Upcoming Shows - Week Ending May 16th

Friday, May 14th - Subterranean - 9:30pm - $10

Headliner: Hurricane Bells
Openers: King Sparrow, Verona Red

Another show that somehow nearly snuck by us, Hurricane Bells is the folk-rock side-project from Longwave frontman Steve Schiltz. Schiltz wrote, played, recorded, and mixed the album entirely himself with his MacBook and an Mbox. His original plan was to release the album himself, but when a b-side ended up on the New Moon soundtrack, the project caught the attention of Vagrant Records. One listen to any of the album, Tonight Is The Ghost, and it is easy to understand why. Definitely a show worth catching.

Saturday, May 15th - The Vic - 7:30pm - $24

Headliner: Josh Ritter

Opener: Joe Pug

Singer-songwriter, Josh Ritter is back on with a new album, So The World Runs Away. Ritter is a classic songwriter, who can tell a story in the space of a song the way only the classic folk writers could. The sparkling folk and homespun, thoughtful lyrics are a rarity nowadays.

Upcoming Shows - Week ending April 25th

Thursday, April 22nd - Lincoln Hall - 9pm - $13

Headliner: The Antlers

Opener: Phantogram

We begged you to catch, electro-pop duo, Phantogram when they played Schubas a few months ago, warning you that it would be a rare chance to catch the rising stars at a smallish venue. Now they are at the larger Lincoln Hall opening for, fellow buzz-band, The Antlers. It will not be long before venues this size will be a memory for them too.

Thursday, April 22nd - Congress Theater - 7pm - $25

Headliner: Passion Pit

Openers: Mayer Hawthorne & The Country

Having sold out Congress Theater earlier this month, Passion Pit return for what should be another sold out performance. Get your tickets while you can, as word of just how great their dance-happy, synth-fuelled rock is spreads.

Friday, April 23rd - Bottom Lounge - 8pm - $15

Headliner: The Whigs

Openers: Empires, Old Fake

You have a choice tonight, but one listen to the latest album from, Athens-based grunge rockers, The Whigs and the decision becomes clear. Blending blues and classic rock with their affinity for nineties grunge this time around works wonders for their already great sound. Get an early listen to a band you should not miss at Lollapalooza this year.

Friday, April 23rd - Park West - 8pm - $27

Headliner: Martin Sexton

Singer-songwriter Martin Sexton provides a great back-up plan for those who will get shut out of the sure-to-sell-out Whigs show. His amazing vocal range, heartfelt songwriting, and music that blends soul, blues, and roots rock is sure to please.

Sunday, April 25th - The Vic - 7pm - $21.50
Headliner: Sia

Sunday is a tough decision, sure to spread concert-loving Chicagoans across a few venues. There is no wrong choice here, and Australia's Sia certainly is a very good one. Her sound is pop, but is as unique, varied, and refreshing as her collaborations – which recently have included appearances on The Flight Of The Conchords' sophomore album, writing songs for Christina Aguilera's upcoming album, and laid down guest vocals on the David Byrne and Fatboy Slim album.

Sunday, April 25th - Lincoln Hall - 9pm - $14
Headliner: The Album Leaf
Opener: Sea Wolf

We do not normally recommend heading out to shows to see an opening act, but Sea Wolf is not normally an opening act. We love the gypsy-flavored acoustic rock of Sea Wolf more than we can possibly explain here. There is nothing quite like them in music today, and Alex Church Brown's knack for storytelling in the lyrics is just as gorgeous as the music. On album, Sea Wolf are a tranquil beauty. Live, they are an indie rock party. If you have never seen them live, you need to be at Lincoln Hall on Sunday night.
Sunday, April 25th - Metro - 9pm - $13
Headliner: White Rabbits
Openers: Here We Go Magic, Pet Lions

All you really need to know about White Rabbits can be seen in the clip of them playing "Percussion Gun" on Letterman last year. Soulful vocals, two drummers, and a ragged, heart-pounding indie rock sound make them a must-see band. Add in Chicago's own up-and-coming indie pop sensations Pet Lions, and we are not quite sure how there can possibly still be tickets available.

Broken Bells Announce Tour Dates

The latest collaboration for producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse, Broken Bells will take their show on the road this spring. The James Mercer and Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse) duo are coming off a top-ten debut for their self-titled first album, which has been getting rave reviews across the board. You will get your chance to catch the two on May 31st at The Vic. Be sure to get there early, since The Morning Benders are lending support for the shows.

