Pitchfork adds M.I.A., Wire, Yo La Tengo, Parquet Courts, Waxahatchee,Woods
Pitchfork rounded out the lineup for its annual three-day Chicago festival and there’s a lot to like this year. I’ve said that this is one of the most interesting music festivals regardless of headliners. The up-and-coming early acts are often a highlight for me.
The biggest name added to the fest is M.I.A., who will play Sunday night before R. Kelly (at least that’s how the schedule appears now). Also joining the lineup are indie vets Yo La Tengo (Sunday) and the punk legends of Wire (Friday).
What really excites me are the additions of Woods, Frankie Rose and Mikal Cronin Friday; Parquet Courts and Metz Saturday; and Waxahatchee and Glass Candy Sunday. But there are a number of other highlights. See the full schedule here. The festival runs July 19-21.
Also, see Swans, Foxygen, Breeders make Pitchfork fest better
Swans, Foxygen, Breeders make Pitchfork fest better
The Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago this July is getting more interesting with the addition of Swans, Foxygen and Breeders. I’m also looking forward to seeing Angel Olsen and Mac Demarco.
And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Our Dead used to play some killer shows. I’ll be eager to see if those guys still have some fire. Trash Talk should be a fun set. More bands are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. I wasn’t blown away by the previously announced headliners: Bjork, Belle & Sebastian and R. Kelly.
Foxygen also plays a sold-out show at Lincoln Hall Thursday.
I predict dark clouds will form around the stage as soon as Swans go on.
Dirty Projectors, Willis Earl Beal shine on rainy first day of Pitchfork
My favorite sets at the first day of Pitchfork Music Festival Friday were by Dirty Projectors and Willis Earl Beal. I had a feeling that Dirty Projectors’ new songs would sound really good live. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Beal, who is sort of a soul, blues, gospel, indie kind of guy. He’s not that easy to define — kind of like Tom Waits. But he’s a captivating performer and his songs are powerful.
I liked sets by Lower Dens and Japandroids but I’m also a big fan of both. Japandroids did seem to work people into a frenzy. I picked Purity Ring on the side stage over headlining closer Feist. Purity Ring’s music sounds a lot like the Knife. The duo’s debut album, Shrines, is out Tuesday, though you can buy it at Pitchfork fest this weekend.
The rain delayed the start of the fest but let up only to send everyone running for cover again late day. The main stages were back on schedule by early evening but the third stage acts never seem to get started on time.
Also see Grimes, Sleigh Bells, Wild Flag, Atlas Sound highlight Pitchfork Saturday
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Pitchfork Music Festival preview: Three days of indie bliss
The Pitchfork Music Festival kicks off this afternoon (Friday) at Union Park with the first band, Chicago’s Outer Minds, at 3:20 p.m. Click on links below for my day-by-day previews.
Friday:
Japandroids, Dirty Projectors, Purity Ring kick off Pitchfork fest Friday
Saturday:
Grimes, Sleigh Bells, Wild Flag, Atlas Sound highlight Pitchfork Saturday
Sunday:
The Men, Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, Iceage add teeth to Pitchfork’s Sunday lineup
Most of the after-parties are listed here. Though the list isn’t complete. It doesn’t include Iceage at Subterranean Monday, for instance. There’s also the three-night Cobrafest at nearby Cobra Lounge.
Click here for full Pitchfork schedule.
Chromatics play Saturday:
Unknown Mortal Orchestra plays Sunday
Clams Casino plays Friday night:
The Men, Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, Iceage add teeth to Pitchfork’s Sunday lineup
Forget the wimpy, rubbery sounds of headliner Vampire Weekend, the meat of the Sunday program for Pitchfork Music Festival is in the afternoon. That’s when Iceage, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall and the Men play. Again, unfortunately, there’s overlap among these sets. It’s maddening but there are after-shows for each band.
I’m also looking forward to seeing Unknown Mortal Orchestra (an early set) and Beach House, which plays just before the preppy boys of Vampire Weekend.
Click here for the full schedule.
Also see Japandroids, Dirty Projectors, Purity Ring kick off Pitchfork fest Friday, Ty Segall brings it on new album, plans another and plays Pitchfork and Grimes, Sleigh Bells, Wild Flag, Atlas Sound highlight Pitchfork Saturday
Click here to get the skinny on after-shows. Also, Iceage and Milk Music play Subterranean Monday.
Grimes, Sleigh Bells, Wild Flag, Atlas Sound highlight Pitchfork Saturday
Grimes is playing the side stage Saturday night of Pitchfork Music Festival, while Godspeed You! Black Emperor headlines the main-stage area. I’ll likely opt for Grimes. The day is short of rock acts but includes a number of interesting options. I intend to get to the fest early enough to see Cloud Nothings, which I’ll (unfortunately) have to cut short to catch Lotus Plaza, a side project of Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt. Oddly, Lotus Plaza overlaps with another Deerhunter side project, Bradford Cox’s Atlas Sound. I’m determined to see a bit of all three shows.
My other top sets for Saturday include Wild Flag and Sleigh Bells. Check out the full lineup here.
Also see Japandroids, Dirty Projectors, Purity Ring kick off Pitchfork fest Friday and Pitchfork fest schedule is released: Grimes vs. Godspeed
Ty Segall brings it on new album, plans another and plays Pitchfork
It’s not like Ty Segall has been recording yacht rock for the past few years but, man, does he bring it on his latest album, Slaughterhouse. The songs are harder, faster and all-around more intense. Officially, it’s a release by the Ty Segall Band (he recorded it with the guys he takes on tour). I’ve lost track of how many records he’s made, but the prolific one just announced another solo album, Twins, to be released in October. That would be the third album by Segall this year. He also released Hair, a (recommended) collaboration with White Fence.
