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Music, Music Feature Nov 25, 2020
Video
A eulogy for Danny’s Tavern

For decades, this cozy candlelit bar in Bucktown nurtured a devoted and welcoming community of music lovers—but it couldn’t survive the pandemic.
- By Jacob Arnold
- Tags: Music Feature, Danny’s Tavern, Bucktown, Danny’s, Sheer Magic, Play, Hot on the Heels, Danny Cimaglio, closed, closure, Angie Hebda, Terry Alexander, Michael Noone, Peter Nelson, 1951 W. Dickens, Sheree Rose, Ike Hobbs, Martin Giese, Dave Rodman, Tom Billings, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Wax Trax!, Eric Puls, Scott Harris Mia Francesca, Kevin Stacy, Ken Kordich, Okno, Soul Kitchen, One Off Hospitality, Jeff Parker, Damon Locks, Joshua Abrams, Ben Vida, Beau Wanzer, Claude Rains, Foster Grant, Courtland Green, Supreme Court, Kim Ambriz, Warren Lee, Empire State Soul Club, Scott Craig, Mark Henning, Dante Carfagna, Jamie Hodge, Shaun Pauling, Richard Smith, Rik Shaw, Deadly Dragon Sound System, Great Silence, Dave Bramble, Tony Janda, Big Tony, Stephen Sowley, Melissa Grubbs, Wayne Montana, Eternally Yours, Bob Davies, Brian Kelly, Alex Horn, Nanodust, Ray Rodriguez, DJ Ray_Rod, Marc Hellner, Marc Arcuri, Chandeliers, Brian Case, Bobby Burg, Joan of Arc, Joe Proulx, Love Boat, Chris Johnson, DJ Shoulders, Adam Gruel, Jen Kienzler, DJ Quick Paw, Peace Party, Naomi Walker, Jocelyn Brown, John Herndon, Soft Pow, Josh Berman, Jason Adasiewicz, Anton Hatwich, David Boykin, Isaiah Spencer, Reminder, Town and Country, Jim Dorling, Liz Payne, International Anthem, Uncanned Music, Scottie McNiece, Makaya McCraven, Junius Paul, Nick Mazzarella, Ben LaMar Gay, Hans Ballard, Night Moves, Off Chances, Ross Winston, Lono Brazil, Disco Unusual, Chances Dances, Jamie Hayes, Tanja Buhler, Party Line, Video

Music, Music Review Oct 5, 2020
Recommended
Emerging Chicago band Lifeguard play noisy, retro-leaning rock without getting stuck in the past
- By Leor Galil
- Tags: Music Review, Lifeguard, noisy, posthardcore, Asher Case, Brian Case, Facs, indie rock, postrock, Recommended

Music, Gossip Wolf Apr 21, 2020
Disappears, White/Light, and Steve Shelley drop a collaboration recorded 11 years ago

Plus: Two-thirds of Weatherman share their first music since moving to a medieval French village, and producer Sam Bik releases the full-length debut of retro-pop project Talk to Me.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Disappears, Brian Case, Jonathan van Herik, Damon Carruesco, Graeme Gibson, White/Light, Matt Clark, Jeremy Lemos, Steve Shelley, Vampire Blues, John Congleton, Facs, Weatherman, Jason Toth, Annie Higgins, AM Higgins, Who Can Say?, Joshua Dumas, Casey Foubert, Sam Bik, Ahero, Ultima Flux, Spirit, Talk to Me, Drop Shadows, Kingdom Come

Music, Music Review Mar 27, 2020
Recommended Video
The new Facs album, Void Moments, shows the Chicago trio at their apex
- By Luca Cimarusti
- Tags: Music Review, Facs, Trouble in Mind, Void Moments, Noah Leger, Brian Case, Alianna Kalaba, Disappears, postpunk, Recommended, Video

Music, Gig Poster of the Week Jan 8, 2020
Dangerous DJ rigs on the gig poster of the week

This week's featured gig poster was designed by Chicago artist Bill Connors.
- By Salem Collo-Julin
- Tags: Gig Poster of the Week, gig poster, gig poster of the week, gig posters, Bill Connors, gear, DJs, Empty Bottle, System 1, Facs, Running, Physical Medium, Brian Case, Alejandro Morales, Nick Ciontea, turntables

