On Monday, August 1, jazz trombonist Jeb Bishop will move back to Chicago after a ten-year absence. Bishop and his wife headed to North Carolina in spring 2012 (Carrboro and later Durham) and then in early 2016 to Boston. While living in Boston, Bishop built a new creative community that included at least one old […]
Tag: Weasel Walter
Posted inMusic
‘Brutal prog’ maestro Weasel Walter debuts a Chicago lineup of the Flying Luttenbachers
Guitarist and drummer Weasel Walter, the “brutal prog” purveyor best known as longtime leader of the Flying Luttenbachers, left Chicago in 2003 for San Francisco and later moved to New York—but he sure has been popping up around here an awful lot lately. This wolf is starting to suspect he’s living in our town once […]
Posted inMusic
The Devil Bell Hippies: Chicago’s greatest avant-garde band that only kind of exists
When I finished college downstate and moved to the Windy City in 1995, the Chicago no-wave scene was breaking apart. While still in school, I’d often driven three hours to catch gigs here, and after my move I caught the last shows by local no-wave stars the Scissor Girls and Lake of Dracula. The original […]
Posted inMusic
Texan interdisciplinary artist and guitarist Sandy Ewen releases her first solo LP
Sandy Ewen’s music is a constant series of negotiations. She’s constantly seeing what new sounds she can get out of her guitar, using found objects such as steel-wool scrubbing pads, dowels, bolts, cat-grooming brushes, and lengths of chalk. She’s also an inveterate collaborator who relishes chances to test her compatibility with new acquaintances or to […]
Posted inMusic
Nonpareil improvising guitarist Sandy Ewen returns to Chicago
Ever since guitarist Sandy Ewen moved from Texas to New York City in 2017, she’s been a prolific performer, both at conventional venues (Bushwick Public House, Downtown Music Gallery) and at house shows. Sometimes she’ll gig more than once a day, improvising with the likes of Stephen Gauci, Daniel Carter, Maria Chavez, and Michael Vatcher. […]
Posted inMusic
Lydia Lunch pairs weapons-grade spoken word with manic no wave in Verbal Burlesque
Two years ago, legendary avant-garde artist Lydia Lunch brought her all-star no-wave revival band Retrovirus to Chop Shop. The group laid down a charismatic, devastatingly tight set that wove together works from all phases of the singer’s storied career and even included crowd-pleasing Pere Ubu and Suicide covers. Her latest project is a very different […]
Posted inMusic
Katinka Kleijn and Lia Kohl play with 30 cellos in a swimming pool
Katinka Kleijn and Lia Kohl play with 30 cellos in a swimming pool, the rejuvenated Skin Graft Records drops a Chicago vs. New York compilation, and more.
Posted inBlogs
A note from the harsh macho underground
Or 1990s Wicker Park encapsulated in a single letter to the editor by Weasel Walter.
Posted inMusic
First-wave Chicago punk weirdos Silver Abuse released their second reunion album this year
In the late 70s and early 80s, Silver Abuse shared members with Naked Raygun—and their eclectic, discordant music was in some ways even more confrontational.
Posted inMusic
Gossip Wolf guesses about the Riot Fest roster
Gossip Wolf guesses about the Riot Fest roster, Skin Graft Records cranks back into action for its 25th anniversary, and more.
Posted inBlogs
He’s back: Weasel Walter plays Chicago/RIP Kenny Wheeler
The former Chicagoan plays Township with his band Cellular Chaos.
Posted inMusic
Gossip Wolf: The Empty Bottle seals the deal on Pilsen’s Thalia Hall
The Empty Bottle seals the deal on Pilsen’s Thalia Hall, Weasel Walter returns with Cellular Chaos, and more.
Posted inBlogs
12 O’Clock Track: “Horrorsentience” by Behold the Arctopus, who play tomorrow at Ultra Lounge
Behold the Arctopus play awesomely intricate, nonrepeating instrumental technical metal—but don’t worry, they know how silly that is.
Posted inBlogs
The Toy Killers: from Weasel Walter’s no wave archives to your ears
As I wrote in my Critic’s Choice for drummer and former Chicagoan Weasel Walter, who plays Friday night at Enemy and Tuesday night at Elastic, he’s been churning out recordings since he moved to Oakland in 2003, especially in the past few years. He dials down his usual frenzied energy on the brand-new Last Distractions […]
Posted inMusic
The List, July 30-August 5, 2009
Critics’ Choices and other notable shows: Goatwhore, the Mekons, Baby Teeth, Gucci Mane, and more