One of the real advantages to the Chicago music scene is that you never know what you’ll get, and there’s always something new and interesting right around the corner. Enter Half Coyote.
We can’t tell you too much about this Illinois-based band, mostly because their email address doesn’t seem to work, and they are not in a hurry to write about themselves anywhere. So, we’ll just share what we do know.
Half Coyote is not something you hear very often (those who have heard Devil in a Woodpile have a head start). Toy piano, banjo, ukelele…dogs–you’ll find it all here. But don’t think that it’s cartoonish hijinks. Rather, Half Coyote sounds about perfect for a back room, beer- and whiskey-soaked sway, maybe ending with a new friend or a black eye–either seems appropriate. (Hopefully, these guys are on The Hideout’s radar. If not, we’ll try to make that happen.)
We’ve heard a lot of half-baked folk music invade the scene over the last few years. This is not it. Half Coyote is all in. And the more we listen, so are we.
We invite you to have a listen to Finale Rack, below. And you can head to the Half Coyote bandcamp page to hear the rest of their EP, People Clothes (listen to ‘Politics’). Also, check ‘em out on Facebook.
If I were to tell you that a new band, based in Chicago, has just released a debut record … is that something that you would be interested in? What if I told you that it was produced by the same people who have worked on albums for Wilco and Neko Case?
That’s Paper Thick Walls, who will roll out A Thousand Novels this Friday at The Hideout, during their record release party.
If Paper Thick Walls’ show is anything like their record, you can expect plenty of toe-tapping, head-bobbing goodness. Appropriately titled, A Thousand Novels plays out like a warm and familiar story. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Wes Anderson found a place for some tracks on an upcoming film, don’t let me convince you this is a straight-up folksy/hippie/indie thing. Paper Thick Walls projects a seasoned, well-rounded sound led by soothing but strong vocals from Eric Michaels and Kate Schell, and tight melodies form Andrew Sabo (drums), Jacques Rene (fiddle, mandolin, guitar) and Roger Sherman (upright bass). OK, maybe there’s a little hippie folk in there… But the title track has a run that might even elicit a head-bang or two, ala some of Band of Horses’ finer moments.
Anyway, as good music fans I know you don’t trust half of what you read anyway (nor should you). So have a listen then get your tickets to The Hideout – one of Chicago’s very best small venues.
Welcome to another edition of Sound Citizen Radio. This week we celebrate three of our favorite Chicago music venues in The Hideout, Beat Kitchen and Lincoln Hall.
The past two weeks on SoundCitizen.com we reviewed Local Natives, interviewed and reviewed Clem Snide and made some Austin City Limits recommendations. Check them out after listening to the podcast!
And GO BLACKHAWKS!
This week’s lineup:
Jonny Rumble, “BRZRKR”
June 25, Beat Kitchen, Chicago
Visqueen, “Jimmy vs. James”
May 31, The Hideout, Chicago
Gold Motel, “We’re on the Run”
June 11, Lincoln Hall
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