Show Review: Cult of Luna w/ Emma Ruth Rundle and Intronaut @ House of Blues, March 4, 2020

Emma Ruth Rundle @ House of Blues

Last week I stopped at the House of Blues for a show for the first time in my whole dang life. It wasn't actually that bad of experience and everyone sounded awesome. This was also my first time seeing Emma Ruth Rundle. The goth queen of quite death folk who now owns my heart. Check out my full write up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer, here. 

Cult of Luna @ House of Blues

All photos by me. 

Show Review: Truckfighters @ Empty Bottle, February 18, 2020

Truckfighters tearing it up at the Empty Bottle (Photo by me)

Braved the cold for a stone-cold solid show at the Empty Bottle last week. Swedish over-the-top stoner rockers Truckfighters blasted clean through my expectations and you can read my full recap now up at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link here.

Show Review: Music Frozen Dancing, February 22, 2020

Wheatpaste flyer - held up pretty well despite the weather (photo by me)

Every year the Empty Bottle in Chicago hosts an outdoor music festival in February, and every year it continues to be an insane proposition. Still people keep showing up year after year, despite the frostbite, or maybe because of it... Chicago people complain about the cold, but secretly, I think they kind of like it.

I was out with the Chicago Crowd Surfer team for the festival and you can read our tag-team coverage here. I left with all my limbs intact so I guess that means I had a pretty good time.

Show Review: CHIRP RADIO AND SMASHED PLASTIC ANNIVERSARY @ SLEEPING VILLAGE, February 1, 2020

The Dyes @ Sleeping Village

I did some coverage of the CHIRP Radio and Smashed Plastic Anniversary Party over at Sleeping Village for Chicago Crowd Surfer. Partys like this only come around once a year...or ten in CHIRP's case. TL:DR Show was a blast. No free beer this year thought. I also had to take all of the photos on my phone. They turned out fine. It's fine. Check out the recap over at Chicago Crowd Surfer here, and join me in wishing CHIRP Radio and Smashed Plastic a Happy Birthday!  

SuperKnova @ Sleeping Village

Photos by yours truly 

Show Recap: Ian's Party 2020 - Friday

Partied at Ian's the weekend before last and I have a few thoughts on some of the bands that stopped in to entertain the fine folks of Chicago. I only made it out for Friday of the three-day fest this year (place frowny face emoji here for emphasis). If'in you didn't know, Ian's Party is the mostly local jamboree that a group of Elgin, IL ex-pats put on the first weekend of each new year to celebrate the city's (and greater midwest's) diverse DIY scene. This year I checked out SuperKnova, Bev. Rage and the Drinks, Tow Houses, Kali Masi and many other super talented people. Chicago Crowd Surfer posted my notes from the fest on their website's refrigerator door. Link below.

Friday at Ian's party ft. SuperKnova, Drilling for Blasting, Kali Masi, Abertooth Lincoln, Tow Houses, and Bev Rage and the Drinks

I still call Dimo's in Wicker Park the "Ian's on Damen."

Show Review: The Arrivals @ Reggies - December 28,2019

Photo by me

Local legends The Arrivals did their thing at Reggies as a bit of a post-holiday celebration and I have a full write up of the festivities up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. This was a rough Holiday for me and I really needed some rowdy, class conscious punk rock to flush the pipes of some bad vibes this year. Luckily the Arrivals, Sass Dragons and Canadian Rifle all put on phenomenal performances. Link to the recap below.

The Arrivals w/ Sass Dragons, Canadian Rifle, and Nightcap @ Reggies

And everybody gets a little piece of the pie...

Show Review: Lingua Ignota @ Thalia Hall 12/21/2019

Image courtesy of the artist

I was able to stop in on Lingua Ignota's set at Thalia Hall this past Saturday. Her album Caligula was one of the more arresting listening experiences in 2019 and her set on the ground level of this historic theater more than met my expectations. The Holidays aren't always a lot of fun for everyone. It was very cathartic to Caligula live this time of year. My review is over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.

Review of Lingua Ignota @ Thalia Hall

Don't let people treat you like sh*t. Ever.

Show Review: Forever Deaf Fest 2019

Matianak

The second year of the all local death and doom metal fest. Forever Deaf Fest was this past weekend at the Cobra Lounge and Beat Kitchen, and I was there for Chicago Crowd Surfer to snag some pics and soak up the brutal majesty of it all. I can honestly say that I have a new appreciation for scene mainstays Broken Hope and the Sword, as well as up and beastly upstarts Matianak, Snow Burial, and Huntsmen. Check out my coverage at the link below and enjoy some additional images that didn't make it into the article.

Show Recap of  Forever Deaf Fest 2019

Everything Must Die

Inner Decay

Gloryhole Guillotine

Matianak

Broken Hope

The Skull

Huntsmen

Huntsmen

Huntsmen

Now if you excuse me I need to talk to a specialist about a cochlear implant.

All photos by me. 

Show Review: Exhumed and Gatecreeper at the Empty Bottle November 20, 2019

My review of the death metal masterclass that went down over at the The Empty Bottle before Thanksgiving is now up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer (link below). Missed Exhumed and Gatecreeper tearing the world part one riff at a time, or do you want to relive the brutality with the help of my mangled prose? Either way CCS has you covered. Link in the underground.

