Show review: Perfect Pussy at Schubas, 1/22/14

By Sarah Rosenfeld

Syracuse noise-punks Perfect Pussy headlined a short, but very loud and high-energy all-ages show at Schubas this past Wednesday night. The band first generated some serious interest after playing CMJ Music Marathon in NYC last October and have a debut LP Say Yes to Love coming out March 18th on Captured Tracks. Touring basically nonstop since releasing their four song cassette I Have Lost All Desire For Feeling, Perfect Pussy seem to be riding their buzzwaves well.

Wednesday's show was definitely not running on punk time. Doors said 7 p.m. and the first band was already on by 7:30 p.m. Local Chicago garage punks and DIY scene vets Split Feet brought their self-described "wyrd noisy dark sounds" to open the night, followed by Chicago hardcore band Broken Prayer. With the night almost over before 9 p.m., Perfect Pussy went on around 8:45pm and played hard and fast for a set that lasted about 15 minutes. Launching immediately into an abrasive soundscape with heavily distorted and feedback laden guitars and vocals, front-woman Meredith Graves frenetically screamed almost unintelligibly but very enthusiastically at the crowd, who responded by starting a moshpit. According to a pre-listen of their cassette demo, she was yell-singing about the kind of real, unadulterated bullshit that really pisses a girl off. The sound guy probably should have had the vocals turned up louder to compensate for a band who definitely puts the noise in noise-punk, but even on the cassette the vocals are tough to make out. Short, not-so-sweet, furiously heavy and to the point, Perfect Pussy zipped caustically from one song to the next and the night was over by 9 p.m. Meredith thanked Schubas for letting them do an all ages show and hung around afterwards taking hugs and mixtapes from fans. For a band getting such strong media attention, it was a sweet and unpretentious gesture.

Considering that it was well below zero on Wednesday night in Chicago there was a decent sized crowd out for this show. It was great to see this kind of band play to such a young and energetic crowd; they are clearly building a strong fan base here in Chicago. Their almost too-short set will hopefully get longer once the LP is out and as the young band adjusts to the rigors of such a heavy touring schedule. Perfect Pussy would be right at home playing a dark basement DIY show but will likely be playing bigger venues as the year goes on, so if you missed them this time around definitely grab a ticket to their next show. You may want to bring ear plugs, unless that's not punk rock enough for you.

Show review: Lady Lamb the Beekeeper at Schubas, 5/14/13

By Andrew Hertzberg
 

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper (credit: Shervin Lainez)

The cynics out there will try to tell you that every year, music is getting worse and worse and more derivative of years past. To them I suggest picking up a copy of Ripley Pine by Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, the alias of 23-year-old Brooklyn-via-Brunswick, Maine artist Aly Spaltro. The album is 12 tracks of dynamic and complex arrangements, backed up by string sections, insightful lyrics, and ambitious musicianship.

For Tuesday's Schubas show (Spaltro’s second time playing in Chicago) she primarily sang and played guitar and banjo, while backed up by TJ Metcalf on bass, Xenia Rubinos on keys and Marco Buccelli on drums. Rubinos and Buccelli actually opened the show. I only caught their last song (“Hair Receding”) but it reminded me a bit of tUnE-yArDs meets Matt and Kim. Keyboard-drum duo with more of an African or at least international bent. Rubinos’ voice has fantastic and dramatic range, nailing falsetto pitches, though the timing on some of their off-rhythm sections could use some sharpening. It wasn’t enough to prevent me from buying their recently released album Magic Trix though, a unique and diverse listen upon first spin.

As for Lady Lamb, Aly mentioned that she was feeling a bit ill. But her voice was pretty spectacular all throughout the set, particularly during the seven-minute “You Are the Apple.” Her voice only faltered during the last song, “Crane Your Neck,” but the audience was more than willing to pick up the slack. Surprising for an album that seems to have flown mostly under the radar so far.

Show review: Korallreven, Young Magic at Schubas, 3/6

By Andrew Hertzberg

(photo credit: Shannon Aliza)

Sweden, you mysterious little country, you. The entire country has roughly the same population as Chicago’s metro area and roughly 17 times as much land. What do the musicians do with all that space? The obvious answer wouldn’t be to make blissed out Balearic pop tunes to listen to on a beach in the Pacific Islands, but artists like the Tough Alliance, jj and Air France have proven otherwise. Newest in the game is Korallreven (“coral reef” in Swedish), a fitting name given Marcus Joons’ place of inspiration was an extended trip Samoa a few years back. The other half of the duo is the Radio Dept.’s keymaestro Daniel Tjäder, and his brother Niklas helps on tour on drums and guitar.

