1) @ Elbo Room

Posted on July 2, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Live Reviews, Music, Reviews and tagged brass, Chicago, Chicago music, Church Booty, Elbo Room, Faintlife, Fay Ray, jam bands, jazz, live music, local music, lreview, New Music, rock, soul, Tara Terra.

The members of Church Booty took the stage of Elbo Room on Saturday, July 1st and announced that Church Booty was no more. In the midst of releasing a new EP, expected in August 2017, the band will be operating under a new name that has yet to be announced to the public.

The night’s news called for a celebration, and Church Booty did not disappoint. Their energetic performance covered a number of the band’s past tunes as well as upcoming singles filled with funky beats, electric sax and impressive vocal deliverance. Their sound is mature and songs clearly crafted, but they hold some jam band elements with long instrumental lines and of improvisations. All in all, they’re professionals when it comes to putting on a show, leaving audiences without disappointment as they end their time as Church Booty.

Album Review: Ratboys- GN

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Album Reviews, Music and tagged album release, album-review, areview, Chicago, Chicago music, GN, Mother Evergreen, New Music, Ratboys, record release, record release show, Scubas, Sincere Engineer, Special Death.

Ratboys’ sophomore album GN (which stands for ‘Good Night’) is the result of a sound instrumental rock band mastering the art of storytelling. Their 10-song compilation, which received an early release on June 27, 2017 from Topshelf Records, encompasses a special mix of personal anecdotes and memories from vocalist Julia Steiner and guitarist David Sagan.

The album begins with eerie vocals speaking over the light finger picking of a guitar, eventually leading to the opening lyrics of “Molly”. The story explores the relationship of two people, one possibly not feeling enough for the other. There are no repeating lyrical lines, yet the underlaying melody is catchily memorable.

Q&A: The Just Luckies

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Q&As and tagged Americana, Bottom Lounge, Chicago, Chicago band, Chicago music, listen live and local, local music, music release, new album, New Music, q&a, The Just Luckies, twang punk.

Members of The Just Luckies have a hard time describing their sound. With various musical influences flooding their creativity, they’ve settled on the label twang-punk. Sonically, their instrumentals and vocals fall within the realm of Americana. A hint of a southern accent can be heard in the lead vocals, backed by touches of ukulele and uplifting beats. Their lyrics and individual personalities, however, are the epitome of punk. They embrace their uniqueness and use their music as a tool to comment on various types of relationships and today’s political culture.

Gathered in a glass conference room in the back of Portage Grounds on Chicago’s northwest side, vocalist KC Weldon, drummer Shea Briggs, guitarist Nat Greene and bassist Lucy Diavolo share the ins and outs of creating their latest album Lovesick Politics and discuss what it’s like growing within Chicago’s music scene.

Profile: Chicago Loud 9

Posted on June 9, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Profile Features and tagged Chicago, Chicago artists, Chicago band, Chicago Loud 9, Chicago music, Digeometric, hip hop, live music, local music, New Music, profile, rock, water seed.

Imagine performing as a solo hip-hop artist, relying on nothing but vocals and backing tracks, when suddenly the show promoter announces the backing tracks have failed. At this point, there’s two options: walk on the show or recruit musicians from the night’s bill to back the performance.

Nearly six years ago when this situation happened to emcee Dhan Dee, he choose the latter; opting to share the stage with guitarist Chad Wynes and drummer Kyle Voivodas. Artistically, Dee had nothing in common with Wynes’ and Voivodas’ band. Dhan Dee was a poet, rapper and lyrist. Waynes and Voivodas were folk rock instrumentalist. Having never met or rehearsed, the three musicians took advantage of the serendipitous moment, having no idea it would lead to the creation of one of Chicago’s leading genre-mashing projects; Chicago Loud 9.

Video: The Peekaboos- The Quantifiable Song

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music and tagged Candy Ambulance, Chicago, Chicago bands, Chicago music, Christine, Emporium Arcade Bar, Halloween, Help Stop Decay, John Carpenter, Kildare Studio, music video, New Music, new video, Post Child, The Peekaboos, The Quantifiable Song, video release, VP, Wicker Park.

