There will be swoon, and velvety darkness, and an epic reach to the music. After all, these traits have been common to the Dears over the Montreal group's four full-length albums. But there might be a few surprises tonight, too, considering that founder and frontman Murray Lightburn has seen a nearly wholesale shift in his supporting lineup since the recording of Missiles (Dangerbird), the band's latest. (The Dears kick off nearly a month of touring with this Lakeshore Theater gig.) Internal squabbles aside, the live setting suits their music, which is forever searching for a way to breathe life into the ether. Plus, there's like seven musicians in this band now, so there's always something to look at. Is that a harmonium? more ›

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We've already tripped all over ourselves about how terrific Great Northern is. In fact, here's a sampling of our past praise: more ›

You'd think after a certain busy weekend, we'd be all music-ed out by now, right? Wrong. Especially when tonight holds an astounding bill co-headlined by The Comas and Great Northern. In one sense the line-up couldn't be more polarized since one band comes from L.A. with a lushly grand sound and the other from New York — loud, and prone to spastic freakouts. But, in truth, both bands strive for a similar sense of beauty at the core of all their songs. more ›

Most of us are familiar with the St. Paul-based Summit Brewing Company through either their Extra Pale Ale or their Hefe Weizen, the latter of which sells so well that Summit brews it for the Chicago market year-round. Chicago is the only market that Summit makes this concession. more ›