Live Picks: 2/15
William Basinski
BY JORDAN MAINZER
It’s payday! Celebrate.
Pitchfork Midwinter, Art Institute of Chicago
What to do with a lineup so stacked and yet so expensive? Before you even know about the existence of said lineup, spend even more on tickets to Elton John’s farewell tour (see below). While that’s what I’m doing tonight, if I wasn’t, I’d be going to Pitchfork Midwinter, a series of shows throughout the weekend performed in different rooms in the Art Institute of Chicago. A ticket gets you base performances; additional performances can be purchased as add-ons. There are also various soundscapes and live radio broadcasts you can see.
It’s hard to navigate, but tonight, perhaps my number one add-on would be William Basinski performing The Disintegration Loops, one of the greatest ambient albums of all time, with the Chicago Philarmonic. Yves Tumor, fresh off of releasing the amazing Safe in the Hands of Love last year (our #2 album of 2018) also performs tonight. (We’ll be covering his set at Big Ears Festival in March.) Mount Eerie’s had an emotionally turbulent few years, which has transformed into some of his most powerful music to date; judging by his live album (after), hearing him tell the stories surrounding the days up to and aftermath of his late wife Geneviève Castrée is a transcendent experience. Bill Callahan is one of the strongest singer-songwriters of the past 30 years, and he’s got to release something new soon...right? Slowdive is still touring strong off of their 2017 self-titled album (their first in over 20 years and maybe their best?). And DJ Koze’s Knock Knock is the most enjoyable and well-constructed totally sample-based album since this site’s namesake.
If you don’t want to spring extra, a base ticket gets you some gems, too--especially if you like instrumental guitarists. Daniel Bachman released The Morning Star last year, a nicely jarring counterpoint to his peaceful 2016 self-titled record. Marisa Anderson’s excellent Cloud Corner is inspired by Tuareg blues. And if you don’t know Haley Fohr of Circuit des Yeux, then...you’ve never read this site.
Elsewhere, there are compositions, recordings, and soundscapes by artists responding to various pieces in the museum’s collection, like from ambient duo Stars of the Lid, synth wizard Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, and a collaboration between drone artist Tashi Wada and avant-pop artist Julia Holter.
Still not sold? You can watch live radio broadcasts, including interviews with local heroes like Tortoise’s John McEntire and rapper Saba and a DJ set from Common, spinning his favorite Chicago tracks.
The whole event should be something at once hyper local and broadly global--and (hopefully) worth the money!
Grouper, Chicago Athletic Association
Less than a year after releasing Grid of Points as Grouper, Liz Harris surprise released a double album as Nivhek. After its own death / Walking in a spiral towards the house was released last week and should occupy much of Grouper’s Midwinter Afterparty set at the Chicago Athletic Association tonight.
Experimental musician Matchess (who we profiled last year) opens.
Milo, Empty Bottle
Milwaukee rapper Milo, who has made great heady albums like Who Told You To Think??!!?!?!?! (one of our favorites of 2017) and his latest, Budding Ornithologists are Weary of Tired Analogies, is calling it quits and playing his final Chicago show tonight. What more needs to be said?
Rappers Pink Navel and Signor Benedick The Moor open.
Raheem DeVaughn, UIC Pavilion
Neo-soul master Raheem DeVaughn has been a big player in the scene ever since his breakout, 2008′s critically acclaimed Love Behind the Melody. He’s released four more albums since, including last year’s Decade of a Love King, and should play from pretty much everything tonight.
Soul singer Lalah Hathaway headlines. R&B singer-songwriter Lyfe Jennings also opens.
Sharon Van Etten & Lucy Dacus, Thalia Hall
Sharon Van Etten played last night at Thalia Hall and plays again tonight. The latest and greatest from the gifted singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist is more generally self-reflective and nostalgic than reminiscent of a specific past experience or relationship. Instrumentally, with a bigger band in tow, her sound has ballooned to fill a space like this, a combination of synth pop, heartland rock, and spacious ambiance. While tonight as she did last night she will likely play almost all of Remind Me Tomorrow, I’d be also dying to hear how she transforms other hits with room for expansion, like “Serpents” and the immortal “Love More”.
As a bonus, Lucy Dacus plays an opening set! She last played at Thalia Hall on the boygenius tour; her most recent album Historian was one of our favorites of last year. She should play mostly material from her first two albums. However, she has planned a release of cover songs to commemorate holidays and will likely perform the one released so far to celebrate Valentine’s Day: Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en rose”.
London soul artist Nilufer Yanya opens.
Elton John, Allstate Arena
Elton John embarked on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour last September, which will take a total of–wait for it–three years. He played twice at the United Center in October and plays tonight and tomorrow at Allstate Arena. He’s played a pretty consistent set list, heaviest on the album after which the tour is named.
Jamie Kennedy, Improv Comedy Club
It wasn’t just on Valentine’s Day--the offer is still on the table, and there are two shows tonight! Watch semi-serious mostly-bad-taste goofball Jamie Kennedy do a set in Schaumburg.