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SXSW 2018 Spotlight

March 11, 2018 / Rachel Zyzda

It's that time of year again, where thousands of music fans, musicians, and music industry folks flock down to Austin, Texas for a jam packelizd week of endless live music. Going over the countless events and showcases that just keep rolling in, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed about who to see and what to do at the annationnual SXSW music festival. While we can't really help with the problem of wanting to be in 5 places at once, we can help you focus in on some of the key bands to see this week. Check out our list of our top ten must-see acts at SXSW 2018 below, and make sure you give our SXSW Spotify playlist a listen for even more recommendations.

Shame

London's buzzy post-punk rockers Shame have already been making a name for themselves all over The States, going on a headlining tour surrounding their debut album, Songs of Praise, which came out in January. Everybody and anybody who has seen them live seems to only have positive things to say about their raw and rambunctious energy onstage, and there will be no shortage of opportunities to catch one of their rowdy performances at this year's SXSW. Make sure you catch them this year before they move on to bigger and bigger venues. See their SXSW schedule here.

For Fans Of: Idles, Ought, The Vaccines

Start With: "Lampoon," "Dust on Trial," "Concrete"

Nation of Language

Fronted by Ian Devaney, this Brooklyn based trio manages to borrow components from past generations of musical geniuses, without delivering boring reiterations. Nation of Language recently toured with The Wombats, instantly winning over the crowd with their addictive synth melodies that sound like they belong on a soundtrack for a John Hughes film. While the band have yet to put out an album, they've gained traction and attention nationally with a handful of single releases. See their SXSW schedule here.

For Fans Of: The Psychedelic Furs, Night Riots, John Maus

Start With: "I've Thought About Chicago," "On Division St," "What Does the Normal Man Feel?"

Post Animal

If you're an avid ANCHR reader, this definitely isn't the first you've heard about Post Animal....and it definitely won't the last time you'll hear their name if you're going to SXSW this year. The Chicago based outfit had an insane year in 2017, touring across the entire country, and 2018 is set to be even bigger for them, rightfully so. Their shows never lack in energy and over the years they've expanded their live arrangements while keeping a tight sound. Following their rigorous touring schedule surrounding SXSW, Post Animal will release their official debut album via Polyvinyl Records on April 20th. Their summer touring schedule includes cities across the country and appearances at major festivals like Shaky Knees and Bonnaroo, so don't miss out on the abundance of chances to see Post Animal at SXSW before they blow up even more. Check out their full schedule here.

For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, King Gizzard, POND

Start With: "When I Get Home," "Special Moment," "Ralphie"

Ron Gallo

Nashville's Ron Gallo might be another familiar name to ANCHR readers, as we've frequently covered him here. Gallo has already had a great year, playing festivals like Governor's Ball and Lollapalooza in support of his debut solo album Heavy Meta, but he's managed to keep cranking out new music despite a grueling tour schedule. His live show not only highlights the chemistry between him and his band, but he always encourages kindness among his audiences, working to keep his shows a safe space, while also making his audience laugh with his quirky between-song anecdotes. If you're looking to hear some great music and have a laugh, make sure you go see Ron Gallo this year. Check out his schedule here.

For Fans Of: White Reaper, Diane Coffee, Naked Giants

Start With: "Put The Kids To Bed," "Really Nice Guys," "All the Punks are Domesticated"

Caroline Rose

NYC's Caroline Rose just put out her debut album Loner at the end of February, and with insanely catchy choruses, clever lyrical quips, and thoughtful themes, it's been nothing but well received. I have yet to see one of Caroline Rose's show, but based on the light-hearted tone of her album, her live show will undoubtedly be a blast. Lucky for us, there's no shortage of opportunities to see her down in Austin this week. See her plentiful schedule here.

For Fans Of: Liz Cooper & The Stampede, Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett

Start With: "Bikini," "More of the Same," "Money"

BAUM

Currently based in LA, the NYC native Sabrina Teitelbaum has been garnering all sorts of praise over her material released as BAUM. Although her releases are limited to only three official singles, BAUM threads powerful and empowering themes through catchy pop melodies. Her debut EP will be released on 3/16 during SXSW, so make sure you catch one of her shows to hear the new tracks live. See BAUM's schedule here.

