Watch : Ryley Walker w/ Andrew Scott Young

A few months ago I received an e-mail from Dustin Drase of Plus Tapes. “I've got this guitar wunderkid that we're putting out. The kid is incredible, I really want to chronicle what he's doing. He's like a young John Fahey / Tim Buckley.

Already a fan of Ryley Walker, I kept a more keen eye on when he was playing, and tried to attend every time. If I did have my cameras, most were entirely dark unfilmable affairs like a full-band warehouse show, or the new back room of the Burlington, bathed in black and red.

After an almost pitch-black set by Jake Acosta, the space enthusiastically produced at a lamp that fit so well with the warmth of this show. Julie Byrne followed, opting for the side of the room, in a warming setup of lights and candles. Bill Satek (Lechuguillas) gave a solo noise-guitar freakout that ended with rapping from the audience. Bones supposedly finished this night out, but I was on the road by then. An extremely enjoyable Teen River tape release show for Julie Byrne.

Andrew Scott Young of Mines / Tiger Hatchery joined Ryley on bass.

So, Dustin, this is for you, those who weren't there, or those who want to relive it.

Teen River

Julie Byrne :

The Funs - "Memorize Me"

Two piece "buzz fuzz" from Chicago. This was at Casa Donde with the mighty PILE, from Boston, and Mines! Pile needs to get back to Chicago. One of our favorite shows of 2011.

the funs

Bitchpork 2011 #1 : FAT WORM OF ERROR.

"We'd like to thank the CHICAGO POLICE for letting us have this party..."

The first video in our 'Biiitchpork' series. Fat Worm of Error are a band from Northampton, Massachusetts. They formed in 2002. Bitchpork was a music festival held on Chicago's south side. It included over 40 touring and local bands like Warhammer 48K, Work/Death, Running, Andy Cigarettes, Lechuguillas, Radar Eyes, and ONO.

Fat Worm of Error

Watch : WHITE MYSTERY at the 2011 Hideout Block Party!

White Mystery played the 15th annual Hideout Block Party! Shilling out loud-ass tunes from their new record, and a few old ones peppered in for good measure. The band hasn't slowed down a bit since the last time you saw them, only upping the volume on the knob, screaming and bashing away, and touring like tomorrow might not come.

White Mystery are consistently good live, and have been long-time fans of the DIY scene in Chicago. You could often catch White Francis chugging down 40's in the Mopery. In fact, that's where we met them. They have a slick new VIDEO out for the Blood and Venom track "Birthday" that just so happens to be directed by Echotone's Nathan Christ. SMASHY! Enjoy :

Watch : Paper Mice play new songs at Ball Hall...

If for some reason you live in Chicago and don't know Paper Mice, now is a good time to get acquainted. They've been tearing apart DIY spots and stages around Chicago for years. New songs like "Cannon Fodder" and the busted-out-for-the-first-time "Banking Up the Wrong Tree" made the smiles on the crowd a bit bigger than normal this night. Absolutely stellar. Enjoy.

Watch : Julian Koster play us a song in an alley (plus Olivia Tremor Control photos)

Here's a special one for you. Julian Koster and Robby Cuchiarro play "Spare the Dark Streets" in...well, a dark alleyway behind Bottom Lounge.



Last year, in October, Music Tapes did one of their "Holiday Surprise" tours, in which they stopped at people's homes for a small group of people to play holiday inspired songs. Singing saw, banjos with bows, horns, mechanized human towers, games, singing mice. The whole thing brought a smile to our face for weeks. It was one of the best shows I ever attended, both musically, and for the environment.

Well, last night, Julian Koster brought his Music Tapes fellows, along with the 7 foot metronome, to open up for Olivia Tremor Control at the Bottom Lounge.

They were great. Playing a few old songs, and a bunch of new material from a record that will be out next year.

Olivia Tremor Control seemed to have fun on stage, laughing off sound issues. It was a great set, filled with cuts from their past, with new material. There was an eleven year old boy present (who appeared to be accompanied by his father and Michael Martello from Nothingheads / Absolutely Not). He ended up giving them a tape of the songs he recorded. The band shook his hand and said they were surprised he has recorded already. OTC dedicated a song they "weren't expecting to play" to him. Cutest goddamn thing ever.

We asked Julian Koster to play us "Spare the Dark Streets" in the alley behind Bottom Lounge, so he grabbed his banjo, and Robby Cuchiarro, and they did just that. Magic.

PHOTOS :












MUSIC TAPES
PREORDER BOTH OTC REISSUES HERE

Watch : Songs from LOOSE DUDES final show at Empty Bottle...

"R.I.P Punk Rock" Loose Dudes played their last show on June 27th. People bought beers just to throw at them. Running opened, and all was well with the world.

Enjoy...

Listen to Rabble Rabble's 7" Release Show tonight at Empty Bottle...

We arrive to the Rabble Rabble 7" Release Show at Empty Bottle to find a line. It was 11:30, when they were scheduled to go on. Distractions and We are Hex played earlier.

10 minutes later...




Sold out. Everyone threw beer all over each other.


Rabble Rabble band dot com

Cover art / poster / design by Zissou of Fug Screens