Author Archive

Gallows rock Chicago, fight opening band, generally be awesome

Monday, October 5th, 2009

British hardcore band Gallows played Chicago’s Reggie’s Rock Club on Saturday October 3rd.  The band, who were a bit late to begin their 8:15 All Ages-friendly set time, had a scuffle with local openers Explode and Make Up, and a few moments into their first song unanimously bolted off stage to muscle it out.

Following the long standing hardcore tradition of peace-making post-fight wrap up coverage, singer Frank Carter apologized for the incident and then performed the best rock concert I’ve seen in Chicago all year.

Say what you will about hardcore, but if you want to see a crazy show with tons of dancing, stage dives, whole-dance floor circle pits, but hate dance music and bright colored tights (I’m looking at you Girl Talk), its your best bet.

The set, littered with 16-year-old girls moshing, old guys making snide remarks from the back, ended with the song “Orchestra of Wolves.” The group encored with Black Flag’s “Nervous Breakdown” which was, again, interrupted by a fight to which Carter remarked, “Well, it looks like we’ve come full circle.”

Their most recent album Grey Britain is available now on Warner Bros.

Myebook - Gallows - Grey Britain - click here to open my ebook

Gallows come to Chicago this weekend

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

Gallows will play Chicago this Saturday, don’t miss it. Last time I saw them I drove through a a snow storm to the Metro on Super Bowl Sunday. It was worth it.  Their crass British charm make lyrics like, “I want you to wake up and remember my name / when you’re washing my cum off your fucking face” (Orchestra of Wolves, MP3 download below) somehow palatable.

Full Stream: Russian Circles “Geneva”, coming October 20th (Suicide Squeeze)

Thursday, September 24th, 2009
Russian Circles "Geneva"

Russian Circles "Geneva"

Our pals at Suicide Squeeze are streaming the new album “Geneva” by Russian Circles. Click here to listen. You won’t be disappointed. Make sure the check these guys out on tour (dates below). (more…)

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of The Mars Volta scores new film “The Burning Plain”

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

The new film from Guillermo Arriaga (“Amores Perros,” “21 Grams,” and “Babel,”) stares Charlize Theron and music by Rodriguez-Lopez. The film received an 11-minute, 36-second standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival last year.

Arriaga has referred to Rodriguez-Lopez like, “something between Chopin and Jimi Hendrix,”

(more…)

D*Face Ludovico Aversion Therapy / All Your Dreams Belong To Us

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

London-based street artist D*Face has a show up on Jonathan Levine Gallery (NYC). Images below. (more…)

A message from Brother Ali: “Win my iPod Touch.”

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Pre-order here.

MF Doom and TV On The Radio collaborate on new album?

Monday, September 14th, 2009

It could be a rumor, but that is what the folks over a YANP report today.

Datamoshing: artists turn to internet for a new way to create shitty artwork

Monday, September 14th, 2009

The New York Times  presents a sideshow of technology-fueled artwork to discuss how, “artists are engaging ever more creatively with computers.”

Um, right. Look at these disasters. (more…)

Marathon runners, crazy and into shitty music

Friday, September 11th, 2009

We already knew marathon runners were crazy (paying to run?!, what?), and now we know they have shitty taste in music too.

One thousands runners from the 13th Annual Chicago Half Marathon (taking place Sunday, Sept. 13) were polled for their favorite running songs. Here are the results: (more…)

Last of My Species, a crazy outdoor performance by Redmoon Theater

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Last of My Species had two things going against before I even arrived. First, I’ve hated about 90% of every event I’ve seen with the word “theater” in it that wasn’t prefaced by the word “movie.”

Second, I’m a live music guy, and people pretending (sorry, acting) to play along with prerecorded music on cardboard instruments didn’t intrigue me.

So it was to my great surprise, that Last of My Species: The Fearless Songs of Laarna Cortaan totally blew me away–what a blast. (more…)

Colors: Extraordinary Records by Taschen

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Extraordinary Records (Taschen / Colors)

Extraordinary Records (Taschen / Colors) (more…)

My favorite set during Lollapalooza 2009

Monday, August 10th, 2009

My favorite set of Lollapalooza happened on Saturday when Atmosphere played in front of the majority of the attending audience. (more…)

On my desk: 3 new iPod toys from Griffin

Friday, August 7th, 2009
iPod accessories by Griffin

iPod accessories by Griffin

Powerduo Reserve by Griffin lets you charge your iPod at home or in the car, as well as keep a little battery with you for emergencies juice ups.

AirCurve is this little glass block. You shove your iPod in and it makes the speakerphone A LOT louder. It is freaky how well it works.

Griffin also makes these nice leather / polycarbonate iPhone cases. Kinda flossy but practical.

Elan Form Etch Case by Griffin

Elan Form Etch Case by Griffin

On my desk today: Heidilicious

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
Heidilicious by Rankin

Heidilicious by Rankin

Heidilicious by Rankin
teNeues, New York, 2009. 144 pp., 100 color and duotone illustrations, 11¼x14½”, $65

Pure comedy, there is even a forward by Seal.

Heidi Klum by Rankin

Heidi Klum by Rankin

Heidi Klum by Rankin

Heidi Klum by Rankin

H Is For Holy Crap

Monday, August 3rd, 2009
Serious Drawings by Marc Johns

Serious Drawings by Marc Johns

Serious Drawings
by Marc Johns
144 pages, Hardcover, $19.95, TeNeus

This has been sitting on my desk for a while–just got a chance to flip through and enjoyed it.

H is for holy crap

H is for holy crap

Wold Famous Drawing

Wold Famous Drawing

We Enjoy Dressing Up As Birds

We Enjoy Dressing Up As Birds

Bill Murray's Socks

Bill Murray's Socks