Tonight: Martin Bisi, Whales, Light Coma at Quenchers

By Frank Krolicki

If you'd like to start your weekend off by getting properly lost in a psychedelic sonic haze, a trip to Quenchers tonight should do the trick. Long-time producer and solo musician Martin Bisi will be taking over the Saloon, previewing his upcoming release Ex-Nihilo, due out next year. Martin's racked up a pretty impressive resume since getting started in the early '80s, having helped bring to life albums by Sonic Youth, Swans, The Dresden Dolls, John Zorn and many others at a studio started with Brian Eno in Brooklyn. Actually, "psychedelic sonic haze" probably doesn't do his sound total justice; you could also throw in "post-rock" and "no-wave," but the better bet is to take a listen to Ex-Nihilo's intro track, "Suffer the Moon," below.

Also on the bill are Chicago's Whales, who offer up a tasty combination of shoegaze, post-punk, noise-pop (and do it very well, as detailed by WCR's own Sasha Geffen in her review of their self-titled LP), Light Coma, who also seem quite adept at making good noise, and Mark Shippy (of Snailboy, Shorty, US Maple, Miracle Condition).

Things kick off at 9 p.m. and you can see it all for a mere $5 donation. 21 and over. 2401 N Western Ave.
 
Martin Bisi - Ex Nihilo - Suffer the Moon by orchidpromotion

Record review: Whales - self-titled LP

Posted by Sasha

Whales dream big. They've debuted with a record that holds little back, leaves little out from their unabashedly huge garage rock spirit. A period of prenatal experimentation has led them through the realms of noise, post-rock and grunge to their own potent little niche. They draw noticeably from Sonic Youth's No Wave noise but without adopting its cynicism, instead funneling a playful air into their mountains of distortion. Swap out Thurston Moore for Black Francis and you might get something like Whales.

Gently layered guitar licks echo Robin Guthrie's work with the Cocteau Twins, but rather than float into the atmosphere, Whales build their way up on sheer steel and concrete. More than anything, they know how to construct towers of songs. Instrumentals "Sunshine" and "Snow Day" distress post-rock structures with garage aesthetics, catapulting through lacerated arpeggios to Explosions in the Sky-style crescendos. Tracks like "Population Theory" begin breezily and then explode at the refrain. At points the record begins to sound like Blonde Redhead infused with HEALTH, the melodic arrangements of the former coupled with the mad energy of the latter, reaching places distinct from either.

Tonight: Post Honeymoon, Whales, Sam Vicari at Panchos

Posted by Frank

Post Honeymoon (photo: Nate Larson)

If you want to include some live music in your Thursday night, Panchos has you covered with a lineup of three very worthwhile Chicago acts.

Duo Post Honeymoon deliver their own sparse but captivating take on post-punk with slinky, plaintive female vocals and an eerie vibe. Flashes of bands such as Romeo Void, Pylon and Siouxsie and the Banshees come through. Listen for yourself here.

Before the duo takes the stage, four-piece Whales will offer up their ear-grabbing mix of shoegaze, noise-pop and space-rock, which can be heard on their self-titled debut album.

Sam Vicari will begin the night on a more upbeat note with a sound that calls on the likes of Weezer and the Smoking Popes for inspiration. Check out his album Keep Careful for free download on Bandcamp.

8 p.m., 18 and over, $5. Tickets here.