Video: Maps & Atlases - 'Fever'

By Frank Krolicki

In the second music video from their 2012 album Beware & Be Grateful (the first was for the track "Remote & Dark Years"), Maps & Atlases pair their breezy, melody-driven song "Fever" with shots of a drifter-like character who starts out aimless and isolated but eventually seems to find a sense of purpose through small human interactions. According to guitarist Erin Elders in an npr.org article, the original concept involved "a roller-skating rink and a small army of extras," but budget and resource restrictions lead them to take a simpler approach to convey the message of the "importance of the human connections we make." Check it out:

Video: Maps & Atlases - 'Remote & Dark Years'

By Frank Krolicki

I admit, I've always had an instant negative reaction every time I've heard the term "math rock." I don't think math is very fun. It was always one of my least favorite subjects in school, so why would I want math infused in my music? Having seen Chicago's own Maps & Atlases described with those words many times, I've been a bit cautious about diving into them. But it seems on their latest album Beware & Be Grateful the band has toned down their mathiness in favor of melodies that are more memorable and an overall spirit that, as a listener, I find a lot more appealing to take part in. One example is the track "Remote & Dark Years," which recently got the video treatment with director George Salisbury (who's the principal art director and video director for the Flaming Lips). Check it out below.

Maps & Atlases preview new LP with 'Fever'

By Frank Krolicki

Locally-based quartet Maps & Atlases are set to put out their sophomore album Beware & Be Grateful on April 17th, and are offering a taste right now with a free download of the track "Fever," which you can check out below. The tune slinks along with a breezy, lighthearted groove, with the earthy vocals of frontman Dave Davison guiding the melody forward. Honestly, I don't remember the band's music sounding so immediate or hooky before, and I'm liking the vibe.

Beware & Be Grateful follows 2010's Perch Patchwork and was recorded throughout 2011 with producer Jason Cupp at ARC Studios in Omaha. Fun fact: to coincide with the new music, Maps & Atlases have teamed with with Chicago roaster Intelligentsia to offer their own blend of coffee. You can get it along with a pre-order of the album here.

You can also check out the band live on Friday, May 11th at Metro, where they'll kick off a headlining tour in support of the record. 

Maps & Atlases - "Fever" by Barsuk Records

Show review: Maps & Atlases at Lincoln Hall, 3/11

Posted by Conor O'Hagan

"Accessible" is a term that is sometimes shunned in the musical community. It has connotations of selling out, of dumbing down. And at times these connotations are well-deserved.
And at times they are not.

Maps & Atlases began as an impressive math-rock outfit, displaying technical capabilities that match up to their influences, such as Don Caballero and Hella. Then the band took a different route. A more accessible route. This more pop-oriented direction was perfectly displayed at their Lincoln Hall show on March 11th.

Watch Maps & Atlases' Mahogany sessions

Posted by Sasha

Having just completed their European tour, Maps & Atlases are stopping back on this side of the pond before shipping off to Japan in April. Luckily for us, these busy travelers will play Chicago first, on Friday, March 11th at Lincoln Hall. While in the UK they laid down a couple of tracks for the London-based Mahogany Blog. These (mostly) unplugged sessions were filmed in soft focus in front of a quaint ivy-streaked brick wall, like all folk rock videos should be. Check out "Living Decorations" below and "If This Is" here.

Win tickets to see Maps & Atlases' JBTV taping

Posted by Sasha

Maps & Atlases

Chicago's music channel JBTV has been featuring great emerging local bands for ages, and experimental folk rockers Maps & Atlases are set to join their ranks this month. The indie foursome are currently on the British leg of their European tour, but JBTV is offering the opportunity to see them live as soon as they return stateside. 50 randomly selected folks and their plus ones will get to sit in on the taping of their performance session on February 20th.

North Coast Music Fest 2010 part two: Maps and Atlases, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Holy Ghost!

Posted by Frank

Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases (photo: Windy City Rock)

After spending the first few hours of North Coast Music Fest Sunday watching The Coop, Loyal Divide and Phantogram (read more about that here), the next few acts I decided to take in proved just how eclectic the fest was.

The first of the second batch of performances I caught was locally-based experimental folk-rock band Maps and Atlases. This is another band I had always heard a lot about but never had the opportunity to see live, and as soon as they came out and began playing it was apparent they represented a rare breed at this festival. As opposed to the majority of the performers comprising the lineup, there did not seem to be an electro, trip-hop, or hip-hop bone in Maps and Atlases' collective musical body. The big, untamed beard of front man Dave Davison suggested that this was going to be an earthy, folky affair, and that it was. However, it wasn't the sleepy, chilled-out sort of folk, but rather a style that was rather upbeat and experimental, made even more unique by Davison's tinny vocals and unorthodox delivery. Their set was a welcome change of pace in the lineup, and made me think of how it would be great to see a few more indie rock acts present at future installments of the fest.

From there, I headed to the "Groupon" stage to check out the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from New Orleans. I didn't know anything about the band going in, but apparently they've been active since the '70s. They turned out to be as lively and fun as their name suggests and were another band that stood out in the fest's lineup with their funky, jazzy take on traditional NOLA-style music. People seemed to really enjoy them, and it was a prime example of the power of the music festival - it wasn't something I ever would have sought out on my own, but something that I ended up being happy to experience.

Closing out the afternoon on the North stage were New York City's Holy Ghost!, which I can best describe as synth-heavy disco dance rock. Their set was incredibly fun and easy to listen to, though past a certain point the songs started to sound a bit too alike to me (admittedly, though, that could be a result of me not having been familiar with any of their music). At one point the vocalist commented that it was strange to be playing in the daylight, but the music fit the atmosphere very well and got people dancing.

As the evening went on, I decided to close out my Sunday with Mayer Hawthorne, Flying Lotus and Lupe Fiasco. Check out my next post to read about those performances.

See photos of Maps and Atlases, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Holy Ghost! after the jump.

Weekend show picks: Ween, Steel Train, My Gold Mask and more

My Gold Mask (photo: A.Jayne)

If you're looking to catch some live music in an outdoor fest setting in Chicago this weekend, you have plenty to choose from thanks to the Taste of Chicago, which kicks off today, and West Town's second annual Green Music Fest, which runs Saturday and Sunday. For more information on cool bands to check out at each, see our respective posts here and here. If the unforgiving weather of late has you all shaken up and someplace with a roof and four walls is more your speed, there are quite a few great free-standing shows to choose from, too. Here are a few picks:

Friday, June 25

- Ween at Aragon Ballroom - 9 p.m., $29.75, 18 and over. Tickets.

- Crooked Fingers at Schubas with Small Awesome - 7 p.m., $14, 21 and over. Tickets.

Saturday, June 26

- My Gold Mask at Hideout with Brilliant Pebbles - 9 p.m., $8 advance, $10 at door, 21 and over. Tickets.

- Maps & Atlases at Subterranean with Fang Island - 10 p.m., $12, 17 and over. Tickets.

- Woven Bones at Empty Bottle with Red Mass, Mickey and Radar Eyes - 9 p.m., $8, 21 and over. Tickets. 

Sunday, June 27

- Steel Train at Lincoln Hall with Jukebox the Ghost and Via Audio - 7 p.m. $13 advance, $15 at door, all ages. Tickets. 

- Zola Jesus at Schubas with Dada Trash Collage and Jabon - 8 p.m., $8, 21 and over. Tickets.