The annual Wicker Park/Bucktown music fest boasts a solid lineup this year including everyone’s favorite local hard rockin’ duo Local H, Chicago neo-soul revivalists JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Canadian experimental rockers Holy Fuck, recently reunited Chicago emo-originators Cap’n Jazz, Canadian indie buzz band Plants and Animals, local experimentalists Shapers and much, much more.

Find the full lineup, via the Chicagoist, below:

Saturday, July 31

*Mission Of Burma
Holy Fuck
BoomBox
Auto Body
The Gaslamp Killer
Signal Path
Tokimonsta
Prepschool
Alex B (Tweener DJ sets)
Cap ‘n Jazz
Only Children* (DJ Set)
Moneypenny* (Liv)
Bayside High* (DJ Set)
Gemini Club* (Live)
Kid Color* (DJ Set)
Blah Blah Blah* (Live)

Sunday, August 1

Local H
fun.
Plants & Animals
Van Ghost
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
B.S. Brass Band
JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound
Jamie McLean Band
Save the Clocktower
DJ Lou Dooben (Tweener DJ Sets)
Baroness
Torche
The Hood Internet
Shapers
Zebo
Matt Roan
John Simmons

*JUST ADDED

The Dead Weather

As the weather finally flirts with 90 degrees, the summertime Chi music scene is really starting to heat up.

Once again, it’s a weekend chock full of killer shows including the Gapers Block 7^th Anniversary Bash with JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound at the Metro, the top secret free Dead Weather show, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at the Vic Theatre, Twilight Sad at Lincoln Hall and so much more it’s REDONKULOUS.

Let’s hop to it, shall we?

Friday

SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS
I told you about their finely crafted album I Learned the Hard Way yesterday, but the truth is – this band may make fine albums, but on stage in front of a live audience is where they shine. Jones’ is more than a singer, she’s a true performer and the Dap-Kings are certain to make you shake your ass. The Heavy opens. (Andrew Kahn)

8:00 p.m., Friday, May 21. The Vic Theatre. 18+. $24.

GAPERS BLOCK 7^TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Our friends over at the Gaper’s Block are celebrating their 7^th anniversary of life on the Web with a great line-up of local bands. JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Blah Blah Blah, Hollows, and Lasers + Fast + Shit were tapped to bring the party. CHIRP Radio is hosting and it’s also the Blah Blah Blah’s record release show. (Andrew Kahn)

9:00 p.m., Friday, May 21. The Metro. 18+. 2-for-1 tickets for $7 in advance or $10 singles at the door, Sharon Jones ticket stubs accepted for free admission.

MAYBENAUTS
Come celebrate the release of Big Bang, the Maybenaut’s debut EP with a crazy live show at the Darkroom. The Chicago pop-rockers will perform alongside six other local groups including Gidgets Ga Ga and The Safes. It’s also space panda Vee Sonnet’s birthday so buy him a drink or three. The show is free before 10 p.m. so now you have no reason not to go and support your local musicians. (Audrey Leon)

8 p.m., Friday, 5/21. The Darkroom. 21+. FREE/$5 after 10 p.m.

LIONS RAMPART
Lions Rampart have already received my praise for their driving style of bluesy garage rock. Well, that doesn’t mean I can’t steer you to another show of theirs. Good time rock ‘n’ roll is both a good time and hard to come by. But let’s talk about the opener–another Chicago band, The Biltmores, shall we? Yes! Do I hear that dissonant guitar sound? I do. A little mathy but not in a showy way. Oh, you know, just good old fashioned indie rock again. The kind I am tickled pink is back in a big way. Guitar. (Ross Meyerson)

9:00 p.m. Friday, 5/21. Quenchers. 21+. $5 donation.

Saturday

THE TWILIGHT SAD
Scotland’s answer to Interpol, The Twilight Sad, returns to Chicago to play Lincoln Hall on Saturday night. The noise rockers are touring in support of their superb 2009 album Forget the Night Ahead with Japanese instrumentalists Mono. If you haven’t heard the album’s lead single “I was a Prostitute,” what are you waiting for? (Audrey Leon)

10 p.m., Saturday, 5/22. Lincoln Hall. 21+. $14.

THE DEAD WEATHER
It’s official. This week has been rock super group week in Chicago. Tuesday saw an appearance by Them Crooked Vultures and now the Jack White-helmed four-headed monster The Dead Weather plans to descend on the Windy City this Saturday at a location to be determined. The group is playing a free promotional show for Microsoft’s new cell phone, Kin, and to build some buzz the show location is being kept under wraps until hours before the show. In the mean time, wander over to the event’s Facebook page and keep clicking refresh. (Audrey Leon)

8:30 p.m., Saturday, 5/22. ?????????. 21+. FREE!

