popwreckoning

It’s been nearly a decade since the Felix Culpa began their marriage of progressive indie and post-hardcore. In 2002, the conception of tFC was a milestone for DIY indie across the nation.

Humble and committed, the group avoided the detuning spotlight of labels for years to come—neglecting to capitalize on the band’s art was perhaps the most noble and influential act, one of which many artists would follow. Because great art takes time. And great music takes even longer, as any worthy musician would claim. Despite the passing on several offers from well-known record labels, the Felix Culpa still managed to make their name through publication and self-promotion. Appearing in popular print magazines such as Alternative Press in their early years, and later signing to the renowned No Sleep Records (La Dispute, The Wonder Years, etc.), tFC prove to be the essence of honest hard work.

With the release of two EP’s and two studio full-lengths, Sever Your Roots being their most recent including a bonus EP entitled Bury Your Axe, the Felix Culpa flirt with ideas of starting a new chapter, bidding a bittersweet farewell to their fans.

The group announced in early October that their farewell would take place at the Metro in Chicago on December 9, 2011. Supporting acts include close friends in Monday’s Hero, Sainthood Reps, and El Oso. Tickets for the farewell show can be found here.

Felix Culpa – Our Holy Ghosts

Visit the Felix Culpa’s Official Page to find updates, music, and information on future projects!

Written by Stephanie Castor

Chicago, IL pop-punk thrash combo So Many Ways have just revealed the cover art, track listing and release date for their Mightier Than Sword Records label debut. The self-titled album will be out on September 13, 2011 and is now available for pre-order in a variety of bundles at: http://store.mtsrecords.com/products/11935.

Track Listing:

1. Take It To The Limit
2. I’ve Made A Huge Mistake
3. Sleep Mask
4. Murf’s Life Hints
5. 37 Chambers
6. Oak Island
7. Dirtfoot

Since their formation in January 2009, So Many Ways has had their fair share of lineup changes. After recording the Real Talk EP with Jay Maas (Defeater, Bane) at Getaway Group studios later that summer, the band played a few shows together before parting ways with their then-bassist, drummer, and keyboard player. Not soon after the departure of those members, guitarists Jason Milbank, Murphy Welch and vocalist Colin Corley found themselves with a brand new rhythm section. After traveling to Florida to play a short string of shows, the band recorded their Floridian EP with Chris Hiser (Away With You). Floridian hinted at SMW’s heavier influences, but only showed a glimpse into what the band would become. After saying goodbye to yet another rhythm section later that year, So Many Ways welcomed drummer Keith Dow into the mix. The band recently added bass player Chris Catterson (ex Nightlights and Away With You) to the lineup and is ready to hit the road this month in advance of the EP’s release.

Tour Dates (with Major League and Carousel Kings):

Aug 8 Parkersburg, WV @ Radar’s Music Venue
Aug 9 Winston, NC @ Eliot’s Revue
Aug 11 Marietta, GA @ Swayze’s
Aug 12 Melbourne, FL @ Little Reggie’s
Aug 13 Orlando, FL @ Hoop’s Taven
Aug 14 Arad, Alabama @The Arabian Theater
Aug 18 Cookeville, TN @ Amps And Ramps
Aug 20 Chicago, IL @ Pancho’s  (also w/ Stay Golden and Late In The Playoffs)

http://twitter.com/smwftw
http://mtsrecords.com

It’s Lollapalooza‘s 20th anniversary and as we’re packing our bags to spend the weekend in Chicago’s Grant Park, here are 20 things that we’re most anticipating for Lollapalooza‘s 20th:

20. Grant Park. The park is beautiful and great place to visit even without a festival going. The long stretch of land is right next to Lake Michigan and wedged next to the Chicago skyline.

19. The artwork. Every year Lolla has some amazing sculptures setting a theme for the park and they always invite talented artists to design the official posters. We can’t wait to see what decorations will be set up this year.

18. Sold out. Ok, so some people may not be excited about this, but we love that over 200,000+ people are about to electrify the atmosphere with their excitement over the fest.

17. The Green Initiative. Volunteers go around picking up trash and collecting recyclables. There’s even a section of the venue that rewards you for turning in collected trash. Even water containers have been specially ordered to reduce Lolla’s carbon footprint.

