Bowerbirds; photo by Alissa Anderson
In conjunction with the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, kicking off this week at Schubas and Lincoln Hall,  Reckless Records has four fantastic (and free) in-store performance coming up:
Thursday, January 14, 5:00 pm – Bear in Heaven – Lakeview store (3126 N Broadway)
Friday, January 15, 5:00 pm – Icy Demons – Lakeview store
Saturday, January 16, 4:30 pm – Bowerbirds – Lakeview store
Sunday, January 17, 5:00 pm – Pomengranates – Wicker Park store (1532 N Milwaukee)
I’ve seen different times listed for all four of these shows at almost every source I’ve seen. My times are taken from Reckless’ website, but who knows what’s accurate and what isn’t. I’d recommend showing up early anyway. Shop around while you’re there and support local business. I’m going to try to make it to Bowerbirds and Pomengranates – the latter’s a little less likely, because cold weather + me trying to get motivated to go to Wicker Park = me staying at home and yelling at the television instead.
Gapers Block has a great summary of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival, including profiles of many of the bands.
Lizz Kannenberg at the Chicagoist has a set of fantastic photos from the first night of Butch Walker’s four show stint at Schubas last week.
Chromewaves has a preview of Basia Bulat‘s new album, Heart of My Own, scheduled to be released on January 26.
Pitchfork’s always captivating Cemetary Gates series features The Mountain Goats this week. First up, John Darnielle and company perform “Psalms 40:2” in an old empty church.
Consequence of Sound gives a second look at Tegan and Sara‘s Sainthood. Â The album’s grown on me, though I still like The Con better. Â They also give a glowing review to Owen Pallett‘s Heartland, due out for release today.
Elvis Perkins in Dearland do four stripped down, acoustic songs for the Lakefever Sessions: Stay Zombie Stay, Weeping Mary, Gypsy Davy, and Sweet Roseanne.
NPR streams Spoon’s new album Transference, which is due out January 19.
NYCTaper has a listing of all recordings posted in 2009. Highlights include Alela Diane, a whole lot of Antlers shows, the Decemberists, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), the Mountain Goats, Sharon van Etten, and Wilco.
Robert Loerzel at Underground Bee posts a review of the My Gold Mask/Violetness/the Bitter Tears show at the Hideout last weekend, one of those shows where I’m wondering why I didn’t just suck it up and head out into the cold so I could go see it.
Speaking of My Gold Mask, Loud Loop Press profiles 10 up-and-coming Chicago bands, including My Gold Mask, Bailiff, and Puerto Muerto.
Cover Lay Down offers up acoustic blues covers by artists including Keb’ Mo’, Kelly Joe Phelps, and Taj Mahal, of songs by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger, Cat Stevens, and more.
Muzzle of Bees takes a look at the upcoming release from Clogs, an artistic collective that counts Shara Worden and Sufjan Stevens among its members. The new album, The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton, features Shara Worden on vocals for a good portion of the songs. Sign me up!