February 2013

Hey, blogspot readers, still snowless in Chicago as we quickly approach February! Besides being the shortest month out of the year featuring Mardi Gras debauchery, (anti) Valentines romance and President's Day, there are plenty of shows you should check out around Chicago or even as far away as Australia. Please note: all shows are 21+ unless stated otherwise.

Every Wednesday during this month at Elbo Room – it’s the FREE local showcase

Feb 1:

Metro – Bambi Raptor along with Mike Golden & Friends, Katz Company, The Ivorys and Blood Red Boots will be rockin’ the stage.

18+ / $6 adv ($10 dos)

Shrine – Shabazz Palaces, Illuminati Congo and Morris are scheduled to perform

For tix visit – http://www.ticketdriver.com/shrine

Mackey’s Hideout – Joe Marcinek Band featuring Mattas and Janis of Family Groove Company will be here

FREE

SubT (Subterranean) – Private Instigators will be rockin’ the stage

Jackpot Music Hall (Lawrence, KS) – Illphonics along with Scripts-n-Screwz and the Phantom will be rockin’ the stage

18+ / $5

Elbo Room – Sonic Pistol returns to rock you face off along with Funbrella and Lighten Up!

$10

Greenhouse Theater – The Kiss Kiss Cabaret 2nd Anniversary show (and also Ramona Mourir’s birthday too). This event hosted by Max & Les Flattery will be celebrating 2 years of wild burlesque and crazed vaudeville entertainment

Feb 2:

The Blue Fugue – Illphonics will be here along with another band tba later

The 5 Spot (Nashville, TN) – check out The Bright White’s live performance here

Goose Island Wrigleyville – it’s a Hero Monster Zero Birthday BYOB* Party! Celebrate with Andy and Chris as they turn 28 rockin’ with Local Motive, The Cooks and Sweet Diezel Jenkins featuring DJ Funktopus

$8

*Bring Your Own Ballons

Schuba’s Tavern – Common Shiner will be celebrating the release of Before They Sold Out (part 2) album featuring The Pomegranates

Ultra Lounge – Groundhog Day Deja 2 featuring Stoplight Jones, Jet W Lee and Big Black Bird

Fitz’s Spare Keys – Stubhy and Adam of Lucky Boys Confusion will be performing

Cobra Lounge – Sexy Baby Record’s presents Vindictives Bible School, Stat Dad, Modern Day Rippers, Ridgelands and Adam Widener on stage

Feb 4:

Reggie’s – The Andreas Kapsalis and Goran Ivanovic Guitar duo along with Bryan Rason

Feb 6:

Schuba’s Tavern – Filligar with Taddy Porter will be performing here

AA

Ultra Lounge - check out Hunter Valentine, The Wanton Looks and The Cathy Santonies rockin' this Logan Square venue
8p

Feb 7:

Double Door – check The Private Instigators at this show

Feb 8:

Ultra Lounge – check out What It Do! performing live

Apollo Fine Arts & Entertainment Centre (Peoria, IL) – The Great I Am’s CD Release party featuring Ahmadahere

$15 (admission includes free album download – save Apollo tix for admission to after party at Shifters)

Underground Wonder Bar – check out the France Jean-Baptiste & the Sexy Menz reunion show

Feb 9:

Live Wire Lounge – A.S.S., Radio Creeps, Praise The Fallen, Severed Tether (and 1 more band TBA) will be rockin’ the stage

Young Avenue Deli (Memphis, TN) – The Great Barrier Reefs along with Kaleidophonix will be rockin’ the stage here

Record Bar (Wesport, KS) – Alice Sweet Alice, Alice 102 and Kansas City Local Artists present ASA Masquerade – Mardi Gras 2013! Attendees are encouraged to come with masks and/or costumed attire. Music lineup features Mad Libby, The Clementines. Red Velvet Crush, Molly Picture Club and of course, Alice Sweet Alice

$8 adv / $10 @ dos

Visit http://www.alicesweetalice.com/asaevents for more information

Red Line Tap – God Bullies front man Mike Hard along with Rollo Tomasi and the Polymer Twins will be performing live here

Feb 10:

Ravinia (at Bennett Gordon Hall) – it’s the 6th Annual Discover National Chamber Music Competition. This event is designed to provide an educational as well as competitive experience for pre-college chamber ensembles in 12th grade and younger.

