Press Release - 31 Aug 09

They plan to bare all for a worthy cause …and SouthSide means A L L, Fearless fans.

On September 5th, the band known as Reverie will perform bare-butt nude on the Elbo Room stage under one condition. She’ll get to that in one second. You see, it’s Brian Bender’s birthday bash on this date. It’s an annual fun fest of good music and shots. However this year he has one special wish – to sellout the Elbo Room. A feat never done before in Brian’s tenure at this venue. Well, that’s going to change on Saturday September 5th, 2009 SouthSide is calling all Fearless and Reverie fans` to help SELLOUT the Elbo Room! Bring your best friends and frienemies …moms, dads and grandparents …bring the entire family …invite anyone and everyone you know …hey drag a stranger off the street.

DO something …anything to help Reverie with this task. Please remember it’s an 21 + and older venue and show. Guess what – it’s only a mere $7 entry fee! You can’t get much with $7 these days but at this show, you’re going to hear some great local music. Besides bare-butt Reverie, the lineup includes Mason’s Case, Band Called Catch, and Digital Mindy. SouthSide suggests you stay for the special Chicago Noise Machine jam session to close out this birthday party. Who knows maybe Brian will be bare-butt nude on stage too.

Sorry, kiddies, this momentous event is not for your innocent eyes.

And don’t forget to bring PLENTY of batteries! Of course SouthSide will be there …you should too!

Help sellout the Elbo Room for Brian Bender!

Make this truly a night he’ll never forget.

For more information about this event, visit Elbo Room at www.elboroomchicago.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138800441424&ref=ts.

For more information about Reverie, visit this band at www.myspace.com/reverieone, www.reverieband.com or read their official blogspot at http://www.reveriebandchicago.blogspot.com.

Until next time, Fearless fans, support your local artists and music.

Peace
SouthSide

26 Aug 09

Hey, Fearless fans, there was a time when artists like Stevie Wonder, Barry White, and Marvin Gaye dominated the music charts. Their soulful R&B/funk sound especially in love ballads was the way to get your groove on. Well, SouthSide suggests checking out her friends, lo/fi pioneer. This local band brings back the old school sound with a slight modern twist for the new generation. They have been wowing audiences around town with their smooth R&B music. Recently, they performed at the Elbo Room in a soul/rock originators show sponsored by Maven. The lineup also included Empire Drift, Hershel Abram and Purpose.

Opening with a version of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, lo/fi wasted no time in getting the audience in the mood for some hot soul/funk music. SouthSide enjoyed how they took this popular funk-pop hit and flipped it in a smooth R&B groove. With Aryk’s vocals, this cover took a slow ride to another plateau that was pleasing to the ears. Add part of White Stripes’ 7 Nation Army in the middle – wow, Fearless fans, it was one hot beginning for this band. Somehow that pizzazz was lost in the middle of the performance. Not saying this reviewer didn’t enjoy hearing the classic lo/fi songs such as Got to Know or Thick. She liked the extended guitar riffs and instrumentals which allowed the audience to savor each sultry rhythm.

Yet SouthSide was waiting to be dazzled with more. The more being how this funk/soul/R&B band can take their music towards the next level. She does recommend their throwback 70s ballad style in Your Man. Ladies, this was the slow jam that you need to play during those romantic winter nights by the fire. Swoon if you must upon hearing Aryk’s vocals but it will be worth the extra kisses received with this song is over. Lots of passion …pizzazz from his voice could heard in this track. lo/fi’s final song, Ready, Set rocked out their performance. This was the “more” SouthSide was searching for them. This song had lots of funky rhythms to groove that the audience was ready for more.

If you want to get your groove on with a unique modern twist, check out lo/fi pioneer where R&B/soul never goes out of style. For more information about this local band, visit lo/fi at www.myspace.com/lofipioneer or www.lofipioneer.com.

Until next time, Fearless fans, support your local artists and music.

