A Night in Missoula : 3 live recordings.

The Plurals

Three live recordings from a November night at the Ole Beck VFW Hall.  Lansing, Michigan's The Plurals, I Hate Your Girlfriend, and a new song by Magpies.

Turning a VFW hall into a music space is not a new idea.  However, when this particular VFW is helping to fill a void in all-ages venues, it's all the more important.  The fabled "BSMT" and "The Lab" having closed within the last year, Missoula kids did what any healthy music scene does : they kept going, found new spaces, kept booking shows.  However, the cycle continues, and the all-ages crowd got another blow this week.

Zoo City Apparel, a space that just hosted Thee Oh Sees and White Mystery, sadly announced a few days ago they will be ceasing all-ages shows.  ZCA is a clothing collective churning out the awesome "406" (check the White Mystery poster) line of clothing, which will remain in production with the help of another company who just purchased their clothing line.  The racks were put away, a fresh stage built. A short-lived, wholly DIY minded space that could have existed anywhere, holding donation, BYOB shows.  It's a monumental effort to keep an all ages space like this going, and they deserve to be applauded for selflessly making it happen in the first place.  Having seen quite a few shows there, including one last night, we're sad to see it go.

Sioux City Pete and the Beggars

Thankfully, the Ole Beck can and does host all-ages shows, and instead of slowing down, seem to be going full bore since we arrived in September.  I can only imagine this will grow exponentially with ZCA's closing.  They've done what many before them have, but also turned it into one of Missoula's most enjoyable places to see music.  It works, due to the people involved.  Endlessly hospitable.  The "most forgiving bartenders" as labeled by Kate Whittle.  Classically, the bands serve your drinks.  The shows, on average, $2-5.  The acts?  Great locals mixed with stellar touring bands like The Plurals, Sioux City Pete and the Beggars, and close neighbors Sam Platts & the Kootenai Three.  We just booked White Mystery April 10th, with a show by The Funs to follow.


BOYS

Missoula's scene is impressive for its size.  The ability to seek out noise, yet be able to drive 10 minutes to obscenely gorgeous scenery, has twisted my brain.  Shortly after moving here, one of our favorite locals, Magpies, took us on a short trek to Helena.  On Friday, we head back, this time alongside I Hate Your Girlfriend, old-school Missoula band VTO as well as Magpies.  Helena's independent scene basically consists of one venue. Jester's   Missoula bands make the trek more often than you'd think, the last time being just months ago.  Touring acts coming through are a stream of locals from a whole other area.  Different from what we're used to, it's great to watch.  I can only imagine how things will heat up as this mild winter comes to an end.  Missoula bands like King Elephant, Skin Flowers, Buddy Jackson, BOYS, and Shahs keep us heading out.

So much more to come from both sides of the country.  Stay tuned.


Sam Platts & the Kootenai Three


King Elephant

Listen : Bomb Banks - Beauty is the Beast

Jenna Caravello

When you go to shows obsessively, seek out noise, you watch a lot of bands grow.  You get to enjoy when a familiar potent live moment comes to those uninitiated.  The energy and volume making people physically react, even if they don't want to.  For well over the last year, a band called Bomb Banks has been terrorizing Chicago's cramped basements and unique all-ages spaces.  More than once making everyone uncomfortable, making them yell and scream back, impatiently shift, or start a circle pit.  However, there's no schtick here.  Just energy.

Together, a consistently entertaining three piece that's constantly evolving after dozens of shows, yet you could probably count the times they've played a "normal venue" on one hand.  They'd like to play your all ages show, please

Not People is out now on cassette via Love Lion. If you're in Chicago on Wednesday, RSVP to their Empty Bottle show for free entrance and spend that money supporting a great local tape label.

10 of our favorite photos we took in 2012.

2012 was intense.  A heavy year for Chicago, and many other places.  The windy city saw two of it's best DIY spaces shut their doors, others open, and the cycle continues.  We are a resilient bunch.  Bands we loved last year continued to grow and prove that the Chicago underground is still alive and will remain so.  As we type this from Missoula, Montana, this article by Kate Whittle, our new friend in the northwest, hits close to home.  We can already see the sprouts being planted for 2013.  We're eager to return to our windy city we call home in the summer, but there's work to be done here.  There's a lot up our sleeve for the new year, and we couldn't be more excited.  Missoula has a lot in common with Chicago, and it's been amazing to document, explore, and dig into.