If you like Segall’s manic garage rock, Chicago is the place to be over the next few days. He and Japandroids will be at Lincoln Hall for the WBEZ show Sound Opinions on Thursday. Segall headlines a sold-out show at Empty Bottle Saturday night and he plays Pitchfork Music Festival Sunday afternoon. If you’re going to Pitchfork Sunday, don’t miss this one. Segall is unbelievable live.
From last year’s Goodbye Bread:
Also see New music: Ty Segall and White Fence
Japandroids, Dirty Projectors, Purity Ring kick off Pitchfork fest Friday
Pitchfork Music Festival gets going Friday afternoon with Lower Dens playing one of the first sets. It’s a strong opener for what I think will be another good fest. (I’ve been to all of them.)
Admittedly, it’s not easy to catch the opening acts and stay all the way through the closers over three days, but I try my best to see the short early sets, which sometimes prove to be highlights. Friday is a good example. One of Chicago’s most fascinating new artists, Willis Earl Beal, also plays an early set that day — one that I wouldn’t miss. The Olivia Tremor Control, one of the Elephant 6 bands, gets an early slot as well.
Of course, I’m excited about the later shows, particularly Japandroids, now touring the full-throttle release Celebration Rock, and Dirty Projectors (see album review). I’m also intrigued by Purity Ring, which goes up against headliner Feist.
See the full schedule here.
Also see Pitchfork fest schedule is released: Grimes vs. Godspeed
Dirty Projectors, Dusted lead best new releases
Here’s just the thing for the dog days of summer: A pair of very cool, highly original releases out (today) Tuesday from Dirty Projectors and Dusted. The albums feel like they fall at the opposite ends of some musical spectrum. Dirty Projectors’ Swing Lo Magellan is full of complicated musical arrangements borrowing from many genres, while Dusted’s Total Dust is best described as super lo-fi. Both are highly recommended.
Fans of Dirty Projectors know the very distinct sound of this band but there are some twists and turns on Magellan that we didn’t hear on the 2009 breakthrough Bitte Orca. Maybe it’s the beats? In an interview with the New York Times, frontman David Longstreth said he was influenced by a number of artists during the making of Magellan, including Lil Wayne. ”I love the beats,” Longstreth said, referring to Weezy’s music. Other artists inspiring Magellan: Neil Young, Guided By Voices, Rod Stewart and blues legend Blind Willie Johnson, he told the Times. All in all, Magellan is a strong album and may even best the remarkable Bitte Orca.
Dusted is the vehicle for Brian Borcherdt, best known for his bass, drums and electronica outfit Holy Fuck. Total Dust is a big departure from the boisterous sounds of that band. Musically, Total Dust sounds like what I imagine a collaboration between Woods and Mount Eerie would sound like. As for production, it’s Lou Barlow circa early ’90s. But what a great album Borcherdt put together with the help of collaborator Leon Taheny. Dusted is slow, deliberate and often haunting.
Stream all of Total Dust here.
You can catch Dirty Projectors at Pitchfork fest Friday.
Pitchfork fest schedule is released: Grimes vs. Godspeed
Pitchfork released a schedule for its three-day July festival in Union Park. The big-stage headliners are Feist Friday night, Godspeed You Black Emperor Saturday and Vampire Weekend Sunday.
Putting Grimes on a side stage Saturday may be a mistake. I wouldn’t be surprised if the area is overwhelmed Saturday night because she is going to draw a huge crowd.
Unfortunately, there’s also too much overlap for the best rock acts of the weekend. Fans who want to catch Iceage, Thee Oh Sees, Ty Segall and the Men will have to do some running back and forth Sunday afternoon, missing parts of sets. Despite my bitches, it should be a great festival. Take a look here for the full schedule:
New video: Sleigh Bells’ ‘Demons’
Here’s a new video from Sleigh Bells for the song Demons, off the album Reign of Terror. I admit I didn’t like Sleigh Bells following the band’s debut a couple of years ago, but I’m a fan of Reign of Terror. I’m also looking forward to seeing these guys at Pitchfork.
And here’s remix of Demons by Diplo:
Japandroids, Chromatics join Pitchfork fest
Japandroids and Chromatics were added to the Pitchfork Music Festival lineup in July. The three-day fest has gotten stronger with each new band announcement. Japandroids play Friday of the festival and Chromatics play Saturday.
Also, see Wild Flag, Atlas Sound, Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees added to Pitchfork fest and The Men, Iceage, Sleigh Bells, Dirty Projectors added to Pitchfork fest
Guided By Voices, Neko Case, No Age, Kurt Vile added to Pitchfork
The Pitchfork Music Festival added another round of bands to its July 15-17 lineup, including the reunited Guided By Voices (worth the price of admission alone), Neko Case, No Age and Kurt Vile.
The rest of the lineup additions: The Fresh and Onlys, Twin Sister, Health, the Radio Dept., Baths, Shabazz Palaces, Gang Gang Dance, G-Side, How to Dress Well and Chrissy Murderbot.
GBV and Neko Case play Friday. No Age plays Saturday and Kurt Vile performs Sunday. You can see the full lineup (so far) here.
