Show review: Tobacco, Beans, Shapers at Lincoln Hall, 4/15

Posted by Andrew Hertzberg

Tobacco

So how long have those pat downs been going on at Lincoln Hall? Really getting tight around there. But that still wasn’t the weirdest part of the night: that honor goes to Tobacco. But let’s start at the beginning.

Locals Shapers kicked things off with their usual brand of musical voodoo. I couldn’t help but think that the projected negatives of human bodies behind them were a perfect metaphor for their music: negative versions of conventional rock songs. From free jazz to post rock, chaotic to melancholic, they traverse a dynamic musical landscape. Check out their Daytrotter session from last week to get a taste if you haven’t already.

New York rapper and Anti-Pop Consortium member Beans was up next. In true minimalist style, he hit play on his laptop and solo-rapped-no-posse for the next 40 minutes. Lacking the grandiosity of Kanye or the sideshow absurdity of OFWGKTA, the performance wasn’t the most exciting. But guy raps pretty damn good for nearing 40, his voice at points taking on the scratches of a record. A more enthused audience member than I graced the stage with her presence for a bit, while security said "not a chance" to her friend. Another bit of confusing over-security at Lincoln Hall. So that was Beans. And then…Tobacco: 

Tonight: Shapers, Chants at the Whistler

Posted by Andrew

Photo Credit: Joe Carsello

My first experience with Shapers was back in October when they opened for the 1900s (review here). I hadn’t listened to them ahead of time so the tabula rasa experience is one I regret I’ll never be able to have again. To say the least, Shapers is on the opposite side of the musical spectrum from the Chicago indie-pop stalwarts that would follow them. Dynamics and conventions are simultaneously adhered to and disassembled. The band experiments with experimentation. The two basic (rather, complex) principles the band adheres to are dissonance and entropy. I know it all sounds a bit confusing but you have two options to pursue: 1) Experience Shapers like I did and let them swallow you whole. 2) Click here, here, or here for videos to be more prepared. Note: listening ahead of time can still really only prepare you in as much as you’ll be bringing a knife to a shootout.

Opening for Shapers is Chants, the one-man multi-instrumental alias of Jordan Cohen. Similarly anarchic to Shapers, but with more beats and decipherable melody. This all goes down at the Whistler tonight, December 16 (10 p.m., FREE, 21+) as the official release for Shapers' Virginia Reel 7” out on (no kidding?) Whistler Records.

Show review: The 1900s, Shapers, Verma at Fireside Bowl, 10/26

Posted by Andrew

Finally, a chance to acquaint myself with the legendary lanes of the Fireside Bowl. Listening to Allister eulogize the historic Logan Square bowling alley in junior high, I had no idea it was located in the city I grew up in the suburb next to. What better introduction to the Fireside than with a couple of bands that Chicago can claim its own.

Verma started off the night with wah-powered jams reminiscent of instrumental Flaming Lips and Spacemen 3. The term psychedelic will be used all too prevalent with this band, hopefully more as a description rather than a pigeonhole. The reverb-laced female vocals allowed the bowling alley to breathe more vertically than horizontally. Driving tempos and hypnotic bass carried the set full steam ahead. Catch them again at the Empty Bottle on November 5th as part of the Giant System showcase.

New single, video from Shapers

Posted by Frank

Following the release of their debut album, Little, Big, early this year, locally-based experimental rock act Shapers are preparing to drop a new 7" single November 16 on Whistler Records. "Virginia Reel," a raveup tune which you can hear and see the band perform below, will be backed by "Happy Birthday Polywog."

You can also currently grab a free mp3 of "Virginia Reel" via the Whistler Records website.

Next month Shapers will be heading east for their first mini tour, but also have two home city shows on the schedule: Tuesday, October 26 at Fireside Bowl (with the 1900s and Verma) and Monday, November 15 at the Empty Bottle.

Virginia Reel from SHAPERS on Vimeo.

New Chicago music: SHAPERS

Astute followers of the Chicago music scene might recognize the names behind SHAPERS, a recently-launched experimental four-piece that will soon release their first record, Little, Big. In a former musical life, Zaid Maxwell, Amelia Styer, Steve Reidell and Todd Waters played as indie pop act May or May Not, putting out a handful of releases under that name (most notably 2007's amazing A Kaleidoscope of Egos LP). While the pop of May or May Not was always left of center, SHAPERS finds the four venturing further afield. Much further. So far that it's pretty tough to classify the sounds on Little, Big. Sometimes there's Brian Eno-esque ambience (as on highlight "When I Was a Zygote"), sometimes there's brash discord ("Father Trout") and other times there's psych-pop leanings ("Autoliberation," "Milk Bug"). Another track, "Mothership Sequins," boldly extends beyond the 15-minute mark. Much of the material is instrumental, and when vocals and words show up they serve more as an additional instrument than anything of discernable meaning (see the frantic "Hot Gravy Available" - which, by the way, I declare the most amusing song title of the year even though it's only January). This isn't the kind of stuff that aims to stick after a single spin or lure you in with loads of hooks. It's more about the moods and intricacies that continue to unfold with each listen, and anyone into unconventional and experimental sounds should find that SHAPERS pull off "weird in a good way" wonderfully.

Little, Big is due out in early March, with hard copies being pressed exclusively on vinyl. Click below for a download of "When I Was a Zygote," and head to the band's official site to hear two additional tracks before the record drops.

MP3: SHAPERS - "When I Was a Zygote"

Check out SHAPERS live on Friday, January 15 at Lincoln Hall with Atlas Sound and Icy Demons ($15, more info and tickets here).