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This Week in Great Music: 4/11 – 4/17

Sarah — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:31:02 +0000

Just the other day, I was talking to someone who was asking about what’s next on my show calendar. I couldn’t remember anything pressing, and figured I had a good couple of weeks until something came up that I really wanted to see. And then I put together this week’s list, which has a whole bunch of shows on it that I want to see. Oops.

Monday, April 11
Robbie Fulks, Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
The Civil Wars, White Dress; Schubas. 8 pm, sold out

Tuesday, April 12
The Civil Wars, White Dress; Schubas. 8 pm, sold out

Wednesday, April 13
The Hot Club of Cowtown, The Hoyle Brothers; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $20
Skybombers, La Scala, The Bright White; Beat Kitchen. 8 pm, $10
Kim Richey, Jeff Libman; SPACE. 8 pm, $15-28

Thursday, April 14
The Greencards, Charlie Parr, Amanda Shires; Mayne Stage. 8:30 pm, $15
Anni Rossi, Daniel Knox, Rollin Hunt; Hideout. 9 pm, $8

Friday, April 15
Loudon Wainwright III, Kim Richey; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7 pm & 10 pm, $24-28
John Wesley Harding, Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $14
Jeff Tweedy; the Vic. 7:30 pm, $50
The Damnwells, Harper Blynn, Howard Jennings; SPACE. 8 pm, $15-26

Saturday, April 16
Jeff Tweedy; the Vic. 7:30 pm, sold out
Ha Ha Tonka, The Spring Standards, Jerome Holloway; Subterranean. 9 pm, $10
Cornmeal, The Giving Tree Band; House of Blues. 9 pm, $19-20
The Right Now, The Revelations ft. Trey Williams, Vertikal; Martyrs. 9:30 pm, $10

Sunday, April 17
KT Tunstall, Robert Francis, Miggs; Park West. 7:30 pm, $25

This Week in Great Music: 3/7 – 3/13

Sarah — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:10:38 +0000

There are a ridiculous amount of great shows on Friday and Saturday. I won’t be making it to any of them. You — yes, you — should go in my place.

Monday, March 7
Menomena; Empty Bottle. 6:30 pm, free with RSVP.
Kelly Hogan & Scott Ligon; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, March 8
The Chapin Sisters; Elbo Room. 8 pm, $7

Wednesday, March 9
Dan Bern, Edie Carey; SPACE. 8 pm, $18-20

Thursday, March 10
Portugal. The Man, Kellen and Me, The Soil and the Sun; Lincoln Hall. 7:30 pm, sold out
Esben and the Witch, Wise Blood, Family Band; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $10

Friday, March 11
Richard Shindell; SPACE. 7 pm, $18-30
Ari Hest; Schubas. 7 pm and 10:30 pm, $10
Cold War Kids, A Lull; the Riviera. 7:30 pm, $24
The Future Laureates, Kingsley Flood, How Far to Austin, Nelken; Mayne Stage. 8:30 pm, $10
The Get Up Kids, Miniature Tigers, Brian Bonz; Bottom Lounge. 9 pm, $22
Diplo, Willy Joy; The Mid. 10 pm, $22
Dick Prall, Rachele Eve; SPACE. 10 pm, $10-14
Maps and Atlases, Light Pollution, Gypsyblood; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Saturday, March 12
Sarah McLachlan, Butterfly Boucher, Melissa McClelland; Chicago Theatre. 7:30 pm, sold out
Loyal Divide, Derek Nelson and the Musicians, Nick Miller and the Neighbors, Bassel and the Supernaturals; Beat Kitchen. 8:30 pm, $10
The Get Up Kids, Miniature Tigers, Brian Bonz; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $22-26
Middle Brother, Dawes, Deer Tick; Metro. 9 pm, $19

Sunday, March 13
Orgone, The Right Now; Schubas. 8 pm, $10-12
Emilie Autumn; Metro. 8 pm, $21

This Week in Great Music: 1/31 – 2/6

Sarah — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:49:26 +0000

Friday and Saturday are full of great shows that have been awful to choose between. If only we could all split ourselves into multiples.

