Podcast 4 Up!

This week, we talk Pitchfork 2010, get excited over the upcoming Frightened Rabbit album and tour dates, and gush over AM Taxi at Lincoln Hall - where we also discover, rising stars, Big Science. We also run down our upcoming concert recommendations, including this weekend’s Rock N’ Raise show at Metro, John Butler Trio at Lincoln Hall, Editors at The Vic, and Phantogram at Schubas.

If you like what you hear, please review the podcast on iTunes!

AM Taxi - February 6, 2010

We may not set out to focus on Chicago bands, but cannot help but do so when two of the three bands on a killer lineup happen to be local rising stars. Saturday night at Lincoln Hall confirmed the flourishing music scene in Chicago is not about to fade again when acts like AM Taxi and Company Of Thieves eventually set out for their well deserved headlining tours spanning the globe.



Saturday night was to be another step along the way to greatness for AM Taxi, and it certainly was, but was also prime example of why we always recommend showing up early to concerts. Chicago quartet, Big Science has a sound that is pure post-punk one moment and soaring new wave the next. Their explosive, bass-heavy grooves were the kind you would imagine The Police would have produced if they had started recording in the mid-eighties; having grown up on a steady diet of early Talking Heads. Their jittery rock reminded us of a harder-edged Dogs Die In Hot Cars. Not having heard a single riff going in, the tight half-hour set was the kind that makes you leaving in search of all the music you can find from the band. The songs, like the eerie jangle of “My Career As A Ghost”, are probably a little better than their stage presence at this point, but they are definitely a band worth keeping an eye on as they get more comfortable in the spotlight sure to follow them.

The lone Chicago outsiders on the bill were Nashville’s Royal Bangs. The first song of the set was a new one, which held tight to their ability to fuse art rock with poppy soul. The two-drummer setup of the band worked well to create a powerful thrust for the jangly guitars and flickering synth to ride. At times the angst-ridden, itchy sound felt like TV On The Radio’s take on the soundtrack-happy, mid-eighties Kenny Loggins, but as on album, the band can be a bit hit or miss live. Still, even in the moments where it felt they went a bit too askew with the smashed synth-provided beats and cluttered webs of sound, you could not help but feel there is a great band that has not yet found their footing. The notable lack of Let It Beep’s poppiest offerings, “War Bells” and “Waking Up Weird”, was disappointing, but the empowering “Poison Control” did well enough in their stead.

Started as the side project of Lucky Boys Confusion members Adam Krier and Jason Schultejann, AM Taxi comes with a built-in audience thanks to their other band’s stretch of success in the city. Thankfully, they did not rest on their laurels, building a tight songbook full of anthem-ready rockers that make the band a strong bet to become the new-and-improved version of Fall Out Boy for anyone looking for a new pop-punk obsession. Opening with a bang, "Maps And Medicine" proved that the band is already armed with sing-a-longs aplenty. The dub-kissed guitars of "Charissa" and "Shake, Rattle And Stall", the latter with a little "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" thrown in for good measure, showed that the band retains some of the reggae influences of LBC, without drowning the songs in it. Their tight sound and danceable brand of rock on tracks like "Fed Up" proves their worthiness of their recent addition to Warped Tour, and all but ensures they will come back from the touring festival with loads of new devotees who will soon know the words as well as the feverish crowd Saturday night.

The band took time to acknowledge the blossoming local music scene, with a great performance with singer-songwriter Kevin Andrew Prchal on "Reason To Believe", with just Prchal, Krier, a pair of guitars, and a harmonica. They brought out, Company Of Thieves front woman, Genevieve Schatz for a fantastic duet called "Maydays and Rosaries"; recorded for the album when the two bands happened to cross paths in Texas. The excellent pairing only fuelled desire for the band's debut. The main set closed with, the first single from the June debut, "The Mistake". The night proved that as good as the song is, it is far from the best AM Taxi has to offer. The band returned to the stage for an encore, at the request of Lincoln Hall management, and made the best of the opportunity with a blistering, fresh retelling of Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black". It takes a special band to take such a frequently covered classic and do something unique and worthwhile with it, and AM Taxi nailed it with guitars ablaze.

Krier said the band was excited to finally play the newly opened Lincoln Hall, but if the crowded Saturday night show was any indication, the mid-sized venue will not be able to hold their fan base much longer. Get in while the getting's good.





Edit: Thanks to AM Taxi for clearing up the confusion on the song title of duet with Genevieve!

Free Energy Announce Tour Dates, Album Release Date

You don't know them yet, but consider this your warning to get familiar with Philly-based Free Energy. The quartet is set to release their debut LP, Stuck On Nothing, on March 9th digitally and May 4th in retail, for those who need the feel of plastic in their hand. It takes a special band to pull of a song with the same name as their band without sounding like a douche. It took Wilco seven albums to have the balls to pull off, but Free Energy kick their debut with cowbell-infused classic rocker "Free Energy". If you have ever come close to picking up the phone and ordering one of those 'Party Rock' sets from a commercial, Free Energy is your new favorite band. We feel compelled to kick off Spring with their March 5th appearance at Empty Bottle, and suggest you do the same.

