New mixtape of cover songs from Bastille
Reader Find
I’m in the middle of making our album and started to get a bit worried about how long it had been since we had released something. Mark, the guy who I’m making the album with, had always wanted to make a mixtape, so we decided to do an album of covers. I had done a cover of City High’s What Would You Do? at the end of last year and it got a good response. I’d also been listening to The Weeknd and Frank Ocean a lot, and we wanted to put out something that was as easy to get hold of — and hopefully somewhere near as good — as their mixtapes.
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Old school illustrations by Travis Lampe
Reader Find
Chicago-based artist and illustrator Travis Lampe’s work is highly influenced by the old-timey cartoons and animations. Despite the fact that unicorns and rainbows are a big part of his visual imagery, his works are usually pretty sad, but in a fun kind of way.
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Behind the scenes video: Oak Street Bootmakers
Reader Find
When Oak Street Bootmakers owner George Vlagos was in college, he couldn’t find a high-quality, handsewn shoe made in America that he liked or could afford. So like a good cobbler’s son, he went about making his own. He sourced leather from legendary Chicago tannery Horween, picked up a batch of Vibram Christy soles, and [...]
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Netherfriends: Bret Easton Ellis Novel
Reader Find
Does Chicago based Netherfriends sound like America? Or does America sound like Netherfriends? The first LP from the tracks written and recorded from their 50 States 50 Songs tour has recently been released by Kilo Records.
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Screen-printed posters by Sonnenzimmer
Reader Find
Sonnenzimmer is the Chicago-based studio of artists Nick Butcher and Nadine Nakanishi. While their work has mostly been screen-printed posters, the thing that separates them from the herd of ubiquitous gig poster designers is the fact that most of their prints begin life as paintings, and often could be easily mistaken as such.
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Chicago Mixtape
Reader Find
Chicago Mixtape is the brainchild of Casey Meehan. Subscribers receive an email every week that includes a free mix tape of Chicago bands with upcoming shows in the city. The service keeps your iTunes fresh with trending music. In addition, Chicago Mixtape holds a live music series that features mix tape alumni at some of [...]
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Gonzo Chicago: documenting the local music community
Reader Find
Every rock band worth its drumsticks has crammed onto moist rugs in the corner of damp basements to play through questionably grounded amplification for dozens of overzealous under-agers spilling piss-water beer onto any gear that still works. It is the most inspired and enjoyable time in a band’s existence. Gonzo Chicago documents these moments and [...]
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Chicago band Mutts with their song Pray for Rain
Reader Find
Chicago’s Mutts have just released their first full-length, Pray for Rain. The album’s call to arms is band leader Mike Maimone’s Tom Waits-style growl, which is accompanied by fuzzed-out organ, greasy guitar hooks and brutal drumming.
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Chicago band Bailiff: Little By Little live at Pritzker Pavilion
Reader Find
In early 2011, I met fellow Chicagoans Bailiff through our mutual friend and engineer, Jon Alvin. We share a love for the blues and rock & roll, but cook them with different recipes. I feel blessed to guest with them on occasion, and learn something every time we hang out. I was moved during this [...]
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Matt Woodward
Reader Find
While observing my surroundings in Chicago, I sometimes long to see the decaying structures we’ll abandon once our planet gets rid of us. Matt Woodward’s ominously oversized works help ease this unrealizable urge. When I see them, I’m standing on the quark-sized speck where optimism converges with reality.
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Beautiful watercolours by Emily Fundis
Reader Find
Emily Fundis grew up in Nashville before moving to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute. While she also enjoys drawing, it’s her watercolor paintings of wildlife that really jumped out and grabbed my attention. I’m a big fan of the Red Fox in particular.
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Sandman Viper Command: Yo Bobcat
Reader Find
Burlington, Ontario natives Sandman Viper Command destroy the competition when it comes to bluesy garage pop. My first experience with them was during our second trip to play NXNE 2011 in Toronto, Canada. As it goes with most city music festivals that feature a marathon of bands, I stumbled in on these guys because the bar they were playing at offered free booze.
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Audiotree: unearthing the best new Chicago bands
Reader Find
Audiotree is one of my favorite companies to discover new music. Based out of Chicago, the company wears many belts, including live sessions, band interviews, sponsorships and artist management. Since the recent inception of the company, they have interviewed and recorded a hundred great bands and counting, both local to Chicago and touring acts.
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Home For The Holidays Surprise
Reader Find
With Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and Musical Director Paul Mirkovich at the helm, T-Mobile surprises shoppers at the Chicagoland area’s Woodfield Mall with a surprise performance and updated spin on the holiday classic, (There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays.
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Moderne Wood Animals
Reader Find
Inspired by the 30,000-year-old Chauvet Cave paintings in France, Chicago-based designers Linnea Gits and Peter Dunham have created these Moderne Wood Animals.
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