Radio Free Chicago

Lykke Li @ Bottom Lounge 8/7/2009

(by John Brunner)

Friday night at the Bottom Lounge was reminiscent of the storms that swept through the city and Lollapalooza earlier in the day.  Odds are someone, out of their control, randomly lost their power-as with UK’s rising pop sensation Esser. You sheltered yourself from the rain through covering up, as Stockholm’s electro-dance outfit Miike Snow covered up their identities. Yet through the sporadic downpours, you let yourself get lost in the moment and end up having more fun than you would imagine in the way only Lykke Li could have delivered that evening.

Get on the List: Art Brut @ SubT 8/14

Do these guys live here now? It seems like they play here more than a lot of local acts do. Well, if for some reason you still haven't had a chance to check out the cheeky stylings of Art Brut live yet, we've got your hook-up. Just drop us a line to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Back already, Art Brut?" in the subject line for your chance to get on the list with a +1 for this Friday's show at Subterranean.

(note: if you don't make it out to the SubT on Fri, you have yet another chance this weekend to catch them Saturday at the Green Music Fest)

Josh Ritter @ Metro 7/31/09

Before Josh Ritter's recent gig at the Metro, I knew his stuff. I liked his stuff. Would I have considered myself a Josh Ritter fan? Probably not. He was a cool enough guy making good music but for some reason, I was never drawn to him the way most of my peers were.  However, at my friend Chad's insistence, I decided to delve into his discography further and go to his show at the Metro and I'm thrilled that I did.

I go to a lot of concerts, but Josh Ritter might be the best showman I've ever seen, which is saying quite a lot. Of all the shows I was planning on seeing in June, Josh's was honestly the one I was least excited about. However, after seeing how much Josh and his backing band genuinely love what they do, my apathetic attitude gave way to the utmost respect. Throughout each song on his lengthy set list, Josh could barely suppress his smiles. His excitement for being on stage in front of about a thousand people and his adoration for his craft was infectious. Watching Josh grin in the middle of a lyric, it's hard not to smile yourself.

Josh Ritter - Empty Hearts

David Bazan Debuts New Track

The album I'm most excited for this year is by far David Bazan's first full length solo album, Curse Your Branches.  It's strange to think that the former Pedro The Lion frontman is only just now releasing his first solo album but it's true - his last release was the EP Fewer Moving Parts that was released some 3 years back.  Today, Stereogum broke the first track over on the Gum Drop.

David Bazan - Bless This Mess 

RFC Interview: Blind Pilot

One of the bands I've been anxiously awaiting to see come to Chicago this summer is Oregon's Blind Pilot.  Laid back and folkish, Blind Pilot leans just as much on the use of Neutral Milk Hotel-esque horn sections and lazily strummed acoustic guitars as it does the beautiful, calm voice of lead singer Israel Nebeker. The results are the perfect soundtrack for the type of beautiful summer day where you lack the motivation to do anything but sit in your room with a fantastic record as your only accompaniment. 

Blind Pilot is just one of the many bands hitting Lollapalooza this year and after they play day 2 of the festival, they'll be heading over to the House of Blues at 11pm to play a Lollapalooza afterparty with Ezra Furman and the Harpoons. While I still haven't been able to see them play live yet, I did get a chance to catch up with Nebeker earlier this summer for a brief interview.

Blind Pilot - I Buried A Bone

Lollapalooza Fever Hits Chicago

It's a pretty inarguable fact that the best thing to happen in Chicago every year, music-wise, is Lollapalooza and this year isn't any different. In fact, 2009's Lollapalooza might have the best lineup a festival's ever seen. Of course, the popular misconception is that the event starts when Manchester Orchestra hits the stage at 12:15. However, I'm inclined to think differently because to me, the real start is going to be at Metro Thursday night when The Decemberists play their official Lollapalooza kick off gig.

Kick off gigs and after parties are always one of my favorite things about Lollapalooza. The highlight of last year's festivities for me was Okkervil River's post-show gig at Schuba's and this year, Fleet Foxes, the Arctic Monkeys, Delta Spirit and Blind Pilot will all be playing various after parties at venues around Chicago.  The Decemberists gig to me, though, is the most interesting as they're doing the popular show trend of late of letting fans pick the set list (you can cast a vote for your favorite songs here). Personally, I've put the first Decemberists song I ever fell in love with, "Red Right Ankle," on my ballot.

RFC Interview: Kevin Devine

Kevin Devine just might be the best kept secret in indie folk. He is the type of musician that, while singing, makes you feel like he's singing to you, telling you his secrets, his feelings, his fears and his doubts. This Friday, he'll be playing day one of Lollapalooza with his Goddamn Band but before that, he'll be hitting up The House Cafe in DeKalb for a solo acoustic show on Wednesday which, in my opinion, is worth the hour and a half-ish drive for any fan, be they casual or more devoted.  Kevin is, as anyone who saw him in May at Schuba's would agree, quite stellar with his band but where he really shines is on his own.  

Kevin Devine - "It's Only Your Life"