Flashback Friday: This Star Hangs Brightly

Countrified dream pop duo, Mazzy Star was formed from the ashes of Opal in Santa Monica, CA in 1989. Following in the footsteps of the California Paisley Underground movement of the 1980s, the band was heavily influenced by the psychedelic stylings of The Doors and The Velvet Underground. Mazzy Star's debut album, She Hangs Brightly, was released by Rough Trade in 1990 and sounds like a hollowed-out version of Jesus & The Mary Chain; the perfect companion for a rainy day affair. The album begins with the breezy bluesy "Halah," which reminds one of a drug-induced Patsy Cline outtake. "Ride It On" encompasses a simple, acoustical approach filled with heartache and regret, while "Blue Flower" is a classic garage rock number full of slow-core feedback and light shoegaze elements.

Halah

Blue Flower

Ride It On

RFC TV: Sea Wolf's "Wicked Blood"

Earlier in the week, the new video from Sea Wolf hit the web and it's timing couldn't be more perfect. Featuring vaudevillian ghosts, skeletons, some sort of big-foot-astronaut hybrid and the babe-tastic Shannyn Sossamon, the spooky effort is perfect viewing for Halloween.

David Bazan 10/24 @ Lincoln Hall

One of the musicians that has impacted my life the most is doubtlessly David Bazan, who I first discovered about ten years ago after the release of Pedro The Lion's It's Hard To Find a Friend. Most of the musicians that have impacted my life for as long as Bazan has have either died or disbanded so when it was announced earlier in the summer that Bazan's headlining tour would bring him to Chicago in October, my excitement levels started building immediately.  The fact that the show was at my new favorite venue, Lincoln Hall, just added to my anxiousness.

RFC TV: Port O'Brien's "My Will Is Good"

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For those of you who didn't get to see Port O'Brien steal the show earlier this month when they opened for Sea Wolf and let the audience play pots and pan, the next best thing might be the sunny video for "My Will Is Good", the lead track off their stellar new album, Threadbare.

Dawes and Langhorne Slim @ Lincoln Hall 10/23

After missing Dawes during Daytrotter's second Barnstormer Tour, I was pretty excited to see the band play with Langhorne Slim. In fact, I was also quite excited to see headliner Langhorne Slim as well. But the thing that made me the most excited about the events of the 23rd was the fact that it marked my first attendance to fledgling venue Lincoln Hall. All three of those elements together made me a very happy camper indeed.

I've been excited for Lincoln Hall to open it's doors since I first heard about the venue all the way back in June. It is, after all, presented to you by the same folks that own and operate one of my favorite venues in the country, Schubas and the things that make Schubas special are all present at Lincoln Hall- The relaxed hipness of the restaurant and bar, the genuine niceness of the staff, and amazing sound quality in the concert hall itself. When I say that Lincoln Hall just might be my favorite venue, I mean that. Atmosphere is everything and Lincoln Hall has just the perfect amount of it.

Dawes - When My Time Comes

Langhorne Slim - Restless

Kevin Devine and The Get Up Kids @ Metro 10/22

My most prominent memory of The Get Up Kids is, doubtlessly, driving from Detroit to Ohio for a concert in the early summer of 2002. It was shortly after On A Wire was released and my friend and I decided to spin the album quite a few times during our 4 hour drive. "Overdue" was an anthem for my 18 year old self and it's a song that still holds a special place for me. In the seven years since, The Get Up Kids broke up, reformed, did a sweet Daytrotter session featuring the aforementioned favorite Get Up Kids song and I have fallen a bit out of step with the band. Let's be honest, when their two days stint at the Metro was announced over the summer, I was more excited for Kevin Devine's return engagement to Chicago although the prospect of seeing The Get Up Kids did make me slightly nostalgic and leave me trying to remember what the last name was of my friend who accompanied me on that Ohio trip almost ten years prior so I could look her up on Facebook.

On day two of The Get Up Kids brief tenure at the Metro, I made my way to Wrigleyville to observe the die hard fans in surprisingly rowdy crowd sing along with Matt Pryor in downtown Chicago.

Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band - Carnival

The Get Up Kids - Overdue

Get on the List: Monsters of Folk @ Auditorium Theater this Fri

The free ticket bonanza continues with one last monster score for your Trick or Treat basket. Today we're doling out the real goods in the form of free passes to see indie rock supergroup Monsters of Folk this Friday at the intimate confines of the Auditorium Theater. Just drop us a line with "Folk It Up" in the subject line by Thursday for your chance to get on the guest list with a +1. Good luck!

Monsters of Folk - Say Please

Get on the List: Lights, Stars of Track and Field @ SubT Wed Nite

The free ticket madness continues with a chance to win admission for two to see Lights headline an ages show with openers Stars of Track and Field Wednesday night at Subterranean. Just drop us a line at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Track & Field Lights" in the subject line for your chance to get on the list with a +1. Good luck!

Get on the List: Chromeo/Crystal Castles/Boys Noize @ Congress Next Fri

This show is going to be a blast anyway, and if we get you in for free? Well, then it's guaranteed to keep a big devilish grin firmly planted behind your Halloween mask all weekend. Just drop us a line at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Freaky Deaky" in the subject line by Monday morning for your chance to get on the list with a +1. Good luck!