16. The volunteers. A lot of this wouldn’t be possible without them, so be sure to thank them if you see them in their t-shirts giving out instructions or cleaning up somewhere around the park.

15. Cool down centers. It’s one of the hottest summers on record, but Lolla is kind enough to set up spray hoses and air conditioned buses.

14. Chicago tourist spots. A lot of Lolla attendees are from out of town, so this is a great opportunity to check out the Bean or Shedd Aquarium for the first time…or second…or 90 millionith. Chicago tourist spots are pretty amazing.

13. Free gear. Visit some of the radio station tents for cool gear and a chance to sit in the shade. Last year we got some great Lolla bandanas and paper fans that helped protect us from the sun.

12. Food. Chicago has some great spots to eat – hello deep dish pizza, but you don’t even have to leave the fest to grab a great meal. Be sure to stop by Chowtown where they have your standard fried festival fare, but also some great healthy options.

11. Veggie-friendly. Speaking of food, vegans and vegetarians are taken care of in Chowtown. There are plenty of options for everyone. Another reason why Lolla is awesome.

10. Kidzapalooza. Lolla really does think of everyone. With Kidzapalooza, people of all ages are able to have a great time at the fest. There are games and family friendly music that is special for the kids, but still enjoyable for parents.

9. Special guests. Lots of musicians are friends, so you never know who might pop up during another person’s set. A few years ago, Slash surprised everyone. This year, we’re keeping an eye on Black Cards and Patrick Stump, former members of Fall Out Boy that are playing the fest.

8. Cover songs. Lolla artist little hurricane just released a cover song and you can bet that plenty of artists have their own goodie bags of covers. We’ll more than likely hear a few of these live.

Armed with fist-pumping energy and pop hooks sure to garner massive sing-a-longs, Chicago’s The Frantic are poised to bridge the gap between the punk of Rancid and the pop of Fall Out Boy. Below is a the official video for “Blackout Brigade,’ the newest single from their recently released self-titled EP.

For more information on The Frantic, visit www.thefrantic.com.

The four members of YAWN come from the underbelly of Chicago, with roots in neighborhoods like Little Lebanon, Baghdad Row, and Polski Park. Having grown up together both figuratively and literally, their hearts remain embedded in trash but their dreams of success run deeper than the cold waters of Lake Michigan.

Having been in previous bands together and learning many valuable lessons on the DIY sense of creating music, they began crafting a new sound, one more aligned with the eclectic textures of Brian Eno, Aphex Twin and Yeasayer: a solid, badass rock core adorned with rich vocal harmonies, vintage world samples and atmospheric digital layers. Setting up shop in Wicker Park, they recorded new material in their basement. The DIY revelation led to the creation of “YAWN,” a 5-song EP that combines the poppiness of Phoenix with the complex lush layerings of Yeasayer and the creativeness of Unicorns.

Throughout 2010 the band has had the pleasure of opening for such great acts as: Yeasayer, Local Natives, Girl Talk, Twin Shadow, Glasser, Tanlines, RJD2, Steel Train, Memoryhouse, Twin Sister, Houses, Young Man, Class Actress/Beach Fossils, and a few others.

For now, YAWN is taking some time from playing live to finish their debut full-length, slotted for release this August. Be sure to check them out at www.yawntheband.com

Leading into the physical release of the band’s latest record Sympathy, Scattered Trees is hitting the road for a summer tour, taking the band to New York, LA, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Austin, and more. The tour will coincide with the physical release date of Sympathy on August 9th. The band’s intensely personal live show has been a staple of the Chicago scene. Now, with Scattered Trees hitting the road for their first full U.S. tour, a whole new group of fans will get a chance to experience the band’s celebrated live show. The band has also made their single, “Four Days Straight” available for free download. Check out the track here.

An extensive list of tour dates can be seen below:

Lollapalooza 2011 is due to announce its 20th anniversary lineup in just a few days on April 26, but before they do, they’re having a little fun.

Some of the headliners – Eminem, Foo Fighters and Muse – have been previously announced, but now Lollapalooza is giving fans a chance to guess more of the lineup through a trivia game.

The game asks new trivia questions daily and some of the questions unlock clues. For example, one of the clues given reads: “Name aside, her skies are looking very blue these days.” Lolla fan sleuths have decoded this to mean Skylar Grey would be performing this year.

