1. Because JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound are Chicago’s newest soul sensations. Sure there’s Pitchfork and Lollapalooza that celebrate Chicago’s alternative-indie rock side, but it was Jazz, R&B, blues and soul music that dominated this city’s musical landscape for much of the early 20th Century. JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound recapture that spirit and energy with a soul-meets-funk-meets-post-rock sound with an incredible live show to boot. If you haven’t seen them play yet, you really haven’t lived.
In part two, guitarist Jack Armondo, vocalist and percussionist Gretta Rochelle and I talk a variety of topics including the fact their songs have been remixed by both The Hood Internet and T-Minus 321, what I found to be a slight 1980’s stylistic inclination in their music, their amazing “Violet Eyes” music video, non-musical personal heroes and the future of the band.
So, once again, grab some popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy the conclusion of my conversation with My Gold Mask.
Last Friday night Four Tet hypnotized a sold out crowd at the Empty Bottle with 10 minute long trance influenced tracks like “Love Cry”. Check out this exclusive footage from the show produced by Chicago’s very own Video Fingers.
Four Tet – “Love Cry” (Live Video) – Empty Bottle Chicago
It’s odd writing this review knowing that the album’s creators are merely hours away from no longer existing. In case you haven’t been paying attention, Chicago duo Puerto Muerto, consisting of Christa Meyer and Tim Kelley, are playing their last show tonight at the Empty Bottle. And it’s quite a shame seeing how their latest release, Drumming For Pistols, is an excellent excercise in painfully honest emotional salience told through a veil of midwestern blues.
If you are reading this, it means you survived Chicago Snowpocalypse ‘10. Congratulations. That means you just won yourself a chance to catch some great shows this weekend.
Before we get to the shows, a reminder that Loud Loop Radio will be back on the air tomorrow, Saturday, February 13, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Radio DePaul.
It’s that time again, we’ve looked ahead and started filling in our calendars with all of the awesome upcoming shows headed to Chicago in the next few months. Being the good guys and gals that we are, we’re sharing our favorites with you, all of which will surely be not-to-miss performances of artists from around the globe that includes an impressive line-up of local acts. Check out below what we think are the hot Winter/Early Spring concerts, local acts are BOLD for easy access, and let us know in the comments what we may have missed.
Introducing Monday Afternoon Quick Fix! A brand new series that will run 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.
Democratic Cheryle Jackson, who’s running for U.S. Senate, has tapped Lupe Fiasco to perform at a fundraiser for the candidate Thursday, January 28 at the Shrine Chicago.
Jennifer Hudson will join Usher Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, and Smokey Robinson as part of a 3-D tribute to the late Michael Jackson at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, January 31.
