Yearly Archives: 2015

Weekend Agenda: Wild Times

by 1 Comment

Looking for an excuse to leave your cave of an apartment on this gorgeous weekend? Or maybe a way to be indoors while every case of cabin fever in the city pours onto patios primed for bad decisions? We’ve got you covered, bro.

Friday, April 17

wild society flyer

The Wild Society, Ag47 Annual Showcase
Tonight, Ag47, a rad local arts collective that mentors girls ages 11-17, is putting on their annual showcase in Logan Square. There’s a $10 suggested donation and tons of cool art will be for sale. Come see what the youths are up to and support girls’ creativity and awesomeness.
3249 W Diversey, 2nd Floor
AA / $10
Check Facebook for more info!

Clearance / The Velveteens / The Hecks / Blizzard Babies
After you’re all amped on supporting local teenage art, what could be better than a good pop show? Head over to The Burlington to catch Blizzard Babies, one of my favorite local bands, playing along with Minneapolis indie pop group The Velveteens, and local pop rockers Clearance and The Hecks. This is like the perfect Emily Day.
The Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton
21+ / $10, $12 at door

Saturday, April 18

Duh you already know it’s Record Store Day Saturday. If you’re anything like everyone else we know, you’ve probably already mapped out your route based on special release 7″s, Record Store Day beer collabs, or the availability of coffee and donuts (if not, please see Sei Jin Lee’s tweet below).

If, like me, you slept on this whole thing until this very second, hoping that maybe your laziness would protect you from buying even more records, here’s a list of free in-store shows tomorrow. Harmless, free shows…happening near piles and piles of records (please help me I have a problem).

bric a brac

Bric-a-Brac Record Store Day Block Party
8:00am Free coffee from The Wormhole and free donuts from the Doughnut Vault
12:00pm Lost Lake opens with a special cocktail for the day, the Bric-a-Braquiri
1:00 pm Bands start playing! I didn’t round up set times (sorry), but here’s the order:
Ultrahazard
Gentleman John Battles
Daymaker
Son of a Gun
Proud Parents (from WI)
Tweens (from OH)
Bric-a-Brac Records, 3156 W Diversey
Free / BYOB
Check Facebook for more info!

saki

Saki Record Store Day In-Stores
Schedule:
1pm – Cheap Girls (acoustic)
2pm – Advance Base
3pm – Oshwa (Alicia solo)
4pm – Sleeping Bag
5pm – Supreme Nothing
6pm – The Sueves
Saki, 3716 W Fullerton
Free / BYOB
Check their website to learn more!

PRex

Permanent Records In-Stores
Free Dark Matter coffee and snacks!
4:30 – ADT (American District Telegraphy)
5:30 – Clearance
6:30 – buckinghampalaceSVU
Permanent Records, 1914 W Chicago
Free / BYOB
Check Facebook to learn more!

Lauries POS

Laurie’s Planet of Sound In-Stores
Laurie’s Planet of Sound, 4639 N Lincoln
Free / BYOB
Check Facebook to learn more!

Emporium

Reckless & Revolution Hand Over Fist Release Party
Bands, beers, and the potential for free tokens/drinks with receipts from your RSD purchases!
Emporium Wicker Park, 1366 N Milwaukee
Free / 21+
Check their website for more!

Read Article →

Sheer Mag, Peach Kelli Pop, Frankie Teardrop Show Review + Preview for Tonight!

by 4 Comments

We do a lot for you here at SBS; keeping our exhaustive show calendar updated, gently making fun of crappy bands, bravely venturing into the Lone Star filled cesspools of South by Southwest. Yesterday, we decided to leave Chicago for a rare non-tubing-related road trip to see Sheer Mag, Peach Kelli Pop, Frankie Teardrop, and Platinum Boys play Milwaukee in advance of their scheduled shows tonight here in Chicago.

We rolled up to Cocoon Room with bellies full of pimento mac’n’cheese only to confront disaster and horror in the cozy all ages DIY space meets anarcho-queer lending library meets vintage clothing shop I guess. It turns out Sheer Mag’s van broke down on their way from Minneapolis, two hours outside Milwaukee.

