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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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







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

OPENING: The Hypocrites Present Gilbert & Sullivan Rep #FamilyFriendly #Theatre

The Hypocrites are truly a treat. Highly recommended. Consider gifting your loved ones with tickets to this triple play. Last year we had the pleasure of seeing Mikado and it was one of our top favorites of the year. The Hypocrites worked the promenade style exceedingly well, and pulled the audience right into the show. This year we plan on checking out the acclaimed H.M.S. Pinafore and Pirates of Penzance as well.

ChiIL Mama & the kids ChiILin' at The Hypocrites' Mikado 


Gilbert & Sullivan Rep
Directed by Sean Graney and Thrisa Hodits
Music Direction by Andra Velis Simon

featuring the world premiere adaptation of
H.M.S. Pinafore
Adaption by Sean Graney, Matt Kahler & Andra Velis Simon

along with the highly anticipated return of BOTH
Pirates of Penzance 
Adaption by Sean Graney & Kevin O'Donnell
and
Mikado
Adaption by Sean Graney


Looking for something fun to do with the family
this Thanksgiving holiday week?
Join The Hypocrites for the first week of
H.M.S. Pinafore:

Wed 11/26/2014 8:00 PM
Fri 11/28/2014 8:00 PM
Sat 11/29/2014 8:00 PM
Sun 11/30/2014 3:00 PM
Mon 12/1/2014 8:00 PM

H.M.S. Pinafore: Nov 26th-Feb 7th
Mikado: Dec 11th-Feb 7th
Pirates: Dec 18th-Feb 7th

The Hypocrites are one of our top local favorites, and the Jeff Committee seems to agree with us. We're elated to see The Mikado will return December 2014-February 2015 along with the whole Gilbert & Sullivan Rep. 


Mash Note to Mikado:

Dear Hypocrites Mikado-- We were so elated to see you last December. You lit up the darkest, coldest of times with flash and panache. We told everyone we knew about you and couldn't wait to introduce them to you. Of course you charmed anyone who came within reach of your siren's song!

You didn't just break down the 4th wall, you ran rings around it! We were so impressed with your acting, costumes, and the whole interactive, participatory vibe. You were a colorful, riotous explosion of song, dance and fun and a blast to spend an evening with.

We can't wait to see you again!
ChiIL Mama & the kids

The intimate tent like setting full of tiny bulbs was a welcoming beacon of warmth and celebration of light at the darkest time of the year. The rag tag band of circus sorts doing a hybrid of the traditional Mikado score with an utterly unique and playful spin was a compelling mix. We adore the improv elements The Hypocrites employ and the way they truly engaged the crowd and played off of them and WITH them.








Promenade staging (or shows where the audience stands and mingles in the performance space and follows the action, moving as needed) was used to great effect for The Hypocrites runaway hit, The Mikado. We've honestly never seen the 3rd wall so effectively broken down. The Mikado was playful, fun, interactive and highly effective as a promenade style piece.  

This past year, The House Theatre's acclaimed Dorian production was promenade style, as was a Midsummer Night's Dream at Strange Loop Theatre among others. Red Moon Theatre's Bellboys, Bears and Baggage, was billed as a promenade style spectacle, too. Yet we've never seen the style pulled off as well as The Mikado does.


Reviews from Mikado and Pirates:

★★★★ (out of ★★★★)   

"The Hypocrites apply their winning formula of hip deconstruction and dark comedy to the cherished operetta"
Chicago Tribune

"Spirited, affectionate, and nearly irresistible"
Boston Globe

"Terrific...The Hypocrites' musicianship has never sounded better."
TimeOut Chicago




All Our Tragic Returns June-August 2015

Missed All Our Tragic this time around?
Saw it but wanted to come back or tell your friends?
Well now you have a second chance
Buy your tickets for next summer now

The Hypocrites at
Den Theatre Mainstage 
1329 N Milwaukee  

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The Blind Shake New LP Breakfast of Failures Out On Goner Now


