M. Ward - Live at the Vic Theater

Steinbeck once wrote he'd "rather have a picker than a strummer", I'm pretty confident that he would have been happy either way watching M. Ward at The Vic Theater on Tuesday night.  The music was beautiful and his set was a group of windows with different back drops ranging from the big city skyline to the plains of Americana.  Ward, to me, has been crowned the king of indie music with all of his collaborations and solo records but to see him live is where you truly see him earn his crown.  The show that Ward plays is clearly an homage to the past and his guitar heroes, be it Chuck Berry or John Lennon that engages the crowd from the start.  

Ward walked out to the stage with a bass line and some shakers introducing him and showed what appeared to be some swagger, like he was about take over the room and he knew it.  He started with two songs off the new record "Wasteland Companion" including the first single "Clean Slate.    From there he weaved his way through his best efforts from the 2006 release "Post-War" and 2009's "Hold Time".  Songs like "Chinese Translation", "Fisher of Men", "For Beginners" and "Magic Trick" worked the crowd into a frenzy with every word.  Ward's guitar playing is just amazing, switching from incredibly complex finger picking to beautiful Chuck Berry -esque solo work.  You can watch him in pure rapture with how he moves from one style to another so flawlessly you'd think the guitar was right there with him at birth.  

After closing the set with "Never Had Nobody Like You" he and the band came back for the encore and ripped The Vic apart with a rousing and ripping cover of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven".  He then played "Big Boat" off of the "Transistor Radio" record, gave a bow and walked off the stage.   After the crowd screamed for him one more time, he came back out with just an acoustic guitar and stretched out "Neptune's Net".  He bowed once more and left the stage after a well earned standing ovation.  

The show hit the Bonus Round right from the start because Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth fame took the stage with his band.  It was all the noise of Sonic Youth with just a touch more melody but during the set Renaldo showed that he easily can play lead guitar in a league with anyone.  He treated the guitar like a weapon, even took a bow to it at one point to calm it down, just an amazing opener.

I've attached the video link for his cover of Buddy Holly's "Rave On" because he played it tonight (at a much faster tempo) and because my wife and I used this for our first dance.  

Bonnie Raitt - Live at the Chicago Theater

Bonnie Raitt played two sold out shows at the Chicago Theater this weekend.   I will fully admit that the only reason I went was because my wife is a huge fan but to follow up, she was excellent.  She is a guitar player as skilled as any great that you can think of that plays a slide on par with Duane Allman.  I've always known Raitt to be a great guitar player but was so impressed with her ability, she reminded me of the first time I saw Buddy Guy and saw what he could do with a Fender Stratocaster.

Raitt opened the show with two songs from her newest release, "Slipstream", the second being the Gerry Rafferty cover of "Right Down the Line".  What I learned last night at the show was that Raitt is not a songwriter, she plays songs written by other artists including some famous and some not so well known.  Rafferty is best known for his work with the group Stealer's Wheel and Raitt talked about how much she liked his writing and was disappointed that he never got to hear her version of his love song by Raitt and her band.  She followed that with what is likely her biggest hit, "Something to Talk About", which was a surprise because she did it so early in the set.  

Throughout the show she thanked the crowd repeatedly, even admitted to being intimidated by the size of the crowd and how the show sold out in an hour after going on sale.  Her banter with the audience was playful and sincere, keeping the audience engaged in between each song.  On the "Slipstream" record she covers two songs by Bob Dylan, both from late in his career, and played "Million Miles" during the show.  She turned it into a gritty blues song about heartbreak and just killed the room.  When she covered John Prine's "Angel from Montgomery" she started out a cappella , it was amazing and is worth a listen if you get a chance.  

Bonnie Raitt and her band blew away the Chicago Theater and is deserved of all the praise she has received over her 40 plus year career.  She's not just a guitar player that can weave her way through the blues, rock and roll, country and even reggae, but she is also an amazing singer that can hit any note that she wants.  B.B. King once called her the best slide guitar player of all time, after seeing her Saturday night, B.B. makes a valid argument.