Chicago-based punk rockers The Peekaboos, have released their newest video for “The Quantifiable Song” from their 2016 album Help Stop Decay (which we so kindly reviewed for your reading pleasure). The ‘sledgehammer satire’ video is heavily inspired by John Carpenter films (Halloween, Christine) featuring laser gun battles, exploding Hitler-heads and pig puppetry. The video was made at Kildare Studios in conjunction with “NEW TRASH”.

The Peekaboos’ next performance will be on May 11th at Emporium Arcade Bar in Wicker Park. The night will also include performances by Candy Ambulance and Post Child.

Q&A: The War on Peace

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Music, Q&As and tagged Chicago, Chicago music, listen live and local, New Music, q&a, release show, Subterranean, The Collective, video release, War on Peace.

With a few releases and business models behind them, The War on Peace collectively agrees that their newest EP Automated People encompasses the sound and creativity they’ve been striving for. With a stellar first single, “Fear of Loss”, and accompanying sci-fi inspired music video directed by Chicago-based filmmaker Chris Hershman, the band is setting the groundwork for what they hope will turn into a successful career.

In addition to covering the basics (solid music and supplemental materials), The War on Peace is working on new and creative ways to not only standout in a saturated music scene, but to monetize on their art. The first result has been a subscription service called The Collective, which the three members were kind enough to discuss with Listen Live and Local, along with some interworkings of the band and their creative process behind putting together an EP.

Album Review: Layla Frankel- Tame the Fox

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Album Reviews, Music, Reviews and tagged Alamosa, album-review, areview, Chicago, Chicago music, Creature of Habit, Evanston, female vocalist, Layla Frankel, listen live and local, music, New Music, SPACE, Tame the Fox, Tenderly, The Little Prince.

Chicago-raised singer-songwriter Layla Frankel set off with her Little Martian guitar in the fall of 2015 to travel Europe. The following spring, Frankel spent two months hiking 600 miles on the Israel National Trail. On her hike, she carried a children’s book, The Little Prince. It was the combination of this book and these travels that the inspired the singer’s debut album Tame the Fox, released April 25, 2017.

The 6-song release, produced and arranged by Frankel and recorded by Josh Richter, is a beautiful collection of bluesy folk tunes filled with rich tones and rhythms. It features a number of talented musicians such as guitarist and bassist Dave Hildebrand, drummer Robert Rashid and Eddie Ganet on keys.Continue Reading

Live Review: Laik/Red Jr/American Cosmonaut/The Dead On/Lost But Happy (2/3) @ Double Door

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Jessica Braun Gervais in Live Reviews, Music, Reviews and tagged American Cosmonaut, Chicago, Chicago music, double door, Laik, listen live and local, live music, local bands, local music, Lost But Happy, lreview, New Music, record release show, Red Jr, rock, rock and roll, The Dead On.

Like any great Americanized genre, there is no right way to rock. Thanks to its variety of styles, rock music has grown to include elements of punk, folk, metal, pop and so much more. On Friday, February 3, five local bands came together at Double Door and treated audiences to a few of the many different facets of the legendary sound.

The night started with a bit of twangy grunge brought to listeners by the obsolete sounds of Lost But Happy. While they definitely get an A for energy and a strong instrumental presence, the vocal harmonies were a bit shaky. Their set did end on a high note with the tune “Lost But Happy”; a theme song complete with catchy kazoo lines and a bit of banjo (because you really can’t go wrong with a kazoo and banjo).

Q&A: EGi

Posted on March 7, 2016 by in Q&As and tagged Dave Brandwein, Dopapod, EGI, Eli Winderman, jam bands, New Music, Plyatron, Psych-Rock, q&a, Summer Camp Music Festival, Turkuaz.

The word “ethereal” is used to describe something that transcends the confines of planet Earth. It’s something that’s so pure and elegant it’s almost celestial, perhaps heavenly. Chicago-based jam band Ethereal Groove, Incorporated, known as EGi, has worked for about six years to take adventurous folks across the Midwest to a higher plane with its energetic improvisational jams. With the help of some friends in popular nationally touring groups like Dopapod and Turkuaz, EGi has finally released its debut full-length album, “Plyatron”, which is now available on music services like iTunes and Spotify.

EGi guitarist Noe Perez sat down with Listen Live and Local just before taking the stage at the band’s album release party at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge on March 5th. He discusses what it was like recording with members of Dopapod and Turkuaz, the band’s upcoming performance at Summer Camp Music Festival and where the band feels most at home when away from Chicago.