BAILIFF
After a brief hiatus to record a new album, Bailiff returns to the stage this Saturday at the Subterranean. The Chicago gritty-blues rockers debuted a couple new tunes at their Lincoln Hall show back in January that offered a funkier side to their guitar-heavy, tight back-beat sound they’ve etched for themselves. I’m guessing the band are itching to play some more new material since they’ve been in hiding for most of the Winter and early Spring. Opening the show will be locals The Poison Arrows, and headlining will be Chicago new wave, post-punk outfit Big Science who’ll be celebrating their EP release. (Richard Giraldi)

9:00 p.m. Saturday, 5/22. Subterranean. 17+. $10.

Sunday

LOCAL H
Hometown heroes Local H return to the Metro to conclude its Six Angry Records tour after a grueling trek through east coast, playing whatever record in full that some lucky SOB picks out of a hat each night. I, for one, cannot wait for this show. For the love of God, someone pick “Whatever Happened to PJ Soles.” Wait! No. Pick “As Good As Dead!” Err… “Here Comes the Zoo!” — Fuck it. Just play “Pack up the Cats.” (Audrey Leon)

7:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/23. Metro. All Ages. $13.

HEAVY TIMES
Chicago’s Heavy Times feature members of Cacaw. They don’t sound like Cacaw. More punk than in your melting face intense, Heavy Times still rock a-plenty. Tonight’s is a record release so you can celebrate with them. Hey, look, it’s Bitchin Bajas again. Seems this Cave side project is becoming a full-fledged force in the world. John Bellows will play his fucked up tunes with a childlike lack of self-consciousness. Openers Campfire kind of play a lo-fi garage version of Pavement songs? Can I say that? Sure. (Ross Meyerson)

9:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/23. Empty Bottle. 21+. $3.

LOST: SERIES FINALE
So, the most pressing question this weekend is…how will it all end? Is Jack really going to take Jacob’s place? Has Ben joined forces with FLocke? What exactly is the suave Desmond Hume up to in the alternate reality? When will Kate die? Will we ever see Vincent or the Hurley Bird again? WALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLT!!!!! Tune in and geek out. (Richard Giraldi)

8:00 p.m. Sunday, 5/23. ABC. All Ages. FREE cause it’s like on TV and stuff.

Photo by Chocolatte

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.

2. Because there is a great chance they’ll play their incredible version of Wilco’s “I Am Trying To Break Your Heat”:

3. Because also on the bill are Chicago indie pop-soul outfit the Dirty Diamonds and a DJ set from East of Edens. Oh, and did we mention this is all FREE?!?!?!?! Testify!

9:30 p.m. Monday, 3/8. Empty Bottle. 21+. FREE!!!!

“Celestial Navigations: The Short Films of Al Jarnow,” the first film compilation by Numero Group, will make its Chicago debut this Friday and Saturday night at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

For producer Michael Slaboch, seeing this labor of love come to fruition has been a long time coming and so far has garnered two sold out screenings at the 92Y Tribeca in Manhattan.

“The project took four years from first thought to the screening in New York City last weekend,” said Slaboch.  “The first two and a half years it sat on the dry erase board.”

Al Jarnow made short animated, time-lapse and stop motion films from 1969 through the mid 1990’s for “Sesame Street” and “3-2-1 Contact” but also created a substantial body of avant-garde experimental films that are also included on the DVD.

Slaboch reviewing one of Jarnows film strip at the Numero Group office.

“About a year and a half ago we met with Al for the first time and once he was on board, then we started to aggressively contact Sesame Workshop to get someone in their legal department to let us license the twenty-plus films from them.”

After finally getting someone there to get on board with their concept for the DVD compilation the rights were secured and production began.

“We headed out to Al’s house where we watched around a hundred 16mm reels to find the best prints of his independent work and some Sesame Street material, and we ended up putting 45 films on the DVD.”

In the spring of 2009, Slaboch and a four person film production crew spent three days in Northport, Long Island interviewing Jarnow the for a documentary that is included on the DVD and will be shown along with 15 of Jarnow’s films at the Gene Siskel Film Center this weekend.

Transcribing interview with Jarnow for documentary.

