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Live Recap: Wolf Alice at The Vic

November 12, 2021 / Rachel Zyzda

This past Monday night, Wolf Alice packed the Vic Theatre for a sold out gig in honor of the group’s third album Blue Weekend, which came out in June 2021. Though it’d been more than three years since the British quartet took the stage in Chicago, the rambunctious and eager fans greeted bandmates Ellie Rowsell, Joff Oddie, Joel Amey, and Theo Ellis with warm cheers. The reunion between Wolf Alice and all of their devoted fans felt like the kinship between old pals who can go years without seeing each other, yet they don’t miss a beat once they’re finally back together.

Going back to the earlier days of Wolf Alice, they’ve always exhibited an expansive and exploratory sound—particularly with vocalist and lyricist Ellie Rowsell’s dynamic range. For example, the hushed and melancholy tones of the title track on Wolf Alice’s 2013 "Blush” EP starkly contrast to the rowdy riffs and wailing vocals used in songs like “Fluffy” from their 2015 debut record My Love Is Cool. In their newest material, the band has honed in on that skillset and built upon their existing sound with nuanced maturity that elevated their already excellent live presence to another level.

The setlist on Monday night called back to the aforementioned debut album—including the wildly popular “Moaning Lisa Smile”— as well as 2017’s Visions Of A Life between the new songs. The perfectly crafted selection of songs allowed for fans to experience gentle and refined moments that juxtaposed moments of furious spontaneity. Wolf Alice has stated that Blue Weekend as a project is largely the product of Rowsell’s realization of the role of music in our lives, of the importance of the songs she writes. Seeing the crowd’s reaction at Wolf Alice’s live show demonstrated that importance of their music and Rowsell’s lyrics in a tangible and raw way.

If you missed out on the spectacle of Wolf Alice’s Chicago show, relive some of the magic with the photo gallery below, including the support artist Bria.

See where you can catch Wolf Alice perform next here, and pick up a copy of Blue Weekend here.

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categories / Music, Photos, Reviews, Gigs
tags / Wolf Alice, New Music, Live Recap, Live Music, The Vic, Bria, Blue Weekend, Photo recap, Concert Photography

Live Recap: Michigander with Hollyy and Stay Outside

November 02, 2021 / Rachel Zyzda

Last week, Michigander returned to Chicago to headline a sold out show at Lincoln Hall, in support of the new EP Everything Will Be Ok Eventually. I had the chance to see Michigander perform a set to a large crowd at Lollapalooza earlier this summer, but hearing the new music in one of my favorite venues felt so much more special.

The evening began with support from Chicago’s own Hollyy and Stay Outside from our neighbors in Indiana. Stay Outside had the crowd buzzing about their infectious energy and anthemic indie rock after the set, and Hollyy won the room over with their soulful crooning and layered arrangements.

When it came time for Jason Singer and his bandmates in Michigander to grace the stage, the room radiated with a familiar sense of welcoming a friend home. Despite being from Michigan, Chicago holds a lot of love for the band, and Singer even acknowledged how good the city has always been to them as he chatted between songs, recalling their first ever house show here.

The performance at Lincoln Hall followed a long string of tour dates for the band, who has been hard at work out on the road since concerts got the green light to pick back up. During the entire show, the band exuded an electrifying sense of energy and ease performing with one another, showcasing a tight-knit sound that’s only continued to evolve as they play more music together. Whether it was the band jamming out an extended arrangement on certain songs like “Circles” or them joking around with a School of Rock bit, the members of Michigander made it clear they were enjoying every second of their set.

The audience reciprocated the band’s mood by dancing and singing along, and I even overheard other fans chatting and bonding about their past experiences at Michigander shows between the different sets that evening. One particular group of dedicated fans (self-proclaimed “oldest fans”) had been following the tour around the Midwest, and they received a special shout out from Singer onstage.

