Oh shit, I can see Los Campesinos twice that weekend now. That’s awesome. If they’re on the same day as Nnamdi and Girl K I’ll be very excited.
I think the only festivals left to announce their lineups are Wicker Park Fest, Taste of Chicago, Mamby on the Beach, and Riot Fest. Am I missing any that haven’t announced yet? Edit: Taste of River North and Square Roots Festival too.
Taste of River North (7/19-21). They had one awesome day last year with Masked Intruder and AM Taxi. I think Guster and Kurt Vile are playing this year based on gaps in their tour dates. Edit - Kurt Vile is playing Pitchfork. Oops. Guster still likely for a Taste though.
I just saw Car Seat Headrest is playing one of those free shows at Millenium this summer so that rules
Not sure if this has been asked before but...what's everyone's favorite venue(s) to see a show in Chicago? Least favorite venues? My favorites are probably Empty Bottle (EXCEPT, all their shows start at 9PM or a little after on weekdays, and 10PM on Friday/Saturday, which really sucks more often than not), Beat Kitchen, SubT (if it's not a sold out show), and Lincoln Hall/Schubas. Least favorites are probably Aragon and House of Blues.
I like Subt and Bottom Lounge a lot because they’re so intimate and I’ve never had sound problems there. I agree about HoB and Aragon. House of Blues when it’s sold out feels super crowded, and Aragon often has sound issues. I enjoy shows at the Vic but wish they didn’t have that weird three tiered thing going on. I’ve lived here coming up on two years and I still need to see shows at Lincoln Hall, Schubas, and Empty Bottle.
Empty bottle feels like the gold standard to go to and play at from my experience. Love like the Hideout, mixed on Subt/Beat Kitchen
Those start times at Empty Bottle are brutal. I still haven’t recovered from the Restorations show in october
I was at that show too! I usually have a good time there, and I know they do good business, but I do wonder if they started shows earlier they would get more business/crowd. It gets annoying to always be leaving there around midnight or 1AM after a show. I’d probably go there more often if they started some shows earlier.
My favorites are Bottom Lounge and Reggie's. Least favorites are HOB (when it's sold out or at high capacity) and Aragon. Outside the city: I like the Brauer House (I was there a Friday, they opened a new area with a big stage and a big floor in the back) and Durty Nellie's. Least favorites are Bada Brew (Or whatever they call this place now) and the notorious Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park.
Tell me your favorite bands or musicians from or based in Chicago/Chicagoland area. Here are mine: Ratboys Retirement Party Slow Mass Dowsing Beach Bunny Ohmme Tiny Kingdoms Owen/Mike Kinsella Pet Symmetry Into It. Over It. Joie De Vivre Options Spencer Radcliffe & Everyone Else Twin Peaks Modern Vices Chance the Rapper Kanye West Edit: Forgot to add Real Friends and, to a lesser extent, Knuckle Puck. Oh and the Chorus homies bands Not Lovely and Pelafina are great too!
Better Love Bosley Jr The Flips Mollow Retirement Party The Westward Spirit (not active or Chicago based anymore, but they were the first local band I got into when I moved up here) Forfeit (also not active anymore but still worth checking out)
I had no idea Beach Bunny is local, and also had the Twin Peaks Goose Island collab the other day. In addition to those already said, AM Taxi and Meat Wave. Prob forgetting some others.
Also forgot to mention in my venue post above (for favorite venues), add Sleeping Village. If you haven’t been there yet, it’s definitely worth checking out. The only negative is when they do their $5 shows because they start at 9:30. Most other shows start at 9, which also sucks at times, but overall I like it.
Free shows from Julien Baker, Taking Back Sunday, Vince Staples, Anderson .Paak, Converge, The Breeders, The Rapture, and a surprise guest at House of Vans this summer. House of Vans will host free summer shows from Vince Staples, Anderson .Paak and more
Trial set in murder of dismembered 2-year-old found in Garfield Park Lagoon I went to jury duty today, and this is what the trial was for. I didn't end up selected as a juror, but it was surreal to be in the courtroom with the guy and hear the charges being described.
Open Air tickets are free while supplies last! No idea if I’ll make it this weekend but I just got my free ticket in the event I end up wanting to go. Chicago Open Air Complimentary Ticket Offer
Just a friendly reminder that doesn’t need to be stated here, but will anyway as I sit in my NYC hotel: Chicago > NYC
Well this sucks for folks going to the Aragon or Riviera, although the Argyle stop is only a few blocks away. CTA to close Lawrence, Berwyn stations for more than 3 years during massive Red-Purple Line project