Kevin McKeough pretty much nails this Chicago Tribune review of Roky Erickson Blackout Fest-closing performance at the Empty Bottle Sunday, May 20th. The only thing I would add is that in those moments when Roky slipped or in Kevin's words was most "vulnerable", his bandmates were there to break his fall. Without the least bit of hesitation or frustration they got him right back on track.
It's hard to imagine a song like "You're Gonna Miss Me" not having some kind of effect on the listener. In the context of the now 64 year-old psych pioneer's long observed "vulnerability" it seems almost impossible. I mean, Roky's story is kind of a sad one no matter how you look at it. It's difficult not to think of him as a victime in one way or another.
The show probably wasn't supposed to leave me with a case of the warm-and-fuzzies, but that's what cheering for Roky did. I'll bet I wasn't the only one who felt like they were rooting for the (two-headed) underdog.
Read the Tribune review below, then head over to Tinygrooves.blogspot.com and check out some great live footage of the performance.
Wednesday, April 4th at Empty Bottle w/ Keep Shelly In Athens and Jonquil
After three years, Chicago favorites Speck Mountain have finished recording their new album Badwater and have begun sharing their new work at monthly live shows. In both instrumentation and vibe, Badwater's sound is different than their previous two albums, swarming with analog synths and guitar solos. As opposed to their previous method, which consisted of duo Karl Briedrick and Marie-Claire Balabanian writing the songs exclusively and bringing in musicians for recording and live shows, Badwaterwas prepared for and recorded with a full band, which lends itself to a more energetic and rhythmic sound. Speck Mountain's current band includes mainstays Karl Briedrick and Marie-Claire Balabanian, ex-Chin Up Chin Up drummer Chris Dye, and former Cleveland church organist, Linda Malonis.
Badwater will be released in the fall via Carrot Top Records. Don't miss the chance to hear songs off the album on Wednesday, April 4th at the Empty Bottle with Keep Shelly In Athens and Jonquil.
Yesterday afternoon Mikal Cronin stopped in Jersey City's WFMU studios to do a live broadcast on Three Chord Monte.
Cronin, whose Trouble In Mind released debut full-length has been getting some much deserved praise, is currently on tour with Ty Segal and Human Eye. The package makes a stop at the Empty Bottle this Saturday night (10/1) and it should be a blast.
A personal highlight was the cover of the previously mentioned Flamin' Groovies killer "Shake Some Action".
Grouper - Hold by ROOM40 Grouper performs tonight @ the Empty Bottle as part of the ninth installment of the Adventures in Modern Music festival, organized in conjunction with authoritative UK periodical The Wire. Also performing tonight - Vockah Redu & The Cru, Starlicker, Carlos Giffoni
This time next week you should be planning on going to the Empty Bottle to help our friends Rabble Rabble celebrate the release of their new 7"!
To sweeten the deal We Are Hex and Distractions will also be playing. if that wasn't enough, you will also be able to visit the saki-sponsored photo booth! Get your photo taken in front of a giant screen-printed backdrop of Rabble Rabble's 7" cover art, which is pretty freakin' sweet. Oh, and did we mention that the show is free?!? Well, it is!
We're gonna have a real cool time, so mark your calendars, RSVP, and we'll see you there.
This should be a pretty rockin' show and the odds are you don't have anything better to do on a Monday night. Don't just take my word for it, see what the Onion's A/V Club had to say
saki has a few exciting ticket giveaways coming up in February and March and there are even more to come! For any of the shows listed below, all you have to do is come in to saki and buy any item from any of the bands on the bill and we'll get you into the show for FREE! It's that easy - buy good music and then get to see it live for FREE. Listed below are the shows we're giving away right now. Make sure you check our newsletters, facebook, twitter, events page, or this here blog, to stay up to date on all our events and promotions at saki!