Monday, January 31
Todd Carey, Bascom Hill, The Heyday; Schubas. 8 pm, $6

Tuesday, February 1
Shelby Lynne, Derek Nelson; SPACE. 8 pm, $27-40
Scott Lucas and the Married Men, Kevin Tihista’s Red Terror; Schubas. 8 pm, $8

Wednesday, February 2
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, The Opposition Party; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $22

Thursday, February 3
Tina Dico; Schubas. 8 pm, $12-14
Greensky Bluegrass; Double Door. 8 pm, $10-12

Friday, February 4
The Decemberists, Wye Oak; the Riviera. 7:30 pm, sold out
Trina Hamlin, Keri Noble; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-20
Talib Kweli, Que Billah; The Shrine (2109 S Wabash). 9 pm, $25-35
My Brightest Diamond, Cloudbirds; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Saturday, February 5
Sahara Smith, Liza Day; Schubas. 7 pm, $10
The Giving Tree Band, Hoots and Hellmouth; Mayne Stage. 8 pm, $15
Fitz and the Tantrums, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, The Right Now, Soul Summit DJs; Metro. 9 pm, $14
Retribution Gospel Choir, Peter Wolf Crier, Zeus; Schubas. 10:30 pm, $12

Sunday, February 6
Meh.

Favorite Tracks of 2010

Sarah — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 16:53:36 +0000

While the rest of the world was out enjoying themselves in drunken year-end debauchery, I was home making a best of 2010 mix. That’s basically the story of my life.

Check it out below, via this handy little Grooveshark widget. Happy new year, all.

This Week in Great Music: 11/29 – 12/5

Sarah — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 16:49:40 +0000

Welcome back to your regularly scheduled blogging! If you’re around this weekend, check out the three-day Chicago Bluegrass and Blues festival, with shows at the Double Door, the Congress Theatre, and Lincoln Hall.

Monday, November 29
Robbie Fulks, Mike Fredrickson; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, November 30
Sidewalk Chalk, BBU, BXC, Rita J, Kandyce Hogan; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $8
April Smith and the Great Picture Show, Rego; Beat Kitchen. 8 pm, $10

Wednesday, December 1
Jenny Scheinman, Nels Cline, Jim Black, Todd Sickafoose, Nora O’Connor and Friends; SPACE. 8 pm, $25-40
Jon Drake and the Shakes, Curtis Evans and Our Friend Electric; Cafeteria y Restaurante de Pancho (2200 N California). 8 pm, cover

Thursday, December 2
Hoot Night: Feast and Famine (Dag Juhlin, Justin Roberts, Nora O’Connor and Liam Davis, Ingrid Graudins, Phil Angotti, Trinkets of Joy, Tom Dunning and Your Boyfriends); Schubas. 8 pm, $10
Meg and Dia; Beat Kitchen. 8:30 pm, $10-12
Freelance Whales, Miniature Tigers; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $15

Friday, December 3
Maroon 5, Ingrid Michaelson, Ryan Star; Chicago Theatre. 7:30 pm, $55-75
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Midwest Hype, How Far to Austin, The Right Now, Great Divide; Double Door. 8 pm, $12-15
Doomtree, ft. POS, Dessa, and others; Bottom Lounge. 9 pm, $12

Saturday, December 4
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Derek Nelson & the Musicians, the Future Laureates, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, the Shams Band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and others; Congress Theatre. 1 pm, $35
Vienna Teng; SPACE. 8 pm, $18-28
Delta Spirit; Metro. 9 pm, $16

Sunday, December 5
Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, ft. Mike Mangione & the Union, Daphne Willis, the Skatalites, & others; Lincoln Hall. 6 pm, $15
Broken Bells, Maps and Atlases; the Vic. 7:30 pm, $30

This Week in Great Music: 9/20 – 9/26

Sarah — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:30:48 +0000

I am super excited about Chris Pureka’s show at SPACE on Wednesday. How I Learned to See in the Dark is one of my favorite albums of 2010 so far, and I’m sure the live show will be great.

Monday, September 20
Robbie Fulks, Scott Ligon; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
The Gaslight Anthem, Riviera Theatre. 7 pm, $25-27
Roger Waters, United Center. 8 pm, $55-250

Tuesday, September 21
The Right Now, Millennium Park. 12 pm, free
Roger Waters, United Center. 8 pm, $55-250

Wednesday, September 22
The Tallest Man on Earth, Park West. 8 pm, $17
Chris Pureka, Kelsey Wild; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-22

Thursday, September 23
Sutton Foster; Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut). 7:30 pm, $55-60
Roger Waters, United Center. 8 pm, $55-250
Ed Kowalczyk; Park West. 8 pm $25

