ANCHR Magazine

Holding you down with the best new music

Filtering by Category: Festival

Pitchfork Festival 2021: Friday Recap and Photos

Pitchfork Festival has come to be one of those weekends that I look forward to all year. It’s a place I can reunite with friends from all over the city, and see live music from artists I’ve come to know and love over the years, as well as discover new favorite artists. Needless to say, the anticipation for Pitchfork Festival 2021 was at an all-time high after the pandemic-caused gap year and the push to September this year, but the wait was well worth it. Music-goers at Union Park over the weekend were graced with a weekend of clear skies and warm (but manageable) temperatures while they soaked in the sounds of more than forty different acts. Read up on the highlights of Friday below, and keep an eye out for further festival coverage coming soon.

Dehd

ANCHR started off our Pitchfork Fest experience this year by catching a homecoming show from trio Dehd, which also acted as the band’s first official performance since their 2020 album Flower of Devotion was released. Throughout the evening, I heard many festival attendees state that Dehd was their favorite set of the day, and for good reason.

Veering away from a traditional band lineup, Dehd delivers an unwavering and boisterous blend of surf rock with post-punk with just three members; Eric McGrady keeps a steady beat on a standing drum set as guitarist Jason Balla and bassist Emily Kempf share a dual vocal duty. The band’s song “Lucky”—which they opened their Pitchfork set with— really showcases the dynamic of Balla and Kempf’s vocal partnership as they belt out the sing-along worthy “sha la la la las” of the song’s chorus together. Dehd’s records have such a fun and freeing attribute to them, but seeing them performed live only amplifies that mood. The set on Friday also included a new tune, so be sure to keep an ear out from new material from Dehd.

Black Midi

If you want a truly unique live music experience, you can always count on the experimental vibes of England’s Black Midi to shake things up. Fronted by vocalist Geordie Greep, the band mixes everything from frantic bass lines, thrashing guitar riffs, avant-garde keyboard melodies and saxophone to create a sound that’s entirely their own.

The band added to their musical performance by carrying out a bright green sofa to the stage, which remained in place throughout their set. Potted plants and rolling wardrobe rack accompanied the couch onstage, lending a theatrical element to their show. The extra effort that Black Midi went through to make their set an experience didn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated by the audience, who returned the energy with a raucous mosh pit.

Kelly Lee Owens

At every music festival, there’s got to be at least one artist you’re discovering for the first time, and Kelly Lee Owens was that act for me on Friday. With a silky swirl of atmospheric, hypnotic electronic melodies and ethereal vocals, Owens’ music provided an entrancing oasis after the chaos of Black Midi’s performance.

Hailing from Wales, and currently based in London, Owens used to write poetry as a child, which now translates into a fluid, poetic nature in her stage presence. While performing tracks from her two full-length records, including 2020’s Inner Song, Owens commanded the entire crowd solely on her own and minimal equipment, accompanying her sound with striking dance moves.

Animal Collective

Animal Collective continued with the quirky and experimental vibes, bringing the Pitchfork Festival goers another opportunity to mirror the high amount of energy bouncing off the stage.

Animal Collective has played Pitchfork Festival in the past, but their expansive catalog of music dating back to the early aughts allows them to curate a unique setlist for their listeners. The creative energy of Avery Tare keeps Animal Collective fans on their toes, especially in a live setting. While the group finished up their late evening set on Friday, Tare threw down some wild and jarring howls at the end of their song “The Purple Bottle,” leaving the stage on a literal high note.

Phoebe Bridgers

The crowd’s energy peaked on Friday night when singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and her bandmates appeared on the Green stage, all donning the headliner’s signature Skeleton onesies.

