and photo filled features here. 



TONIGHT:

Nick Waterhouse

PEP

$15.00

$18 Doors

Friday, September 19 2014

10:00 PM | 21+

Nick Waterhouse’s art springs from a simple idea: everybody wants to be somebody else. One of his heroes, Van Morrison, got his start covering Bobby Bland, whose own musical idol was Nat “King” Cole. In Waterhouse’s view, emulation is a journey; you never truly succeed, but as the singer, guitarist and songwriter puts it, “You become something on the way there.”

Nick was born in 1986 and grew up in Huntington Beach, a place known predominantly for its tanning salons, commercial surf culture, and UFC fighters. In his early teens, he established his musical sensibilities in the midst of the burgeoning Southern California DIY scene (Burger Records, Ty Segall, McHugh’s Distillery studio), through which he refined his own idiosyncratic perspective on the spirit of American Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll.

Waterhouse started performing as a teenager. “It was really motivated by fear,” he recalls. “I’m kind of an introvert, so it was an uncomfortable situation. It was a way to force a crisis.” The young artist experienced an exhilaration he’d never felt before, and hasn’t found anywhere else since. “It’s a feeling of heightened awareness that goes beyond pleasure,” Waterhouse explains. “It has something to do with seeing ahead in time and behind in time all at once. You don’t just get the immediate reward; you get the potential that rewards you the same way.” Check out his main site here and catch him LIVE if you can. Click here for current tour dates.

INCOMING: Shawn Maxwell's Alliance & William Kurk Enterprise at Mayne Stage #ChiILPicksList

CHI, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar

ChiIL Live Shows' ChiIL Picks List

• Shawn Maxwell's Alliance
• William Kurk Enterprise

October 17, 2014 | Show Starts 8:00 pm (7:00 pm DOORS)

As a performer and composer, Shawn Maxwell has established himself as a creative force on the vibrant and diverse Chicago music scene. For more than a decade, he has been leading his own groups with some of the city’s top young talent, and is an accomplished sideman on stage and in the studio.  Shawn has released six albums of all original works: Originals (2005), Originals II (2008), Maxwell’s House (2009), Urban Vigilante (2011), Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance (2014) and Burning Bridges (2014). The last four were released on the Chicago Sessions Label.

Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance started as an experiment; a gathering of friends to play some new music without stereotype or limitation. The resulting debut album, Shawn Maxwell’s Alliance stands as a new approach and direction, adding unusual instrumentation and distinct arrangements to Shawn’s powerful voice. Jazz, Folk, Classical, Pop & Funk are but some of the genres included in the writing for this project.

Members of the group include:
Shawn Maxwell – alto saxophone/flute/clarinet
Casey Fitzpatrick – soprano saxophone
Keri Johnsrud – voice
Mitch Corso – guitar
Stephen Lynerd – vibraphone/percussion
Marc Piane – bass
Stacy McMichael – bass
Meghan Fulton – french horn
Rachel Maxwell – french horn
Paul Townsend – drums

www.shawnmaxwell.com

William Kurk Enterprise

William Kurk has always been passionate about the personal vision of art. An ambassador to the Chicago music scene by virtue of efforts to support fellow artists and the continued pursuit of maintaining original ideas, released five studio albums: 'The Sound: Vol.1' (2004), 'The Sound: Vol. 2' (2007), 'The Sound: Vol. 3' (2009), 'Pop Fusion' (2011), and 'Super Pop Fusion' (2012). Members of the Grammy-award winning band Yellowjackets are featured on the third album: Bob Mintzer and Will Kennedy on the contemporary jazz hit, “Another Day”. William Kurk has also been a host to many events and shows around Chicago, as well as reviewed several indie projects under the alias ‘The Musicianarian’.

Other studio credits outside of his own include: Seal, Melba Moore, Dwele, and Maysa Leak among many others. The William Kurk Enterprise- "LIVE IN CHICAGO" DVD was released in 2011, which is a live concert compilation of Kurk's ensemble performing across Chicago.

