One night — December 4, 1956 — four legends in the making came together and made history. Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash converged on historic Sun Records Studios in Memphis for the first and only time, while Sam Phillips recorded what came to be the Million Dollar Quartet — a once-in-a-lifetime, impromptu jam session that will never be equaled.

Million Dollar Quartet is an absolute must-see show for any music fan. The extremely talented cast tells the story of that amazing night through live performances of some of the most important songs of rock and roll’s infancy, including “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Great Balls of Fire”, and “Folsom Prison Blues.”

Enter to win now by subscribing to Windy City Weekly, and tell a friend (who you wouldn’t mind sitting next to) to increase your chances of winning! The winner will be announced in the January 12 edition of Windy City Weekly.

A big thanks to Broadway in Chicago for providing this evening of unparalleled entertainment!

*Upon winning, a voucher for two tickets to a Wednesday, Thursday or Sunday evening performance of Million Dollar Quartet will be emailed to the winner, with instructions on how to redeem. The voucher is good between January 25 – February 23, 2012, excluding February 12, 2012.

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You can expect an honest rock album. But while you will hear a few traditional styles, The Bishop remains true to what they want to create, and it shows. Songwriter/singer/lead guitarist Billy Giricz crafts simple but compelling stories and he gets his point across, but not without his own style and sometimes a subtle sense of humor – even in the song titles themselves. You might expect “Mice and Elephants” to be on the bubbly side. And you might think “Timebomb” would be threatening, and aggressive. The truth is, they are both quite the opposite. And while “Promises Made” (hear it below) is a fairly straightforward tale of a hidden path to manhood, you can’t help feeling that Giricz takes it all with several grains of salt.

Of course, it never hurts to be surrounded by precision talent.

Paulette Bertrand provides depth and dimension, while Dan Passareli, drummer Luke Smith, and Darin Gregg keep the momentum charging. Five Minutes of Panic and Thrills comes together to provide a well-balanced and fun, and authentic rock album. It’s a hit — and you can expect The Bishop to start appearing regularly on the marquees of Chicago’s best music venues and some of their favorites such as Beat Kitchen, The Abbey, Martyrs, and the Double Door. But we suspect it won’t stop there, and this Chicago band will breeze across borders.

Below, have a listen to “Promises Made.” And visit The Bishop’s website for more!

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We have two passes to give away for FRIDAY and SATURDAY (Nov. 11-12). To enter to win, sign up with our partners, Windy City Weekly. (If you’re already signed up, send an email to soundcitizenmike@gmail.com and we’ll put you in the drawing.) The show is ages 21+ and sponsored by Windows Phone. Winners will be notified Thursday and Friday!

The location … is a secret. I can tell you it’s in Chicago at a very cool spot. We’ll let you know when you win!

If you don’t win you can RSVP for entry, on Facebook. Admission is on a first-come basis.

If you don’t know about The Drums, have a listen below!

The Drums – Money by WorkItMedia

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Why the postponement? According to the release:

“Due to a visa administration error, Morrissey’s lead guitarist is unable to perform in the US this week. Thursday’s sold out concert at the Congress Theatre in Chicago has been rescheduled for Saturday December 17, 2011. The issue is out of Morrissey’s hands but it will not affect Monday’s concert at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, nor will it affect the rest of the tour.”

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You can win a free pair of tickets to see them live, October 14 at Chicago’s Congress Theater. All you have to do is visit our partners at Windy City Weekly, sign up for the newsletter and you’re entered. We will announce the winners in the Oct. 13 edition of Windy City Weekly, at 9:40 AM.

The show will feature two full sets from Les Claypool and gang, so fans are sure to hear a great catalog, far beyond standards like “Winona Has a Big Brown Beaver” and “My Name is Mud” (although hopefully you’ll hear those, too). Primus is one of those shows you don’t want to miss, and one you’ll never forget.

To enter, sign up to Windy City Weekly, Chicago’s newsletter.

If you’re scared, go buy a dog.

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It’s going to be a great show, and you can go — for free. To enter to win, simply “Like” Sound Citizen’s Facebook page or subscribe to Sound Citizen updates via email, on the right side of this page. Current Sound Citizen fans and email subscribers are already eligible to win, but leave a comment if you want to be in the mix.