Music, Music Feature Mar 21, 2019
Video
Chicago postpunks Facs cut their last tether

This abstract, minimalist trio inherited members from Disappears, but they’ve found the personnel and the sound to become a self-contained band.
- By Kevin Warwick
- Tags: Music Feature, Facs, Disappears, Brian Case, Noah Leger, Alianna Kalaba, Jonathan van Herik, Damon Carruesco, We Ragazzi, 90 Day Men, Dishes, Electric Hawk, Milemarker, Lifelike, Negative Houses, Trouble in Mind, Jeremy Lemos, Acteurs, John Congleton, Kranky, Joan of Arc, Primary, Just a Mirror, Joan of Arc, Anti-Body, Total History, In Time, Another Country, Video

Blogs, Bleader Mar 29, 2018
Post-Disappears trio Facs celebrate a stark new album with a new lineup

Facs plays a record-release show for Negative Houses on Friday at the Empty Bottle, and it doubles as the local debut of new bassist Alianna Kalaba.
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music, Post No Bills, Facs, Disappears, Negative Houses, Others, Brian Case, Noah Leger, Alianna Kalaba, Johathan Van Herik, Damon Carruesco

Music, Gossip Wolf Oct 10, 2017
Great Chicago label, meet great Chicago band: Trouble in Mind signs Facs

Plus: Local shops celebrate Cassette Store Day with exclusives and in-store performances, and the Eradicator take a step up the D squash ladder with their self-titled album.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Facs, Disappears, Trouble in Mind, Bill Roe, Lisa Roe, Brian Case, Negative Houses, debut, Cassette Store Day, Jump Up, Curbside, Bucket O’ Blood, Logan Hardware, Shuga, Bric-a-Brac, Dark Fog, Ralph “Soul” Jackson, Grabbing Clouds, Already Dead, Dumpster Tapes, Girlsville, Boombox Sessions Vol. II, Danny Rebel, Droids Blood, King Tony, Tavi Veraldi, Poor Milk, the Eradicator, Eradicator, Kids in the Hall, Subterranean, Bong Mountain, Engines, “Richardson” Richardson

Music, Music Feature May 9, 2017
International Anthem brings punk idealism to progressive jazz

This Chicago label puts in the sweat to get its artists the audiences they deserve.
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: Music Feature, International Anthem, Scott McNiece, David Allen, Uncanned Music, Jaimie Branch, Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, Rob Mazurek, Hear in Now, Tomeka Reid, jazz, improvised music, The New Breed, Fly or Die, Not Living in Fear, Mazz Swift, Silvia Bolognesi, In the Moment, Rob Mazurek, Emmett Kelly, Alien Flower Sutra, A.M. Frison, Tommaso Moretti, Ben Lamar Gay, Bottle Tree, Gilt Bar, Curio, Trio in Curio, Ian Springer, Brendan Sodikoff, Hogsalt Hospitality, the Bedford, Bar Deville, Prizzy Prizzy Please, Hungry Brain, Nick Mazzarella, Skylark, Elastic, Hideout, Anton Hatwich, Dylan Ryan, Frank Rosaly, Matt Lux, Mikel Avery, Rob Jacobs, Wei Zhongle, Bambi Kino Duo, Brian Case, Justin Walter, Ahleuchatistas, Irreversible Entanglements, Keir Neuringer, Luke Stewart, Camae Ayewa, Moor Mother, Ohmme, Junius Paul, Dave Vettraino, Natalie Joy, Alternate Moon Cycles, Jamire Williams, Josh Johnson

Music, Gossip Wolf May 2, 2017
Video
Back from hiatus unscathed, the Poison Arrows drop their first album since 2010

Plus: Drag City and Neil Hamburger celebrate rediscovered glam-rock weirdo Frederick Michael St. Jude, and Dark Matter Coffee teams up with house hero Derrick Carter.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Poison Arrows, No Known Note, Justin Sinkovich, File 13, Brian Case, Facs, Tony Lazzara, Bloodiest, Scott McCloud, Girls Against Boys, Hideout, Matchess, Soccer Club Club, Drag City, Gregg Turkington, Neil Hamburger, Million Dollar Performances, Frederick Michael St. Jude, Here Am I, Almost Lost, Mike Hickey, Major Entertainer Mike H, Lincoln Hall, Dark Matter Coffee, Mothership, Squaredancing, Derrick Carter, house music, double seven-inch, Video

