As you might have seen on Twitter or the side bar, my good buddy Jake Guidry and I are starting up a new night at The Whistler called Brasstax . We're very excited to join the ranks of Saturday residencies like Get Fresh (first) with Don Soccio and Atmosphere Strut (second) with Kid Color . On top of The Whistler's stellar Saturday line-up and incredible drink selection, Brasstax will offer up an eclectic menu of tunes ranging from Bass to [...]
Houtakker Three reasons to put down your gin-soaked gummie bears and head over to the Whistler tonight... 1. Houtakker (Dutch for Lumberjack) is the new project by Pet Lions' synth-smith and guitarist Joseph Murphy. Houtakker strikes a mellow chord with its minimalist, sun-aged 602s pop style. Murphy's influence on Pet Lions is evident on each lingering guitar note and cathedral-esque organ groove in Houtakker's repertoire. LISTEN: " Hush-a-Lala " 2. Local [...]
Bone and Bell The spring holidays are upon us. So if you're not huddled in a car, riding the highways trying to get to [insert relative here]'s house for the arrival of the Easter bunny, why not check out a few shows? This week we're talking Heavy Times at the Burlington, Outer Minds' record release party at the Empty Bottle, and Bone and Bell at the Whistler. Let's hop to it. FRIDAY [...]
Dastardly Three reasons to race out the door for some fine Kentucky bourbon tonight at the Whistler... 1. I'm willing to bet not many bands appear to have as much fun on stage as Americana outfit Dastardly . Swilling Jim Beam, leading drunken sing-alongs and crooning about heartache, Dastardly really gives a show their all. And word on the Facebook street is this will be Dastardly's last show for a while. Don't miss it. LISTEN: " Exercises in Self Loathing " [...]
We just can't seem to get enough Dastardly . Luckily, the band has released the newest of six videos filmed on a farm in San Marcos, Texas (30 miles southwest of Austin). This time around the band gets together to cover the '50s-era ballad, first made popular by Slim Whitman, "Rose Marie." The band sound excellent and the vocals are top-notch as always. Catch Dastardly in person when the group sets up shop at the Whistler next Wednesday, February 22, with Kentucky Knife Fight.
Paul Cary Shake off that Grammy, uh, hangover? And get to the Whistler for CHRIP Night tonight... 1. Formerly of Cedar Rapids rock 'n' rollers The Horrors , Paul Cary has since gone on to do his own thing. That thing? Oh, just some ramshackle garage blues that's carried by Cary's blue collar howl. A bit more haunting then the anything the Million Dollar Quarter might produce, Cary's approach definitely harkens back to a time to rock's adolescence. LISTEN: "Yes Machine" [...]
Loyal Divide's Stolen Van (2000 Ford E350 Super Duty) Jeez. Another week, another case(s) of local band band thievery. It's unfortunate to report but the most recent theft cases involve psych-poppers Loyal Divide and indie rockers Scotland Yard Gospel Choir . According to the Bloodshot Records website, the members of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir were throwing a going away party for band member Elia, who is bolting for NYC, at The Whistler in Logan Square. While the [...]
DJ Soo & Tim Livingstone bring us one "Boom!" filled track with hip-hop legends mixed into a break beat, Ghetto Funk fabuloso. I don't know about y'all, but 2012 sure as hell feels like the Ghetto Funk revival to me. DJ Soo Genre: Electronica Styles: Hip-Hop, House, Turntablism, Ghetto Funk, Mashup Name: Terence Tso Location: Vancouver, Canada DJ Soo on: SoundCloud | Facebook | Twitter | Woodsnoo Tim Livingstone Styles: [...]
Disappears Annnnnnd, it's the final Weekend Diversions of 2011. So sad. So, so, so sad. Or is it? Yes, it is. Maybe. Either way, there's no shortage of rad New Years Eve shows we just have to talk about this weekend. Of course, there's Disappears at the Bottle or Local H at the Bottom Lounge , but there's also JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound at Schubas tonight and so much more. Dig it, y'all. [...]
Whales Cheer up, Chicago! Cold weather may be officially here, but this weekend is lining up to be pretty spectacular (i.e. no rain and possibly some sun). But, we're not here to do Tom Skilling's job; No, we're talking about some sweet shows at Ultra Lounge, The Whistler and Quenchers. Vamos... a jugar por la playa. FRIDAY WHALES Local quartet make some beautiful noise. The [...]
Oh the trial and tribulations of a traveling DJ. Rude hostesses, chincy promoters, and six hour layovers that flip the terminal into a cage. You turn to your phone to moan in 140 characters but regardless; no one feels sorry for you. After the wam and bam comes the typical thank you mam ("Ye (city), (club) was unbelievable last night! Probably my fav night all year! Now off to (city2) for (Event Name) at (club2)") on your fan page. But amidst all the network noise of part-time hotel & flying critiques, UK born Berliner Jesse Rose reveals a more authentic reality [...]
Oh the trial and tribulations of a traveling DJ. Rude hostesses, chincy promoters, and six hour layovers that flip the terminal into a cage. You turn to your phone to moan in 140 characters but regardless; no one feels sorry for you. After the wam and bam comes the typical thank you mam ("Ye (city), (club) [...]
Summer Girlfriends And now three reasons to stop crying about Jay Cutler's thumb (which, to be fair, is pretty freaking sad) and see some music tonight... 1. Chicago's Summer Girlfriends craft a sound just how you'd imagine based on their name alone. The quartet jam some rad indie-pop slash rock, which could soundtrack your summer fling and/or end of said fling. The band goes for the soul with riddonkulously catchy mo-town melodies and shimmering surf guitars...at least based on the two tracks they've released on their [...]
Lovable dream pop duo Tiny Fireflies get the animated treatment in a fan video for "So Sad to Say Goodbye" from their recent EP Change . The video features jaunty ink and water color-style figures going for a stroll during a rain storm. Somehow it just works mixed together the light-as-air background music provided by Tiny Fireflies. If this video whets your palate, you'll want to check out Tiny Fireflies tonight, live and in person with the Cross Record at CHIRP Night at the Whistler . [...]
Magic Key Three reasons to get your drink on and listen to some fine tunage at the Whistler tonight... 1. Magic is definitely in the air. Local pop songstress Aleks Tomaszewska (formerly of Aleks and the Drummer) will take the Whistler by storm with her dulcet, yet powerful vocals, and edgy-circus music-producing Russian synthesizer under the name of her new outfit Magic Key . Tomaszewska's art is rhythmically haunting and simultaneously beautiful. Magic Key is dance music at its finest and darkest. [...]
Hum It's a big weekend, folks. There's Hum's much-anticipated headlining appearance at the inaugural A.V. Fest and plenty of smaller shows by crazy kids such as Soft Speaker , Dozens and Blah Blah Blah . Let's not waste any more time. Allons-y, Alonso ! FRIDAY GANGLIANS In the mood for some crooked surf rock? Then [...]
High Places Summer is wrapping up, but that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. No, sir (or madam). It's the weekend and it is time to rock out with our respective pieces out. We're highlighting some truly excellent shows including the tenth anniversary Ladyfest Midwest concert at the Empty Bottle and much more! Without further ado, let's get at it... FRIDAY [...]
The Workhouse - The Whistler on the Coldroom Sessions out August 26 (Hungry Audio): Marked by beautiful jangly intro and spacey vocals this is a perfect fall tune. Download it while you can through the SoundCloud link. (4.5/5) - Forest Fire - Future Shadows on Staring at the X out October 18 (Fat Cat): Intriguing track, can't wait to hear the rest of this album. Download it through SoundCloud (4.5/5). - [...]
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