If you’re tired of the same ol’, same ol’ St. Patricks Day fun (You know. Drinking until you Puke green.), then perhaps you should head to one of these fine show this weekend. We’re talking Volcanoes Make Islands at Beat Kitchen, Roach Beach at The Burlington, Japan Nite at the Double Door and more!

Let’s do it…

Continue Reading…

By Staff  \  comments

Three reasons to hike up your skinny jeans and strut over to the Empty Bottle tonight…

1. Mickey frontman Mac Blackout storms the Empty Bottle with his solo project Mac Blackout Band tonight. If you haven’t have a chance to check out his latest album America Stole My Baby, you have really dropped the ball. Blackout pumps up the scuzz punk intensity to craft songs that are tough-as-nails but also tender enough to include some sweet, sweet melody. The end result should get anyone in the mood to groove. LISTEN: “I’m In Love With You“

Continue Reading…

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Three reasons to forget half of Chicago went to SXSW and soak in some local ambiance tonight at Lincoln Hall…

1. Arlington Heights trio Minor Wits specialize in snappy indie rock of the nerdy, variety. The hallmarks of early-to-mid 90s alt-rock are present with the band’s penchant for screechy guitar riffs and endearing harmonies. Minor Wits is Nada Surf, Weezer and Superdrag all rolled into one bouncy pop entity that comes topped with a bit o’ Midwestern twang and swagger. Twagger, if you will. LISTEN: “Won’t You Wait in Line?“

Continue Reading…

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Three reasons to stop, drop and roll on over to the Burlington this evening…

1. “Do You Wanna Party With A Bat?” asks Party Bat in their dark-toned rocker of the same name. These mysterious locals (mysterious as in there’s not a lot of info about them on their respective sites) rock the grimy garage-punk that tends to lean towards the creepier end of the spectrum with song titles like “Halloweiner” and “All The Kids Are Dead.” But don’t be scared, Party Bat really just wants to party, but no one said that wasn’t a dangerous proposition. LISTEN: “Do You Wanna Party With a Bat”

Continue Reading…

By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• • The Tribune’s Howard Reich explores the possibility of both the Center for Black Music Research and Chicago Jazz Ensemble finding homes at other Chicagoland universities such as Northwestern and DePaul, if Columbia College decides to withdraw funding.
• • Gapers Block’s Ricardo Villarreal talks about divisions in Chicago’s hip-hop scene with local artists and music bloggers, including King Louie, Chief Keef, Chandler London, The WHOevers, and Andrew Barber of the blog Fake Shore Drive and Alex Fruchter of the blog Ruby Hornet.
• • Rocker Scott Lucas talks politics and Local H’s new album, Hallelujah! I’m a Bum, with the Sun Times.
• • The Tribune also featured a report on the new “Squared Roots” festival that will replace the Old Town School of Folk’s annual “Folk & Roots” neighborhood fest. The new event, which takes place July 20-22, will feature folk music and craft beer and will make use of the school’s indoor facilities.
• • WBEZ music critic Jim DeRogatis pans Andrew Bird’s new album Break it Yourself.

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Three reasons to rock off your Daylight Savings Time hangover and bounce on over to The Empty Bottle this fine evening…

1. Lovers of noisy psychedelic happenings will surely dig what Unmanned Ship has to offer. The band have ratcheted together takes that blend guttural guitar riffs with warped, spacey passages. You won’t find vocals here, but the trio makes up for it with their creepy, genre-bending soundscapes. LISTEN: “Giggle”

Continue Reading…

By Richard Giraldi  \  1 comment

TODAY IS OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY.

And by that I mean, we survived a digital alien invasion to bring you a very special SXSW edition of Weekend Diversions. Won’t you follow me…follow me to freedom?

Yes. Yes, you will.

Continue Reading…

By Staff  \  1 comment