Tonight’s Downtown Sound at Millennium Park’s beautiful Jay Pritzker Pavilion brings legendary New Jersey rock/punk act The Feelies back to Chicago for the first time since 1991.

Formed in 1976, The Feelies became known for their powerful layered guitar sounds that became major influences for early underground and indie rock bands such as R.E.M. The band never reached great heights in terms of popularity and disbanded in 1992 after releasing four albums including the critcally acclaimed Crazy Rhythms. They reunited for a tour last summer and are slated to perform Crazy Rhythms in it’s entirety at this September’s All Tomorrow’s Parties in New York City.

Chicago’s experimental-dub out fit Icy Demons will open.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs until 9:30 p.m. tonight at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

By Richard Giraldi  \  4 comments

Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays returns this evening with free performances from The Sea And Cake and Dirty Projectors.

New Music Mondays opened its season June 8 with an incredible performance from St. Vincent. This week features more new and exciting sounds eminating from Millennium Park’s beautiful Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

Chicago’s own The Sea And Cake bring their heart-warming indie pop to the pavillion in support of their new album Car Alarm, which their Myspace page describes as “…bracing, like the surge of wasabe on sweet sushi, like the slap of cool water on a diving body, like the head-rush of a rollercoaster just leaving summit.”

Dirty Projectors are readying the release of their own new album Bitte Orca due to drop tomorrow. The Projectors’ punchy experimental-pop should work as a powerful contrast against the Chicago skyline-at-dusk backdrop.

The show runs from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. tonight at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. It’s free and open to the public, but get there early for a good seat.

Next week’s Downtown Sound performance features The Feelies and Icy Demons.

By Richard Giraldi  \  1 comment