Radio Free Chicago

The Perfect Date: Jens Lekman & Geoffrey O'Connor

I read somewhere on the vast internet that someone stole one of my wedding ideas. They had Jens Lekman play at their wedding. If you haven't heard the Swedish crooner you will have to take my word for it, Jens Lekman is the ultimate romanitc performer any soon to be married couple could hire. The Swedish heartthrobe exraordinaire will woo every man's girlfriend, and maybe a few men on Monday night at Lincoln Hall.

 

Even with his romantic, old-school, and at many times self-deprecating lyrics, Lekman captivates his audience as if he were performing a private show for each fan. The man known for his EP's, with nearly 13 out and only two full length albums, has another one out. An Argument With Myself has been put out by Secretly Canadian, the label behind Yeasayer and Magnolia Electric Co. to name a few.On tour with Lekman is Geoffrey O'Connor, former member of Crayon Fields. With hints of trance and lounge music, this Melbourne, Australian native brings a classic old dreamy, vintage 70's feel. You can find his new album, Vanity Is Forever over at his bandcamp. Grab a Three Floyds, and maybe one for you date too, and catch Jens Lekman and Geoffrey O'Connor at Lincoln Hall Monday, October 3rd. 18 show, sold out and show starts at 9PM.

 

 

 

Wild Beasts invade Lincoln Hall Saturday

Nevermind that the blogosphere's up-and-coming buzzed Twin Sister are opening, but Linlcon Hall will be housing four British lads Saturday evening for some fine indie rock. Wild Beasts' Hayden Thorpe holds a falsetto that teeters along the edges of dream pop and indie rock. Think Bloc Party mixed with Penguin Prison, stripped of electronic or synthesized beats and supported by a much more lush, natural sound. Their latest album, Smother, was released last May as the follow-up to their Mercury Prize-nominated album, Two Dancers.

Twin Sister opens up, having just released In Heaven September 26th. The female-fronted indie pop band also shares Domino Records. Their music takes that teetering and dips closer to dream pop melodies as on "Stop", without lulling you into a haze. If you're up for a warmingly chill Saturday evening in the city, come early, enjoy the tater tots, and ease into Wild Beasts and Twin Sister at Lincoln Hall, October 1st. 18+ and $15, starting at 10:00PM.

 

An Album of Honesty, John Cusack, and Xanax

Andrew Jackson Jihad's newest release Knife Man is social
commentary at its finest, combining tragically  honest lyrics with fast paced instrumentals, inviting listeners to dance and sing along to the beauty of destruction. 

Many competing sounds make up this album, including simple stripped down tracks like "Free Bird" (no, not the one you're thinking), and expanding to more full sounding songs such as "No One." Knife Man features something for everyone, with tracks resembling those of gloomy underground British rock groups and others more closely related to good 'ole country tunes complete with guitar twang and keys. While it is clear that the duo had fun experimenting with new sounds, they still managed to keep close to their roots. Fans, both old and new, are sure to appreciate this album.

A wall is hit early on with wonderfully violent sounding "Backpack." Being so different from anything else on the album, I'm honestly not sure whether to smile or to cry while singing along to this one, which dramatically ends with “You were dead by the time that I had found you.”

The Rhythm Is Gonna Get You: Fool's Gold at Brilliant Corners This Weekend

 

So summer is over and we're all going through the fall-is-too-short-winter-don't-come blues. But put down that Pumpkin Spice Mocha-Latte no foam and winter sweater, we've got the remedy for you. LA based band, Fool's Gold is just what you need to shake your way into a happy fall. What started out as the side-project for Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov is now a tight knit band of five. After their self-titled debut in 2009, Fool's Gold diligently toured numerous cities and played festivals such as Glastonbury and Austin CIty Limits before releasing their sophomore LP, Leave No Trace. Fool's Gold plays fast, plays with precision, and plays with heart.

 

Fool's Gold takes pop music and adds African beats and rhythms to create hip shaking, feet stomping jovial music. With Luke Top (singer/bassist) singing almost every song in Hebrew this band gives a dash of much needed diversity to pop music today. Top sings more in english on the Leave No Trace LP, and is guaranteed to get your feet moving within the first four measures of, "Wild Window". Fool's Gold is music that brings people together. If you've heard them, you know exactly what I'm talking about. If you've never heard Fool's Gold before, what better way to enjoy them, than with a crowd of strangers dancing along side you at Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements. Find a good dance partner and maybe just get a date out of it! The three day festival runs September 16-18th in Chicago's Eckhart Park. Catch Fool's Gold at 6PM at the Criss/Cross Tent. Purchase tickets here. We all know that fall is upon us, it's inevitable but let us have one more dance party outside in the park before we bury ourselves in layers. 

Daydream to Dark Dark Dark in Brilliant Corners This Weekend

I bet you're sitting there in your chair, or standing if you're in one of those progressive-thinking workplaces...or a bouncy ball, thinking, "You know what? I would like a classy, relaxed evening of just pure good music. So much that I'd like to bring my friends to. The kind of evening that would leave everyone in awe of both my fine taste in music and the sheer fact we live in a great city." Well. That day is upon you, my friend! Saturday, September 17th brings Dark Dark Dark down from their homes in Minneapolis to ease you all into the colors and cornucopias of autumn. The group's album, Wild Go, came out in 2010 and swept up leaves of acclaim wherever the music managed to swing into due to its orchestral blend of Eastern European folk, chamber pop harmonies and the sweetness of singer Nona Marie's voice. It's as hauntingly beautiful as a long cherished, abandoned farmhouse with ivy overgrowing its porch steps once beridden by children's footsteps and laughter.

 

"Daydreaming" marked the official single from the debut, however you'd be cheating yourself to just stop there. Do check out "Robert", "Celebrate" and the sneakily sinister "Wild Go." You too can join the multitude of women and men who've been entranced at the Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements, September 17th at Eckhart Park at Chicago Avenue and Noble Street. Dark Dark Dark begins sharp at 6:00 PM in the Criss/Cross Tent. Tickets are available here.