Taking Back Sunday at the Riviera

Last Saturday I relived so many angst teenage emotions thanks to Taking Back Sunday’s concert at Riviera Theater. They’re on a tour for the 10^th anniversary of the album that made them famous—Tell All Your Friends.

I unfortunately missed the first opener, thanks to train construction or something, but I did get to enjoy the second opener, Bayside. I had honestly never heard their music, but a large percent of the audience seemed to know them and love them. They certainly lacked the more pop sound of TBS that made me a fan, but their energy and music complemented the main performance brilliantly.

The build up to the show wasn’t that intense. We’ve been listening to Taking Back Sunday for a decade so it all felt rather familiar. But a lot can happen in 10 years— the friend who gave me a burned copy of Tell All Your Friends when we were 13 is now engaged with two dogs and a job as an elementary school teacher at a private Christian school and hasn’t listened to anything even vaguely associated with the punk genre for years—but somehow I remembered. every. single. word. And I wasn’t the only one. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a show where the audience was quite so familiar with every song. They would sing them just as they were recorded while the singer sang different harmonies and often just listened to the crowd. Adam Lazzara said something about how listening to his voice on that album makes him cringe now, but he could see that it changed not only the lives of those in the band, but also those of all of us in that audience, singing along with such emotion.

This all was rather surprising to me somehow. I had sort of imagined that since it was an all ages show there would be a younger crowd, who perhaps had recently started listening to the punk pop music of the past decade, but what I found instead was a theater packed with twenty-somethings who have grown up with these songs. A woman behind me seemed to also be surprised, commenting, “I’m so glad it’s not filled with teenagers like I thought it was going to be!” I don’t even think I saw a single pair of Converse.

When Lazzara worked his way to the middle of the crowd, and seamlessly wove in some of Bon Iver’s famous Skinny Love lyrics, singing, “And I told you to be patient, and I told you to be kind” I experienced a wave of memories and emotions that were connected to these songs at different points in my life. Perhaps the attachment to these lyrics can only be so intensely experienced by a lonely teenager, but I was surprised to find that they still resonate with me today. This is impressive, and proof that the album (and the band) has something special. 

 - by Ariana, guest contributor

Lollapalooza 2012: Sunday Wrap-Up

I woke Sunday, tired but ready to finish out Lolla weekend with the best day yet.
I'd planned to get to the park in time for Oberhofer, but sadly couldn't drag myself out of bed in time. (I've been loving Time Capsules II, though).

Once I arrived at the park, I stopped by the media tent to grabbed some water, got my photo snapped by MTV Style, and then headed over to the Red Bull stage to start waiting for Sigur Ros. (In the process, I also accidentally heard some Trampled By Turtles. Not my thing).

As soon as Jonsi and the rest of the band took the stage, I was captivated. Watching him use the bow on his guitar and blast his lovely vibrato into the microphone gave me shivers down my spine, even though I was sweating in the sun. I only wish they'd been given a later slot, so I could listen to them while the sun went down.

After Sigur Ros, I went to see Florence and the Machine, who blew me away. Florence Welch is a GODDESS. She wore a flowing dress onstage and had fans blowing on her so it looked like she was flying the entire time. Her voice boomed out over the crowd as she danced across the stage. During one song, she called for people to get on each other's shoulders.

Immediately after that, Chairlift took the stage. The crowd was a little small, due to the rescheduling, but they still played an awesome set. I danced and sang along.

For the end of my weekend, I chose to see Childish Gambino. I'll admit, I'm in love with Donald Glover. How could I not be? Have you seen Community? Have you heard his witty rapping?  What a man. What a weekend. <3 LOLLA <3

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.