“We made a 30-minute documentary that deconstructs his creative process and also gleaned loads of ephemera for the 60 page book included with the DVD that has essays on Al and the 1970s New York City avant-garde film scene.”

Since 2003, the independent record label Numero Group has been turning out albums full of rare and forgotten music compiled from sources from across the world.

With offices located in the lower level of a house in the Little Village neighborhood, the four person operation comprised of founders Ken Shipley, Tom Lunt, along with Rob Sevier and Slaboch epitomizes a do-it-yourself model.
The space is cramped, doubling as a stockroom with the walls lined with shelves stacked with albums that will be handled by the guys to fill orders around the globe.

“UPS knows this address very well,” Slaboch said while preparing a package for delivery to one of several Chicago record stores that carry the label’s releases.

Numero Group painstakingly researches, re-masters and repackages music that has been lost, forgotten or never heard.  They go to great lengths to do more than a simple reissue by including background essays, detailed liner notes, scores of images and any other relics available to create a complete story.

“The process of putting this DVD together has been very similar to making one of our records, in the sense that the memorable films speak for themselves but that’s not enough to warrant reissuing them for us,” said Slaboch. “There always has to be a story with one of our mainline releases, and luckily Al has a tremendous tale with great cultural importance.”

Examining Jarnow animation cels

In five years they have produced 34 CD’s, 21 vinyl LPs, 16 45s, eight 12 inches, and two sets of baseball-style trading cards of Numero Group artists, and promoted sold-out concerts featuring Numero Group performers and house band JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound at the Park West and Lincoln Hall.

“We’re thinking about creative ways to share music, films, photographs, and stories with people through a physical form that they want to own and hold and experience and not just have it be a bunch of zeros and ones that they download.”

But the group’s ideas and aspirations are still expanding.

Numero Group branched out by creating the label’s first full size book of photography by Michael L. Abramson titled, “Light: On The Southside” that depicts nightlife on the South Side of Chicago from 1975 to 1977.

Looking at a test page for "Light: On the Southside"

Released last fall, the 132 page hard back book showcasing more than 100 photos from the city’s nightclubs also included a two LP set of 17 songs by Chicago blues and soul legends making it one of the most expansive releases for the label to date.

So does producing a DVD and a 132 page photography book signal a shift toward visual media for the label?

“Not necessarily.”  Slaboch said. “We just want to share and preserve things that we think are historically important and inspiring. Whether that’s photographs of South Side blues clubs, short films that tens of millions of people have seen but have no idea who made them, or compiling the entire output of Syl Johnson’s career up to 1972, it’s all the same to us.”

While their releases may not be soaring to the top of Billboard charts, the label is thriving and a variety of releases are planned for the coming year including the complete recordings of Syl Johnson from 1959-1972, a three CD set from the Boddie Recording Company out of Cleveland, and another installment in their Local Customs series this time focusing on the Beaumont, Texas Lowlands Studio.

But for Slaboch it’s about more than simply digging up old relics, for him the drive comes from, “Meeting the artists and learning more about their lives and what drove and inspired them to make their music and films or run regional record labels. Many of the people we deal with are significantly older than us, by 30 or 40 years and there’s a lot to learn from their lives and experiences.”

“Celestial Navigations: The Short Films of Al Jarnow” trailer:

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Celestial Navigations: The Short Films of Al Jarnow” screens at 8 p.m. Friday Feb. 19 and Saturday Feb. 20 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, $10 tickets can be purchased via TicketMaster or at the theater box office (no service fees).

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

• • Originally it looked like 88 Fingers Louie were coming back for just one show.  After a few successful outings, the punk band looks to be coming back with new material and shows.

• • China Shop offered up an extensive 3-part profile of The Prairie Cartel.

• • JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound debuted a new blog and made an mp3 of “For Promotional Use Only” available for free download.

• • Neko Case will reportedly appear on Jakob Dylan’s second solo album. Look for the album to be released April 6.

• • Umphrey’s McGee will be joining Buddy Guy and as part of  a stellar line-up at the 21st Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest, held April 1 – 5, in New South Wales, Australia.