Friday, September 24
Roger Waters, United Center. 8 pm, $55-250
Sutton Foster; Broadway Playhouse. 8 pm, $55-60

Saturday, September 25
Of Montreal, Janelle Monae; Riviera Theatre. 6:30 pm, $23
El Ten Eleven, Dosh, Baths; Lincoln Hall. 7 pm, $12
Sutton Foster; Broadway Playhouse. 8 pm, $55-60

Sunday, September 26
Connie Smith, Robbie Fulks; Old Town School of Folk Music. 7 pm, $24-28
The National, Owen Pallett; Riviera Theatre. 7:30 pm, sold out
Van Dyke Parks, Clare and the Reasons; Schubas. 8 pm, $25
Sea Wolf, Sera Cahoone, Patrick Park; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $14
Zee Avi, In Tall Buildings; House of Blues Back Porch Stage. 10 pm, $11

This Week in Great Music: 8/30 – 9/5

Sarah — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:15:21 +0000

Based on this week’s concert lineup-of-interest-to-me, it seems like the whole week is just one giant Monday. My apathy is evidenced by the fact that this summary is longer than my list of interesting shows.

The most exciting thing going on is this weekend’s North Coast Music Festival, running Friday through Sunday at Union Park. Three-day passes are sold out, but single day passes are available for $40. Artists performing include The Chemical Brothers, Umphrey’s McGee, Mayer Hawthorne & the County, Lupe Fiasco, and a whole stage dedicated to local acts. Take that, Lollapalooza. I’m considering picking up a ticket for Sunday’s lineup. We’ll see.

Monday, August 30
Meh

Tuesday, August 31
Orgone, The Right Now, Nootka Sound; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $10
Sarah Jaffe, Rego; Schubas. 9 pm, $8-10

Wednesday, September 1
Meh

Thursday, September 2
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $12-14

Friday, September 3
Catherine Feeny, Mayne Stage (1328 W Morse). 8:30 pm, $10-12

Saturday, September 4
Heather Styka; Martyrs. 7 pm, $7

Sunday, September 5
Vampire Weekend, Beach House; the Aragon. 7 pm, sold out
Asobi Seksu, Shapers; SPACE. 10 pm, $12-20

This Week in Great Music: 7/26 – 8/1

Sarah — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:22:52 +0000

Less commentary from me, more sleeping, which is what I’m going to go do right now.

Monday, July 26
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, Bomba Estereo; Millennium Park. 6:30 pm, free
Robbie Fulks, Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation
David Dondero, The Heligoats, Animal City; Schubas. 8 pm, $8

Tuesday, July 27
Gaslight Anthem, House of Blues. 6 pm, $21-23
Marc Broussard, Jeffery David; SPACE. 8 pm, $30-40
Smashing Pumpkins, Kill Hannah; Metro. 8 pm, $100-500 (benefit for Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone)
Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens, JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound, Daytonics, Soul Summit DJs; Empty Bottle. 9:30 pm, $15

Wednesday, July 28
Keane, Ingrid Michaelson, Fran Healy; Chicago Theatre. 7 pm, $29.50-49.50

Thursday, July 29
Todd Carey, Jessica Robbins, Josiah Leming; Lincoln Hall. 8 pm, $10

Friday, July 30
Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel; Navy Pier Beer Garden. 5 pm, free
The Barehand Jugband; Hideout. 5:30 pm, $5 suggested donation
The Dead Weather; Congress Theater. 8 pm, $35
Tift Merritt, Dawn Landes and the Hounds; Lincoln Hall. 9 pm, $18

Saturday, July 31
The Right Now, JT and the Clouds, Dan Dyer; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $10

Sunday, August 1
Nothing

This Week in Great Music: 7/19 – 7/25

Sarah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 15:03:10 +0000

As usual for the summer, there are a ton of great shows going on which also happen to be free. Trek on down to Millennium Park or Navy Pier to check out some cost-free tunes.

As for me, I’m hoping to make it to the Hideout tonight, and then on Friday I’ll be at the Langhorne Slim/Ha Ha Tonka show, and Saturday is Heartless Bastards/Peter Wolf Crier.

