This weekend, the Chicago Psych Fest 2 at the Hideout has got fans of mind-expanding, mood-altering rock music heavy on ambient guitars and soundscapes more than covered. And we'd definitely wouldn't want to dissuade anyone from attending. However, for those music fans who might be less than impressed with Friday's lineup (for whatever reason, we're not here to judge), yet still want to brave the horrendous cold for some excellent experimental music, the Abbey Pub is the place to be Friday. more ›

The two shows we would have suggested be a part of your plans this weekend were Cold War Kids at The Vic and MOSDOOM at Congress, but one is sold-out and the other has been rescheduled. However, when things don't quite shake out the way we want them to, we know Chicago can always deliver an excellent Plan B. On Saturday, Plan B is Abbey Pub, where Hercules & Love Affair and Kid Color will spin DJ sets for your dancing pleasure. more ›

Eclectic rockers Camper Van Beethoven are celebrating 25 years of sporadic togetherness with a sprinkling of shows, including two in Chicago. Formed in the early 1980s in California, the band broke up in 1990 but not entirely -- they've gotten together several times since to perform and record. Recently CVB bassist Victor Krummenacher took some time post-gig to chat with us about the band's performances at the Abbey Pub. Tonight is the second and last show, so reschedule your bowling outing with the skinheads and don't miss out! McCabe and Mrs. Miller open. more ›

At the beginning of 2008, San Francisco's Birdmonster hadn't yet decided if they were a blog band or not. On 2006's No Midnight, the foursome walked a perfect domestic indie rock line of Americana bar band swagger and sweet California pop sing-alongs. The harmonies flowed, but their riverbed was gritty enough that the band's frantic energy seemed fresh-faced and earnest - like any hiccups were a result of their unbridled drive to get the music out of their heads and hearts and into your hands. more ›

The early 90's Riot Grrrl movement in Los Angeles and Minneapolis proved concretely that even though we like to paint our nails and smell nice, sometimes a girl just needs to rock. Girls Rock! Chicago camps are a non-profit organization offering area young ladies the opportunity explore self-expression through traditionally rock-oriented instruments and arrangements. It's a killer concept and one we wish had existed in suburban Wisconsin when we were slogging through our formative years. more ›

Looking for a great place to indulge in the Irish food classics and knock back a few pints? Head over to some of our favorites: more ›

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The Von Bondies play the Abbey Pub tomorrow night with SSM and Freer, 9:00 p.m., $12 advance/$15 day of. more ›

Chicagoist recently had a conversation with a friend about our favorite "Christmas albums without Christmas songs," records that remind us of the holiday season without being full of carols and borderline-obnoxious good cheer. Our consensus choice was Richard Hawley's Coles Corner, a sprawling exploration of the warmest, most soothing, and dreamiest echelons of the singer-songwriter tradition. more ›

What's coming up? Let's see. 2007 has been quite a year for the Cold War Kids, whose twangy indie rock has worked its way into the hearts of festival attendees across the world, playing everywhere from Lollapallooza to the Glastonbury Festival. If you’d rather see them up close and personal instead of surrounded by shirtless dudes holding plastic cups of beer, now’s your chance. Metro, Dec. 7, 6:30 p.m., $15, all ages. On sale at... more ›

Rocktober is truly upon us. Usually we would avoid such cutesy phrasing for fear of falling into obvious cliché, but this year truly holds some outstanding live music coming through Chicago in the month of October. Here's a sampling of what to expect this week. Honestly, we’re beginning that suspect that both Matt & Kim and Dan Deacon secretly have apartments in Chicago, because it feels like they’re playing here every other week. If that’s... more ›

Looking to go to Taste of Chicago and come away satiated, while having paid less than you would have inside the restaurant? It is possible — if you do your homework ahead of time. Or if you let the Sun-Times do it for you. more ›

The summer sun has rejuvenated the DDaN column, so we're clocking back with our thoughts on a few of the week's notable concerts. Tonight, if you didn't get invited to see Fall Out Boy, and you're not heading to Liar's Club to listen to (and to buy) the new Queens Of the Stone Age at midnight, might we recommend checking out The Hourly Radio at The Note? If you dig Placebo, and you haven't yet... more ›

Same story, different magazine. The July issue of Paste Magazine contains a list of what readers have deemed the country's best music venues. When Playboy had their say back in January, the editorial powers-that-be decided The Empty Bottle was in the top 10 best venues in the entire country. However, the readers of Paste beg to differ and have chosen Schubas as one of the best music venues in the Midwest. The list, which is... more ›

It seems like yesterday that Chicagoist got an excited email from a fellow Dinosaur Jr fanatic, which bore the news that one of our fav formative-years bands would be playing a three-night stand at the Abbey Pub this spring. Like an 80-degree day after a weeks of 50’s, the time is nigh and the choppin’ starts tonight. more ›