• • Lincoln Hall is doing a bunch of cool stuff non-music related. In addition to beginning a free weekly movie series titled “The 3 Penny Was Here : A Lincoln Hall Movie Night” in honor of the 3 Penny Cinema, the venue location’s former resident, Lincoln Hall will also be screening the LOST season six premiere tomorrow night beginning at 7 p.m. SPOILER: It was Mr. Echo in the hatch with the Dharma Initiative hammer. /cluereference (Richard Giraldi)

Photo Credit: Carrie Musgrave - livebabylive.com

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.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25

Cacaw – Empty Bottle

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27

DJ Krush – Empty Bottle

Streets on Fire – Double Door
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010, they bring angular and frantic guitar riffs as lead singer Chadwick spouts his gnarled, rambling messages over at tight rhythm section. It’s fun yet dark and, at times, nearly psychotic.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29

Adam Franklin – Hideout

Earth Program – Ronny’s
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010, and it’s their record release party!

The New Deal – Park West

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

Cold War Kids – Vic Theatre

Pentagram – Empty Bottle

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Asobi Seksu – Schubas

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4

State Champion – Bottom Lounge

The Entrance Band, Lights, White Mystery – Empty Bottle

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Dark Star Orchestra – Vic Theatre

Gov’t Mule – House of Blues

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

The Academy Is… – Metro
A special show in celebration of the 5 year anniversary of their debut release Almost Here with and opening set by Minneapolis based pop group Sing it Loud.

Dark Star Orchestra – Vic Theatre

Mavis Staples – Old Town School of Folk Music

Jemina Pearl – Beat Kitchen

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

D.R.I – Reggie’s Rock Club

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

Mako Sica – Hideout

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13

DOOM, Mos Def – Congress Theater
Rescheduled from January 29th.

Fucked Up, Kurt Vile – Empty Bottle

Gene Ween Band – Lincoln Hall

Mariah Carey – Chicago Theatre

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

Mariah Carey – Chicago Theatre

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Editors, The Antlers – Vic Theatre

An Evening With The Residents – Logan Square Auditorium

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

Nosaj Thing – Lincoln Hall

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18

St. Vincent – Metro

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Four Tet – Empty Bottle

Trey Anastasio – Riviera Theatre

Smoking Popes – Reggie’s Rock Club

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Chicago Underground Duo – Hideout
Album release party for 2010’s Boca Negra on Thrill Jockey.

Patti Smith – Park West

Smoking Popes – Reggie’s Rock Club

Tortoise – Lincoln Hall

Scott Lucas and the Married Men – Schubas
Local H frontman Scott Lucas is striking out on his own with his new group The Married Men. This show at Schubas is a record release party for their debut album “George Lassos the Moon.”

The Sweeps – Bottom Lounge
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Bela Fleck and The Africa Project – Old Town School of Folk Music

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22

El Perro Del Marr – Lincoln Hall

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Paul Di’Anno (original singer of Iron Maiden), Bible of the Devil – Reggie’s Rock Club

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Screeching Weasel – Reggie’s Rock Club

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

Alkaline Trio, Cursive – Metro

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

Cursive, Alkaline Trio – Metro
Cursive live is not to be missed. Frontman Tim Kasher is hilarious and unpredictable, which are all necessary components for a great live performance. Additionally, according to Audrey Leon Cursive’s “Mama, I’m Swollen” is one of the best albums of 2009.

TUESDAY, MARCH 2

Furthur – Auditorium Theatre

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3

Furthur – Auditorium Theatre

Streets On Fire – Empty Bottle

One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010

THURSDAY, MARCH 4

Gomez – Vic Theatre

FRIDAY, MARCH 5

Citizen Cope – Vic Theatre

J. Davis Trio – Bottom Lounge

moe. – Riviera Theatre

SUNDAY, MARCH 7

The Avett Brothers – House of Blues

Magnetic Fields – Harris Theater

SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Magnetic Fields – Harris Theater

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Califone – Lincoln Hall
All My Friends are Funeral Singers will be shown along with a live performance of the soundtrack.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10

Califone – Lincoln Hall

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound – Tonic Room

Vetiver – Empty Bottle

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

Hockey – Lincoln Hall

Kreator, Voivod, Nachtmystium – Bottom Lounge

Muse – United Center

Pelican – Beat Kitchen

SATURDAY, MARCH 13

RJD2 – Metro

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Bottom Lounge
Ted Leo is heading back to the Windy City to blow the roof off of the Bottom Lounge with songs from his latest release “The Brutalist Bricks,” many of which were performed at Lincoln Hall’s grand opening last October.

SUNDAY, MARCH 14

Orphaned Land, Indian – Bottom Lounge

MONDAY, MARCH 15

My Gold Mask – Empty Bottle
One of our 10 Chicago Bands to Watch in 2010.

