Iceage delivers a short, hard punch
In just 24 minutes, New Brigade, the debut album by Danish punks Iceage, packs a real punch. At points brooding and other places furious, these teens from Copenhagen have made one of the most exciting releases of 2011.
The band just played its first U.S. gig in Brooklyn. Hopefully, we’ll get a Chicago show in the near future.
Best new music: Woods’ Sun and Shade
There’s been some grumbling about the new Woods release Sun and Shade. Some reviewers don’t think the album lives up to the rep that the band created with its earlier offerings. I, on the other hand, really like this one and highly recommend it.
Sun and Shade is a hodgepodge of 60s influences (psych, kraut, folk, etc.). It works.
Woods is one of the early bands playing Pitchfork. Check them out if you can.
Pitchfork’s early shows shine
Pitchfork released its time slots earlier this week. There aren’t a lot of surprises but the schedule shows that you can catch some great bands by showing up early.
The Friday sets don’t start until after 3 p.m. but be sure to see Tune-Yards if you’re able to swing it at 4:30 p.m. That set will compete with Battles. And if you’re there that early, you definitely don’t want to miss Thurston Moore at 5:30.
Pitchfork’s Saturday starts at 1 p.m. If you’re an early riser, you have to catch Woods at 1:45 p.m.
Sunday’s program also opens at 1 p.m. with the Fresh and Onlys. Don’t miss Yuck at 1:45 p.m. Kurt Vile plays at 2:30 p.m.
What I love about Pitchfork is that it’s strong from beginning to end. And sometimes those short sets at the beginning are the most memorable.
This is a fan video for Tune-Yards’ Gangsta:
Yuck’s latest NSFW video
Yuck is becoming the leader for NSFW videos this year. Here’s the latest, an interesting and disturbing visual for the song Shook Down.
These guys play Pitchfork next month.
Now appearing at Ribfest!!!
Playing ribfest sounds like a punchline, for sure. But in recent years the organizers of Chicago’s Ribfest in North Center have booked some decent musical acts.
This year’s lineup includes some locals, including Waco Brothers, My Gold Mask and Ezra Furman & the Harpoons.
There are also sets by garage rockers The Ettes, rockabilly vets the Legendary Shack Shakers, country rocker Hayes Carll and the Twin Cities’ Tapes ‘n Tapes.
All in all, it’s a good lineup … especially for a ribfest.
Lollapalooza schedule announced
Lollapalooza rolled out its schedule today. We already knew who was playing. Now we know when they’re playing.
For 90 bucks a day, I’d like to see a robust lineup that I can get excited about from noon till close. Personally, I only see one day that lives up to my expectations for a full-day, engaging lineup: Friday.
As for the top-billing acts, Coldplay, Muse and Girl Talk all headline Friday night. Saturday night’s headliners: Eminem, My Morning Jacket and Beirut (on the small Grove stage). Sunday features a two-hour set by Foo Fighters.
As usual, a number of good indie groups and some intriguing revival shows are spread across the three days. I don’t see a perfect schedule but I’ll take what I can get.
Last year, I saw Devo and that was really cool. I wouldn’t mind seeing these old-timers (who play Sunday):
I also would love to see the return (on Saturday) of Death from Above 1979:
Go to the jump to see my picks for the Friday lineup.
