Legendary artist and writer (and onetime Chicago mayoral candidate) Cynthia Plaster Caster passed away in April after a lengthy illness, but Gossip Wolf isn’t done mourning. Future generations of local musicians and fans won’t get to bask in the splendor of her warm, glowing personality—thankfully her famous plaster casts of the private parts of musicians […]
Tag: Sen Morimoto
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Lala Lala questions identity and isolation with I Want the Door to Open
Lala Lala’s ebullient new fourth album, I Want the Door to Open, feels like a musical antithesis of the isolation and insularity of the past 18 months. The project of Chicago songwriter Lillie West, Lala Lala rose to prominence with 2018’s The Lamb (Hardly Art), which was recorded live with a three-piece band. IWTDTO, by […]
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Chicago musical wonder Macie Stewart takes command of her path on Mouth Full of Glass
Macie Stewart has her hands in so many different musical projects it’s a wonder she finds the time to sleep. She coleads enchanting art-rock band Ohmme, of course, which she cofounded with Sima Cunningham in 2014, but aside from her best-known gig, Stewart plays violin in a duo with cellist Lia Kohl, makes up one-third […]
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Nuanced Chicago rapper Qari drops a rare solo release
Qari’s new solo EP IGOTPROBLEMS emphasizes his soulful melodicism.
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Rapper and poet Mykele Deville signs on as the Hideout’s new booker
Rapper and poet Mykele Deville signs on as the Hideout’s new booker, ghetto-house pioneer DJ Deeon makes his debut for the Teklife label, and more.
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Bandcamp Friday returns for 2021
You can jump-start your Bandcamp Friday browsing with nearly 100 newly Reader-recommended releases.
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Chicago’s independent musicians stepped up their activism in 2020
With concerts and tours on hold for most of the year, Chicago’s music scene doubled down on mutual aid and fundraising for community groups.
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Art-pop wizard Sen Morimoto takes over booking at the Hideout
Art-pop wizard Sen Morimoto takes over booking at the Hideout, and self-described “bootgaze” crew the Keener Family return with a second EP.
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Bandcamp Friday soldiers on
The nation may be diseased and broken, but you can still use your Bandcamp dollars to do a small kindness for musicians and labels.
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Chicago art-pop wonder Sen Morimoto captures the magic of his community
Chicago art-pop wizard Sen Morimoto made national news in July, when the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events removed him from its Millennium Park at Home virtual summertime music series. Morimoto had prerecorded a series of mystical, gentle musical movements, but he began his set by delivering a brief statement lightly criticizing Mayor Lori […]
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If enough of us celebrate Independent Venue Week, we might have one next year too
For Independent Venue Week, the Reader has rounded up some favorite stories about Chicago music venues past and present.
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Lightfoot hijacks Lollapalooza
Did Chicago musicians booked for Lollapalooza know their sets might look like an endorsement of Mayor Lightfoot?
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Nnamdï grows up on Brat
Prolific musical polymath Nnamdï uses his new solo album to teach himself something about work-life balance.
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Kaina gives her soulful R&B the intimacy of real and chosen family
On her debut album, Chicago singer-songwriter Kaina takes strength from her favorite people: her friends and collaborators, her childhood mentors, her immigrant parents.
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The best overlooked Chicago hip-hop of 2018
Chicago’s hip-hop scene overflows with such variety and abundance that it’s impossible to show enough love to every great release—but that’s no reason not to try.