Coming Up For Air

Sleigh Bells
Photo by George Aye

I'm usually a little late in getting my posts up after a show, especially a three-day marathon like Pitchfork Music Festival, but here it is, my full weekend review on Gapers Block. It was a hot one to say the least, but it was another successful weekend of fun, friends and of course, kick ass bands.

Be sure to check out all of Lisa's Conversations At Pitchfork too, accompanied by some amazing montage portraits from our photographer, George Aye.

Now it's back to the grindstone to prepare for Lollapalooza in less than three weeks!

Sweet Treat Pitchfork Night

Lisa and I had so much fun at Sweet Treat last night playing tunes from current and past Pitchfork Music Festival artists. Thanks to everyone who came out! Here is our setlist to prepare you for the (HOT) weekend, and reminisce about years past.

Animal Collective - My Girls
Beach House – Norway
Broken Social Scene – Forced to Love
Free Energy - Dream City
Vampire Weekend – A-punk
Matt & Kim - Daylight
Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move
Neon Indian – Deadbeat Summer
Netherfriends – Bret Easton Ellis Novel
Beirut – Postcards from Italy
Spoon – I Summon You
St. Vincent – The Apocalypse Song
Why? – One Rose (Atlas Remix)
The Mae Shi – See You Again
Bear In Heaven – Wholehearted Mess (Pink Skull Remix)
Lindstrom and Christabelle – Baby Can't Stop
Junior Boys – In The Morning
Cut Copy – Lights and Music
Fujiya & Miyagi – Collarbone
CSS - Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above (Spank Rock remix)
Delorean – Deli
Big Boi – General Patton
Battles – Leyendecker
!!! – Pardon My Freedom
Girl Talk – Play Your Part (Pt. 1)
Jamie Lidell – When I Come Back Around
Titus Andronicus – My Time Outside The Womb
Modest Mouse - Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
Sonic Youth – Silver Rocket
Pavement – Unfair
The Flaming Lips – Unconsciously Screamin’
Clipse - When The Last Time
Major Lazer – Hold The Line
Cool Kids - Basement Party
LCD Soundsystem – Time To Get Away
Sleigh Bells – Riot Rhythm
Dâm-Funk – A Day at the Carnival
Robyn – Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do
Of Montreal – Gallery Piece (Jon Brion Remix)
Lightning Bolt - Magic Mountain
The Apples in Stereo – Can You Feel It
The Black Lips - Veni Vidi Vici (Diplo Remix)
Liars – Plastic Casts of Everything
Klaxons – It’s Not Over Yet
De La Soul – A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays
Grizzly Bear – Knife (Girl Talk Remix)
Tortoise – Prepare Your Coffin
M83 – Don’t Save Us From The Flames
Voxtrot – The Start of Something
Os Mutantes – A Minha Menina

Make Friends With Netherfriends

I've been busy gearing up for Pitchfork this weekend, but I wanted to take a minute and highlight one of the bands I'm previewing for the fest on Gapers Block, Netherfriends. Shawn Rosenblatt is one of the bands in that very first one o'clock slot on Saturday (and unfortunately up against Free Energy in the other one). Right now he's in the middle of his 50 songs 50 states tour, basically couch surfing and writing and recording a song in each state. Take a listen to his song "Bret Easton Ellis Novel" below. (Yes, THAT Bret Easton Ellis.)

Bret Easton Ellis Novel from Shawn Rosenblatt on Vimeo.

Boy-Band

I saw Rush last night. I liked them, but not near as much as everyone around me. I haven't been to a concert like that in a long time, where almost everyone is wearing the band's t-shirt, and you almost question whether the people who aren't in the band's tee are real fans.

Here are some of Tankboy's photos from the evening on Northerly Island.

Let's Party!

Today is Tankboy's birthday. Happy Birthday Tankboy! You look great for 24 again!

It's also Sweet Treat Wednesday, so come by Beauty Bar early for the party where I'll be playing some of Tankboy's favorite songs! Expect lots of Blur, Bowie, Flaming Lips, and maybe I'll even play something from that Fun. band...maybe.

I'm A Geek

I just pre-ordered of Montreal's new album False Priest on 2xLP because it comes in red vinyl that is limited to 2000 copies. I am a nerd. I was already looking forward to the release, but I think what pushed me over the edge was an email that Tankboy just got from their publicist gushing about how good and different this album is. Hey, it's only 20 bucks and it comes with tons of free stickers when you pre-order (NERD!). Oh look, there's even a countdown clock on the album download page: only 66d : 12h : 10m until it's available for download. Sheesh.

If you want a preview, you can download the first single "Coquet Coquette" for free right now on Polyvinyl's website.

"Spinderella Cut It Up One Time"

Normally I avoid the Taste of Chicago like the plague. In my mind sweat and crowds and food should not mix (I was scarred on my first visit years ago by a large sweaty man in a sleeveless shirt, and a turkey leg). But, one thing the Taste does have is music (and from what I remember the stages are sufficiently separated from the food portion), and tonight, beginning at 6:20pm, Salt-n-Pepa take the stage, followed by Bell Biv Devoe. Most bands that usually play fests like this I could take or leave, but something is telling me that I should see Salt-n-Pepa at least once in my life.

The taste continues through July 4. Wondering if there any other acts worth seeing? Download their kick ass app here to have the full schedule at your fingertips.