Chicago Snacks

Bootless

Brian — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:29:41 +0000

I guess this is still a blog. I’ve just been so busy raising a family, working a bunch at Epitonic.com, doing freelance PR and I just started managing a band from Ireland called Autumn Owls. So I guess if there’s something I really want to talk about I will… Though I think we can safely say it’ll be months between posts.

Big’n Big’n Cha-cha-cha

Brian — Fri, 06 May 2011 13:11:31 +0000

Every time I think about Chicago noise-dealers, Big’n, I also think of Al Bundy. I can’t help it that I was raised by a 27″ Sony CRT and basic cable! His favorite reading material was a girly mag called Bigguns. It was probably an abrasive and unapologizing skin mag… which brings me back to Big’n. My mind works in mysterious (read: psychotic) ways.

Big’n's heyday was the mid-’90s. They were putting out albums and recording splits with the likes of Shellac and Oxes. It’s been over 10 years since their last release, well, until May 2nd when they released a four-song EP via French label African Tape, called Spare The Horses. It’s a 10″ vinyl import, so you might not find it at Target. Definitely track down at least a digital copy if you’re into mind-numbingly abrasive vocals that saw through your eardrums like a rusty hacksaw (care of singer William Atkins) and/or sludgy noise-rock with a heavy emphasis on syncopated beats. The EP was recorded by Greg Norman at Electrical Audio and mastered by Carl Saff (full disclosure: Saff also mastered Motion Turns It On’s album, Kaleidoscopic Equinox, which I released on my Chocolate Lab label last year.).

You can check out the song “Long Pig” at this link: http://official.fm/tracks/217209

www.myspace.com/bignchicagonoise

Epitonic Has Risen!

Brian — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:00:32 +0000

It’s been a crazy few weeks leading up to it, but on Tuesday March 8, Epitonic.com relaunched. I’ve been doing their PR for the past couple months and I’m also an editor, so I’m a little partial, but I wasn’t always associated with them and have been praising the site and lamenting their 2004 shut-down for years. March 8 was the 12th anniversary of the original 1999 site launch and I helped secure some of the 12 songs that we premiered including The Wrens, Marissa Nadler and Cast Spells. Go get your free download on!

Speaking of Cast Spells, Dave Davison’s side project, Maps and Atlases (joking!) are playing Lincoln Hall tonight. I’m looking forward to the show as I haven’t seen them live in quite a spell.

www.mapsandatlases.org

Lures and Sinkers

Brian — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:12:06 +0000

Go Dan Sinker! The Columbia College instructor and former Punk Planet honcho announced today that he was the (cussy) voice behind @MayorEmanuel. Actual mayor elect, Rahm Emanuel offered $5000 to the charity of choice for the real person behind the Twitter account to come out. Um… we’re sort of like a charity, Dan.

Asobi Seksu at Empty Bottle Tonight

Brian — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 17:11:16 +0000

What more can I say? Go to this show if you’re around tonight. Asobi Seksu with Brahms at Empty Bottle, 2/28 (tonight).

Click Here To Download & Share “Trails” (Deerhoof Remix)
Click Here To Download & Share “Trails” (Holy Other Remix) & (Painted Palms Remix)

Gang of Four Coming to Metro (Friday), Letterman Tonight

Brian — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:07 +0000

Gang Of Four will make their first late night television appearance in 22 years this Tuesday, February 8th, on The Late Show with David Letterman. The band will perform first single “Never Pay For The Farm” of the new album “C O N T E N T.”

Founding members Andy Gill and Jon King, along with rhythm section Mark Heaney and Thomas McNiece, are currently on a North American tour with a Feb 11 stopover in Chicago at the Metro.

www.gangoffour.co.uk

Smith Westerns

Brian — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 20:27:13 +0000

Chicago’s Smith Westerns are heading out on tour. Their new album, Dye It Blonde came out on Fat Possom on Jan 18. So there.

Smith Westerns – “All Die Young” by forcefieldpr

Tour Dates:

01/28 Nashville TN The End*
01/29 Knoxville TN Pilot Light*
01/30 Chapel Hill NC Local 506*
01/31 Athens GA 40 Watt Club*
02/01 Atlanta GA Drunken Unicorn*
02/03 Orlando FL Backbooth*
02/04 Tallahassee FL Club Downunder
02/05 Baton Rouge Spanish Moon
02/06 Houston TX Fitzgeralds*
02/07 Austin TX Emos *
02/08 Dallas TX The Loft*
02/10 Phoenix AZ Rhythm Room*
02/11 Los Angeles CA Echo*
02/12 Costa Mesa CA Detroit Bar*
02/13 San Francisco CA Bottom of the Hill*
02-15 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
02-16 Vancouver, British Columbia – Biltmore Cabaret
02-17 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Cafe
02-18 Boise, ID – Neurolux
02-19 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
02-21 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
02-22 Kansas City, MO – The Record Bar
02-23 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
02-24 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
02-25 Madison, WI – The Frequency
02-26 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
02-28 Toronto, Ontario – Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
03-01 Montreal, Quebec – La Sala Rossa
03-02 Boston, MA – Great Scott
03-04 Washington, DC – Rock and Roll Hotel
03-16 – 03-19 Austin, TX – SXSW

* = w/ Yuck

Epitonic

Brian — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:05:47 +0000

Garg! I thought I was going to be flush with free time this year and could really get my blog on, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Fortunately, the case is that I’ve been retained by the newly relaunching Epitonic.com to handle their publicity (with a side of content editing). So I’ve been working non-stop to help get the content for the new site and put together some great press stories about the upcoming launch.

I will try to write here when I can, but you should check out www.epitonic.com and follow us on twitter @epitonic and my personal account, @BrianAtEpitonic.

One of the Web’s first editorial music discovery sites offering free and legal MP3s is back!

Longterm Plans – Maps and Atlases @ LH, 3/11/11

Brian — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:46:29 +0000

Maps and Atlases w/ Light Pollution, Gypsyblood
Friday, March 11 (3/11/11)
Lincoln Hall
2424 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL

I think they’re playing 311′s Transistor in its entirety. Don’t quote me on that.

Mister Heavenly at Lincoln Hall Tonight

Brian — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:33:15 +0000

Sub Pop’s newest sooper group, Mister Heavenly will be at Lincoln Hall tonight, Jan 14. The band is comprised and compromised by of Nick Diamonds (Islands/Unicorns), Honus Honus (Man Man) and Joe Plummer (Modest Mouse).

They have a free EP available, so check it out then pack a knapsack for a show in the city.