Last night, I spent some time listening to a local college radio station while a pen and paper was at the ready, and it was there that I heard the above track. (The playlist for the evening, stitched together by was a clearly, endearingly nervous DJ, also included Sparks’ “Photoshop”.) It’s called “Set Me Free” and it’s by the British act The Heavy, and I like the way it’s both breezy and pleading, which is owed in no small part to the the lead singer’s old-soul croon. (He goes by the single name of “Swaby.”) Anyway, the loose collection of songs on the band’s MySpace is also pretty promising, as is the fact that the band has apparently shared a tour with the Noisettes. And it should be said that the thrill of finding out something totally new and unexpected via the old, battered-by-everyone medium of radio hasn’t lessened in intensity at all over the past however many years I’ve been doing the whole “taking notes” thing. (At least 20, maybe more.) - Idolator.com
Hello. My name is Kevin and I sing songs. I absolutely hate the color Orange but I love you. I find it very hard to measure the appropriate distance of when to hold the door for someone and wearing only one sock can completely throw off my balance. I have a habit of turning off the light whenever I leave a public restroom. Some call it rude, I call it well-mannered. I am absolutely terrified of Harrison Ford's angry face and I've come to accept the fact that my heart moves faster than my feet. If you ask me to ride a rollercoaster, I'll say "No". If you ask me about my faith, I'll say "I got enough questions for the both of us, man". My favorite things include dusty antiques, heart soaked melodies and apple tea. My least favorite things include tangled chords, printers and the principal from Matilda. If I could be anywhere but here, I would be in an empty canoe, whistled by the Mediterranean when the moon is high and the world is mine. If you say the word "Button" I'll smirk. If you say the word "Button" then poke me I'll laugh for sure. I have a long list of things I'd like to do with my life including; Win a Halloween costume contest, Father a handful of funny little loud mouth children, and make a mean Tiramisu. Though my arms and legs have come to grow, my imagination remains a parade of balloons and I follow it like a child to wherever it takes me next. I don't know who's listening, but thank you.
Hello. My name is Kevin and I sing songs. I absolutely hate the color Orange but I love you. I find it very hard to measure the appropriate distance of when to hold the door for someone and wearing only one sock can completely throw off my balance. I have a habit of turning off the light whenever I leave a public restroom. Some call it rude, I call it well-mannered. I am absolutely terrified of Harrison Ford's angry face and I've come to accept the fact that my heart moves faster than my feet. If you ask me to ride a rollercoaster, I'll say "No". If you ask me about my faith, I'll say "I got enough questions for the both of us, man". My favorite things include dusty antiques, heart soaked melodies and apple tea. My least favorite things include tangled chords, printers and the principal from Matilda. If I could be anywhere but here, I would be in an empty canoe, whistled by the Mediterranean when the moon is high and the world is mine. If you say the word "Button" I'll smirk. If you say the word "Button" then poke me I'll laugh for sure. I have a long list of things I'd like to do with my life including; Win a Halloween costume contest, Father a handful of funny little loud mouth children, and make a mean Tiramisu. Though my arms and legs have come to grow, my imagination remains a parade of balloons and I follow it like a child to wherever it takes me next. I don't know who's listening, but thank you.
NOTE: Sky Saxon, who was originally scheduled to play this show, passed away on Thursday, June 25 2009.
Sky Saxon, the founder of the garage band the Seeds, passed away Thursday morning, June 26 at a hospital in Austin, Texas. Saxon founded the Seeds with Jan Savage, Daryl Hooper, and Rick Andridge in 1965; the band brushed the Top 40 with “Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” (above), and hit No. 36 on the charts with “Pushin’ Too Hard” in 1967. The Seeds broke up in 1970, but Saxon continued to make music, eventually distributing his music DIY-style online.
Chicago's very own 56 Hope Road, the award-winning, nationally-touring acoustic funk rock sensation is proud to announce the celebration of their 10-Year Anniversary on Friday, August 14th, 2009 at the Double Door. 56 Hope Road's 10-Year Anniversary Spectacular will reunite founding members and collaborators Dave Hamilton, Greg Fundis, Chad Sanders, Casey Fitzpatrick, Anne and Matt Katzfey, Steve Goveia, Brian Wilkie, Steve Mann, Mat Cashman, Matt Carter, Tim Reid, Jr. and other special guests for an evening of music spanning the 56 Hope Road song archive. Since it's inception in 1999, 56 Hope Road has performed over 1,100 live shows nationwide, sold over 12,000 albums and released four full length recordings on their independent label Albino Deer Records working along side GRAMMY-nominated producer Rick Barnes (Liquid Soul, Smashing Pumpkins), Steve Albini (Nirvana) and Mark Rubel (Hum, Poster Children). Their songs have been featured regularly on Sirius Radio Channel 17 Jam_ON, as well as WXRT Chicago, UniTED Airlines Radio, NPR, WBEZ and many other public, college and specialty radio stations across the country. 56 Hope Road continues to gain national attention due to relentless touring and high-energy live performances garnering numerous awards from Relix Magazine, JamBase.com and landing VIP stage appearances and support slots with Stevie Wonder, Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Allman Brothers, Black Crowes, Bob Weir, The Verve Pipe, Rusted Root, Cowboy Mouth, Bob Schneider, Tom Cochrane and Ryder, Tea Leaf Green and Umphrey's McGee.
Liquid Soul is a jazz, funk, rap fusion ensemble from Chicago, Illinois which formed in 1994. It was founded by Mars Williams and Tommy Klein. The band's 2000 album Here's the Deal was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category.
Their first regular venue was at Chicago's Elbo Room, where their quickly-growing popularity led to the release of their debut album Liquid Soul by Ark 21 Records. A well-popularized appearance at Dennis Rodman's birthday party added to their notoriety. They were the main feature at Double Door in Wicker Park for almost four years (Feb. 1996 to Dec. 1999). Subsequent tours took them across the United States and Canada, plus performances in Germany, Turkey and Japan. They have opened for Sting, played at the Inaugural Parade and 21st Century Ball, and appeared twice at the South By Southwest Music Festival. The Austin American-Statesman referred to them as "the single hottest showcase of the festival." They have recorded four more CDs: Make Some Noise (produced by Ark 21 in 1998) and the Grammy-nominated Here's the Deal (produced by Shanachie in 2000), Evolution (produced by Shanachie in 2002) and most recently One-Two Punch (produced by major label Telarc in 2006).
Tues. 7.7
The Heavy
(direct from the U.K. for a special Chicago performance)
Velcro Lewis Group * The Midnight Shows
Doors: 8:00PM Show: 9:00PM
$8 buy tickets
Last night, I spent some time listening to a local college radio station while a pen and paper was at the ready, and it was there that I heard the above track. (The playlist for the evening, stitched together by was a clearly, endearingly nervous DJ, also included Sparks’ “Photoshop”.) It’s called “Set Me Free” and it’s by the British act The Heavy, and I like the way it’s both breezy and pleading, which is owed in no small part to the the lead singer’s old-soul croon. (He goes by the single name of “Swaby.”) Anyway, the loose collection of songs on the band’s MySpace is also pretty promising, as is the fact that the band has apparently shared a tour with the Noisettes. And it should be said that the thrill of finding out something totally new and unexpected via the old, battered-by-everyone medium of radio hasn’t lessened in intensity at all over the past however many years I’ve been doing the whole “taking notes” thing. (At least 20, maybe more.) - Idolator.com