Chromeo - Fancy Footwork (Mixhell Remix)

Crystal Castles -  Magic Spells

Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Boys Noize Remix)

The New Track From Capgun Coup

Among the slew of late year releases is the sophomore release from Nebraska's Capgun Coup. Following up 2007's Brought To You By Nebraskafish with November 3rd's Maudlin, the four piece has released their first track off the album, "Bad Bands", which owes as much to surf rock as it does the grungy garage rock revival of the early 2000's. Raw, fun and anarchistic, "Bad Bands" has proved to be a great break from the melancholy, subdued indie that's been flooding my earbuds as of late and in the increasingly dreary Chicago fall, Capgun Coup has been quite the mood brightener.

Capgun Coup - Bad Bands

Bon Iver on Hiatus

One of the most beautiful albums on 2007 was Bon Iver's For Emma Forever Ago. Understated, melodic and all around-gorgeous, For Emma was the type of album that stuck with the listener for weeks, sometimes months, afterward the first listen and made appearances on many "Best of The Year" lists. However, those waiting for a follow up are going to be waiting a very long time as front man Justin Vernon has announced Bon Iver's indefinite hiatus.

The music scene won't be completely devoid of Vernon however, as his experimental rock band Volcano Choir has only just started up and he reportedly plans to continue work with Megafaun. It does seem though that the last bit of Bon Iver we're going to get under that moniker is Vernon's duet with St. Vincent on (of all things!) the alarmingly good soundtrack to the newest installment in the Twilight series, New Moon.

Bon Iver featuring St. Vincent - Roslyn

Those who weren't lucky enough to catch Bon Iver's homecoming show in Wisconsin on the 11th with the always stellar Daredevil Christopher Wright, can stream Bon Iver's entire set here.

Album Review: Eisley - Fire Kite EP

The ridiculously cute Texas band Eisley has been making music since co-singer Stacy Dupree was 8 and released their first EP when she was 14. Comprised of three sisters, a brother and a cousin, Eisley's early songs were sprinkled with fairy tale imagery and sugary sweet harmonies.

Now, Stacy's 21, Sherri Dupree's been married off to Say Anything's Max Bemis and big sister Chauntelle is engaged. What a difference a few years makes, not only personally, but professionally as well.

Working on a follow up to 2007's Combinations, Eisley has released Fire Kite, a 4 song EP, to whet fan's appetites for their forthcoming winter release.

Eisley - The Valley

This Week's Concert Lowdown

Ever since I moved to Chicago, I've subscribed to the thought process that if you're bored in this city, there is something a little wrong with you. Chicago never has a shortage of things to do and October's been proving that as fact since it began. It is, after all, concert season in the city and starting on the 21st, that statement rings more true than ever before.

On the 21st, not only do The Get Up Kids hit the Metro with previous RFC interviewee Kevin Devine but Ryan Gosling's Dead Man's Bones will be at Schubas for two shows, one early for the all ages crowd and a later evening show for us older folks. If you're concerned about choosing between the two, a couple things might make your decision easier: The Get Up Kids and Kevin Devine will also be playing the Metro on the 22nd so if you can't make it out on Wednesday, don't fret. Also, the Dead Man's Bones shows are both sold out. I'd keep an eye on the Schubas twitter just in case any last minute tickets are released but it's sure to be a madhouse. Ladies love that Ryan Gosling.

Flashback Friday: The Sweetness and the Light of the Lush Life

Shoegaze starlets Lush had a healthy doze of dazzling reverb and fuzzy feedback that penetrated the soul of wide-eyed listeners. Formed in London in 1988 and signed to indie cult label, 4AD, the band's first three EP's were backed by the genius production of Robin Guthrie of the Cocteau Twins. Gala was released in 1990 at the height of the shoegaze craze alongside My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive and Ride. At the time, Lush's sound was light and airy with sudden bursts of distortion, such as "Sweetness and the Light." The band often showcased dual female vocalists perfected a heavenly harmony behind crunchy guitar riffs and swirling atmospherics as on "De-Luxe." Lush was also genius at crafting pure pop bliss on catchy straight-forward numbers like Abba's cover song "Hey, Hey Helen" and the radio friendly "For Love."

De-Luxe

Sweetness and Light

Hey, Hey Helen

For Love

Old Canes Hit Chicago Friday Night

Old Canes is the project of The Appleseed Cast front man Christopher Crisci and where The Appleseed Cast utilizes an edgier, rock sound, Old Canes owes more to Neutral Milk Hotel than to any of the post-rock bands of yore.

Relying on a multitude of unique instruments and Crisci's half-sung, half-shouted vocals, Old Canes have just kicked off their tour in support of the forthcoming Feral Hammock and they'll be at the Bottom Lounge on Friday the 16th. Not only will you be able to hear them play some new tunes but the band will be selling special editions of Feral Hammock which have been handmade by Omaha artist Zack Nipper.

Tickets are just $10 for the 21 and over crowd so if you haven't figured out how to kick off your weekend yet, keep Old Canes in mind.

Old Canes - Little Bird Courage