Tue-May-18-10 San Diego - Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay
Wed-May-19-10 Los Angeles - Henry Fonda Theatre
Fri-May-21-10 San Francisco - Regency Ballroom
Mon-May-24-10 Portland - Wonder Ballroom
Tue-May-25-10 Seattle - Showbox at the Market
Wed-May-26-10 Vancouver - Commodore Ballroom
Sat-May-29-10 Denver - Gothic Theatre
Mon-May-31-10 Chicago - Vic Theater
Tue-Jun-01-10 Detroit - St. Andrews Hall
Wed-Jun-02-10 Toronto - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Fri-Jun-04-10 Boston - Royale NightClub
Sat-Jun-05-10 NY - The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza
Sun-Jun-06-10 Philadelphia - Electric Factory
Mon-Jun-07-10 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Thu-Jun-10-10 Atlanta - Center Stage
Fri-Jun-11-10 Athens - 40 Watt Club

Upcoming Shows - Week Ending March 14th

Got plans this weekend? You might want to rethink them…

Thursday, March 11th – Lincoln Hall – 9pm - $12

Headliner: We Were Promised Jetpacks

Openers: The Lonely Forest, Bear Hand

The latest Scotland sensation, We Were Promised Jetpacks returns to Chicago for a show at the wonderful Lincoln Hall. With a sound full of ragged, restless riffs and some amazingly gut-wrenching lyrics, they have a buzz around them for a reason. Their cathartic debut release was among the best we heard in 2009, and think you would have to have a screw loose to miss the band live. If you only see one show this week, make it this one!

Friday, March 12^th – Schubas – 7pm - $12

Headliner: David Ford

Openers: Brent Puls

If you manage to make out to just two shows this weekend, we highly recommend UK singer-songwriter David Ford at Schubas. Singer-songwriters may be a dime-a-dozen, but Ford's unique one-man-band show, looping all the pieces together live on stage, is truly something you need to see to believe. Add a fantastic voice and brutally honest lyrics, and you have a can't-miss show.

Friday, March 12^th – United Center – 7:30pm - $40 – $60

Headliner: Muse

Openers: Silversun Pickups

If you are in the market for something much, much bigger, head over to United Center for two stadium-ready bands – Muse and Silversun Pickups. We normally ignore the United Center shows here, but having witnessed first-hand the brilliance of both bands, we find this one a great exception.

Friday and Saturday, March 12^th and 13^th – The Vic – 8pm - $50, $100, $250

Headliner: Jeff Tweedy

The Wilco front man puts on these annual benefit shows once a year, so this is your limited opportunity to catch Jeff Tweedy in a solo setting. The price may be a little higher, but it is not like you are going to be catching Wilco in this intimate a venue anytime in the near future.

Friday, March 12^th – Beat Kitchen – 9pm - $12

Headliner: Pelican

Openers: Piebender, Follows

This would be an easier recommendation if it were not for all else going on this night. The good news is, you can probably catch the molten instrumental metal of Pelican after heading to Metro to see Mustard Plug.

Friday, March 12^th – Metro – 6:30pm - $19

Headliner: Aqua Bats

Openers: Mustard Plug, Plunket

If you are in the mood for some horn-happy ska, Mustard Plug might be just the ticket on Friday night. Go skanking!

Saturday, March 13^th – The Bottom Lounge – 7pm - $15

Headliner: Ted Leo And The Pharmacists

Openers: Title Tracks, The Chicago Stone Lightning Band

Ted Leo And The Pharmacists head to Chicago on the heels of releasing this week's The Brutalist Bricks. We recommend heading out and finding out and hearing their energetic balance of punk and pop live.

Saturday, March 13^th – The Aragon – 6pm - SOLD OUT

Headliner: Flogging Molly

Openers: Frank Turner And The Architects

This eclectic fusion of traditional Irish music and punk rock is playing at a venue as large as The Aragon for a reason. It's not quite St. Patrick's Day, but why not get the week off to a Guinness soaked start?

Upcoming Shows - Week ending March 7th

Another week, another batch of quality shows to check out. At least this week, there is just one night with a choice to make.
Tuesday, March 2nd – Schubas – 8pm - $10
Headliner: The new York Songwriting Circle: Chicago Showcase

The Sandhill Crane, Ty Maxon, and Ryan Suzuka might not ring a bell yet, but either did Company Of Thieves when they won this competition with "Oscar Wilde" in 2007. If you are a bit more adventurous with your concertgoing, we think you are very likely to stumble upon at least one or two of the six artists here that will make you glad you gave the showcase a shot.

