i was there || avalon emerson

show: avalon emerson

location: smart bar

date: 5.20.17

this show: i would not have attended had it not been for a friend's recommendation. i'm always game to check out new music at smart bar, especially when it involves bad ass women

i was there || phantogram

show: phantogram

location: riviera theater

date: 3.11.17

favorite song: i went for the oldies + "turning into stone" ended up being my favorite of the night

memorable moment:  i'm a sucker for the songs that josh takes lead on

biggest letdown: not the worst kind of letdown, but i'll probably give myself a phantogram break for a while. i've seen them live a bunch + at some point it gets to more of the same.

this show: i'm convinced of this every time i see them, but sarah + josh are the most adorable duo every. makes watching the two of them even more fun.

i was there || hamilton leithauser

show: hamilton leithauser with lucy dacus

location: lincoln hall

date: 2.15.17

favorite song: "in a black out," "sick as a dog," + "the morning stars" are the obvious go to's, but i really loved it all.

memorable moment: "the bride's dad" took on a whole new meaning after hearing the story behind the song. mr. leithauser was attending a wedding for a not so super close friend of his. during the reception the father's bride took the stage + started singing "wild mountain thyme" to hamilton's enjoyment + everyone else's horror. apparently the father was not invited + it made for a pretty awkward moment which he was able to so perfectly capture in his own song.

biggest letdown: hamilton leithauser is a very tall man. i'm not sure if it was the stage guys fault or the short little chick who made a pre-show announcement, but mid-way through the first song of the night, "1000 times," the mic collapsed interrupting the flow. not really a letdown for me, but just overall a situation that i think everyone would have preferred to avoid.

this show: will confidently be one of my favorites for the year. hearing the songs live + in a different light made me love the album even more + also helped me to revisit songs that i maybe didn't initially give a fair chance to. i feel like i had a dream that you were mine is going to be an album that i constantly have a new favorite song in rotation. which makes for a pretty great album.

i was there || badbadnotgood

show: badbadnotgood with mattson 2

location: lincoln hall

date: 1.15.17

favorite song: they made a pretty fun entrance to the stage with "tequila." you know, that song pee wee herman crushes at the biker bar? it sounds pretty good on the saxophone.

memorable moment: when the four band members took the stage in an assortment of wigs i knew the show was going to be a good time. i appreciate people who don't take themselves too seriously. i could learn a thing or two.

biggest letdown: i spent about 98% of the day in bed nursing a cold so wasn't totally energized going into the night. it was good to get out though, even if it was just for a couple of hours.

this show: would not have been on my radar if it wasn't for my friend snagging me an extra ticket. it was definitely jazzier than what i go for but i always like to branch out + listen to new things. they're probably not an "all the time" band for me but i'll for sure give them a listen from time to time.

i was there || patti smith

show: patti smith performing horses

location: riviera theater

date: 12.30.16

favorite song: the whole horses album is pretty epic so it feels a bit unfair to pick a favorite. i think the best part was hearing the background to how some of these songs came about like "break it up" (a dream she had about jim morrison) or "elegie" (written after jimi hendrix died).

memorable moment: as i mentally scan through my list of concerts that i have attended i feel pretty confident that that patti smith might be the biggest personal hero that i have ever seen live. being the naive *thirty* year old that i am now, i never fully realized what a badass she was until reading her book just kids. that book was really life-changing for me. so much so that i'll probably read it once a year for the rest of my life. patti is my idea of a perfect role model so getting to see her perform such an iconic album was really something i will cherish forever. she killed it on stage too.

biggest letdown: call me a cliche, newer patti fan, but i was secretly hoping she might play "because the night"

this show: had a weird juxtaposition of making me feel very much alive while also reminding me that loss is a part of life. patti speaks in a way that makes you feel so empowered, like you can catalyst for change. other moments of the show were quite sad though. she reflected upon the loss of beloved partner + friend, sandy pearlman, the death of her husband, + other greats like jimi hendrix + janis joplin. what really touched me were the bittersweet words she shared about her mother. patti made a joke about repeating herself now that she is seventy years old. she remembered how whenever her mom would re-tell a story she'd always think "oh no. not this one again." that memory turned emotional for both patti + the crowd when she followed up saying that she would give anything to have her mom back telling those stories over + over again. it was really touching.