While 2020 (and a large part of 2021) brought on many lows and dark times, it almost feels like Michigander summoned the light at the end of the tunnel with Everything Will Be Ok Eventually. Towards the end of their set, Singer acknowledged that title as a sort of mantra to get him through the hard times of the pandemic, and as I experienced the uplifting feeling in the room during the show, it truly felt like everything was more than ok in that moment.

Check out ANCHR’s photo gallery of the evening below, and see where you can catch Michigander on the road next here.

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categories / Reviews, Music, Gigs
tags / Michigander, Hollyy, Stay Outside, Lincoln Hall, Photo Set, Live Music, Review

Pitchfork Festival 2021: Friday Recap and Photos

September 11, 2021 / Rachel Zyzda

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.

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categories / Gigs, Festival, Music, Photos, Reviews
tags / Pitchfork Music Festival, Pitchfork, Chicago Festivals, Live Music, Live Recap, Photos, Dehd, Hop Along, Black Midi, The Fiery Furnaces, Animal Collective, Kelly Lee Owens, Big Thief, Yaeji, Phoebe Bridgers

7 Pitchfork Fest 2021 Acts To Get There Early For

September 03, 2021 / Rachel Zyzda

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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categories / Music, Gigs, Festival
tags / Dehd, Divino Nino, Dogleg, Oso Oso, Tomberlin, Horsegirl, Special Interest, Music Festival, Pitchfork, Pitchfork Music Festival

PHOTOS: SWMRS, BEACH GOONS, and DESTROY BOYS at Concord Hall 04.19.19

April 22, 2019 / Emily Nava

On Friday, April 19th, SWMRS drew a packed house to Concord Music Hall for their show with Beach Goons and Destroy Boys. Check out photos of all three sets below, shot by Emily Nava.

See where you can catch SWMRS in a city near you here, and keep up with them on Facebook // Twitter // Instagram. Lastly, listen to their new album Berkeley’s On Fire in full below!

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categories / Gigs, Music, Photos
tags / SWMRS, Beach Goons, Destroy Boys, Photo Gallery, Concord Music Hall, Photography, Photo Set

PHOTOS: This Is The Kit and Aimee Mann 7.30.18

August 06, 2018 / Rachel Zyzda

The city's free Summer concert series continued this past Monday night with This is the Kit and Aimee Mann. Check out photos from the show below, and see the rest of the upcoming concerts here.

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categories / Music, Gigs, Photos
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Pitchfork Festival Recap 2018

July 29, 2018 / Rachel Zyzda

Thousands of music fans returned to the familiar stomping grounds of Union Park for another successful Pitchfork Music Festival this past weekend. Looking at the thunderstorm-filled weather forecast during the days leading up to the festival, many of the festival goers speculated if the schedule would stay on track and if any sets would be canceled, but surprisingly the weather turned out to be close to perfect with minimal rain and lots of breeze. In addition to the ideal festival weather, P4K 2018 also featured more Chicago artists than it ever has in the past, and they also had a fair balance of female and male performers, which is something many other music festivals have failed to provide with recent line ups. If you missed out on the festival this year, dive in below to see what other standout moments happened over the weekend.

Friday

Julie Byrne and her her harpist eased the crowd into Day 1

Friday morning and early afternoon did end up having some rain showers, but by the time singer songwriter Julie Byrne took the stage just before 3PM, the drizzle had died down, leaving a cloudy, cool breeze in the air. Bryne's mellow music and ethereal vocals perfectly complimented the gray skies, giving everyone a tranquil introduction to their festival weekend. Byrne's live band also included a rare harpist, which further hypnotized the crowd and eased them into what would inevitably be a long weekend of lots of great music. Byrne also gave a shout out to Chicago when she reminisced on her time she spent living here, before playing her song "Melting Grid" from her 2017 album Not Even Happiness.

