ChiIL Live Shows Sunday At North Coast Music Fest #photo filled recap

 
Here are ChiIL Live Shows' Shots of Sunday at North Coast Music Festival 2012







  Sunday highlights were Chi-town's own Mathien, pictured below.

Mathien even got the "shreddy shirt boy" sighting  seal of approval!

We really dug seeing Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans again this year (we also shot them opening for Dumpstaphunk at the after party at Bottom Lounge Sunday night).  

Official NCMF After Party Rebirth Brass Band, Dumpstaphunk, Lou Dooben, DJ RC

Even security got in on the squirt gun fun

We also checked out the vendors including the Chevy street team.   I told them I'd just won a week loan of an Inferno Orange Camaro SS and they said, "What are you doing HERE, girl?!   You should be out driving that convertible!!!!!"

We did see a number of families and kids Sunday.

More highlights were Van Ghost, Big Boi and Pretty Lights.











The Van Ghost girls, and Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) in particular, just killed it with their stellar vocals and horns.   Sure there were some state of the art DJs & super stars at NCMF, but we chose to go old school and focus our lens predominantly on the musicians playing actual instruments and singing instead of the Mac/ scratch fever crew.   

 

Of course we also shot a lot of the creative, costumed crowd like this cow boy below who's out standing in his field.

 

 We wanna see a band named SLUTHAT next year.....   Whose with me?!

It was great to see familiar faces from the music industry/press world/blogosphere like Michael Berge, Michael Raspatello, Amy Ravit Korin (AKA:  Interactive Amy) and August Forte!

We hit the fest early Sunday afternoon with the plan to shoot most of Mathien's 2:30 set, then hit IndigoSky.   Unfortunately the media/photo pass SNAFU screwed up our shoot schedule again.    With no separate press entrance, I had to wait behind hundreds of festival goers to even get in, and then security gave me a hassle again about bringing in my gear.    

Year 1 we had lanyards/all access.   Year two we had a photo pit wrist band which wasn't ideal, but passable.   This year, we were approved for two media credentials, but someone had the brilliant idea that GA tickets would suffice. 

We were unable to shoot Friday at all, since security wouldn't let me in with my pro-camera gear and I had nothing to prove I really had press clearance.    I tried for over an hour to get someone on the walkie to get me in with my gear, and finally left in disgust.  I'd taken the el down and couldn't very well just ditch thousands of dollars in cameras outside the gate.   We were bummed not to catch King Khan & the Shrines,  Knife Party and STS9.

Later that night I e-mailed all my contacts on the fest production end and they assured me I had clearance to bring in a camera as press and that the gate fiasco was a mistake.   Yet we had the same issue again Sunday with security and were held up at the gate so long we missed shooting all of IndigoSky and just caught Mathian's final song after literally running across to the far side of the fest.    Grrrr.

Saturday went smoothly, aside from wasting shoot time in a mass of GA at the main gate and long lines for basics like portalets and water.  Every other major music fest we cover has a press area with free water and uncrowded toilets so press can work more efficiently.  It's a no brainer really.  Lollapalooza's press lounge is great, with a plentiful water and iced tea, private toilets, chairs for interviews, a free happy hour, swag, and more.    Unless things change for the better, this may be the last time we take the time to cover North Coast.   They seemed bent on making it as hard as possible for me to do my job and get good coverage for our readers!

Sunday I was fortunate enough to run into friends I shoot and review loads of shows for year round, who were able to escort me back stage to get some shots.    

Then I ran into one of the NCMF producers I've known for years, who FINALLY kicked me a guest wristband.    I still couldn't get any pit photos like we usually run here, but it was a big improvement over nothing.     Check out our extensive NCMF 2011 coverage where I shot pit photos from dawn to dusk every day of the fest.




That said, we'll be shooting stills again and catching Mathian's whole set at Reggies Rock Club this Saturday.   Come on out and check 'em out.   They're excellent.   Mathien's on at 7pm sharp, so come early.   ALL AGES.

Here's the scoop:

SAT SEP 08, 20126:30pm Doors/ All Ages/ $13 - $15 dos Click here for Reggies main site and more info

TRIBAL SEEDS
From San Diego, California, award-winning reggae group Tribal Seeds have become known for their spiritually driven, refreshing rock vibe they have infused with the roots style of reggae music.         

BALLYHOO!
A rock band with punk energy and pop, reggae grooves, Baltimore’s BALLYHOO! are a fun, fan-loving powerhouse. 

