The RH Cheat Sheet to "Red Bull Sound Select Presents: 30 Days In Chicago"
If you haven’t heard yet, Red Bull Sound Select has put together an incredible month long festival this November celebrating the Chicago music scene and the people who make it great. There is a show out there for everyone. From mainstream darlings like Young Thug and Lil Yachty, to more local homegrown sensations such as Noname or Eryn Allen Kane, we at RH wanted to get in on the fun and compiled all the shows that we wouldn’t miss for the world. All tickets and more info here.
When: Nov 4th
Where: Portage Theater
Who: Fakeshoredrive 10th Anniversary show featuring The Big Tymers, Tee Grizzley and special guests.
Why: It's incredibly hard to last 10 years doing anything, let alone anything in the music business, and then take that a step further when it comes to music blogs. But Andrew Barber and Fakeshoredrive have done it and continue to push Hip Hop music and culture further. We came in the game together, and it's only right that the whole city comes out to celebrate. Celebrating FSD's 10 years in the game is not just a celebration of one website, but of the Chicago Hip Hop community, one that has evolved tremendously in 10 years and done things have not only shifted Chicago, but the music industry as a whole.
When: Nov 9th
Where: Thalia Hall
Who: Kali Uchis, Twelve’Len, Elley Duhe
Why: Colombian-American Singer Kali Uchis has a classic sound, dripped in nostalgia for a lost era. Singing about her personal independence in a slow paced hushed manner she gives off the aura of someone who has it all figured out. This show promises to be a romantic evening, perfect for the lovers in the city.
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When: Nov 16th
Where: Concord Music Hall
Who: Mura Masa, Tennyson, Bonzai
Why: Producer Mura Masa has an eclectic background. Before he ever picked up Ableton Live and started making Electronic/Trap music he grew up playing guitar, bass, piano, & drums while performing in Punk, Gospel, & Hardcore groups. His musical roots set the framework for his diverse and energetic music that makes you feel so alive. This show promises to be a banger and you should expect to get sweaty if you’re in attendance.
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When: Nov 20th
Where: Reggie’s Rock Club
Who: Daniel Caesar, SIR, Cherrie
Why: Canadian Soul and R&B singer Daniel Caesar has been critically acclaimed since the release of his EP “Praise Break” in 2014. Steadily building a fan base through continual EP releases, Caesar is the king of ballads at the moment. His music makes me feel like I’m becoming a better me, learning from all the mistakes and blessings along the way. If you are looking for a spiritual sentimental moment this show is a pretty safe bet for just that.
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When: Nov 21st
Where: Concord Music Hall
Who: Noname, Buddy, The Last Artful, Dodgr
Why: Noname is a hometown hero. A staple in the YOUMedia scene and slam poetry circuit she captured the nations hearts with her verse on Chance The Rappers “Lost” back in 2013. A couple years later she unveiled her debut LP “Telefone”, which was one of the best albums of the last five years. Noname does not make filler music, every sentence she raps is carried with a sense of purpose unmatched by her peers. This show is definitely for the city.
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When: Nov 25th
Where: Space
Who: Kweku Collings, Kamau, Trapo
Why: Evanston native Kweku Collins has had a huge year. From unveiling his second full length project “Grey”, to tearing up SXSW, to his tour with Whitney, he is riding his streak with a full head of steam. This show promises to be a look at the near future of Hip-Hop music with Kweku’s Alternative-Rap ethos being joined by Madison’s Trapo. A fiery MC who isn’t even 20 years old yet but has made Pigeons and Planes “20 Under 20” list 3 years running.
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When: Nov 26th
Where: Lincoln Hall
Who: Zero Fatigue, Smino, Ravyn Lenae, Monte Booker, Bari, Jay2
Why: The Zero Fatigue squad have all enjoyed their own respective successes this past year. Smino became the latest person who wasn’t from Chicago to be adopted as one of the city’s own. Monte Booker is the sultan of swing and makes beats that sound like no other, his mastery of syncopation unrivaled in the scene today. Ravyn Lenae is a masterful vocalist with an airy delivery all her own. All coming together on one bill fans could witness a Voltron effect on the 26th, this will be a squad affair no doubt.
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When: Nov 28th
Where: Chop Shop
Who: Xavier Omar, Jesse Baez, Jake&Papa
Why: Xavier Omar, a smooth singer from San Antonio is one of the more overlooked R&B acts out there. After first hearing his soothing voice on “All I Need” by Noname I was impressed; once I came across his smooth & sexy EP “The Everlasting Wave” I was sold. If you are looking for a romantic evening and some dancing this is the show for you.
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Gemini Club: "Preacher"
Red Bull has been doing some great things for music across the country with their Red Bull Soundselect series which showcases artists and acts from all over the world with the aim to bring more listeners their way. Thus far, the majority of Chicago acts to work with Red Bull have been largely of the hip-hop variety. Enter: Gemini Club, a indie-dance four piece band from the Windy City that has spent most of 2013 touring, a typical part of linking up with Red Bull. Fresh off a CMJ showcase in New York, Gemini Club plays the last show of their tour tonight in Los Angeles. To celebrate, check out their latest track "Preacher" here below.
[Video] Red Bull Sound Select Sounds of the City: ShowYouSuck
Red Bull took Chicago hip hop artist ShowYouSuck to one of his favorite venues, Reggie's Rock House in the South Loop, his backyard and Code of Conduct tattoo parlor in his hometown as part of their "Sounds of the City" series. "At Reggie's Rock Club I reached greatness," says Show in the intro, "it's the location for a lot of benchmarks in my career: first sold out show and it has the best buffalo chicken sandwich I've ever had in my life, hands down." Red Bull takes ShowYouSuck back to hang out, eat a chicken sandwich and shoot a video for his song, "Big Gulp" off One Man Pizza Party 3: Rest In Pizza. The video comes on the heels of his visual release for "Girls, Nachos" last week and is another good look for the Treated Crew/LOD member.
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[Interview] North Coast Music Festival 2013: Cherub
Photos by Bobby Reys
Cherub has been steadily building a name for themselves since crossing paths three years ago with a common musical goal. It was simple, guitarist Jordan Kelley had a sound he wasn't quite sure how to achieve, Jason Huber had just the voice and production skills to make it happen. Having found each other in Nashville, TN, the pair created Cherub, a hybrid dance/funk electro-pop that has drawn comparisons to Prince and Pharrell. Over the past two years the duo have watched their stars rise exponentially, playing Bonaroo and Electric Forest, along with a successful SXSW in Austin last year buoyed by supports from the Red Bull Sound Select series. This year Jason and Jordan jumped on tour with Gramatik in the spring and, with festival season out of the way, will begin a Fall tour with ProbCause, Mansions on the Moon and Pell. We had the opportunity to sit down with the pair before the played the Dos Equis stage, check out the conversation below.
Jake: The two of you have had a crazy year or so since latching on with the Red Bull Sound Select series, what's it been like?
Jason: I mean it's been a really crazy year, we've had to take a lot of pictures of moments and step back. We've just been kind of doing our thing and then all of a sudden you'll look back and be like "woah, this is really awesome what we're getting to do." We've had so many amazing opportunities, all the stuff through Red Bull-they've just been putting us on time and time again and have been super awesome about letting us do our own thing and supporting what we're doing-it's been a really great way for us to continue doing exactly what we're doing and do cool stuff at the same time.
Jake: Yeah, the Red Bull show at SXSW in Austin was where I first saw you, all the way back at the beginning of festival season.
Jordan: Yeah, this year's SXSW was a total redemption for the year before. We had a shitty first year we went there and totally redeemed ourselves and it was great.
Jason: We played our first gay bar at SXSW this year. It was a great show, a really, really great show.