Monday, July 19
Kid Sister, Konono No. 1; Millennium Park. 6:30 pm, free
Robbie Fulks, Nora O’Connor; Hideout. 7 pm, $10 suggested donation

Tuesday, July 20
Patrick Park, Heather Styka; Schubas. 8 pm, $10

Wednesday, July 21
Nathaniel Rateliff, JBM; Schubas. 9 pm, $10

Thursday, July 22
Josh and the Empty Pockets, Juniper Mays; Park Grill. 4 pm, free
Natalie Merchant, Chicago Theatre. 8 pm, $38.50-48.50
Nick Tremulis, Deanna Devore; SPACE. 8 pm, $12-15
Derek Nelson and the Musicians, Ceiling Stars, Zach Pietrini and the Broken Bones; Martyrs. 9 pm, $7
Scott H. Biram, Lasers and Fast and Shit, Roses Pawn Shop; Double Door. 9 pm, $10

Friday, July 23
Juana Molina, Jim Elkington; Old Town School of Folk Music. 8 pm, $18-22
Langhorne Slim, Ha Ha Tonka, Young Man; Lincoln Hall. 10 pm, $14

Saturday, July 24
The Right Now; Navy Pier. 5 pm, free
Heartless Bastards, The Builders and the Butchers, Peter Wolf Crier; Bottom Lounge. 8 pm, $16
Jane and The Steadfast Acrobats, The Future Laureates, Mike Mangione and The Union, Sarah Holtschlag and The Crosscuts, The Sunken Ship; Lincoln Hall. 8:30 pm, $7
Danny Chaimson, Facing Winter; Schubas. 10 pm, $10

Sunday, July 25
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Millennium Park. 12 pm, free

This Weekend’s Summer Street Festivals

Sarah — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 19:00:04 +0000

One of my favorite things about the city of Chicago is the large number of street festivals, block parties, etc., that take place all summer long. If you can’t find something to do on a weekend here, you’re probably just not looking hard enough. There’s a ton of stuff going on this weekend. My two favorites are Ribfest Chicago and Metronome Celebration.

Ribfest Chicago kicks off tonight at Lincoln and Irving Park. Tonight’s featured musical acts are Mucca Pazza (6:30) and The Ike Reilly Assassination (9:00) on the South stage, and Robbie Fulks (7:45) on the North stage. Saturday has performances from bands including Unicycle Loves You (2:45) and Califone (7:45) at the South stage, and Those Darlins (6:30) and Bottle Rockets (9:00) at North. And Sunday’s got The Shams Band (2:45) and Langhorne Slim (7:45) on the North stage, and The Whigs (9:00) at South. Ribfest runs from 5-10:00 pm today, and from noon-10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Entry is a $5 suggested donation.

Metronome Celebration takes place on Saturday and Sunday, at Michigan and Armitage, with programming from Empty Bottle, the Congress Theater, MP Productions, and the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival. Saturday has Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s at 7 pm, and Split Lip Rayfield at 8:30 pm, and Sunday has a fantastic lineup of bands, including How Far to Austin (2:00), Kevin Flynn and the Avondale Ramblers (4:00), The Right Now (5:15), and akron/family (8:30). Admission is $5.

There are, of course, tons of other fantastic events going on this weekend:

Chicago Blues Festival, Friday through Sunday, with five stages of blues and discussion, all for free. Takes place at Grant Park.
Party at St. Mike’s, Friday through Sunday, featuring local acts like the Chris Buehrle Band. Admission is $5 on Frida and Sunday, and $10 on Saturday. St. Mike’s is at 1633 N. Cleveland (Cleveland & North).
Market Day on Madison Street, now in its third year, runs from noon to 8:00 pm on Saturday. It features live music and spoken word performances. Admission is free, and the festival is located at Madison and California.
Andersonville Midsommarfest, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, is now in its 45th year and features a whole array of bands and activities. Admission is a $5 suggested donation, at Clark and Foster.
Old Town Art Fair runs on Saturday and Sunday as well. In addition to live music from bands including Pretty Good Dance Moves (Saturday, 5:00), and Rachele Eve (Sunday, 2:00) and Via Tania (Sunday, 5:o0). Admission is a $7 donation. The festival’s located at Lincoln and Wisconsin.
And if you’re at the Old Town festival, you might as well make it over to the Wells Street Art Festival, on Wells, between North and Division. The festival is on Saturday and Sunday with a $7 suggested donation before 5:00 pm, and a $10 donation afterwards.
And finally, the Printers Row Lit Fest, which I have missed for one reason or another every year since I moved here, is going on this weekend as well. Events are being held at the Harold Washington Library, and various other locations along Dearborn, between Harrison and Polk.