Chicago | Local Music Nation

New Band Altert: The Milk Carton Kids

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Kristen

It’s Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale! Looks like they’ve finally made it official. This makes me very happy as I LOVE this duo. The formation of The Milk Carton Kids was just announced so don’t forget to like on facebook, follow on twitter, and check out their website.

They have a couple songs up for FREE download on their site. So, what are you waiting for? Just press “download”!

They are on tour this summer, opening for Joe Purdy. That means, The Troubadour on April 30th for all my fellow Los Angelenos. For everyone else, check out their website or just look at the dates and places below:

4/22 Austin, TX: The Parish

4/23 Dallas, TX : The Loft

4/25 Santa Fe, NM: Corazon

4/27 Phoenix, AZ : Rhythm Room

4/28 Solano Beach, CA : Bellyup Tavern

4/30 Los Angeles, CA : Troubadour

5/3 San Francisco, CA : The Independent

5/5 Portland, OR : Doug Fir

5/7 Vancouver, BC : The Rio Theater

5/9 Boise, ID : Neurolux

5/10 Salt Lake City, UT : State Room

5/12 Denver, CO : Bluebird Theater

5/14 Lawrence, KS : Bottleneck

5/15 Des Moines, IA : Vaudeville Mews

5/16 Minneapolis, MN : Varsity Theater

5/17 Milwakee, WI : Turner Hall

5/18 Chicago, IL : Lincoln Hall

5/19 St Louis, MO : Off Broadway

6/9 Birmingham, AL : WorkPlay

6/10 Atlanta, GA : The Loft

6/11 Asheville, NC : Grey Eagle

6/12 Carborro, NC : Cat’s Cradle

6/14 Annapolis, MD : Ram’s Head

6/15 Philadelphia, PA : World Café Live

6/16 New York City, NY : Highline Ballroom

6/17 Fairfield, CT : Stage One

6/20 Northampton, MA : Iron Horse

6/21 Allston, MA : Brighton Music Hall

6/22 Fall River, MA : Narrows Center for the Arts

6/23 Burlington, VT : Higher Ground

6/25 Montreal, QC : Petit Campus

6/26 Toronto, ONT : Horseshoe Tavern

6/27 Pittsburgh, PA : Rex Theater

6/28 Cleveland, OH : Beachland Ballroom

6/30 Syracuse, NY : Westcott Theater

~ Kristen

p.s. Joey and Kenneth playing “Girls, Gather Round” live at the Vail Film Festival:

Watch This! New videos from Lovers Drugs, Empires, and Infantree

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Kristen

Three new videos from three great bands. Check them out!

I just saw Lovers Drugs Thursday night at The Bootleg opening for new band loves Maniac and Atomic Tom. They are doing something really cool with their EP by making a series of connecting videos for all of the songs. Their most recent video for the song, “Jackie Says” was just released last week!

Empires is one of my favorite bands out of Chicago. They just released a new video for their song, “Hello Lover”

Finally, local band Infantree puts out the COOLEST videos. Here’s their most recent for the song “Feet of Clay”

~ Kristen

Kristen’s ’10 Mix – Track 14 – The Academy Is…

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Kristen

14. “After the Last Midtown Show” – The Academy Is…

A list of songs detailing the highlights of my year would be incomplete without a song representing the trip Amanda and I took to Chicago in February to see The Academy Is… play a special show. That trip was by far one of the best of the year. We discovered several great local Chicago venues (Double Door, The Metro, Maryters), got to see one of my fave Chicago based bands, Bottle of Justus, and discovered a new Chicago band, Surrender Dorothy. Plus, of course, The Academy Is… put on a fantastic show followed by a very entertaining afterparty at Angels and Kings.

