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By Candice Triche
Two friends check out a band back in 2009 to only hear the noise of the crowd. As true fans of music, they decided to create a different experience for true fans of live music. Starting in their own living room, Sofar Sounds was born. Reaching various parts of the world, the intimate settings have become a great way to hear up and coming artists of all genres. Sofar can feel like a private club in a way. After you choose what area and night you’d like to see a show, you get your email 24hrs before, with only the address and time to be there.
Lofts, art spaces, rooftops and living rooms make for a good night of new faces and even better acoustics. Halloween night was filled with slow low vocals, and a hype ending. As soon as Amara was introduced, self described as ‘horror pop”, it felt like she was curated just for the night. Her angelic voice led with beat machines and guitar took us into the night of erie ambiance, that kept all heads nodding. Her rendition of Come Little Children from the classic Halloween tale, “Hocus Pocus”, was an awesome treat.
The Predictions followed, with their fluid like harmonies and guitar play that kept the crowd calm and relaxed. Described as Flower Child, Skeleton Rock, the tunes definitely had a '60s feel. Closing out the show, Elton Aura with full band, took the crowd to an energizing level. Lyrics, vocals, drums, and trumpet, you felt like you were at a full-fledged concert.
Technically, there are no openers and closers of a Sofar night. All who perform hold their own in a unique way, and the energy and openness of all who attend is something that you can't truly explain without checking out for yourself. It is, all in all, about the music. Sofar sogood.
(Click here for a list of upcoming shows and to find out how you can get involved.)
written by Jessi Roti
I’ll admit it –I’ve talked my fair share of trash regarding “Dad Rock.” You know “Dad Rock,” or Arena Rock, Classic Rock –the older, white dudes who still do their best to reclaim that youthful exuberance they had in the late 1960’s – early 1970’s, but come off more as caricatures of themselves. Dads eat that up, trust me. I grew up with it with my parents driving my sister and me around blasting the best of Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, you name it. As a younger person, I didn’t get it. As a woman, I really didn’t get it. But that has all changed, and I owe it to Bruce Springsteen and The E-Street Band.
After becoming obsessed with Bruce’s Born to Run album during my senior year of college, I didn’t hesitate to buy tickets when a tour in support of Springsteen’s latest box-set release The Ties that Bind: The River Collection. The band was to play The River album in-full along with other Springsteen classics. Yes, sign me up and over-charge me with those fees, Ticketmaster.
On March 3, 2016, my sister and I made it to the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI to be “transformed,” as Bruce says, by The Boss and the E-Street band themselves. Transformed may be too strong of a word, but I was moved in a way that I didn’t expect. For the first time in a long time, I was reminded of why music is one of the last art forms that can truly stand the test of time from generation to generation.
I go to shows all the time. I used to joke that I had been to more shows than days of school (which I still believe to be true). Yet there’s something to be said about the stadium show that makes you feel like you’re at the local venue/bar, a much more intimate setting, experiencing an artist you love. I’ve been to plenty of big, classic rock shows, from the aforementioned Tom Petty, Peter Frampton, to Robert Plant and Bob Dylan. But there was something about this show that truly transcended age gaps, gender gaps, social class, and race that made me feel I was a part of something special.
by Teresa Cuevas
I consider myself pretty lucky when I get to see live music on my lunch break, but I consider myself downright spoiled when they come to my office building and play while I get to chow down on a juicy burger at lunch time.
That’s exactly what happened today and what a treat it was to soak in Oh Wonder, who hail from London and are currently embarking on a 7-show sold out US tour, which is ironic since they had initially never planned to play live shows, but they decided to give the people what they want and are kicking their tour off here in Chicago at Lincoln Hall.
Reminiscent of Of Monsters and Men, Oh Wonder normally has a heavy electro synth-pop sound, but today they stripped it back with only an acoustic guitar and keyboard. The performance was light, yet vulnerable, upbeat and melodic. I would say Oh Wonder is definitely one to watch in 2016.
(CHIRP Radio's Teresa Cuevas attended Day 1 of the Reaction New Years Eve Festival)
For months I had been anticipating shaking my Christmas leftovers off at the Reaction New Years event. Unfortunately, the sweet thumping of electro beats did not send me in to a frenzy of movement that even your grandmother would be embarrassed of. Instead, I wandered around an only partially filled convention center searching for the dancing gods who, when finally found, barely inspired me to sway side to side as if at a junior high dance.
As we transition from a busy Summer to a busy Autumn, let's take one last look back at one of the newer festivals that has emerged in Chicago - Mamby on the Beach. CHIRP Radio's Big Rob Kerr was there (Day 1 / Day 2). We're looking forward to future excursions of sun, sand, and beat-astic jams. Soon it will be too cold to even think about the beach, but we'll have these memories to keep us warm until next time.