i was there || nico jaar

show: nicolas jaar

location: thalia hall

date: 11.9.16

favorite song: he played a lot of songs from sirens which was great. i really enjoyed "no" but "space if only noise if you can see" was definitely the party song of the night

memorable moment: the music was incredible but i was super impressed by his lighting as well. sometimes it was just a small simple glow + other times it was a full on blast of light, to the point where the whole room was nearly lit. it was all a wonderful compliment to the tunes

biggest letdown: the thought of having to go to physical therapy at 7am the next morning was looming over me all night, which was a total buzzkill. i ended up leaving a little bit into the encore + wished i had stayed to see how he closed things out. i hope i didn't miss "no one is looking at u" or "the three sides of audrey + why she's all alone now"

this show: nico is one of my favorites + has been for a while. this show was something special. i'd seen him several times before at festivals + some after parties, but this live rendition at thalia hall (the most perfect venue ever) was exceptional. the show was sold out + nearly everyone seemed to be dancing. i wish i could see him again this weekend

i was there || survive

show: survive with majeure

location: empty bottle

date: 11.6.16

favorite song: this was not a show i knew song names to + that is okay

memorable moment: the opening act had some kind words to say about these guys + even called out that although it may not seem like it to those in the crowd, what they do on stage is very complex + impressive. i thought that head nod was pretty cool

biggest letdown: let me preface by saying that this show occurred the sunday after daylight saving. so although i got an "extra" hour of sleep the night before, i really just woke up an hour earlier + stayed out later. the opening act probably went on around 10:30pm. he was really cool but incredibly loud. and i'm not saying that in a pussy way. it was painfully loud. i longed for my earplugs + questioned whether or not i should step into the other room like so many people in the crowd were. he turned it down slightly after the first couple of minutes, but ouch! after him, it took about another 30-45 minutes for survive to go on + by that point i was just beat. i probably only stayed for about half of the show, but would have loved to have seen the whole thing

this show: was pretty much what i expected -- very weird but in the best way ever. i love synths + especially love the nostalgia that survive's music evokes. the fact that survive is one of the first ever synth bands is also super cool to me

i was there || broken social scene

show: broken social scene

location: the metro

date: 7.14.16

favorite song: there were a lot of good one's to pick from. there were the old favorites like "sweetest kill" + "anthem of a sixteen year old girl." but then there were also those others that i never could have know just how much i loved them without hearing them live. "cause = time," "pacific theme," + "7/4 (shoreline)" fall into that latter group.

memorable moment: i will forever be impressed by how much organized noise can be produced by such a large group of musicians. some of those favorite songs listed above would have never been in consideration if i couldn't hear for myself just how those songs continued to build + build upon itself. it was really incredible.

biggest letdown: the lead singer, kevin drew, really through me off. he was giving me some major father john misty flashbacks. i wanted to like him + find him sexy but something felt slightly off, like he wanted the same thing but tried just a little too hard.

this show: was a special one. first off, it was broken social scene's first show in five years. it was pretty awesome that chicago got the special honors to kick off pitchfork weekend. forgiveness rock record wasn't really on my radar when it came out. "world sick" was but that's about it. over the last two or three years broken social scene just stuck with me. they were one of those bands that i was constantly listening to but wasn't sure i'd ever see them play live. it was an extremely pleasant surprise to find out that wouldn't be these case. lastly, this was the last show i got to see with one of my best friends before he moved to colorado, so that meant a lot. that trifecta made this show a little more emotional + special for me. it will definitely go down as one of my favorites.

i was there || fort romeau

show: fort romeau with studio casual

location: smart bar

date: 4.22.16

favorite song: fort romeau kicked off his set with "it's all over" by pional + it was pretty perfect.

memorable moment: i have to acknowledge that i stayed up past 3am for the first time in a while. quite proud of that. i have a bathroom selfie to prove it.

biggest letdown: smart bar was pretty dead for this show which was a major bummer. when i saw him last summer on the sin label boat party all i could think about was how great it would be to see him at smart bar instead. here he was finally + it was a bit sad.

this show: i have heard some really great sets by fort romeau but this was not my favorite. definitely not a bad set, but didn't keep the momentum that was needed at 3am. those funktion one speakers were sounding real nice though. i don't think they will ever cease to amaze me. also worth mentioning that studio casual was pretty enjoyable too.

i was there || tim hecker

show: tim hecker with bruce lamont + good willsmith

location: empty bottle

date: 4.15.16

memorable moment: this might have been the first show i have been at where i was about 6 rows back + still couldn't see a damn thing. which was okay. the fog machine went into overdrive that night which made for a very moody setting.

biggest letdown: the first opener, good willsmith, was pretty solid but i had a harder time getting into bruce lamont. i appreciated the touch of saxophone but the yelling was a bit too much for me.

this show: i can't say i listen to more ambient music all that much but when i find myself right in the middle of it i really enjoy it. it's cool to see the entire crowd so entranced. getting to + from the bathrooms was quite the challenge because everyone was basically hypnotized.

i was there || junior boys

show: junior boys with jessy lanza

location: metro

date: 4.6.16

favorite song: there were quite a few to choose from -- "in the morning," "so this is goodbye," "big black coat" to name a few. jessy lanza had a few good one's herself too.

memorable moment: jessy lanza + junior boys were quite the pairing. i listened to them at very different times in my life but they worked really well on the same bill.

biggest letdown: on one hand, it was really sad to hear junior boys play so many of their old songs after just releasing a brand, spanking new album. But on the other hand, I was pretty psyched to hear so many of those nostalgic songs from 2006.

this show: was really enjoyable. i didn't hear "fuck diamond" but everything else from jessy lanza was really great. her voice was stellar. as was jeremy greenspan's. it is kind of crazy that i had never seen junior boys before this night but i'm glad i finally got the chance.

