Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesTop Five Music Stories: February 2015

At the end of every month, we here at the Top Five take stock of the music news that mattered most to us during the preceding 30-odd days. Without further preamble, here are our five favorite stories from February 2015.



1) Jimmy Kimmel Gives Us The Mash-Ups We Never Knew We Needed

On February's four Mondays, Jimmy Kimmel turned the musical spot on his show into #MashUpMonday, inviting bands from opposite ends of the musical spectrum in for a little collaboration. The pairings ranged from complimentary (If you gave them enough beard, modern-day Weezer could easily pass for their counterparts in Z.Z. Top) to genuinely surprising (Kenny G. and Warren G.? Which one's supposed to be the nostalgia act here?). my personal favorite? The team-up between legendary new-wave funk maestro Morris Day and the ladies of Haim, which succeeded in reminding everyone that a) Morris Day is way cooler than Prince would have you believe, and b) it is impossible to hear "Jungle Love" and not dance.

Pitchfork became the first of Chicago's big three festivals to announce its 2015 schedule, and it's a doozy; anchored by hometown heroes Wilco, rock goddesses Sleater-Kinney (who'll return for their second Chicago show after a triumphant night at the Chicago Theater), and South Side hip-hop virtuoso Chance The Rapper, the fest also includes sets from Run The Jewels, The New Pornographers, Future Islands, Caribou, and more. My prediction for best set of the festival: Tobias Jesso, Jr., channeling the twin spirits of Harry Nilsson and Lee Hazlewood, will bring a cool California breeze unto the humid, beer-soaked masses of a Friday-afternoon Union Park.



5) Artist Having the Most Fun This Month: Father John Misty

Much like Run The Jewels last month, Father John Misty seemed to be everywhere in February, and having a good time at every stop. Since the last time we checked in, the artist formerly known as Josh Tillman was spotted covering Leonard Cohen, goofing on Marilyn Manson, launching a satirical (and uncomfortably plausible) digital streaming service, and performing "I Went To The Store One Day" at a bustling Parisian cafe. This is all in addition to dropping I Love You, Honeybear, FJM's eagerly anticipated sophomore record that lives up to its predecessor while simultaneously taking a sledgehammer to the romantic cliches of pop's entire canon. Solid work, padre. Solid work.

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