Visit http://www.mya.org/chambercomp or email - benrusch@mya.org if you have any questions

Feb 11 & 12:

Elbo Room – KMA Management presents Battle of the Bands to SXSW in Austin, TX

$10

Feb 13:

United Center - attention all little monsters, Mother Monster aka Lady Gaga will be bringing her Monster Ball here for two sold out shows starting tonight.

Feb 14:

Liar’s Club – it’s the Anti-VD show featuring Napervillains, MILFs, Underground Day 1 and Panzer live on stage

Feb 15:

Nowhere Bar and Terrapin Brewing Co (Athens, GA) – Great Barrier Reefs returns for an Athens double banger! First at Terrapin Brewing Co from 5:30p – 7:30p and then at Nowhere Bar 10p until ?

NO COVER both shows

River Rockhouse – Spyderbone featuring Sparkplug Assassins, Stonewave and Simple Simon on stage

$5

Elbo Room – Peter Terry & The City Profits, Kelsey Montanez, Trainwreck Symphony and Sean Magwire

$10

Martyrs’ – Steak House Mints will be celebrating the release of their album – Love Songs for Prostitutes featuring Paper Thick Walls and Leslie Hunt in the lineup

Feb 16:

Cubby Bear (Wrigleyville location) – work up a sweat with Workout Music and Energy Commission featuring Kairus Down and Twilight & the Sound

$5 presale

TBA – V is for Valentines featuring V Is For Villains and Hayley Jane (burlesque dancer)

$10 dos / $16 for couples

The Portage Theater – Winter Peace Festival featuring Family Groove Co and Drugula

Arcada Theatre – The Guess Who live on stage performing hits like “American Woman”, “These Eyes” and “Share The Land"

Visit http://www.oshows.com for more information

Feb 17:

East Peoria Event Center – Cabin Fever Indoor Camping & Music Festival. This 30+ hrs of music, 3 days and 2 stage event runs from Feb 15 – 17 featuring food, camping (indoor and HEATED) and fun but The Great I Am rocks the stage on Feb 17

AA

Visit http://www.CabinFeverCampin.com for tickets and lineup details

Feb 18 & 19:

Elbo Room – KMA Management presents Battle of the Bands to SXSW in Austin, TX

$10

Feb 21:

Elbo Room – Blue Eyed Jesus along with Carsick Radio, Kickaways, Thaddeus Pine and The Sound Check will be here

$9

The Southern (1840 W North Ave) – it’s the Bourbon Dinner! Experience a sampling of rare bourbons paired with tasty southern bites as well as learn about the exclusive whiskeys from expert Armando Zapata. Purchase ticket to reserve your seat.

$45 includes tax and gratuity

Feb 22:

Elbo Room – It’s the Michael Laechel and Bob Erl show! Also performing Kelroy with Call Me King, Sean Magwire and The Strongest Swimmers

Des Plaines Theatre – it’s the Winter Wreckoning

Amplyfi (Los Angeles, CA) – check out Vanattica rockin’ the stage with Reverse Order

AA / 7p

Feb 23:

Chris Club (Vallejo, CA) – check out KLANK, The Bastard Makers, Trainwrecked and Zeroclient rockin’ hard on stage

$5

Double Door – Bickhamstock 5 featuring Cheer Up Mooncat, Little Boy Jr, Mugwump Specific, The Uglies and Cousin with a special acoustic performances by Frank Maloney
$7