The Blind Shake On Fall Tour Now
Listen to "Parachutes" on 
Brooklyn Vegan
New LP Breakfast of Failures Out On Goner Now



Remaining Fall Tour Dates

11.19 - Subterranean Chicago IL


11.20 - Donovans Detroit MI


11.21 - Silver Dollar Toronto ON


11.22 - The National Montreal QC


11.23 - Great Scott Boston MA


11.25 - Cake Shop Brooklyn NY


11.26 - Baby's All Right Brooklyn NY


11.28 - Underground Arts Philadelphia PA


11.29 - Kings Raleigh NC


12.01 - Hi Tone Memphis TN


12.03 - The Earl Atlanta GA


12.04 - Siberia New Orleans LA


12.05 - Good Vibrations Festival at Hotel Vegas Austin TX
Tracklist
01. Old Lake

02. Parachute

03. Dots In The Fog

04. Breakfast of Failures

05. Go Lie

06. Young Carnival Waste

07. Pollen

08. In A Trance

09. Mildew

10. Nobody Else







Dense, massive locomotive music from this Minneapolis three-piece. Powerful sounds with the ability to careen through one cinematic, post-apocalyptic chase scene after another.  Breakfast Of Failures comes clanging and crashing through these confused times.
"The Blind Shake is at once spacey, primitive futuristic, and brutal: a kind of backyard extraterrestrial minimal surf-punk party. One guitar, one baritone guitar, a fuckload of reverb, and a drummer who deserves an Olympic medal." --SF Weekly
Fronted by brothers Jim and Mike Blaha, with friend Dave Roper on drums, the trio have been tunneling through the underground since before telephones could talk. Having six full length albums to their credit, several singles, three collaborations with psych legend Michael Yonkers and another with downstroke warrior John Reis, the band continues to push the sliding scale between catchy punk songs and pitch red noise.
Breakfast Of Failures was recorded by Chris Woodhouse at The Dock in Sacramento, CA.


Links

Saturday, November 15, 2014

OPENING: The Mousetrap at Northlight Theatre

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

Chi, IL Live Shows on stage and on our radar.

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we adore a good mystery and The Mousetrap is the world's longest running play (now at 62 years on London’s West End), written by one of the finest masters of the craft, renowned mystery writer Agatha Christie.

We'll be there for opening night tonight, so check back for our full review shortly. Northlight is a long running favorite of ours for stellar production values and excellent casting choices. Book your tickets before they disappear like the guests of Monkswell Manor!



On a snowy night at Monkswell Manor, newlyweds Mollie and Giles welcome a group of strangers to their guest house, only to discover news of a murderer in their midst! A police investigation reveals the sordid details of each guest’s mysterious past, but not soon enough to stop the killer from striking again. Agatha Christie’s masterful whodunit weaves an intricate plot filled with nerve-rattling suspense, all leading up to the ultimate final twist!


The Mousetrap
PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL BROSILOW
The cast of The Mousetrap includes Greg Matthew Anderson (Det. Sgt. Trotter), Patrick Clear (Major Metcalf), Joey deBettencourt (Christopher Wren), Joe Dempsey (Mr. Paravincini), Laura T. Fisher (Mrs. Boyle), Keith Neagle (Giles Ralston), Lindsey Pearlman (Miss Casewell) and Cora Vander Broek (Mollie Ralston).


Title:  The Mousetrap
Written by: Agatha Christie
Directed by: Jonathan Berry
         
Featuring:                 Greg Matthew Anderson, Patrick Clear, Joey deBettencourt, Joe Dempsey, Laura T. Fisher, Keith Neagle, Lindsey Pearlman and Cora Vander Broek.
         
