Mental notes of an aspiring music business professional.
Chicago based.
Music focused.
Accompanied with sprinkles of my renlentless ramblings that grow into thoughts.
Here's my brain on music.
Chicago artist, Chance the Rapper, recently performed a private show at Lincoln Hall as apart of DePaul University's annual Winter Concert. The DePaul students received more than they anticipated when Chance brought fellow Chicago favorite Jeremiah on stage to premiere a yet to be named track.
Check out the video and start getting excited for when the final release drops.
Julie Meckler uses blends of jazz, blues, ska, pop, classical, with heavy hints of rock and folk. Regardless of the many styles incorporated, the songs remain urgent in message but relaxed yet pleading in tone. This French songstress is someone to be heard.
The video hints at longing and reminiscing about a dizzying love filled memory and mirrors the earnesty in Meckler's voice. While the video may be back from 2012 the track can be found on her recent album QueensHead. Check out the full album on her BandCamp page.
Chicago rap duo, Cool Kids, have reunited and are quickly continuing to Cool Kids craze that extended well past our Chicago streets. The retro stylin' team has come back with two new songs including "Computer School" and "Chop" and their new album Shark Week is set to drop later this year.
Julie Ruin: Kathleen Hanna's newest project, Julie Ruin, will be stopping by Chicago as apart of their North American Tour. The group will be performing tracks from their debut LP, Run Fast, which was released last September from Dischord Records. Catch them at Lincoln Hall on April 9th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (1/17/14).
I'll catch you there Grrls and Boys.
Julie Ruin - Oh Come One
The Queers:With influences like the Screaching Weasels, Black Flag, and The Ramones, The Queers bring familiar high energy powered fast tempos, acompanied by harmonized cries, and an infectously melodic style that they have been perfecting for over 30 years now. The long standing Pop Punk group will very appropriately be playing their 1993 sophomore album, Love Songs for the Retarded, at Township on February 14th. Advance tickets are on sale now.
The Queers - Ursula Finally Has Tits
The Orwells:As Chicago boy's The Orwells work to put the finishing touches on their next studio album, they plan on keeping busy this winter with a number of U.S. and U.K. tour dates. After sharing some stage time with the Arctic Monkeys, The Orwells will visit home for a peformance at Lincoln Hall with friends Twin Peaks on April 1st. Tickets go on sale tomorrow (1/17) at noon.
Check out some of the boys new tunes from their latest EPs: Other Voice EP (free download) & Who Needs You (full stream)
The golden days of music videos feel like they're long gone with the times of the MTV VJ and phrases like "Pop up video." Music Videos used to be fun, remember?
Now we have art like this. (Thanks Kanye)
And people who are held responsible of making fun of art like that, by doing they're own thing (But really, THANK YOU SETH & JAMES <3)
But let us not lose hope. More and more often I find myself upon a video that completes a song. The feel, look, and overall vibe are amplified by the combo of tunes with the visual. Vic Mensa's "ORANGE SODA" is one of those videos. With a throw back feel reminiscent of the golden days of Keenan and Kel and the beloved goofballs of "All That," Vic Mensa delivers some seriously charismatic and impressive wordplay over a laid back, but persistently funky beat.
Chicago based Zoo Brother camouflage as sandmen and dance us into their pleading dream. "Fourth of July" creates unannounced body bopping from it's upbeat ode to a dizzying summer affair. Then in "Please don't" the Zoo Brother continue mashing traditional 50's pop styles with hazy and luscious tones that bring on a full dream pop trance.
Their full single Fourth Of July & Please Don't was released in November 2013, but Fourth of July has been gracing the interwebs as an unmixed demo from Zoo Brother for over a year. It's never too late to give these lo-fi dream pop dudes a listen. I'm anticipating our ears will only become happier from it.
