The most recent addition to the Thick Records family, The Brokedowns, will be out at Subterranean tonight, spinning tracks from their upcoming May release, entitled New Brains For Everyone. Also joining them are label-mates and Chicago punk staples The Arrivals who will be previewing new tracks from their upcoming release on Recess Records.

The Brokedowns turned a lot of heads with their debut LP, These Colors Don't Run! (The Musical), and Double Time Feel is anxiously awaiting this new record. They went back into the studio again with engineer Nick Kraska at Electrical Audio and RecStudios, so rest assured that The Brokedowns will be back with another raucous, ear splitting release.

Don't take my word for it, though, head to Subterranean tonight from 9pm-2am and listen for yourself. You'll be hearing a lot from The Brokedowns in years to come, so you might as well get on the bandwagon early.

It's a question we all ask ourselves and our friends, perhaps more often than we'd like to admit:

"What the hell is going on this weekend?"

Luckily, Double Time Feel has got the answer for you, at least for this weekend. In fact, we've asked members from 2 local bands to give you a heads up on some great shows taking place on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. This is a chance to show your friends that this weekend, you are on top of the game and callin' the shots.

Friday, 10:00 PM
The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia)
The Narrator plays their record release show for All That To the Wall, now available on Flameshovel Records. If you are into the moodier, spazzy sounds of indie rock, this set is not to be missed. Also, opening the show will be Tight Phantomz, another band that everyone needs to see at least once in their lifetime. It's loud, it's proud, and it's pure rock and roll in every sense of the word. When the bands are done, there will also be a DJ set by members of Chicago's own Mannequin Men.

I had the chance to ask The Narrator's Jesse Woghin some quick questions about the show, booze, and dancing... here's how it went down:

DTF: What can we expect from your performance?
Jesse: Full-album streams, girlish screams and realizations of childhood dreams.

DTF: If I bought a round of shots for the band before your set (based on your recommendation), what would you pick for each member?
Jesse: James: Whisky
Jesse: Whisky / Tequila
Kevin: Tequila / Rum
Sam: Whisky
We are easy to please when it comes to booze, but are not too punk for the top-shelf. Or the middle one. We're maybe not punk enough for the rail, though.

DTF: What do you enjoy about playing music in Chicago?
Jesse: Lot of great venues with friendly folks working at them and a lot of great bands to rage the stage with.

DTF: Which member of the band is going to tear up the dance floor the most during the Mannequin Men DJ set?
Jesse: Probably James. He's got moves like Freddy Mercury. I might give him a run for his money, though. Go on. Take the money and run. Whoo hoo hoo.

DTF: Why should I come to your show?
Jesse: Dude. It's my fucking birthday. C'mon.

'nuff said!

Saturday, 3:00 PM
Hyde Park Art Center ( 5020 S. Cornell Avenue)
Locks is a duo consisting of Theo Katsaounis and Patrick Scott, although if you were to watch their set with your eyes closed, you'd swear there were at least 4 people on stage. Their experimental sound is full of surprises around every corner, and no one composition sounds like the next. In fact, each song can be a journey through a multitude of styles ranging from a electronically altered vocal loop layered over jangly rhythms, only to stop on a dime to present a bombastic drum fill with crushing guitar riffs. For this show, Locks will be joined by vocalist Carol Genetti in what is sure to be a set you won't want to miss.

In the spirit of letting the musicians speak for themselves, I asked Katsaounis and Scott similar questions about their show (and, of course, some having nothing to do with anything).

DTF: What can we expect from your performance?
Theo: Two dudes running with it as far as we can. Then when we've gone as far as our little saucers took us, we'd come back and say that 'we went there'.
Patrick: Exactly what Theo said, but with the all powerful Carol Genetti alternately shaking her head in bewilderment that we're really this ridiculous and showing us up.

DTF: What instrument best represents your personality?
Theo: The melodica. Why? Because it sounds like a harmonica, but isn't quite a harmonica. I sound like a musician, but am not quite a musician, and I have no personality.
Patrick: The sandwich, because it's a bunch of stuff all crammed together that probably wouldn't be that great on it's own but in it's unified form has made eating pretty spectacular for the past 4,000,000 years.

DTF: What do you enjoy about playing music in Chicago?
Theo + Patrick: Making our friends think they have to enjoy us by guilt trippin' them into coming to our shows. How can you not enjoy that?!!

DTF: In 5 words or less, explain how you feel about Paris Hilton doin' hard time.
Theo: Is this her sequel? (ed. note... LOL)
Patrick: I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, and that makes me very very happy.