Music, In Rotation Apr 4, 2017
Video
Lowhangers vocalist Cassandra Mukahirn on an even grosser version of Flipper

Plus: Rectal Hygienics drummer Omar Gonzalez on a 20-CD box of rare harsh noise, Reader associate editor Kevin Warwick on a contagious album of crossover thrash, and more
- By Kevin Warwick
- Tags: In Rotation, Power Trip, Nightmare Logic, Billy Yeager, 301 Jackson St., Discogs, Facs, Brian Case, Noah Leger, Cassanda Mukahirn, Lowhangers, Merchandise, Empty Bottle, {Strange Songs) In the Dark, A Corpse Wired for Sound, Kilslug, Answer the Call, Adolf Satan, Anal Cunt, Larry Lifeless, Upsidedown Cross, Sea of Shit, Robby Komen, Mousetrap, Diseased Audio, Omar Gonzalez, Rectal Hygienics, Skin Crime, Hospital Productions, Case Studies in Early Taxidermy Techniques, Dedekind Cut, Lee Bannon, $uccessor, Fred Welton Warmsley III, Deftones, Around the Fur, Video

Music, In Rotation Mar 21, 2017
Video
Sonnenzimmer cofounder Nick Butcher on one of the TR-808’s earliest star turns

Plus: Artist Alex Valentine on the score that should’ve won this year’s Oscar, Reader critic Peter Margasak on a solo violin record that contains multitudes, and more
- By Peter Margasak
- Tags: In Rotation, Maarja Nuut, Une Meeles, violin, Jürg Frey, String Quartet No. 3, Unhörbare Zeit, composer, Quatuor Bozzini, Neuköllner Modelle, Sektion 1-2, Sven-Ake Johansson, Bertrand Denzler, Joel Grip, constructive free jazz, Nick Butcher, Sonnenzimmer, Haruki Murakami, Seiji Ozawa, Absolutely on Music, Lvnch, Scott Carter, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Technodelic, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Alex Valentine, Knobs, YouTube, Organelle, Critter & Guitari, 90 Day Men, Peel session, Brian Case, Robert A.A. Lowe, Lichens, Bloodiest, FACS, Cayce Key, Mica Levi, Micachu & the Shapes, film music, score, Jackie, Video

Music, Gossip Wolf Jan 3, 2017
New trio FACS carries the darkness of Disappears to an unknown place

Plus: Lil Yachty tourmate Jayaire Woods plays a show of his own in Chicago, and DIY zine The Sick Muse publishes its sixth issue.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Disappears, Tüth, FACS, Brian Case, Noah Leger, Jonathan van Herik, Damon Carruesco, Chicago Athletic Club, Stagg Court, Magas, Joan of Arc, He’s Got the Whole This Land Is Your Land in His Hands, Free the Fall, Jayaire Woods, Quality Control, Lil Yachty, Elbo Room, Mack 11, Matt Whise, Bird Bankin Boi, Emcee White, Jus Chase, The Sick Muse, zine

Music, Music Feature Apr 20, 2016
An oral history of the Empty Bottle

Staff members and musicians share stories of the venerable nightclub in this excerpt from The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing.
- By John Dugan
- Tags: Music Feature, Empty Bottle, oral history, Curbside Splendor, John Dugan, John E. Dugan, The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music / Friendly / Dancing, Miss Alex White, Hot Machines, White Mystery, Damian, Bobby Conn, Bobby Conn & the Glass Gypsies, Conducent, Jay Ryan, Bird Machine, Dianogah, Hubcap, Uzeda, Bedhead, Chisel, Chicago Stone Lightning Band, Idful Music, Brad Wood, Red Red Meat, Liz Phair, Tortoise, Veruca Salt, Big Star, Metro, Alianna Kalabba, We Ragazzi, Brian Case, 90 Day Men, the Ponys, Acteurs, Disappears, Boys Life, C-Clamp, Bruce Finkelman, Lustre King, Craig Ackerman, Lounge Ax, Damian Kulash, OK Go, Lonesome Organist, Allison Hollihan, Atombombpocketknife, the Mono Men, Estrus, Melisa Young, Kid Sister, Bruce Lamont, Yakuza, Led Zeppelin 2, Bloodiest, Corrections House, Ken Vandermark, Bob Pollard, the Strokes, Guided By Voices, Black Lips, Matt Williams, Chris Anderson, Chris Saathoff, the Red Lights, Mike Gebel, City Pages, Skeletonwitch, Bob Johnson

