Being in Chicago means always having great show options, and this weekend (bleeding into early next week) is no different. If you’re around our city this weekend, you may see one or all of us at the following shows, including sBACH, the buzzing Nintendo rock project of Hella guitarist and The Advantage drummer Spencer Siem (shown left).
Year: 2008
Chicago’s Decibelle Festival Packs a Dynamic Lineup
Showcasing some of the most notorious women in music, art, and film, the Decibelle Festival (formerly Estrojam) returns to Chicago from September 23-27. Performances include electro-clash all-stars Miss Kittin & The Hacker, Brilliant Pebbles, Plushgun and The Lady Tigra. The festival will also host the Chicago premiere of acclaimed documentary The Gits about the early ’90s Seattle band. Featuring interviews with Joan Jett and Kathleen Hanna, the film has been making an impact at film festivals across the country.
CSS: The Mayan, Los Angeles, 9/22/08
L.A. doesn’t deserve CSS. Maybe the concertgoers were having a case of the Mondays, but it took them until the encore to show gratitude to the Brazilian tastemakers. Granted, the set was abbreviated, topping out at under an hour, but it was so sparkly and frenetic, the lack of enthusiasm in the venue was downright insulting.
Weekly Burlesque Interview with Jen Gapay
With the New York Burlesque Festival almost upon us, this seemed like a great time to nab a quickie interview with producer / entrepreneur / all-around hottie Jen Gapay! Jen is the owner of Thirsty Girl Productions, which produces the NYBF with the Pontani Sisters, and I’m happy to have a chance to tip my pastie to one of the most charming and hard-working producers in the scene. What would we do without her?
The Top 10 Parts of The Shape of Punk to Come
Just prior to an acrimonious breakup in 1998, Swedish hardcore group Refused released its magnum opus, The Shape of Punk to Come: A Chimerical Bombination in 12 Bursts. It was as much an assault on capitalist philosophy as it was a striking stylistic evolution, and it did its best to advance hardcore in the way that its titular influence, Ornette Coleman’s The Shape of Jazz to Come, did with jazz.
Ra Ra Riot Play Chicago’s Subterranean 9/11/08
Singer Wesley Miles was jovial in his proclamation that this was Ra Ra Riot’s third visit to Chicago this year. Then again, how could he not be? The band has seemingly blown up overnight with the release of their new critically acclaimed album, The Rhumb Line.
Weekend Planner (9-19-08)
If you’re in New York or Chicago, you have some mighty fine festival options this weekend. Check out our recommendations for ATP New York and Chicago’s Hideout Block Party, including My Bloody Valentine (shown left), Tortoise, Plastic People of the Universe, Tim Fite, and many others.
Reggie and The Full Effect: House of Blues Chicago, 9/3/08
Reggie and the Full Effect rolled into town at Chicago’s House of Blues for part of what is being called his “Final Tour.” Whether this is fact or merely a ploy to get the kids to come out to the shows is definitely on the minds of dedicated Reggie fans. If the latter proves to be true, Chicago fans get a F-, as ticket sales were quite poor.
Chicago Serbian Film Festival Sept 18-21
Cinephiles of the world rejoice! The second annual Serbian Film Festival kicks off this week in Chicago, featuring fifteen features, shorts, and documentaries from legendary and up-and-coming Serbian talent. Over the last two decades, Serbia has built a name for itself in world cinema, proving to be a fertile and fearless region for uncompromising and guerilla filmmaking.
Ezra Furman & the Harpoons: Chicago Metro 9/12/08
One of the most enjoyable elements on Ezra Furman & the Harpoons’ first album, 2007’s Banging Down the Doors (Minty Fresh), is Ezra’s sense of command and almost cocky delivery in each and every tune. The mind evokes a charismatic, unforgiving front man ready to take on anything thrown at him.
Adventures in Modern Music Festival 2008 (9/10-11)
The Adventures in Modern Music Festival, presented by uber hip UK magazine Wire, is a name far better suited to a PBS special than a five day event showcasing experimental and rising stars from home and across the pond. This annual event ran from Wed 9/10 -15 at Chicago’s excellent Empty Bottle, and the whole event was understated, modest, and all about the music, with zero commercial interference.
Weekly Burlesque: Waxie Moon!
I adored Waxie Moon the minute I met him. He is one of the people, along with Indigo Blue and Paula the Swedish Housewife, who makes Seattle feel like my home away from home. And he’s in the news!