MATHIEN 



Till next year NCMF....

ACT OUT: Profile Theatre's Sweet and Sad Highly Recommended #Review

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brosilow    

Kate Harris (blue dress ), to her right is Eric Burgher sitting next to Kristin Ford and holding hands across the table with Harmony France. Darrell W. Cox is wearing a white shirt

PROFILES THEATRE

Sweet and Sad (Midwest Premiere)

by Richard Nelson

Directed by Joe Jahraus

ChiIL Live Shows had the great pleasure of seeing Sweet and Sad on opening night.   This is one of the most eloquent memorials to 9/11 out there.   The truths that lie in the things spoken, the things forgotten, and the things remembered but left unsaid, speak volumes.   Truly, memorials may stand and mark the scene of tragedies large enough to reshape the world,   but the purest memorials lie in the works of art, theatre, music, spoken and written word that arise from the effects on real people.    Sweet and Sad deals with losses as intimate and personal as the suicide of a child and the slow loss of a life time's worth of memories, and with mass losses like the death toll of 9/11 and our country's loss of innocence, invincibility and sense of security.  

Sweet and Sad 

is a 

thought provoking

must see.

The scene opens on a stark and barren stage, leaving everything to the audience's imagination.   Then the trappings of polite society are unfurled, physically and metaphorically, as an Oriental rug is rolled out, a table is set for a large, family brunch, and a buffet of real food is paraded out.   As the Apple extended family digs in to their meal and each other,  the audience becomes a fly on the wall, in this highly engaging, realistic, family ritual.   It's amazing just how effectively Profiles was able to pull off a theatre in the round production in their intimate, new space.   The banter and timing come off realistically, and there are certainly funny moments and more than a few chuckles of recognition of real life "characters".   

We thought Robert Breuler was a particular stand out with his zen-like, live in the moment, amnesiac.   

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brosilow    

Robert Breuler with cast

Of course, with another impending 9/11 anniversary next week and the election buzz in full swing, this show is as timely as ever.   In fact, they are adding a special extra 9/11 performance.

Tuesday, September 11 at 8 pm. The event will feature pre-show appetizers and cocktails at 6:30 pm and a post-show discussion with the cast and director.

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Brosilow    

Darrell W. Cox standing over Robert Breuler

Sweet and Sad is an excellent choice to introduce The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway, next door to Profiles Theatre's long time home, now called The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.   The Second Stage, rental space, has now been transferred to Rare Terra Theatre Company as of August 15th.

Featuring Profiles ensemble members Darrell W. Cox and Eric Burgher with Robert Breuler, Kristin Ford, Harmony France and Kate Harris

August 17 – October 7, 2012

Profiles Theatre, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway

Tickets: $30 - $40

Box Office: www.profilestheatre.org or (773) 549-1815

With Sweet and Sad, Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Nelson continues his series of plays exploring the immediate present and the ever-changing state of the nation. Over Sunday brunch on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the Apple Family finds themselves talking about loss, remembrance and the family struggle to maintain its moral equilibrium in a world that no longer reflects its values.

Profiles Theatre’s production follows the highly acclaimed world premiere at The Public Theater in New York last season. Named one of the top ten plays of the year by the New York Times, New York Magazine and Bloomberg News, Sweet and Sad is part of Richard Nelson’s planned series of four works charting the changes undergone by an extended family from the village of Rhinebeck, New York. Beginning with That Hopey Changey Thing in 2010 and the upcoming Sorry opening at The Public Theater in October 2012, the plays take place in real time and have their World premiere on the dates they are set.

Regular Run: August 24 – October 7, 2012

Schedule: Thurs., Fri.: 8:00 p.m.

Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and 8:00p.m. (no 5pm show August 18 and 25)

Sunday: 7:00 p.m.

Added Performance: Tuesday, September 11 at 8 pm

Location: Profiles Theatre, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway

Parking is available for $10 - $12 at 4100 N. Clarendon

(One block east of the theatre at the corner of Clarendon and Belle Plaine)

Ticket prices:  

Thursdays are $35, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are $40; Tuesday, September 11 tickets are $40. Students and Senior Citizens receive a $5 discount on all performances; Group rates are available.

Box Office: Buy online at www.profilestheatre.org

or call (773) 549-1815

Now that Profiles has new digs, they're off to a great start to their 24th season, with two openings in rapid succession.   ChiIL Live Shows will be there for opening night of After tonight (9/5) and we'll have a full review shortly.