The band has only been playing shows since December and their debut LP, An Album by Korallreven, was released last November. But they’ve been dropping mixtapes and singles for a while now and they seem to have reached American shores quicker than many of their aforementioned Swedish counterparts (some of whom, lamentably, won’t make it here at all). Opening up the set was "Sa Sa Samoa," a sample-filled, choral-fueled trance, that focused more on pre-recorded bits than the actual performance. I was feeling a little worried that the set might not live up to my unreasonably high hopes for an amazing show, and the small crowd didn’t help (the show was originally slated for Lincoln Hall, but moved to the smaller sister venue).

Show review: Memoryhouse, Tiny Fireflies at Schubas, 2/28

By Andrew Hertzberg

(photo credit: Shannon Aliza)

“Let’s all go to sleep now,” Memoryhouse singer Denise Nouvion half-joked after playing one of their songs. I say half-joked because well, I mean, Memoryhouse is generally tagged "dream pop." I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put on The Years EP before I fell asleep at night. It's music that is lulling, innocuous and simply comfortable to listen to. Likewise, in the live setting, the audience is cool to react after songs, after being nearly mesmerized by Nouvion’s dreamy vocals. But the calm also brought to mind Robert Loerzel’s interpretation of crowd response to Low at Lincoln Hall last year, of having a respect for the performers and the assumption that everyone in the room is intent on catching every nuance performed. This of course isn’t true for everyone. I did notice some people filter out, perhaps just towards the back of the intimate room or out to the bar, but it does show signs of a crowd highly intrigued to a band early in their career.

Memoryhouse’s stop in Chicago was the first on the new tour and marked the release of their debut LP The Slideshow Effect out on Sub Pop. Aptly, a series of grainy projections played in the background throughout, of mountains, landscapes, waves crashing, people swimming. The whimsy started early with "Walk With Me," the duo of singer/keyboardist Nouvion and guitarist Evan Abeele looking entirely natural and comfortable with each other, doubly noted by their in-between song banter. Memoryhouse was originally just the two of them, but there was a drummer as well last night, who played subtly but dynamically, particularly in regard to the cymbals. Throughout the set, Nouvion’s vocals were spot on, distinctly feminine but comfortable in the lower ranges of her voice. She hits the higher notes occasionally, but I couldn’t help but wonder if she wasn’t holding back just a tad too much.

Show review: Chairlift, Class Actress, Polica at Schubas, 1/14

By Frank Krolicki

Chairlift (photo: Frank Krolicki)

We're not even through the first month of 2012 and I'm already declaring Something, the upcoming sophomore album from Brooklyn's Chairlift, one of my top favorites of the year. To make that statement even bolder, I haven't even heard the whole thing yet. After incessantly listening to its three pre-released tracks, live versions and samples on iTunes, I feel that confident about it. So as soon as I found out the band would be passing through Chicago to headline Saturday night's installment of this year's Tomorrow Never Knows fest at Schubas, I made sure I'd be there. The full night consisted of an endurance-testing bill of five acts that focused on female voices, and while I didn't catch first openers Wild Belle and Willis Earl Beal, I arrived in time to take in Polica and Class Actress before the main event.

Polica (photo: Frank Krolicki)

Polica was mesmerizing, not so much because immediate hooks were in great supply, but because of the way singer Channy Leaneagh's powerful voice snaked around the room with both mystery and conviction. Sometimes processed with a slightly spooky, robotic touch and other times more natural, the front woman's delivery accompanied equally atmospheric music for trance inducing effect. Songs like "Violent Games" and "Amongster" off the band's debut Give You the Ghost struck just the right balance between pleasing and strange, and succeeded in setting a mood that captivated a packed Schubas.

Next came Brooklyn's Class Actress, fronted by the coquettish Elizabeth Harper, who despite her act's name didn't seem quite ready for her close-up. Dressed in a trench coat, with a tousled flop of brown hair and almost no stage light directed at her, Harper came across as a bit of an enigma (as well as a damn hard subject to capture a good photo of). This seemed a bit odd considering the unashamed, neon '80s synth sound of her music, which clearly looks to the dancey extroversion of vintage Madonna for inspiration. It didn't help that Class Actress's set began with Harper repeatedly requesting that the electronic drums be made louder for what seemed like five long minutes, which created confusion (I overheard a fellow audience member wonder if it was a comedy part of the act). Even if it was all kind of weird, it would have been tough to resist the candy-coated grooves of "Keep You" and "Weekend," highlights off the 2011 album Rapprocher, as well as the uplifting new wavey set closer "Let Me Take You Out." Class Actress made the smallest impact of the three acts I saw Saturday night, but the performance was entertaining overall and not without its glitzy high points.