DTF: Why should I come to your show?
Theo: Scene points baby!!!
Patrick: Because LORDI isn't playing until August.

So there you have it... scene points to be awarded on Saturday for your attendance... this makes the show pretty much mandatory.

The folks over at Chicago Tourfilter are doing some great work that deserves recognition. The idea behind the site is something that I had once attempted to put together, but failed miserably. In a nutshell, its a pretty comprehensive list of upcoming shows at just about every Chicago venue worth mentioning. You can search for bands using a pretty slick user interface (w00t AJAX), and even register for an account where you can type in band names you would like to stay informed about. When the Tourfilter database picks up that band coming to town, you get a nice email reminder telling you the details of the show. I created an account last week and put in a few bands, and everything worked swimmingly. Now, you have no excuse to claim ''I didn't know!' when your favorite band comes to town. Check it out!

Last Friday, Chicago Public Radio's Radio M host Tony Sarabia interviewed 2/3 of The Eternals for the first hour of the show, and then played a variety of songs chosen by vocalist Damon Locks and bass player Wayne Montana. If you haven't heard The Eternals yet, you really don't know what you are missing.

Check out the interview here for an interesting perspective on how music from all over the globe inspires what The Eternals do.

AACM founding member/Velvet Lounge owner Fred Anderson teams up with percussionist Hamid Drake for back to back performances at the Stop Smiling Headquarters in Wicker Park (tonight), and tomorrow evening at the Velvet Lounge. The duo released an album on April 24th entitled From the River to the Ocean to much critical acclaim, and have further etched their legacy of musicianship and talent to the Chicago Jazz scene. They will be joined by Josh Abrams, Jeff Parker (of local heroes Tortoise), and Harrison Bankhead, all of whom contributed to the latest record.

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 play a free show tonight at the Pritzker Pavillion, located in Millennium Park. Seun is the youngest son of Nigeria's own Fela Kuti, arguably one of the most revolutionary musicians of the 20th century. Egypt 80 was Fela's backing band, and is now fronted by Seun. They helped forge the style of music known as afrobeat, and influenced countless musicians from James Brown to Brian Eno. According to Seun Kuti's myspace page, here is what you can expect from their live show:

It is hard to imagine that the leader, able to emulate his father’s songs and style with such grace, is a mere 24 years old and his sister, Motunrayo Kuti, still one of the most vibrant dancers on stage. Bearing his Dad’s looks, Seun is a great saxophonist, an activist and groovewriter. He promises a serious funk mix of new album material and Fela classics which won’t let you stand still. The band is a power-house of explosive dance grooves, the hookiest basslines, big spectacle and politicised energy. Much of the magic of their live shows derives from the energetic exchange between at least 18 musicians and dancers. It's a full-on, funk-happy sound that'll take you to the edge and back

The show begins at 6:30pm. Be certain to bring your best dance moves.

In case you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you may have missed the news that the sold-out Pitchfork Festival begins tonight at 6:30pm at Union Park in Chicago. I said a few days ago that I'd offer some analysis, but in light of the fact that I'm quite short on time, coupled with the fact that if you have tickets... there is a pretty good chance you already know who you want to see. Most of the acts, perhaps with the exception of Sonic Youth, GZA, Yoko Ono, and De La Soul, are right on the cusp of establishing a stronghold in the world of indie music, and some may end up with some mainstream notoriety in the months/years to come. Regardless, there is a lot of talent in this year's lineup, and includes Chicago acts Califone, The Sea and Cake, The Ponys, Ken Vandermark's Powerhouse Sound, and Fred Lonberg-Holm.

Gapers Block has a nice breakdown of each group performing this weekend in their Transmission section.

EMusic is running a sampler of songs from some of the bands as well.

Those who don't have tickets can probably find them on craigslist, or probably even hang out near Union Park to find your hookup. If worse comes to worse, you can just chill outside of the festival grounds and take a listen as well.

Here is the lineup for the weekend. Be sure to bring your sunscreen!