Here is a video clip for her latest song, "Right Down the Line" 

Damu & Raw Poetic - Hole Up

New York producer Damu the Fudgemunk is a true throw back to the good ol' days when beats were 'fresh' and MCs were cold chillin.  Although he will probably never reach mainstream ears, us hip hop heads are happy to share him amongst the faithful.  Dig deep in to his catalog and you will find flawless production with real tight use of samples and boom bap drums.  If you like Diamond D, Jay Dilla, or Pete Rock you'll welcome Damu with open arms.

This time he has linked up with Subsoniq co-host and Panacea front man Raw Poetic for this early 90's, 125bpm classic.  enjoy.

Riot Fest - September 14-16

Just what everybody was thinking, Chicago needs another outdoor festival.  This may not be true but this posting today has made me more excited than any of the other big festivals that are coming to town.  Riot Fest has been happening for years now, but it has been limited to a weeks worth of shows.  This year the creators are taking over Humboldt Park and apparently are bringing a carnival to go along with a very A List type line up.  A weekend that includes Iggy and the Stooges, Elvis Costello, NOFX, Rise Against and Bulit to Spill (plus many others) is a weekend that is up the alley of anyone a fan of punk rock can appreciate.  See you there..

Here's a video of Elvis Costello when he guest hosted for Letterman a few years back...

J Dilla - Rebirth of Detroit

J Dilla is back on wax with a new release "Rebirth of Detroit", a project resulting from old beats and new rappers.  It's almost guaranteed this will be a HUGE release since, well, it's J Dilla.  Album is set to release June 12th. 

Check out the behind the scenes footage from Chuck Inglish' recording for the album.

Reggie Watts and Jon Hamm

You read that correctly. Shouldn't be too surprising though; Reggie can make music of/with anyone.

Passion Pit - Take A Walk

I remember when I first heard "Little Secrets" from Passion Pit in 2009 and thinking it was a fairly solid elecrtic pop synth song.  It was off their debut full length album called "Manners" which was hugely succesful and a lot had to do with this song.  They came to a Chicago a few times in 2009 and 2010, including two sold out shows at the Congress and a Taste of Chicago headlining spot, but we haven't had a full release from the band since "Manners".  That all changes on July 24th and the band has released their first single off the new record "Gossamer".  The track is called "Take A Walk" and is streaming at their website.    Right now the local date for Passion Pit is at Lollapalooza but they could be an excellent pick for a Lolla Afterparty show someplace nice and tiny.

Kid B "Dope Vol. 2" Mixtape

Don't let the name "Kid B" and "Dope" fool you - this is not some amatuerish rap mixtape from the suburbs but rather a decidedly (and amazingly) chill mix filled with wonderful R&B remixes and subdued rhythms.  You can stream it or download it at no money down

Alcoholic Faith Mission: Live at Schubas 5/5/12

Photos by Rachel Smith

As busy as the last few months have been, I've greatly missed spontaneously catching shows. Whereas I once would be able to at the last minute sneak into the back of a music room to catch a set, my schedule hasn't allowed even so much as a planned evening.

It was therefore a welcome surprise when the ever so gracious PR folks who represent Denmark's Alcoholic Faith Mission reached out at the last minute Friday to inquire as to whether I might like to catch their client on Saturday night. Having enjoyed what I'd heard in past listens, I jumped at the opportunity and I'm certainly glad I did. 

Their often dreamlike, ethereal albums belie the exuberance of their live show. Punctuated by driving pop melodies, tight vocal melodies and sheer enthusiasm, the band simply out-guns many of their Nordic peers. In a time where many bands shy away from and even abhor traditional pop structures in their song-writing, Alcoholic Faith Mission seem to embrace them wholeheartedly. This along with obviously very strong chemistry if not outright affection for another results in what can only be described as an on-stage love-fest and joy to watch. 

It's not to say that many other bands aren't making music simply because they love to do it, it's just been a while since I've seen a group so physically represent that ethos. Despite this being their first Chicago performance and a less than capacity crowd, those in the room were clearly enraptured by the charismatic sextet. 

Alcoholic Faith Mission is not only a band to watch from a rising popularity standpoint; it's clear they are going places. What's more impressive to watch is them - their music, their heart and the sheer love they put into their craft. 