Had we driven all this way to not see Sheer Mag? Were they shivering on the side of a road somewhere? Would they, perhaps, play the super-secret-after-show? These thoughts went through our mind as we settled in to see openers Platinum Boys.

platboys

Dem Platinum Boys sound like the kind of old school butt rock that you listen to on a shitty radio in your back yard while drinking Miller Lite in a kiddie pool. They kind of remind of a little bit of Chicago wildcats Flesh Panthers in their affinity for classic rock-n-roll unobfuscated by garagey fuzz or having 19 members or whatever gimmick bands are pulling this week. Big ups to drummer Skufca for booking the show!

frankie

Minneapolis lofi power poppers Frankie Teardrop write really catchy songs about being an unlovable fuck up with a drug problem who hates yourself? I know that sounds like an incredible bummer but they’re super fun to see live. I’ve been blasting their “Raiders” tape a bunch lately and I guess I’ve seen them like, six times now and never regretted a second. I kind of want to, like, bring them a homecooked meal and give them all hugs next time I see them, though.

pkp

PEACH KELLI POP! If there was a soda that tasted like Peach Kelli Pop sounds I’d give up PBR. I know everyone always tries to compare any band with cute babe members to early-90s riot grrl bands which is INFURIATING but PKP really do have a sort of Dressy Bessy/April March kind of jam. If you like The Half Rats, doing the egg roll, doing the cheesecake, or seeing queer representation on stage and you haven’t checked out these sunny poppy cuties yet you’re missing out.

At this point, there was no Sheer Mag, but we dried our tears off and walked over the Bremen Cafe down the street. It’s a Riverwest pub with a little stage in the back, and more importantly…..

giant

GIANT BEERS. This is a liter of Old Milwaukee. It was $5. I love Milwaukee. And Old Milwaukee. Everything Milwaukee-related, I’m into it.

We saw locals The Olives play their second-to-last-show ever. They were appropriately wasted, as befitting the occasion, but their bassist has some really evil surf riffs up her sleeve and someone should snap her up once they break up.

Peach Kelli Pop played another rad set! At some point I pulled cold fried chicken out of my backpack and started eating it in the bar, because I’m wicked classy. Also, at some point I gave Emily half of one of my caffeine pills and she might still be puking. Did you learn nothing from the tribulations of Jessie Spano, Emily???

pkp2

Unfortunately, Sheer Mag never showed up, so we had to content ourselves with dancing around to Frankie Teardrop a second time. PKP joined the crowd for enthusiastic butt-dancing and piggy back rides. It was a fun sloppy mess, all melting popsicle and sticky candy and giant crappy beers.

Want to experience some of this fun for yourself? Want to ACTUALLY SEE SHEER MAG? Well, they’re on their way to Chicago as we speak, and you have THREE CHANCES to party tonight.

Peach Kelli Pop, The Chips, Skip Church
Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles
3156 West Diversey Avenue
5pm / Free / AA / BYOB

Sheer Mag, Muscles Plant, Coneheads, MAMA
Albion Haus
$7 / Starts 8:00-8:30pm

Peach Kelli Pop, Frankie Teardrop, Gross Pointe
Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave Chicago
9pm / Free / 21+

Read Article →

Friday Agenda: Get Bitten by A Giant Dog

by Leave a comment

Did Emily’s hilarious posts recapping her trip to “Sob by Sobwest” get you longing for some Texas vibes in your own life? Are you making breakfast tacos every morning out of scrambled eggs and Taco Bell Fire Sauce packets, gently wiping away tears with a “Keep Austin Beered” tshirt?

Well, bless your heart, darling. No need to blackout on Shiner just yet. Sassy rockers A Giant Dog are here in Chicago, tonight, straight from The Lone Star State, and they’re bringing their fuzzy garage hooks and killer frontwoman Sabrina Ellis.

Listen, I love seeing the same 5 bands of white dudes at every house party and basement show too (do I?) but when it comes to bands that don’t tour that often or play Chicago regularly, I make a a point to leave whatever blanket fort I’m currently ensconced in with my not-giant dog and go shake my booty. Plus, it’s free? Damn, y’all.

Absolutely Not, A Giant Dog, Le Tour, Rat Hammer
Door #3 (Double Door Bsmt)
1572 Milwaukee Avenue
21+ / Free

Not convinced? These locals need love too; there’s no shortage of great shows tonight.