Julien Baker Captivated a Large Crowd on her Own

Most of the time when solo artists perform live, they're joined by a live band to help them fill out the arrangements and make a more dynamic performance, but Julien Baker took the stage at Pitchfork completely alone at the beginning of her set. Armed with her guitar and her powerful vocals, Baker completely captivated the large crowd that overflowed the area around the Blue Stage, opening with "Turn Out The Lights." After performing the title track of her latest album, the chilling track "Appointments" from the same album, Baker was eventually joined by a violinist, who added a special touch to Baker's narratives. Again, it's rare to witness a solo performance as powerful as Baker's but with her vocal gusto and emotive stage presence, her shows are always something special.

SYD Celebrated The Internet's New Album

Lead vocalist of The Internet and solo artist SYD hit one of the festival's main stages in the early evening hours, bringing her silky smooth vocals and effortlessly cool demeanor to the growing crowd. Earlier that day, The Internet had released their brand new album Hive Mind, and fans and Pitchfork were eager to see if any of the new songs would make it into SYD's solo set. After performing songs like "All About Me" and "Got Her Own" from 2017's Fin, as well as her Kaytranada collaboration "You're The One," SYD did in fact bring out some of The Internet to perform a few of their brand new tracks. The hypnotizing set finished with one of The Internet's most popular tracks, "Girl," allowing for the audience to get the full experience of SYD's discography.

Big Thief Made a Comeback

It seem's like the members of Brooklyn's Big Thief never take a day off; after releasing full albums in 2016 and 2017 and touring in between, Buck Meek of the group also somehow managed to release his debut solo album and tour it this year. Buck Meek has played a couple of times in Chicago as his solo project, but this performance at Pitchfork was the first time the full band had played a show in town this year, and they were welcomed back by the Chicago audience with open arms as they performed crowd favorites from both of their albums. Their show stood out among all of the performances of the weekend with lead vocalist Adrianne Lenker's emotive delivery of her narratives and the magnetic chemistry among the group.

Courtney Barnett Had a Hype Man

Before Courtney Barnett performed as the second to last act on Friday, flocks of fans had gathered in front of the red stage, anxiously buzzing for the Australian singer to take the stage. A lone fan started a chant for their apparent favorite song off Barnett's new album Tell Me How You Really Feel: "Nameless, Faceless." Before long, the majority of the crowd was chanting the song title along with the no longer lone fan and the anticipation for the show peaked. Barnett and her band rewarded the enthusiastic audience with another stand out set of the weekend, amplifying the already high energy on the studio versions of Barnett's records.

Tame Impala Made it Rain

Following Courtney Barnett's set, fellow Australians in Tame Impala hit the Green stage, closing out the first night of the festival. Before they even walked onstage, trippy lighting and visuals illuminated the stage, prefacing their psychedelic rock tunes. A couple of songs in, the rain that had been looming in the forecast all day finally fell upon the massive crowd watching Tame Impala, falling just after the band had already showered the front rows with confetti. The rain couldn't put a damper on the infectiously jovial mood of the audience, and the rain even added another dynamic layer to the multicolored visuals swirling around on the stage screens. Just as soon as it hit though, the rain had passed leaving the crowd to dance around in the aftermath of the storm.

Saturday

Paul Cherry Played His Debut Album in Full

Chicago's own Paul Cherry checked a huge accomplishment off his bucket list when he opened up the second day of the festival. Cherry brought his dreamy psych-pop debut album to life with the help of a full band, which included Kevin Krauter from Hoops and Mat Roberts from Mild High Club. The super group performed the 2018 album Flavour in full--"even the instrumentals," as Cherry pointed out. Although the early set definitely had a thinner crowd than the later performances, plenty of festival goers made sure to get there on time and show their support to one of their own.