Chairlift (photo: Frank Krolicki)

After a night filled with late start times, Chairlift finally took the stage around 12:30, almost a half hour after they were supposed to begin. By this time a portion of the audience had already trickled out (post-midnight start times can have that effect), but there was still a sizable crowd, and Chairlift quickly made it clear that anyone who decided to soldier on to the end made the right decision. I went into the show admittedly biased, but I would have a hard time understanding how anyone could resist the enchantment of the band's live show, loaded with slinky synth lines, sexy bass grooves, and most importantly, the stunning ethereal vocals of front woman Caroline Polachek. Like influencers Kate Bush and Cocteau Twins' Elizabeth Fraser, Polachek has the gift of not only being an exceptional singer, but an exceptional singer who can transport you to a different world with her delivery. "All of the bones in your body are in way too few pieces for me, time to do something about it if you know what I mean," she coolly asserted as the first line of opener "Sidewalk Safari," and a threat of physical harm never sounded so alluring.

Clip Art to play Schubas residency in January

By Frank Krolicki

photo: Brad Meese

A lot of new music comes through these parts, and frankly, a good portion of it tends to fade from the memory just as quickly as it sinks to the depths of the ol' inbox. Every so often, though, something shows itself that refuses to be forgotten. Like Clip Art. It was back in the first half of 2010 that I reviewed Broken by Design--the band's debut EP--but its tracks still pop into my head quite often, making sure it keeps a comfortable place on my iPod. I mean, listen to "Dead Letter" and tell me it's not the catchiest damn thing you've heard all _____ (fill in the blank according to how much music you consume). Hook heaven. I haven't heard a whole lot from Clip Art since the EP came out, so I was pleasantly surprised to see they've got an active start to the New Year planned with a January residence at Schubas. Quality band paired with quality place to see live music is a recipe that should bring some much-needed joy to the frigid Monday nights in Chicago that are sure to be in store next month. Check out all of the dates and opening bands below, and get tickets here.


    1/9 - w/ Algebro + Any Kind
    1/16 - w/ Dick Prall + Paper Thick Walls
    1/23 - w/ Briar Rabbit + The Sometimes Family
    1/30 - w/ Baby Teeth + Jennifer Hall
    All shows are 8PM/$6/18+

Show preview: Asobi Seksu at Schubas, 9/25

By Andrew Hertzberg

Dreampop, shoegaze, noiserock…not just words that Microsoft Word Dictionary doesn’t recognize, but the general and vague descriptors of the music Asobi Seksu makes. The Brooklyn duo’s been crafting this sound – lush, shimmering, bright, whatever – for almost a decade now. Although you may think that all of these generalized adjective and band descriptors would fit better in a larger venue to give them a chance to breathe, the band is playing the more intimate Schubas on Sunday, September 25^th (tickets here) which actually, makes just as much (if not more) sense. Their newest album, Fluorescence out earlier this year, starts to move a little bit away from the My Bloody Valentine noisescape layered walls of sound into a cleaner '60s girl group territory, although still retaining the volatility of the former. Get a taste with the –lush, shimmering, bright – video for "Perfectly Crystal" below. As for Sunday, the show is $14, 21+ and starts at 8 PM with White Birds opening.

Asobi Seksu "Perfectly Crystal" from Billy Pavone on Vimeo.
Asobi Seksu - Trails by Polyvinyl Records

This week: Jane's Addiction, Swans, Peter Hook & more

By Gene Wagendorf III

Jane's Addiction play Metro Saturday and Sunday

Yes, the summer has wound down, but that's no reason to start moping over hot chocolate and bad TV. This week is loaded with tons of great shows that will make it easy to wait another seven days before beginning your fourth attempt at reading War and Peace.