Peace
SouthSide

22 Aug 09

All good things must come to an end, Fearless fans. And that’s true for bands too. On Saturday, one local band performed its farewell show in front of a crowd of family, friends and fans of all ages. There were plenty of tears as well as cheers when A Birdsong Valentine said their final good-byes on the Metro stage. Also it was a somewhat joyous occasion for another band, Fearless fans. Everyone had an invite to Digital Mindy’s Nick’s wildest, non-wedding event of the summer season. It was to celebrate the release of Digital Mindy’s CD, Meet Mr. Agitator. This show also featured performances by Sinister Fate and The Glide.

SouthSide highly recommends checking the dark theatrics of Sinister Fate (www.myspace.com/sinisterfate or www.sinisterfate.com) at their next show. Everyday is Halloween with this band as the Metro stage dressed up in a cemetery theme with tombstones and heads on a pike. Though their opening performance was a tad short, SouthSide was completely wowed by it. Plan on a full review of this band in the near future, Fearless fans. Also she recommends checking out the funky disco/pop rock sounds of The Glide (www.myspace.com/theglidemusic or www.theglidemusic.com). Their having a record release show on September 19th at Reggie’s with friends, Professor Kliq (www.professorkliq.com or www.myspace.com/professorkliq), in the lineup. That should be one hot rockin’ show, Fearless fans.

Saying “good-bye” is so hard to do especially when performing your final show. A Birdsong Valentine chose Saturday, August 22 as the day to give their loyal fans and friends a fond farewell. It would be a total lost if you missed this show before they walked off the stage into history. Out of the many shows, SouthSide has seen and reviewed this local band, they truly saved the very best for the last. Performing fan favorites like Sink or Swim, The One and I Am, guest musicians like Dan Goltz (on guitar) and Leonard Warren (on drums from Lucid Ground) helped make this last show extra special. They celebrated the band’s end with a huge love fest during the final song. Then one final bow for the crowd and then it was over. Yet don’t despair, my loyal Fearless fans. SouthSide believes one day A Birdsong Valentine or a different version of it will rise again. Everyone needs to take a break sometimes and/or try something new. That’s what this reviewer believes Brian, Chris and Oscar are doing. She doesn’t want to believe A Birdsong is completely done. There are more ABV songs yet to be heard and performances to be reviewed. However, please remember, this only one person’s opinion …so she could be wrong. SouthSide personally is going to miss this legendary local band and the fun times she had reviewing and snapping photos of them. No one will ever replace the gut busting screams of Brian, Oscar’s so cool guitar riffs or Chris’ martial arts-like moves on stage while playing the bass. Thanks for the memories, guys. As mentioned earlier, it would be shame if you missed this show, Fearless fans. For more information about A Birdsong Valentine, visit www.abirdsongvalentine.com or www.myspace.com/abirdsongvalentine.

The stage was now set for a wedding. There was a best man and groom however where was the bride? Oops, she turned out to be a zombie, Fearless fans, and sadly Digital Nick quickly dumped her before the kiss. It was the wedding that almost happened as Digital Mindy celebrated the release of its first CD, Meet Mr. Agitator. Legions of their fans packed the Metro to witness the unwedded bliss unfold on screen. After the mini comic book style movie, the band got down to business by opening with the gloomy End of the World. There were random images from movies (i.e. Nosferatu and Hellbound: Hellraiser 2) and video to add more depth to Mindy’s songs. Plus there was sexy eye candy during Drama Queen as choreographed dancers charmed the stage. The highlight of the set was when Brian Bender (of A Birdsong Valentine) joined them for a couple of songs. He added some sexy moves and screams in the chorus to Popular. SouthSide enjoyed new song, Piece of Time, off the new EP as well as her favorite, Mr. Agitator. Overall this was a fantastic and fun Digital Mindy performance. Emo, vamps and tramps will love the dark ambience this band performs under in each show. SouthSide highly recommends Fearless fans checking out this band or snagging a copy of thief CD for their collection. For more information about Digital Mindy, visit them at www.digitalmindy.com or www.myspace.com/digitalmindy.

Until next time, Fearless fans, support your local artists and music.

Peace
SouthSide