Author Archive
Cut Copy, The Black Kids @ Abbey Pub, Chicago 05/07/08
Last Wednesday night the Abbey Pub packed the house with eager and energetic fans ready for one thing and one thing only: a dance party. While I cannot be absolutely sure, the crowd was there heavily to see Cut Copy though I am sure now I was in this crowd... more
Interview with Jared Bell of Lymbyc Systym
A week ago Monday, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jared Bell of Lymbyc Systym before their show at the Empty Bottle here in Chicago. Jared is the keyboardist in the Austin/Phoenix duo that is breaking molds of what an instrumental pair can do both in the studio... more
The Black Keys @ 9:30 Club | Live Concert on NPR’s All Songs Considered
The Black Keys are stopping in on the 9:30 Club tonight in Washington, DC and luckily for all of us we can enjoy the show with those who are actually there. NPR Music will be broadcasting the show will the help of Bob Boilen and All Song's Considered. If you... more
Chicago Music Promoters on Alert
Back a few months, LMB went to the Chicago Music Commision's meeting to discover whether or not this city is a music city. The study found that Chicago is a music city in hiding and that no one is really championing the music scene besides those directly involved. I left... more
Tokyo Police Club @ Metro, Chicago 5/5/08
Poster by Nemo Design I was a bit skeptical heading into the Metro last night to see Tokyo Police Club. The show wasn't sold out, so I didn't think the room would be full. The band has toured consistently since forming in 2005 with a few breaks to record a couple... more
Tom Waits | Glitter and Doom Tour
One the most ineffable characters in music just announced a short summer tour with a "press conference" that is actually quite funny and was probably not attended by Fox News. According to the Anti-Records website, "Tom has just one word for you to know about his upcoming Glitter and Doom... more
JazzFest Preview | Le Bon Temps Continue
JazzFest is in full swing and last week must have been some time with all of the amazing acts that flooded the Crescent City. We here at LMB wish we could be down in the warm, vibrant atmosphere but our moves and for me, lack of funds, have kept leisure... more
Atmosphere @ Metro, Chicago 4/22/08
Last Tuesday, backpack hip-hop duo Atmosphere kicked off their tour in support of When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold. The album dropped the same day that producer Anthony "Ant" Davis and MC Sean "Slug" Daley rolled into Chicago. An apt city for the group to start... more
JazzFest Preview | Le Bon Temps Roule
Anyone who's attended the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival can tell you that the fire on the bayou doesn't happen on the New Orleans Fair Grounds, it happens at the hundreds of jazz bars and clubs throughout one of America's most eccentric city. The late-night gigs are "where all... more
Thievery Corporation 2008 Summer Tour | Big City Dates, Big Time Openers
As a DC native it's always nice to see bands from the nation's capital making news. The internationally renowned Thievery Corporation is the musical venture of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, born out of the creative incubator that is the Eighteenth Street Lounge (my all-time favorite bar). The Thievery Corporation will... more
The Infamous Stringdusters 4/6/08 | Old Town Folk Music School, Chicago
Photo by Simon Tacchi A few years back, I was lucky to have been present more than a handful of times at the Cantab Lounge's Bluegrass Pickin' Party in Cambridge, MA. The weekly jam session featured some really solid musicians from the Berklee School of Music, one of which was... more
Widespread Panic | Auditorium Theater, Chicago – 04/13/08
The other weekend was definitely a "Georgia" themed few days; I watched almost the entirety of the Masters and caught the final night of Widespread Panic's three night run at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago. The only things missing were my crokies, short khaki shorts and a college hat. All... more
My Morning Jacket and The Black Keys take on Red Rocks
MMJ is returning to the Red Rocks Amphitheater this summer and they're bringing The Black Keys with them in what should be an amazing experience. I saw them open for Dylan at Red Rocks the last time they ran through Colorado, and even though they were limited to the 35... more
A Call to Action | HeadCount Documentary
In a piece we posted last week about the live music community's activism and charity, we mentioned the non-partisan not-for-profit, HeadCount, that works to register new voters and educate live music fans about the importance of voting. The organization, in collaboration with Concerts4Charity, Inc., has released a documentary on iClips... more
Live Music and Charity
For many of the touring bands that we cover here at Live Music Blog, the fan base is more of a community of people rather than a collection of individuals simply having an interest in common. It was extremely evident this weekend when we posted a commemoration of Phish’s Island... more
Dirty Projectors & No Kids | Subterranean, Chicago, 4/3/08
Dirty Projectors When a band can leave all of its pretentiousness aside and play a really humble show, it pulls down a wall between the crowd and the band. When two bands do it in the same night, you know you've seen a really good concert. I was lucky to see... more
STS9 and Umphrey’s | Dual Summer Bill
Known to throw together a festival and/or tour with the Disco Biscuits, Umphrey's McGee is joining another heavy hitter this summer on a dual bill. STS9 will be teaming up with Chicago's prog-rock jamband for 16 dates in the midwest and along the east coast throughout the month of... more
Team Band | Beat Kitchen, Chicago 3.27.08
Team Band - Team Band Anthem (Live) [mp3] Seeing a Team Band show is a participatory experience that is both a pep rally and a book club discussion. It’s as if Team Band is the new Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew, forever trapped in the blogosphere and doomed to watch YouTube... more
Explosions in the Sky | Live in St. Louis 3.29.08
I am always hesitant to venture out to those medium-size concert venues with a bar in the back -- like Metro, Aragon, Riv, Vic, etc. -- while in Chicago, if only because it seems like a production to me. There are always too many lights, too many drunken yuppies and... more
M.I.A. & Holy Fuck | Spring Tour Dates, Together!
