In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new music company in town called Audio Tree. And on March 10, they will officially launch with a full night of music at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall.
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
Kellen & Me
Soil and the Sun
The Shams Band are moving up in the Chicago music scene, and you have a chance to see them on the way — this Thursday, January 27, at Lincoln Hall. The Shams Band play an eclectic style of music that incorporates blues, folk, rock and even a little big band to create a unique but authentic sound that’s hard not to play over in your head long after hearing them for the first time.
You might recognize The Shams Band from their recent breakout performance at the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, where they took the stage after Grace Potter and The Nocturnals and before Edward Sharpre & The Magnetic Zeroes. But even if you don’t yet know The Shams Band, chances are, soon enough, your friends will.
Have a listen to “Working Man” below, and check them out Thursday at Lincoln Hall.
It’s that time … ticket giveaway time!
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
By Jocelyn Geboy
(Video included) Love at first sight — catching the eye of someone on a train or across the room at a party and being instantly smitten. Love at first listen — hearing a band for the first time and knowing without a shadow of a doubt that I’ll be at their next show (and the next and the next), I’ll buy their next album and, even though I haven’t even heard the rest of the current one, that I’ll love it. Bands like Frisbie, Fanfarlo, Free Energy, and Freelance Whales (there’s got to be ones outside of the letter F, right?). Sure there is … Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.
Freelance Whales
So, it was with a true thrill that I saw the double bill of Freelance Whales and Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros announced as a Lollapalooza aftershow several months ago. I knew it would be a hot ticket, but I endeavored to snap one up. I failed. As the day approached, I got a bad feeling that there would be tickets, but way out of my price range. A quick search of Craigslist revealed that not only were there NO sellers, but people were willing to pay $100 a ticket. Holy hot ticket. I held out hope that all the music karma I’ve put into the universe would come back to me — I’d get a ticket at the last moment on Craigslist or something. I was not disappointed.
I’d seen Freelance Whales before (they’ve been to Chicago at least three or four times in at least as many months) but I was starting to figure that my anticipation of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros was more than deserved. I didn’t know if they’d been here before, but I suspected this was more than Lolla after-show hype. This was going to be something. What exactly, I had no possible way of knowing.
Freelance Whales started things off on a crowded stage filled with all manners of drum, keyboard, harmonica, glockenspiel and guitar. The five-piece, who hail from Queens, bring an instant energy to the stage — dancing and hopping along with the music as they play. Their enthusiasm is contagious and it’s hard not to be caught up in it all. The music is filled with contradiction; it’s both organic and electronic, it’s orchestral and synthesized. They manage to channel The Decemberists, XTC and The Postal Service (Judah Dadone’s vocals often are reminiscent of Ben Gibbard). But with their five-piece harmonies coming in big and bold on so many of the songs, as well as their obvious talent for songcraft, I suspect that one day people will eventually say that other bands “sound like the Freelance Whales.”
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
However, the night was yet to reveal itself. As the Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros show started, I looked up and there were instantly 10 people on stage. I counted. I counted them again. And the leader of them all was Alex Ebert, otherwise known as Edward Sharpe. His beard and hair along with white suit instantly evoke a picture of Jesus Christ, and the way he came forward to the stage to let the crowd embrace him, laying hands on him with a wild fervor did nothing to disabuse me of that visual. As the band started up and I re-focused my eyes back on the tableau of the stage, I was struck by the new visual that struck me: Partridge Family. Manson Family.
The band started and the crowd went wild. They were hopelessly, completely, instantly taken with this band, this man. They were disciples. They would have done anything he asked. Perhaps they were just hungry for the live presence; Edward/Alex said that he thought they had only been to Chicago two times before he announced that he “wanted this to be a party, and it didn’t feel like a party” so he crossed over the stage and got into the middle of the crowd to sing. He was Devendra, he was Brian Jonestown (without the anger and the meltdowns), he was completely wonderfully riveting and mesmerizing and I, too, would have followed him anywhere.
There have been musicals made from Billy Joel songs, from ABBA songs, from Green Day songs. I thought to myself: I want to make a musical from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros songs*. There was always so much going on and so much to think about. Often, I had the sense that I was at a tent revival; the only things jarring me from that notion were the smells of pot and incense swirling around me at any given moment. Aurally, there were two drummers, two guitarists, a bassists, a keyboardist, a pianist, various percussionists and always “Edward” at the helm and sometimes joined on lead vocals by Jade Castrinos who had her own huge, commanding voice.
Even when they performed their most commercial song, “Janglin’” (it’s literally in a car commercial that’s played all the time), it didn’t feel over played. Instead, I believed them when they sang:
Well your wartime is Funny
Your guns don’t bother me
I said we’re out to prove the truth of
The man from Galilee
Well your laws are for Dummies, yes
Your institutions dead
I say we’re out to blow the trumpet
To wake you all from bed – from bed
It was so much — Neil Diamond, Elvis, Jim Morrison, Johnny Cash, the Mamas and the Papas. It was a gospel service, it was a hootenanny, it really was a big old party. I was completely surprised and thrilled and sold on whatever they weren’t selling. I didn’t ever want it to be over and I can’t wait for it to happen again.