Bridgers has attracted the attention of many music fans with her vulnerable and witty storytelling abilities that are present across her discography. Phoebe’s become an expert at mixing in humor and honesty with some of her most personal moments, making her lyrics both oddly specific and relatable. Take the lyrics in her hit “Motion Sickness” from her debut album— most fans can relate to the annoyance sparked by an ex-partner that Bridgers describes in the song, but the line “And why do you sing with an English accent?" signifies a very specific call-out of a certain someone(if you know, you know). Bridgers opened the set at Pitchfork with this song, and the crowd singing along almost drowned out her own vocals (pun intended).

From that catapulting start, the remainder of the set leaned heavily towards songs from the 2020 album Punisher, allowing fans to hear most of the songs live for the first time since the record’s release. Bridgers also sprinkled in a performance of the boygenius tune “Me & My Dog” and a cover of Bo Burnham’s “That Funny Feeling” from the acclaimed Inside comedy special. From the laughter to all of the feels, Phoebe Bridgers’ set started the festival off on a great note.

See more photos of the first day below, including Dehd, Hop Along, Black Midi, The Fiery Furnaces, Animal Collective, Kelly Lee Owens, Big Thief, Yaeji, and Phoebe Bridgers.







PHOTOS: JD McPherson and Drive-By Truckers at Out of Space

This past weekend, Out of Space returned to Temperance Beer Co for four nights of music and good times. Check out photos from Friday night’s show with JD McPherson and Drive-By Truckers below, and see what other shows are coming up at SPACE here.

7 Pitchfork Fest 2021 Acts To Get There Early For

After a Summer of no music festivals in 2020, we’re thrilled that we’re getting to experience Pitchfork Festival in 2021. While the fest usually takes place in July, we might actually get a break from the usual sweltering humidity with its move to September this year. Pitchfork is giving us some incredible headliners for 2021—including Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent and Erykah Badu— but make sure you don’t snooze on the rest of the line up. To help you out, we’ve compiled our recommendations of must-see acts who are worth getting to Union Park early for next weekend. Grab your tickets here if you haven’t yet, and keep reading on for ANCHR’s top picks below.

Dehd

Photo By Alexa Viscius

Photo By Alexa Viscius

We’ve got to start this list off with some hometown heroes; Dehd. Composed of Jason Balla on guitar and vocals, Emily Kempf on bass and vocals, and Eric McGrady on drums, the Chicago trio crafts tunes that are a boisterous blend of post-punk and surf rock. By utilizing both Kempf and Balla’s vocals, Dehd lends a playful and dynamic nature to their music. That dynamic spans across three albums, including 2020’s Flower of Devotion. Dehd’s extensive catalog of songs are sure to have you grooving along to their Pitchfork set.

If you don’t want to take our word on it, The FADER, Pitchfork, Paste, NPR Music, UPROXX, and Vice were all among publications to showcase Flower of Devotion on their best of 2020 lists. Dehd recently announced the 2020 album will be getting a reboot in September, when they’ll be releasing an album full of remixes to the original songs, including Pitchfork Fest alum Lala Lala’s remix of “Desire.”

For Fans Of: Mac DeMarco, Omni, Priests

Start With: “Flood” and “Loner”

Where to catch them: Friday 9/10, at the Green Stage from 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM.

Pitchfork Aftershow on Saturday, 9/11, at The Empty Bottle

Divino Niño

Photo by Alexa Viscius

Photo by Alexa Viscius

The list continues on with another Chicago classic. Divino Niño is a five piece rock band based in Chicago composed of Camilo Medina, Javier Forero, Guillermo Rodriguez-Torres, Pierce Codina, and Justin Vitorri. Forero and Medina formed the band in Chicago when they moved here for college, after initially having met in Bogota, Columbia as children and reconnecting later in life in Miami.

Blending together dreamy psych and funk vibes with bilingual lyrics, there are fewer bands better suited for an outdoor music festival than Divino Niño. Their 2019 album Foam flows from bop to bop, so be sure to bring your dancing shoes to their set.