For Fans Of: Grace Mitchell, Ryn Weaver, VÉRITE

Start With: "This Body," "Hot Water"

The Nude Party

If any of the bands on this list fall into the don't-judge-a-band-by-their-name category, it's this band. The Nude Party spices up their rock'n'roll tunes with a hint of twang and psychedelia. During their shows, the band members feed off one another's energy so well, and their audiences quickly reciprocate the infectious energy. See where you can catch on of their rowdy shows here.

For Fans Of: Black Lips, Meatbodies, Frankie & The Witch Fingers

Start With: "Time To Go," "Life's a Joke," "Poor Boy Walking Blues"

Acid Dad

NYC rockers Acid Dad just put out their debut self-titled album on Friday, and they'll be celebrating all week in Austin, in the midst of an on-going national tour. The four piece have a distinct sound that blends psych and punk rock perfectly, and it translates incredibly well in a live setting. Check them out at SXSW at one of their plethora of live shows; information here.

For Fans Of: Honduras, No Parents, NE-HI

Start With: "Don't Get Taken," "Come Outside," "Fool's Gold"

HINDS

Another name that should be familiar if you're a regular ANCHR reader, HINDS crafts irresistibly lively and light-hearted lo-fi rock tunes with melodies that'll get lodged in your head for days. Their live show is really where it's at...the quartet from Madrid exude so much chemistry and project endless positivity and energy whenever they take the stage, making their show one you cannot miss if you're going to SXSW. Luckily, HINDS have a new album on the way, so they will be hitting the Austin pavement hard this week. See their packed schedule here.

For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, The Big Moon, Cherry Glazerr

Start With: "Bamboo," "Garden," and "New For You"

Liza Anne

Liza Anne's incredibly candid and raw songwriting style makes her music effortlessly relatable. The Nashville singer-songwriter's third album, Fine But Dying, showcases her vulnerability in the most beautiful way, and the eleven tracks remain cohesive while also exploring different sonic pallets. Her live shows take that authenticity and amplifies it in a stunningly captivating way, so don't miss your chance to see her in Austin.

For Fans Of: Japanese Breakfast, Tennis, Alvvays

Start With: "Small Talks," "Socks," "Paranoia"

There you have it! Again, don't forget to check out our Spotify list for even more recommendations. Also remember that these artists are all playing official showcases, but there's tons of unofficial showcases by both official and unofficial artists throughout the week. Keep your eyes on our social media for more unofficial suggestions, and make sure you check out Treehouse Records' showcase on 3/16 as well as all of the events put on by Howdy Gals here.

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Music
tags / SXSW, Preview, Music Festival, Post Animal, Liza Anne, HINDS, BAUM, The Nude Party, Acid Dad, Caroline Rose, Ron Gallo, Shame

LIVE: Against Me! With Bleached and The Dirty Nil

October 04, 2017 / Abraham Piña

Last Saturday, Concord Music Hall ended its night with a sea of crowd surfers floating to the thrash punk rifts of Against Me!

Earlier that night, the Canadian trio, The Dirty Nil, was the first of a three band act to perform at the Concord Music Hall. These guys aren’t your average opener. With their raw and ravishing vocals blended with their punk rock rifts, The Dirty Nil managed to pump the crowd up with songs off their new album Higher Power.

Next up, Bleached played more than just a solid set this night. The band delivered their new, deep-cut punk single “Can You Deal?" The crowd couldn’t help but jump around and sing along to it. From songs on their recent album Welcome The Worms to their single “Carter," the surf rock group expelled a high dose of stellar tunes into the muggy air of the sold out concert venue.

Finally, with the crowd screaming for more noise and sound, Against Me! walked on to the stage. A big portion of the crowd was made of mid to late twenty years olds. So when the band played “I Was a Teenage Anarchist” early off in their set, it certainly launched everyone back to being 17 and those accompanying feelings of rebellion. The band managed to cover a massive variety of their songs and exceeded the expectation of the audience. One of the biggest closing songs the band performed that night was “Thrash Unreal. In unison, the crowd yelled out the lyrics and then the chorus hit. From the sea of fans, the crowd surfers emerge and glide across the floor. The floor literally shook to its foundation to close out an unreal performance.