Zola Jesus Made a Theatrical Entrance

Singer songwriter Zola Jesus took the stage in the early afternoon to suspenseful introduction music, donning a layered red dress that covered her entire body and face. She began her set singing through the garment, eventually pushing the red veil back to reveal her face. The extensive catalog of Zola Jesus explores different sonic pockets, ranging from delicate piano melodies to ominous synths, but her powerful and evocative vocals always stand out on her records. During her Pitchfork performance, Zola Jesus and her band brought all those aspects of her records to life, pairing them with a simple yet theatrical production featuring her outfit and choreography. Despite the heaviness of her songs, between them, the singer made light-hearted banter with the crowd, shouting out any audience members from Wisconsin, where she had attended college.

Moses Sumney Walked the Catwalk

Moses Sumney's incredible vocal range and live band lineup that even included orchestral instruments would have been enough to make his set stand out as a highlight, but his showmanship and interaction with the audience is what really set his show apart from others. Sumney worked the entire stage as he played songs from his 2017 album Aromanticism and his latest single "Make Out in My Car," giving the whole audience his attention throughout the show. Towards the end of his set, Sumney got even more up close and personal with the crowd when he left the stage to walk up and down the catwalk barricade in front of the stage.

Girlpool Reminisced About Myspace

Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad, better known as Girlpool took the Blue Stage on Saturday afternoon, providing festival goers a chance to sit back and relax to their laidback indie rock tunes. Girlpool have a sound that's instantly like-able, drawing in a huge crowd of both their avid listeners as well as curious passerby looking to discover new music at a festival. Between songs, the pair made witty banter to keep the entertainment rolling; Harmony Tividad even reminisced about Myspace at one point, sipping Gatorade and recalling that she had once included the drink in her Myspace bio. The duo's natural stage presence continued to add another layer to their performance, making them a fan favorite.

Blood Orange Brought a Production and New Music

Dev Hynes, known by his stage name Blood Orange, returned to Pitchfork Music Festival this year, delivering a full production and new music. Hynes and his full band performed in front of revolving videos being projected on the screen behind them. In addition to the visual layer added to the performance, Hynes added choreography and dance moves as well as backup singers to fill out the layered production. While most of the set consisted of tracks from his 2016 album Freetown Sound, Hynes threw a couple of new songs in, including "Charcoal Baby" from his upcoming album Negro Swan, out August 24th.

Sunday

Kweku Collins Had High School Classmates in the Audience

Evanston rapper and producer has been buzzed about in Chicago for a couple of years now, but his early Sunday performance marked his Pitchfork Chicago debut. Despite his 2:30PM start time on the third of the festival and the rainy morning, Collins still drew a large crowd of enthusiastic fans. Among the throngs of festival goers echoing the lyrics back to Collins, he recognized some of the audience members as his former high school classmates. Being 21, Collins admitted that his high school days weren't that long ago, but you could tell it meant a lot to him to have some hometown support. Collins also used his performance time to put his platform to good use; during his set he addressed one of the common issues at music festivals. "Guys watch your space. Your presence is not a burden until you make that shit a burden," continuing on to add that if we all go about it the right way and be respectful, everyone can have a great time. His statement set the tone for the final day of the festival and left everyone walking away with a smile.

RAVYN LENAE Made the Crowd Pinky Promise

Immediately following Kweku Collins' performance, another young Chicago artist took the Red Stage across the way: Ravyn Lenae. The R&B singer certainly made an entrance when she sauntered onstage draped in a sparkling fringe dress and carrying a microphone covered in red faux fur. Lenae's impressive range and vocal chops backed up her glittery stage set up, and she quickly had the crowd wrapped around her finger. Early on in her set, Lenae asked for the audience to raise their pinkies and promise to dance and sing along to her music, and they happily obliged.

Japanese Breakfast Collaborated With An Old Tour-mate

Michelle Zauner, known under her moniker of Japanese Breakfast, made her Pitchfork Festival debut with her usual exuberant stage presence, projecting that positivity out into the crowd. Following her incredible set that featured songs from her two albums as well as a cover of "Dreams" by The Cranberries, Zauner returned to the Blue Stage a short time later, this time joining her former tour mate (Sandy) Alex G during his set. The two had toured together in 2017, and at Pitchfork they reunited to perform the crowd favorite "Brite Boy."