THURSDAY, MARCH 18

Experience Hendrix – Chicago Theatre

P.O.S. – Bottom Lounge

FRIDAY, MARCH 19

Gil Mantera’s Party Dream – Empty Bottle

Appleseed Cast – Bottom Lounge

SATURDAY, MARCH 20

Alice In Chains – Aragon Ballroom

Norah Jones – Chicago Theatre

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24

Air – Riviera Theatre

JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound – Tonic Room

Matthew Good – Double Door

THURSDAY, MARCH 25

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Metro

Vampire Weekend – Riviera Theatre
Check out Andy Kondrat’s review of Contra, and let us know what you think of the band’s sophomore effort.

FRIDAY, MARCH 26

Tegan and Sara – Aragon Ballroom

Vampire Weekend – Riviera Theatre

THURSDAY, APRIL 1

The Black Lips – Logan Square Auditorium

Spoon, Deerhunter – Aragon Ballroom

FRIDAY, APRIL 2

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O, Plastic Crimewave Sound – Empty Bottle

Passion Pit – Congress Theater

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Xiu Xiu – Lincoln Hall

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7

Henry Rollins – Vic Theatre

THURSDAY, APRIL 8

The xx, jj – Lincoln Hall
Each group put out killer albums last year making several of our top 10 lists.  This pairing of double consonant named bands will be grooving and moody and is already sold out.

FRIDAY, APRIL 9

Japandroids – Lincoln Hall
Check out Dan Henshaw’s review of their 2009 release, Post Nothing, a favorite of Andy Kondrat’s.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10

Mission of Burma – Double Door

FRIDAY, APRIL 16

Dr. Dog – Metro

King Sunny Ade and His African Beats – Old Town School of Folk Music

MONDAY, APRIL 19

Hot Chip, The xx – Riviera Theatre

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

Trans Am – Empty Bottle

SUNDAY, APRIL 25

B.B. King – House of Blues
The legend returns for another show at the HOB. If you haven’t seen him and Lucille do yourself a favor and get out for this concert.

THURSDAY, APRIL 29

Yeasayer – Metro

FRIDAY, APRIL 30

Owl City – Aragon Ballroom

Coming off the heels of their successful and sold-out performance at the Park West last April, the local independent label Numero Group will be taking it’s Eccentric Soul Revue on the road, starting with a show at Lincoln Hall this Saturday.  

The tour is being co-sponsored by Shlitz and will include many special guests at stops along the way.

Added to the roster from the Spring concert is local singer Linda Balintine, whose ultra-rare 45″ appeared on, Eccentric Soul: The Bandit Label and Sharon Clark who was featured on the compilation, Eccentric Soul: The Yodi Label.  Another addition, Pastor TL Barrett and his choir  who are featured on the upcoming release, Good God! Born Again Funk, is slated to kick the show off with a song from the album.  

Returning to the stage are local soul legends Syl Johnson, Renaldo Domino and The Notations.  Once again Chicago’s own JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound will serve as house band delivering soul and funk grooves all night long.  Tickets are selling out fast, so tell your friends on the East Coast to get on the ball and check out some Windy City legends.

The Numero Group Eccentric Soul Revue Tour:

Saturday Nov 7th
Lincoln Hall
Chicago, IL
Special Guests:
Linda Balintine, Sharon Clark, & Pastor TL Barrett
18+/Doors 8pm
Tickets: Lincoln Hall
–
Sunday Nov 8th
Crofoot Ballroom
Pontiac, MI
Special Guests:
Bobby Cook & Velma Perkins
All Ages/Doors at 7pm
Tickets: Ticketweb

–
Monday Nov 9th
Lincoln Theater
Columbus, OH
Special Guests:
Marion Black & The Four Mints
All Ages/Doors at 7pm
Tickets: Lincoln Theater and Ticketmaster
* No service fees with cash at box office*

–
Tuesday Nov 10th
9:30 Club
Washington D.C.
All Ages/Doors at 6pm
Tickets: 9:30 Club and Brown Paper Tickets

–
Friday Nov 13th
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY
Special Guest:
Missy Missy Dee
18+/Doors 8pm
Tickets: Music Hall of Williamsburg and Ticketmaster
* No service fees with cash at Music Hall or Mercury Lounge*

–
Thursday Nov 12th
Grand Ballroom, Manhattan Center
New York, NY
Special Guest:
Missy Missy Dee
All Ages/Doors at 7pm
Tickets: Grand Ballroom and Ticketmaster
* No service fees with cash at Mercury Lounge*