Apr 27, 2015
By Alex Wood | Videos:seijinleeMuch like his albums, every Sufjan Stevens tour changesdramatically, showcasing a different side of the complex and endlessly evolving songwriter. Though known best for the intricate, dense layering of instruments and melodies on albums like Illinois, his Chicago Theatre performance boasted a more stripped-down, minimal sound, tomatch the tone of his...
Apr 24, 2015
Five things I learned attending DeadPhish Orchestra at Wire on Friday, April 17th.1. Intellecutally, I cant help feeling a small sense of betrayal in choosing a cover band over the many original music options available. But, my heart very much belongs to Grateful Dead and Phish, and in creating a band that specializes in those...
Apr 21, 2015
A Musicians Musician: The Scott Metzger Interview by @312mrgTrying to follow all of Scott Metzger's musical output is like drinking from a firehose. You're just as likely to see him as one of Phil's friends, a member of Anders Osborne's touring band or popping up in a one-off all-star super jam.Friday night at the...
Apr 15, 2015
By: Alex WoodDeath Cab For Cuties Ben Gibbard performed an intimate WXRT Studio X session at the Empty Bottle on Tuesday, offering a handful of acoustic songs and multiple live interviews.Two weeks away from Death Cab For Cuties Chicago Theatre dates, Gibbard flew to Chicago specifically for the short sessions, a fact that WXRTs...
Apr 15, 2015
Want to have your finger on the pulse of the bands who are likely to be breakout stars in the Chicago scene? Look for the artists-in-residence at some of the city's top clubs.AliveOne, in particular, has seemed to carve out a platform for bands embracing boundary-pushing jazz, funk and fusion. They've recently spawned Spare...
Apr 11, 2015
By: Matt Fricks | Photos: Matt Fricks & Sean WilmsenCome with me and youll be in a world of pure imagination.The stage and set dressing at The Chicago Theatre on Friday night was exactly that: something of ones most outlandish imagination. Primus delivered an absolutely stunning two-set performance, highlighted by the wildly innovative live rendition...
Mar 29, 2015
By: Alex WoodTheDecemberistsmade a triumphant return to Chicago on Friday, their Chicago Theatre performance marking their first tour in four years.Despite the prolonged hiatus, the band returned with a feverous energy in a set that flaunted their stylistically diverse discography.Opening, appropriately, with The SingerAddresses His Audience, frontman ColinMeloystepped on stage alone, addressing the...
Mar 22, 2015
By: Matt Fricks | Photos: Matt Fricks / Wyatt BrakeThe Chicago Theatre was graced with the aura of Pink Floyd on Saturday night with two full sets and an extended encore from Brit Floyd. Damian Darlington (guitar, vocals) and Ian Cattell (bass, vocals) front the nine-piece group and guided the band through a setlist that spanned the...
Mar 16, 2015
By: @WeirScrewedWhile many Chicago's best venues for live music tend to skew north, some of the best local talent can be found south of Archer Avenue.Brown Bag, The Leadfoot Band, and Caution have made a circuit of Americana/alt-country/bluegrass/jam bands that has been entertaining fans on the South Side over the past...
Mar 13, 2015
Words / Photos: Alex WoodJD McPherson offered a high-energy set during his first night at Lincoln Hall, offering the majority of the songs from his studio albums and a handful of covers.His retro sound is derivative of an era more than any specific artist, pulling inspiration primarily from the late 50s and early 60s. The...