Chicago was on fire when we left, and we hope you're taking advantage of it.  Get into the basement.  Even though we're out of town, we're keeping a watchful eye on it all, so watch our social media for the more gnarly shows you should attend in 2013.  Acts like The Funs, Heavy Times, Toupee, The Hecks, ONO, countless others playing their hearts to dust in cramped basements and dark spaces.  We'll have another year in review for 2012 in January.  Footage of the Sonic Coalition.  There's a ton of great things coming soon.  While you wait, here are 10 of our favorite moments we captured as the year flew by.  Thanks for the kind words and support.  It means a lot.  Onward!  


April Camlin, with her alter ego, Glucuous. Mortville. Part of a benefit for C.A.K.E.



A "Brain Frame" production.  The amazing Lyra Hill holding the hand of Tyson Tortensen.



Columba Fasciata at the final "Enemy" show.



Ian Williams, before Battles played Bottom Lounge.



Kevin J. Frank, Jay Ryan and crew channel Fugazi as a performance labeled "Instrument".  This was during the spectacular yearly PRF BBQ.



ONO.  Permanent Records.  Record Store Day 2012.




Impossible basement crowdsurfing at Situations.  The first ever "Chicago Sonic Coalition".   More info 



Running.  Record Store Day 2012.  Take 10 minutes and listen to the audio equivalent of getting away with murder.



Snacks : the best party you probably never went to.  Like Running, this is true punk rock in 2012.  Their drummer (who also hits things for an equally impressive band that shares members called Close Hits) is currently in school in another state, but when he comes back, this happens.  Keep an eye out.



Thee Oh Sees in our new temporary residence, Missoula, Montana.  This is a DIY-minded arts and clothing collective called "Zoo City Apparel".  Stay tuned.

Watch : Reggie Watts live at The Badlander. Missoula, MT.

This town continues to amaze us.  Reggie Watts grew up in Montana, so naturally, he had a lot to say at The Badlander in Missoula on a cold December night.  The Badlander "complex" is part of a multi-venue space nestled downtown.  The Badlander as a venue reminds me of a western Empty Bottle, whereas the basement space, The Palace, has vibes of the Cake Shop in NYC.  There's also a pretty great bar and casino attached under the name Golden Rose.  Having spent a little time in each in a few short months, I'm sure there's hundreds of stories for each room.  I even have a few myself.  Reggie continues to prove that he's one of the most well-rounded acts around.  Blending music and comedy in a performance is something so many others try and fail to do well.  He nails it.  Chris Fairbanks, another hilarious Montana native, and "the only other working Montana comic", opened.  Thanks to The Badlander for hosting.

Watch : Football (the band)

Football is, for now, a great-american rock n' roll past-time from the likes of Jered Gummere, R. Srini, Jim Hollywood, and Mike Lust.  A big squishy mess of local good guys.  A few of them just moved to Milwaukee for some reason.  They've been in the Ponys, Baseball Furies, Hot Machines.  Ridiculously solid noise and hooks, with the energy of a bunch of 16 years olds.  Catch them the next time they play, as Chicago Reader put it, they're indeed the "best band that could self-destruct at any moment".

Watch : Doomsday Student - "World Without Teeth"

You know who these men are. They have been other men. 

Who they were before does not matter. What matters most is who they are now. 

These men, with two menacing guitars, violent drums, and persuasive words will control your thoughts. They will build bunkers out of your bones. They will make weapons out of your teeth. They will drink your tears and feed on your meat. 

They will.

Filmed at Empty Bottle.

European tour is wrapping up.  Check the dates.  Enjoy.  

Watch : Thee Oh Sees in Missoula, Montana.

Missoula's beauty is impossible to avoid.  It's essentially nestled in between a gigantic mountain range, and the whole downtown is in their shadows.  When we first told people we were visiting, a good lot of great folks in Chicago had a lot of positive things to say.  Alex White told us to go to Ear Candy Records.  Many told us of good spots to eat, venues to hit up, and people to meet.  For that we're grateful.  After the visit in August, for many reasons, we decided to move here for the winter, and return to Chicago in spring.  More on that later.

Sadly, a great DIY spot called The Lab shut down just before we jumped ship over here for the winter.  We missed Total Fest by mere weeks.  However, what we did realize upon arrival, is that many here share the same ideals as those in Chicago, and everywhere in the world.  They love playing music, creating, and helping each other make a good environment people feel comfortable in.  It's nice to be back in a state where the "shake a day" is considered normal.  The music scene here is surprisingly strong.  

