How's My Living? » musikanto

This Week in Great Music: 8/29 – 9/4

Sarah — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:20:39 +0000

Hello, last days of August.

I won’t be around, but I highly recommend seeing In Tall Buildings on Thursday, The Square Affair on Friday, and Save the Clocktower on Saturday. Three days of solid shows by local bands. What isn’t to love?

Also, don’t forget that the North Coast Music Festival is going on this weekend, the 2nd to the 4th, in Union Park. Three day passes are sold out, but single day tickets are still available.

Monday, August 29
Peter Bjorn and John, The Rhunes; Schubas. 9 pm, sold out

Tuesday, August 30
The Weepies; Park West. 7:30 pm, $20

Wednesday, August 31
Josh and the Empty Pockets, Band Called Catch, Briar Rabbit, Snow ‘n Charm; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $8
Jim Ward, The Lusitania; Schubas. 9 pm, $12

Thursday, September 1
In Tall Buildings, Speck Mountain, Gaberdine; Hideout. 9 pm, $8

Friday, September 2
The Square Affair, ft. The Shams Band, Chaperone, Go Long Mule, Musikanto, Johnny Rumble; Logan Square Auditorium. 7:30 pm, $7-10
Psalm One; Hideout. 10 pm, $12

Saturday, September 3
Guster, Jack’s Mannequin; Ravinia. 7:30 pm, $22-60
Save the Clocktower, Brontosaurus, When Clouds Attack, City States; Beat Kitchen. 9:30 pm, $8

Sunday, September 4
Meh.

This Week in Great Music: 7/25 – 7/31

Sarah — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:22:40 +0000

It looks like the heat wave has snapped (for now), so maybe it’s time for me to come out of hibernation. I’m planning on checking out Cass McCombs at Schubas tomorrow night, and there are a few weekend shows that look mighty tempting.

Monday, July 25
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Rachel Ries; Millennium Park. 6:30 pm, free
The Decemberists, The Head and the Heart; the Aragon. 7:30 pm, $30
Cass McCombs, Lower Dens; Hideout. 9 pm, $15

Tuesday, July 26
Cass McCombs, Lower Dens; Schubas. 8 pm, $15
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists; Fireside Bowl (2646-48 W Fullerton). 8 pm, $10

Wednesday, July 27
Little Tybee, Good Evening; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $8

Thursday, July 28
Shawn Mullins; SPACE. 8 pm, $24-40
Ben Ripani, The Down Feathers, Jackie Myers Band, Brett Randell and Kole; Martyrs. 8 pm, $8
Band of Heathens, Musikanto; Schubas. 9 pm, $10

Friday, July 29
Heartless Bastards; Schubas. 7:30 pm, $15
Chris Smither; SPACE. 8 pm, $22-34
William Elliott Whitmore, Cloudbirds; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $15

Saturday, July 30
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Lou Pride; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-22
The Flat Five, ft. Kelly Hogan, Nora O’Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough and Alex Hall; Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 pm, $15
Death Ships, Like Pioneers, Blasted Diplomats; Schubas. 10 pm, $8

Sunday, July 31
Danielia Cotton, Jeffrey David; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-22

This Weekend’s Summer Festivals

Sarah — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:27:33 +0000

This weekend’s summer festival pick is Wicker Park’s Green Music Fest.

Green Music Fest, Saturday and Sunday
The festival in Wicker Park (North and Damen) aims to feature “environmentally-friendly vendors, services and cutting edge music”. They definitely follow through on their pledge to be green, with food vendors being asked to use compostable materials in lieu of plastic bottles/cups and styrofoam, and are using biodiesel generators to provide power at the site. The music line-up is strong, too. On Saturday, check out Secret Colours (3 pm), The Life and Times (5:45 pm) and Yo La Tengo (8:30 pm) at the South Stage. On Sunday, check out Soft Speaker (4:15 pm) and The Thermals (7 pm) at the South Stage, and Musikanto (3 pm) and Les Savy Fav (8:30 pm) at the North Stage. Admission is $5.

This Weekend’s Summer Festivals

Sarah — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:21:40 +0000

Summer in Chicago means that weekend street festivals will be popping up all over the city. Some are more worth your time than others. Here are my highlights for this weekend.

Chicago Blues Fest, Friday through Sunday
Blues Fest is a free event in downtown’s Grant Park, featuring three days of blues and food. Highlights include the Sanctified Grumblers on Friday (4:45 pm at the Pepsi Front Porch stage), Saturday’s tribue to Pinetop Perkins (4:45 pm at the Pepsi Front Porch stage), and Shemekia Copeland on Sunday (6:00 pm at the Petrillo Music Shell).