Memorial Day weekend is nigh! That means summer is officially here and girl-watching season is in full force. We thought we’d dedicate today’s EOYW to all the ladies who make summer worthwhile. Amanda Leigh Moore has been cultivating that girl next door image her entire life. We’re not sure how Mandy has managed to avoid the pitfalls of excess that other Hollywood divas her age seem to revel in, but this movie and television star... more ›

No one could ever say Limbeck doesn’t have a really fucking good time on stage. Beyond their blatantly catchy, Big Star-inspired twang take on the poppy gems the kids these days love, this band can’t seem to have a shit time if they tried - one of the best parts of seeing Limbeck live is that you’d swear they think every show is the best show they’ve ever played. more ›

Sorry about abandoning everyone. Work was killing us the last couple of Fridays. They’re leaving us alone since “the meltdown”, so we’re back now with tips on how to keep that wallet lean and mean. Friends and label mates of The Silversun Pickups, Sea Wolf will be hitting the Empty Bottle in about a month. All the ladies in L.A. are swooning over Alex Church, the only constant member of the band, which contains violins... more ›

Chicagoist is not easily star struck. We’ve done our fair share of entertainment-biz mingling, and the last time we remember getting that knot-in-stomach, sweaty-palm, motor-mouth anxiety about meeting a “star” was when a third-string catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers visited our 5th grade class to talk about staying off drugs and saying our “pleases” and “thank yous.” Imagine our surprise last March when the old nerves started to jangle at the prospect of meeting Rocky... more ›

Before we start celebrating St. Patrick’s Day or get too far in the zone on the NCAA action, there are a few shows going on sale that we would like to talk about. more ›

Another Friday, another snowstorm, another installment of Empty Out Your Wallet. This week we’re not so inclined to whip out the credit card as we have been in past weeks, but here we go. We honestly didn’t know these guys were still around writing songs for the Adult Contemporary crowd. Apparently, they are still popular enough to fill up the Vic. Five for Fighting is best known for "Superman (It's Not Easy)," which was the... more ›

We’re busy hitting “refresh” over and over again on Reuters in hopes that they will finally announce that rumoured Police reunion tour, but until that confirmation comes through, here’s some shows to keep us busy this week. Tomorrow night, Local H's Scott Lucas is getting together with a bunch of his musician pals at Debonair Social Club to bang out a set of covers in a low-key environment. This should prove to be a fun-filled... more ›

As we near the end of November and look to the winter, the on-sale listings begin to look a bit spare; only the hardiest of souls venture into a Chicago winter. The California band Curtains records for the Sufjantastic label Asthmatic Kitty. And while its sound resembles the delicate folk of his records, that’s like saying Rivers Cuomo and Ira Glass resemble each other because they both favor heavy glasses and sweaters. Curtains favors spare... more ›

Last week had us blind with excitement, but this week’s slate – aside from some sure things - has us cautiously optimistic. After emptying out our wallet this weekend, we’re grateful for tonight’s free Mixel Pixel show at Empty Bottle. We’re still on the fence about the band’s album Music For Plants, which swirls industrial dance grooves around shoegazer-y vocals and Nintendo-inspired keyboards. But it’s the kind of music that gives white kids permission to... more ›

Tuesday night at the Abbey Pub, we got to witness Ghostland Observatory in a smaller venue than their energetic show put on at ACL this year. Tuesday was the last night of their short two week tour, and they had sold out of all their merchandise and no one could grab the music of this band (sorry, it's not a band - it's an agreement between friends) out of Austin. We were thrilled to hear... more ›

Last week, we recommended catching this weekend’s Cold War Kids show at Hideout. You listened, because the show is sold out. But we’ve got our hands on a pair of tickets to the show and we’re giving them away to you!. As one of our commenters pointed out, Cold War Kids was on tour with The Futureheads with a stop at Metro planned for this Saturday before that tour was cancelled due to an injured... more ›

Speaking of on-location filming in Chicago, the Omaha, NE, band Tilly and the Wall recently filmed a video for “Sings Songs Along” in various locations around the city while they were here for a recent performance at Abbey Pub. Just in time for Halloween, the clip proves that zombies may be scary, but like the woman from the Don Henley song, all they want to do is dance. After being pelted by Halloween candy,... more ›

It's a fifteenth birthday party for Bettie Serveert! Haven't heard that name in a while? Since Belly and Superchunk were the bands of the day and Palomine came out? Well, relive the heyday of college radio with a show on Thursday night at the Abbey Pub. more ›

The last couple of years have seen the Canadian cities of Montreal and Vancouver acquiring reputations as hotbeds of indie rock. But the most recent northern export we’ve heard takes equal parts metal and Mountain and mixes it together to form a bluesy stew. We’re speaking here of Priestess. more ›