Good luck!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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(Set list and video below.)

It took a long time for me to see a Pogues concert. Thirty-some-odd years, actually. But it was an experience that was well worth the wait. And I use the word “experience” because, frankly, I have no more appropriate way to describe this show.

A forever-feeling 60 minutes after opening band Titus Androgynous completed their set, the crowd of mostly 20- to 30-something beer swilling fans was primed to party with the legendary Irish folk/punk Pogues and frontman Shane MacGowan.

After apologies for being late and a few slurred words from the always-interesting (and always intoxicated) Shane MacGowan, the group gently began the set-opener with “Streams of Whiskey;” proving that, while warranted, concerns over MacGowen’s ability to perform could be put aside. His his booze-laced, groggy, smoke-aged voice was surprisingly up to task, in spite of his hard-earned, hard drinking reputation (and toothless grill). The Pogues’ original eight — MacGowan (lead singer and songwriter), Spider Stacy (tin whistle, vocals), Jem Finer (banjo), James Fearnley (accordion), Darryl Hunt (bass), Andrew Ranken (drums), Phillip Chevron (guitar) and Terry Woods (mandolin) — then rolled into the classic “If I Should Fall From Grace With God” and the brash rockers were on their way to playing all the high notes of their catalog; including “A Pair Of Brown Eyes,” the MacGowan-less “Tuesday Morning” (Spider Stacy took the lead vocal duties), “Sunny Side Of The Street” and a perfectly-paced “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.” The crowd responded too, as a familiar mosh pit stirred up in the front of the stage from the jump.

(review continues below)

Click here to view the embedded video.

There were a few low points. On “Thousands are Sailing,” Chevron took the vocals and was out of key more than once — possibly because it seemed the band started the song a key too high. There were also sound issues all night,including ear-piercing feedback from the main vocal mic throughout the set. And, unsurprisingly, McGowan forgot some words and his timing was a bit off on “Matilda.” But given his state and his history, it’s surprising that more songs didn’t suffer the same fate.

All that being said, it’s easy to overlook a few shortcomings. Everyone, like me, was there for the experience of The Pogues. That’s the respect and love they have earned as music legends and received on this night. They’ve been driving hard for almost 30 years, almost fully intact. Signs of wear become revered, not reviled. So, the mosh pit churned and the sing-a-longs rollicked while MacGowan puffed on a few cigarettes between songs, as if to give a metaphorical middle-finger to the Chicago indoor smoking ban and purveyors of a healthy lifestyle everywhere. In the end, the band that once opened for The Clash in 1984 effortlessly channeled their true punk roots and did whatever the hell they wanted to. And we drank up all of it.

At various times during the show, the band-mates would give dedications (or as the kids call them today ‘shout-outs’) to loved ones and friends. That might sound a bit out of place for a band with such a long history as The Pogues (haven’t they thanked these people before?) but recent online rumors have suggested that this show would be the last for The Pogues in Chicago — after all, this U.S. tour is titled “A Parting Glass With The Pogues.” Even so, during some of their famous fast-paced songs like “Bottle Of Smoke” and “Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn,” Fearnley pranced and jumped across the stage, lifting and throwing his accordion around and bending on his knees like he was in his 20’s again. The crowd loved it. And it hardly seemed the behavior of someone at the end of the line. Let’s hope not. Because every fan of a rock and roll life should see The Pogues.

Setlist: The Pogues – “A Parting Glass” tour, Congress Theater, Chicago, March 3rd, 2011 (more video below)

Streams Of Whiskey
If I Should Fall From Grace With God
The Broad Majestic Shannon
Boat Train
A Pair Of Brown Eyes
Tuesday Morning (Shane left the stage for this one)
Irish Lullaby
Sunny Side Of The Street
Repeal of the Licensing Laws
And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Body Of An American
London Girl
Thousands are Sailing (Phil on lead)
Dirty Old Town
Bottle of Smoke
Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn

-Encore #1-
Sally MacLennane
Rainy Night In Soho
Irish Rover

-Encore #2-
Poor Paddy On The Railway
Fiesta

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sean Sweeney is a life-long Chicagoan, musician and live concert fanatic who has attended more than 300 concerts. You can find him on Twitter @MusicalSean. Sean plays drums in Chicago’s B-Side Social (www.bsidesocial.com)

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It’s sold out but you can be there … FOR FREE!