The game also gives you a chance to win a flyaway, hotel and tickets for two. There will also be ticket giveaways daily until the lineup is revealed.

To play the game, go here.

The 2011 festival is August 5-7 in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois.

Sympathy from Chicago’s Scattered Trees is a beautiful headphones record that almost didn’t happen. After becoming staples of Chicago clubs, time passed, and the band members began to drift. Then fate intervened- singer Nate Elseland’s father passed away and he started to write the songs that became the album. Sometimes loss fuels great creativity. Like Hospice by The Antlers or Leave Ruin by Strands of Oak. this is a beautiful album born of great pain.

The album’s first track, “bury the floors,” starts with a droning sound, and then a vocal against a single piano key, plinked softly. A chorus of harmonies play behind the lead vocal and against a tambourine. Most of the song is this simple, very reminiscent of an old Beach Boys song.

The next song, “A Conversation About Death On New Year’s Eve” is much more interesting. It starts with simple drums, bass, and keyboards. Soon the vocals kick in, followed by a fantastic, catchy chorus. “Everybody’s falling apart” sings Elseland. It’s slow, sad, and somber, but oh so beautiful.

Most of the album continues in this mode. The third track, “Love and Leave,” is a little faster, but still sad, and still featuring a great chorus. “Every day you love and leave me”, is sung but it sounds like there’s a smirk behind the whole thing.

“Sympathy” makes it obvious that there’s a theme behind these songs. They’re full of leaving, and loss, and desperation. The whole thing is produced very well, and the sadness belies a pop sensibility. It’s fantastic stuff in a lot of ways.

“I Swear To God” is probably the best thing here. The lyrics are nakedly honest in a way that’s a little scary: “now my father’s dead, and still you haven’t shown”. The “where are you Jesus” is a little hokey, but if you can get past that, it’s a great song. Brian Wilson referred to Smile as a “teenage symphony to god”, and the same thing is going on here. The song is a plea to god, and that could be the key to the album.

After that song is “On Your Side” where Elseland seems to make peace with the lover he seems to be disagreeing with throughout the album. It could be god, or his father’s ghost, or simply a woman. It’s a fascinating coda to an album that is kind of fascinating as a whole. Then the whole thing is over, and all you can do is listen to it all over again.

Track listing:
1. Bury The Floors
2. A Conversation
3. I’m in a Panic
4. Love and Leave
5. Four Days Straight
6. Sympathy
7. Five Minutes
8. Where You Came From
9. I swear to God
10. On Your Side

This collaboration might just be better than a combination Taco Bell x Pizza Hut. That’s right, BBU and Das Racist have teamed up. Their new collaboration is called “Please, No Pictures” and it was produced by Chicago’s The Hood Internet.

BBU and Das Racist met playing CMJ 2009 and quickly became friends. In July, Das Racist joined BBU for their monthly party and while in Chicago together, the two jumped into the study to make “Please, No Pictures.

Clapping, snapping and characteristic rapping, “Please, No Pictures” is available for streaming below and free download at www.itsbbu.com.

January 4th and 5th, I tour managed for Giant Radio. When I say tour – I mean up to Chicago, two dates, then back home.

Both shows were for fellow blogger Sam Gordon who runs Chicago based Reviewsic; it was her one year anniversary of being a site.

The first night Chris Thomas, vox/guitar, did an acoustic set at the Double Door. Reviewsic had bands doing full sets upstairs and acoustic sets in between downstairs.

The second night was at Schuba’s Tavern. I was absolutely blown away by the local line-up.

To start off the night was Katie Gavin, a singer/songwriter who not only has a great voice but is an impressive guitar player. Gavin had a full set of originals along with one cover. Her rendition of “Whip My Hair Back and Forth” was quite refreshing compared to the original. Watch the cover here.

Next up, KC band Giant Radio. They showcased new songs which will be released on their upcoming full-length. Click hereto watch “Palace.”

After GR, Emblems took the stage. I didn’t have the chance to grab any video but they’re a band worth checking out. They even had a female auxiliary player. When I say auxiliary I mean she played EVERYTHING; Keys, Trumpet, Shaker, Tambourine, Glockenspiel, Vox, she sang and even played the Melodica.

Headliner for the night, Young Jesus definitely brought a crowd out. Not only were they great dudes, but they put on an entertaining show. Here’s a clip from their set.