Other than spending All Hallows Eve at the campy blood fest of a GWAR show, seeing London’s Chrome Hoof on October 31 has to be the ultimate in Halloween plans. Whether the group’s members are burning a 12-foot ram in effigy or donning silver, sparkling, hooded robes in uniform, their stage show is just as riveting as their weird sonic stew.
Like many great concerts, the true highlight of the Broken Social Scene set at Chicago’s The Vic on Thursday, October 9 was the closing number. Kevin Drew, hunkered down firmly front and center, elevated the evening’s balance of fan favorites and new gems by closing the set with “It’s All Gonna Break.”
I have been flat on my back with a horrendous flu since I got back from Tease-O-Rama, and this is the first chance I’ve had to post some photos. Although I got a lot of sharp sort of journalistic photos, at the moment I’m in love with my grainier, more impressionistic stuff. So I hope you enjoy a few of those.
Holland’s newest album, The Living and the Dead, offers a laid-back Americana folk feel, providing a nice contrast to the blues and jazz approach on her last album, Spring Time Can Kill You.
Chris Fortier contacted me a few months ago to let me know about a series of EPs that he and Australia’s EQ Records (home of the Balance series) were releasing this year based on his 2007 album As Long As The Moment Exists. I liked that album, but I also found some tracks a little too proggy for my tastes and I felt that especially these tracks were in dire need of remixing to help correct what I considered missteps.
Chicago turns into a punk rock haven this weekend for the 4th year in a row with the return of Riot Fest. 40+ bands will be playing throughout the weekend at the Double Door, House of Blues, the Cobra Lounge, and an all ages show Sunday at The Congress Theater. The line-up is filled with a diverse mix including the reunion of ALL. Also on the list are Jay Reatard, Horrorpops, Paint it Black, and Reagan Youth among others.
Incomparable shape-shifting vocalist Mike Patton (left), a man of many collaborations, adds a pair of interesting musical threesomes to his résumé; dirge metallers Pelican get robbed in Rome; Dub Trio and Squarepusher announce separate European tour dates.
Our plans for this weekend include Nora O’Connor (shown left), Riot Fest, Dan Deacon, Religulous, the Millennium Chamber Players, and…a 100-foot mystical dragon?
Ezra Furman gleefully exclaims, “I wrote this song in a paper bag,” as his band’s second album, Inside the Human Body, explodes with opening track “We Should Fight.” Familiarity and freshness eek from the speakers in a way that only American rock ‘n’ roll can.
The music, a straightforward ’50s-era near-doo-wop bounce, is a perfect vehicle for Furman’s vulnerable, on-key wailing. Anything else would an unfortunate distraction.
It has been eleven years since the first Calexico record was released, and despite the lengthy experience of founders Joey Burns and John Convertino, many of the same methods of producing the group’s records took shape in its latest LP, Carried to Dust (Touch and Go).
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kitten on the Keys at Tease-O-Rama and Exotic World many times, and she is one of the most endearing people on the scene. She’s fierce and funny, and has incredible glamour and style. I’m performing with her this coming weekend at Tease-o-Rama, and I can’t wait!
In 1997, Buffalo hardcore heroes Snapcase released Progression Through Unlearning, the group’s seminal release, which stylistically advanced the genre with big riffs, conflicting meters, and punishing mid-tempo beats. Here we examine this album’s ten best moments.