An Orchid is Born: Sidewalk Chalk Album Review
If you didn’t know who Sidewalk Chalk was before, you probably should now. The Chicago soul/hip-hop band’s fourth full-length, out June 2, 2017 via Ropeadope Records, is bombastic to say the […]
Preview: Rush Hour Concerts Offer a Musical Way to End the Day
Starting Tuesday, June 6, Chicagoans working downtown can get a free dose of chamber music at the end of their Tuesday workdays. Running through August 29, Rush Hour Concerts returns for […]
Emo-light Pet Symmetry Kicks Off Album Release Tour with Ratboys at Schuba’s
Emo music is alive in Chicago. Pet Symmetry, a pop-punk, alt rock, self described “emo” band released their second full-length album Vision at Schubas on Friday, May 27th. Kicking off […]
TCR Mixtape No. 26: Dreamy Vibes
Well, I set off to create a playlist of 10 dream-inducing ballads, but I ended up with 70—turns out it’s way too difficult to narrow down these gorgeous, layered songs, […]
Do Division to Kick Off Festival Season (and Summer) Next Weekend
Summer signals street fair celebrations. This weekend, Do Division will span ten city blocks, and it will bring together local vendors and restaurants in between the stages. Speaking of the stages, Empty Bottle […]
Nightlands Breathes Light into Schubas
My return to my favorite Chicago venue was thanks to a band called Nightlands. This band brought light back into my week after a rough beginning, and it brought light […]
Mild High Club Gets Dreamy @ Lincoln Hall
Alex Brettin wore his signature blue, yellow, and red cap. He grew out a willy beard that made him look ages older. He looked haggard, looking worn and yet […]
OUT, The Rutabega, Mint Mile, Andrew Cohen & Light Coma @ Township 5/28
This Sunday, May 28, Township in Logan Square hosts a rare showcase from the label Comedy Minus One, featuring four bands with fairly recent releases: OUT, The Rutabega, Mint Mile, […]
Meat Puppets and Mike Watt Jam Econo
I’ve been jumping into the musical Wayback Machine to disappear into my post-college groove and deflect this post-apocalyptic shit storm. Since the 11/9 election terrorism attack, I’ve already taken a […]
Mac DeMarco Gets Weird and Invites Us to Get Weird, Too
To say that Mac DeMarco is eccentric is putting it lightly; but that’s honestly why I, and his ever-growing legion of fans, love him in the first place. After seeing […]
Real Estate Keeps it Mellow @ the Vic
I’d seen Real Estate in concert before—at Pitchfork Music Festival, as the sun started to descend. It was the perfect forum for such breezy tunes. Cut to this past Friday […]
TCR Mixtape No. 25: That Gum You Like Is Going To Come Back In Style
It is happening again. Honestly I didn’t think it would ever happen again. I was too young to have watched the show when it originally aired, but its legacy and […]