Archive for July, 2006

The Germs

Friday, July 28th, 2006

7/27/6
Beat Kitchen in Chicago

(pictures taken by Kirstiecat. Review written up by Cinchel, who also helped shield my camera and I from the onslaught of moshing bodies.)

I was excited all week for this show. The chance to see legendary punk band The Germs (albeit 3/4th of it, Shane West fills in for the late Darby [...]

Wicker Park Street Festival Pictures

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

Click on the band’s name to be taken directly to a description, pictures, and setlist details:

Day One (7/22/06):
Devotchka
The Coup with Silk E
The Hidden Cameras
Slumber Party
Telefon Tel Aviv

Day Two (7/23/06):

Gris Gris
Dead Meadow
Make Believe
The Starlight Mints
Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
Apollo Sunsine

Gris Gris

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

Behind the distortion and reverb, is the band Gris Gris whose songs are absorbed into a cachophony that lead singer Greg Ashley almost seems to try to avoid on stage. It’s almost as if he can’t accept his fate as a lead singer as he hides to the far side of the stage in [...]

Dead Meadow

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

7/23/6
Wicker Park Street Festival
Day Two
Chicago

I’m actually a fan of Dead Meadow’s most recent release Feathers which is sort of like if you crossed the lushness of Starflyer 59 at times with psychedelica and I can sense a little Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd in there at times as well. This three piece out of [...]

Make Believe

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

7/23/6
Wicker Park Street Festival
Day Two
Chicago

While I’m a fan of Joan of Arc, I’ve never really gotten into Make Believe, which is another band fronted by Tim Kinsella who has clearly been in enough important bands to have a wikipedia entry about him. There’s a real strong Chicago history with this musician and although I [...]

The Starlight Mints

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

7/23/6
Wicker Park Music Festival
Day Two
Chicago

This was my third time seeing The Starlight Mints who provide fun and eccentric pop music to the masses. They may be a bit of an acquired taste but their songs are fulfilling and substantial. The female backup vocals of Marian Nunez fill in things well both live and [...]

Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

7/23/6
Wicker Park Street Festival
Chicago

I get such a kick out of bands with incredibly long names that you can’t help but remember. Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin hails from, oddly enough Missouri and when they said their home town I cheered just because I figured if you were in Chicago having come all the [...]

Apollo Sunshine

Tuesday, July 25th, 2006

7/23/6
Wicker Park Street Festival
Chicago

I have to admit, my favorite thing about Apollo Sunshine is their ability to infuse psychedelica into folk rock numbers. It seems that either they have departed from the psychedelic in recent times or have chosen to present themselves as more of a straight ahead rock band live. If I [...]

Devotchka

Monday, July 24th, 2006

Wicker Park Street Festival in Chicago
Day One 7/22/6
Subterranean 7/21/6

It’s almost difficult to write about Devotchka, as if mere words will spoil it. I saw them play at the Subterranean on Friday night and then again headlining the Wicker Park Street Festival. Believe me when I say I would see them every night of [...]

The Coup (wth Silk E)

Monday, July 24th, 2006

Wicker Park Street Festival
Day One 7/22/6
Chicago

While I’m politically liberal, it’s fair to say I don’t agree with everything that Oakland California’s The Coup sings or says in their lyrics. However, I do feel strongly that it is important to be politically active and expressive and you can definitely say that for The Coup. [...]