Chicago Americana outfit Dastardly dazzled a packed Hideout backroom with a night filled with music, comedy and a bit of supernatural fun during its first-ever variety show “Catastrophe.”

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Smoking Popes and Alkaline Trio were celebrating their 20th and 15th anniversaries, respectively, at the first of two sold-out shows at the Metro on Monday evening, and the bands both reflected their relative ages. While the older-brother Popes were mainly content (with notable exceptions) to forego high-octane physical performances in exchange for precision and crispness, the still-rambunctious Trio cranked up the energy, letting the band members’ adroitness on their instruments fade behind the wall of sound. However, the show delivered exactly what the fawning crowd came to see: two superior punk rock bands playing songs that are guaranteed to get you moving—or, in this case, moshing.

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By Andy Kondrat  \  comments

Supergroups like Wild Flag have a lot to prove. The band’s pedigree is well-known and much revered (Sleater-Kinney, Helium, The Minders, etc.), which is why fans have no problem flocking to the band despite not having released a full-length record, yet. However, the few offerings that have leaked out to various websites has been exciting and exceptional, and Wild Flag more than proved at Subterranean that it is worth the early hype.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Nothing makes you appreciate Chicago more than a free rock concert in the park, unless it’s 100 degrees. Then, you’d have to be mad to want to sit out there for three hours absorbing not only oppressive heat, but cancerous sun rays and thick humidity. If there were a pair of bands that could battle such harsh conditions it would be spooky art rockers My Gold Mask and experimental poppers Blonde Redhead, whose mix of digital samples and high-pitched, cutting vocals were enough to distract from the unbearable weather.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Les Savy Fav lead singer Tim Harrington is a man of the people. The manic, nomadic singer and his fantastically long microphone cord traveled to every crease and crevice of Subterranean on Saturday night, touching and being touched by fans, singing and cracking jokes. The rest of the band may have been an afterthought to the crowd, but the music that radiated through all three floors certainly wasn’t.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Neon Marshmallow Festival came and conquered last weekend with more than 30 experimental music acts and films taking over the Empty Bottle.

I spent two days of the fest’s three-day run having my ears, mind, and wallet blown (no Loud Loop liquor allowance) by some amazing sounds and drinks.

Needless to say, it was a killer weekend. But fear not, dear reader. I did not come out of that hot mess of smoke and swill empty handed. Below are a few videos I shot from Sunday’s line-up. If you’re looking for some analysis, check out these great write-ups: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 by Chris Sienko over at Transmission. Otherwise, enjoy the videos after the jump.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Folk poppers Pillars & Tongues are a quiet surprise. The now-four piece band wandered on stage at the Empty Bottle without fanfare or fuss, but kept the crowd’s attention with its light rhythms and droning harmonies.

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By Audrey Leon  \  comments