Mike Donner, Burn Permits, Calyx, Bad Dreams, Glad Rags
Auxiliary Art Center, 3012 West Belmont Avenue
7pm / $7

Father John Misty, King Tuff
Ok, Father John Misty is super lame, and this is super expensive, and also sold out? But we love begrudgingly love shaggy folk freak King Tuff.
Vic Theater, 3145 North Sheffield
$25 / 18+

Strawberry Jacuzzi, Paul Cary, Nevada Nevada, The Laureates
The Burlington Bar, 3425 W Fullerton Ave
21+ / Usually like $5 or $7?

Son of a Gun, The Achtungs, Mama
Cole’s Bar, 2338 Milwaukee Avenue
Free / 21+

Read Article →

Jen Lemasters Art Opening at Toy de Jour Tonight

by Leave a comment

If you’ve ever been to a show at Bric-a-Brac, you’ve probably seen Jen behind the counter. She’s the owner who is not eight feet tall and red haired. It turns out that in addition to running the best little record shop in Chicago, she’s also an accomplished artist whose work draws on pop culture kitsch!

Let’s be real: Bric-a-Brac doesn’t have to have a ton of free shows. They don’t have to spend all that time booking, scheduling, soundchecking, sweeping your ciggy butts from the sidewalk, and pouring out your half-drunk Lime-a-ritas. But they do it out of love, and you should show some of that love back by coming out to support Jen tonight from 6pm to 9pm.

jen

Our Monthly (f)Artist for April 2015 is Jen Lemasters, a warrior from a nearby rival space gang. While she spent nights training at the Scum and Villainy Academy, she spent her days studying art at Ohio State University.

In 2008 she graduated from one and was kicked out of the other. Though the BA in Art and Technology is displayed proudly in the hull of her current rig, the Notice of Dishonorable Discharge due to ‘excessive atomic noogies’ and ‘intergalactic-headlocks’ hangs right above it.

Her current favorite fighting style “partial disintegration”, while her current art style is focused more on taking old mediums and applying new ideas, lately working with 70’s summer camp type projects.

Come check out her work and/or challenge her to a fight on Thursday, April 2nd from 6 – 9pm.

If my appeal to your better self didn’t convice you: there’s gonna be food and drinks, and it’s right by Red Hot Ranch which has some of the best no-nonsense hot dogs and fried shrimp in the city. Looking at some rad art, eating a red hot; isn’t that what life is about?

Read Article →

Why We’re Not Boycotting Indiana

by 2 Comments

One of the things we’ve been looking forward to all winter here at Store Brand Soda is tubing the Tippecanoe River in Indiana. Recent legislation in Indiana potentially puts a kink in that plan: if the dude driving the dilapidated old bus pulling canoes and inner tubes decides he doesn’t want to take some cool queer kids tubing, the state of Indiana will back him up based on religious freedom.

Some left-leaning folks have called for a boycott of Indiana to pressure the state into overturning this law. Shakesville has an amazing rundown on why this is not really helpful or cool, along with some suggestions on other ways to be supportive of queer Hoosiers. Below are some things we are planning to do. READ MORE

Read Article →

Ryley Walker’s Coming Out With A New Album & You Can See Him Play It For Free

by Leave a comment

So, we’ve all strolled over to NPR and streamed Ryley Walker’s new album Primrose Green, right? If you have, you’ll be stoked to know that he’s also going to be playing an LP release show over at Permanent Records tomorrow.

P.Rex instores are always really chill, and generally run a little behind schedule. It’s all ages and free, and you can BYOB if you truck in beer from a different neighborhood (that stretch of Chicago is zoned weird so there’s no liquor stores – BELIEVE ME I KNOW).

Ryley Walker
Permanent Records
1914 W Chicago Ave
Tuesday 3/31/15
7pm, AA, BYOB

Read Article →

How to Add Store Brand Soda’s Calendar to Your Google Calendar

by 1 Comment

Hey, did you know that you can add our amazing, comprehensive calendar of show listings to your Google Calendar, so that whenever you’re thinking “what’s going on tonight” you can find out at the click of a button?