Chicago Artists Made the City Proud

Chicago remained the name of the game on Sunday at Pitchfork; following the performances of Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, Kweku Collins, and Ravyn Lenae, the Chicago acts just kept rolling. Rapper Noname delivered a special show with her full backing band and a few guest appearances from her fellow Chicagoans Ravyn Lenae, Smino, Saba, and Joseph Chilliams. The guests during Noname's set showcased the collaborative nature in this city's music scene.

The legendary Chaka Khan, another Chicago native, took the Red Stage next, keeping the hometown theme going. Her set consisted of nonstop hits, from her solo songs like "I'm Every Woman" to "Ain't Nobody," as well as songs from her funk band Rufus, the crowd never stopped singing along.

Lauryn Hill Actually Showed Up

Throughout the entire day and even the entire weekend, festival goers continued to speculate if Lauryn Hill would show up, and if she did show up, how late she would be. The legendary artist has earned herself an infamous reputation for cancelling shows last minute or showing up hours late. Needless to say, no one really had high expectations as the night began to come to a close and the headliner was scheduled to begin, but everyone got a pleasant surprise when Ms. Hill's DJ took the stage right on time. After about thirty minutes of hype brought on by the DJ and her other band members who began to trickle onstage, Lauryn Hill finally graced the Green Stage, rewarding the swarm of eager fans that spanned multiple generations. The weekend ended on a high note as the festival goers got to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill with the icon, who has since cancelled some of her upcoming tour dates.

Check out more photos of the entire weekend below

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categories / Music, Photos, Reviews, Festival, Gigs
tags / Pitchfork Music Festival, Music Festival, Photo Gallery, Julie Byrne, Julien Baker, SYD, Big Thief, Courtney Barnett, Tame Impala, Paul Cherry, Zola Jesus, Moses Sumney, Girl Pool, Blood Orange, Kweku Collins, Ravyn Lenea, Japanese Breakfast, Noname, Smino, Chaka Khan, Lauryn Hill

SXSW 2018 Spotlight

March 11, 2018 / Rachel Zyzda

It's that time of year again, where thousands of music fans, musicians, and music industry folks flock down to Austin, Texas for a jam packelizd week of endless live music. Going over the countless events and showcases that just keep rolling in, it's hard not to feel overwhelmed about who to see and what to do at the annationnual SXSW music festival. While we can't really help with the problem of wanting to be in 5 places at once, we can help you focus in on some of the key bands to see this week. Check out our list of our top ten must-see acts at SXSW 2018 below, and make sure you give our SXSW Spotify playlist a listen for even more recommendations.

Shame

London's buzzy post-punk rockers Shame have already been making a name for themselves all over The States, going on a headlining tour surrounding their debut album, Songs of Praise, which came out in January. Everybody and anybody who has seen them live seems to only have positive things to say about their raw and rambunctious energy onstage, and there will be no shortage of opportunities to catch one of their rowdy performances at this year's SXSW. Make sure you catch them this year before they move on to bigger and bigger venues. See their SXSW schedule here.

For Fans Of: Idles, Ought, The Vaccines

Start With: "Lampoon," "Dust on Trial," "Concrete"

Nation of Language

Fronted by Ian Devaney, this Brooklyn based trio manages to borrow components from past generations of musical geniuses, without delivering boring reiterations. Nation of Language recently toured with The Wombats, instantly winning over the crowd with their addictive synth melodies that sound like they belong on a soundtrack for a John Hughes film. While the band have yet to put out an album, they've gained traction and attention nationally with a handful of single releases. See their SXSW schedule here.

For Fans Of: The Psychedelic Furs, Night Riots, John Maus

Start With: "I've Thought About Chicago," "On Division St," "What Does the Normal Man Feel?"