Exhumed and Gatecreeper @ The Empty Bottle - November 20, 2019

Thanks to Alexi D. Front of Scorched Tundra for organizing another fantastic show. When I say he's a wizard, I mean it!

Show Review: Riot Fest 2019

So I went to Riot Fest this past weekend, and... oh boy, do I have some thoughts and feels about it. You can read my recap at the link below. Thanks to Chicago Crowd Surfer for publishing brain farts on this incredibly historic seasonal event. 

Click here for Riot Fest 2019 recap 

It was the best of times... It was the worst of times... 

Photo by me. 

Show Review: Scorched Tundra XI

Wondering why there was a blaze in the sky above the Empty Bottle this past weekend? Now is your chance to read about what you missed (or relive the burn if you were there). Scorched Tundra XI blew the doors off the Bottle and I have a full write-up for you over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.

Recap of Scorched Tundra XI ready to burn a whole through your browser window over at CCS

'Cause you're as hot as ice... wait, how does that song go again?

Show Review: Anderson .Paak @ House of Vans Chicago

Image provided by the artist

I got to see Anderson .Paak be a boss at a house party he threw at Vans' place this past Thursday. It was pretty wild. Want to know what I thunk? Click below

Recap of Anderson .Paak laying it down over at Chicago Crowd Surfer

All the pictures featured in the article were taken on my cell phone. Judge if you want but I think they came out fine.

Show Recap: P4k 2019

Pitchfork Festival 2019 is thankfully over. Chicago's festival season is over stuffed with festivals and outdoor concerts during the summer and the entirety of P4K 20-whenever is always one of my least favorite parts of the season each year. Tired, over-hyped, and bougie. I'm over it. I covered a few of the acts that I actually liked this year for Chicago Crowd Surfer. You can read my thoughts at the link below. Look for the recaps attributed to MDR.

Recap of P4k 2019 byt CCS Staff

Show Recap: Logan Square Fest 2019

My coverage of Logan Square's 2019 edition is up over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. I honestly had more fun than I expected to this year. See what I thought of No Men, Hop Along, and Speedy Ortiz's after party at Sleeping Village with Froth and Fckr Jr. at the link.

Words about Logan Square Fest 2019 @ CCS

F*ck ICE

Show Review: Doomed & Stoned 2019 @ Reggies Rock Club

Get your recommended dose of fuzz and fury with my write up of Doomed & Stoned 2019 featuring Blood Ceremony, Torche, Demon Lung, Wolf Blood, Frayle, Witch Ripper, and the incomparable Coven. It was one of those weekends that reminds me of why I'm a metal devotee. Check out my coverage over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.

Recap of Doomed and Stoned @ Reggies 

It's a good time to be a metal fan in Chicago. 

Coven (Photo by me)

Show Review: Perturbator at Thalia Hall

Perturbator (Photo credit: CCS)

This week I checked out the future-imperfect cyber synth wraiths Perturbator at Thalia Hall. I dug a little deeper than usual in my recap of their set and seeing their show helped me unpack some ideas that had been rolling around in my mind for the past few weeks. My coverage is over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below. 

Show Recap Perturbator @ Thalia Hall

No future but what we make. 

Show Review: Ministry at House of Vans, April 13, 2019

Photo by me

I was a lucky boy this week and got to check out Ministry as part of a Record Store Day promotion at House of Vans. Relive the magic with me by clicking the link below and reading my thoughts about the night over at Chicago Crowd Surfer.

Recap of Ministry at House of Vans

House of Wax Trax.

Show Review: Baroness @ The Riv - March 31, 2019

Baroness, taken on whatever version of the Samsung Galaxy I have 

My charmed little life continues to be charmed and worth struggling through as I got to see Baroness at The Riv this past Sunday. No other bands played. No one of note though. Baroness was excellent. It's just a shame they couldn't find anyone good and not sucky to play with. There is a complete recap over at Chicago Crowd Surfer. Link below.

Recap of Baroness at the Rive 3/21/2019

I have very strong opinions about music. Don't let it get to you.

Show Review: Oozing Wound Record Release at Empty Bottle, March 16, 2019

Photo Credit: CCS

Oozing Wound are sick as hell and I've got the scoop on their record release show at the Bottle this week. Click through to Chicago Crowd Surfer to read about the hole they ripped in space-time this past Saturday. Also featured, Hitter! Keep an eye on these sweaty goofy balls, they're my new favorite local band and I can't wait to see what they do next!

Recap of Oozing Wound's Record Release Party 

You can't shut what won't close.

Show Review: Smashed Plastic Records Opening w/ Serengeti, Diagonal, The Lawrence Peters Outfit & Bleach Party @ Workshop 400, February 2, 2019

Serengeti (Photo by me)

I stopped out to deliver my well wishes to Chicago's newest small batch vinyl printing press moguls, Smashed Plastic last Saturday and now I come to you with a full recap of the festivities. I'm honestly surprised at what I can remember given all the commotion and free libations. If you want to read my best recollections of the event, click through to Chicago Crowd Surfer. The highlight for me was Serengeti who you can see in the mediocre shot from my cell phone above. Everyone had such a good time at this thing, SP is basically obligated to throw another in 2020.