Saturday, March 12th 10pm @ The Empty Bottle Obits w/ Jaill & Loose Dudes *** The new Obits album Moody, Standard and Poor comes out on 3/29. Since this is after the date of the show, you can come in and pay for your copy ahead of time and we'll have it here waiting for you on the 29th. Or you can just buy something from Jaill or Loose Dudes 'cause they're purdy good too!*** Thursday, March 17th 10pm @ The Empty Bottle Sic Alps w/ CAVE & Wet Hair
There's gonna be a great show at the Bottle tonight. 4 Atlanta ladies making raucous R n' R in the Black Lips/Demon's Claw vein. The Coathanger's latest release, "Hard Candy" put out by the good folks at Die Slaughtershaus records, kicks-off with a squeal and wail A-side, then gets moody with a thumping cut called "Wife Eyes". It's a reverse attack.
They're joined by Netherfriends who just released a new LP, "Barry & Sherry" on Chicago's Lateral label, and The Runnies, who fucking kick ass.
See you there and don't miss Netherfriends at saki with Darling on November 20th!
If there's a quintessential "Denver sound" it's got to be Gothic Americana. It's dark, it's spooky, it's folky. A little bit country, a little bit rock n' roll. The style has sprouted variations all over the Centennial State and just about everywhere else. David Eugene Edwards' current project Wovenhand comes to mind. Recently defunct Denver greats Ghost Buffalo applied the gothic tinge to heavy alt-rock. Munly & the Lupercalians take the style head-on.
Truth be told, if it's laid on too thick, it can be a little kitschy. However, there's always an exception to the the rule, which brings us to...
"The existence of the underground garage rock trio The Gorieswas a rock and roll paragon: dirty, loud, fast and with an early demise. The Detroit-based band came together in the mid-'80s, building a steady cult following in the metro area before their cassette-only releases landed them a deal withCrypt Records, a Hamburg-based imprint specializing in '60s underground rock. Three official LPs on Crypt followed, and some single releases and a European tour later, the band called it quits by the early '90s. [...]
Post-breakup, members of trio were active in different bands, though all in the same vein as the one they had just dissolved: guitarist Mick Collins turned his side project,The Dirtbombs, into his primary gig, while guitarist Dan Kroha picked up the moniker "Danny Dollrod" for his stint in theDemolition Dollrodsand drummer Peggy O'Neill joined the Memphis-based '68 Comeback.
Friday at theEmpty Bottlemarks the first time that the officially reunited Gories have played Chicago in nearly two decades. Their two-night engagement will appropriately feature younger Chicago bands (who have likely taken a page or two from the scuzzy, grinding garage rockers), withWhite Mystery opening the first night, andHollows andCoCoComaopening Saturday's show." read the whole thing from the Chicagoist.com
Gentleman Jesse's debut full-length Introducingwas without a doubt one of my favorite records of '08. It's a great mix of power-pop and pop-punk. Think, Elton Motello meets The Tranzmitors. Elvis Costello meets the Exploding Hearts. Or, they've all puked in the same sink at a party hosted by The Nerves. It's a killer record from an Atlanta combo lead by Carbonas bassist "Gentleman" Jesse Smith (word on the street is he's actually a really nice dude).
I've been very excited for the chance to catch the band live. I even planned a trip to Atlanta for the annual Mess-Around festival, but unfortunately never made it. Maybe my roommate crashing the car while parking was a sign from god that we shouldn't burn the midnight oil for the next 13 hours on the road. Like lightning striking the same spot twice, or Jesus in a pancake. Then again, maybe it was just shit luck. In any case, tonight's the night and now it's only a matter of hours!
Check out this currently unreleased tune reordered live at The Earl about a year ago.
Hopefully, we'll hear that one, both side of the new Douchemaster records 7" (buy it!), and if we're really, really lucky, the cover of "Walking Out On Love" the band has been known to do.
Tonight should easily make up for the parking ticket I found under my wiper-blade this morning... (do the parking fairies go around in the dead of night tying those orange signs to trees or what?)
Last year I drove approximately 1,500 miles to see The Gories reunite (their first show since disbanding in 1993). They were paired with their one-time Crypt labelmates The Oblivians at Detroit's Majestic Theater. It was well worth 15+ hours in the car. Seriously.
Turns out this year I won't have to travel quite as far:
Considering how popular the style these guys (basically) pioneered has become in recent years, I would expect this show to sell out. So, get tickets and get excited... THEY'RE THE FREAKIN' GORIES!