02/22: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
02/23: Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
02/24: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Shop *
02/25: San Francisco, CA @ Popscene
02/26: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
02/28: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
03/03: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry *
03/04: Madison, WI @ The Frequency *
03/05: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle *
03/06: Bloomington, IN @ Video Saloon *
03/08: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern *
03/09: Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo *
03/10: Buffalo, NY @ Big Orbit’s Soundlab *
03/11: New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge *
03/12: Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory *
03/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Marathon Lounge *
03/14: Washington, DC @ DC9 *

*With Foriegn Born

Frightened Rabbit Announce New Album, Tour Dates

Our favorite Scottish import, Frightened Rabbit have announced a March 9th release date for their third LP, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks. Their sophomore effort, The Midnight Organ Fight, was an instant classic, full of songs of the 'holy f*cking wow' variety, and deserves your attention immediately; if it does not already reside in its proper place on your iPod. They thankfully also announced new tour dates in support of the new album. Last time we saw the band, we were completely blown away at Empty Bottle. Thanks to their explosive live show (we seriously think they might keep the drummer in a cage between shows), their fanbase has expanded to the point they need to play Metro this time. Catch them now, because something tells us they will be playing much larger venues as time goes on. You can get an earful of a couple of new tracks, "Nothing Like You" and "Learned Your Name", at the band's MySpace site.

March 17 - Austin, Texas @ SXSW

March 18 - Austin, Texas @ SXSW

March 19 - Austin, Texas @ SXSW

March 20 - Austin, Texas @ SXSW

April 17 - Indio, Calif. @ Coachella

April 19 - Tempe, Ariz. @ The Clubhouse

April 21 - Houston, Texas @ Walters

April 22 - Dallas, Texas @ Loft / Palladium Ballroom

April 23 - Little Rock, Ark. @ Revolution

April 24 - Atlanta, Ga. @ The Masquerade

April 25 - Carrboro, N.C. @ Cat's Cradle

April 27 - Washington, D.C. @ Black Cat

April 28 - New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall

April 29 - Boston, Mass. @ Paradise

April 30 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ First Unitarian Church

May 3 - Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus

May 4 - Toronto, ONT @ Opera House

May 6 - Newport, Ky. @ Southgate House

May 7 - St. Louis, Mo. @ The Old Rock House

May 8 - Chicago, Ill. @ Metro

May 9 - Milwaukee, Wisc. @ Pabst Theatre

May 10 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ Varsity Theater

May 12 - Denver, Colo. @ Bluebird Theatre

May 13 - Salt Lake City, Utah @ Urban Lounge

May 15 - Vancouver, B.C. @ Biltimore Cabaret

May 16 - Seattle, Wash. @ Neumo's Crystal Ball Reading Room

May 17 - Portland, Ore. @ Berbati's Pan

May 19 - San Francisco, Calif. @ The Fillmore

May 22 - San Diego, Calif. @ Casbah

Pitchfork Music Festival Tickets On Sale Tomorrow

Tickets for the 2010 iteration of Pitchfork Music Festival go on sale tomorrow at noon. The fifth year of the annual event will take place at Chicago's Union Park, July 16th - 18th. Tickets will run you $40 for a single-day pass, but smart concertgoers will splurge on the $90 three-day version. You may want to grab your tickets early, since the festival has sold out every year.

You will not be going in totally blind, since the site will name the first round of bands for the festival tomorrow. The indie-heavy line-up had a bunch of goodies last year, including Yo La Tengo, Tortise, The Black Lips, Grizzly Bear, The Thermals, The Very Best, The Flaming Lips, and, one of our favorites, Frightened Rabbit. Though no announcements have been made, rumors are circulating of a reunited Pavement and St. Vincent appearing this year.

Upcoming Shows - Week ending February 7th

Thursday, February 4th - The Bog (at Illinois Institute Of Technology) - Headliner: Canasta Openers: Matt Kerstein (of Brighton, MA), Ian Wilson - 10pm - FREE

Catch Chicago-based Canasta's brand of orchestral pop at a free show to support Habitat For Humanity. Having just finished mastering their latest album, the night should include a fair amount of new material for long-time fans and the treat of finding a great new band for those that have not yet had the pleasure of hearing "The Microphone Song". Trust us, they are worth venturing out to a slightly unconventional venue!

Saturday, February 6th - Lincoln Hall - Headliner: AM Taxi Openers: Royal Bangs, Big Science - 7pm - $10 advance, $12 at the door

This is your chance to catch an up-and-coming local band at a great new venue before they head out to storm the nation as part of Vans Warped Tour this summer. Head over to their site and grab a copy of "The Mistake" to see what you'd be missing if you were crazy enough to skip this one. As an added bonus, indie pop weirdos Royal Bangs unleash their brilliance in support, so get there early.

Podcast 3 - 1/31

This week, we talk about the Ticketmaster-Live Nation merger, get excited for Company Of Thieves return, and recommend a boatload of other shows in the next month. Also, Nate heads out to see Red Wanting Blue, and Chad cages the wrong animal.

Enjoy!