Through this exclusive Sound Citizen ticket giveaway, a handful of Sound Citizen readers and guests will attend the Audio Tree launch party and enjoy three outstanding bands — Portugal. The Man, Kellen & Me, and Soil & the Sun — in one of Chicago’s finest music venues. Did I mention that you and a friend get to go for free?

To enter the giveaway, simply “Like” the Sound Citizen Facebook page or, if you’re not a Facebook user, subscribe to Sound Citizen via email, to the right. We will announce the winners on Friday, March 4.

We’ve come to know Audio Tree well leading up to their official launch and we couldn’t be happier to have them in Chicago. Coming soon, we will feature more about the time we’ve spent with Audio Tree’s founders and show you what makes this music company special and such an asset to the Chicago music scene both for fans and musicians.

Enter the giveaway now, and stay tuned for more on Audio Tree!

Below, you can get see some video of the three bands playing the launch party.

Portugal. The Man

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kellen & Me

Click here to view the embedded video.

Soil and the Sun

Click here to view the embedded video.

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This Wednesday, November 10, Dawes plays Lincoln Hall and we’re here to set you up. This is a great band, perfect for a setting like Lincoln Hall. Ever since we first discovered Dawes and played them on Sound Citizen Radio, we’ve been big fans and waited for them to hit our fair city. If you are not yet familiar, listen to Dawes right here. Then, enter to win.

Here’s how it works. If you’re not yet a Sound Citizen fan on Facebook, become one. If you’re already a fan, you’re already entered (but we would appreciate it if you recruited some friends). If you’re not a Facebook user, sign up for our email list at the top right of this page. One winner will be randomly chosen from our email list and Facebook fan base. The winner will receive two free tickets to Dawes on Wednesday, November 10!

Please, if you cannot attend, respond ASAP if you are chosen so I can draw another name.

The winner will be chosen Wednesday morning, so keep an eye on our Facebook page for the announcement.

Good luck and spread the word!

-Mike

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Lantzman also told us that it was probably the biggest stage they have ever played. So it was fitting that, on this night, they were playing one of the smallest stages in Chicago where some of the biggest bands have played in the past.

The Soft Pack’s sound is direct and empowering, and at the same time lazy and completely understated. But the band itself is anything but lazy. Guitarist Matty McLoughlin shreds the strings — literally — and the rest of the band follows suit with passionate turns on the drums and bass. Lamkin sings in one of the most straightforward manners I’ve seen and a tone that never wavers, no matter the song. I think that’s part of what draws me to them in the first place, and got them a spot on Sound Citizen Radio 7.

Anyway, enough from me. Let’s hear from Soft Packs drummer, Brian Hill on their Chicago visit.

“Chicago has always been really great to us, but it was more than a little bit surprising that people came out early on Saturday to see us play at Lollapalooza. Playing at around noon at a huge festival like that can be a bit daunting, but we had a total blast. It was a treat to see Phoenix’s soundcheck earlier in the day — those guys are the best. We just kind of did our thing for 40 minutes or so, and then moved along from there. Unfortunately, we didn’t get much of a chance to check out any bands, really. One highlight would be Wild Beasts. I thought that the singer sounded a little like Jeff Buckley, and that was fine by me. My comparisons are usually wrong to a lot of people … maybe I’m losing my hearing?*

“Later on, in the evening, we had the chance to play one of our favorite venues, Schuba’s. That place is great. It always sounds great, they treat bands wonderfully, and their restaurant is top banana. Now I sound like I’m writing for Zagat’s or something. Anyways, there was a slight mishap regarding equipment at the beginning of the night … we didn’t have our backline. Luckily for us, the other band on the bill, Royal Bangs, were sweethearts and offered to let us borrow theirs. Well, not to ramble on, but our equipment did show up and we played what we thought was a great show. No complaints about Chicago — we love that place.”

Big thanks to Brian and the rest of the Soft Pack fellas for an outstanding show at Schuba’s. The Soft Pack comes back to Chicago October 30 and 31. Check them out, you won’t be disappointed.

*Hearing loss wouldn’t surprise me. These guys are wonderfully loud as hell.

Below is some video from the show and below that are current Soft Pack tour dates.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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