Bloc Party creates summer vibe inside Aragon, 3-28-09

The weather outside was frightful, but Saturday night inside the Aragon, felt like a bonfire at the beach in the middle of summer.

This group from England knows how to throw a concert. There was a palpable energy around the ballroom. The music made people happy and embrace the statement “dance like no one is watching.”

As a leading man, Kele Okereke, demands attention, but he started out the show with a thank you. ” Thanks for coming out on this shitty night.”  He reminds me a bit of the lead singer from Living Color….he is the cult of personality, but there is a softer side to him as well…thank you Sears. He has a passion for his music, eyes closed, beating chest in time to the music when he is not strumming his guitar.

They played for about 75 minutes which is longer than the standard anymore. They seemed genuinely excited to be playing for Chicago. They supposedly passed on a big gig at the electronica music festival in Miami  because he was sick, but he recovered quickly “not wanting to disappoint 4,000 fans in Chicago!”

Bloc party is a rock band. They do better with bangers like “mercury” than quiet, pensive songs like “signs”. “mercury” is in retrograde, sent me on an internet chase to see if that rift was from peter gabriel’s “shock the monkey.” Many think it is and the video supposedly goes a little ape shiz. And in other homage news….an instumental paid great props to My Bloody Valentine!!! The cover of their most recent album “intimacy” showing the love to MBV’s “glider.”

This band has a littany of sounds and styles, but they all seem to mesh together well. There were definitely new and old fans alike. The loyalists singing all the words when “helicopter” landed and “this modern love” rang out. It was one of the better shows I have seen lately. New music discovered because of a great live show is so much more fun to absorb.

I hope they make it on to the Lolla bill again. Don’t miss any chance to see these guys.

Cooper out.

Wild!!!!

 

Arcade fire + spike jonze + maurice sendak = brilliant squared. I cannot wait for this!!!

 

posted by Cooper

Regina Spektor’s new disc “Far”, on the horizon

Thanks to a friend I count Regina as one of my favorite live performers. I would have never ventured to see her at Lolla 2007. She is quirky and cute and talented and endearing. It has been three years since she released “begin to hope.”

Her new album far is in it’s final stages nipping and tucking and should be hitting headphones the last day of June. She has some new producers she has enlisted. The primary being legend Jeff Lynne, who has worked with the likes of Tom Petty and George Harrison. I hope he/they let Regina keep it quirky.

 

posted by Cooper

Lily Allen: It’s Not Fair

I don’t think I could love her any more.

Posted by Garvey

Tina Dico, Schuba’s 3-22!!

 

Tina Dico is a lanky blonde from Denmark. Nothing is rotten in the state where she comes from. She took over the stage at Schuba’s on Sunday night and had the crowd eating out of her hand. She is best known on this side of the pond for her vocal contributions to Zero 7, which is great in it’s own rite, but it is kind of like saying Chicago is a town in Illinois.

Most of her material was from her new album “a beginning, a detour, an open ending” which she claimed were actually 3 EP’s. The concept of  many paths and roads repeating often.  She channels someone older; someone who has been broken and wishes to share her mistakes so others don’t tread in her shoes. Tina is fixated on people who are stuck. Her lyrics are not easy. Her smooth delivery coats the pain.

The song “stains” was especially grand and she told a story about it having a hold over her.

She had a guitarist and a guest vocalist from Iceland, Helgi Jonsson. Their chemistry on stage was palpable. The vocals  from the icelandic one added a layer of ethereal spark. His passion on the trombone, piano and in his voice a great addition to Tina’s cool delivery.  She has a great voice that is powerful, yet vulnerable.

She had just performed at the ubiquitous SXSW earlier in the week. One can hope that she makes it big here in the US, but it is nice to have her as a little off the beaten path performer that you can catch at Schubas on a Sunday night.

Thank you Tina. Hurry back please.

Posted by Cooper

Rihanna Hearts Guns?

Rihanna recently unveiled new tattoos – hand guns on her ribs!  Is it me or does it seem like some kind of unconscious need for protection???  I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’… 

Posted by Garvey

You Might Like Lucky Bitch

10 reasons you will like the band, Lucky Bitch.

1. You feel a burning need to listen to slutty classic rock played by hot chicks.
2. You like Mexican food and margaritas.
3. You can totally relate to songs titled, I Was So Drunk I Was Crying, and Fuck That Bitch.
4. You collect hand decorated CDs.
5. You appreciate bitches who refer to themselves as bitches.
6. You love the band Northern State and any side projects that its members take on.
7. You like to party.
8. You like to drink.
9. You like to jump around and dance.
10. You like to rock.

Check out Lucky Bitch, I think you’ll like them. Here’s their myspace page. You can order their hand decorated EP, Easy On The Ice, here for only 5 buckaroos. And, last but not least, you can grab Easy On The Ice on itunes here – www.itunes.com/luckybitch.

Posted by Garvey

Lady GaGa Chicago

Lady GaGa was in town last night for two sold out shows at House of Blues. She hit up the B96 radio station yesterday and did a pretty sweet acoustic performance of Poker Face. Check it out –

Posted by Garvey

Ida Maria – I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked

I love this song and I love top hats.

Posted by Garvey

Aw, Elvis, You So Sweet!

In case you didn’t already find Elvis to be a bit disturbing, a poem that he wrote and apparently used to recite on stage all the time is currently up for auction. The poem is a lovely little number about a bird singing so sweetly and then Elvis crushing it’s skull. How nice. Please read that last sentence as, dripping with sarcasm. Why anyone would want to own this window into Elvis’ neurosis is beyond me, but the current bid is over 7 grand. Of course bidding is anonymous, but I can think of at least one famous person off the top of my head who might enjoy a poem about animal abuse. And that person’s name rhymes with Shlichael Shlick.

Here’s a shot of the poem. And, in all seriousness, it is pretty disturbing, so consider this fair warning.

Posted by Garvey