For Fans Of: Post Animal, The Marías, Mild High Club

Start With: “Foam” and “Coca Cola”

Where to catch them: Saturday, 9/11 at the Green Stage from 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM

Pitchfork Aftershow on Friday, 9/10, at The Empty Bottle

Dogleg

Photo courtesy of Dogleg

Photo courtesy of Dogleg

If you’re looking to start your Pitchfork weekend off on the right foot, look no further than Detroit, Michigan’s Dogleg. Originating as a solo bedroom project from guitarist and songwriter Alex Stoitsiadis as a way to concretize his mantra of “Play fast,” Dogleg has since expanded to include Chase Macinski on bass, Parker Grissom on guitar, and Jacob Hanlon on drums. Since the initial inception and release of the debut self-titled EP in 2016, Dogleg released a handful of follow up singles leading up to their critically acclaimed 2020 debut album Melee.

The band’s intense punk riffs blend with a touch of nostalgia-drenched emo to create a fast-paced ferocity that will get the Pitchfork crowd amped and ready for the rest of the weekend.

For Fans Of: PUP, The Frights, Jeff Rosenstock

Start With: “Kawasaki Backflip” and “Fox”

Where to catch them: Friday 9/10, at the Red Stage from 1:45 PM – 2:25 PM

Pitchfork Aftershow on Saturday, 9/11 at Subterranean

Horsegirl

Photo by Sun Picture Music

Photo by Sun Picture Music

Another Chicago act you can’t miss if you want to support local? Horesegirl. Composed of Penelope Lowenstein (she/her), Nora Cheng (she/her), and Gigi Reece (they/them), Horsegirl formed about two years ago after the group had performed together as a Sonic Youth cover band. Lowenstein and Cheng had originally met when their similar taste in music bonded them as attendees of a local music program. Lowenstein and Cheng often create a dual vocal effect, joined by Reece’s backbone of drum beats, to create music that makes a statement.

While they only have three singles released so far, I’m excited to see them live for the first time at Pitchfork and discover what else their set has in store.

For Fans Of: Porridge Radio, Lala Lala, Snail Mail

Start With: “Ballroom Dance Scene” and “Sea Life Sandwich Boy”

Where to catch them: Saturday, 9/11 at the Green Stage from 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM

Oso Oso

Photo courtesy of Oso Oso

Photo courtesy of Oso Oso

The brainchild of musician and songwriter Jade Lilitri, Oso Oso began in 2014 as a side project from Lilitri’s former band State Lines. Following the initial release, Lilitri has now released three albums under the Oso Oso project, the most recent being 2019’s basking in the glow.

Most of Oso Oso’s catalog is full of lyrics that can rouse reflective pondering from listeners, while simultaneously delivering upbeat melodies you can get lost in. In similar fashion, the third album showcases Lilitri’s introspective musings fused with a pop punk soundtrack. If you’re looking for a set at Pitchfork where you can belt along to some heartfelt lyrics while dancing around, make sure you’re there to hear Oso Oso play “basking in the glow.”

For Fans Of: The Front Bottoms, The Hotelier, Remo Drive

Start With: “gb/ol h/nf” and “Track 1, Side A”

Where to catch them: Sunday, 9/12 at the Blue Stage from 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

Pitchfork Aftershow on Saturday, 9/11 at Subterranean

Tomberlin

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

While Cassandra Jenkins unfortunately had to cancel her upcoming tour (including her slot at Pitchfork Fest), we now have Tomberlin filling in for her. I first had the pleasure of seeing Tomberlin perform at The Hideout in Chicago alongside Hand Habits back in 2019, where she completely mesmerized the audience and kept us all hooked on her every word. Sarah Beth Tomberlin (better known solely by her last name) is a singer-songwriter currently based out of Los Angeles with roots in Louisville, Kentucky. She followed up her stunning debut record At Weddings with an EP entitled Projections in October 2020, and I’m excited for the chance to hear some of the newer songs performed live.