Wednesday - Kaki King at SPACE

Kaki King has developed a reputation as a strong songwriter with out-of-this-world picking skills, but on her new album Junior she takes a huge step towards smashing any thoughts that she might be a one-trick-pony. Produced by Malcom Burn (Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris), the album's songs find King collaborating with multi-instrumentalist Dan Brantigan and drummer Jordan Perlson. The result is a lush, fluid album that is both saccharine and haunting. The show ought to be a mellow affair, but definitely a great kickoff to a string of excellent shows.

Swans

Thursday - Swans at Bottom Lounge

The legendary Michael Gira is bringing his revamped Swans back to Chicago on Thursday night in a show that has the potential to steal the thunder from anything that happens afterward. The group's recently released My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky, is a dynamic assault on the senses, at times brutal and grainy, at times highly melodic and almost understated. Swans are notorious for their visceral live performances, being described by Gira himself as "soul-uplifting and body-destroying." Not bad for a Thursday night, huh? The band is winding down an eighteen month tour and in a world that guarantees nothing for the future this show is not to be missed.

Ticket giveaway! Viva Brother at Schubas, 7/23

Want to catch Viva Brother's upcoming show at Schubas for FREE? The Slough, England-based four piece--formerly known as just Brother--will be bringing their Britpop-inspired sound to Chicago on Saturday, July 23rd, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away!

Viva Brother are passing through town as part of a U.S. tour before the August 2nd release of their new album Famous First Words. Tickets are available here, but you can get in the running to score yourself a free pair just by sending us an e-mail with the subject line "Viva Brother" and your first and last name in the message. We'll accept entries until 5 p.m. CST on Monday, July 18th, and then select a winner randomly. Good luck!

   Darling Buds of May (Single) by Viva Brother

Show review: Louis and The Hunt at Schubas, 3/3

By Conor O'Hagan

The only inkling I had as to what to expect from Louis and The Hunt at Schubas on Thursday night was the song "Footprints on a Bed," a teaser of things to come from their EP. That and the following sentence from Loud Loop Press: “Few people can say 'love sucks' as eloquently as Louis and the Hunt mastermind Ryne Estwing." I was immediately excited.

The modern folksy number shows controlled efforts from Estwing and is backed up by dreamy backing vocals and a host of composed musicians let the song writing do the work. The finished product is a folk-dream-pop soundscape that begins with whispers of promise and builds to a vibrant flurry of devotion - “It’s been for you, never for me, for me.”

Much was the same live.

Show review: The Island of Misfit Toys at Schubas, 3/1

By Conor O'Hagan

The Island of Misfit Toys is the brainchild of one Anthony Sanders. With the considerable backing and input of a bagful of his roommates and friends, the group lit up Schubas Tuesday night in the lead up to the release of their debut album, Bear Hair, on Tandem Shop Records this summer.

There is no doubting that Sanders is a force of nature, but it is the sense of community emanating from the stage that charms. All eight band members - Anthony, Evan, Mark, Danny, Kamila, Jonathan, Julia and Lui - were animated throughout and everyone knew every word to every song, and sang along passionately, regardless of mic allocation.

Tomorrow Never Knows 2011: S. Carey, Darwin Deez, Young Man, Lionlimb at Schubas

Posted by Bobby

Darwin Deez

I am an avid reader of British music publication NME and recently checked out their 2010 cool list to see who they're frenzying over on the other side of the pond. NYC's Darwin Deez was number 10 on that list, and upon checking out the single "Radar Detector" - which has the diffident cool of the Strokes plus a left field sort of David Byrne production - I decided to keep my eyes peeled for his first trip to Chicago. Lo and behold, he was closing out the excellent Tomorrow Never Knows festival Sunday night at Schubas along with Lionlimb, Young Man and S. Carey.

Tomorrow Never Knows 2011: Pet Lions, Generationals, Magic Kids at Schubas

Posted by Andrew

And we’re off! Welcome to another year of Tomorrow Never Knows presented by Schubas and Lincoln Hall. For the first night of the multi-venue winter festival, I went to Schubas to catch a night of pop-goodness featuring three bands, each with their own twist to the genre.

Opening were Pet Lions, a local band we've written about quite a bit on the site before. Their angular brand of power-pop continually appears on up-and-coming lists, but apparently you all haven’t got the word yet. With a recent bump from Chicagoist and a new record on the way, hopefully 2011 means the year these guys break out of the bands to watch for lists and into the best of lists. Stream their debut LP Houses right now and get physical with it March 1st.