Friday, July 13 (in conjunction with ATP/Don't Look Back):

5:00 Union Park opens

Connector Stage
6:30 Slint perform Spiderland

Aluminum Stage
7:45 GZA performs Liquid Swords
9:00 Sonic Youth perform Daydream Nation

Saturday, July 14:

NOON Union Park opens

Connector Stage
1:00 The Twilight Sad
2:00 Voxtrot
4:00 Battles
6:00 Mastodon
8:00 Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues

Aluminum Stage
1:30 Califone
3:00 Grizzly Bear
5:00 Iron and Wine
7:00 Clipse
9:00 Yoko Ono (with special guests)

Balance Stage
1:00 Ken Vandermark's Powerhouse Sound
2:00 William Parker Quartet
3:10 Beach House
4:10 Fujiya & Miyagi
5:15 Professor Murder
6:15 Oxford Collapse
7:15 Dan Deacon
8:30 Girl Talk

Sunday, July 15:

NOON Union Park opens

Connector Stage
1:00 Deerhunter
2:00 Menomena
4:00 The Sea and Cake
6:00 Stephen Malkmus
8:00 The New Pornographers

Aluminum Stage
1:30 The Ponys
3:00 Junior Boys
5:00 Jamie Lidell
7:00 Of Montreal
9:00 De La Soul

Balance Stage
1:00 Fred Lonberg-Holm's Lightbox Orchestra
2:00 Brightblack Morning Light
3:10 Nomo
4:10 Craig Taborn's Junk Magic
5:15 The Cool Kids
6:15 Cadence Weapon
7:15 The Field
8:30 Klaxons

That's right folks, the first ever Double Time Feel EXCLUSIVE!. Nowhere else on the int0rw3bs can you get the inside scoop on this record, one that will undoubtedly be turning heads in 2007. Go ahead, tell all of your friends to come listen to their new favorite Chicago band, Mt St Helens.

Mt St Helens are no strangers to Chicago, having played their first show at the sort-of-defunct-but-not-really Fireside Bowl (feel free to follow along using the awesome timeline on their site). In the 9 1/2 years since that show, the band has released a few 7''s and 2 outstanding LPs (check out Ontime Always on Arborvitae Records and You Are A Ghostly Presence on Divot Records). Their sound has evolved over time and has incorporated elements familiar to the post-punk movement, yet they stand above their peers in their ability to uniquely venture out on their own.

Of Others will be released on August 31 at the Beat Kitchen on the up and coming Two Thumbs Down Records (run by Steve Reidell of May or May Not, and 1/2 of the Hood Internet phenomenon). Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive the record, which should be rolling off the presses as I write. If you have seen Mt St Helens live over the past year or so, you have undoubtedly heard most, if not all of these songs already. Upon first listen from beginning to end, it didn't take long to conclude that the band put great effort into this release, and you can hear it resonate throughout the record. I have always regarded Mt St Helens to be the most criminally underrated band in Chicago, and Of Others should be the record to help them shed such an undeserving label.

The record begins with 'Time of Low Volume', where an effected guitar loop gives way to a 3/4 time beat that provides a solid foundation for the rest of the track. There are a few transitions throughout the song that exemplify the band's maturing knack for songwriting. The record moves directly into 'Want Out', perhaps the band's most pop-driven song to date. Similar to predecessors such as Jawbox or Unwound, Mt St Helens have added their two cents to the book on 'angular' hooks, and 'Want Out' showcases the notion that pop-oriented jams do not necessarily equate to uninspiring, radio-friendly drivel (as any seasoned punk rocker would tell you).

'Omission' is one of my favorite tracks on the record, and it begins with an unassuming, repetitive guitar line, and then the rhythm section drops in to really get the song moving. Bassist Jason Sprague sounds as if he's plugged in to a power transformer at ComEd, reminiscent of the ominous, pulsing hum of electricity moving across power lines of some barren industrial complex. Its an effect that is scattered throughout the record and achieves some truly dark overtones. Peter Hook, eat your heart out.

The middle of the record, in my humble opinon, really showcases the talent of drummer Ben Geier. Those who are familiar with the Mt St Helens catalog know that the drumming reaches some critically intense levels. While I am always one to appreciate the intricacies of drumming, this is more about what Geier doesn't say with his percussive prowess. In the case of this record, he knows exactly when to make a statement and when to let the song breathe. Look no further than 'City Of', where Geier's presence moves the song along at a methodically evil tempo.

The guitar duo of Quinn Goodwillie and Mike Sprague make their presence known throughout the record, and showcase their skills in opportune moments. Also thrown into the mix on this record is ex-guitarist-but-I'm-back-again, Matt Fast (also of Rollo Tomasi). Fast adds another dimension to the band in a time where the 3 guitar player lineup has all but been abandoned, but there is enough going on in these songs to make it all work flawlessly. The ascending/descending line in 'Strange Navigation' makes the hair on the back of neck stand on end every time I hear it, and it seamlessly moves back into the main theme of the song. They show flashes of guitar wizardry without being wanky, which demonstrates attention to the composition rather than ego. Another album highlight is 'Centicorn', a Jesus Lizard-esque song about a 100-horned unicorn (the band is not lacking in the sense of humor department, either). Equally as impressive are the vocals of Goodwillie on this record, which really stand out on this record above all previous releases.

