Gypsy Trail Concert This Saturday, March 26, @ Mayne Stage

Las Guitarras de Espana, Chicago's celebrated Flamenco/World Music outfit, kicks off a series of shows this Saturday at Mayne Stage, 1328 W Morse Ave, in Rogers Park. The show starts at 7:30 PM.

The Gypsy Trail Concert, which will feature support from Ensemble of Ragas (pictured) and Gypsy Rhythm Project, introduces the "Flamenco Collaborations Series," a regular music and dance showcase that will take place at Mayne Stage throughout the year.

Las Guitarras de Espana features guitarist Carlo Basile, Patricia Ortega on lead vocals and acclaimed Flamenco dancer Wendy Clinard. The band will release their fifth album, Tantas Cosas, at the second show in the Mayne Stage series, scheduled for Saturday, June 4th. 

Tickets for March 26 are available here.

Paper Thick Walls-A Thousand Novels

Paper Thick Walls is a new indie folk/pop band out of Chicago. Their debut CD, A Thousand Novels, will be released on May 3, 2011.

A Thousand Novels opens strong with "Old Weathered Wooden Dock," Kate Schell's winsome lead vocal spilling out over gentle acoustic guitar. The track builds nicely with violin and tack piano entering the mix before exploding in richness: driving percussion, a counterpoint vocal (courtesy of band co-leader Eric Michaels) and hand claps all figure in--a beautiful introduction to the album.

"Sighs of Relief" follows and it is clear that this band has the touch of something special. By the fourth track, the dusky, narcotic "Nyquil," I was totally hooked.

Other highlights include the appropriately stark "Desolate Place," the tender "Masters of the Sea" and the celestial, album-closing "Infinite."

Paper Thick Walls celebrates the release of A Thousand Novels with a show at The Hideout on Friday, May 6.
 

Soul Summit Presents JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound at Double Door!

For all the peeps not heading down to Austin, Texas for SXSW, Soul Summit has the top dance party in town this Friday, March 18, at Double Door!

Local soul stars JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound have been blowin' up lately with spot on Wilco's Solid Sound Festival confirmed for this summer. Lucky locals can catch them in a few days for just $8 (get tickets here while they last); Soul Summit DJs Sloppy White, Duke Grip and Dave Mata will spin classic soul and the legendary Renaldo Domino will be on hand as a special guest.

Greg Gibbs-The Lights

Greg Gibbs is "home-recorder/songwriter from Chicago by way of Roswell, New Mexico." His new CD, The Lights, follows two self-released albums, Raincoat (2007) and Hemoglobin (2009). Gibbs’ music has been featured on National Public Radio, Comedy Central (.com) and he was named Soundcloud’s “Artist of the Day” in February 2011. 

The Lights kicks off with "Time Capsule," a long, ambient/electronic intro that gives way to a gentle, weird folk number that recalls the late, great Grandaddy. This is the first of 20 tracks--a lot to take in in one listen, although the rewards are plentiful.

"I Don't Mind" is super catchy and a bit sad, like early Elliott Smith to this reviewer's ears. "Most Guitars are Made of Trees" features (yes) gentle, acoustic guitar and makes the connection between the human player and the instrument as a one-time living thing. "Campus Raygun," the standout track on The Lights, has new wave keyboards, mile-wide hooks and an abrupt ending. The title track (aka "Gryllidaen Rights") flirts a bit with delta blues and album closer "The Nibbler" might just be Gibbs' most soulful vocal on the whole record.

The Lights will likely be an introduction to Gibbs for most listeners. He keeps a pretty low profile in Chicago, making him something of a gem to discover.

Brad Cole's Acoustic Circus at Elbo Room this Saturday, 3/12

This Saturday, March 12, Brad Cole brings his monthly Acoustic Circus to the Elbo Room's upstairs lounge with a line-up heavy on acts affiliated with the legendary Old Town School of Folk Music!

This show starts at 8 PM and is 21+. Advance tickets are available here.

Big'n-Spare the Horses (AfricanTape)

Way back in the 1990s, when labels like Sub Pop, Amphetamine Reptile and Touch & Go were championing noisy rock n' roll, Chicago's Big'n was roaming the Midwest, opening for like-minded bands Tar, Dazzling Killmen and Circus Lupus.

Big'n released several singles on small US labels before unveiling 1994's Cutthroat (Gasoline Boost) and its acclaimed follow-up, Discipline Through Sound (Skin Graft Records), in 1996. After that, the band re-worked AC/DC's "TNT" for a split single with Shellac and released an EP with Baltimore's Oxes in 2000. Then, all was quiet...until now.

French math rock label AfricanTape will be releasing Spare the Horses on 10" vinyl on May 2nd, and we were lucky enough to hear all four tracks, which were recorded by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio earlier this year.

Spare the Horses comes out of the gate with "Assholes and Elbows" and it is clear from the first note that this is classic Big'n. Todd Johnson's signature guitar sound and William Akins' creeped-out vocals set a sinister tone that carries on to the next track, "Long Pig." "Damn my pig eyes," Akins howls before killing with the refrain "So pink and precious, so dirty and delicious." Wow, this is some dark shit, not too far gone from what Nick Cave is doing with his band Grinderman.

"Like a Killer" takes no prisoners--maybe the heaviest thing that the band has committed to tape. Album closer "Seaworthy" lightens things up a bit, recalling Slint before Brian Wnukowski's drums really kick in and Mike Chartrand's bass takes you down to the basement for a beating.

Chicago's The Bright White to open for The Parlotones @ Schuba's!

Chicago's The Bright White may only have a few months of activity under its belt, but the band is on a remarkable climb. To note, the four-piece has released an excellent EP, Until Then, played their first-ever show at Martyr's, followed it with a well-received gig at Double Door and now the band is slated to open for South African superstars The Parlotones at Schuba's Tavern this Saturday, March 12. For more details, click here. New York's Xylos share the bill.

Chicago's Rambos Release Two New Tracks!

We recently featured Chicago's newest garage rock stompers, Rambos, in a couple of blog posts and had the band in-studio to spin some tracks before they opened for Hollows and Detroit Cobras at the Windy City Winter Ball. Hostage Radio readers night already be hip to the band's "USA" and now you have a chance to hear two more tracks via Bandcamp.

"Arrows" and "Terrorize" showcase Rambos in all their junk rock glory!

Paul Cebar To Headline Schuba's Mardi Gras Celebration!

Schuba's Tavern is celebrating Mardi Gras 2011 on March 8th with special guest Paul Cebar! Cebar is known in the Midwest and throughout New Orleans for his longtime band The Milwaukeeans, and has been gigging under the moniker Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound to support his latest, Tomorrow Sound Now For Yes Music People. His New Orleans credibility and musical influence make his tune "Her New Church" a perfect Fat Tuesday soundtrack!

This 21+ celebration kicks off at 6PM - it costs $10, which includes a Crawfish Boil (while supplies last). Drink specials include $3 Bud Light Drafts and $5 Hurricanes.