Show preview: Big Star tribute at Schubas, 12/15

Posted by Frank


Ask power pop fans to name some of their all-time favorite albums, and one or more of Big Star's three classic 1970s LPs, #1 Record, Radio City and Third/Sister Lovers, will more than likely be at the top of the list. For good reason, too - all three are packed with stunning and timeless songwriting (if there's a power pop song that surpasses "September Gurls," I have yet to hear it). Not only does Big Star stand out among their '70s peers by having paired some pretty dark, heavy themes with meticulously crafted pop-rock music, they have a storied history to match. It's a history marked by depression, untimely death and the struggle to be heard - in fact, it wasn't until long after the band's original tenure that their music received significant recognition. To add to this troubling history, two founding members - Alex Chilton and Andy Hummel - died within a few months of one another earlier this year. Still, the fantastic tunes live on, and a group of Chicago musicians will show how much the band means to so many people by paying tribute to them on Wednesday, December 15 at Schubas.

"You Get What You Deserve: A Tribute to Big Star" will feature Steve Frisbie (of Frisbie), Tom Szidon (of The Joy Poppers), Mike Zelenko (of The Ladies & Gentlemen, and who also played drums in another excellent-yet-ill-fated power pop band, Material Issue) and John San Juan. The group will celebrate Big Star's legacy by taking on some of the band's greatest songs. As a bonus, Village - one of the finest bands Chicago has to offer currently - will open the night. No power pop fan in Chicago will want to miss it.

8 p.m., 21 and over. Tickets cost $8 and are available here.

Interview: Tunng

Posted by Andrew

Tunng (photo: tunng.co.uk)

Rock critics, myself not excused from this group, have an awful habit of defining bands by genres. We do our best to describe a band with the least amount of syllables, no matter how silly the terminology becomes (I’m looking at you, chillwave). For London-based Tunng, the inescapable handle is sure to be "folktronica." Describable enough in a concise manner, but there’s still something missing. The name excludes the subtlety of the electronic side and the intensity of the folk side, most apparent on the track "Don’t Look Back or Down" (mp3) off their latest album, …And Then We Saw Land (Thrill Jockey). By being defined alongside Four Tet and Caribou as the key acts of folktronica, the flashes of Califone or Grizzly Bear get left behind. But again, such pigeon-holes are created to save time in our ever increasingly rushed world. On the off chance that you’ve got a minute, check out our interview below with Tunng vocalist and guitarist Mike Lindsay, in which he discusses the band's ever-evolving sound. On the even more off chance that you have a couple hours, catch Tunng at Schubas tonight (9:00, 21+).

Show preview: My Gold Mask at Schubas, 11/13

Posted by Sasha

The vastness of texture that My Gold Mask gets with only drums, guitar and vocals is something to marvel at. While many rock duos aim to make as much of a ruckus as possible, this Chicago-based avant-garde act goes their own way to spin a complex and cavernous sound. Gretta Rochelle's vocals take a good deal from lady singers of the 1980s, but layered over enormous drums and eerily toned guitars, they create something entirely new. It's like listening to Blondie blasted through a haunted castle; it's both electrifying and unsettling in its strangeness.

My Gold Mask will be releasing their new 12", A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last), at Schubas on Saturday, November 13th. Unicycle Loves You and Blane Fonda will open. The show is 21 and over and starts at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance here. The record is already available to stream here, and the track "I Don't Need the Reason" can be downloaded free below.

Download MP3: My Gold Mask - "I Don't Need the Reason"

Get ready for Tomorrow Never Knows 2011

Posted by Frank

Summer is behind us and harsh winter months are going to try their best to cramp Chicago's live music style, but never fear: Tomorrow Never Knows music fest will return from January 12-16, 2011 for its seventh installment courtesy of Schubas and Lincoln Hall. Sure, you might not be able to watch the bands while relaxing in the hot sun making fun of wacky hipster outfits, but a music fest is a music fest. And TNK '11 should be one well worth attending. This year Schubas and Lincoln Hall have partnered with Metro, adding a third venue to the festivities. The three will host plenty of excellent bands - local and beyond - over TNK's five days, a portion of which you can see below.

Starting this Friday, October 29 at 12 p.m., you can purchase $75 five-day passes as well as $15 single-day passes to the fest at the websites of all three venues. 