The record ends with the brilliant 'Interruption', a song that I debated adding as an mp3 to the track listing below, but I'll save it so that you can buy the record for yourself and decide. The song represents the culmination of everything that makes this record one that you should not be without when it is released, and why Mt St Helens will not be flying under the radar for long.

here is the track list for Of Others:
1) Time of Low Volume
2) Want Out (myspace)
3) Omission (* doubletimefeel.com exclusive track!)
4) Massive Dosage (courtesy of Two Thumbs Down Records)
5) Seething is Believing
6) The Drink (myspace)
7) City Of
8) Strange Navigation
9) Centicorn
10) Interruption

9pm @ the Empty Bottle.

I have mentioned Locks before in previous articles, and just like that, here they are again. Patrick Scott and Theo Katsaounis will be releasing their new EP entitled Bad Words on the Static Station Records collective. I was made aware of these shows by some well-timed emails containing links to youtube videos that I found rather entertaining. Of course I'm gonna share:

They will be joined by Lichens (Rob Lowe, ex-90 Day Men bassist), Soft Circle (NYC), and High Places.

I still can't decide whether the fact R Kelly is from Chicago is a good thing or not. He seems to have such a devoted following among those one would least expect it from, and even then, his exploits seem more like a novelty than something people actually get into. I mean, is it really that funny that he allegedly pissed on an underage girl and is facing 14 criminal charges of child pornography? Any way you cut it, R Kelly has gained worldwide notoriety for his exploits, and his legend continues to grow.

That being said, his latest installment of Trapped In The Closet is downright hilarious. I first saw chapters 1-12 in November of 2005, and I was absolutely floored at the ridiculousness of it all. Once again, I couldn't decide if it was so bad that it was actually good, or if I truly missed the point of the epic hip h-opera. If you haven't seen it, I recommend checking it out by any means neccessary. Chapters 13-22 are being released via the Independent Film Channel's website, but don't watch them until you are caught up with the first twelve, or you may really find yourself scratching your head and wondering what the hell is going on.

I just wonder how many people actually take R Kelly seriously. I'm not passing judgement on those who do, but I'd be lying if I said I can take his body of work without a grain of salt. More importantly, how seriously does R Kelly view his own work? In my view, it seems the line has become so blurry between playing the jokester side of his Trapped in The Closet series and his attempts to be a legitimate musical icon in the world of Chicago hip-hop and R&B. I don't consider myself to be particularly knowledgeable in the world of modern hip-hop, and perhaps that fuels my indecision. Somebody... please enlighten me.

So, what are you doing this month? If your answer is anything less than

1) Playing a show on every Monday in September (thats 4 shows, count em!)

2) Releasing a record
3) Teaching a new drummer your entire set list
4) Hosting an art show
... then May or May Not has soundly whooped you. There are plenty of opportunities to get out this month and check out a band that deserves your attention, so here are the details.

Schubas has a really great Monday night residency program where one band is selected to host shows throughout the month, and September features this Two Thumbs Down Records artist. May or May Not play an intelligent brand of indie-pop music, similar to bands like Beulah, Belle and Sebastian, and Super Furry Animals, but with a slight twist of prog-esque moments that keep listeners on their toes. For my tastes, its a perfect combination that culminates in a fantastic new record, entitled A Kaleidoscope Of Egos, which very much took me by suprise. Not that I didn't think that MOMN was up to the task, as they have released one previous LP (Colors Only Bees Can See, 2005) and a fantastic EP (Bike, 2006), but this release really showcases the maturation process of a band that has found their collective voice, and the end result is a well crafted record that one can't help but want to listen to over and over again. For someone who doesn't exactly have an extreme fondness of indie-pop (that would be me), A Kaleidoscope Of Egos has quite simply won me over and shown that the right mix of pop sensibility and quirkiness can warm even the coldest metalhead heart. "I Get By" best highlights what I like most about the record. Download it here or check it out on their Myspace page, along with several others from the record. The album will officially be released at their final Schubas performance on September 24th.

In addition to the record, MOMN collaborated with friends/artists on creating artwork for each of their songs on the record, which will get its own showcase on September 14th. It's great to see that bands still care about the tangible/visual element of their efforts, given the current digital age where album art, liner notes, and the actual ownership of albums are often brushed aside to deal with more 'important' things like 'how may external hard drives do I need to store all of my pirated music?'