Ribfest, Friday through Sunday
Ribfest kicks off this weekend in the Northcenter area, at Lincoln and Irving Park. You go for the ribs, I’ll go for the music. Highlights include sets on Friday by My Gold Mask (7:00 pm) and Jukebox the Ghost (9:00 pm) at the south stage, and The Legendary Shack Shakers (7:45 pm) at the north stage. Sunday includes sets from Pinto and the Bean (1:30), Bailiff (4:00), The Ettes (6:30) and Tapes ‘n Tapes (9:00) at the south stage.

Old Town Art Fair, Saturday and Sunday
The Old Town area (Lincoln and Wisconsin) welcomes the art fair this weekend, featuring booths from over 200 artists of all mediums. In addition to food and art, check out the music stage at Orleans and Wisconsin for sets from acts including Musikanto (2:00 pm Saturday), Sanctified Grumblers (12:30 pm Sunday), and Cloudbirds (5:00 pm Sunday). Admission is a suggested $7 donation.

Andersonville Midsommarfest, Saturday and Sunday
Get in touch with your inner Swede and head up to Andersonville at Clark and Foster for the annual Midsommarfest. The big highlight for me of the festival is a set by Robbie Fulks and Nora O’Connor on Sunday at 8:00 on the Sommerdale stage. Admission is $5.

This Week in Great Music: 1/3 – 1/9

Sarah — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:08:34 +0000

Looks like the music scene is still recovering from NYE celebrations, too.

I’ll be seeing Charlotte Martin on Sunday. I missed her the last time she was in town, so I’m glad to be able to finally see her live.

Monday, January 3
Robbie Fulks, Don Stiernberg; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, January 4
Meh

Wednesday, January 5
Kevin O’Donnell’s Epiphany Spectacular; Martyrs. 8 pm, $8

Thursday, January 6
Buddy Guy, Guy King; Buddy Guy’s Legends. 9 pm, $50

Friday, January 7
Weezer, the Aragon; 7:30 pm, sold out
The Flat Five, ft. Nora O’Connor, Kelly Hogan, Scott Ligon, KC McDonough, and Alex Hall; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-20
Buddy Guy, Lubriphonic; Buddy Guy’s Legends. 9 pm, sold out
Amel Larrieux; The Shrine (2109 S Wabash). 9 pm, $30

Saturday, January 8
Weezer, the Aragon; 7:30 pm, sold out
Pieta Brown, Musikanto; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-20
Jeffrey David, Ashley Martin, Sunfallen, Tangle Wood; Double Door. 9 pm, $5-8
Buddy Guy, Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues; Buddy Guy’s Legends. 9:30 pm, sold out

Sunday, January 9
Buddy Guy, John Primer; Buddy Guy’s Legends. 7:30 pm, $50
Charlotte Martin; Schubas. 8 pm, $17-20

Free Download: Grape Juice Records’ Friends and Family II

Sarah — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 16:36:03 +0000

Local record label Grape Juice Records is spreading the holiday cheer with a free compilation, available for download now on their Bandcamp page. The label, which represents local artists including The Minneapolis Henrys, Curtis Evans, and Eric Swanson, is also socially conscious, donating a portion of proceeds to charities chosen by the bands. The compilation, Friends and Family II, includes artists represented by the label, as well as other Chicago artists who have worked with Grape Juice over the past year.

Check it out, it’s a great sounding compilation and a way to be introduced to a pretty talented crop of Chicago singer-songwriters. My personal favorites on here include the tracks from Jon Drake & the Shakes, Rachele Eve, Musikanto, and The Shams Band.

Jon Drake & The Shakes – Margie
Julie Meckler – Deportation Blues
Will Phalen – Candycane Mountain In My Mind
Rachele Eve – Pronouncing Logic
Musikanto – To See You One More Time
Rambos – USA
Curtis Evans & Our Friend Electric – Mark of the Beast
Derek Nelson & The Musicians – Come and Wait
No Ordinary Oswald – 40 Watt Womb
The Minneapolis Henrys – Where My Mind’s Been (2006 unreleased)
The Shams Band – In The Sun

This Week in Great Music: 6/21 – 6/27

Sarah — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:24:38 +0000

Taste of Chicago kicks off this week. I forsee myself completely undoing my attempts to eat healthy. Thanks a lot, Chicago.

Monday, June 21
Dosh; Millennium Park. 12 pm, free
Robbie Fulks, Eric Noden; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
The Books, Via Tania; Millennium Park. 7:30 pm, free
Sally Seltmann; Schubas. 8 pm, $10
Max Weinberg Big Band; SPACE. 8 pm, $30-62

Tuesday, June 22
Jace Everett, Tiffany Streitelmeier; Martyrs. 8 pm, $8

Wednesday, June 23
Mucca Pazza, Canasta; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $12
Amy Cook, Susan Voelz, Benyaro; Schubas, 9 pm, $8-10

Thursday, June 24
Southeast Engine, The Daredevil Christopher Wright, New Ruins; Schubas. 9 pm, $8-10