See all of Against Me!'s upcoming tour dates here, and listen to their latest album in full below!

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categories / Gigs, Music, Reviews
tags / Against Me!, Bleached, The Dirty Nil, Concord Music Hall, Concert Photography, Live music

PHOTOS: Loufest 2017

September 17, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

We had a blast at Loufest last weekend seeing some of our favorite artists perform across three stages. Read our Day 1 and Day 2 highlights, and now check out our full photo gallery from both days below.

Saturday gallery featuring Hippo Campus, Middle Kids, Ron Gallo, Cage the Elephant. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Snoop Dog.

Sunday gallery featuring Future Thieves, Mondo Cozmo, The Record Company, Lizzo, Noname, and Weezer.

Stay tuned for our interviews from Loufest!

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Music, Photos
tags / Loufest, Photo Gallery, Concert Photography, Middle Kids, Hippo Campus, Ron Gallo, Cage the Elephant, Snoop Dog, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Mondo Cozmo, Future Thieves, Lizzo, Noname, The Record Company, Weezer

LIVE: Middle Kids Bring Witty Banter and Sincere Songs to Lincoln Hall

September 08, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

This past Wednesday night, Aussie indie rockers Middle Kids brought both their sincere songs and witty stage banter to Lincoln Hall’s stage as part of WKQX’s Queued Up Artist Showcase. After Chicago’s own Glyders rocked the Lincoln Park concert venue, Middle Kids kicked off their roughly hour-long set with a new track from their upcoming debut album, called “On My Knees,” before moving into “Your Love” from the band’s debut EP. The latter, like most of Middle Kids’ EP, showcases lead singer Hannah Joy’s incredible vocal range and emotive tone that adds another layer to her intricate narratives.

Live, the band adds even more depth to their thoughtful and personal stories told in the songs, with Joy moving around on stage and jamming with bandmates Tim Fitz, Harry Day, and touring member Pete Covington. The energy built up during “Fire In Your Eyes,” which Joy told the crowd was the first song she and Fitz ever wrote, and “Old River,” which had Joy working the whole crowd and the band playing an extended jam during the bridge. The mood came to a hypnotizing lull for the next song, a piano ballad on the EP named “Doing It Right” that Joy reconstructed as a guitar ballad, performed as a solo on her part. The stripped back solo placed a weight of vulnerability on Joy, but she wrapped the crowd around her finger with the flawlessly fragile performance. The spell broke when the full band returned and Fitz delivered some banter about spit bubbles before diving into their viral track “Edge of Town,” which has been hyped by everyone...including Elton John. Joy prefaced another new song called “Don’t Be Hiding” by telling the crowd that their shows act as a little survey to test out the new ones. One final new tune trailed after “Never Start,” acting as an encore. The new song may have been the last, but instead of displaying any signs of exhaust for the prior performance, Joy’s voice remained resilient, weaving in and out of falsettos and powerful harmonies with her bandmates, while possessing a strong sense of conviction.

The Sydney trio had only made their Chicago debut earlier this year, but with the stellar show they put on at Lincoln Hall, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing lots more of Middle Kids soon.

Check out photos of Glyders and Middle Kids at Lincoln Hall, and catch them in a city near you soon! All tour dates can be found here.

Can't get enough Middle Kids? Listen to their debut EP below, and check out our interview with Hannah Joy here.

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categories / Reviews, Photos, Music, Gigs
tags / Middle Kids, Glyders, Chicago Local Music, Chicago Bands, Photos, Live, Review, Photo Gallery

Red Bull Sound Select Coming to Chicago in November

August 30, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

Red Bull Sound Select announced today that they are bringing their 30 Day Festival to Chicago in November. The stacked lineup of over 70 artists includes tons of Chicago artists, like Noname, Whitney, Eryn Allen Kane, NE-HI, Kweku Collins, and more! Check out more details below.

RBSS17_30DaysinCHI_STATICKEYART_FULLLINEUP_1024X1280_V2.png

All tickets for these shows are only $15, with a two ticket limit per event. Sign up here to get more information on each show, including times and venues. Tickets go on sale September 6th.

