Some kind of merchandiser
When Philadelphia’s Algernon Cadwallader played Strangelight – a new Chicago DIY venue – on Friday, Feb. 5, singer/bassist Peter Helmis took some time to discuss the process of creating and selling merchandise.
emo
Pitchfork Music Festival Predictions
Pitchfork announced its annual music festival will take place July 16-18 in Chicago’s Union Park. Tickets for the Pitchfork Music Festival will go on sale Friday, when the music site will also announce part of its lineup. The Chicago Tribune‘s Greg Kot got word that Pavement and St. Vincent will be performing at the festival. The … [Read more…]
Cap'n Jazz will play more shows
The A.V. Club confirmed something I suspected after Friday night’s surprise Cap’n Jazz set at the Empty Bottle: Straight from an anonymous but reliable source, The A.V. Club can confirm there will be more Cap’n Jazz shows this year. Additionally, Jade Tree Records is issuing deluxe LP and CD versions of the band’s material sometime in … [Read more…]
The Cap'n Jazz reunion set
“Reunion” is a tricky word. It implies a reunification after a long period apart, a return to old ways, a plan. Perhaps that would explain the begrudging look on Tim Kinsella’s face during the Cap’n Jazz set at The Empty Bottle Friday night. His facial expression had nothing to do with his position onstage, singing … [Read more…]
Video Friday: Cap'n Jazz – 'Oh Messy Life'
The Internet has been buzzing with rumors of a potential Cap’n Jazz reunion since December. This week, the reunion picture got a little clearer. Jessica Hopper dropped a hint in the Chicago Reader that the rumors may come to fruition at the Joan of Arc Don’t Mind Control Variety Show at the Empty Bottle tonight. … [Read more…]
Cap'n Jazz reunion show
Cap’n Jazz. Tomorrow/tonight. Empty Bottle, Chicago [via the A.V. Club]: The A.V. Club has learned that seminal emo outfit Cap’n Jazz is playing a mini reunion set Friday night at the Empty Bottle as part of the Joan Of Arc Don’t Mind Control Variety Show. So the question that started my awkward conversation with Mike Kinsella … [Read more…]
Music In 2009: A Review
It’s hard to sum up an entire year of pop music in one concise “best of” list. Instead, here’s a tidy little look at some of the highs and lows in pop music over the past year: Hip-Huh?: The New Yorker‘s Sasha Frere-Jones declared that hip-hop was dead and upset a lot of hip-hop heads. … [Read more…]
The Best Overlooked Albums Of The Aughts
The new year is almost here, and with it comes a maelstrom of “End of the Year Lists.†Here on Ex-Spectator, I’ll be rolling out a few “End of the Yearâ€/â€End of the Decade†lists. Today’s list: The Best Overlooked Albums of the Aughts. A while back I started an ongoing feature called “Overlooked in … [Read more…]
The Decade In Emo
It was indeed “A Decade Under The Influence.†But while Taking Back Sunday could string together a few solid hits drenched in a post-hardcore milieu and cut with pop sensibilities, chances are no one in the band could have predicted how influential emo would become in the aughts. The presence of the word in the … [Read more…]
Hannukah, Modern Judaism and Musical Mensches
It’s the halfway point of Hannukah, and it’s unexpected presence on the calendar has marked a sudden disconnect I’ve had with the Jewish community. For most of my life, I’ve been surrounded by aspects of Judaism and Jewish culture, be it growing up attending temple, my various stays in Israel or attending a university with … [Read more…]