Category Archives: shows

Tuesday Agenda: Please, Please, Don’t Tease Me

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You guys don’t even know how stoked I am to finally see Rich Hands. I’m really into their debut album Dreamers; it’s pure throwback pop perfection, influenced by 60s doo-wop and classic R&B with enough garage fuzz and swear words mixed into the simplistic, infectious lyrics to keep things interesting. They’re touring in support of their new album Out of My Head, released by Detroit’s Fountain Records, and with an excellent line-up of local supporting bands at The Burlington tonight it’s obviously going to be a fucking party.

The Rich Hands, Slushy, Uh Bones, Flesh Panthers
What’s up with The Burlington booking actually decent line-ups lately? And then making everyone start at like 8:45 or something stupid like that? The world may never know. Anyway I will be here double-fisting PBRs and whiskey for sure so come say hi.
The Burlington
3425 W Fullerton Ave Chicago 
$6 / 21+

Screaming Females, Pujol, Tenement
Screaming Females are awesome. Marissa Paternoster, the lead singer, is a badass (who also performs solo as NOUN) and radical queer and really good comic artist, actually.
Logan Square Auditorium
2539 N Kedzie Blvd

Lil Tits, Kisser, Slayer Kitty, The Baby Magic
This is going to be an extremely weird show. I got the Max Pelt released Slayer Kitty tape off Magic Ian the local tape fair at Cassette Store Day, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever heard; lofi twee doom? It sounds like metal made by fuzzy baby animals.

I saw The Baby Magic a couple of weeks ago and it was the most intense, bizarre performance I’ve ever seen. First time I’ve ever had someone flash me their genitals at The Burlington.
Walleye World
9:05pm / 21+ / Donations / No Jerks / Ask a Punk / Whatever

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Weekend Agenda: Kegs & Cassettes

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Friday, September 26th

Grosse Pointe, Supermagical This kegger house show promises a HELLO KITTY MOON BOUNCE. Seriously. If “kegs of beer” and “Hello Kitty moon bounce” aren’t enough for you: we have absolutely nothing in common. All the same, hopefully performances by garage punks Grosse Pointe and The Band Formerly Known as White Gold (who recently had a run-in with a band with the same name, hence the moniker switch) are enough to sweeten the deal for your miserable, fun-hating heart. Bring $5 for a bottomless solo cup and don’t puke in the moon bounce, jerk.
Ask a Punk for Location
9pm / $5

Hotlips Messiah, Mac Blackout Band, Ufux, Vortex, Potlucks
Two Mac Blackout bands on one bill? HARDEST WORKING MAN IN SHOW BUSINESS RIGHT HERE, PEOPLE.
Township, 2200 North California Avenue
21+ / $5

Chicago Singles Club Presents: Cassettes on Tape, Hollow Mountain, BIGJOY
Once a month, CSC produces an exclusive, original recording and video interview with a different independent Chicago artist. Also once a month, they host a night at Cole’s where some of their faves perform. We’re big Hollow Mountain fans over here at Store Brand Soda, so go check em the fuck out!
Cole’s Bar, 2338 N Milwaukee Ave
21+ / free

CLICK HERE FOR SATURDAY & SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE

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Sitting in the Park Forever: Bob Abrahamian Memorial Record Hop this Friday

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Earlier this year, soul and music history fans across the country were saddened to hear that Bob Abrahamian of SittingInThePark.com had taken his own life. Bob was a passionate record collector and deejay who was known for his endless knowledge of Chicago South Side soul as well as his kindness. Elderly African-American musicians, forgotten by most and preyed upon by exploitative recording contracts and unscrupulous record collectors, found a friend in Bob; he would pay them fair prices for their collections, track down lost recordings, listen to their life stories, and even help them with practical issues like housing and navigating a new confusing digital world.

Jake Austen (Roctober, Chic-a-go-go, Promontory) wrote a moving and beautiful profile of Abrahamian for the Chicago Reader. After learning that Bob’s family needed funds to properly archive his immense collection of music, photos, interviews, and ephemera, he organized a funky night of soul performances at the Empty Bottle’s sister club in Hyde Park, The Promontory. A $10 donation is requested.

Friday, September 26th – 8pm @ The Promontory
Sitting in the Park Forever: Bob Abrahamian Memorial Record Hop
w/ Windy City Soul Club and appearances by Reggie Torian (The Impressions), Cliff Curry (The Notations), Doug Shorts (Master Plan, Inc), Keni Rightout (Center Stage), Holle Thee Maxwell

Click here for descriptions of the performers, and spit shine your dancing shoes.

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Baby Magic Record Release Tonight with Swimsuit Addition, Lil Tits, and The Cellphones

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There was a time when I was going to The Burlington all the time. It was winter, and the proximity to my home cut the navigation of iced-over pot-holes to a necessary minimum. The beer was cheap and the decent local punk bands played damn near every day.

