07/08/00 ~ Nite ~ An overview of last night's show, many new links and shows, and guaranteed future adventures
If you are half as sick of this graphic-less vista as I am, you will be overjoyed a week or so from now when the good camera comes back and I put some new stuff up on the site.
Regardless, I saw TR, The Del Rey and Engine Down Friday nite. John Heisel hosted the event and deserves some credit for opening his home and keeping the police at bay. People can say what they will about smaller shows, but I love the atmosphere, and I really prefer them over the many big smokey rawk shows I attend.
TR does the political grindcore thing. Sure, I agree with a lot of their subject material (anti-racism, anti-homophobia, etc.) but isn't this the same stuff hardcore bands have been preaching for the past 20-odd years? Clearly it is still important, but don't bands need to find new ways to present this stuff to keep it relevant?
The Del Rey hails from Chicago and plays sort of mathy Chicago-style rock. They do not sing and yet lack many of the trappings of other instrumental bands (more quiet parts, effects, unusual insturments) are missing. Not a problem or anything, they just sort of sounded like a sharp, technically-apt post-hardcore band whose singer was gone for the day.
Engine Down played a shorter set as the police moved in to shut down the show. The moodier side of math-tinged rock with nice vocal interplay (think Insidious) between the three frontmen.
Anyway John is dong some neat shows in the future two. Saddle-creek rockers Cursive are coming through in two weeks, and anyone not going to see The Faint and Q and not U on August 3rd should definitely head down to B-N to see Milemarker and Aloha.
Links
NPR online: Public radio with some useful (and sometimes strange) programming.
Phone spell: Find out what words and phrases your phone number spells. Better yet, reverse the process and find out what numbers you need to spell certain messages.
Billboard: Music news, music reviews.
Battlestar Galactica: If Monday's 18-hour marathon somehow left you unsatisfied, this is the place for more information on everyone's favorite 70's sci-fi serial.
Seven wonders of the ancient world: Different than the ones I have traditionally heard. Great links to all sorts of modern "wonders."
Bob Dylan: Nearly 40 years and still going strong.
The Birthday Party: Decent informational site for my favorite Australian band.
Engine Down: Virginian posty rockers currently touring the country under bright lights.
Shows (-) and other events (~). If no time is mentioned, it is a most likely a six or seven p.m. thing.
July:
9 ~ "The Straight Story" - Normal theater in Normal, IL
10 - Party of Helicopters, Atom Bomb Pocket Knife - Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL
- The Eternals / Woodcult (aka Tortoise) - The Highdive in Champaign, IL
13 ~ (thru 14) "Easy Rider" - Normal theater in Normal, IL
14 - First Grade Crush, Motion City Soundtrack (x-Animal Chin), Face First - Scrap Skate Park in Hoffman Estates, IL
- (5 p.m.) Album Leaf, The Mercury Program - Reckless Records in Chicago, IL
- (10 p.m.) The Motion, Lupine, The Album Leaf, Slotcar - Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL
15 - (5 p.m.) Hot Stove Jimmy, Horace Pinker, Wafflehouse, Spare Change 00 - Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL
- (9 p.m.) Don Caballero, Dianogah, Cap Au Gris - Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL
20 - (10 p.m.) Mens Recovery Project, Oxes, Har Mar Superstar - Fireside Bowl in Chicago, IL
21 - The Vida Blue, The Banned, The North Atlantic, Fifth Place - 606 W. Hovey apt. #8 in Normal, IL
~ Ernest Hemingway's birthday
22 - Cursive, tba - 111 E. Division in Bloomington, IL