 

i was there || sxsw send off party at the hideout

show: sxsw send off party with matchess, lionlimb, crown larkes, + whitney

location: the hideout

date: 3.12.16

favorite song: admittedly, the only song i knew by name was "no woman" by whitney, but i still thought it was the best.

memorable moment: because these were all chicago bands you saw quite a few proud parents in the crowd. it was very sweet.

biggest letdown: most of the artists i saw were pretty decent or at least interesting, but crown larks was a bit harsh for my liking

this show: is such a great idea. i am hopeful that one of these days i'll get myself down to austin for the actual sxsw, but this was a cool alternative with a bit more chicago pride.

i was there || polica

show: polica

location: schubas

date: 2.22.16

favorite song: they played all new music with the exception of three older songs so i know which songs liked more than others but i didn't always know the names of them. i wouldn't have known the name of my favorite from the night had it not been for a kind sir in the crowd who very politely asked the band. that song is called "melting block" + it sounds great live. this was a song where they really let the bass shine.

memorable moment: when you go to a show in an intimate venue like schubas with two drummers + a bass player you're going to feel the show as much as you hear it. schubas really was the perfect spot for them.

biggest letdown: i don't love going to shows before albums get released but thankfully i really enjoyed most of the new music. my only wish is that the show could have gone on for an extra hour just to hear more of their older stuff.

this show: was not one i originally planned to go to but i'm really happy a friend had an extra ticket for me. i've seen polica three times now + they're always impressive (even when channy is running on little sleep thanks to her new baby). they'll be back to chicago on april 16th for a show at thalia hall so you've got yourself an opportunity to check them out in the near future

i was there || grimes

Show: Grimes

Location: Metro

Date: 11.25.15

Favorite Song: I didn't have enough time pre-concert to really give her new album a good listen so "Genesis" an old tried + true favorite did it for me.

Memorable Moment: Grimes being Grimes.

Biggest Letdown: I told myself about a million times the day of the show to make sure to get there early because half of the fun of Grimes concerts is watching the weirdness ensue onstage yet there I was standing in the way way back.

This Show: was pretty hard for me. It was the first show I went to after the attacks in Paris + as much as I tried I couldn't get thoughts from that horrible night out of my head. I haven't been to another show since. I'll get back in there but I am still pretty shook up.

i was there || kurt vile

Show: Kurt Vile

Location: Thalia Hall

Date: 10.23.15

Favorite Song: There is something so cool about "Pretty Pimpin"

Memorable Moment: Crazy enough, this was my first show at Thalia Hall. I loved it! Such a great venue in such a charming neighborhood. I can't wait to check out more shows here when it warms up so I can wander the neighborhood a bit before.

Biggest Letdown: There were several points in the night when the crowd was talking much louder than Kurt Vile was playing. It was a little awkward, to be honest, + very annoying.

This Show: While it wasn't my favorite Kurt Vile show it was a good night to check out a new concert venue.

i was there || hinds

Show: Hinds

Public Access TV

Location: Lincoln Hall

Date: 10.22.15

Favorite Song: I'm admittedly not super close to all of their songs but I think "Bamboo" would have to be my favorite from the night.

Memorable Moment: They made it clear early in the night that they had been on tour for a while now + wanted to party in Chicago. They then proceeded to take shots on stage + piss off Lincoln Hall a bit by inviting the audience onto stage for the final song. I hope Chicago treated them well for the rest of the night.

Biggest Letdown: I really wish I had asked everyone in the crowd who their favorite Hinds girl was. I think that could tell a lot about a person. My favorite was the bass player.

This Show: was comprised of four Spanish girls playing instruments on stage, so there's not much to dislike about that. They were super cute + having a lot of fun on stage which translated to lots of fun in the crowd. I don't think I'll listen to their album a ton on my own but I still enjoyed it.

i was there || north coast music festival

Show: North Coast Music Festival

The Chemical Brothers

Location: Union Park

Date: 9.6.15

Favorite Song: Cliche as it is, it is hard not to say "Swoon." That song is a whole lot of feelings. Starting off the set with "Hey Boy Hey Girl" was a smart choice too.

Memorable Moment: What wasn't memorable? With The Chemical Brothers the whole night is going to be a production. I think the obvious answer would be the creepy mummy-like dude (very similar to the clown from years past). For me, however, it was their ability to build the crowd up so much before going absolutely nuts. And I don't mean in the douchy EDM way. They did it with total skill + control.