Warped Tour 2012: My Experience

Until a few months ago, I'd forgotten about Warped Tour.
It's not exactly my thing, except for that brief period of time in middle school when I was really into Yellowcard (they have a violin, man) and Taking Back Sunday (who are both a part of this year's tour). But I was reminded of its existence when Stepdad announced that they'd be playing the tour.
This surprised me. If you've ever listened to Stepdad, you know that they're not exactly the typical Warped Tour fodder. They were chosen as a fringe band, apparently, to throw some variety into the mix.
So, on Saturday, I found myself driving to the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park, which is basically nowhere.
Going to Warped Tour as an indie-pop-folk-rock-loving 22-year-old is a bizarre experience. It kind of felt like hell at first, what with the 100 degree weather, ridiculous amounts of people in black, and bands screaming from every corner.
I wandered around for an hour or so in the blazing sun and started to feel dizzy. Luckily, I got to chill on Stepdad's air-conditioned bus. Thanks, guys. I would have died.

The live show was awesome, though too short! I'm sad that they didn't play "Must Land Running," which is easily one of my favorite songs of 2012. I've never seen Stepdad live with a full band- it brought some more energy to the performance and filled out the stage nicely. They had a half an hour onstage, and ended with "My Leather, My Fur, My Nails," which you can view below. Also, ~*~BONUS~*~: you can see me dancing in the background.



Though it's not my cup of tea musically, it was sweet to see how jazzed people were to be at Warped Tour. They were dancing, and freaking out, and getting their shoes and merch signed, and meeting their favorite bands. I saw more than one earsplitting grin.

This Saturday, I'm headed to Pitchfork, which will be totally different in some ways, but I'm sure I'll see the same kind of smiles.

PS: Check out Nathan K here: he's the most recent addition to the Stepdad lineup but also has his own sweet solo stuff, which you should check out.

Do Division Wrap-up

What a weekend! So much music! My ears are tired.

FRIDAY

We blasted off with Moon Furies at the Empty Bottle stage (they got the audience to tebow for a music video. Yes, I tebowed. That is not a comfortable position. Also I am not sure what tebowing has to do with outer space or their music but I guess I'll wait to see the music video). They played some sweet new stuff, and reminded everyone that their new EP, Not Earth, is out now.
BBU rocked the stage after them. MY CITY IS LIKE A ZOO.
And then I headed over to the Subt stage to see JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound and I fell in love because JC Brooks is amazing. (Mr. Brooks - call me, maybe?).
Everything from his hairdo to his dance moves to his falsetto were spot on, and he's backed by some fabulous musicians. A+.

SATURDAY

I didn't go.

SUNDAY

The thing about street festivals is that they are insanely crowded and someone inevitably spills beer on me. Please do not spill beer on me. It's nasty.
My friend and I managed to maneuver through the crowds to the Subt stage, where we saw Young Jesus. The bath salts/cannibal jokes weren't funny, guys. But I bopped along to the tunes. The singer doesn't look like he should have the voice he has, which I love, because I like surprises. I checked out a few of Mutts' songs after YJ. Their music isn't my thing, but I love the energy and talent that goes into that project.
The Soft Pack also played on the Subt stage. Great set. I danced.
Then we maneuvered back over to the Empty Bottle stage for Antlers, who played a gorgeous set. His falsetto kills me every time.

Langhorne Slim and the Law at Lincoln Hall

Photo Credit: Todd Roeth

Lately, I've been attending a lot of electronic music shows. While I thoroughly enjoy electronic bands and electronic music as a whole, I can say that it was quite refreshing to see Langhorne Slim(aka Sean Scolnick)and his band, the Law, perform at Lincoln Hall on Thursday.

I was running late; Chicago was having a lovely day of rainy, windy weather, and I had dropped my phone onto the wet ground while rushing to get inside. Langhorne Slim was about to begin, so I grabbed a quick drink at the bar and walked in just in time for Langhorne to start singing "Cinderella". At the sound of his voice I was no longer in cold, damp, Chicago; I was back home in Missouri, barefoot in the grass, whiskey in hand, listening to music that closely resembled what I grew up hearing. That feeling didn't leave throughout the entire show. It was almost as if I was watching an old friend as he joked with band mates between songs, bantered with the audience, and engaged everyone by telling stories and including them in songs. Perhaps it was all part of the performance, something he did at every show, but he pulled it off and made me feel absolutely unique. It was all very real and genuine, traits I not only favor in music, but in my day-to-day life.