The combination of Tomberlin’s ethereal vocals and delicate melodies gives me the sensation of wrapping myself in a cocoon of blankets. The sense of comfort and coziness that songs like “Hours” and “You Are Here” evoke makes Tomberlin the perfect soundtrack to transition from Summer into Fall. It will also make for a great laid-back way to start the final day of the festival.

For Fans Of: Hand Habits, Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker

Start With: “Hours” and “Wasted”

Where to catch her: Sunday, 9/12 at the Green Stage from 1:00 PM – 1:40 PM

Special Interest

swamp-scaled.jpeg

I haven’t yet had the honor of seeing Special Interest perform live, but I just know they’re going to be one of the best sets at the fest. If you’re looking for a completely unique experience, you can’t miss this group from New Orleans, Louisiana.

It’s difficult to assign a genre to Special Interest, but their song “Street Pulse Beat” swirls together moody synths with a pulsing drum machine and a punk bass line. Throughout their three albums, they tackle reimagining dark electronic and punk music, creating an eccentric vibe that’s entirely their own. Interestingly enough, the group began in 2015 as a duo who only planned to play one show. When they started out, Alli Logout and Maria Elena played guitars and power tools over the beat of a 70’s Univox drum machine— before ultimately being joined by Ruth Mascelli on electronics and Nathan Cassiani on bass. They’ve since garnered a reputation for the intensity of their live shows, so don’t miss out on their festival set or after show.

For Fans Of: Idles, Boy Harsher, Squid

Start With: “Street Pulse Beat” and “Disco II”

Where to catch them: Sunday, 9/12 at the Red Stage from 1:45 PM – 2:25 PM

Pitchfork Aftershow on Saturday, 9/11 at Smart Bar

Keep an eye out for more Pitchfork Fest coverage all next weekend, and take a trip down memory lane below.

PHOTOS: Noga Erez and Brittany Howard at Thalia Hall

This past Saturday night, Lollapalooza artists Noga Erez and Brittany Howard commanded the stage for their sold out Thalia Hall aftershow. Check out the full gallery of the captivating show below and take a look at all upcoming Thalia Hall shows here.

PHOTOS: Taylor Janzen and Orville Peck at Thalia Hall

This past Wednesday night, Lollapalooza weekend kicked off early with a show from the festival’s performers Taylor Janzen and Orville Peck at Thalia Hall. Check out photos from the sold out show below, and take a look at more upcoming shows at Thalia Hall here.

Chicago Festivals Are Back!

As of Friday, June 11th, the city of Chicago has officially opened back up into Phase 5 (AKA we are fully open). That means that concerts and festivals that make help make the city the wonderful place that is will will be happening this year. See below for some details about what festival events will be taking place and when.

Wicker Park Fest

When: July 23-25th, 2021

Where: Wicker Park



Lollapalooza

When: July 29-August 1st, 2021

Where: Grant Park

Out of Space

When: August 5-8th // September 2-5th, 2021

Where: Canal Shores Golf Course // Temperance Beer Co

Pitchfork Music Festival

When: September 10-12th, 2021

Where: Union Park

Riot Fest

When: September 17-19th, 2021

Where: Douglas Park

PHOTOS: Goth Babe with Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma at TNK Fest

This past Thursday night, I kicked off my 4-day streak at Tomorrow Never Knows festival with the sold out show from Goth Babe, Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma. Check out photos from the show below and stay tuned for more TNK coverage coming soon.

Tomorrow Never Knows Festival 2020 Spotlight

Tomorrow Never Knows Festival continues to be one of the only reasons I don’t hibernate for the entirety of January. Along with the extreme cold that often hits Chicago during the first month of the year, TNK Fest brings some of the best artists and best shows of the year to various venues around the city. For the first edition of TNK during the new decade, there’s no shortage of great gigs to attend at the likes of Lincoln Hall, Schubas, The Hideout and Metro, but here are the top five must-see shows on ANCHR’s list for 2020.