http://www.theacademyis.com/

~ Kristen

track 13: Alright, Junior
track 15: Egyptian

New Band Alert!: Empires

Posted on November 15, 2010 by Kristen

Empires may very well be my new favorite local Chicago band. They opened for Biffy Clyro at The Bootleg and I’ve been listening to their CD, Bang, on repeat since I saw them. Right now, in preparation for the release of their new music video, they are giving away a free download of one of their songs. I’d highly recommend going to their site and checking it out…http://www.weareempires.com/

~ Kristen

Biffy Clyro US mini tour

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Kristen

Very jealous of certain cities on the east coast (and Chicago) right now! For a week in September my newest band obsession, Biffy Clyro, will be in the US for a brief tour. Dates as follows:

September 13th: Allston, MA at Great Scott
September 15th: Washington, DC at DC9
September 16th: New York, NY at Brooklyn Bowl
September 17th: Philadelphia, PA at North Star Bar
September 18th: New York City, NY at Studio at The Webster
September 20th: Chicago, IL at Lincoln Hall

If you live in or near one of these cities, I’d highly recommend you go check them out! You can go here to watch all the band’s amazing videos including the newest for their single, “God & Satan”

Here’s an acoustic take on that song:

And here is my fave Biffy Clyro song:

And…I’ve just looked into plane tickets…I think I need help…

~ Kristen

First Aid Kit at Bootleg Theater

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Kristen

All I can say is FINALLY! First Aid Kit was the only group on my best of ’09 mix that I had not seen live. And to make my list as a band I’ve never seen…well that right there is saying something. But this duo from Sweden has what it takes to melt my heart; crystal clear voices ringing out in delicate harmonies. Their live set certainly did not disappoint, adding charming personalities to the list of things I love about these ladies, sisters Klara and Johanna Soderberg. They did perform “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song,” their Fleet Foxes cover which lead to my discovery of them over a year ago. They also did a couple songs out in the audience sans microphones. Fortunately the acoustics of the room (an old bra factory) were more than adequate.

Their debut album, The Big Black and Blue, is certainly worth looking into. Also, they are not in the US that often, so if you can, check them out on their current tour (dates below) before they hop back over to the other side of the pond. Opening for them is the wonderful Samantha Crain, another artist who I’ve been meaning to see live since she made my best of SXSW ’09 mix.

Check out First Aid Kit:

Samantha Crain:

US (and some Canada) tour dates:

2 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Bottom of the Hill

San Francisco, California, US

4 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Mississippi Studios

Portland, Oregon, US

5 Jun 2010

8:00 P

The Vera Project

Seattle, Washington, US

6 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Media Club

Vancouver, British Co, CA

9 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Cedar Cultural Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota , US

10 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Schubas Tavern

Chicago, Illinois , US

11 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Grog Shop

Cleveland, Ohio, US

12 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Rivoli Cabaret

Toronto, Ontario , CA

13 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Le Belmont – NEW VENUE

Montreal, Quebec, CANADA

14 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Middle East Upstairs

Cambridge, Massachuse, US

15 Jun 2010

8:00 P

The Bell House

Brooklyn, New York , US

16 Jun 2010

8:00 P

Mercury Lounge

New York, New York, US

~ Kristen

Carney Day!

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Kristen

Today is the day folks! Mr. Green Vol. I is officially out in stores, on ITunes, etc. Carney’s first full length CD has been on the precipice of release for sometime now it seems, but I’m pretty sure it’s actually happening this time. I would highly recommend everyone go out and get yourself a copy. Once again, for a taste, enjoy the video for the band’s first single, “Love Me, Chase Me” :

The release falls in the midst of a little tour…to get your taste of Carney live (trust me, you’ll love it), see if they’re coming to a town near you. And if you live in LA, I really hope you can come to The El Rey this Saturday to see the boys put on their last hometown show before heading of to NYC.

As for the rest of the dates (copied directly from Myspace):

10 May 2010

8:00 P

Casbah

San Diego, California, US

11 May 2010

8:00 P

Hotel Utah

San Francisco, California, US

13 May 2010

8:00 P

Detroit Bar