Blogs, Bleader Feb 18, 2016
Video
Melina Ausikaitis celebrates the release of the collaborative Aitis Music tonight

Melina Ausikaitis's self-released tape includes recordings of her songs by nine different acts.
- By Luca Cimarusti
- Tags: Arts, Do This, Music, Melina Ausikaitis, Aitis Music, tape, self-released, Bloodiest, Tim Kinsella, Brian Case, Joan of Arc, Disappears, Angele Mullenhour, Touch by Ghoul, rock, indie rock, experimental, Empty Bottle, a cappella, Matt Jencik, Video

Blogs, Bleader Nov 5, 2015
Brian Case of Disappears and EVI player Justin Walter debut the ambient Bambi Kino Duo

Bambi Kino Duo introduce their beautiful ambient music to the world on Saturday, releasing their debut album and playing their first live show.
- By Philip Montoro
- Tags: 12 O'Clock Track, Do This, Music, 12 O'Clock Track, Bambi Kino Duo, See Heat, International Anthem, Brian Case, Justin Walter, Disappears, OKO, Burlington, Acteurs, EVI

Best of Chicago, Music & Nightlife Jun 25, 2014
Critics' Picks
Best Gothic Prog-Rock Duo

Acteurs
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Music & Nightlife, Best of Chicago 2014, gothic prog-rock duo, Acteurs, Brian Case, Disappears, Jeremy Lemos, White/Light, Public Information, Honey Bear, Critics' Picks

Music, Gossip Wolf Jul 24, 2013
Gossip Wolf: People-watching at Pitchfork

Plus: New material from the reunited Pezband and a farewell to Emily Cross of Cross Record.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Lady Gaga, Pitchfork, M.I.A., Devon Welsh, Matthew Otto, Majical Cloudz, Disappears, Brian Case, White/Light, Matthew Hale Clark, Metz, Sky Ferreira, Swans, Treated Crew, DJ Rashad, Sally Timms, Damons Locks, Major Taylor, Killer Mike, El-P, Das Racist, Kool A.D., Based God, Rockie Fresh, TNGHT, Peter Cottontale, Lili K., Tree, Save Money, Caleb James, HoZac Blackout, Pezband, Baby It's Cold Outside, Ukrainian Village, Pieholden Suite Sound, Billy Boy Arnold, I Wish You Would, the Yardbirds, Robbie Hamilton, Emily Cross, Dan Duszynski, Any Kind, Austin, Double Door, Other, Cross Record, Be Good

Arts & Culture, Culture Vultures Feb 14, 2013
This week’s Culture Vultures recommend:

How Should a Person Be?, Blood Oath Improv, and Monsters and Dust
- By Janey Lee and Hannah Lorenz
- Tags: Culture Vultures, MAKE, Blood Oath Improv Group, Featherproof Books, Zach Dodson, Monsters & Dust, Aay Preston, Aay Preston-Myint, Joe Proulx, M&D, Chris Pappas, Jordan Williams, Nitewerk, Alex Valentine, Brian Case, Joshua Hauth, Scott Cowen, Laura Pearson, Torian Miller, Trevor Kravits, Ryan Hake, Ricky Staffieri, Adam Ston, Jared Popkin, books, literature, design, Blood Oath Improv, improv, Pop stache, Will Neved, Gift Theatre Company, How Should a Person Be?, Sheila Heti, Carl Wilson, essays, Celine Dion

Music, In Rotation Feb 14, 2013
In Rotation: Audio engineer Tim Iseler on "Darth Vader's Cock and Balls"

