After D.C.-area rock group Two Inch Astronaut went on hiatus in 2018, Sam Goblin decamped for the midwest and began making music as Mister Goblin. He’s settled in Indiana, but to assemble his backing band he’s drawn from the deep well of talent in Chicago: the three-piece lineup on the April album Bunny (Exploding in […]
Tag: Seth Engel
Posted inMusic
The Chicago Children’s Choir drops a concept album inspired by the Odyssey
Since its founding in 1956, the Chicago Children’s Choir has grown into a cultural juggernaut and an essential ambassador of the city’s musical spirit. Nearly 5,000 kids ages eight to 18 participate in the nonprofit’s in-school and after-school educational programs, which prioritize racial diversity and reach students from low- to moderate-income homes via sliding-scale tuition […]
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Veteran Chicago rockers Great Deceivers bid adieu with a somber but vital self-titled album
It’s difficult to describe the vastness of Chicago indie rock and punk without mentioning Great Deceivers, partly because of the four-piece’s pedigree. Guitarist Russell Harrison and bassist-vocalist Ben Rudolph play in unforgivingly ferocious hardcore unit C.H.E.W., while drummer Seth Engel makes delightfully solemn indie rock as Options and has been part of far too many […]
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Floatie finally release their long-finished first album
Chicago “frog rock” four-piece Floatie talk about the lost year of COVID, finding inspiration in adventure novels, and their complicated but congenial songs.
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Seth Engel makes melancholy sound sweet with his power-pop project, Options
Chicago punk multi-instrumentalist Seth Engel can deliver a sweet, melancholy riff so gracefully that you’d think he lives inside the guitar chords from Jawbreaker’s Dear You. Engel, who records solo material under the name Options, is a busy young man about town. He drums with mathy progressive trio Pyramid Scheme as well as heavy indie-rockers […]
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Chicago rock polymath Seth Engel continues making some of the best power-pop in town with Vivid Trace
Unassuming Chicago musical wunderkind Seth Engel has his hand in too many musical projects to print in a short concert preview; even listed on his website, the titles of albums he’s produced, engineered, or played on take up a great deal of real estate. Suffice to say, if you’ve spent any time at this year […]
Posted inBlogs
Chicago rock group Options raises funds for Standing Rock Medic & Healer Council
Seth Engel’s solo project Options released a full-length of emo-tinged power pop two months ago, and he follows it up with an EP of B sides to help fight the Dakota Access Pipeline.
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Chicago’s grassroots rock bands brighten the corners they’re in
New local rock releases from Bleach Party, Coaster, Fake Limbs, Lala Lala, Strawberry Jacuzzi, and Swimsuit Addition
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Shannon Candy of Strawberry Jacuzzi launches her label in time for Cassette Store Day
Shannon Candy of Strawberry Jacuzzi launches her label in time for Cassette Store Day, Chicago musicians turn up in Joe Swanberg’s Easy, and more.
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Singer-songwriter Jennifer Hall celebrates her first studio material in four years
Singer-songwriter Jennifer Hall celebrates her first studio material in four years, Electric Hawk play a release party for their long-awaited second album, and more.
Posted inBlogs
Reader premiere: Tattoos, the nervy new EP from local rock outfit Coaster
Take a listen to the exclusive Reader stream of the forthcoming EP from local rock group Coaster.
Posted inBlogs
12 O’Clock Track: Options’ somber ode to a failed friendship
Options main man Seth Engel delivers a melancholic, stripped-down tune about a failed friendship with “Go.”
Posted inBlogs
Reader’s Agenda Wed 10/16: Hey, I’m a Big Fan, Bedroom Sons, and the Jazz Art Record Collective
What’s on the Reader‘s Agenda for Wednesday, October 16