Some of the other notable accompaniment work for Kurk includes: Dionne Warwick, Melba Moore, Martha Reeves, Koko Taylor, Stanley Jordan, Kindred The Family Soul, Andre DeShields, Chico DeBarge, Eric Roberson, Frank McComb, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, KRS-ONE, Julie Dexter, and Bill Cosby. Kurk has also been featured by the Chicago Music Association as one of the rising young composers on the scene, and is currently the keyboardist for R&B/Funk legend Steve Arrington. The future will present more music to come from William Kurk, as the latest project will be a tribute album to all the artists that have been an influence to the musical journey. The legacy continues. 

Tickets $20.00

INCOMING: Clutch Plays Riot Fest Rebel Stage Friday at 5:30 #Riotfest #ChiILPicksList

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar
ChiIL Live Shows ChiIL Picks List

Clutch & Mastodon
Rebel Stage
Friday at 5:30 & 7:00pm

TONIGHT!!



This is a weekend full of must see acts, and heading off the weekend with a bang is Maryland based Clutch. Here at ChiIL Live Shows they've been a top favorite of ours for decades and we've done 20+ features on them over the years. So beyond stoked they're working on new material again!! We're aiming to start the day with GWAR at 4:15 but ALL of our friends are meeting up at Clutch. Be there.

We've had the pleasure of catching their lead singer, Neil Fallon, for an original video interview that's now up to 16,600+ views on ChiIL Live Shows' YouTube Channel. Check it out right here.



We've also shot pit photos of the band for years. Click here to check em out. We've included a few of our favorites at the bottom of this post.

For the past 20 years, the Maryland foursome has fused heavy metal, punk and even blues and funk into their stoner-friendly hard rock stew. They recently reissued deluxe versions of three records from the mid 00’s and are currently at work on their 10th album, with a handful of tracks finding their into the band’s Forecastle set.

INCOMING: Mutts Play Riot Fest Sunday at 12:30 on Radical Stage #Riotfest #ChiILPicksLIst

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we've been tracking the rise of Chicago favorites, Mutts, for years now. Click here for loads of our photo filled Mutts coverage. They're a staple of summer fests and put on a rockin' live show. If you can drag your butts outta bed by noon Sunday, come on out and make the most of the final day of Riot Fest with an early start. They're one band worth waking up for.  If not, their 4th studio release is about to drop and they'll be touring.  Ones to watch. Chi, IL Live Bands On Our Radar ChiIL Live Shows ChiIL Picks List Via Mutts: We're playing RIOT FEST 2014!   If you're headed there this weekend, come see us Sunday 9/14 at 12:30pm on the Radical Stage.  We're proud to be one of a few Chicago-based bands representing at Riot Fest this year, including our good friends Archie Powell and the Exports.   And speaking of them, here's an early warning for our LP Release Show: Fuel Yer Delusion, vol. 4  Our fourth full-length studio album, Fuel Yer Delusion vol. 4, will be available on CD, digital and vinyl on Tuesday, December 9th. But you, my friend, can pick it up early at our LP Release show!  We're still deciding between two venues and dates, but the lineup is all set, and it's definitely going down the first weekend in December: Fuel Yer Delusion vol. 4 Release Party Either ???????????? or ????? Chicago, IL December 5 or 6 Mutts with: 1. ?????? ?????? ? ??? ??????? (Chicago) 2. ??? ???????? (Chicago) 3. ??? ???? ??? ???? (??????????) I know that's a wickedly nebulous announcement.  We're just excited to get our 4th LP to you.  Blues Traveler 4, Led Zeppelin 4, Connect Four, Tetris, the word "Friend," according to Cake - these are other legendary quad-related things, an echelon we hope to join with this record.   There we go again, with the delusion.   Anyway. Whether it's at ???-? or ?????, we're headlining, with three of our favorite bands on the bill, and it'll be time to kick off the holiday season.  With so many reasons to celebrate, please pencil Mutts in on your calendar, and stay tuned for the details - plus our first single and video - coming in the next week or two.

Chicago!  Our home, our family and friends, the place we became a band, the place our sound comes from, and the place we often get silly drunk and play punk-ass shows with kick-ass bands.  We've blazed past 100 tour dates already this year, representing our home town in 20 or so states, as best we can.  And we're excited to bring it back to you with these two uproarious shows.  Hope to see you at one, or both!  Until then, take care of yerselves.

Love,

Mike, Bob and Chris

[WE ARE] MUTTS

     

"Be kinder than necessary,

for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." 

Mutts CD Release Party at Fireside Bowl, 2012