Plus: The Reader's Miles Raymer on Townes Van Zandt’s outtakes and audio engineer Jeremy Lemos on the Dirty Projectors at the Sydney Opera House
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: In Rotation, Miles Raymer, demos, outtakes, Justin Walter, Iron & Wine, Echophon, live sound, Public Info, record labels, electronic music, Austin Cesar, F.C. Judd, Brian Case, Acteurs, Dirty Projectors, Sydney Opera House, Nomo, Make Noise, Fireside Bowl, We Ragazzi, Tony Rolando, trumpet, Electronic Valve Instrument, EVI, synthesizers, Kranky, Levon Helm, books, Time Iseler, Future, mixtapes, Four Tet, Kieran Hebden, DJs, audio engineers, Jeremy Lemos, Townes Van Zandt, 4ms Pedals, Rotating Clock Divider, Shuffling Clock Multiplier

Music, Gossip Wolf Jan 30, 2013
Gossip Wolf: A flood of new tapes from Teen River

Quicksails, Cool Memories, and more. Plus: News from superduo Acteurs (Disappears, White/Light) and indie-pop trio Moritat.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Teen River, Toupee, garage-psych, Bigcolour, bedroom-pop, J Fernandez, Quicksails, Ben Billington, Tiger Hatchery and Moonrises, Cool Memories, Empty Bottle, Teen River Nite, Columbia Fasciata, Famous Laughs, Disappears, Brian Case, White/Light, Jeremy Lemos, the Shins, Dirty Projectors, Acteurs, Public Information, Suicide, Chris & Cosey, Depeche Mode, Moritat, I Forgot to Kiss Her, Clill Blanzin, Cave, Automatic Lover, The-Drum, Township, KO, Sleepy Monster

Music, Gossip Wolf Aug 11, 2011
Getting an eyeful at Lollapalooza

Frodo’s floor-clearing DJ set, Costner on a cart, and more celeb sightings at the fest. Plus: Kesha checks out Disappears, Paleo moves to the Chi, and Mahjongg’s Hunter Husar goes solo
- By Jessica Hopper and J.R. Nelson
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Lollapalooza, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Taylor Momsen, Lindsay Lohan, Black Lips, Elijah Wood, Aaron Paul, Downtown Julie Brown, Kevin Costner, Kesha, Disappears, Brian Case, El is a Sound of Joy, Paleo, David Strackany, Mahjongg, Bitchpork, Hunter Husar, Winston, Golden Birthday, Lure Izakaya Pub

Music, Gossip Wolf Sep 16, 2010
Leaked Owl

Qwel and Maker's collabo trickles out on the 'net, Box of Baby Birds flies the coop, a Kinsella Watch twofer, and more
- By Jessica Hopper and J.R. Nelson
- Tags: Gossip Wolf, Owl, Qwel, Maker, Typical Cats, DJ SPS, Galapagos 4, Disappears, Brian Case, MILD VILNC, Steve Shelley, Vaughan Oliver, 4AD, Gary Calhoun James, Box of Baby Birds, Nate Kinsella, Tim Kinsella, Let's Get Out Of This Terrible Sandwich Shop, Tony Mendoza, Thea Lux, Nicole Vitale, Unicycle Loves You, Candy Dinner, Grey Ghost, Johnathan Crawford, Aram Shelton, Shame That Tune, Abraham Levitan, Brian Costello, Miss Alex White, Eiffel Tower, Billions, Constant Artists, Ben Dickey

Music, Photo Pit May 27, 2010
Photo Pit: Besnard Lakes, the Ponys

May 24, Millennium Park
- By Jim Newberry
- Tags: Photo Pit, Besnard Lakes, Jace Lasek, the Ponys, Melissa Elias, Brian Case, Nathan Jerde, Jered Gummere, Jim Newberry, Chicago concert photography, concert photography, Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park

Music, Music Column Apr 15, 2010
Thinking Inside the Box

What makes Disappears special is what they won't let themselves do.
- By Miles Raymer
- Tags: Music Column, Empty Bottle, Disappears, Brian Case, Ponys, Graeme Gibson, Jonathan Van Herik, Boas, Damon Carruesco, Kranky, Lux, Live Over the Rainbo

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