Thursday, July 31, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Charming Axe-Gathering Days
Comprised of musicians affiliated with Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, Charming Axe (vocalists Eugenia Elliott and Hannah Hill and vocalist/guitarist Rob Newhouse) delivers Gathering Days, a fine addition to the folk music canon.
Gathering Days, a mix of originals and covers, kicks off with a take on James Taylor's "Close Your Eyes"; breathtaking three-part harmonies and church organ hook the listener immediately. The Newhouse original "Beyond the Blue" follows suit splendidly; contemporary bluegrass with lovely mandolin courtesy of album producer Rich Rankin.
Other highlights include an update of the Dolly Parton/Porter Wagoner country chestnut "The Pain of Loving You," Eugenia Elliot's original "Supper Song," "All Through the Night" (written by Jules Shear; a hit for Cyndi Lauper; arranged here as a folk lullaby), Chris Hillman's "Price I Pay" and "One Day I Walk," a Bruce Cockburn composition and one of the moodier pieces collected here.
Gathering Days collects songs (some borrowed, some blue, all terrific) and delivers the goods; this is grown-up folk music made by some of Chicago's best singers and players.
Monday, June 09, 2014
Daniel Wade, Meat Wave, 10,000 Years of Light, AyHo - June 12th, 2014
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Kickstand Productions Presents Daniel Wade EP Release w/ The Noise FM / Valaska & Old Honey Drums Fri. June 13th Beat Kitchen
7:00pm - 10,000 Light Years, is a Chicago band that began in December of 2012. The album, "Haunted House," was released on June 20th, 2013.They will be dropping by the studio to talk about their new singer, and how their sound has evolved with her addition to the band.
They'll be at Burlington this Saturday, June 14th.
Verona Red will headline the event delivering their unique blend of dance and roots rock and roll. Chicago quartet Mighty Fox celebrates the release of their new EP Oceans.
June 19th at 7pm Lincoln Hall will host these bands evening of stellar local music presented by Shoeshine Boy Productions.
Friday, June 06, 2014
Saturday, May 31, 2014
The Safes at Martyr's Tonight
Fb Show Info
Whales - Size & Scale
The album Size and Scale, by Chicago band, Whales, stitches together nine tracks’ worth of 90s nostalgia (say THAT five times fast!) - a decade whose trademark sounds have been documented on some very memorable records. Unfortunately, Whales’ familiarity with the songs of that era is so transparent, and the songwriting so flimsy, that I was often unable to distinguish the band’s own creative voice from the flood of its influences. Take for instance, the distracting “Tonight Tonight” (Smashing Pumpkins) aping on “Seafaring,” or on the next track, “On the Floor,” which could have been excellent, if it wasn't for all of the obvious nods to Radiohead. These were only two of the many examples where instead of thinking about the song as I listened, another group’s instantly came to mind. Another element working against them is drummer Randall Murphy’s eschewing of additional texture and dynamics for bombastic, bread-and-butter timekeeping. His playing, while serviceable, squanders the opportunity to differentiate these songs from the bands that they were obviously modeled after.
Easily the best aspect of this collection is singer Maigin Blank’s gorgeous, melancholy vocals. reminiscent of Sasha Bell from The Essex Green, the control, fragility, and warmth that Blank’s voice projects is Whales’ secret weapon. A close second in Size and Scale’s “pros” column, are the album’s two instrumentals: “Level,” the polite piano-guitar-cymbals opener, and “Faithless,” a brooding cacophony that explodes upon impact. Unless I’m missing something, both of these songs prove that Whales are capable of creating better music that isn't entirely hinged on the sounds of another band. I don’t understand how the combination of its two best components can result in a good portion of the record being less than the sum of its parts - but here we are.
There’s nothing wrong homage and influence, but without much else as a fulcrum, these songs provide little reason keep revisiting this album. Bands like Yuck, Silversun Pickups, and Doves prove that you can mimic another group’s sound, and still write memorable music. Whales should focus on their strengths, hone their song craft, and figure out what makes them unique. Size and Scale isn't a terrible record, but one that elicits little more than a shoulder shrug, Stream it. - DC
Friday, May 30, 2014
Jugo De Mango, ChicagoMusic.org, Chicago Singles Club, June 5th, 2014
June 7th, Jugo De Mango will be performing at The Dock on Montrose Beach! 6-9pm.
Everything is put online for free at chicagosinglesclub.com, and each year all the A-sides will be compiled onto a vinyl LP.
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