Who: Caroline Polachek, Born Days, Desert Liminal

What: TNK kicks off at Lincoln Hall with a show that will be sure to have the crowd dancing. Headlining the evening of electro-pop is Caroline Polachek (formerly of Chairlift), known for her knack of crafting unforgettable hooks. On her 2019 album Pang, Polachek weaves her catchy melodies around diverse electronic soundscapes that stand out as individual chapters, but still manager to flow together. If Polachek’s live shows are even half as energetic as her performances with Chairlift, be prepared to be captivated by her stage presence. Also, true to the TNK fashion of showcasing local talent in Chicago, local artists Born Days and Desert Liminal will be opening up the evening.

When: Wednesday, January 15th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Tickets to this show are sold out, but you can get TNK Five Day passes here.


Who: Goth Babe, Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma

What: All three bands on this line up create whimsical tunes that’ll fuel day dreams or make the perfect sunny day soundtrack. The evening’s headliner Griff Washburn, AKA Goth Babe, lives a nomadic lifestyle in the Pacific Northwest, so it’s only fitting his songs feel like snap shots of different adventures. Chicago’s own Slow Pulp and Jude Shuma perfectly complement Goth Babe’s sound with their dreamy, psychedelic tinged songs that’ll have you grooving along.

When: Thursday, January 16th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Get tickets here.


Who: Stella Donnelly, V.V. Lightbody, and The Ophelias

What: Stella Donnelly put on one of my favorite shows in 2019 at Lincoln Hall’s sister venue, Schubas. As a songwriter, Donnelly fearlessly writes lyrics that’ll hit you right in the gut, but they’re wrapped around melodies that are damn catchy. Her stage presence is just as infectious thanks to Donnelly’s positive energy and witty banter that’ll have you laughing between songs. Alongside Cincinnati rock band The Ophelias, Chicago’s V.V. Lightbody will warm up the show with her silky vocals and captivating performance.

When: Friday, January 17th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Get tickets here.


Who: Hand Habits, Fran, Garcia Peoples, Fauvely

What: Hand Habits, the brainchild of musician and songwriter Meg Duffy, also made for one of my favorite 2019 shows, and I can’t wait to kick off 2020 with them again. On 2019’s placeholder, Duffy spills out vulnerable tales that encompass listeners with doubled vocals and warm guitar tones. Like most of the shows in our top picks, there’s no shortage of Chicago talent that complements the evening’s headliner perfectly, and Fran and Fauvely do just that on this line up. New Jersey’s Garcia Peoples round out the evening with their trippy style that pulls influence from classic psychedelic rock bands.

When: Saturday, January 18th

Where: Schubas Tavern

Get tickets here.


Who: Deeper, Corridor, and The Hecks

What: TNK Fest wraps up at Lincoln Hall with a stacked bill that highlights three bands that put a refreshing twist on post-punk and new wave influences. Deeper’s 2018 self-titled debut was one of my favorite local releases in recent years, and if their latest singles “Bennington” and “Run” act as any indication of what their sound will continue to develop into, it’s safe to say their next record will also come in at the top. Montreal’s Corridor packs punchy guitars and nostalgia-evoking tones that pair perfectly with both Chicago bands on the bill. Lastly, The Hecks will be sure to get the energy ramped up and get the crowd moving with their synth-soaked melodies.

When: Sunday, January 19th

Where: Lincoln Hall

Get tickets here.


PHOTOS: Riot Fest 2019- Day 3

Riot Fest 2019 came to a close on Sunday with yet another stacked day. Check out photos from some of the best sets, including White Reaper, Village People, Against Me!, The B-52’s and American Football.

PHOTOS: Riot Fest 2019- Day 2

The 15th anniversary of Riot Fest continued on Saturday with another packed day. Some of our favorite sets of the evening included The Struts, Rise Against, Andrew W.K. and Bloc Party—check out photos of those bands below!