If you have a Gmail account (and it’s 2015: you probably do), you’re already signed up for Google Calendar. Go ahead, click that link, and sign in if you’re not already.

Next, click the down-arrow next to Other calendars.

16944879221_6957a689a4_o

Select Add by URL from the menu. A dialog box will pop up that looks like this.

16758235278_2267c8b4a5_o

Copy paste this address into the dialog box:

https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/storebrandsoda@gmail.com/public/basic.ics

Click Add calendar. The calendar will appear in the Other calendars section of the calendar list to the left. You can hide it at any time, or toggle it back on, by clicking the little colored box next to it.

Read Article →

Your Show Horoscope: March & April 2015

by Leave a comment

Instead of just writing a list of all the shows happening (which you can always find on our calendar), I made personalized show recommendations for people with different taste and needs! Think of it as your personal party horoscope, except based on more concrete facets of your personality rather than what stars were swimming around in the sky while your mom squeezed you out.

FOR PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY

You have a list of venues that you won’t go to that’s longer than the list of venues you like. The Aragon? Nah. Logan Square Auditorium? Nope. Pitchfork? Ha ha ha ha ha. You almost made me choke on my Ativan, dude.

You prefer in-stores, where you can wedge yourself between two bins of used vinyl and drink beers out of your purse until you forget that your lungs are threatening to collapse in an anxiety-implosion and actually appreciate the music, or at least stop glaring at the dude who keeps violating your personal bubble and brushing against your elbow. Barring that, you like your venues to have at least a little chill and a clear escape route.

Tinkerbelles, Burn Permits, Calyx, Bad Dreams, Glad Rags
Auxiliary Art Center
Friday, 4/3 at 7pm, $7
Ok, so Auxiliary Art Center is a little cramped, with a high likelihood of Lucas crowdsurfing onto your face and breaking your favorite glasses (NO, I HAVEN’T GOTTEN OVER IT, OK). However, Powell Brewing usually serves up free fancy beers, allowing you to get to wasted enough to relax and enjoy yourself.

The Bingers, Glyders
California Clipper
Monday, 4/6 at 8pm, Free
In my experience Cali Clip shows run hella on punk time, but if you show up on time you can snag a booth. A reassuring, protective booth all to yourself.

Buck Biloxi and the Fucks, Heavy Lids, MAMA, Mac Blackout Band
Auxiliary Art Center
Friday 4/10 at 7pm, $7
This is a really rad line-up in a really small space.

Flesh Panthers, NE-HI
Plumbers Hall
Saturday 4/11 at 11:30am, $7
Chirp Record Fair. For extra chillness, spend $25 on early admission from 8-10am. Almost no one will be there, and it allows readmission all day long in case you need to go lay down in your room and breathe deeply for a little bit.

FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE CUTE THINGS

The kawaii aesthetic rules your life. Your bathroom is a pristine shrine to Hello Kitty. You own shoes with little kitty cat faces on the toes, you know who Purin is, and you’ve dyed your hair cotton candy pink with Manic Panic at least once.

Shouldn’t the music you listen to be as cute as your vintage My Little Pony Collection?

Gar Gar Band, Dream Version, George John Larson
Chicago Access Network Studios, 322 S. Green St. Chicago IL
Saturday 3/28 at 3pm, Free
This is a Chic-a-Go-Go taping. Chic-a-Go-Go, if you’re not aware, is a public access TV show where “kids of all ages” dance to cool tunes. There’s always cool old punk parents and little toddlers in tiny leather jackets wandering in front of the camera at inopportune moments. Aww.

Peach Kelli Pop, Frankie Teardrop
Empty Bottle
Monday 4/13 at 9pm, Free
Peach Kelli Pop plays the sweetest sugariest dream pop. It’s like, the kind of music a manic pixie dream girl with perfect hair and a polka-dotted dress would listen to on her toy record player while laying on her floor and sighing about her crush on you.

Sheer Mag, Muscles Plant, Coneheads, MAMA
Albion Haus
Monday 4/13 at 8pm, $7
The bassist and guitarist in Sheer Mag are brothers! THASS ADORABLE.