Profiles Theatre continues 24^th Season

with the Midwest premiere

 of After by Chad Beckim

directed by Matt Hawkins

Profiles Theatre announces the Midwest premiere of After by Chad Beckim, the second show of the company’s 2012-2013 season.  After, directed by guest artist Matt Hawkins, runs August 31-October 14, 2012.   Performances are held at Profiles original venue, The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway.   

When a wrongfully imprisoned man is exonerated by DNA evidence after seventeen years in prison, he is forced to re-assimilate into a cold, foreign world of toothbrush shopping, doggy day care, and a friendship with an anxious young woman with secrets of her own. After is a compassionate portrait of a man struggling with the challenges of socializing and the anger he still feels for having his youth unjustly destroyed.

After, written by Chad Beckim, received its World premiere production in September 2011 by Partial Comfort Productions in New York where he is co-Founder and co-Artistic Director. His playwriting credits include …a matter of choice, `nami and Lights Rise on Grace which won Outstanding Play at the 2007 New York International Fringe Festival and finalist for the 2007 Princess Grace Award. Chad holds an MFA in Playwriting from Mac Wellman’s Brooklyn Colleges Program and in July 2007, he was named one of 50 Playwrights to Watch by the Dramatists Guild.

Matt Hawkins (director of Cabaret at The Hypocrites) directs for the first time at Profiles. The production features guest artists Alice da Cunha, Carlos Rogelio Diaz, J. Salome Martinez, Stephenie Park, Gabriel Ruiz and Foster Williams, Jr., all making their debut with Profiles Theatre.

“There’s a delicate balance to my work; a dark, often bare-knuckle aesthetic entwined with levity, heart and hope,” says playwright Chad Beckim.  “This is particularly true in the slippery landscape of After which demands a bold production team. Like any playwright, I’ve longed to find a home in Chicago, and am thrilled that Profiles Theatre—a company with a rich history of staging similarly daring voices and intrepid worlds – has carved out space for my baby.  I’m eager to see how audiences of such a theatrically savvy company in such a theatrically savvy town embrace this story.”

The designers are Dan Stratton (set), Bekki Lambrecht (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound and original music), and Brittany Bodley (costumes).  Krissy Larson is the stage managerand Elise Spoerlein serves as assistant director.

After is the second production of Profiles Theatre’s 24^th season. The Midwest premiere of Sweet and Sad by Richard Nelson opens at Profiles Theatre’s Main Stage on August 24, 2012. The season also includes the 20^th Anniversary production of Hellcab by Will Kern, and the Midwest premieres of The Dream of the Burning Boy by David West Read andThe Break of Noon by Neil LaBute.

Tickets for After are $35 for Thursdays, $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are available by phone, (773) 549-1815, or online, www.profilestheatre.org.  Performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 5:00 and 8:00 pm, Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

CHI, IL FILMS ON OUR RADAR: BONE with director Larry Cohen--The Music Box--Midnight

The Music Box Theatre presents special midnight screenings of BONE on Friday, September 7th &
Saturday, September 8th.  Director Larry Cohen will be speaking before each screening of his controversial debut film.

Advertised as a Black Man Out For White Women movie, audiences were probably more shocked to find out Larry Cohen’s directorial debut was more of a Black Comedy. After taking a Beverly Hills family hostage, Bone discovers that under their seemingly nice life, lies many dark secrets. Whether you’re a “Housewife” (alternate title) or just a movie lover, you won’t want to miss this! With writer/director Larry Cohen on hand to discuss his 1972 film!

WHAT:                   BONE with special guest, director Larry Cohen
WHERE:                  The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60607
WHEN:                   Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th, 2012 at 11:59pm (Midnight)
TICKETS:                 $9.25 http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/bone-2012-09-07-1159-pm
                              Seating is limited.

About BONE:
This brilliant, edgy and dark comedy by cult director Larry Cohen serves as an interesting time capsule look into early 1970's race relations. Yaphet Kotto stars as a mysterious African-American man who invades the home of a wealthy Beverly Hills couple. At first he demands money and sex, but an array of Polynesian cocktails finds him embroiled the in the couple's rocky and complicated relationship. Not a thriller, however, the film cleverly uses a juxtaposition of stereotypes to expose issues of racism and consumerism. Strong dialogue and acting and an eclectic musical score with some heavy funk and jazz overtones by Gil Melle gives the film a distinctly offbeat, unmistakably 1970s feel.
Director: Larry Cohen
Writer: Larry Cohen
Stars: Yaphet Kotto, Andrew Duggan, Joyce Van Patten




About the Music Box Theatre:
For nearly 30 years the Music Box Theatre has been the premiere venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films, festivals and some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago. It currently has the largest theater space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD and television markets throughout the United States. www.musicboxtheatre.com.

