The Empty Bottle hosted its second installment of its free, fan appreciation concert series “Music. Friendly. Dancing” this past Monday. Can you capture lightning in a bottle? Show sponsor Goose Island (312 Presents) did when they filmed all the raw action the band packed into Monday’s set. Truly excellent. And if that wasn’t enough (and it never is) our good friends at Gonzo Chicago recorded the entire show for your ear drum-puncturing pleasure. After you see the video head on over here to listen to the entire 50+ minute show.
Sure, two-thirds of Chicago’s awesome musical talent is giving into debauchery the likes we haven’t seen since Tuesday in Austin right now, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops in this city. No, sir (or madam).
Throw on some beads and check out these great shows happening over at The Hideout and the Empty Bottle this weekend to get you through your post-St. Patrick’s Day hangover.
Three I-don’t-mean-for-this-to-always-be-a-weather-report-but-67-degrees-means-I-should-at-least-say-something reasons to dig out those old t-shirts and head over to the Empty Bottle tonight:
1. California’s Sic Alps do that whole crazy garage-y plus psychedelic thing that is spreading like wildfire in the indie rock scene and they do it rather well. The thing that sets them apart is their sheer audacity. Like, who is putting out 22-song double albums worth of this stuff? Sic Alps, that’s who. Their most recent Drag City release, “Napa Asylum” is just that. And it’s not their first double album! I mean, this flies in the face of all logic. This isn’t Yes for crying out loud.
And now three holy-smokes-I’m-back-on-the-daily-diversion-wagon to party like it’s Saturday night and head on over to the Empty Bottle tonight…
1. Wednesday, Shmednesday. The week’s half way over, and when you’re a working stiff, that’s reason enough to celebrate with booze and local music. Today, we point you in the direction for one of our favorites around these parts: The Empty Bottle. For Chicago indie rockers The Laureates take the stage tonight to not only entertain, but educate you in the ways of fun, clever guitar rock. Also, if you’re new to The Laureates, perhaps you should check out their official website where they’re still offering a boatload of covers for free download. See, last year every month they offered a cover song (ranging from the Rolling Stones to the Breeders to ELO) for download – and they’re still up if you feel inclined to use up some space on your precious harddrive. My personal fave? Their rough-around-the-edges take on REM’s “Gardening At Night.”
Three spring-winter-spring-winter-it-must-be-March reasons to dress warm or maybe not but bring an umbrella or that might be silly but no matter what hit up the Empty Bottle tonight…
1. As reported by our crack reporting-like team, the Bottle is unleashing a new series of monthly free concerts under the name “Music. Friendly. Dancing”. See, it’s for you the customers. The Bottle appreciates you, and, despite their many already free Monday night shows, the good folks there thought they’d up the ante as a way of saying thanks. How so? Welp, look at the first installment’s headliner…
Three sometimes-Mondays-feel-an-awful-lot-like-Sundays reasons to take a walk down to the Empty Bottle tonight…
1. I’m going to make it easy on you. Not easy easy but I won’t be sending you off to get your face melted or mind blown. Tonight, let New York’s The Forms give you a taste of the well orchestrated singer songwriter fare. Sometimes you just want a song to feel good. The Forms deliver time and time again. They also have a song called “Black Metal” so I don’t feel like I’ve strayed too far from my comfort zone.
Three spring-winter-spring-winter-it-must-be-March reasons to dress warm or maybe not but bring an umbrella or that might be silly but no matter what hit up the Empty Bottle tonight…
