Author Archives: Eric Slager

This Saturday, Saki Records will be hosting their third annual holiday party with a little help from Chicago’s Summer Girlfriends and LA’s Kitchen Hips. Coined “A Very Girl Group Christmas,” the free, all ages party will take place after hours at Logan Square’s Saki Records (3716 W Fullerton).

Inspired by the iconic A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector and hosted by “Phil” himself, drinks will be provided by Goose Island. Kicking off at 7:00 PM, Summer Girlfriends and Kitchen Hips will be playing special arrangements of holiday music along with their own original songs.

Between sets, the staff of Saki will be spinning music to provide background for the night’s many other activities including a holiday photo booth, presents, complimentary drinks, and perhaps most important of all, a cookie potluck.

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Looking for some live music in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out this weekend’s featured show along with a more extensive weekend list below!

SCOTT LUCAS & the MARRIED MEN at The Hideout, 12/9

Chicago’s Scott Lucas & the Married Men will be at the Hideout (1354 Wabansia) on Sunday for their third annual holiday show. Formed in early 2009 by one half of Chicago rock duo, Local H, The Married Men recently released their sophomore album, Blood Half Moon. The record is out now in a limited edition of 500 numbered LPs with hand screened jackets, and you can save $9 by picking up a copy right now for just $7.99.

On Sunday, you can expect a different tone from the group with Christmas classics like “Feliz Navidad” and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” If you can’t make it, the show will also be recorded and released on the band’s website around Christmas. The holiday performance kicks off at 8:00 PM on Sunday night with local girl-group, Purple Apple. You can grab your tickets online or at the door for just $8.

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Denver based quintet, Churchill, will be bringing their folk-rock to the Beat Kitchen this Friday to share the stage with Chicago locals The Damn Choir and The Dirty Pigeons. If you’re not familiar with this particular group of bands, you can sample some tracks for yourself below, or just take my assurance that this is going to be an amazing show.

Since their formation in 2009 as a duo, Churchill has grown as a group and put a number of releases behind them along the way. After selling over 1,000 copies of their debut EP, the group moved onto their first full length effort, Happy/Sad.

Churchill’s latest release, and debut for A&M/Octone Records, Change EP, was entirely self-produced and recorded with the intention of capturing the vibe of the group’s live performance. See how they did by taking a look at the official music video for the track “Change”, above, and then checking them out live at the show on Friday.

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Looking for some live music in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out this weekend’s featured show along with a more extensive weekend list below!

The TREASURE FLEET (Record Release Show) at the Subterranean, 11/30

Chicago’s the Treasure Fleet will be at the subt tonight celebrating the release of their newest LP, Future Ways. The band, made up of members from The Arrivals, Lawrence Arms, Smoking Popes, and Sass Dragons, has been shaping their distinctive pysch-punk sound since the summer of 2010. After shelving the LP due to touring and other commitments, Future Ways is finally ready to get its release. Check out the video for the lead song and title track, “Future Ways,” below.

You can order a copy of the new LP on white vinyl directly from Recess Records for just $10. The album is on a limited run of 300 copies, so get yours before they’re gone. The 17+ show kicks off at 8:30 PM tonight at the Subterranean – 2011 W North Ave. Setting the stage for the Treasure Fleet will be Brokedowns, Audacity, and Big Eyes. Tickets are available online or at the door for $10.

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In another show of support for our neighbors to the East, today’s recommendation is for Indiana blues and Americana trio, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Hailing from the southern foothills of the “Crossroads of America,” the group will be playing their first Chicago show of the year this Saturday at Bottom Lounge.

Touring in support of their recently released fifth studio album, Between the Ditches, the Big Damn Band has been averaging an impressive 250 dates a year, bringing their captivating live show and unconventional instrumentation to audiences across the world. “Devils Look Like Angels,” the first music video from ​the new album, showcases the group’s unique sound as well as an adorably evil little girl.

Joining the Reverend are his wife Breezy on washboard and their distant cousin Aaron Persinger on a drum kit that include a five gallon plastic bucket – for which he has a sponsorship deal, of course. Hear another track from the new record and grab all of the show details you’ll need, below.

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Back in August 2011 I wrote a short piece about the debut album release shows of Bloomington, Indiana’s, Sleeping Bag. Now, nine months later, I have the pleasure to write about the indie-pop trio’s incredible follow-up and sophomore effort, Women of Your Life.

Not a Chicago release, but seeing as how Indiana doesn’t have its own Vinyl District representative, we at TVD-CHI have are more than happy to step up and represent our neighbors to the East.

While more complex tracks and deeper lyrics may show a maturation since their 2011 debut, you’ll find yourself right at home within the consistently catchy pop hooks of Women of Your Life. Take a look at the official “Still Life” video above, and listen to the album’s melodic, whistle-fueled closer, “Walk Home”, below.

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Looking for some live music in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out this weekend’s featured show along with a more extensive weekend list below!

TREEHOUSE EP Release at Double Door, 11/18

Alright, confession time: I just now heard this group for the first time while putting together this weekend breakdown, and I literally had to stop what I was doing and listen to the new 4-track EP front to back and back to front again. It’s that good. It’s Chicago drum and bass hip-hop at its absolute finest. Okay, enough from me; take a listen to the new EP, Tell No One, in its entirety, through Bandcamp, and check out the Audiotree Live video of Treehouse’s 2011 track, “Pocket Life,” below.

The 21+ show kicks off at 8:30 PM on Sunday, 11/18, at the Double Door – 1572 N Milwaukee Ave. Supporting Treehouse will be Marmalakes and The Cell Phones and you can pick up tickets at the door or online for just $8. The Tell No One EP is available for purchase now through iTunes.