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categories / Gigs, Festival, Music
tags / Red Bull Sound Select, Chicago Bands, Live Music, New Show

LIVE: Marika Hackman Brings Her Latest Album to Life with The Big Moon at Schubas Tavern

August 13, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

This past Friday night at Schubas Tavern, Marika Hackman and The Big Moon created an IRL experience of Hackman’s latest album I’m Not Your Man. Released on June 2nd, the sophomore album from Hackman marks a departure and transformation for the formerly folk artist. Boosting blunt lyrics, lighter melodies, and a lax, carefree recording style, I’m Not Your Man takes listeners through a 15-song journey, featuring The Big Moon as the backing band for the majority of them. Before The Big Moon pulled their second shift of the evening, backing Hackman at the Lakeview venue, they had performed their own 45 minute set, which carried the same carefree mood of friendship that comes across on their recordings. In addition to songs from their debut album Love in the 4th Dimension, the group also performed a cover of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Between songs, the band kept the crowd laughing with a bit of sarcasm and banter, but the standout moment of their set occurred during their song “Bonfire.” Front woman Juliette (Jules) Jackson left the stage and abandoned her guitar to sing the song in the crowd.

The same banter and laughter only amplified when Hackman joined The Big Moon, but the focus of the night remained on the effortless musicianship displayed between the friends. The songs from I’m Not Your Man translated beautifully in the live sense, seeing as most of the album had actually been tracked live, with a minimal use of overdubs. Hackman’s hourlong set focused on the new album, with a couple of older tunes like “Cinnamon” and “Ophelia” sprinkled in. The direct, honest lyrics of tracks like “My Lover Cindy” and “Violet” had the crowd captivated and wrapped around Hackman’s finger. Prior to performing the latter, Hackman introduced “Violet” as a sexy song, encouraging the crowd to kiss their dates (only with consent) if they were feeling it. “Gina’s World” also stood out during the 11-song set, with its hauntingly heavy guitar riffs and striking harmonies, which echoed beautifully throughout the venue. Just before the set wrapped up with the dreamy melody of “BlahBlahBlah,” Hackman and The Big Moon performed the lead single from I’m Not Your Man, “Boyfriend.” The playful tune teased the light-hearted reinvention of Hackman before the release of the album, and it definitely acted as a highlight of the live show.

Photos: The Big Moon and Marika Hackman at Schubas 8/11/17

Marika Hackman and The Big Moon wrap up their US Summer Tour this week. See the remaining dates here, and stay tuned for our interview with Marika Hackman, coming soon!

Listen to I'm Not Your Man in full below.

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categories / Gigs, Music, Photos, Reviews
tags / Marika Hackman, The Big Moon, I'm Not Your Man, Love in the 4th Dimension, Schubas, Live Review, Photos, Concert Photography

LIVE: Barns Courtney Rocks Schubas on One Leg During His Lollapalooza Aftershow

August 08, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

This past weekend, singer songwriter Barns Courtney put on one of the rowdy, energetic performances that he’s become infamous for...only this time, he did it on one leg, while the other remained locked in a cast. Earlier this Summer, while Courtney was putting on one of those aforementioned wild performances, he jumped off the stage at Milwaukee’s Summerfest, right onto a slab of concrete. Instead of cancelling his upcoming tour and festivals appearances to heal his broken foot, Courtney decided to power through, and during Lollapalooza weekend, the singer performed three times in Chicago.

For his first performance, Courtney hit the stage at Schubas Tavern just past midnight, forgoing his crutches and hopping right up to his mic stand. From then on, it was full force for the next 60 minutes, while Courtney performed songs from his EP The Dull Drums, as well as some unreleased tracks from his upcoming album The Attractions Of Youth. Rather than stay stationary with his makeshift leg rest that was placed next to the mic stand, Courtney hobbled around the stage as he performed popular songs like “Glitter and Gold” and “Little Boy.” The energy ironically amplified during one of the unreleased tracks called “Kicks,” even though one of Courtney’s legs was out of kicking commission. Between songs, Courtney also rattled of some of his infamously raunchy stage banter, telling fans about a wild plane ride with his lady.