Yes, MOMN U DID THAT.

If Mucca Pazza was given a proportionate amount of guest list spots that "normal" bands receive, chances are they would outdraw 50% of shows happening in Chicago in any given week on a guest list alone. In other words, Mucca Pazza has a ridiculous amount of people in their band.

Make no mistake about it, Mucca Pazza, led by Mark Messing (who also plays a mean sousaphone), is not hurting when it comes to poor attendance at shows. However, they could always stand to make new fans, and for those who haven't seen this "astounding circus punk marching band", get your fanny over to The Hideout this weekend! You will have 4 chances to do so, starting tonight and running through Saturday evening.

Coupling the intimate nature of The Hideout with a boisterous horn ensemble, a rumbling percussion section, and you are asking for quite a memorable evening. I've had the pleasure of witnessing such a spectacle at the Hideout before, and believe me when I say it is totally worth the price of admission. Think of it like high school all over again, except now it's cool to be in marching band, its not halftime of a football game (your school was getting their asses kicked, anyways), and you don't need to pass that flask of Popov underneath the bleachers. Ok, maybe not....

For details, check the extended entry.

To see the wonder that is Mucca Pazza, check out the following video (yes, its really the Conan O'brien show).

The mighty Pitchfork posted a great video today from some festival they did this summer... you may have head of it. </sarcasm>

I missed Califone's performance, so I was excited to see that it was captured for the rest of the world to see. I did, however, catch them at West Fest, one of Chicago's many neighborhood block parties that occur throughout the summer. I really enjoy listening to Califone records, but the live experience is much more intense for a band that sounds so restrained on record. Their latest effort, Roots and Crowns, was released in 2006 and made its way into my top 10 records of the year. The song featured in this video is 'Pink and Sour', also featured on my Chicago mix (I really am quite the arbiter of taste). If you look closely, you'll notice the band is also joined by 2 members of the Bitter Tears, another great Chicago band that will have a doubletimefeel.com feature sooner or later (hint: trombone!).

If you don't listen to Sound Opinions on Chicago Public Radio ... well... you know what I'm going to say next. Regardless of your own personal tastes, its great to hear two critics (Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot) who are geniunely passionate about music, and their range of knowledge is quite staggering. In fact it borders on frightening. I've always been in awe of people who can rattle off facts, stories, and general minutiae about bands with the greatest of ease. Sure, most people can do it for a few of their favorites, but to listen to 2 humans sound like a virtual music catalog, and still add personality and charisma to the discussion is a real joy to hear.

Tonight, they are appearing at the Music Box Theatre in Lakeview for a special screening of Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten. When the film is over, they'll be doing a Q&A session for those in attendance. When the night is over, even if you are a huge fan of The Clash, you will most definitely leave more enlightened than when you walked in.

Forget about Black Friday... Black Wednesday is where all the action is. In what is considered one of the biggest nights to be out and about, this year keeps with the tradition of going out and doing everything in your power to wake up the next morning with a defeated liver, and then gorging yourself on Thanksgiving food.

Wouldn't you know, the Double Door is giving you chance to save a little money, or at least the opportunity to spend that cover charge at the bar. Yes, a free show with two Chicago heavyweights, Chinup Chinup and Catfish Haven. Chinup Chinup is fresh off a 2 week tour out West with one of the newer signings to Matador Records, The Ponys. Catfish Haven have been busy finishing up their follow up record to 2006's Tell Me, on Secretly Canadian Records. As an added bonus, Tight Phantomz frontman Mike Lust will join join Catfish Haven for this set, so expect some 6 string pyrotechnics.

Any way you look it, this show is the perfect beginning to your 4 day weekend. 2 great Chicago bands for free means more booze for you, and to wash it all down tomorrow with some football and turkey makes the Thanksgiving weekend sound even better.

Chinup Chinup:

Catfish Haven:

I have covered both Antelope and Watchers before, and it just so happens they will be playing together at the Empty Bottle tonight. This will be the last show for Watchers, so if you can make it out to catch them one last time, I highly recommend it.

Antelope is currently on another US tour in support of their latest full length, Reflector, which is shaping up to be one of my favorite records of 2007.

One of life's happy accidents has to involve stumbling into one of your favorite late night haunts and being completely blown away by a musical performance you originally had no intention of going to see (ok, maybe thats just me...). I knew the Hungry Brain had a jazz series on Sunday nights, but I have been completely missing out on them for one reason or another. Fortunately, I caught Peter Brötzmann on Sunday night, and I was so mesmerized by the show that I'm going to see him again at the Hideout tonight.