Elbo Room – Illphonics along with The Old Comiskeys, The Trouble!, Back Alley Riot and Jordan-Morgan Lansdowne will be performing

Goose Island Wrigleyville – Free Spirited’s First showcase

Feb 25 & 26:

Elbo Room – KMA Management presents Battle of the Bands to SXSW in Austin, TX

$10

Feb 26:

The Wall (Sydney, Australia) – Blood On The Dance Floor will be rockin’ this ALL AGES show

Reggie’s Music Joint – Magatha Trysty opens for the legendary Mr. Blotto

$5

Feb 28:

Phoenix Youth (Melbourne, Australia) – Blood On The Dance Floor will be here rockin’ this ALL AGES show

Will update this blog as more shows/events are sent to SouthSide to post, blogspot readers.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

02 Nov 12

***SouthSide sincerely apologizes for the lateness of this review***

"...my ovaries hurt..." ~ Jeffree Star



Hey, blogspot readers, the scene is dead! It was self-proclaimed during this rockin' tour that rolled through Chicago this evening at this Southside venue - Reggie's Rock Club. This was where SouthSide and her daughter, Sunday (not her real name) joined many of fashionably dressed tweens, teens and adults converged to see Blood On The Dance Floor! The lineup also featured the return of New Year's Day as well as Jeffree Star and Davey Suicide with  a DJ spinning the hottest industrial/metalized mixes before and in between acts during this all-ages spectacular. For many attendees, it was return seeing their favorite bands and meeting them after the sets while for others (especially for some parents) it was an experience this reviewer is certain they would never forget.

Kicking off the night of rockin' music and fun was a suicidal riot of pent up teenage frustration and loud "...glam goth monster..." rock, blogspot readers. Davey Suicide opened the lineup with a hardcore bang of  metalized guitar rock coupled with primal screamo vocals and thunderous percussion rhythms which seems to frighten some of the parents sitting in the balcony. However, their kids weren't appalled or shocked by this band's "scary" appearance. Rather, Davey touched on what today's youth are thinking and clearly this band highlighted the discord through songs like Generation Fuck Star (which disses reality music competition shows such as The Voice, X Factor and American Idol) and Fear Is a God. "...it's the idea of creating something larger hand life with 80s and industrial influences such Guns N Roses, Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie..." Davey told SouthSide adding "...it's a preference but not so much 80s music ...there's more 80s influence within Davey's [music] than Zombie or Manson..." During her interview with Davey Suicide himself, this reviewer did ask him what other songs should blogspot readers check out off his new album, Put Our Trust In Suicide. "...Hide Your Morals and Kids of America..." according to the band's front man and songwriter because "...it's a band staple ....[plus] they're big anthem-like songs..." If you have seen the official video for Generation Fuck Star (if not, check it out on Davey's YouTube page), blogspot readers, you might notice a cryptic message that reads "...the name Suicide is a constant reminder that unless we kill ourselves, there is no ceiling for what we're capable of. Dreaming keeps us alive..." Davey explained to SouthSide that's a powerful motto ...a self belief in which "...too many people have crutches and they rely on their crutches too many times instead of relying on themselves..." So true indeed. Yet while watching Davey's opening performance, this reviewer couldn't help there was more to this band's performance than what was seen on stage. She did get a chance to ask him about that and he replied "...it was a typical 20 minute set ...[we] had to trim songs for tonight ...some are more melodic and there's one sleazy song..." Also Davey added "...[we] put together a B-side set ...there's a theme song we didn't get to walk on stage to ...[it's] hard to get into a groove within 20 minutes..." And even though it was a mere twenty minutes, this band put a lot into their set that truly had their fans screaming loudly for more. Also - believe it or not, blogspot readers, Davey Suicide is a HUGE (Chicago) Bears fan! Somewhere under his black makeup that coated his arm is a tattoo of Da Bears. Davey also disclosed during the brief interview that if given the opportunity he would like to collaborate with Eminem because "...lyrically he paints things like no one else can..." before adding (Rob) Zombie and (Marilyn) Manson to the mix "...just to learn and get inside their heads to understand their creativity..." SouthSide highly suggests checking out Davey Suicide who's currently touring the Midwest and West coast until mid December as well as snag the album which was released on November 6th. For more information about Davey Suicide and music, visit the official website http://www.daveysuicide.tumblr.com/ .

