Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
Ah, late February in Chicago. Cubs tickets go on sale today, there's a forecast for a high temperature above 35 degrees next week, and thousands of indie rock kids around Chicago will soon be shedding their parkas for high-priced hoodies bought from Wicker Park boutiques (tip: ours cost us $12 at Target!) for several worthwhile shows around the Chicago area. Lots of tickets go on sale this weekend. So, despite this crappy weather, there is, in the words of Spoon, "something to look forward to."
To wit: Bearded badass Sam Beam brings his rastafolkian stylings of Iron & Wine back to the Windy City just a few months after last hitting up Chicago. Still touring in support of last year's outstanding record, "The Shepherd's Dog," Beam and band will be blessing us with not one but TWO shows later in the spring with Chicago band Califone.
The Vic, April 21-22, 7:30 p.m.. $23, On sale Saturday 2/23 at 10am via Ticketmaster
Remember the Elephant 6 enclave? We sure do. We get wistful remembering lazy spring Saturdays in our college dorm room in the late '90s, laying on our bean bag chairs, windows open, sipping a Natty Light (hey, we couldn't be THAT classy) and listening to the pop magnificence of those bands. While the Elephant 6 may no longer by the Justice League of Indie Rock, the bands are still alive and kicking. Elf Power, those giants of power pop (Elf? Giants? Get it? Man, we crack ourselves up) breezes into town with Big Buildings.
Subterranean, April 11, 9:30 p.m., $10, On sale Saturday 2/23 at 10 a.m. via TicketWeb
If you're more of a grimy underground hip-hop listener, we've got you covered on that, too. Superproducer El P makes his way up here later this spring. In tow is London's Dizzee Rascal, one of our new favorite MC's since hearing "Fix Up, Look Sharp" a few years back, and L.A.'s Busdriver. There will be beats, beers, and b-boyz galore.
The Abbey, May 15, 9 p.m., $20, 18+, On sale now via TicketWeb
My Chemical Romance is coming. Who cares?
Congress Theater, April 17, $33.50, On sale Saturday 2/23 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster
Styx? Now THAT's more like it. Come sail away.
The Vic, April 14, 7:30 p.m., $50, On sale Saturday 2/23 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster
Finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't remind you of the mega-super-duper-ultra all star show featuring The Police and Elvis Costello & The Imposters. As for Sting & The Gang, we've grown a little weary of hearing "Roxanne" so many times. Now Costello's "Radio Radio"? We could listen to that all damn day.
Allstate Arena, May 10, $50 - $250, On sale Monday 2/25 at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster
Iron & Wine image via their MySpace page
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Spoon tickets for their show at the Vic in April went on sale this morning, and appear to have sold out in under an hour.
Sadness.
You cannot stop Sam Beam's hairflow.
Beam used to live in Florida and now lives in Texas. I just wonder how he handles the heat with that massive beard.
"Bearded Badass"...
You've heard his music, right? It's the twee warblings of a sensitive hipster. The beard is there to catch his tears.
Badassness is in the eye of the beholder.
Other things Mr. Gilmer finds "badass":
- Vespas
- His "Precious Moments" collection
- Mini-Quiches
- His new moisturizer that smells like Cotton Candy
(In fairness, I like Iron and Wine too, I just have to mix in some Mastadon and old N.W.A. tracks to prevent my testicles from retreating into my body cavity)
You forgot "anything with Hello Kitty on it."
I admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for many things "twee" but I do enjoy cranking up some Black Keys or Dr. Dre every now and then to boost my musical masculinity.
That said, the last two Iron & Wine shows I've seen have been surprisingly "loud" at times.
Black Keys and Dr. Dre are about as masculine as a pregnancy test, FYI.
I have that hoodie. It'd be way sweeter if the zipper didn't get all warped and rumply, making me look like I have boobs, a gut, or a boner at any given moment, or all 3.