Links to my newest freelance pieces.
Drummer Zach Hill collects superlatives like some people collect baseball cards. And for every new review that calls Hill “the greatest,†“the most inventive,†or whatever newfangled expression one can come up with, Hill produces another record or creates another band that challenges even his own fans’ expectations. via Zach Hill: Face Tat < PopMatters. … [Read more…]
Pitchfork picked up reports of a new band from indie figurehead Will Oldham, sometimes better known as Bonnie “Prince†Billy, called The Babblers. Much about the band remains a mystery, but The A.V. Club is absolutely sure that Oldham’s co-singer in the band—who is listed in many of the write-ups as Angela Babbler—is none other … [Read more…]
On Dec. 2, Scooty & JoJo will launch their latest musical mash-up, Alien Queen, a cabaret-style spoof of the first two Alien films that’s soundtracked by the music of Queen. via Behind Alien Queen | Music | A.V. Local Video | The A.V. Club Chicago. Alien. Queen. ‘Nuff said.
For the past year, Chicago musician Matthew Hord has produced a slew of tapes by local bands with his cassette label, Priority Male Tapes. via Tapes ’n’ Tapes: Priority Male Tapes | Music | A.V. Local Video | The A.V. Club Chicago. Vol. 2 for my video series!
Well, put that money where your music-literate mouth is this Thursday at the Empty Bottle, when Logan Square record store Saki and Chicago independent community radio station CHIRP host their first trivia night. via What’s Iggy Pop’s real name? Saki and CHIRP hosting trivia night Thursday | Music | The A.V. Club Chicago. I want to … [Read more…]
An indie band that dabbles in electronics, Brooklyn’s Home Video creates soothing, warm tones that are as indistinguishable from one another as they are forgettable. via Home Video: The Automatic Process < PopMatters. Not every album slated for a review is a winner. Oh well.
Evan Thomas Weiss doesnt exactly have a lot of name recognition—the 26-year-old emo troubadour, who plays a mix of singer-songwriter ballads and heavy pop-punk tunes, does most of his recording as Into It. Over It., and that cant be helping. via The Buddy System | Music Feature | Chicago Reader. I met Evan while researching … [Read more…]
Thanksgiving Day is traditionally known as a time for family, friends and, well, giving thanks. It’s also a time when practically everything in Chicago shuts down, to the point where the city seems barren just thinking about it. But, there’s still a little something for the intrepid and curious who are looking to subvert the … [Read more…]
The newest band featured by Scion A/V? Local grindcore trio Magrudergrind. via New Magrudergrind EP Available Now – Arts Desk – Washington City Paper. Magrudergrind and Scion A/V. So… odd. Scion A/V Presents: Magrudergrind – Crusher by ScionAV
A local band on the rise, emo quartet Castevet has garnered acclaim from punk music tastemakers like AbsolutePunk and Alternative Press. That’s because its newest record, The Echo & The Light, culls inspiration from Chicago’s punk past and present to create a sincere, visceral album. via Castevet’s Nick Wakim on five bands to watch | … [Read more…]