Download the entire Music Box Theatre Summer Calendar here: http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/assets/calendars/MusicBox_Summer2012.pdf

HELP LOCALLY: PINTS FOR PUPS FUNDRAISER

The Logan Square Dog Park's Biggest Fundraiser of the Year is just 3 DAYS AWAY!

Please purchase your tickets in advance by visiting www.LoganSquareDogPark.com. 

This year's event will be held at Dunlays on the Square and includes unlimited beer, wine and sangria from 3pm - 5pm. 

The weather is predicted to be perfect, the beer is predicted to be cold, and we're expecting the Fido to Go doggie food truck to be on hand to make sure that your pups have as good of a time as you do.

You'll also have a chance to win some awesome auction and raffle prizes from our very generous business donors, including: 

Dinner cruise for 2 on the "Spirit of Chicago"

Amalfi Hotel overnight stay

Brooklyn Brewery skateboard

Chicago White Sox Gavin Floyd autographed photo

5-day daycare pass at Lucky Dog Pet Service

Smoke Daddy BBQ basket 

Shawnimals plush toy basket

Bosch Electric Drill

Chicago Cubs tickets for September 18 vs. Cincinnati Reds

Cakebite Bakery cake pops certificate

D'Noche gift certificates 

Logan Square Dog Park wine basket

Gift certificate for Refresh Ease clothing

Gift certificate for Rocking Horse Pub 

Gift certificate to Revolution Brewing

Gift certificate to Fleur

Dunlays on the Square gift certificates and desserts

and more!!

Dogs are, of course, welcome on the patio!

We hope to see you there and, as always, thank you for your generous support!

~The Logan Square Dog Park Committee

SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE - Premiere Video For "The New Eve"

The New Eve Available September 11th on Nightmare/Sony/RED SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE (S.U.E.) will release their album The New Eve next Tuesday September 11th via Nightmare Records.  Today sees the debut of the music video for the title track ofThe New Eve.  The video is available for viewing exclusively on the Nightmare Records YouTube channel HERE. The New Eve is available for pre-order on Amazon and Nightmare Records Website. The title track is also streaming exclusively on Noisecreep HERE. The first single from the album "The Day I Died" can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. S.U.E began in 1999 when guitarist Vince Benaim decided to create a progressive metal band with a few friends. In summer of 2004 S.U.E. signed a worldwide record deal with the French label Replica Records as well as an American licensing deal with Nightmare Records.  In 2006 the band released their debut album Mental Torments. Fast forward to 2012 and S.U.E. has returned with their fourth offering The New Eve.  These French progressive metallers have succeeded where most  have failed; growing as a band musically and creatively from one album to the next.  With The New Eve the band take yet another huge step forward creating one of the most compelling melodic prog metal releases of 2012, bringing freshness again to the ever expanding genre. SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE Discography: Mental Torments (2006) Anima (2008) Unreal (2009 The New Eve (2012) For More Info Please Visit: http://www.sphericuniversexp.com/ http://www.nightmarerecords.com

North Coast Official Video Recaps & Lost N Found

 

The Third Annual NORTH COAST MUSIC FESTIVAL "Summer's Last Stand" *** Thank You *** *** Lost and Found *** North Coast Music Festival would like to thank everyone who helped make this event unforgettable, and most importantly, the fans.  Without you, there is no show.  We love you all and can't wait to see you in 2013! Day 1 Recap: Day 2 Recap: Day 3 Recap:

Lost and Found Did you lose your stuff at North Coast Music Festival this past weekend? Well, theLost and Found may have it. Please email volunteer@northcoastfestival.com with a detailed description of your lost item to see if it was turned in. Lockers Did you leave anything in the Locker you rented at North Coast Music Festival? Well, Entertainment Lockers may have it, but act with the quickness, as they only wait for a few days before donating the remains to Goodwill. Contact briangross@entertainmentlockers.com with a detailed description of your lost item, as well as the Locker number it should have been in.

