Cold Country - Missing the Muse

Chicago-based Cold Country just released a new full-band EP.
Check it out below.

Summer Triangle Love Family, The Red Threads, and Cold Country at Subt

Here's a show to see tonight. Come dance to these 3 rockin' acts at Subterranean. Show starts at 8:30, $8 cover.

Pitchforkin' 2012

Even though Pitchfork denied me a media pass, I still found a way in that didn't involve me paying money, which we all know is something that's hard to come by these days for a freshly-graduated 20-something who majored in creative writing.

I volunteered with the Dill Pickle Food Co-op (yay!) on Friday so I got to attend for free on Saturday, and also scored a snazzy yellow volunteer t-shirt.

On Friday, I was stationed by the drink ticket tent and put wristbands on people for six hours straight. Luckily, this was very near the blue stage so I got to see a lot of sweet acts.

The first band I caught was Willis Earl Beal, who I'd been hearing about but had yet to listen to. He gave a soulful performance. I wish I were closer to the stage so I could see what he was doing, exactly. Whatever it was, it sounded great.
Then Tim Hecker did a DJ thing which was ok, but I wasn't really in the mood for it. Japandroids also rocked the blue stage and had me dancing along. I'd never heard them before but I enjoyed the set. Clam Casino played next (weird name, but I danced more. Not sure how the people that I was putting wristbands on felt about that).


Purity Ring played last on the blue stage. They set up all sorts of colored lights- atmospheric! And then they played stuff and I danced some more and got really excited when they played that one song I listen to a lot. You know the one. Couldn't really see much of what went on since I was so far away, but it sounded fun, and pretty much like the recordings.

Then Saturday happened. I missed Cults because I was playing a show with one of the bands I'm in (coldcountry.bandcamp.com - Cold Country is playing at the Burlington tomorrow, too) but I got to Union Park in time for Sleigh Bells.
You may remember my previous review of Reign of Terror. I don't like their latest stuff as much, but no matter what, Sleigh Bells knows how to put on a show, complete with crowd-surfing. I hear their walls of amps is fake, though. Lame.

I danced around for Hot Chip (which was fun) but cut my time with them short in order to wait for Godspeed You! Black Emperor. I love me some post-rock. The musicians wandered onstage and began to play without a word. The two-drumset thing they had going on was sweet. I love post-rock atmospheres, but after an hour my back started to hurt and I chose to leave, all pitchfork'd out.

The Welcome - Honey, Honey

Chicago band The Welcome recently released their 5-song EP, which is available for streaming and purchasing at their bandcamp.
They'e got a rock-y thing going on, with some sweet woman vocals and man vocals (the guy's voice vaguely reminds me of Ben Gibbard's at times). And they also have some catchy-ness going on. The whole EP sounds really tight, and I definitely get the sense that they know what their sound is. I think this is good summer music, especially if you enjoy something a bit more jarring, or if you like Matt & Kim + Ben Gibbardish + Stars. Which, you know, you should.

Check out their show at the Beat Kitchen on May 10th.
And they're playing at Reggie's on May 25th, along with Cold Country, the band I'm in! Just realized that. I love coincidence.