Brötzmann has been making his way around Chicago for the past week, playing with other Chicago jazz luminaries such as Michael Zerang, Ken Vandermark, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Kent Kessler, Tim Daisy, and Frank Rosaly and calling it the Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet. This has all been organized through the work of Umbrella Music, a group of Chicago musicians who are slowly but surely gathering talented musicians to perform at various venues around town, most notedly the Hideout Wednesday Immediate Sound Series. I'm not the biggest jazz freak in the world, but I will definitely be making more of a concerted effort to go check out what Umbrella Music has been contributing to the world of jazz music here in Chicago.

This is one hell of a weekend for music in Chicago. If you can't find a reason to get off the couch and see some great music, you should really check your pulse. Although we are already into the grips of another brutal Chicago winter, there are plenty of reasons to escape the cold and get to your favorite venue.

Russian Circles @ Double Door

The Double Door is having a free show tonight, featuring Chicago Instrumental Metal Phenoms, Russian Circles. They have been taking Chicago stages by storm for the past few years, and also have multiple national tours under their belt. They recently had the opportunity to travel across the pond to open for none other than Tool, which gave them exposure to an even larger audience, and now a new record label (Seattle based Suicide Squeeze). They will also be joined tonight by Seattle's These Arms Are Snakes, and Chicago natives Holy Roman Empire .

"Death Rides a Horse", Russian Circles:

Shellac Does The Hideout

Beginning tonight, Shellac is not playing just 1, but 6 shows at the Hideout this weekend. Could it get any better than that? To see Shellac in a setting such as the Hideout is a very rare occurrence, and you can bet those in attendance will be treated to some memorable moments. These shows are extra special for me because I actually have the honor of being in one of the opening bands participating in the weekend (Tight Phantomz, in case you didn't already know). To have the opportunity to play with a band that you have been listening to for so long and have such respect for is an amazing experience in itself. Here's the lineup for the weekend:

Thursday:
Shellac
The Bitter Tears

Friday:
Shellac
Tight Phantomz

Saturday (noon)
Shellac
Allroh

Saturday 12/15 (night)
Shellac
Bearclaw

Sunday 12/16 (noon)
Shellac
Helen Money

Sunday 12/16 9:00
Shellac
Quatre Tete

"Steady As She Goes", by Shellac:

Thrill Jockey 15th Anniversary @ Logan Square Auditorium

As if the previous two are not enough to keep you busy, legendary Chicago label Thrill Jockey will be hosting a 15th Anniversary party at the Logan Square Auditorium this Friday and Saturday. The bands have been announced for each day, but the set times will remain unannounced until the bands actually take the stage at their respective times. Thrill Jockey has been home to bands that cover virtually all of the musical spectrum, and this weekend promises not to disappoint. Many of the performances this weekend will be jam packed with some of Chicago's finest musicians, so check out the lineup and get there early in case your favorite ends up playing first!

Friday December 14th
Arbouretum
Brokeback
Bobby Conn
The Fiery Furnaces
Archer Prewitt
School of Language
The Sea and Cake
Thalia Zedek

Saturday December 15th
ADULT.
Fred Anderson Trio
Califone
Eleventh Dream Day
Frequency
Pit er Pat
Trans Am
The Zincs

The month of January is usually slow in terms of shows and touring bands, but certainly not slow enough to warrant an entire month of not updating my site. There were definitely some great shows that occurred during the month, but I could find neither the time nor the resources to document any of it (my camera decided to break on New Years Eve, not helping matters much). For such negligence, I apologize. I'll try to keep posting on the regular, and February is shaping up to be a great month for music in Chicago, starting off with tonight!

Pinebender shows are a lot like my recent posting habits. They just don't happen very often, which is unfortunate considering how great this band is to see live. The dense wall of sound they are able to create, as a trio and no bass player, is something to behold. There are lots of bands in Chicago who go to great lengths to expand the borders of music and push the envelope of creativity, which is obviously a vital element to any music scene. However, as good as that can be, I think sometimes people forget how great it is to see a band get up on stage to play inspiring, dynamic, ass-kicking rock music. Pinebender do this better than many bands here in Chicago, and their straightforward approach to writing riffs and melodic passages is such a breath of fresh air to me because they execute so well.

Check out the tunes on their myspace, or this video for "Broadcast All Your Dreams" from Pinebender's 2006 release, Working Nine To Wolf.