Thursday, March 4th – The Vic – 7:30pm - $26.50
Headliner: Gomez
Opener: One eskimO

Britpop indie outfit, Gomez returns to the states with their multi-lead singer setup for an all-too rare stop at The Vic. Be sure to get there on time to catch up-and-coming opening act, One eskimO; whose brand of atmospheric acoustic rock is sure to win you over.

Friday, March 5th – Lincoln Hall – 10pm – SOLD OUT
Headliner: Black Joe Lewis And The Honeybears
Openers: Hacienda, DJRC

If you ever wished you were born a few decades earlier to catch the likes of James Brown live in his prime, this is your (more modern) chance. Black Joe Lewis and his band bring the funk, soul, and blues like no other; full of blaring horns, soulful backing vocals, and guttural vocals from their amazing front man.

Friday, March 5th – Empty Bottle – 10pm - $10
Headliner: Foreign Born
Openers: Free Energy, Clovers, DJ Hugsen Kissus

If you did not heed our warning and grab your tickets to Black Joe Lewis early, Free Energy's opening set at Empty Bottle on Friday night is a fine substitute. With a sound that lovingly recalls the party rock of the late seventies, Free Energy is a new band worth keeping tabs on.

Saturday, March 6th – Lincoln Hall – 10pm - $14
Headliner: Fruit Bats
Openers: Blue Giant (ex Viva Voce), The Singleman Affair

Fruit Bats are great, but the real draw here has to be Blue Giant. The husband and wife team that were the ragged rock duo Viva Voce have jumped ship to create Blue Giant, a full band. The expanded lineup expands their sound, and gives them a more southern-blues sound. Does four members equal twice the awesomeness of Viva Voce? Vanguard Records, the label that recently scooped them up, sure thinks so. Find out why on Saturday.

Editors - February 15th, 2010

When you hear a drunken fan obnoxiously shout out for their favorite song, you have to wonder whether they realize that there is typically a preplanned set list duct-taped at each band members' feet. A well thought-out set list can propel a make a decent live band sound even better, and a poorly constructed one can derail an otherwise fantastic band. Sadly, the latter was the case for UK's Editors on Monday night at The Vic.

Three albums in, Editors have amassed an amazing collection of songs to pull from. To their credit, they did a great job of delivering most of the fan favorites (except the noticeably absent "All Sparks") and pulling the best off their killer new album. The issue stemmed from the band's struggle with balancing the older guitar-driven sound of their first two albums against the icy synth-fuelled vibe of their latest. They kicked off the set in a ballsy manner, with the chilling, atmospheric ballad "In This Light And On This Evening"; with, front man, Tom Smith's commanding vocals reverberating around the venue. Smith got up from his seat at the piano to strap on a guitar for the song's explosive, grumpy-guitared closure. So far, so good.

The band then went backwards through their catalog for two favorites, with the bass cranked up for a thundering backbone to "Lights". Energetic and powerful, the band tore through "An End Has A Start"; showing off the band's second album as a great bridge between the angular guitar of their debut and the new wave vibe of the latest. Still, the thumping beat and cold synth of "You Don't Know Love" felt like a letdown in the wake of the invigorating riffs of the two that it followed. It felt like the energy they had just built up evaporated quickly with the more hollow sound. Editors may have been better served to lead off with three or four new cuts all in a string, before jumping back to the guitar-led sound of earlier songs. Make no mistake, the band delivered great versions of the new tracks, but the sonic space between the new and old material was a bit too jarring the way the set list played out.

A handful of the new tracks really shined, including the wonderful ballad "The Boxer"; where the fluttering guitar and deep bass groove were more noticeable than on album, and Smith's bellowing baritone delivered chills. The odd creaking beat of "Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool" and Smith's eerie delivery made it a standout. The soaring "Escape The Nest" showed off the band's tight sound on-stage, and some of the evening's best guitar work. The night's best moment came in the encore, with the stomping insanity of "Papillon", with Smith's powerhouse vocals delivering the goods while the band feverishly nailed the poppy goodness. Unfortunately, the low point also came on a new track, "Bricks And Mortar". A standout on album, the song sounded empty and muddled live; and the strangely screeching sample used to give it a 'remix' sound was horribly out of place.

In the end, it felt a bit strange that the material off their best album sounded so out of place at times in the hour and a half set. Editors are a fantastic live band that seems to be struggling with how to mesh the distinctly different sound of In This Light And On This Evening. Hopefully they can shake the uneven vibe the setlist gives off, because when they are on they are among the most enthralling live experiences you will have.