A few months ago, the esteemed Justin Ward and myself were able to catch a really nice Holy Fuck show at Schubas here in Chicago. Now it seems like I may be able to see these guys once more before the summer. Toronto's electro-rockers are teaming up with the amazingly... more
Starscape Festival 2008 | Initial Artist Announcement
The Baltimore-based Starscape Festival has announced its preliminary list of artists for the annual all-night dance party, set for June 7th. As they did last year, the Disco Biscuits will be headlining the festival. After last year's throwdown, I think it's a very solid choice. Starscape is unlike most festivals for... more
Lotus Remix Project | Copy/Paste/Repeat
In my mind, one of the best things about a live concert is the connection between the musicians and the fans that occurs through this medium. The crowd becomes a part of the equation by adding their own energy and anticipation to the music. This relationship can elevate the atmosphere... more
The New Deal | 3/7/08 at Logan Square Aud. in Chicago
After a bit of a touring hiatus, the New Deal made their return to Chicago last Friday night. It had been almost two years since they played Chicago’s Logan Square Auditorium and the last time was a throw-down, from what I’ve heard. The last time I saw the New Deal... more
My Morning Jacket Previews New Album Material
Last night, My Morning Jacket opened up the Evil Urges vault on the lucky fans in Houston, playing the title track and "Aluminum Park" from their much-anticipated new album (Evil Urges - on ATO). It seems as though after a brief absence, the best live band on Earth(?) is returning... more
Pitchfork Music Festival | 2008 Initial Lineup
Pitchfork Media announced the first round of artists for its Chicago-based music festival that takes place July 18th - 20th. Dubbed as an "annual right of indie passage," the Pitchfork Music Festival always brings some very solid independent music acts to the streets of Chicago. This year is no different... more
SXSW 2008 | If I were going…
Though all of us are not attending (myself included) said "indie-rocker wet dream of a music festival" some, all, or most of us here at LMB are going to let you know about some bands that are must sees, showcases to get yourself to, and pretty much how not blow... more
Crystal Castles, HEALTH | Abbey Pub, Chicago – 2.27.08
Two relatively new and definitely up-and-coming bands played Chicago’s Abbey Pub last Wednesday night to a raucous crowd. I was one of the lucky souls to have attended the musical mayhem that ranged from unrelenting noise-rock to poppy house. Los Angeles’ HEALTH worked the crowd first and was followed... more
Mannequin Men @ Ronny’s, Chicago 2.23.08
I heard the Mannequin Men were a very drunk and very loud band that liked to drink and play their instruments loud. I also heard the band’s live show described as drunk and loud. For everyone who is as bored as I am with the obvious adjectives, here’s a new... more
All Points West ~ Initial Line-up
The rumors started flying a few weeks ago that Radiohead would be headlining Goldenvoice festival taking place right outside Manhattan. The tips turned out to be extremely true; Radiohead plans on turning the lights off for the All Points West Music & Arts Festival on both Friday and Saturday nights.... more
AmpLive – Rainyday Remixes
As with most of the music community, we here at LMB are anxiously waiting for the remainder of Radiohead's tour to be scheduled. Our own Whitperson showed that there are still a number of wonderful US cities that are still without confirmed dates, including Chicago (ahem, cough, cough...Lollapalooza). ... more
STS9 at Congress Theater, Chicago 2.1.08
STS9 blew into Chicago last Friday night on the tail of the city's biggest storm of the winter and at the end of their own tour that crossed northwestern two thirds of the country. Chicago was definitely the biggest media market hit on a two-month tour that was accompanied by... more