Biggest Letdown: I guess if the weather was less brutally hot + I had no better plans for the day I would have liked to get more out of my ticket. It would have been nice to see a few more acts, namely Portugal the Man + Twin Shadow. I would have liked to have seen a little bit of Disco Biscuits too but I couldn't pull myself away from The Chemical Brother's set.

This Show: I have always said that The Chemical Brother's set at NCMF year one was one of the top 3 shows I have ever seen. Their performance this year was right on par too. I didn't know what to expect given their new album but they really played most of the hits. They are an absolute must see if you haven't yet.

i was there || andhim + jamie xx + maya jane coles

Show: Jamie xx + Maya Jane Coles

AndHim

Location: Verboten Stage One

Brooklyn, NY

Date: 8.23.15

Favorite Song: This shouldn't totally surprise me because I've seen these guys before + their Essential Mix is pretty great but AndHim probably had my favorite set of the day. I think the key here is "day" though. Jamie xx + MJC are going to be better suited for night. AndHim was fun which was desperately needed for the daytime.

Memorable Moment: Cliche as it sounds, it just felt really cool to be at an outdoor party in Williamsburg. The crowd wasn't all that different than what you might see in Chicago but it did feel slightly more special. For whatever reason, living in Chicago seems totally normal to me but Brooklyn feels somewhat different. I think if Chicago neighborhoods were more geographically isolated by bodies of water like they are in NYC it wouldn't be all that different.

Also, someone hit a drone that was flying over the concert with a beach ball + it gave me a good laugh.

Biggest Letdown: I definitely ate something bad while I was there + a tummy ache kind of put a damper on my day. While I wish I could have stayed + raged all day + night for the after party that just wasn't in the cards for the day. The sound wasn't all that great there either so it wasn't like I missed the worlds greatest show.

This Show: Was a perfect excuse to get myself to New York. It was a toasty day but Verboten Stage One was a pretty cool location that really did a great job featuring Manhattan in the background. Not the best show I've been to musically but it was something different + I did enjoy myself.

i was there || dirtybird bbq

Show: Dirtybird BBQ
J Phlip
Justin Martin
Claude VonStroke

Location: Randolph Street

Date: 8.15.15

Favorite Song: J Phlip had this little ditty where she went from Jamie xx to "Just" by Bicep. And then capped it all off with a song about shaking your booty. Female producers know whats up.

Memorable Moment: The prohibited items list.

Biggest Letdown: How can you call this a BBQ when there are no grilled meats?! I was pretty bummed but my boyfriend, who thought he was going to a chicken festival, was especially bummed. As someone who works in advertising these false claims just don't fly for me. Additionally, everything about this day was very low budget. I kept thinking to myself, "so this is what a music festival in Akron, Ohio must be like." It just didn't quite feel like Chicago until you turned around + saw the skyline.

This Show: I love the concept of getting a whole crew from a record label to play. Low budget or not, if I could get one of these for Ghostly or DFA you can sure as hell bet I would be there. Plus, the record label comradery is super adorable.

i was there || lollapalooza

My new friend. Poor guy was not doing so hot.

Show: Lollapalooza

Father John Misty

Hot Chip

War On Drugs

Alabama Shakes

Gary Clark Jr.

Paul McCartney

The Weeknd

Location: Grant Park

Date: 7.31.15

Favorite Song: My first set of the festival was Father John Misty + I made it to the stage just in time to hear two of my favorites -- "Nothing Good Ever Happens At the Goddamn Thirsty Crow" as well as "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings." Not necessarily my absolute favorites of the day but they made for an excellent start to the day.

Memorable Moment: Hot Chip was definitely the set that livened up the day. After hearing mostly new songs at their Milwaukee show I was pleasantly surprised to hear them play pretty much all fan favorites. These guys (+ one very cool chick drummer) never get old.

Biggest Letdown: Timing didn't pan out great for this festival. I hustled all the way to the south stage to catch Alabama Shakes' set only to meet them with technical difficulties. Later, the plan was to catch Paul McCartney + then head to The Weeknd before exiting the park. The beginning of Paul McCartney's set was a bit of a snoozefest as he tried to push some of his newer songs so we hiked our way back north to see The Weeknd only to be confronted with major delays to their set time. I wish I had reversed these plans. And this is why I hate Lollapalooza.

This Show: My first three sets of the day were performances I had already seen earlier that year. I would have loved to see someone new but with the lineup being as weak as it was this year I had no complaints seeing any of these three again. Even though I had just seen War On Drugs the night before I was glad to see a second set from them because I love them so much. Overall, not my favorite Lollapalooza, after parties included. I'm either outgrowing this festival or they need to do a better job luring me back in next year.