I’ve been gallivanting up and down the East Coast for the last few days, and it’s off to the great, beautiful clusterfuck of New York City today. Luckily for me, I’m back in Chicago in time to catch the meat of this week’s good shows: one of my favorite finds at SXSW 2008, Jim Ward’s […]

MP3: The Uglysuit- Chicago from The Uglysuit (August 19th, Quarterstick)
They’re not from Chicago, try Oklahoma City. The latest Quarterstick/Touch & Go signees pen an upbeat, atmospheric pop tune. The ballad features reverb laden guitar over piano and organ.
MP3: Electric President- Monsters from Sleep Well (June 24th US Release, Morr Music)
There are a lot […]

It’s not often that a “breakout” indie band is critically lauded, commercially viable, and expected to endure for many albums to come. With the October release of Yeasayer’s All Hour Cymbals and its swirling, enveloping single “2080,” just those sorts of expectations were unleashed by the music community. The Brooklyn foursome built its mystique around […]

Kind of a lame week in live music around here, with the exception of Saturday night: original British folk punker Billy Bragg brings his rough vagabond tales to the Park West, iconic shoegaze pioneers Swervedriver park it at Metro for the night, and the gorgeous harmonies of Once castmates Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (as […]

The weather may be barely warm enough for short sleeves in Chicago, but Jamie Lidell still managed to set the Abbey Pub ablaze on Wednesday night (June 4). Yes, he sings like he’s possessed by the soul of Ray Charles and commands a crack band like a young Stevie Wonder. Yes, it’s curious that […]