The Knocks Party Hard

The Knocks by Sarah Hess - Best New Bands

Chicago – New York City producers Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner and James “JPatt” Patterson rolled into the Windy City Saturday in their brand new tour bus, ready to get down. The duo have been performing in the Midwest on the Route 55 Tour, in anticipation of their debut full-length album 55. The two friends and businessmen, who perform as The Knocks, sold

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Bully Kick Ass at TNK Fest, Again

Bully by Sarah Hess - Best New Bands

Chicago – Nashville rockers Bully played Tomorrow Never Knows Fest for the second year in a row, and yet again, they kicked ass! Last year the foursome supported Cloud Nothings. This year it was METZ, who they had been touring the East Coast with. I could definitely become used to Bully becoming a TNK staple!

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All Them Witches Warm Up TNK Fest

All Them Witches by Sarah Hess - Best New Bands

Chicago – Nashville band All Them Witches  got the second night of Tomorrow Never Knows Fest going with their psychedelic, southern, bluesy rock, heating up Lincoln Hall with plenty of sick jam sessions. All Them Witches were joined by fellow Nashville band Ranch Ghost and Louisville band Old Baby. Every winter TNK Fest brings a

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X Ambassadors Support Muse on Drones Tour

X Ambassadors by Sarah Hess - Best New Bands

Chicago – 2015 was a the year X Ambassadors broke into the mainstream. The New York band could be heard at every turn, with “Renegades” playing on TV in a Jeep commercial and songs like “Unsteady” playing on the radio. The foursome toured extensively, played a handful of festivals, including Bonnaroo, and released their debut

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Meet Germany’s Newest Export: AudioDamn!

Audiodamn!

Chicago – You may not have heard of AudioDamn! yet, but trust us when we say they’ll soon be on everyone’s radar, thanks in part to their soulful single “Radar.” The trio, made up of Austrians Oliver “Oli” Wimmer (vocals and guitar), Ali Grumeth (guitar), and Daniel “Mudi” Mudrack (drums), mix rock, pop, and soul. Best New

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Black Pistol Fire Kick Off Tour in Chicago

Black Pistol Fire Sarah Hess for Best New Bands

Chicago – Austin based, Toronto born band Black Pistol Fire kicked off their North American tour in the Windy City this past week. The rock duo sold out their show at Schubas so quickly it was moved to Schubas’ larger sister venue, Lincoln Hall, and in turn, guitarist Kevin McKeown and drummer Eric Owen sold out Lincoln Hall. Fans

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PUP Slays The Burbs

PUP by Sarah Hess - Best New Bands

Chicago – This past weekend PUP rolled into Chica… er, Palatine, Illinois, with Modern Baseball, Tiny Moving Parts, and Jeff Rosenstock, playing an all-ages sold-out show at Durty Nellie’s. Killer line-up, right? But man, a show in the suburbs! Between the show being on a school night and being in boofoo Egypt, this teacher was questioning her

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White Reaper and together PANGEA Create a Quake

White Reaper - Best New Bands

Chicago – The Saturday evening of Thanksgiving weekend, together PANGEA, White Reaper, and the Flesh Panthers packed an all-ages sold-out show at Subterranean with excited fans from all over the Midwest, as well as friends from the Chicago music scene, including Twin Peaks’ Clay Frankel and The Orwells’ Henry Brinner and Mario Cuomo. Though more impressively, they had fans rocking

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Lights Lit Up Chicago

Lights by Sarah Hess

Chicago – Lights and co-headliners The Mowgli’s performed for a packed House of Blues, having sold out the downtown venue. While fans, young and old, excitedly waited for the show to begin, I found myself questioning if I should be there, knowing just blocks away Chicago youth were protesting the murder cover-up of Laquan McDonald, who

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