There haven't been many songs lately that I can incessantly listen to, but ever since I heard Hollywood Holt's "Throw a Kit", there are a few people who have endured my constant attempts at rapping, probably wishing I'd just STFU. Although my rap skills are somewhat lackluster, I can assure you that Hollywood Holt is one Chicago artist that can bring it, and you can count on hearing a lot more about him in the months and years to come.

To give you a point of reference as to how little I actually know about rap music today, I had no idea that the song is basically a cover of Rich Boy’s “Throw Some D’s”, but to be perfectly honest, I enjoy Holt's version much more than the original. I guess there is something about the culture of mopeds that I can relate to more than driving a Cadillac, but even that is a serious stretch considering I have never taken a ride in either.

Most live hip hop I have ever seen ends up being a serious disappointment. Perhaps its no fault to the artists themselves, but there is something that consistently does not translate from recordings to the stage. However, one night last summer/fall (my memory fails me lately) at the Hideout, I had the pleasure of watching Hollywood Holt perform, and the show ended up being one of the best live acts I saw last year. There is something geniune about his stage presence and delivery that I can really admire. Even though I was surrounded by tons of Chicago hipsters, which completely had me screaming "IRONIC!" in my head, you couldn't deny the energy felt by the entire room that night. Holt had the entire crowd moving along to his beats, a feat that very few artists can lay claim to these days.

Hollywood Holt takes the stage tonight at Darkroom, along with Yea Big & Kid Static, Meat Number 5, DJ Johnny Kesh, DJ Mikey Dance Panther, and DJ Trew. More info on Hollywood Holt and the show can be found over at Miles Raymer's great Sharp Darts column which appeared in the Chicago Reader yesterday. Before you head on over there, check out the video for "Throw A Kit" and tell me with a straight face that this song doesn't completely kick ass and you couldn't see yourself listening to it 10 times in a row (not that I have or anything....)

Whenever a new Clutch record showed up in the BMG catalogs I used to get, you could bet your ass I was going to buy it. Over the years, they have fallen in and out of my rotation, but most importantly, they remain an option in my musical library. I've owned plenty of of records in the time between my first Clutch purchase (S/T release, 1995) and my last (Pitchfork & Lost Needles, 2005), and many of them have ended up in used record shops or better yet, tools to land me one step closer to my lifelong dream of being an ultimate frisbee champion.

I keep my Clutch records around because I have nothing but respect for this Germantown, MD band. Formed in 1991, Clutch marches on to this day, and have shared the stage with so many great metal/punk/rock acts over the years, and have outlived many of their peers as well. What started as a gritty/post-punk sound has evolved into a a group that still remembers their roots, but favors a more rock and roll style. They have a little bit of everything that you can latch onto, which isn't always the best formula for my tastes, but how can you argue with the longevity and the body of work that Clutch has managed to compile? Check 'em out for yourself tomorrow night at The Metro.

If you ever attended the Fireside Bowl between 1994-2004, you have a story to tell. Hell, even the jerks who drove by and honked at/harassed a line of punk kids at some sold-out show probably have some funny anecdotes too. Anyways, this myspace site is requesting any story you would be willing to share about your experience at the Fireside. Check it out, and contribute!

Let's face it, metal is back. Maybe not on a grand scale, but it seems like the genre is getting a lot more attention these days. Perhaps its a response to the weak, post-punk/emo explosion of recent years that has spawned so many cookie-cutter acts and bad haircuts, but any way you cut it (oh thats bad, I know), you should come see what I mean tomorrow night at the Empty Bottle. Its rare to have a bill comprised entirely of bands I'm genuinely stoked to see, so come on out and see what I'm talking about.

Indian is a punishingly heavy band hailing from Chicago. They don't rely on blazing fast riffs or fancy fretboard work to get your attention, but rather they choose to bludgeon listeners into submission with slow, menacing songs. If that doesn't suit your fancy, then get your ass out of the kitchen (isn't that how the quote goes?) When they decide to turn the intensity up a bit, there is nothing like a tasteful blast beat anchoring pummeling riffs. For three dudes, these guys sure make a lot of noise. Bring your earplugs and a clean pair of Depends for this set.

Dead Child come from Louisville, KY, and bring quite an impressive resume with them (see: Brothers of Conquest, Shipping News, The For Carnation, Aerial M, Papa M, Tortoise, Early Man, Zwan, and Slint). Do I have your attention now? Good... well... just don't expect to hear anything close to resembling any of these acts. Dead Child remind me of a less technical Anthrax (not a knock to anyone's skill... they just arent quite as thrashy), with nods to other early metal acts like Motorhead and Sir Lord Baltimore. This is really an area that not many bands seem to pay homage to these days, and its great to hear a band like Dead Child offer their take on metal music.

