Pyyramids produce dark tinted post-punk music that recalls the menacing mood of Joy Division and the lively agitation of The Cure circa Boys Don’t Cry. more ›

We're co-hosting a listening party for the new Interpol album tonight at The Burlington from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. and PBR is being kind enough to provide a hosted bar for all attendees during that time! more ›

We're having a listening party for the new self-titled album from Interpol at The Burlington in Logan Square this Friday, September 3, at 9 p.m. Of course we realize that it ain't a party if you don't have booze to offer, so PBR will provide free PBR to all attendees from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. We decided to help host this evening and give our readers the chance to come on in to meet up and chat while enjoying some free beers and some good music. We hope to see you there! more ›

Interpol never seemed to suffer much from the endless comparisons made between them and Joy Division—or more pointedly, the contention that they were skinny tie knock-off of Joy Division. Their 2002 debut, Turn On the Bright Lights, proved to be intimate-yet-epic, slightly paranoid, urgent, and was roundly well-received. After Bright Lights, the band’s popularity grew at a steady clip, with a strong sophomore album, buzz-generating features on the TV series The O.C. (and subsequent inclusion on the soundtrack), and a headlining slot at Lollapalooza. Then came the jump to a major-label and with it, the slight turn of a corner, musically. more ›

Julian Plenti is actually Interpol's Paul Banks and, unsurprisingly his debut Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper sounds a lot like, well, Interpol. There is a difference though. Interpol, as their career has progressed, has continued to paint themselves into a corner, creating work that was ever more mannered and ever more lacking in any breathing space or spontaneity. Banks doesn't exactly break the mold on his solo debut, but he has recaptured some of the swing that made Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights such a pleasure to listen to. more ›

Halloween's on a Wednesday this year, which leaves much confusion about when to celebrate. We say go for broke and make it a Saturday-Wednesday free for all, ending at Schubas with San Franciscan angular rockers Film School, on the road to promote their latest release, Hideout. Rumor has it they'll be going as the Cure and Joy Division ... oh wait, that's every day. Throw in a little Interpol riffage and some swirling, My Bloody Valentine-indebted layers of ambient guitar and you're ready to sit at the head of this class. more ›

Things slow down a little this week, but not by much. In fact, the only upswing to this week's slightly lighter musical calendar is that it doesn't force us to make as many tough decisions as last week! Apollo Sunshine is steeped in the psych-pop of the '60s, and we admit it's beginning to feel like we've been waiting since that decade for a proper follow-up to their last album. Maybe folks checking out their... more ›

Each morning we're going to highlight five bands playing at Lollapalooza that we think are worth seeing. Some will be popular, some less known, but we believe they're all worth your time. And for those not making it to the festival itself, we'll round it out with an additional show going on after the grounds close down for the evening. Matt & Kim Bouncy, jouncy, fun, and happy, Matt & Kim are just the sort... more ›

The weekend is here, and for many that means packing up the available vehicle and getting out of the city. If camping or fishing or what have you aren’t your style, make a city-to-city musical jaunt up to Milwaukee. Kick it off with a mix of solid Mil-town artists like the Violent Femmes, The Promise Ring, and The Obsoletes for the 90 minute ride and get ready to discover that Milwaukee’s music scene proves that... more ›

The day is finally here! We get to mark up the schedule, fight with our friends over who to see, and determine what time we have to wake up to make it down to Grant Park. The Lollapalooza schedule is finally out. Also, if a three-day pass seemed excessive, the single day tickets are now on sale for $80. Which headliner will make the previously unconvinced head to the festival? Will it be Daft Punk... more ›

It’s that time again where we decide what to do with all this cash burning a hole in our pocket. Rufus Wainwright will be performing at Ravinia towards the end of the season. He’s been the darling of the critics for a long time now and it’s not just because of his musical pedigree. Release the Stars is due out May 15 – plenty of time to learn all the new songs to swoon to... more ›

Breaking the law, breaking the law We -ist folks love us some crime, and no misdemeanor is too petty for a post on any of our sites. This week, join us for a rogues' gallery of miscreants major, minor, and alleged. Gothamist gets us started with "Law & Order", muppet style. Oh, you know what isn't a crime? Taking pictures on the MTA. So, why are cops stopping photographers? In other Gotham crime, a... more ›

You would be totally forgiven for being so over that whole neu-New Wave/Joy Division/dance-rock trend that has gripped hipsters from coast to coast for the past couple of years. We wouldn’t hold it against you. Like any trend, this one was kicked off by a handful of talented groups that were eclipsed all too soon by a deluge of recent label signings motivated by the need to jump on the bandwagon before the tires blew... more ›

Last night at the Double Door Chicagoist checked out The Stills along with a capacity crowd. The Stills will be coming back this summer to play the Intonation Music Fest and we thought this would be a good time to see what we can expect from that weekend of music. more ›

Chicagoist's attempts at a good time at Q101's Block Party this weekend were thwarted by two things we expect to encounter at sporting events, not live shows: homophobia and long beer lines. more ›

On everyone's list for great Chicago concerts of the summer is the Q101 Block Party (Day 1) featuring Queens of the Stone Age (9:15 pm), Interpol (7:45 pm), and Hot Hot Heat (6:30 pm). more ›

If you’re unable to find your local music geek today, try checking their bedroom.  They’ll likely be there with a monster set of headphones and listening to an album that is spoken of in the most reverential tones this side of your local monastery: Brian Wilson’s Smile.  The former Beach Boy’s “lost masterwork” goes on sale today for the first time since it was conceived of more than 37 years ago.  more ›

It�s summertime in Chicago and that means (at least) one thing: street fairs! That�s right, rub elbows (often literally) with your Windy City brethren and �enjoy� over-priced, reheated food and watered down beer, all for the measly price of a �suggested donation.� To you and Chicagoist, that means free. (There was a great article in the Reader last year about how, no, you don�t have to pay for street fairs because they�re on public property. So don�t let those intimidating security guards strong-arm or guilt-trip you.) The real reason to check out the festival circuit every summer, though, is the chance to see some incredible bands for very little money. Last summer, for example, Chicagoist saw strong performances from acts like Spoon, Hot Hot Heat, and Interpol at street fairs. more ›