When she filmed the music video for “OMG BRITT,” a trap anthem off of her new record, Natural Brown Prom Queen, Brittney Parks was determined to smash a violin on camera. Not just any violin, either: She wanted to destroy her very first instrument, the one on which she’d taught herself to play by ear […]
Tag: violin
Posted inMusic
A linchpin of Chicago’s 1980s avant-garde has died in Florida
Daniel Scanlan played in groups as diverse as Liof Munimula, the Vandermark Quartet, Broken Wire, and Church Key.
Posted inFilm
Here are some of the best bets at this year’s Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival
Political strife, family drama, bad one-night stands, protest rock, the dark Web, and the Holocaust: all in 30 minutes or less.
Posted inNews & Politics
A Chicago cop’s daughter’s suicide sets family on mission
Carli Blanco shot herself to death at 14, highlighting the growing teen suicide risk.
Posted inMusic
Folk polymath Rhiannon Giddens honors the musical cultures of the oppressed
Carolina Chocolate Drops cofounder Rihannon Giddens sings fables of struggle from a diversity of peoples and eras.
Posted inMusic
Sonnenzimmer cofounder Nick Butcher on one of the TR-808’s earliest star turns
Current musical obsessions of artists Nick Butcher and Alex Valentine and Reader music critic Peter Margasak
Posted inMusic
Billie Howard of Aperiodic on Sia’s stripped-down United Center show
Current musical obsessions of Billie Howard from Akosuen and Aperiodic, Bow & Hammer violinist Kathryn Satoh, and the Reader’s Philip Montoro
Posted inBlogs
‘There’s no one sadder than someone who’s sat on their own violin,’ says a Chicago luthier
Ryan McLaughlin makes and repairs stringed instruments.
Posted inMusic
Lily Allen’s almost annoyingly catchy Sheezus and 15 more record reviews
This month’s stack of record reviews will get you better acquainted with Ben Frost’s defibrillating body music, Dawn Golden’s alchemical electro-pop, and lots more.
Posted inMusic
In Rotation: Saxophonist Nick Mazzarella on John Coltrane in his own words
Current musical obsessions of saxophonist Nick Mazzarella and drummer Frank Rosaly
Posted inMusic
The Secret History of Chicago Music: Captain Walter Dyett
DuSable High School band director Captain Walter Dyett taught generations of future stars.
Posted inMusic
Virtuosity without borders
Carla Kihlstedt combines avant-garde pop, contemporary classical, and dreams.
Posted inMusic
In Rotation: CSO violinist Blair Milton on Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
Current musical obsessions of CSO violinist Blair Milton, and violinist Barbara Queen
Posted inBlogs
Image X Sound
Tatsu Aoki and Jonathan Chen perform live accompaniment to Aoki’s films, Friday 3/18 at Chicago Filmmakers.
Posted inBlogs
9/11—Free Music and Dance Workshops
The Academy of Music and Dance celebrates its grand opening.