Friday, June 25
Ditchweed Diesel, Derek Nelson, Will Phalen & the Stereo Addicts, The Shams Band, Jon Drake & the Shakes, the Lost Cartographers; Taste of Chicago (Illinois Lottery Taste Stage). Beginning at 12 pm, free.
Sonny Landreth, Paul Cebar; SPACE. 8 pm, sold out
Mason Jennings, Sahara Smith, Colin Gilmore; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $20

Saturday, June 26
Jim Kweskin and Geoff Muldaur, Bare Hand Jug Band; Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 pm, $24-28
Mason Jennings, Sahara Smith, Musikanto; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $20

Sunday, June 27
A Day in the Country, including Sarah and the Tall Boys, Jane Baxter Miller, The Lawrence Peters Outfit, Katie Belle and The Paramount Boys, Hayward, more; Hideout. Beginning at 2 pm, $10
Paula Cole; SPACE. 8 pm, $30-46
Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps, Fang Island, Maps and Atlases, David Bazan, Cloud Cult; Green Music Fest (Chicago & Ashland). Beginning at 2:45 pm, $5 suggested donation

This Week in Great Music: 5/31 – 6/6

Sarah — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:32:06 +0000

Is this week taking a vacation? It sure looks like it. I wish I could take a vacation.

Monday, May 31
Girls Rock! Chicago: Ladies Rock Camp; Schubas. 6 pm, $6
Hum, Volcano!; Millennium Park. 6:30, free
Broken Bells, The Morning Benders; the Vic. 7:30 pm, sold out

Tuesday, June 1
Wow, nothing.

Wednesday, June 2
Erykah Badu, N.E.R.D., Janelle Monae; Chicago Theatre. 7:30 pm, $49.50-69.50
Evelyn Evelyn (with Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley, and Sxip Shirey); Park West. 7:30 pm, $22.50

Thursday, June 3
Antibalas, The Very Best; Millennium Park. 6:30 pm, free
Erykah Badu, N.E.R.D., Janelle Monae; Chicago Theatre. 7:30 pm, $49.50-69.50
Tortoise, D. Rider; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $20

Friday, June 4
Jewel, Kip Moore; the Vic. 8 pm, $50.50
The Good Life, Brighton MA, Quieting Syrup; Subterranean. 9:30 pm, $12
Iris DeMent; SPACE. 10 pm, sold out

Saturday, June 5
Julia Nunes; Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $15-18
Joe Firstman, Josh Hoge, Marianne Keith; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-22
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Musikanto; Subterranean. 9 pm, $15
Mathien, C.A.R.M.A., Green Sugar, How Far To Austin; House of Blues. 9 pm, $10-15
Zach Pietrini and the Broken Bones, Venna, Carl Hauck, Tricia Scully; Goose Island Wrigleyville (3535 N Clark). 9 pm, $8

Sunday, June 6
Nothing

This Week in Great Music: 5/17 – 5/23

Sarah — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:54:28 +0000

Why hello there, quiet week.

No concert activity going on for me, unless I wind up feeling adventurous later in the week. Wednesday and Thursday, Conan O’Brien stops by the Chicago Theater for some futimes. Maybe if you sell a kidney on Craigslist, you can get a ticket.

Monday, May 17
Robbie Fulks, Jim DeWan; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
Patrick Watson, McKensie Toma; Schubas. 8 pm, $15

Tuesday, May 18
Them Crooked Vultures; the Aragon. 7 pm, sold out

Wednesday, May 19
Alexisonfire; Lincoln Hall. 6:30 pm, $15
Alberta Cross, 22-20s; Schubas. 7 pm, $14
Mike Mangione and the Union; Todd Kessler and the New Folk; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-18

Thursday, May 20
Metric, Bear in Heaven; the Vic. 7:30 pm, $24
Suzy Bogguss, Heather Lynne Horton; SPACE. 8 pm, $20-32.50
Dan Bern, Musikanto; Martyrs. 8 pm, $20
Jessica Lea Mayfield, Dexateens, Futurebirds; Schubas. 8 pm, $12

Friday, May 21
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Heavy; the Vic. 8 pm, $23-25
Willy Porter, Justin Roth; SPACE. 8 pm, $22-35
JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, Blah Blah Blah, Hollows, Lasers and Fast and Shit; Metro. 9 pm, $10
Helen Money, Susan Voelz, Peg Simone; Hideout. 9:30 pm, $8
Voxtrot; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Saturday, May 22
Diane Birch; Park West. 8 pm, $20
Paul Van Dyk, Paul Oakenfold; Congress Theater. 8 pm, $32.50
Chicago Clarinet Conglomerate; the Velvet Lounge (67 E Cermak). 9:30 pm, cover varies
Mono, the Twilight Sad; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Sunday, May 23
Five for Fighting; SPACE. 2 pm, sold out
Imogen Heap, Geese; the Riviera. 7:30 pm, $25