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Among the ever-changing landscape of Chicago music, the roots/folk/alt-country scene has managed to stay strong. For the last few years, the core of the genre has been supported by a group of talented Chicago musicians working together as the Chicago Roots Collective.

This weekend, the CRC is bringing their fourth annual Chicago Roots Collective Festival to the Beat Kitchen for two nights of Windy City indie, roots, singer-songwriter, alt-country, and neo-folk music. One of the bands taking the stage tomorrow night is alt-rock seven piece, Band Called Catch. Check out the Audiotree Live Session recording of their track “For the Sake of It,” below.

The CRC has recently released a 15 song sampler via Bandcamp that features a selection of artists set to perform this weekend. You can stream the sampler to get yourself in “the mood,” and grab the full lineup and show details, below.

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Brooklyn indie-pop quartet, Miniature Tigers, has been on our radar for quite awhile, and the band has been keeping themselves busy for the better part of 2012 supporting their latest “top 40” and Pop art inspired LP, Mia Pharaoh.

The group is currently lending their synth-pop to an opening slot on fun’s national tour. They will be in Chicago this Thursday, 11/15, playing the Riviera Theatre – 4746 N Racine Ave., and like many of the dates on the tour, this all ages show is completely sold out.

If you didn’t manage to secure tickets, you can take a little comfort in scoring a free vinyl copy of Miniature Tiger’s newest LP, Mia Pharaoh right here. Grab all of the details on the release and giveaway, below.

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Looking for some live music in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out this weekend’s featured show along with a more extensive weekend list below!

GREEN RIVER ORDINANCE at Lincoln Hall, 11/4

Texas pop-rock quintet, Green River Ordinance will be playing Lincoln Hall this weekend on their current tour. Together for over ten years, GRO has a whole slew of accomplishments under their belt. Along with two top 40 singles, GRO has played with a number of successful musicians including Train, Counting Crows, and Bon Jovi. After leaving Capitol Records in 2010, GRO independently released Under Fire.

The 18+ show kicks off at 8:00 PM Sunday night at Lincoln Hall – 2424 N Lincoln Ave. Supporting Green River Ordinance will be Brendan James. Tickets are available online or at the door for $12, and you can pick up a copy of Under Fire on double LP for $45 through GRO’s online store.

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Happy Halloween, Chicago. Truth be told, All Hallows’ Eve is my favorite holiday. There’s just something about the fall, horror movies, and gratuitous amounts of candy that really gets me going. If you’re looking for something to do after the mad rush of local kids looking for treats, head out to the Beat Kitchen for a show with Chicago’s own, Into It. Over It.

Led by Evan Weiss, tonight’s show marks the end of the indie-rock group’s first ever full band tour. Earlier this month, in anticipation of the tour, Into It. Over It. released a music video for the track “Embracing Facts” from their latest release, Proper.

Released on No Sleep Records in September of last year, Proper, like most of Weiss’ releases, is available on vinyl in white (500), clear (750), and gray (1000) pressings. Pick up a copy through No Sleep’s online store for just $12.

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Northern California indie-punk outfit, The New Trust, will be in Chicago tonight playing Township on their fifth U.S. tour. Led by Josh Stapes of The Velvet Teen and Jealous Sound, this is the group’s first full tour since 2008 and the release of their Get Vulnerable LP.

The tour will be on hold after tonight’s show until next Monday, 11/5, as The New Trust will be sticking around Chicago to record their upcoming album, Keep Dreaming. The band will be recording with the legendary Steve Albini, who has worked with Nirvana, The Stooges, Pixies, and Cheap Trick.

The new album promises a progression from the band’s darker tones by finding it’s origins and inspirations in dreams. Staples promises that while not a concept album, “Many of the initial ideas of these new songs are from dreams I’ve been having, or music I’ve remembered upon waking.”

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If you’re anything like me, you’re counting the days until November 6th when we can finally get a break in the non-stop political barrage from every news station, social network, and wannabe politician that you know. Well, it’s time to take a much needed vacation from the drone of the pundits, and embrace some socio-political activism with Colorado hip-hop/rock outfit, Flobots.

Flobots will be in Chicago at the Bottom Lounge with Astronautalis and Mutts on Sunday night as part of their current nationwide tour in support of their third studio album, The Circle in the Square. Released at the end of August, The Circle in the Square continues Flobots’ tradition of economic, political, and social commentary laid over energetic music with rock, rap, and classical influences.

Flobots broke into the mainstream after the release of their debut LP, 2007’s Fight with Tools, and its massively successful single, “Handlebars.” Their 2010 sophomore album, Survival Story featured the track “White Flag Warrior,” a popular collaboration with Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath. Check local records shops for a copy of Fight with Tools on vinyl, and grab a CD or digital release of The Circle in the Square virtually anywhere online.

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Looking for some live music in Chicago this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out this weekend’s featured show along with a more extensive weekend list below!

QUIET COMPANY at the Beat Kitchen, 10/26

Austin-based power-pop quintet Quiet Company, will be in Chicago tonight for a show at the Beat Kitchen. Supporting their third album, We Are All Where We Belong, Quiet Company, led by Taylor Muse was recently awarded 10 honors at the Austin Music Awards including Band of the Year and Best Rock Band. We Are All Where We Belong is a distinct turn for the group, who prior to its release was considered to be Christian rock. Check out the video for the latest record’s second single, “You, Me & the Boatman,” below.

The 17+ show kicks off at 9:00 PM tonight, 10/26, at the Beat Kitchen – 2100 W Belmont. Quiet Company will be supported by Brick + Mortar, and Wally Dogger. You can pick up tickets online or at the door for just $10. You can also grab a copy of We Are All Where We Belong on colored or standard vinyl, autographed or not, ranging from $25-$30.

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