Get Up with the Get Downs, Nasty Snacks, Cole DeGenova, Charles Walker Band
Subterranean
Saturday 4/18 at 8:30, $10-$15, 17+
Get Up with the Get Downs is a James Brown cover band, and all the horn players rehearse little dance moves together. Come on, that’s so cute.

Colleen Green, Upset
Beat Kitchen
Monday 4/13 at 8:30, $10 – $12, 17+
God, I fucking hate Colleen Green. She just thinks she’s so twee and clever and I hope her stupid pretty face collapses in while she’s singing her dumb crappy music. All this is probably why you like her, with her dumb little cartoons and shit.

YOU’RE A TEENAGER

Your face is full of pimples, your heart is full of angst, and your State ID won’t let you into The Bottle. What’s a little rock-n-roll baby to do? Revel in the glory of the all ages show.

Gar Gar Band, Dream Version, George John Larson
Chicago Access Network Studios, 322 S. Green St. Chicago IL
Saturday 3/28 at 3pm, Free, AA
Chic-a-go-go is for real all ages, like, there will probably be some people wearing diapers there.

ShowYouSuck, Sophagus, Tornup
Bric-a-Brac Records
Saturday 3/28 at 5:00pm, Free, AA
One-man pizza party and rapper ShowYouSuck will be bringing his posi vibes to everyone’s favorite garage rock record store.

Pity Sex, Whirr Adventures, The Weaks
Subterranean
Saturday 4/4 at 8pm, $12-$14, AA
Pity Sex were one of Store Brand Soda editor Emily’s Riot Fest favorites.

Twin Peaks, Spike & The Sweet Spots, Mike Donner
East Room
Wednesday 4/8 at 9pm, $5
Ok, this is actually a 21+ show, but if you actually like Twin Peaks you’re probably a 16 year old girl at heart.

Colleen Green, Upset
Beat Kitchen
Monday 4/13 at 8:30, $10 – $12 / 17+
Beat Kitchen is pretty good about doing 17+ and AA shows, actually.

Waxahatchee, Girl Pool
Beat Kitchen
Friday, 5/8 at 7:00pm, AA
There’s another Waxahatchee gig at The Empty Bottle for those of you who aren’t still trying to grow a little peach fuzz mustache.

FOR THE BASEMENT DWELLER

Your pants are held together by patches and you’re D-I-Y-ing until you die. These house shows will provide for your cop-hating heart. As for the location: ask a punk, punk.

My Parade, Boots, Bruised, Garbage Friends
Weenie Hut Jr’s
Saturday 3/28 at 7:00pm, $8
This is a benefit for Black & Brown Fest and Fed Up Fest! No drinking or drugs, please.

Hounds of Hate, Public Assault, The Bug, Muscles Plant
Albion Haus
Wednesday 4/1 at 7pm, $5
Not an April Fool’s joke.

Cult Leader, Hollow Earth, Angry Gods, Stay Asleep
Club Rectum
Thursday 4/2 at 7pm, $5
Email davidcollisdavidcollis@gmail.com for the address.

Violent Reaction, Arms Race, Public Assault, The Wrong, Dominadora
Old Mount Happy
Tuesday 4/7 at 7pm, $7-10
There’s a bunch of bands touring all the way from the UK, so pay what you can to support them!

Sheer Mag, Muscles Plant, Coneheads, MAMA
Albion Haus
Monday 4/13 at 8pm, $7
Sheer Mag is completely unstoppable right now and this is going to be an incredible show.

Born, Toupee, Coneheads, Dominadora
Old Mt Happy
Monday 4/27 at 8pm, $7
Born is from frigging ICELAND, dudes.

Read Article →

SXSW Recap: Thursday, March 19

by Leave a comment

Thursday was one of the two most SXSW days of my SXSW.  I was out all day, I saw a ton of bands, I made some weird friend at the last show, and I got so drunk that all I have left from the last show I attended are memories of debating my 23-year-old friend on which city was best to move to and a few blurry, bigfoot-sighting-esque photos of mystery bands on my phone.

Two of the bands I do remember from the last show of the day were Pity Sex (who were one of my Riot Fest favorites) and Chastity Belt, who seem to be one of the buzz bands from this year’s SXSW. Both were absolutely killer. Catch Pity Sex at Subterranean on April 4. Read the rest of Thursday’s recap

Read Article →