Post Animal

If you're an avid ANCHR reader, this definitely isn't the first you've heard about Post Animal....and it definitely won't the last time you'll hear their name if you're going to SXSW this year. The Chicago based outfit had an insane year in 2017, touring across the entire country, and 2018 is set to be even bigger for them, rightfully so. Their shows never lack in energy and over the years they've expanded their live arrangements while keeping a tight sound. Following their rigorous touring schedule surrounding SXSW, Post Animal will release their official debut album via Polyvinyl Records on April 20th. Their summer touring schedule includes cities across the country and appearances at major festivals like Shaky Knees and Bonnaroo, so don't miss out on the abundance of chances to see Post Animal at SXSW before they blow up even more. Check out their full schedule here.

For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, King Gizzard, POND

Start With: "When I Get Home," "Special Moment," "Ralphie"

Ron Gallo

Nashville's Ron Gallo might be another familiar name to ANCHR readers, as we've frequently covered him here. Gallo has already had a great year, playing festivals like Governor's Ball and Lollapalooza in support of his debut solo album Heavy Meta, but he's managed to keep cranking out new music despite a grueling tour schedule. His live show not only highlights the chemistry between him and his band, but he always encourages kindness among his audiences, working to keep his shows a safe space, while also making his audience laugh with his quirky between-song anecdotes. If you're looking to hear some great music and have a laugh, make sure you go see Ron Gallo this year. Check out his schedule here.

For Fans Of: White Reaper, Diane Coffee, Naked Giants

Start With: "Put The Kids To Bed," "Really Nice Guys," "All the Punks are Domesticated"

Caroline Rose

NYC's Caroline Rose just put out her debut album Loner at the end of February, and with insanely catchy choruses, clever lyrical quips, and thoughtful themes, it's been nothing but well received. I have yet to see one of Caroline Rose's show, but based on the light-hearted tone of her album, her live show will undoubtedly be a blast. Lucky for us, there's no shortage of opportunities to see her down in Austin this week. See her plentiful schedule here.

For Fans Of: Liz Cooper & The Stampede, Angel Olsen, Courtney Barnett

Start With: "Bikini," "More of the Same," "Money"

BAUM

Currently based in LA, the NYC native Sabrina Teitelbaum has been garnering all sorts of praise over her material released as BAUM. Although her releases are limited to only three official singles, BAUM threads powerful and empowering themes through catchy pop melodies. Her debut EP will be released on 3/16 during SXSW, so make sure you catch one of her shows to hear the new tracks live. See BAUM's schedule here.

For Fans Of: Grace Mitchell, Ryn Weaver, VÉRITE

Start With: "This Body," "Hot Water"

The Nude Party

If any of the bands on this list fall into the don't-judge-a-band-by-their-name category, it's this band. The Nude Party spices up their rock'n'roll tunes with a hint of twang and psychedelia. During their shows, the band members feed off one another's energy so well, and their audiences quickly reciprocate the infectious energy. See where you can catch on of their rowdy shows here.

For Fans Of: Black Lips, Meatbodies, Frankie & The Witch Fingers

Start With: "Time To Go," "Life's a Joke," "Poor Boy Walking Blues"

Acid Dad

NYC rockers Acid Dad just put out their debut self-titled album on Friday, and they'll be celebrating all week in Austin, in the midst of an on-going national tour. The four piece have a distinct sound that blends psych and punk rock perfectly, and it translates incredibly well in a live setting. Check them out at SXSW at one of their plethora of live shows; information here.

For Fans Of: Honduras, No Parents, NE-HI

Start With: "Don't Get Taken," "Come Outside," "Fool's Gold"

HINDS

Another name that should be familiar if you're a regular ANCHR reader, HINDS crafts irresistibly lively and light-hearted lo-fi rock tunes with melodies that'll get lodged in your head for days. Their live show is really where it's at...the quartet from Madrid exude so much chemistry and project endless positivity and energy whenever they take the stage, making their show one you cannot miss if you're going to SXSW. Luckily, HINDS have a new album on the way, so they will be hitting the Austin pavement hard this week. See their packed schedule here.

