Drinking Soundtrack » Music

Top Albums of 2009

jj — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:54:40 +0000

Wait, why is this guy so happy? Oh, hmmm – what’s that you say?

Ahhh, he must have already posted his favorite albums of 2009.

Curses! Jealousy! Mustache! There’s only 16 days left in the year?! Oh gosh, oh buttons. No time!

So, the question’s been posed…what are your favorite studio albums of the year?

Reigning Sound, Subterranean, Sunday Nov. 15, 8 p.m.

Joe — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:57:15 +0000

If I were in Chicago I’d be there. Watching the spittle fly from Greg Cartwright’s lip is just one of the many things that are good about ‘em. You can hear ‘em on their MySpace page here — and if you haven’t heard of Too Much Guitar (2004), I wholeheartedly recommend it.

And if you’ve never heard the name Greg Cartwright, he used to play with the Oblivians, and here he is.

Getting to be that time… what were your favorite live shows in 2009?

Joe — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:50:30 +0000

Hey, so, we’re on the edge of making-lists-about-music-season, so I thought I’d kick it off with this question: What were your favorite live shows in 2009?

I saw My Bloody Valentine in the spring. Martel had told me about how you needed earplugs, but it turned out it kind of depended on the venue. Either that or my hearing’s already taken a few body blows. MBV opened up with I Only Said, and I remember walking down the aisle to my friends during that song thinking “I never thought I’d hear that guitar riff live.”

I saw The Avett Brothers in the summer. Four times, in a row — first in Telluride Colorado, then in Steamboat Springs, then in Boulder, then in Denver. Telluride and Boulder were my favorite shows, and while it didn’t top the visceral My Bloody Valentine set, following a band like that (I’d never followed a band before) felt good. There was little overlap between the shows, which made it feel like the band knew there were people following them out there. The Avett’s country-folk-rock stuff aren’t in my top-10-bands-of-all-time or anything, and the four days with ‘em gave me a whole new raft of favorite songs to appreciate.

So, what say you?

Dear Drinking Soundtrack: Got any new-music blog recommendations?

Joe — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:38:59 +0000

Can you recommend some music blogs, mostly focused on new artists and independent labels for a friend of mine?

ShowCowGo

Joe — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:37:12 +0000

Matt launched a new blog, which you may or may not have heard of. I’m guessing Chicagoans you have. It’s got a few parts to it: His Chicago band calendar, his Chicago band-review blog, his Chicago (and other) beer blog, and a Pizza and Brunch blog done via Facebook.

If you don’t know, now you know.

Things I like…concert venue edition

jj — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:31:11 +0000

Thank you, Dr Martel, for keeping a pulse here. I’ve been asked to compile a list of the best places to see music in Chicago. Please check my logic and fill in any gaps that I’ve missed. Yeah, and I guess we can consider the entire concert-going experience here. Can that can be measured regardless of music? I dunno – anyway…here goes:

Theatre: not necessarily w/ seats, but capacity at greater than 500 people?

1. Park West
2. The Vic
3. Epiphany Church
4. Logan Square Auditorium
5. Congress Theatre
6. Pritzker Pavillion

Clubs: no seats, generally less than 500 people?

1. The Empty Bottle
2. The Hideout
3. Smart Bar
4. The Bottom Lounge
5. Subterranean
6. Schubas
7. Double Door
8. The Metro
9. Reggies
10. The AVerie
11. The Green Mill
12. The Beat Kitchen
13. Abbey Pub
14. Elbo Room
15. Sonotheque

Yay, Another Site You Could Sign Up For

Joe — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:14:10 +0000

It’s like twitter but instead of posting stuff about you, you post songs you like. This is my account on there, and if you don’t wanna sign up for Yet Another Website You Need To Sign Up For, there’s a generic account I just made for drinkingsoundtrack. Username, drinkingsoundtrack, password, Tom’s last name all in lowercase.

-Joe

Weds @ LSA Broken West/AC Newman – 3 Tix – $19 each

jj — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:22:34 +0000

My friend Kevin has 3 extra tickets for Broken West and AC Newman this Weds at Logan Square Auditorium. Anyone want 1/2/3 tickets? Anyone already going?

I couldn’t find a way to sign Kevin up on DS – does he need an invite?

SXSW Samplers – Gigs and Gigs of Gigs

jj — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:29:14 +0000

You’ll need a torrent program, like µTorrent. Install µTorrent, first, then click on the dl links. Then choose to open the file with µTorrent.

The 09 SXSW Artist Showcase has over 1000 songs in 3 torrents.

The 05-08 Artist Showcase torrents are just as easy to get.

1st Chicago International Movies & Music Festival

jj — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:33:26 +0000

CIMMFEST is this weekend.

This is the newest project from The M’s guitar and vocal section – Josh Chicoine. In this time of great depression he’s found sponsorship and help to throw a full blown international festival here in Chicago – which could be just the first of many (by the look of the roster).

This is going on all weekend – Thursday through Sunday – and happening all over the city – from the Cultural Center downtown to Schubas. I plan on attending a few things. On Friday I plan to see the Richard Bellia show (rock photography spanning the past 40 years) and on Sat the Encyclopaedia Pictura event – both are at the Th!nkArt Salon.

View the full schedule to CIMMfest.