Set List
In This Light And On This Evening
Lights
An End Has A Start
You Don't Know Love
Bullets
The Boxer
The Big Exit
Blood
Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool
The Racing Rats
Escape The Nest
Like Treasure
Bones
Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
Bricks And Mortar

Walk The Fleet Road
Munich
Papillon
Fingers In The Factories

Josh Ritter Announces New Album, Tour Dates

Incredibly gifted singer-songwriter, Josh Ritter might just be the best Idaho export since the potato. He is finally ready to unveil his sixth studio album, So Runs The World Away, in the states on May 4th; a week after it lands in Ireland, where he is as popular as he should be here. You can grab yourself an mp3 of "Change Of Time" at his site, to tie you over until the album releases, but we are more excited that the string of full-band tour dates announced so far includes Chicago. We also recommend checking out his clever video to "Lillian, Egypt" while you are at his site. Make sure to grab your tickets early to the May 15th show at The Vic, because it is only a matter of time before he gets the attention he deserves here.

May 7 Philadelphia, PA Theater of Living Arts
May 8 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
May 10 Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live
May 11 Durham, NC Carolina Theater
May 15 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
May 19 & 20 New York, NY Town Hall

Additional dates to be announced.

Upcoming Shows - Week Ending February 14th

We're going to cheat a little this week - since there's just one show that we recommend through this Sunday, with two next Monday that you need to catch.

Sunday, February 14th - Metro - Rock N' Raise Benefit for Darfur - 4pm - $10

In the charity's own words: "We are students

who envision peace. We are activists, musicians, artists. We are global-

minded, locally active. We want a peaceful and prosperous Darfur. We are young people coming

together to raise $50,000 to give Darfuri children the education they deserve."

For your $10 contribution, you get a great night of rock - with Madina Lake, The Blisters, Big Science, DePaul Prelude Choir, and Brendan Kelly of Lawrence Arms. Not a bad deal at all, and the early start should leave you with plenty of quality time Valentine's Day night. Whatever you do, make sure you are there in time to see Big Science. As we mentioned on this week's podcast, they are a good bet for next great Chicago band. We should note, that if you and a few friends are feeling a little extra charitable, they do offer VIP tables, with four tickets, for $100. At $25 a pop, it still comes out a steal, and you're helping a worthy cause.

Monday, February 15th - Lincoln Hall - Headliner: John Butler Trio Opening Act: Tim Brantley 8pm - SOLD OUT

Australian singer-songwriter sensation, John Butler is bringing the latest version of his three-piece band back to Chicago for a 'sold out' show at, one of our new favorite venues, Lincoln Hall. If you were lucky enough to grab tickets, you probably know what you are in for. If not, we kind of don't even want to harp on what you're missing anymore than we already have on our podcast the last several weeks. Let's just say, one of us is willing to trade a kidney for a ticket to this showcase of folk-blues poppy rock goodness.

Monday, February 15th - The Vic - Headliner: Editors Opening Acts: The Antlers, The Dig - 7:30pm - $22.50

Editor's latest album, In This Light And On This Evening is a remarkable leap forward for the band; who already had a fantastic sound. The lack of angular, guitar-driven brooding rock on it might take you a few listens to get used to, but the soaring synth that replaces the riffs compliments Tom Smith's deep, commanding vocals even better. We cannot wait to hear how the old material plays with the new, and will definitely be reporting back on the show. This is a more than suitable replacement for anyone not crazy enough to trade a body organ for a John Butler Trio ticket.

Upcoming Shows - Week ending January 31st

Friday, January 29th - Schubas - Hacienda, Alberta Cross - 10 pm - $12

The debut from Alberta Cross, The Broken Side Of Time, is the kind of ass-kicking blues-drenched rock that we feel confident recommending without even seeing them yet. There is no way a songs like "ATX and "Song 3Three Blues" can disappoint live.

Friday, January 29th - Cubby Bear - Erin Martin, Brent James & The Contraband, Red Wanting Blue - 8pm - $7

As Nate mentioned on this week's podcast, this is one he hasn't seen yet - but has heard nothing but rave reviews of. Think poppy roots rock.

Saturday, January 30th - The Vic - Cold War Kids - 8pm - SOLD OUT

Rickety indie rock delivered with a soulful edge, Cold War Kids are back on tour in support of their new Behave Yourselves EP. The show is sold out with good reason. We wouldn't blame you if you stood outside and begged for tickets. They are worth it.

Monday, February 1st - Lincoln Hall - Moneypenny, Yes Giantess, La Roux - SOLD OUT

It seems crazy that they were even offering 'at the door' prices. La Roux is a HUGE deal in the UK, and this show sold out for good reason. The duo's brand of throwback synth-heavy pop is a breath of fresh air.