Tomorrow Never Knows 2011 initial lineup:

Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Schubas: Special Guest with Generationals, Drink Up Buttercup and Pet Lions
Lincoln Hall: The Helio Sequence with Guests

Thursday, January 13, 2011
Schubas: Markéta Irglová with Sam Amidon, Jeremy Messersmith and Guest
Lincoln Hall: Besnard Lakes with Special Guest, Lia Ices and A Lull

Friday, January 14, 2011
Schubas: Special Guest with Fol Chen, Apache Beat and BRAHMS
Lincoln Hall: Mystery Jets with Title Tracks and Guests
Metro: Freddie Gibbs with Rita J and Guests

Saturday, January 15, 2011
Schubas: The Boogers (daytime Family Series show),
The Concretes with The Red River and Special Guests (evening show)
Lincoln Hall: Handsome Furs with Guests
Metro: To Be Announced.

Sunday, January 16, 2011
Schubas: Human Tim/Robot Tim (daytime Family Series show)
S. Carey with Darwin Deez, Young Man and Sea of Bees (evening show)
Lincoln Hall: Little Dragon with Alex Winston and Guests

"Special Guest" denotes a confirmed act TNK cannot yet announce.

Show review: King Sparrow, Pet Lions at Schubas, 10/15

Posted by Susan Schomburg

King Sparrow (photo: Susan Schomburg)

Last Friday, the sold-out crowd at Schubas' late show saw Chicago rock trio King Sparrow celebrate the release of their first full-length album, King Sparrow, in style.

Show openers This is Versailles got things started with lots of good energy. Their sound is a bit shoutier than I typically like in my rock, but their set was entertaining and got people on their feet. Pet Lions kept things going with their poppy indie sound and a mix of new songs (the band plans to go into the studio to record their first full-length soon) and fan favorites, with many in the audience singing along to tracks off their debut EP, Soft Right. I have to say, I like Pet Lions' live sound a lot--it's fresh-faced and delightful, with rough corners that make you want to come back for more.

But the main event was yet to come. I have to start this review by saying that I like King Sparrow a lot, and I've seen them play live at least half a dozen times in the past twelve months. They work hard, and it pays off--they always sound good live. But last Friday, they went above and beyond. I have never heard them sound better than they did at their record release. And from the enthusiastic cheers from the crowd after each song, neither has anyone else. They were polished and note-perfect, without sacrificing the raw vitality that is the centerpiece of their sound. They are a rich, gritty three-piece rock ensemble that fills a room with sound (not just volume), and I really can't recommend them, their live show, and their new album highly enough. They are one Chicago band you should get on your radar right now, if not sooner.

King Sparrow's self-titled full length is available for download and online streaming here. Check it out now, thank me later.

*****
This article also appears on Examiner.com.

Get ‘Bad Math’ from New Ruins, see them live this Wednesday at Schubas

Posted by Frank

Photo: David J Cubberly

Champaign-Urbana rural rockers New Ruins will be in the Windy City this Wednesday night, October 20, opening for Sub Pop’s Avi Buffalo at Schubas. In anticipation of the show, we’ve got a free download of their track “Bad Math,” which is the A-side of their latest 7” single. Grab the rockin’ tune below.

MP3: New Ruins – “Bad Math”

In December, New Ruins will record their third album, the follow-up to 2009's We Make Our Own Bad Luck. The new album will be produced by Brian Deck (Red Red Meat, Ugly Casanova) at Hum singer/guitarist Matt Talbott’s Great Western Record Recorders studio downstate. As part of the sessions, the band plan to record a brand new version of “Bad Math" in addition to new material.

Wednesday night’s show starts at 9 p.m. and New Ruins play second, after Whisker Music. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased here.

Vinyl giveaway: Black Prairie (feat. Decemberists members); Schubas show 10/21

This coming Thursday, October 21, Portland folk/Americana quintet Black Prairie (featuring three members of The Decemberists) will be in town for a show at Schubas with locally-based acts Canasta and Honda Pavarotti opening. In honor of the upcoming gig, we have two vinyl LPs of Black Prairie's debut, Feast of the Hunters' Moon to give away for free!

If you want to win one of the LPs, shoot us an e-mail with the subject line "Black Prairie" and your first and last name in the body of the message, and we'll select two winners at random. We'll be accepting entries until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19 and will notify the winners via e-mail once the contest has closed.

Black Prairie was recently started as a side project by the three Decemberists, who joined forces with two other Portland musicians and released Feast of the Hunters' Moon in the Spring. Check out this NPR article for more details on the group and its formation.

Click below to listen to and download three songs from the band.

   Black Prairie - Burn Down The Organ by Sugar Hill Records