At the end of their set, they played a song called "On the Attack". I was completely enthralled by the time he sang, "My love, please understand. Jesse, my love, please understand." Is it a coincidence that I was there to review his show and he sang a song about a girl with the same name as me? Most definitely...but I still loved every minute of it.

Their new album, The Way We Move, comes out on June 5th, but for now you can stream it here. After you've listened to and/or purchased the album, please go see them live. It's worth it, I promise. 

Environmental Encroachment at Martyrs'

 Photos by Medium Gallery (aka my friend Stanislav)

Last night I experienced the joy of Environmental Encroachment (hereafter referred to as EE). EE is a "Magic Circus Band," and their show was a release party for their new album, Bunny XII.

What does "Magic Circus Band" mean, you ask?

Well, they had:

1. Jugglers

2. 20ish people onstage and marching through the audience

3. A man handing out flowers (thank you, man!)

4. Trumpets, trombones, sousaphones, flutes, drums...

5. Ridiculous costumes (see above for a glimpse)

and various other circus-y things.

I danced a bunch.

Buy their CD, but I think this is a band you gotta see live, and do the limbo with.

Dolphins, Cold Blue Kid, My My My, Videotape @ Subt

 Dolphins (see the dolphin tattoo?)

 My, My, My

Videotape

Rocking show on Sunday night at Subterranean. We got a lovely but too-short set from Dolphins, an energetic performance by Cold Blue Kid (EP review to coming soon), and fun performances by My, My, My and Videotape. I can categorize some of My, My, My and Videotape's songs as "epic."

It was the Night of the Cluttered Stage. I felt like Cold Blue Kid, My, My, My, and Videotape all had about 1356 members each. Anyone ever heard of streamlining? Must be hell to tour.

Photos by my pal Stan. Check out his work here.

Spiritualized at the Metro

Of the opening act, Nikki Lane: No matter how cutesy you act or how Zooey Deschanel your hair is, it is absolutely inexcusable and unprofessional to stop in the middle of the song because you "can't remember the next chord." Be prepared or don't perform.

I went with my friend Stan to see the "English space rock" group Spiritualized on Thursday night at the Metro (thanks for the ticket, Stan!). Formed in 1990, the band's lineup has had a shifting cast, with Jason Pierce (aka J. Spaceman) as the only consistent member.

He's not a talkative guy. With his shaggy hair and dark glasses, Spaceman stood with his side to the audience, facing guitarist Tony Foster. I think the only words he spoke the whole night were "Thank you," at the very end.

It makes sense, though. The long concert (two hours of Spiritualized) was a huge, drifting soundscape. A lot of talk between songs would have ruined the effect. Spaceman's songs are not radio-friendly, to say the least. They build slowly and reaching dizzying heights, and then spiral into chaotic, repetitive endings. I haven't experienced many concerts like it.

Listen to "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" below.

The Cave Singers at Schubas

This was a week ago, but I'm still in the land of dead laptop here, so cut me a break, people.
Sheesh.

The Cave Singers played at Schubas last Sunday night and they looked like this:

Hazy, red, and partially obscured by someone's head. 

I had my foot tapping the whole time. I was, however, not nearly as Into It as some of the people there.

*~*~*~*~*

An Open Letter to Dude-Bros at Concerts:

If you are thinking of standing in front of me, don't. Since I'm about 5'4", you are generally taller than me, and I'm always afraid you'll fist-pump into my face. Also, your backwards-facing baseball cap is DISTRACTING. I will glare at you the whole time and you will feel my gaze burning a tattoo into your thick, polo-collar-encircled neck.

Another tip: we all know the name of the band. We are here to see them. Therefore, you don't have to yell their name out after every song. Thanks for trying to help, though.

*~*~*~*~*

Despite Dude-Bros and the fact that it was approximately 163548563 degrees inside the venue, my pal Jordan and I had a fun time dancing around to The Cave Singers (who were very nice people! Thanks for the vinyl!). Check out their latest album, "No Witch."

Chairlift, Nite Jewel, Moon Furies

I realize that this happened over a week ago, but I have been a busy bee.
Buzz, buzz.

Moon Furies: They rocked the EB, as always. I saw them open for Peter, Bjorn & John there at the end of last summer, and both times have been an energetic sweat-fest. Performing is their forte - Jim leaps on and off the stage, trumpeting around the room, Andy dances and plays like a man possessed, and Sammy (their new drummer) hits those drums like they did him wrong.
Fun. Electronic. Dancey. Space music. And I'm totally not biased because I am their friend, no SIR..
Also check it out, me and Jim found a van that we matched.

Nite Jewel: I'll be honest - I didn't really watch their set. Bad, bad music blogger.

Chairlift: Yay! I love Chairlift. I've been listening to Something all of March in preparation for the concert, so it was great to hear the songs live. They didn't play "Bruises," which confused me. Maybe they're sick of it, but as a band, you DO have to recognize that your fans and audience exist and cater to them, at least a bit. The Empty Bottle was packed (sold out, in fact), but I still found room to dance to "Met Before" and "Sidewalk Safari."

Tin Tin Can, 1,2,3, and Yellow Ostrich at the EB

It's been a long time since I've been at such a solid and consistently awesome concert as the one I attended last night at the Empty Bottle.  I didn't hear a single song that I didn't like.
I attended the show with my lovely photographer friend, who was similarly impressed by the lineup.

Openers Tin Tin Can set the bar for the night with a high-energy performance (despite some technical difficulties - oh, power strips). Their music taps into something primal, much in the same way that Adam Arcuragi's music does. Their new album Strange Vibrations drops in a few days, so make sure to keep that on your radar.

I got to chat with 1,2,3 before the concert, so down into the Empty Bottle's basement I ventured again.  They all seemed tired.  We chatted about their journey together as a band (lots of miles, struggles to pay bills) and about upcoming events (SXSW, playing 6 shows) and about their influences (Roy Orbison, Frank Sinatra, The Clash, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin).
The band is beginning to record a concept album this summer, titled Big Weather.
"It's a bit more American in the guitar sense of things," they said.
Keep your eyes on 1,2,3.  They're a self-professed "fun band to follow." They give away a lot of free music, and they're planning on shooting videos for each new song they put out.

Like I said, the band seemed tired when we talked, so I wasn't sure what to expect from them onstage. I hadn't listened to much of their music before the show, so I was surprised by the voice that came out of lead singer Nic Snyder's mouth. It danced around the room, at times shuddering into a growl, at times light, playful, and sassy.  By the end of their set, the entire band was covered in sweat and the audience was basking in the radiance of awesome music.  Their song "Riding Coach" especially captivated me, with its rollicking drumbeat.  It's a perfect traveling song - and listen to the melody on the chorus!  I just want to eat it up!



Yellow Ostrich took the stage last, underneath a plethora of lights. By this time the space was filled with people and a palpable concert energy that had been building all night.
When they began, I got shivers. Yellow Ostrich sure is proficient with loop and sampling.  Lead singer and main man behind the band, Alex Schaaf, had vocals harmony layered upon vocal harmony. Though there were only three people onstage, they created tremendous billows and climaxes of music, sampling themselves, looping percussion, effortlessly shifting between intimate and expansive.
They played a lot off of their new album, Strange Land, which they recently released. Check out "Elephant King" below.



The best kind of concerts, to me, are ones where I lose myself in the music. It's a kind of magic where I don't exist - I'm just part of it all.  That's how this whole evening was for me. I wasn't even there. It was just Music.

The cherry on top of this ice cream sundae evening? Yellow Ostrich covered Heaven by Talking Heads.
What more can I say?