Hey, IL creeps (ie New Years Day fans), your favorite band kicked some serious hardcore rock arse on stage after beginning the set with a pseudo-Clockwork Orange theme (Funeral Music for Queen Mary) to officially announce the death of the scene! Despite being saddled with a shorter set time, New Years Day utilized every minute for their fans advantage by giving this screaming crowd what they wanted - an awesome, fast paced performance. It was heart pounding fury of energizing intensity within a dark pop/rock vibe at its best, blogspot readers. You could feel the grit off the guitar riffs and thundering percussions in between the feminine gusto on vocals (by Ashley) and her male counterpart who added a bit of testosterone to the lyrics. Once again, this band thoroughly spoke to this generation of rock teens through their songs like Razor and current singles Do Your Worst and Two in the Chest, One in the Head (off the band's Mechancial Heart EP).  For more information about New Years Day, visit the band's Myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/newyearsday or on Facebook. Meanwhile, Jeffree Star continued the energizing momenum with his fast pace performance of electronica/club rock atmosphere in which he rocked the stage with two DJs and female dancers. Under the spectacle glow of the electric light and fx, Jeffree turned Reggie's Rock Club into one of the hottest scenes from Hollywood thrilling the delight of his screaming fans on the main floor. Fan will probably recognize this model turned fashion designer now singer/songwriter  from his days on Buzznet or his singly  Lollipop Luxury with Nicki Minaj.  Despite missing most of his set (due to her interview with Davey Suicide), this performer certainly fired up this crowd for the headliner Blood On The Dance Floor with lots of intense music and dazzling sound and lights. And afterwards, he even graciously met with every single fan (including this reviewer) after his set on the balcon for autographs and pictures. For more information about Jeffree Star, visit him at http://www.jeffreestar.tumblr.com/ or on Facebook.

"...I love you times infinity..." ~ Blood On The Dance Floor

After opening to the thrill of excitement and screams of their fans, Blood On The Dance Floor surprised SouthSide with a rather "tame" performance compared to the one she remembered from last year at Reggie's. There wasn't any elaborate costumes or music videos accompanying this hot teen scene band instead there was confetti cannons and soapy bubbles added to the messy mix of sweaty, screaming fans singing and dancing along to their favorite BOTDF song, blogspot readers, though still shocking the parents a little with their full guy on guy lip-locked kiss. That moment right there truly had their fans wildly screaming for more. Featuring an array of songs from Scream For My Ice Cream to Unforgiven and Yo Ho! (A Pirate's Life Is For Me) [Bewitched is still SouthSide's favorite off their All The Rage CD], Dahvie and  Jayy rocked the stage with just more than dance pop for this performance - they even tried something new for instance electric violin(for a love ballad) and female vocals to spice up their already fast paced, sexually-suggested music and sound when featuring songs off their current CDs - Evolution and The Anthem Of The Outcast. SouthSide noticed they have taken a less pop venture for this album and went a bit more hardcore within the subjects of love and death, blogspot readers, when performing Hell On Heels (Givin' In To Sin) and Your Sorry Life. This band does win the award for the best use of  the Home Alone 2: Lost In New York scene where Kevin plays part of the Dirty Angels movie to escape Tim Curry and his hotel staff as part of their lead-in to Design To Kill (SouthSide's not really sure). Yet this clip almost had the fans in near riot stage while the audio was playing. Checking out both albums, this reviewer suggests rockin' to the title track to Anthem Of The Outcast (not the radio edit), D.U.I. (Dancing Under The Influence) and La Petite Morte as well as Frankenstein and The Bride and Mother Earth (off Evolution CD). Check out BOTDF's YouTube page for videos (especially the enchanting Bewitched which gets lots of play on SouthSide's iPod) and also visit http://www.ilovebotdf.com for more information and music.

Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

1 Nov 11

"...you're so fuckin' beautiful in so many ways..."
Blood On The Dance Floor to the screaming crowd

Everyday is Halloween for SouthSide, blogspot readers. And tonight was no different as she and her young daughter aka Sunday (not her real name) joined an eager crowd in seeing the touring electronica duo, Blood On The Dance Floor (AZ). This all-ages post holiday show at Reggie's Rock Club (located in the South Loop area) also featured other rockin' electronica/industrial/metal rock performances by Angelspit (NY) and New Year's Day (CA) with her friends, The Prep School Tragedy opening. Besides reviewing all performances, blogspot readers, SouthSide along with her daughter sat down with Jayy of Blood On The Dance Floor for a brief interview before rockin' the stage in front of this near sold-out crowd.

Though rockin's a short opening set, SouthSide's friends, The Prep School Tragedy (http://www.myspace.com/theprepschooltragedy) pulled off another exciting classroom session of heart-pounding yet intense electronica/industrial rock. Performing hit songs like Thought I Toldja (SouthSide highly recommends watching the official video for this TPST song), Seduqtion (pronounced "seduction"), and title track - It's All A Show, Tran Q and Ignited with the band (Wolfie and cheerleaders included) were truly warming up this crowd with high energy and momentum to last throughout the other acts until BOTDF took command. Visit http://www.fearlessradio.com and hear the podcast of TPST's recent appearance on the airwaves. Also Sunday would like to say that she thinks TPST's set was very cool. Next it was New Year's Day (http://www.myspace.com/newyearsday) to rock out the crowd, blogspot readers. And instantly this reviewer enjoyed the highly energizing ...hardcore momentum this metal-tastic rock band performed under while on stage. They totally had this all-ages crowd feeling its intensity of guitar sound amidst the venomous spite and fiery emotions off the lead vocals. Performing songs like It's A Lie and I Was Right, Sunday liked the spectacle of NYD's light show which accompanied the performance. Mwanwhile, Angelspit's keyboardist had the coolest mohawk hairstyle ever seen while he and the band rocked out the opening lineup. This crowd immediately swelled to life amidst the constant energizing vibe of Angel's industrial/electronica rock sound that the music could have started an ugly riot (not to worry ...everyone was well-behaved). Yet it had that momentum and feeling, blogspot readers, within this hardcore performance which also featured random video images being shown on the screen behind them. Besides more intense rock music and venomous emotions running high during this set, both SouthSide and Sunday enjoyed the dazzling light show running in sync with each song performed. Even while taking the energy down a notch or two, there was still plenty of metal-tastic industrial sound to bang your head until the energizing finish. For more information, visit Angelspit at http://www.angelspit.net.