The rambunctious set came to an end with the crowd and Courtney giving it 1000 percent, the latter jumping offstage, cast and all, to dance with his fans. While the set may have come to an explosive ending around 1 AM, the night didn’t end there. Barns Courtney mustered all of his final strands of energy to bound offstage and collapse onto the sidewalk outside of the venue, where he hosted one of the most unconventional meet and greets we’ve seen.

Chicago! If you missed out on Lolla and the sidewalk meet and greet, Barns Courtney will be back (hopefully with two fully functioning legs) on October 11th with The Kooks. Grab tickets to their show at The Vic Theatre here, and see all of his upcoming tour dates here.

Can't get enough Barns Courtney? Check out our interview with him from Hangout Festival here, and listen to his latest single "Golden Dandelions" below!

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categories / Gigs, Music, Photos, Reviews
tags / Barns Courtney, Lollapalooza, Photography, Concert Photography, Music Festival, Photo Gallery

LIVE: Frenship at Park West 8.3.2017

August 06, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

LA duo James Sunderland and Brett Hite, AKA Frenship, and their live band hit the stage at Park West this past Thursday evening just after 11PM, as part of an official Lollapalooza aftershow with Tegan and Sara. Despite the late start of the show and the fact that some of the crowd had been watching music all day across Chicago's massive Grant Park, the room still buzzed with excited energy when the opening notes of Frenship's "Run Wild" rang out. The energy only amplified as the band performed some of their popular tunes like "Carpet" and "Knives," which featured Hite and Sunderland showing off some of their signature dance moves. As the set progressed, the duo worked the entire stage, quickly winning over the crowd at the intimate Lincoln Park venue. Towards the end of the set, the energy peaked when the keyboardist, Celeste, took center stage to sing Emily Warren's part of the band's viral song, "Capsize." The crowd sang along to its melodic and addictive track, remaining hooked as Frenship performed the final song of the evening, "1000 Nights."

Frenship will be on a headlining tour in select cities this fall--check out all of their upcoming shows here, and listen to their debut EP below.

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categories / Gigs, Music, Photos, Reviews, Festival
tags / FRENSHIP, Lollapalooza, Lolla, Live, Photo Gallery, Photography, Concert Photography

PHOTOS: Sports at Schubas 7.27.17

August 01, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

This past Thursday night, the Oklahoman boys of Sports had the crowd at Schubas Tavern instantly hooked with their dreamy, synth-heavy jams. The audience all packed into the front of the venue so as not to miss out on any of the action, which included some crowdsurfing from lead singer Cale Chronister. The night ended up closing out with a proposal right before the last song of the evening,"You Are The Right One" (so appropriate). Check out the full gallery of the show, including some shots of the happy couple!

Check out the rest of Sports' tour dates here, and listen to their new single "Crime" below!

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categories / Gigs, Music, Photos
tags / sports, Photography, Concert Photography, Schubas, Live Music

PHOTOS: Public at Schubas 7.25.17

July 27, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

Public is one of the most personable bands out there right now. If you come to their show, they want to know your story...what brought you to their music. They also want you to leave with something new; a takeaway from their live performance that you can't find anywhere else. And during their hour long set on Tuesday night at Schubas Tavern, the trio delivered exactly what they set out to at the start of tour; a unique experience that put each member of the audience in a better mood and higher spirits than when they entered the concert hall. By the end of the night, even the most tame members of the crowd had found themselves out of their chairs and dancing in the crowd.

Although the dancing reached its peak during the final song of the night "4Her," songs like "Pretty Face" and "Make You Mine" also had the crowd moving. In our interview before the show, frontman John Vaughn described his vision of their developed live show this tour, and their set went above and beyond what he explained. Before the trio played "Make You Mine," towards the end of the set, Vaughn gave the crowd some insight to his inspiration behind the song. These introductions occurred before most of the songs, acting as another way to keep the crowd engaged. The majority of the songs also featured special arrangements or extended jams between the band members that you can't hear on the EPs Sweet Lemonade or Let's Remake It. Mixing things up even more, the set also featured a very well-received cover of "Toxic" by Britney Spears.

If you're looking for a truly unique concert experience, make sure you go see Public on the remaining dates of their Sweet Lemonade Tour. You can see all of the tour dates here, and check out a photo gallery of their show below.