*Apparently, they’re on it: According to WIkipedia, “On June 5, 2009, the band released “Desert Song”, a music video which is part 1 of a 12-part feature-length musical. Part 2, “Kisses Over Babylon” was released November 24, 2009 through Spinner.com.”
Editor’s Notes: Our thanks to Jocelyn Geboy for writing this piece for Sound Citizen. Another note — this was one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen, no joke. Those late-night discussions where you list your “top five of all time” … firmly planted. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros just make me freaking happy. And I like that.
Below are a few videos. I recommend watching all of them. The third video is an up-close view of Alex’s foray into the crowd during 40 Day Dream, the opening song of the set. Start that one at the 1:30 mark and keep watching … IT’S WORTH IT.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, “Home”
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, “Janglin”
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, “40 Day Dream” (start at 1:30)
Freelance Whales, “Hannah”
Lollapalooza has released the schedule of aftershows for 2010 — and just like Lollapalooza itself, there are several difficult choices to make. It’s shocking and unfortunate that each night, every show has a conflicting schedule. Wouldn’t it be nice to see one show, then head to another? Not going to happen.
Let’s start with Thursday, August 5:
Devo, with Dirty Projectors are at Congress Thetaer at 7:30
Slightly Stoopid with Collie Buddz are at House of Blues at 8.
The New Pornographers with The Dodos are at Metro at 8.
The Big Pink with Night Gallery are at Lincoln Hall at 8
Cymbals Eat Guitars with Young Galaxy are at Schuba’s at 8
Out of these, our choice is Slightly Stoopid with Collie Buddz. It’s a tough call over The New Pornographers and Cymbals Eat Guitars. But Slightly Stoopid is perfect summer music and House of Blues is a great downtown Chicago venue.
Friday, August 6:
MGMT is at House of Blues at 10.
Cut Copy with Dragonette is at Metro at 10.
The Walkmen with Warpaint is at Double Door at 10.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros with Freelance Whales at Lincoln Hall at 10.
Wild Beasts at Empty Bottle at 10.
Rogue Wave with Gamble House at Schubas at 10.
Lackluster, if you ask me. But we’ll go with Edward Sharpe and Freelance Whales. The two bands go well together, which should make for a good all-around experience and Lincoln Hall is one great venue.
Saturday, August 7:
The National with The Antlers at House of Blues at 10.
The Black Keys with The Morning Benders at Metro at 10.
Minus the Bear with Miniature Tigers at Double Door at 10.
Blitzen Trapper with Avi Buffalo at Lincoln Hall at 10.
The Soft Pack with Royal Bangs at Schuba’s at 10.
Wavves with Harlem at Empty Bottle at 10.
Gogol Bordello at Subterranean at 10.
Precision Guided Musicians featuring Hot Chip (live), Rusko, Steve Porter Ancient Astronauts and Perry Farrell at Congress Theater at 10. CANCELED
Far and away, Saturday features the most difficult choices. I’d be happy with The National, The Black Keys, Minus the Bear or The Soft Pack. I’ve seen The Black Keys several times, although not on the most recent album. I’ve seen The National at Pitchfork. I’ve seen Minus the Bear at The Riviera. All are impressive. The one I haven’t seen is The Soft Pack and they are one of our new favorite bands — so we’ll choose them by default. That is, unless we see them at Lolla. If so, it’s The Black Keys once again. Seriously, you can’t go wrong.
Sunday, August 8:
Phoenix with Toro Y Moi at House of Blues at 10.
Health with Chandeliers at Reggie’s Rock Club at 10.
Phoenix should be entertaining.
What do you think? Leave your comments below!
Click to buy Lollapalooza 2010 aftershow tickets.
This edition of Sound Citizen Radio (at the bottom of this post) is all about summertime. As such, we present four bands with songs that should fit nicely into your summer playlists, and three of them have outdoor Chicago concerts coming up.
It’s summer concert season in Chicago, so stay tuned for future episodes of Sound Citizen Radio to make sure you don’t miss out. Don’t forget to subscribe to Sound Citizen Radio in iTunes, where you can also catch up on back episodes. And if you like what you hear, please don’t hesitate to give a “thumbs up” at the top left of this page.
This week’s lineup:
Love Language, “Heart to Tell”
June 20, Taste of Randolph, Chicago, 4pm.
Ben Keeler and The 500 Club, “Water, Water”
June 17, Abbey Pub, Chicago
June 20, I Am Fest, Chicago
July 10, Folk and Roots Festival, Chicago
The Thermals, “Now We Can See”
July 5, Millennium Park, Chicago, FREE
Thao and The Get Down Stay Down, “Bag of Hammers”
June 28, Lincoln Hall, Chicago (with Mirah and The Most of All)
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