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The Top 10 Moments of Pitchfork 2013
After offering a bill headlined by Vampire Weekend, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and Feist last year – informally, the “best headlining bill of five years ago” – Pitchfork one-upped themselves for...
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Live Review: Robyn, Diamond Rings in Chicago (2/14)
Let’s talk paradigm shifts. It’s like when iTunes gives you whiplash by playing Pantera and Purcell back to back. There’s oceans between a painted black punk club to a bona fide pop show and depending...
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Live Review: Liturgy in Chicago (3/23)
There’s a lot to learn about Transcendental Black Metal. So much so that Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, lead singer of the Brooklyn-based Liturgy, authored a manifesto on the topic. I purchased the book after...
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Live Review: The Mountain Goats and Megafaun in Chicago (4/5)
This was my first time seeing The Mountain Goats, which may sound a bit dissonant. There’s no real great reason I’ve never seen them (same reason I haven’t seen Heat yet, I know!), it’s simply...
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Live Review: Lykke Li at Chicago’s Metro (5/23)
Lykke Li‘s show at Chicago’s Metro proved she’s a woman that moves in mysterious ways. The all-age crowd sold out the venue on a stormy Monday night. By nine p.m. the place was packed, the fog and...
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Live Review: Future Islands at Chicago’s Subterranean (6/15)
Words like “weird”, “pretentious”, “buzz-band”, and “artsy” are often poised to unduly decapitate some pioneering force in music, like some police state setting out to crush the bohemians with their...
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Live Review: Florence & the Machine at Chicagos Aragon Ballroom (6/18)
Don’t call Florence Welch just another young female singer-songwriter. Don’t call her part of a trend, and certainly don’t call her material “chick music.” See her live, and then call her what she...
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Festival Review: CoS at Chicago’s Dave Matthews Band Caravan 2011
They promised us a view. Specifically, the Dave Matthews Band Caravan’s own website promised us that from Lakeside, “the panoramic vista of downtown Chicago across the water will provide a stunning...
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In Photos: Best Coast at Belly Up Aspen (5/25)
Last night, Best Coast brought their indie cred 7,900 feet above sea level to Aspen’s premiere venue for live music, Belly Up Aspen. Fresh off the release of their sophomore album, The Only Place,...
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In Photos: Crystal Fighters California Tour Gallery
London-based rockers Crystal Fighters invigorated audiences with in their chaotic blend of electronic beats, sweeping melodies, and awesomeness at San Francisco’s The Independent and Los Angeles’...
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In Photos: Yo La Tengo, Childish Gambino at LA’s MUSACK Charity (9/15)
Perhaps you’re familiar with Nantucket because of that TV show Wings. Or maybe you’ve even heard an infamous limerick that you can’t quite remember all the words to. But what many people don’t realize...
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In Photos: Divine Fits at Colorado’s Belly Up Aspen (12/12)
Divine Fits’ Wednesday night show survived and celebrated the 12.12.12 apocalypse with an energetic hour at Belly Up Aspen. The indie dream team, made up of Spoon’s Britt Daniel, Wolf Parade’s Dan...
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The Soft Pack unwraps hot bill at Chicago’s Empty Bottle (4/9)
Surprise, surprise… Chicago got cold again. Not that anyone’s really surprised. It’s just hard to gauge what the fuck to wear sometimes. One day it’s a humid 80 degrees and the other it’s something...
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In Photos: Best Coast washes up to Chicago (4/16)
Best Coast, Southern California’s lo-fi band of the moment, made waves this past Friday to a sold-out show at Schubas in the cozy confines of Chicago. Bethany Cosentino, the darling lead singer,...
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Corinne Bailey Rae shines on in Chicago (4/22)
Britain’s petite songbird Corinne Bailey Rae‘s performance last Thursday at Chicago’s Vic Theatre proved that she is a force to be reckoned with. Supported by a five-piece band, Rae’s soulful and...
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Hurricane Bells bring a sonic storm to Chicago (5/14)
Chicago’s Subterranean is the ideal venue for an intimate, darkly expressive rock show, and Friday night’s bill was a perfect fit for the space. On its first tour in support of debut album Tonight is...
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Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings ride the soul train to Chicago (5/21)
If you’ve ever wondered if you have a truer, more artistic calling than your regular 9-5, go see Sharon Jones perform, immediately. Onstage, the woman who used to be a corrections officer is the...
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This is happening: LCD Soundsystem at Chicago’s Metro (5/26)
It makes sense that James Murphy’s LCD Soundsystem, one of the most highly coveted acts this summer (if not around), is on top of its proverbial game. Currently on tour for its highly...
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Broken Bells break it down in Chicago (5/31)
While most of you were nursing barbecue-filled tummies on Memorial Day evening, Broken Bells sold-out Chicago’s Vic Theatre. This highly anticipated show proved to be as cool as its players…tasteful,...
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The Psychedelic Furs get nostalgic in Chicago (6/11)
There is no denying that nostalgia sells, and The Psychedelic Furs‘ sold out June 11th show hit the jackpot (of sorts) by grooving down memory lane. Fans, both young and old, packed into Chicago’s...
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Mates of State bring pals to Chitown (6/22)
Mates and Friends = Magic Seriously, Mates of State know how to host a night of entertainment. Their sold-out June 22nd line-up at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall put together the unlikeliest of characters: an...
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Against Me! confuses Chicago's Aragon (7/3)
What happened at the Against Me! concert at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago-the day before America turned 234-was something fascinating. It was a kind of an anomaly, and it was kind of gut-wrenchingly...
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Banging with Prince Rama at Chicago’s Hideout (7/10)
Nimai Larson, one third of Prince Rama, sits across the table from me as I sip my obligatory can of PBR before the show. She has four small, red, probably plastic jewels bedazzling her face from her...
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Revelations in Union Park: CoS at Pitchfork ’10
Five years ago, 2005, Chicago Illinois: It was called The Intonation Music Festival that was curated by Pitchfork Media. I was there. I saw it all. From The Hold Steady playing at about 1:30 p.m. to...
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The Tallest Man On Earth and S. Carey capture Chicago (9/22)
On Wednesday evening, the east/west street of Armitage Ave. in Chicago connected the setting sun and the rising full moon just before the show at Park West. Now, I’m but a poetaster, but seeing a star...
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M.I.A. jumps in at Chicago’s Vic Theatre (9/30)
Love her or hate her, M.I.A.‘s September 30th performance in Chicago proved that the controversial artist knows how to put on a show. After the release of her underwhelming latest effort, // / Y /, and...
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Twin Shadow reigns, Glasser wanes live in Chicago (11/13)
It’s easy to admire young bands, just like it’s easy to admire a baby. In a newborn there is that tabula rasa – basic instincts unfettered by the world and the promise of great potential. Also, they...
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Tim and Eric celebrate Chrimbus live in Chicago (11/18)
If you think a review of this show is somewhat futile, that’s because it is. What I should do is string a series of irrational, disparate words and images together in an animated GIF with some elevator...
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Lissie belts it out at Chicago's Lincoln Hall (1/22)
Whether we like it or not we’re in the age glam lady rock. While Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Ke$ha dominate the radio waves, it’s refreshing to know that a female artist can perform without the costume...
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