Sunjacket — ‘Alligator,’ ‘Partition’

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

1778072308-1And that’s why you always follow up!

Carl Hauck reached out to me this month to introduce me to his new indie, Sunjacket. A band so new they’ve yet to grace a local stage. That gets rectified tonight at Beat Kitchen.

I remembered Carl’s name from an email exchange we’d done a few years ago in regards to his forthcoming (at the time) album, Windjammer. Josh reviewed the thing. It, he wrote then, “offers up some nice, soft ballads that tear at your heartstrings.” Josh thought Carl’s music “cerebral.”

Sunjacket doesn’t strive for these things. In lieu of them they’ve formed a murky yet elegant rock. A straightforward sound with a sprinkling of intrigue.

Sunjacket placed four demos on Bandcamp. I’ve handpicked a pair.

Recommended:

Extras:

  • The Chicago-based Sunjacket is Garret Bodette, Carl Hauck, Bryan Kveton, Tricia Scully and Ross Tasch. | Facebook
  • Their four demos are available for free streams and downloads. | Bandcamp
  • Sunjacket plays Beat Kitchen on Thursday. Eight bucks. | Tickets

You know, there are plenty more Song Reviews on Chicago Tunes.
Also: Like Chicago Tunes on Facebook, or follow on Twitter. If ya want.
Stream Chicago Tunes-approved tunes on Hype Machine. No signup required.

Posted in Song Review, Sunjacket | Leave a comment

Caveman, Computer Magic @ Schubas (3/5)

Posted on March 25, 2013 by
credit: Jeff Schneider

credit: Jeff Schneider

I came to Schubas on a blizzardy Tuesday evening, one of those nights with an eerie peace and quiet to it. I thought most people would be hibernating from the elements but the show had quite the turnout. I walked out of this Chicago winter and into sunny Tampa-inspired synth pop of the band Computer Magic emanating from the back room.

Danielle Johnson fronts this duo with an intense gaze and a larger-than-life vocal styling. The set was quite dancey but at times would fade into an ’80s prom feel and even felt at times like a show at the Roadhouse from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. The entire set was bathed in delay from the intricate keyboard patches to the vocals. Danielle only had to ask the audience once to move closer and everyone heard it twice. I came away from this set wanting more and think the outfit would benefit from more band mates and the interplay that would ensue. Danielle told me that in New York she has friends come on stage to play guitar which I’m sure adds a lot to the live show, both in terms of energy and the interplay of parts. Here’s a clip of the closing tune from the Computer Magic set:

(Editor’s Note: The video cuts short the song “Running” by about two minutes.)

Continue reading →

Posted in Caveman, Computer Magic, Schubas Tavern, Show Review | Leave a comment

Uh Bones — Only You

Posted on February 14, 2013 by

3608672434-1Band: Uh Bones
Album: Only You
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Recommended:

Eric has already written on this blog about Uh Bones, and I’m not sure I can add much more in regards to the good work they are doing for our mini ’60s revivalist movement. But this week the Chicago garage rock trio released a new EP, and any excuse to write about a band this exciting is good enough for me.

In fact, this hardly even qualifies as a new EP. Two of the four songs, “He’s Got It” and “Amess,” also appeared on their self-titled cassette released last June. This time they’ve been repackaged and the band is selling copies on vinyl through their website.

Continue reading →

Posted in Music Review, Uh Bones | Leave a comment

Ty Segall, Ex-Cult, Zath [late show] @ The Empty Bottle (2/9)

Posted on February 11, 2013 by
credit: mtvhive.com

credit: mtvhive.com

Ty Segall Band approached their late show at the Empty Bottle Saturday like a seasoned competitor would a race. Having already headlined an early set a few hours prior for a different crowd, Ty opened set two — start time: half past midnight — with his signature fist pump signaling all was well and good, his “are you all ready to hear some songs?” assurances brief but to the point, and then off he and Emily and Charles and Mikal went hard and fast into the night.

Not long after such charged prelude — four songs in, maybe five songs in, actually around the time Ty broke his focus to greet us a second time — Ty Segall Band seemed to ease up and conserve. They then rode on easy momentum through the end of the gig save for a stimulating encore of mostly covers (“American Woman,” “Feel Like Makin’ Love” among them.)

Continue reading →

Posted in Ex-Cult, Show Review, The Empty Bottle, Ty Segall Band, Zath | Leave a comment

Hidden Era — ‘Until Morning’

Posted on February 8, 2013 by
credit: Hidden Era's Facebook

credit: Hidden Era’s Facebook

Hidden Era’s debut single, “Until Morning,” is a cry of prayer supported by throaty guitar. Its delicate vocals and burly strings are driven by unconquerable despair, forming an unexpected balance the longer I listened.

Elizabeth Burchfield seems coached by a young Joan Osborne. Her gentle voice projects the kind of funny anguish that had me ambling over to Joany in her prime. I like how Elizabeth so proudly refuses love and laughter and hate and hope to prove her worth, and yet she is still so obviously hopeless. Perhaps such assurance is her curse.

Continue reading →

Posted in Hidden Era, Song Review | 1 Comment

Handpicked shows for February 2013

Posted on February 2, 2013 by

Here are some shows you should consider going to this month.

11568Friday, February 8: Jaill @ Beat Kitchen, 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Ten | Tickets
Other acts: Slushy, The Bingers
Recommended:

I’ve been into Jaill about as long as I’ve lived here – three years, coming up – and in that time have seen them just once: at an abbreviated in-store set at Reckless (Wicker Park) last summer. For a Subpop band that calls Milwaukee home, I’m floored by how little these guys visit us lowly Chicagoans. Perhaps their infrequent trips – they seem to drive down about once a year – is their symbolic way of giving us the American Robin. They’re letting us know we’re too tame a city. Or maybe they’re lazy. I do recall a biting remark that skipped off the tongue of their front man, though, that suggested we all drank too much milk prior to their in-store. You know, he was right. We had way less bounce than a mid-week, mid-day crowd should have. For the first time in awhile Jaill plays a proper Chicago venue. I hope the set skews on the That’s How We Burn side.

Continue reading →

Posted in Deadbeat, Handpicked, Jaill, Panda Riot, Post Honeymoon | Leave a comment

Deadbeat — My Eyes Are Bleeding Bits of Gold

Posted on January 25, 2013 by

82495344-1Band: Deadbeat
Album: My Eyes Are Bleeding Bits of Gold
Release Date: July 22, 2012
Recommended:

The penultimate track on Absinthe & the Dirty Floors’ self-titled LP — “Sonario” (listen: ) — is The Dirty Floors at their most chaotic. Restless guitars and a panic of drums nearly consume it entirely, save for several lulls for Jessica Risker to sing, sometimes scream, hopelessly. She claims “things are going nowhere” and “things are getting nowhere.” She wants “a place to hide,” man, and she seems to find it deep inside her cloak of rock ‘n’ roll. It protects her from the evil she’s alarmed by.

Some time after I included the album on my list of the best local releases of 2012, Jessica reached out to advise me that she saw the list. More to the point she wanted to tell me about her solo project. Over the summer Jessica released an EP under the moniker Deadbeat and wanted to know if I’d like a listen. I told her of course.

Continue reading →

Posted in Music Review, Deadbeat | 1 Comment