For Fans Of: Twin Peaks, The Big Moon, Cherry Glazerr

Start With: "Bamboo," "Garden," and "New For You"

Liza Anne

Liza Anne's incredibly candid and raw songwriting style makes her music effortlessly relatable. The Nashville singer-songwriter's third album, Fine But Dying, showcases her vulnerability in the most beautiful way, and the eleven tracks remain cohesive while also exploring different sonic pallets. Her live shows take that authenticity and amplifies it in a stunningly captivating way, so don't miss your chance to see her in Austin.

For Fans Of: Japanese Breakfast, Tennis, Alvvays

Start With: "Small Talks," "Socks," "Paranoia"

There you have it! Again, don't forget to check out our Spotify list for even more recommendations. Also remember that these artists are all playing official showcases, but there's tons of unofficial showcases by both official and unofficial artists throughout the week. Keep your eyes on our social media for more unofficial suggestions, and make sure you check out Treehouse Records' showcase on 3/16 as well as all of the events put on by Howdy Gals here.

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Music
tags / SXSW, Preview, Music Festival, Post Animal, Liza Anne, HINDS, BAUM, The Nude Party, Acid Dad, Caroline Rose, Ron Gallo, Shame

LIVE: Against Me! With Bleached and The Dirty Nil

October 04, 2017 / Abraham Piña

Last Saturday, Concord Music Hall ended its night with a sea of crowd surfers floating to the thrash punk rifts of Against Me!

Earlier that night, the Canadian trio, The Dirty Nil, was the first of a three band act to perform at the Concord Music Hall. These guys aren’t your average opener. With their raw and ravishing vocals blended with their punk rock rifts, The Dirty Nil managed to pump the crowd up with songs off their new album Higher Power.

Next up, Bleached played more than just a solid set this night. The band delivered their new, deep-cut punk single “Can You Deal?" The crowd couldn’t help but jump around and sing along to it. From songs on their recent album Welcome The Worms to their single “Carter," the surf rock group expelled a high dose of stellar tunes into the muggy air of the sold out concert venue.

Finally, with the crowd screaming for more noise and sound, Against Me! walked on to the stage. A big portion of the crowd was made of mid to late twenty years olds. So when the band played “I Was a Teenage Anarchist” early off in their set, it certainly launched everyone back to being 17 and those accompanying feelings of rebellion. The band managed to cover a massive variety of their songs and exceeded the expectation of the audience. One of the biggest closing songs the band performed that night was “Thrash Unreal. In unison, the crowd yelled out the lyrics and then the chorus hit. From the sea of fans, the crowd surfers emerge and glide across the floor. The floor literally shook to its foundation to close out an unreal performance.

See all of Against Me!'s upcoming tour dates here, and listen to their latest album in full below!

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categories / Gigs, Music, Reviews
tags / Against Me!, Bleached, The Dirty Nil, Concord Music Hall, Concert Photography, Live music

PHOTOS: Loufest 2017

September 17, 2017 / Rachel Zyzda

We had a blast at Loufest last weekend seeing some of our favorite artists perform across three stages. Read our Day 1 and Day 2 highlights, and now check out our full photo gallery from both days below.

Saturday gallery featuring Hippo Campus, Middle Kids, Ron Gallo, Cage the Elephant. Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and Snoop Dog.

Sunday gallery featuring Future Thieves, Mondo Cozmo, The Record Company, Lizzo, Noname, and Weezer.

Stay tuned for our interviews from Loufest!

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categories / Festival, Gigs, Music, Photos
tags / Loufest, Photo Gallery, Concert Photography, Middle Kids, Hippo Campus, Ron Gallo, Cage the Elephant, Snoop Dog, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Mondo Cozmo, Future Thieves, Lizzo, Noname, The Record Company, Weezer