                         
            
           Dates:  Regular run: November 15 – December 14, 2014

          Schedule:  Tuesdays: 7:30pm (except Nov. 18 and Dec. 2)
                           Wednesdays: 1:00pm (except Dec. 10) and 7:30pm (except Nov. 26)
                           Thursdays: 7:30pm (except Nov. 27)
                           Fridays: 8:00pm (except Opening on Nov. 14 at 7:30pm)
                           Saturdays: 2:30pm (except Nov. 8) and 8:00pm
                           Sundays: 2:30pm and 7:00pm (except Nov. 16 and 23 and Dec. 14)

Open Captioned   Sunday, December 7 at 7:00pm
Performance:

Location:  Northlight Theatre is located at the North Shore
                             Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd,
                             Skokie

Tickets:                   
                              Regular run: $25-$78
                             Student tickets are $15, any performance
(subject to availability)

Box Office:              The Box Office is located at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie.
                                    847.673.6300; northlight.org


Thursday, November 6, 2014

INCOMING: Quinn Tsan Debut EP Release at Constellation 11/14 (18+)

Chicago singer-songwriter Quinn Tsan will celebrate the release of her debut EP, Good Winter, with a show at Constellation on Friday, Nov. 14. Passerines and Kelsey Wild will be on hand to open the show.





Quinn Tsan
Passerines
Kelsey Wild
FRI, NOVEMBER 14, 2014
9:30 PM
$10.00

QUINN TSAN
Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, singer/songwriter Quinn Tsan began playing music in 2008 when she relocated to Chicago, IL to sing back-up for Joe Pug. Classically trained in dance though always having an affinity for music, Tsan quickly immersed herself in the local scene, going on to sing with Sarah Holtschlag, Rachele Eve, Johnny Lewis, and Sima Cunningham, among others. This performance will celebrate the release of her debut EP, Good Winter. 

"precise and sweetly comforting, deliberate while staying endearing, all while showing off a knack for mood-building that most young acts don't develop so quickly."

PASSERINES
Passerines is a Chicago based music group that weaves together aspects of chamber music, indie folk, and r&b.

KELSEY WIL
Born: 1990 in Honolulu USA
Piano lessons: 1996-2002
Writing music since 2004

I have a cat, a dog, a goldfish named Nancy Kerrigan. I like to roller skate, I have a scar on my left index finger from a box-cutter, I love coffee, I hate licorice, and I don't like to dance except when the music's good and I'm with friends who are also bad at dancing. 
I love to play and write music, but not all the time. It's a relationship with highs and lows, plagued by doubt and frustration but always good enough to keep going. I read an essay by Ray Bradbury once about how art is created because of the artist's ego, and I think that's true. I try to find other reasons so I don't feel so guilty.

I like the ocean and I like to walk places.


SAVE THE DATE: "Mearra - Selkie From the Sea” at Old Town School Sunday 12/7 (6+) #FamilyFriendly

Chicago singer-songwriter Linda Marie Smith will be presenting the multimedia show "Mearra - Selkie From the Sea” at the Old Town School on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 3PM.


This family-friendly performance features Smith's adaptation of a classic Celtic tale told with original songs and performed with a six piece orchestra playing along to projected animation. 

In this re-imagined story, Mearra, a mythical seal, makes use of her magical ability to transform into a human being, marries Ian, a lonely fisherman and eventually starts a family; knowing all the while she must inevitably return to the sea as a seal, or perish. The characters experience love, loss and transformation while emotionally charged music, beautiful stage lighting and evocative projected imagery all come together to make for an unforgettable multi-media concert experience.

This show comes to life on the heels of Smith's successful previous multi-media music production The Triumph of Artemisia. Smith's unique vocal style has a folk rock sensibility and her music has been described as romantic, soulful and earthy; her lyrics and melodies weave colorful stories of intriguing people and curious places. 

She received honorable mention in the Billboard Songwriting Contest, has co-produced and performed in two of the acclaimed Michael Smith's musical productions, teaches at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and has been recognized by the Illinois Arts Council in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts.

Sunday, December 7, 2014    3:00 PM
Linda Marie Smith presents
Mearra - Selkie from the Sea
Recommended for Ages 6+
4544 N Lincoln Ave · Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall · 773.728.6000
  • $18 General Public
  • $16 Members


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

Chi, IL Live Shows on Our Radar





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.



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