Andrew Bird - Danse Caribe (Live on KEXP)

The Chicago born multi-instrumentalist recently added another chapter to his masterful discography. Break it yourself has pole position on any album released in 2012. Bird's previous work had the ability to disappear into a frenzy of experimental confusion, whistling and glockenspieling (not a word) his craft into submission, much like over-cooking a petite filet. Though the whistling is still very much alive, it compliments the intricate layers of his music as opposed to choking it. Break It Yourself is the quintessential album that needs to be inhaled many times before feeling the intoxicating effect. Pay attention to every whisper and you will find a story worth hearing again.

Andrew Bird will be performing at the Auditorium Theatre Saturday 5/12. 

Coldplay's "Fight for Your Right (to Party)"

In a fittingly solemn ode to the late and truly great Adam Yauch, Coldplay performed this wonderful rendition of the Beastie Boys "Fight for your Right (to Party)".  The Hollywood Bowl didn't see it coming but you can hear the collective joy once the audience realizes what they are doing.

Adam 'MCA' Yauch: 1964-2012

Rest in Peace, MCA

UPDATE: The Beastie Boys released this official statement on their website: 

It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam "MCA" Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys.

With fellow members Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Adrock" Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums–including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band's 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill–win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

In addition to his hand in creating such historic Beastie Boys albums as Paul's Boutique, Check Your Head, Ill Communication, Hello Nasty and more, Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces. In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which was attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985's Live Aid. The Tibetan Freedom Concert series would continue to stage some of the most significant benefit shows in the world for nearly a decade following in New York City, Washington DC, Tokyo, Sydney, Amsterdam, Taipei and other cities.

In the wake of September 11, 2001, Milarepa organized New Yorkers Against Violence, a benefit headlined by Beastie Boys at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom, with net proceeds disbursed to the New York Women's Foundation Disaster Relief Fund and the New York Association for New Americans (NYANA) September 11th Fund for New Americans–each chosen for their efforts on behalf of 9/11 victims least likely to receive help from other sources.

Under the alias of Nathanial Hörnblowér, Yauch directed iconic Beastie Boys videos including "So Whatcha Want," "Intergalactic," "Body Movin" and "Ch-Check It Out." Under his own name, Yauch directed last year's Fight For Your Right Revisited, an extended video for "Make Some Noise" from Beastie Boys' Hot Sauce Committee Part Two, starring Elijah Wood, Danny McBride and Seth Rogen as the 1986 Beastie Boys, making their way through a half hour of cameo-studded misadventures before squaring off against Jack Black, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as Beastie Boys of the future.

Yauch's passion and talent for filmmaking led to his founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which in 2008 released his directorial film debut, the basketball documentary Gunnin' For That #1 Spot and has since become a major force in independent video distribution, amassing a catalogue of such acclaimed titles as Kelly Reichardt's Wendy and Lucy, Oren Moverman's The Messenger, Banksy's Exit Through The Gift Shop, Lance Bangs and Spike Jonze's Tell Them Anything You Want: A Portrait Of Maurice Sendak, and many more.

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.

MightyFools Mix

Mightyfools launched their first EP entitled “That’s The Shit” on Lektroluv Records. What better way than to celebrate the Netherlands natives than with a new mixtape filled with exclusive tracks and of course tracks from their new EP:

Neil Young and Crazy Horse - "Oh Susanna!"

Neil Young and Crazy Horse have been making music since the late sixties and have produced masterpieces like "Rust Never Sleeps", "Ragged Glory" and "Sleeps With Angels".  When Young gets together with the band he tends to make some of his loudest music and on this new album, entitled "Americana" and is out June 5th, it appears they are up to their old tricks again.  This video was released yesterday and proves to be one interesting take on the childhood sing along.  

Kaskade Live at Coachella (full DJ Set)

For those there, Kaskade descending upon the crowd in a wave of pure house bliss was nothing short of the festival's highlight.  Those who flipped the coin and decided to go to Radiohead during Kaskade's set simply made THE mistake of the weekend.  Listen and download at no money down: