Chicago Acts to Look Out For in 2014
Photo by Bobby Reys
Chicago has been on lately. The Second City has always been known as a musical city and the current rate at which it has produced talent as of late is only adding to that legacy. As festival lineups roll out as we transition into Spring, it has become common to find a Chicago act, if not several, on the list. For this reason, we decided to put together a list of up and coming artists from Chicago that we expect to fully blossom throughout 2014. We added numbers, but there's no real order as far as rankings, just a collection of musical acts from the city that deserve a spotlight. Last year, Chance The Rapper, Chief Keef and a host of hip-hop artists dominated music headlines as a pipeline was established in the Midwest. There is plenty in the city that isn't rap music too though, and we made sure to highlight everyone. Take some time to flip through the next batch of stars to rise out of Chicago.
[Video] whysowhite: "Get Busy"
The first time I met Nick "Big Fat Nick" McMillan, he told me a breathtaking story on how he and his landlord found and retrieved a dead cat out of the wall of his apartment. That doesn't have much to do with this post, but it sets the mood perfectly for the band that is whysowhite. I'm telling you, if you haven't heard, interacted, broken bread with the guys of the Chicago six piece funk band, you are seriously missing something in your life. Fresh off hosting a sensual Valentine's Day celebration at their renovated 'Firehaus' on the city's north side, the ever-eclectic squad graced us today with the video for their party-starting jam "Get Busy". The visual release, shot by Nocturnal Media, follows the group's trio of frontmen, Charlie Moonbeam, D-Pop Fantastic and Big Fat Nick as their scour their way through a grocery store. If you've ever been pelted with a banana during one of the band's in-show 'fruit tosses', you'll instantly understand the poignancy of this setting. It plays out somewhat like you're stereotypical hip-hop video, if you replace the green of money with asparagus and big booty girls with pomegranates. Nick chokes on spaghetti, there's a spikey neon ball...you just gotta give it a look. Check out the full video for "Get Busy" below and catch the band March 1 at Martyr's in Chicago with Marrow, featuring a special back-up section.
[youtube id="tcJ0PrfUQro"]
[Video] whysowhite Performs on AudioTree
Chicago funk band whysowhite has been incessantly working their way up the music rungs with their vibrant, fun combination of dance-inducing funk and hip-hop flows that come together to create one of my personal favorite live shows in the Windy City or elsewhere. Led by a trio of vocalist/MCs Davis & Charles Haines and Nick and Nick McMillan, the seven-piece band brings it every time they take the stage. Recently, they linked up with fellow Chicago outfit AudioTree to film a session for the website. Their set, perfected during incessant practice takes at their home/rehearsal space in a converted 'FireHaus' on the north side of the city, is wildly fun and imaginative, and available for purchase via AudioTree. The band has played gigs with the likes of George Clinton, Joey ChestnuTT and Macklemore, among others, and should turn this year's SXSW into a jump off moving forward. whysowhite has been boiling for a minute, it's about time they popped. Check out the full video, streaming below and if you're in Chicago be sure to catch whysowhite and Marrow on March 1 at Martyr's in Lincoln Square.
[RH Photos] North Coast Festival 2013 Day 3
Photos By: Bobby Reys
Making it through the entirety of any festival is a workout at the least and a survival game for some, but by the end of my three-day adventure across Union Park I was in need of a pick me up. After taking in the tail end of an inspired performance and North Coast debut for local artist Psalm One, I found just that around two o'clock as the funky vibes of fellow Chicagoans whysowhite took the Coast stage for what may have been the best performance of the day had they not been competing with Wu Tang , Cherub and Gary Clark Jr.
Leading twins Charles and Davis Haines kept the crowd moving in the neon pants while Nick McMillan MC'd and danced his way into oblivion, sending the steadily-building crowd dancing well after the set ended in the early September heat. Next, it was off to Danny Brown, who performed on a similarly-placed stage to where Lil B performed a month earlier at Pitchfork Festival. It was a similar experience with the sea of fans bopping up and down to the squeaky vibe of Brown's vocals. It was Danny Brown as you would expect him although without his pants down onstage.
From there, a bit too worn on the EDM tip I took in Rebelution, who's jammy, soulful rock tunes were the perfect break from the scattering computers sounds of the DJs that dominated Day 2. Gary Clark Jr, festival king himself, picked up where Rebelution left off, keeping the easy, cool sounds coming, eventually handing the baton to Cherub whose falsetto 80's-inspired electro-pop kept listeners moving and criss-crossing their library.
All in all, though, the festival ended as it began. As headliners Wu Tang Clan and Lotus took the stage, drops of rain could be felt and a general groan could be felt across the park. Wu Tang ran through the classics with Cappadonna, U-God and RZA setting the pace for the rest of the present members while Lotus' Miller brothers gave the Last Stand Stage crowd all they could in a limited set. They played the hits, and got off the stage-twenty minutes early. I'm suggesting bubbles over music festivals in Chicago moving forward.
[RH Events] Ruby Hornet & CrowdNoize Present: whysowhite, KSRA, Touch People
CrowdNoize and Ruby Hornet are proud to announce Touch People, KSRA and whysowhite at the Beat Kitchen August 30 for a North Coast Festival after-show. Both KSRA and whysowhite are fresh off recent releases here on the site and should prove to be one of the most interesting and mult-faceted shows the city has to offer all weekend. Tickets are $8 and available here. Friday night there is no better place to be than Beat Kitchen! Check out videos from both KSRA and whysowhite below.
http://youtu.be/pY-qvMTcu-M
http://youtu.be/M6dTrP2EtEE
[RH Premiere] whysowhite: "Live At The Firehouse"
Live at The Fire House, is the latest release from the highly eclectic seven piece band, whysowhite. The group spans four states, multiple genres and a smattering of haircuts and fashion styles that keeps fans guessing. In a congested market like Chicago it can be very hard for a band to differentiate themselves but whysowhite is easily one of the most fun acts coming out of the city right now. Live At The Fire House was recorded exclusively at the group's home, a converted Fire House (Engine co. 86). The firehouse was built in 1898 and is the last free-standing wooden firehouse in Chicago's North Center where whysowhite writes, rehearses, records, and lives. The album was recorded there on April 6th, 2013 and features many of the songs on their self-titled debut, self-titled album, two new songs, and a cover of Common's "The Light" for which there is a video below. They perform tonight at Township to celebrate the release with Pinegrove and Treehaus, tickets available here.
http://youtu.be/pY-qvMTcu-M