Over time, though, it began wearing on me. The band I came to see would have three terrible openers, all suburban bands who’d invite their friends, screaming drunk college kids who would start inane conversations with me at the bar and leave before the headliner. Breaks between bands would drag to forty minutes. And, perhaps worst of all, the pitch black and damp of the backroom would breed a particular funky smell; the smell of your elementary school cafeteria on a rainy day, all moldering mackintosh coats and sweaty feet in rubber boots.

“Something smells like dirty Cheetos. I think it’s my feet,” the singer of Potty Mouth mused over the mic one night. “No, it always smells like that!” I called back, helpfully.

Sometimes, though, even the darkest, dirtiest dive surprises you. I saw a mind-blowing set by Meatbodies in the front bar a few months ago, a titanic explosion of thrash and squall. And sometimes the line-ups leave no room for error, like tonight’s stellar offerings.

My cute boyfriend, Tom from Dumpster Babies, did the artwork for the new Baby Magic record, so pick up some blood-red vinyl and pat him on the back on a job well done. Chill out with Patrick Cosmos DJ’ing vinyl in the front room. Get carried away on the overwhelming vocals of The Cellphones. Let Lil Tits rip your eardrums out, and lick your wounds to Swimsuit Addition’s darkwave pop. And buy me a beer.

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Mean Jeans to Play Township on Thanksgiving

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It is just me, or is this site becoming a thinly-veiled cover for The Official Mean Jeans Fan Club? Anyway, we recently heard through the Twitter Grapevine that they were going to stop back through Township on their tour with Kepi Ghoulie, and we wanted to give you plenty of warning so you could phone home and tell your mom not to make as much cranberry sauce this year, since you’ll be too busy partying to come home for dinner.

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Shred Fest Tickets on Sale

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We brought you rumors of a new feminist punk fest as soon as they hit our amp-deafened ears; now we’re stoked to say tickets are on sale and a tentative line-up has been announced!

Shred Fest is the lovebaby of She Shreds Magazine, Miss Alex White of White Mystery, and Kelly from Animal Kingdom. It’s going to be an all ages, posi day of workshops, bands, speakers, DJs, and a zine release from Kelly detailing everything she’s learned from years of DIY punk.

More band announcements are on the way, but so far a lot of great local bands have joined the team. There’ll be weirdo lo-fi from two piece The Funs, dark punk fit for alternate universe slumber parties and proms from Swimsuit Addition and Bleach Party, abrasive half-written songs from Lil Tits, sugary jingles from The Lemons, and a lot of fluffy red hair getting thrown around by White Mystery. American Breakfast, Lifestyles, and ex-Vivian-Girls member Cassie Ramone are also playing. Keep your pupils locked to the Facebook event to get updates on the line-up as it develops, and make sure to pick up tickets while they’re still discounted!

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The Yolks, American Breakfast, Spike & The Sweet Spots, The Rubs Play Moe’s Tavern Saturday Night

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Last time some local garage bands displaced the usual bluesy Midwest-dad bar bands from divey Moe’s for the night, we drank our way through every keg of PBR, lit shit on fire, and got yelled at by Moe for moshing. Ready to do it all again?

The Yolks are fresh off the release of their recent album Kings of Awesome, a lofi r-n-b homage to Ray Charles. Nathan Johnson (Uh Bones) is a charming frontman, moving back and forth between guitar and organ. With three solid bands backing up the bill it should be a fun night!

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Buy Max Pelt Tapes & Vinyl / Death to Scumbags

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The other night at a show at Wally’s World, local scene fixture Magik Ian had $800 stolen from him. It’s always super depressing when someone opens up their home as an underground venue and scumbags choose to take advantage of them. Ian’s friends are calling on everyone to buy recordings from Ian’s label Maximum Pelt to help offset the loss.

If you’re looking for recommendations, that Midwaste tape from Vamos fucken slays. Very cocky strutting trash-glam rock that doesn’t need to resort to art punk abrasiveness to keep things cut-throat. Go buy some tapes for a good cause, ya jerkwads! OPEN LETTER INSIDE TO THE COMMUNITY INSIDE

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WEEKLY AGENDA: Tuesday 8/27 to Saturday 8/30

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You guys, I don’t know how to feel about Door #3, the faux-DIY venue beneath Double Door. On one hand, it’s nice to see shows in a low-key atmosphere with cans of cheap beer that doesn’t smell like dirty feet soaking in a festering Blatz swamp. On the other hand, it’s fucked up for a major douchebag Wicker Park venue to co-opt DIY aesthetics and integrity. Should we go see Slushy, The Jollys, and Grosse Pointe there on Thursday anyway? Which do we care about more, punk rock purity or having a fun time? THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS AND YOUR AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK INSIDE

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