Smoking Popes & SideOneDummy Reissue the Classic Born To Quit October 23rd w/ Deluxe Package - National Tour This Fall

“Did you ever hear Born to Quit? It’s by the Smoking Popes. I thought that album was extraordinary, the most lovable thing I’d heard in years.” -Morrissey The Smoking Popes are pleased to announce the re-issue of their landmark album Born To Quit on SideOneDummy Records October 23rd. The album was their first on a major label after they signed to Capitol Records, and it was a doozy, the first single ‘Need You Around” quickly went into heavy rotation on radio flagships like Chicago’s Q101 and KROQ in Los Angeles.  Praise from SPIN, Alternative Press, Rolling Stone and Billboard arrived and later that year the single was featured in the movie Clueless. The remastered album comes with a deluxe repackaging featuring new artwork, a memorabilia collage, new liner notes from Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio), Joe Shanahan (Chicago’s Metro) and comedian Kyle Kinane as well as a track-by-track analysis by Popes’ frontman Josh Caterer and two bonus tracks (Willie Nelson cover “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground” and the previously unreleased duet “Blanket In The Park”).  There will be limited edition red and blue vinyl in addition to a CD. Red vinyl will be for sale at www.SideOneDummy.com while blue vinyl will be available on tour. To celebrate the release, the band will hit the road this fall and play Born To Quit in its entirety every night, followed by a set of other songs from the band’s catalog. Says Josh Caterer, "I'm excited about playing the album start-to-finish every night on tour. That's the way it's meant to be heard. These shows are gonna be a blast!"  BORN TO QUIT Tour 2012 OCTOBER 08 – St Louis, MO @ The Firebird 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade 11 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 12 – Washington, DC @ Red Palace 13 – New York, NY @ Studio at Webster Hall 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar 15 – Boston, MA @ TT The Bear’s Place 16 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place 17 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop 18 – Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn’s 19 – Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi’s 20 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door NOVEMBER 04 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive 05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 07 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s 08 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubdaour 09 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar 10 – Phoenix, AZ @ Sail Inn 12 – Austin, TX @ Red 7 13 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s Upstairs Smoking Popes built a relationship with their legion of fans and fellow musicians by melding raw songs about bittersweet heartache with soaring melodies, power chords and punk spirit. Smoking Popes influenced the likes of Alkaline Trio, Dashboard Confessional and Motion City Soundtrack during a career marked with critical raves from their fellow musicians and the press. Los Angeles Times said it well, “Ever wonder what a traditional saloon singer would sound like backed up by a punk band? The Smoking Popes take that concept one step further: They've created a unique kind of music that some listeners are describing as ‘hyperkinetic tear-jerkers.’" Smoking Popes, the heart of which is the three Caterer brothers – Matt, Eli, and Josh – first burst onto the scene in 1991 and released several albums on various independent labels. They signed to Capitol Records in 1995 and re-released their landmark album Born to Quit to an even larger fan base gained by touring with bands like Jawbreaker and Jimmy Eat World. In 1997, the Smoking Popes released Destination Failure, which many consider to be their defining masterpiece. This album challenged the idea of what a pop punk band could do, with songwriting that didn’t always adhere to verse-chorus-verse progression and lyrics that told tales of love and longing with heartbreaking details. To the shock of many, Smoking Popes decided to throw in the towel on December 19, 1998.  In 2005, rumors started flying that the band would perform at the Flower 15 Festival. Their sold out reunion show at Chicago’s Metro that November sparked a resurgence of Smoking Popes fans, leaving the crowd yearning for new material. The show was released as a CD/DVD.  The band was re-energized and reformed for good, releasing Stay Down in 2008 and It’s Been a Long Day, a compilation of songs released on 7” came out on Asian Man Records in 2010. 2011 brought a great new album from the Popes, who’d recently acquired a great new drummer in Neil Hennessy, who is known for his work with Lawrence Arms. This is Only a Test was perfect proof that their sparkling lyricism and ineffable charm remains intact. This is Only a Test was the Smoking Popes’ first ever concept album, exploring the life of a fictional high-schooler. In 2012, the Popes signed to LA’s SideOneDummy Records and immediately released the Complete Control Sessions, a live EP that included their cover of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables on yellow and green vinyl while they were preparing the re-issue of Born To Quit. Want more info on the Popes?    Visit www.smokingpopes.net and www.SideOneDummy.com .