Regardless, we'll get more into that as we keep digging into this scene.  So far, we've tagged along on a roadtrip to a show with bands like The Magpies and Skin Flowers.  Shot a birthday party for local radio station KBGA, and filmed touring and locals alike.  There's some great things going on here, and the vibe is unlike anywhere else we've ever been.

To kick things off, here's a wild set by Thee Oh Sees.  Dwyer talked with us a little about the Coachwhips reunion happening soon.  It was a great show that reminded us of the rowdiness of the city we left.  Missoula can get down when they want to, and I'm sure as people try to shed the grasp of a bitter winter, we'll dig a little deeper down into what people are really all about here.  This was filmed at a local clothing and arts collective called Zoo City Apparel.  ZCA is ran by some great folks a few of you may know, and it's ran like a DIY venue, because that's essentially what it is.  Entry is cheap.  You bring your own beer.  It's refreshing to see kids turning out for most of the shows.

So, this is the first of many videos we'll be posting of our new environment.  Chicago will still be a main focus on this blog until our return in the summer, as we have a ton of unposted footage and things we're working on.  We'd definitely suggest you follow the Facebook and Twitter for some juicier, hyper-local bits, but we've never been big on "upcoming show" posts or news you can find 800 other places.  Thanks to Thee Oh Sees, ZCA, and Missoula in general for such a warm welcome.   Enjoy. 

Watch : Pile's Rick Maguire sing us a few songs solo after a set at Swerp Mansion.

Pile is a band from Boston.  We originally heard about them when a buddy from Milwaukee wouldn't stop raving about their record "Magic Isn't Real", and they just so happened to be playing Casa Donde the next night, so we went to check it out.  As you can see in that video, they're great live.  Pile used to be just Rick Maguire, playing the songs he has written.  He's since recruited a stellar team of hard hitting cohorts that are really something to see live.  He was nice enough to play us a few songs solo after a show we set up at Swerp Mansion.  We'd suggest you catch Pile when they come through your town.  They're spectacular.  Rick is joined by Fax Holiday's Erick Schermerhorn, and the songs include "Haunt", "The Moon", and more.  Enjoy!  

UH BONES : Live at Swerp Mansion

Chicago continues to pump out killer newer bands happy to give a nod to old classics, or in some cases, tear up new alleyways.  While Uh Bones aren't re-inventing the wheel, they're certainly putting a good spin on it, and garnering themselves good enough press in the meantime..  Just recently adding The Yolks' Nathan Johnson on keys certainly should add some good layers to all of this.  Folks from Get Bent and Sex Beat have stated "Chicago, your secret is out" and "you ought to have a new favorite band."

Killer bands like Lechuguillas, Running, Piss Piss Piss Moan Moan Moan have and will continue to blow your eardrums for months, or even years with little to no attention outside a core group of kids getting their minds blown comfortable in dark spaces.  Some of these acts lay waste to basements and houses for years, stoked to just be able to play for kids who love it and want to be there.  They break up at their most potent.  It's what our favorite moments, and this website, has tried to cautiously purvey over the years.  They want to play, for you.  Shit, you want a tape?  Take it.  Want a shirt?  How much do you have?  Uh Bones are no exception.  A welcome addition to Chicago's roster of fuzzy rock n' roll, they're great, and just warming up.  This was a show we recently hosted in 2012 at Swerp Mansion that included newly formed Massive Ego, New Diet, and Boston's PILE.  One of the many bands with a song on that killer Manic Static compilation.  Underrated, for now.  Enjoy.

Bellini - Live in Chicago - 2012

Bellini is a band "from Catania, Sicily, Dallas, Texas & New York City, New York."  They were in town to record their newest LP with Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, so they played two shows at Quenchers.  Opening each show were a wide array of friends including Coffin Pricks, Ifihadahifi, and Fake Limbs.  Technical difficulties of night one aside, we thought it was still a damn fine show. 

Some info from their site Snowing Sun : "Bellini is a rhythmic, tight, beautifully aggressive quartet consisting of Agostino Tilotta, his wife Giovanna Cacciola (both also of Italy's famed Uzeda), bassist Matthew Taylor (the Romulans) and drummer Alexis Fleisig (Girls Against Boys).  Though retaining some of the basic elements of their former selves, Bellini are more focused, more structured and more rhythmic than ever before.  They embody the true spirit of perseverance and punk rock, making uncompromising, honest music strictly for the brutal love of it."

Damn straight.  Look for that new record soon.