Blood On The Dance Floor, blogspot readers, is all about "...youth obscenity sex truth rebellion..." according to Jayy during the exclusive interview with SouthSide. Yes, this popular electronica/dubstep/industrial pop/goth rock band are outlaws as well as rebels without a cause but with a not-so hidden agenda - to dominate the dance world with their electronica music. After tonight's incredibly awesome headlining performance of BOTDF videos (shown on the screen), dazzling special fx of lights and fog ...plus more, Dahvie and Jayy had two new converts joining the already hundreds of fans packed inside Reggie's Rock Club. SouthSide asked Jayy what made Blood On The Dance Floor's shows so excitable that it keeps bringing fans back for more. He replied saying it had do with more than putting on an awesome show for their fans. Believe it or not, blogspot readers, BOTDF stays behind after each performance to meet and greet their fans ...sometimes even before the show too. Something according to Jayy "...a lot of bands could take a lesson..." in their example. This reviewer was totally amazed how well these two musicians professionally handled themselves while being constantly mobbed by fans following them wherever they went around the venue ...never once turning down requests for pictures and/or autographs. "...[we] give them advice ...hope ...they are [simply] more than fans but acquaintances in the end..." And the fans certainly do more than love and adore their rock heroes, blogspot readers. Some went as far as showing their appreciative devotion like an artistic depiction of Jayy (in which he autographed and snapped a photo with the fan) and creating a homemade t-shirt that had the lyrics to BOTDF's current hit, Bewitched, written on the back.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of Blood On The Dance Floor, this reviewer then asked Jayy what the inspiration behind the band name. According to him, some think it might have to do with Michael Jackson ...partly but not entirely, blogspot readers. It's all about Dahvie's and Jayy's take on the dysfunctional dance music scene which draws from many influences like "old school" industrial (i.e. Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, Ministry) mixed with 80s/90s goth, Lil Wayne (for the hiphop sound) and Britney Spears (for the pop sound). SHOCK ...and pleny of AWE for SouthSide when she heard that scoop. Yes, Jayy did actually credited Britney for giving BOTDF their pop influence that sometimes dominates the current album, All The Rage. However, Jayy gave this reviewer an exclusive scoop about BOTDF's new album to be released in 2012 to which he stated the new stuff is "...very dark..." Plus, SouthSide's friend, Tom, whose agency, Tag Publicity that represents them was definitely right about one thing - the guys do put on one heck of a show. SouthSide had never experienced an intense ...energizing rock performance like she did during Blood On The Dance Floor's headlining set, blogspot readers.

Performing tracks off current album, All The Rage, the entire main floor of the Rock Club stayed in a constant state of fan frenzy song after song ...many crowding the stage to reach out and touch their rock idols as well as singing along with the band. According to Jayy, when asked which song to listen first if unfamiliar with BOTDF, "...Bewitched is a real good icebreaker..." And SouthSide wholeheartedly agrees with that suggestion because that's where she started when checking out BOTDF's official youtube page. The song itself is a haunting electronica/goth love ballad while the next suggested song, Star Power featured a fun video game atmosphere amidst a hiphop/dubstep sound. Sunday's favorites included the energizing arrrgh-ed of Yo Ho! (A Pirate's Life For Me) and sweet-tasting energy of Candyland that featured clips of The Simpsons episode where Homer romps happily through his imagination of German chocolate. Final Fantasy fans should look into the dreamy live version of BOTDF's song Nirvana (SouthSide's not truly sure) which included scenes from the video game on the screen. Other songs rockin' the stage included the classic BOTDF song Screamin For My Ice Cream, PLUR (Peace Love Unity Respect, the firt hit single off All The Rage album), the dark haunting mind trip of Dark Dreams (which wonderfully opened the show) and Find Your Way as well as the title track off upcoming album Le Petit Mort (Little Death). Jayy was absolutely right, blogspot readers. This new song was slightly darker than their other current songs amidst hardcore screamo and electronica sound. Plenty of intense head banging rock too.

Hey who tossed their bras onto the stage?!?! That (and more) was part of the nonstop action going on and around the stage (balcony included) throughout this highly intensified performance to which BOTDF said Chicago was the best orgy they ever had wanting to take each and every one of us home with them. BUT please, ladies, DO NOT squeeze the guys' family jewels. Blood On The Dance Floor's new album, Le Petit Mort, will have a Valentine's Day release but in the meantime check out their current hit album, All The Rage. SouthSide highly recommends rockin' your electronica/dance world with the band live at their next show to experience all of the magic, action and fun that happens while they perform. Sunday cannot wait until they return again.

SouthSide would like to thank Jayy for spending a few minutes with her for the interview and Tom for setting up for her. For more information about Blood On The Dance Floor, visit http://www.ilovebotdf.com.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide