Pages

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

North Coast Music Fest & Summer Camp Music Fest--Bookend The Summer







It's strangely fitting that we always kick off the big, summer music fest season with Summer Camp Music Festival and end with North Coast Music Fest, now in it's 3rd year.   Many of the same bands are playing both, including:

Umphrey's McGhee
Pretty Lights 
Van Ghost
EOTO
Midnight Conspiracy
Mathian
IndigoSun (all SCamp2012)

Girl Talk (SCamp2011)


Can you spot more?

NORTH COAST 2012 COMPLETE LINE UP:




**Click here for ChiIL Live Shows photo filled Summer Camp (SCamp) Footage:


It's time to Rock Union Park and get your fest buzz on AGAIN.   Check out ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama for great, photo filled North Coast coverage, starting with past years right here.






We have press credentials for the 3rd year now,  and will again be there for all 3 days.   Check back with ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often for photo filled features and loads of must see tips, new footage, new live show shots, and more.

Mucca Pazza Album Release at Bottom Lounge #original live show photos #original HD videos



Rhythmic, cult-like chanting filled the air at Bottom Lounge on August 18th.   

Moooo ka pa za
Moo KA PA ZA
MUCCA PAZZA
MUCCA PAZZA
MUCCA PAZZA

When we saw multiple members of the crowd sporting cow costumes, we knew it would be a night to remember!

Chi-town's own favorite punk rock marching band rose to the occasion for their raucous, official album release party for Safety Fifth, and did not disappoint.   The full sized marching band in their wabi sabi, mismatched uniforms and their cheerleaders with shredded caution tape pom pons, are our kinda crazy.   They truly shine in live performance and are a spectacle to see.    

Their name may be Italian for mad cow or crazy cow, but we think they're crazy like a fox....crazy talented musicians playing crazy good music...and a crazy fun show.



*worlds collide alert #1:   Dug ran into two sets of friends from the TV production world at the show.   One of those friends is a neighbor to one of the Mucca Pazza pom pon girls, who is also an accomplished local aerialist/acro/circus performer.   She's played Alice in Wonderland and has ties to another of our favs, The Actors Gymnasium.

*worlds collide alert #2:   ChiIL Mama has caught Mucca Pazza's head muckety muck, Mark Messing, for video interviews twice at Chicago Children's Theatre--once in a duo with Brian Selznick, author/illustrator of Hugo Cabret.  (Brian's book was the basis for Oscar Award winning hit movie, Hugo, and The Houdini Box play.) 

The other Mark Messing/ ChiIL Mama interview is in a duo with genius director, David Kersnar, in an amusingly Ernie and Bert-like bed interview on the set of Goodnight Moon!   

Check them both out by clicking the links above. Mark is the mad maestro and musical mastermind behind Mucca Pazza and the scores to numerous musicals and plays including the critically acclaimed Hunchback Variations.

Check back with ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We have loads more HD video clips and live show footage coming soon.   

**Check out our CD review for Safety Fifth and prior photo filled feature from Mucca Pazza at Hideout by clicking here.**

Check out more of our prior Mucca Pazza coverage here.

SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE Unleash Another Track From The New Eve #metal #streaming


   
The New Eve Available September 11th on Nightmare Records  
SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE (S.U.E.) will release their album The New EveSeptember 11th via Nightmare Records.  Today the band is premiering another new track from the album.  Get a first listen to the title track from The New Eve streaming exclusively on Noisecreep HERE

The first single from the album "The Day I Died" is available for purchase on iTunes,Amazon and CD Baby.

The New Eve is available for pre-order on Amazon and Nightmare Records Website.

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.

In 2007 S.U.E. released Anima, a strong follow up building on what they created and achieved with their debut Mental Torments.   Like their previous album, those around the band helped them achieve their vision.

2007 and 2008 saw the band perform at two ProgPower festivals: ProgPower Scandinavia in 2007 and ProgPower USA in 2008.   Their shows captivated the audience expanding SPHERI C UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE's fan base while exposing them to more fans of the genre. While touring with UK progressive metallers Threshold, the band found time to write and record their third album entitled Unreal.  The album was released worldwide in May 2009.   Unreal saw the band expanding and strengthening their sound even more.  With Unreal the band added another notch to their belt of   spectacular sound of technical and melodic metal.

With their fourth offering The New Eve,  French progressive metallers SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE 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   

SEVEN KINGDOMS Announce Tracklisting for The Fire is Mine #metal




  World Premiere of New Video Set For ProgPower USA

Florida power metallers SEVEN KINGDOMS have completed work on their latest album which is titled The Fire is Mine.  In May of 2012 the band entered Morrisound Studios to create a record powerful enough to hang with the best in metal. With legendary producer Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Obituary, JOP, Jag Panzer etc) at the helm and much more experience gained, SEVEN KINGDOMS created their next melodic power thrash opus.

Today SEVEN KINGDOMS revealed the tracklisting for The Fire is Mine which is set for an October 9th release on Nightmare Records.  The Fire is Mine can be pre-ordered on the Nightmare Records Website and Amazon. 

The Fire is Mine Tracklisting:
1)    Beyond the Wall
2)    After the Fall
3)    Forever Brave
4)    Flame of Olympus
5)    Symphony of Stars
6)    The Fire is Mine
7)    Kardia
8)    Fragile Minds Collapse
9)    In the Twisted Twilight
10)    A Debt Paid in Steel
11)    The King in the North

SEVEN KINGDOMS' new music video for the song "After the Fall" will receive its exclusive premiere at the ProgPower USA Festival on Saturday September 15th.  It will be shown that evening on the big screens in between sets from Pretty Maids and Symphony X.  A screenshot from the video can be seen below.



 
The Fire is Mine, the third offering from Florida's SEVEN KINGDOMS, shows a great solidification in their sound and direction; they've amped up every aspect from song writing, vocals to production and live performance. This one goes to eleven on all counts - including the number of tracks! The vocals and beautiful crystalline melodies of Sabrina Valentine are uniquely set in a furious power/thrash metal attack, blended with epic choirs and the occasional beer-chanting of the men of SEVEN KINGDOMS.

Guitarist Camden Cruz commented on the impending release of The Fire is Mine:
"Words cannot describe how excited we are to get this album out to the masses.  We have further developed our sound on this album, and I think many will agree that it's a whole step above the last record, in every way possible.  This is also our 'best' sounding record we have done.  We truly believe everyone will enjoy it!  We had many of our fans donate to the recording which was a tremendous help.  This record was made possible by YOUR help!  Thank you."

Lance King president of Nightmare Records is equally as excited for the masses to hear The Fire is Mine:

"SEVEN KINGDOMS have brought their 'A Game' on this one. Everything is top notch, from song writing to production, Sabrina's voice has never sounded better. It's a buy or die for fans of melodic power metal."

For More Information Visit:
http://www.sevenkingdoms.net
http://www.facebook.com/sevenkingdomsofficial
http://www.twitter.com/sevenkingdoms1 
http://www.nightmarerecords.com

Yamantaka// Sonic Titan #new track free download

   
        YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN 
Known as much for their progressive approach to melding psychedelia, opera and metal as they are for their captivating, and completely stunning live shows, there is never a dull moment in the world of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN.

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN have released a new track as part of the Adult Swim Singles Program,"Lamia." The track can be downloaded here as well as seen live as part of a recent in-store performance at Sonic Boom during NXNE.

The band, who was recently shortlisted for the Polaris Prize alongside Grimes, Cadence Weapon, Japandroids and Drake, are releasing a split 7" with fellow nominees Fucked Up to coincide with the awards, followed by a never before seen 33 minute rock opera. Premeiering at this year's Pop Montreal Festival and presented in three parts, "33 // " explores ancient Asian and North American mythology in a contemporary setting, replete with aging drag queens, desire, fame, jealousy and murder. You can catch them at the festival when they premiere the opera in Montreal on September 21st.

Also, Paper Bag Records has just signed YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN for Canada and is re-issuing the LP on vinyl. You can buy it digitally now or order the vinyl here.

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN are a psychedelic noh-wave opera group fusing noise, metal, pop and folk music into a multidisciplinary hyper-orientalist cesspool of 'eastern' culture in giant monochrome paper sets. Blending Noh, Peking Opera, Buddhist Ritual Punk, Taiko Shows, Tokusatsu, Performance Art, Rock Opera & their own mangaesque cardboard 'NEVERFLAT' style of 2.5D set design, their bizarre form of music//altheater have awked and shawed audiences in Montreal for several years.

Founded in early 2008 by performance artists alaskaB and Ruby Kato Attwood, from the ashes of 'Yellow Peril', YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN functions as a mutating and constantly evolving art cult that brings together individuals of Diasporic and Indigenous identity to perform/create as a collective. Working in multiple mediums including Installation, Theater, Music and Design, YT//ST negotiate cultural clashes between dominant cultures and those whose traditions are oppressed, erased or being eclipsed.

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN continues to operate now between Montreal & Toronto


Links /

 


YT//ST | Tracklisting /

01. Raccoon Song
02. Queens
03. Oak Of Guernica
04. Reverse Crystal // Murder Of A Spider
05. Hoshi Neko
06. A Star Over Pureland
07. Crystal Fortress Over The Sea Of Trees



Quotes /

"The record feels wholly substantial and satisfying in its own right, and even those with no prior knowledge of YT//ST's history and elaborate intentions can just enjoy it for what it is: volcanic prog-rock colored with equal parts post-punk urgency, stoner-metal heft, and psychedelic pop whimsy." Pitchfork

"We'll sheepishly admit we're relatively new to Yamantaka's unique breed of gloomy, Kabuki-tinged metal-cum-experimental rock opera (or "noh-wave." as they call it), but from what we've heard (and seen) from the collective, we definitely dig." Spin

"A reputation for elaborate designed DIY live shows, which, like the group’s music, incorporates influences from across time and space. But most importantly, its music, as strange and dense as it can be, is an oddly accessible and strangely enjoyable listen." A.V. Club

"YT//ST creates full-scale events, complete with eerie face-paint, monochromatic paper sets and Boredoms-style drum blasts that blend black metal and kabuki into a jaw-dropping new form. The group's debut album is equally epic, yet it's all just a glimpse into their master plan to freak out the squares with a stage production so large no theatrein the world could contain it." Noisey

Busy Beaver Series 13 Button-O-Matic Release Party 9/7

You're Invited!
Series 13 Button-O-Matic Release Party
September 7, 6-9pm
at Busy Beaver Button Co.


