Anyone who complained about Jim DeRogatis’ review of The Pixies’ Doolittle-themed show because DeRogatis focused on the band’s rampant commercialism must be shocked by Pixies’ frontman Black Francis/Frank Black’s interview with Quietus [via Pitchfork]: “We’re interested in anything that’s going to earn us a fair wage. It’s not to say it’s not about art, but … [Read more…]
I was shocked – shocked – when I saw this on the A.V. Club homepage: New “supergroup” featuring Justin Vernon, P.O.S., members of Megafaun and The Rosebuds, et al., looks awesome, awful, awesome again Just the combination of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and P.O.S. sent my brain into overdrive. So, I hopped over to Jagjaguwar … [Read more…]
Last week, Milwaukee’s Juiceboxxx dropped his first mixtape, Thunder Zone Volume One. Topping out at 20 tracks, the mixtape could be a turning point for the oft-misunderstood rapper from the heartland. Often mistaken for a nerdcore artist because of the color of his skin and nasaly flow or met with confusion by concert-goers struck by … [Read more…]
Congratulations to MGMT. The Brooklyn “indie” act just released the cover for their sophomore LP, Congratulations, and it may be the worst album artwork I’ve seen all year: All other bands out there, take notice. MGMT has thrown down the gauntlet for atrocious cover craft, and it is quite the challenge. True, I’m not an … [Read more…]
Max Bemis took to Twitter just a little while ago with one long, oft-rambling ode to the pangs of posting things on… Twitter. Part of Bemis’ cathartic, well-intentioned rant included a curious take on the future of Say Anything, the excellent band Bemis fronts: To let you guys in on some stuff that’s semi personal, … [Read more…]
View Davey von Bohlen’s Chicago shows in a larger map Milwaukee musician Davey von Bohlen has led the kind of musical career that must leave other artists teeming with jealousy. Since the early ’90s, Davey has performed in a variety of bands: Ten Boy Summer, Cap’n Jazz, The Promise Ring, Vermont and Maritime. Nearly all … [Read more…]
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. What does that mean? Well, it means it’s time for a Valentine’s Day mix, of course! Below is a nice little mix of songs for VD 2010: 1. Electric Six – “Electric Demons in Love”: [youtubevid id=”cDGQTlJjCrg”] 2. Andre 3000 – “Happy Valentine’s Day”: [youtubevid id=”DYnzdj4EK1c”] 3. Nina … [Read more…]
Tonight, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre will be present a special screening of “The Room,” with director/actor/screenwriter/producer Tommy Wiseau in attendance. It’s known as one of the worst movies of all time thanks to its inept direction, terrible acting and near-alien understanding of how people act and interact with each other. The oddball movie has become … [Read more…]
Crisis of Conformity reunited on “SNL” this weekend. Don’t remember Crisis of Conformity? Perhaps the video of the reunion will jump your memory [via Unlikely Words and The Daily Swarm]: [huluvid id=”YVEFp4lescx3IOWrHFyHJw”] Ok, there was no band by that name. But, kudos to “SNL” for a well-played satire of all-walks-of-life bands reuniting, especially when the … [Read more…]
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.