Qualms are without question the least metal of the acts, but that absolutely does not take away from the intensity of their live show. I saw them a while back at the Beat Kitchen, opening for the Poison Arrows (petecroke.com feature coming soon!), and I was thoroughly impressed by what I heard. Qualms are definitely a new-er Chicago band that you need to watch out for. Their sound reminds me of early Don Caballero thrown in with the rhythmic sensibility of The Jesus Lizard (although there is no bass in this band, you'll hear what I mean).

I've mentioned Russian Circles here before, and today you can stream their entire record from spinner.com. Station is the highly anticipated follow up to their 2006 debut, Enter. I've had the chance to preview the record as well, and for those expecting a similar sounding record, prepare to alter those expectations before you sit down for a listen. Station shies away from the bombastic moments of its predecessor, but creates more jangly, soundscape-y type jams, which is by no means a negative. Drummer Dave Turncrantz really picks and chooses his moments to flex his percussive might, but even the lighter moments of the record are anchored by a tight rhythm section that help the songs flow from one idea to the next. The guitar work of Mike Sullivan is technically complex yet never comes off as sterile or gimmicky. Take a listen to 'Versus', the fourth song on the album, and you'll hear what I mean. I haven't listened to the record enough to make a definitive decision on just how this sophomore effort stacks up to the first record, but on its own, it absolutely makes for a record you should pick up and listen to... like today.

If you want to check them out live, come to the Russian Circles Record Release show at Subterranean this Saturday night. Milwaukee favorites Call Me Lightning open, and Tight Phantomz play second (yea, I know... shameless self promotion... so sue me).

So yeah, this news is sooooo 3 days ago but I haven't had the chance to sit down and write about it yet, but I feel its important enough to mention here. In case you haven't heard, the Chicago City Council had drafted an ordinance that was obviously not well thought out and would adversely affect many of the smaller venues and promoters here in town. Without rehashing the entire ordinance here, I encourage you to check out Jim Derogatis's article from the Chicago Sun Times.

While I don't disagree that the safety of patrons attending an event should always be a top priority, if the current ordinance were allowed to pass, the regulations imposed on smaller venues would be enough to shut them down, and leave us with way fewer options in terms of where we choose to hang out on a given night. Chicago thrives on the abundance of smaller, independent venues that don't have the bankroll or resources to withstand what the Council had proposed. Without getting up on my soapbox too much, it would seem that a dialogue between City Hall and the individuals/businesses who host such events would be a good start, but apparently that makes too much sense. However, the vote was postponed as of this past Tuesday, hopefully in response to the flurry of phonecalls and emails sent in by Chicago residents.

To learn more about where the ordinance is headed and to stay current, visit the following sites:

Chicago Music Commission
Chicago Artists Resource
Save Chicago Culture

... and to find your alderman and let him/her know how you feel on the issue:
find them here

If I could somehow figure out a way to enforce it, everyone I know would be required to hear the Shipping News record, Save Everything. Ever since my first listen, they've had a fan for life. The six songs contained on that record really hit me in a way that very few records have ever been able to do. The last time I saw them was at the Hideout Block Party in 2006, curated entirely by Touch and Go Records for their 25th Anniversary. Shipping News kicked off that amazing weekend, and I remember walking up to the stage just as they started into "Books on Trains", the opening track on Save Everything.

I don't know what the official status of the band is these days, but they are playing tonight at The Hideout with The Poison Arrows. They haven't released a proper record since 2005 and Chicago shows are very scarce, but regardless... seeing them live is an opportunity you shouldn't pass up, especially at a venue like The Hideout. In addition, here is a free mp3 the band is offering though the Touch and Go site.

This is a clip of Shipping News at the T&G 25th Anniversary, along with some interview footage of the band.

Fresh off the heels of their sophomore release Into the Trees, on Absoltely Kosher Records, Sybris has released a video for their first single, "Oh Man!" This song is catchy as all get out and qualifies as something you'd include on a great summer mixtape. The song also contains my favorite lyrics of 2008 (so far):

"Where'd you get those drugs, from a pusher? Where'd you get that pussy, from a hooker?"

Yes, Angela Mullenhour, you went there... and more power to you. Anyways, this video is one of the better music videos from a Chicago band that I've seen in quite some time, so lets get to it: