Stuck In the Middle: Ceremony Speaks At Milwaukee’s Borg Ward
Ceremony @ SXSW My first published piece as a music critic was titled “Please History, Repeat Yourself”, and was written in maybe 20 minutes for my high school newspaper sometime in my sophomore year...
View ArticleTruth In Lies: The Weeknd Live in Chicago @ Lincoln Hall
Abel Tesfaye is undoubtedly a star in the making. His commitment to quality and character is apparent on all of his free releases. The ongoing question around his art deal with his reality: if these...
View ArticleDecisions Make the Heart Grow Fonder: Bonnaroo 2012 Preview
Starting this evening, mild-mannered businessmen and dirty, smelly hippies alike will begin the trek to Manchester, Tennessee for the 11th Annual Bonnaroo, which kicks off this Thursday. As always,...
View ArticleFighting Chance: September Live Music in Chicago
The overwhelming nature of life in a world-class city presents a multitude of opportunities, for better or for worse. In the age of oversharing and over-reflection, isolation can creep up on you. it’s...
View ArticleThe Professional Performance: Brilliant Corners Festival Recap
It turns out that there is such a thing as a comfortable music festival experience. After an exhausting, disorienting and soaked (but successful) festival season, last weekend’s Brilliant Corners of...
View ArticleUntil the Quiet Comes: Chicago Live Music in October
Wicker Park in Autumn Something clicked in October, and I found myself at eight shows in just 15 days, likely due to a mix of early onset Seasonal Affective Disorder and rise in tours before the end of...
View ArticleThe Year of Live Music: 100+ Shows from A$AP Rocky to Zola Jesus
Ty Segall: Performer of the Year In 2012, I saw more than 100 concerts. Thanks to FP, record labels and my own wallet, I was able to catch life-changing live shows in Chicago, New York, and Milwaukee,...
View ArticleNothing Ever Stays the Same: Yo La Tengo @ The Vic Theater
Yo La Tengo plays their acoustic set; photo by Sam Libowsky BY JORDAN MAINZER It was a big day coming. On Friday, February 1st, at the Vic Theater in Chicago, Yo La Tengo treated an eager audience to...
View ArticleOur Live Life, Vol. 1: January Concerts in Chicago and Columbus
Today, we debut a new monthly series, “Our Live Life,” in which we chronicle our live music experiences of the last 30 days. This month, we hear from Managing Editor Peter Lillis, and staff members...
View ArticleOur Live Life, Vol. 2: February Concerts in Chicago
Mountains @ HideoutBetter late than never? Today we continue our live music roundup with shows from across Chicago that we saw in February.2/1 – Yo La Tengo @ The VicIt was a big day coming. On Friday,...
View ArticleKeeping Secrets: SXSW 2013 Preview
FP @ SXSW 2012It’s no secret that SXSW is no longer a secret. What was (supposedly) once an event for industry types to rub elbows and get exclusive looks at the year’s hottest acts, has just become...
View ArticleSouth By Southwest 2013 Journal: Volume 2
The Polyphonic Spree @ SXSWBY PETER LILLISThe gripes with SXSW are well documented and justified, no doubt about it. As Brooklyn’s DIIV stated, it’s just “drunk corporate goons and other industry...
View ArticleSouth By Southwest 2013 in Photos
BY PETER LILLISHere’s just a sampling of the highlights from this year’s SXSW in Austin, Texas, including: Diarrhea Planet’s party set at Cheer Up Charlie’s, Thee Oh Sees nearly destroying Hotel Vegas,...
View ArticleJersey Gets Freaky: An Interview with Alex Bleeker
Alex Bleeker and The Freaks @ SXSWBy Peter LillisAlex Bleeker is a professional. He’s currently a member of two active New Jersey/Brooklyn bands: bassist of indie-pop darlings Real Estate, and...
View ArticleOur Live Life, Vol. 4: April Concerts in Chicago
Chicago in AprilBY PETER LILLIS & JORDAN MAINZERToday, Peter and Jordan continue their monthly roundup of the shows they saw in the last month. As seen below, April includes two of their favorite...
View ArticleIt’s Still Us Against Them: Titus Andronicus, The So So Glos, and Sharpless @...
Titus Andronicus and The So So Glos, bringing back the dudes.BY JORDAN MAINZERAfter touring the hell out of their three LPs, you’d think that Titus Andronicus would run out of live show surprises....
View ArticleMust Never Change: An Interview with GOAT
Poster for GOAT’s First US TourBY PETER LILLISKorpilombolo, Sweden is a remote “locality” in northern Sweden. With approximately 530 residents, Korpilombolo recently gained notoriety for being home to...
View ArticleOur Live Life, Vol. 5: May Concerts in New York and Chicago
Boris, live in ChicagoMay is a time when bands get quick runs out across the country before the non-compete clauses of festival season take effect. With Lollapalooza and Pitchfork soon upon us in...
View ArticleThe Highs of Ohio: Nelsonville Music Festival, 2013
Nelsonville Music Festival, 2013BY PETER LILLISI’ll admit, I’m down on Ohio. My entirely biased distaste for the state is founded on one exorbitant speeding ticket, a few exceptionally long drives from...
View ArticleAn American in Valencia: An Interview With Josh Rouse
Josh Rouse’s The Happiness WaltzHe may dance the happiness waltz, but he’s pretty moody. Or so says Nebraska-born, Jeff Tweedy-esque roots pop singer/songwriter Josh Rouse, who just released his tenth...
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