Gossip Wolf is a fan of local garage rocker Mac Blackout—not just his ripping-hot jams with Mickey, the Functional Blackouts, and the Mac Blackout Band but also his far-out murals, drawings, and other artwork. A few years ago this wolf spent a whole summer searching for the rad tree stumps he’d painted around town! On Friday, August 11, new Logan Square coworking and event space Ampersand (co-owned by DJ Mary Nisi of Toast & Jam) hosts its first exhibition: a show of Blackout’s art called “Rise of the Geometric Giants.” According to cocurator Laura Ellsworth, in these works “human characteristics are merged with the geometric forms of our dwellings and technological design.” The show runs till September 22.
This wolf has often longed to join the immaculately dressed couples grooving to smooth cuts on CAN TV’s weekly dance show Can I Step With You—but these paws don’t know any steppin’ moves! On Saturday, August 12, National Steppers Society instructor Kenneth Watkins leads dance lessons at Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden from 6 to 9:30 PM as part of the Park District’s free Summerdance series. Gotta start somewhere!
Gossip Wolf is still bummed about missing Chicago rapper Cupcakke at Subterranean in April. Given that Charli XCX brought the raunchy rhyme slayer onstage at Lollapalooza, chances are she won’t be playing a room that small again soon. Fortunately, on Saturday, August 12, she’ll be part of a joint-venue event at Metro and Smart Bar called Oculus, organized by underground Chicago LGBTQ party collective Men’s Room. The bill also includes Men’s Room cofounders Harry Cross, Jacob Meehan, and Aceboombap, self-described “dancefloor ministry” Lesbifriends Cartel, San Francisco synth wizard Bézier, Discwoman affiliate Bearcat, and Brooklyn MC Mister Wallace squaring off against Chicago rapper Kaycee Ortiz. Tickets are $25, $20 in advance. v
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