 
Join us to celebrate the release of the 2012 Button-O-Matic series.

Specially curated by the folks at Delicious Design League, the series features button art from Anne Benjamin, Aesthetic Apparatus, Burlesque of North America, Delicious Design League, Doublenaut, Hero Design Studio, James Flames, Kevin Tong, LandLand, Spike Press and Two Arms.

Refreshments provided by Brooklyn Brewery, Paper Moon Pastry and Marble.




Hope to see you there!

Busy Beaver Button Co.
3279 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60647
www.busybeaver.net
(773) 645-3359

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

CHI, IL LIVE SHOWS ON OUR RADAR: PUJOL AT ACE BAR THIS SAT 9/1

 PUJOL
Photo Credit: Jo McCaughey 



Shut out of sold out North Coast, or wanna get in a little after party party?

PUJOL will be rocking Chi-town's Ace Bar this Saturday-9pm with 3 openers.   21+.   Just $8.

PUJOL, the animated and charismatic band of prolific frontman, Daniel Pujol, will be in Chicago at Ace Bar this Saturday, September 1st. As Spinner praised of a recent show, PUJOL "turned in a fiery performance...Really, just get involved now, because these guys are phenomenal."

Album Stream On Rolling Stone

Based out of Nashville, PUJOL bring a gritty intensity to the stage, one that builds on the catchy, intellectually driven rock and roll anthems of their fantastic debut album, UNITED STATES OF BEING, out now on Saddle Creek. Seeing what Rolling Stone calls the "scuzzy, catchy tracks that combine youthful energy with lyrical precociousness" played live takes the music to another level, with the band's dynamic, raw energy catapulting the sound around the room.

PUJOL arose from the ashes of MEEMAW in 2009 to carry on the Nashvillian ideals of DIY and self construction through adeptly crafted songs based firmly in meaningful lyrical content. It’s these motives and songs that have taken PUJOL from the basements of Middle Tennessee to stages across the country and have garnered notice from more than just those with their ear to the ground.

Releasing a plethora of singles and cassettes over the past two years on Jack White’s Third Man Records, Nashville’s Infinity Cat Recordings and Turbo Time Records among others, PUJOL has now partnered with Omaha's Saddle Creek. Following the critically praised Nasty, Brutish, and Short EP from last year, PUJOL finally has an official debut full-length ready for unveiling. UNITED STATES OF BEING continues on with PUJOL’s doctrine of trying hard everyday and ventures lyrically to a place that most contemporaries fail to reach. Addressing the current status of twenty-somethings in America’s present and capturing their shared dispositions, the album throws the brakes on "catharsis," and begs the listener to decide for themselves how to answer the robot's last question, "What is love?" With riff-oriented guitar playing reminiscent of greats like The Replacements and Beetlejuice-esque earworms, PUJOL now sits atop the fringes of the rock and roll and DIY vernacular.

Whether this strange world chooses to embrace PUJOL is of no matter, as the prolific frontman will continue to carry on as always - Taking Care of Business 24/7. The adrenalized, infectious debut full-length, UNITED STATES OF BEING, is out now on Saddle Creek.



Links

PUJOL Official Website

PUJOL Official Facebook

Follow PUJOL On Twitter

Saddle Creek


Upcoming Tour Dates

08/31 - Hangar 9 - Carbondale, IL
09/01 - Ace Bar - Chicago, IL
09/06 - Club Dada - Dallas, TX
09/07 - Stubb's BBQ - Austin, TX
09/08 - Old No. 2 - Laredo, TX
09/18 - Georgia Theatre - Athens, GA
09/19 - Sky City - Augusta, GA
09/29 - Starry Nights Festival - Bowling Green, KY
10/03 - 529 - Atlanta, GA
10/04 - Bottletree - Birmingham, AL
10/05 - JJ's Bohemia - Chattanooga, TN
10/06 - SoundLand Music Festival - Nashville, TN
10/10 - North Star Bar - Philadelphia, PA
10/11 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
10/14 - TT The Bear's - Cambridge, MA


Press Quotes

"They've got a gritty, garage-band sound, but with guitar riffs and catchy hooks that are hard to resist." NYLON

"This madman of rock 'n' roll speaks like a young philosopher king." Spinner

"Some twang and a skipped beat now and then, with a little self-revelation in the lyrics." NY Times

"Shimmers with power pop hooks and a slight dose of fuzz." Rolling Stone

Google Analytics