Gossip Wolf is sad to report that Laura “Lulu” Callier—who performs as local synth jammer Gel Set and half of duos Simulation and God Vol. 1—is leaving town for Los Angeles at the end of the month. Bummer! She’ll play a characteristically idiosyncratic final Chicago show at Near North space Savage Smyth (920 N. Franklin) at noon on Thursday, June 23; opening are noise dudes Andy Ortmann, Jeremiah Fisher (Oakeater), Anthony Janas, and Peter Speer. Callier is also having a going-away party at Rainbo the evening of Monday, June 27. See you there!
On Thursday, June 23, Lakeview gay bar Manhole hosts what’s claiming to be the midwest’s biggest queer hip-hop showcase. Among the acts on the bill at H.W.A (bet you can guess what it stands for) is this wolf’s favorite bear MC, Big Dipper—even though he lives in New York now, he still represents Chicago. The lineup also includes two current Chicagoans: Mister Wallace (a member of BanjeeReport and a resident at underground party Men’s Room) and trans MC Kaycee Ortiz (who just dropped her debut mixtape, Beach Street). LA’s Rica Shay and NYC’s Cazwell round out the bill; tickets are $20 ($40 for VIP), and the show starts at 7:30 PM.
It’s been a minute since Gossip Wolf checked in with rollicking punk band Mama, and a lot has changed. Front man Chris DeArcangelis says he’s got a whole new lineup—for a few weeks he’s been playing with bassist Joe Montanaro (the Rubs, Son of a Gun), guitarist Dan Rico (Ego), and drummer Matt Dudzik (Poison Boys). The new Mama make their public debut on Wednesday, June 29, at Door No. 3 (with Japanese rockers Thunderroads), and you can also catch them the next night at Reed’s Local. DeArcangelis says Mama have a seven-inch called Too Good to Be True due on Maximum Pelt in the fall and will soon begin working on their debut LP, which HoZac plans to release before the end of the year. v
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