ben frost, chicago, halloween!

this should be fun: ben frost will be coming to chicago on friday, october 31st. that's right, halloweeeeeeeeeeen...

a few months ago frost put out his latest album, A U R O R A, the sounds of which he's taking on tour. it's a challenging album, as usual, and one that sounds more futuristic than his other work, yet it has a curiously polished touch to it - but yes, it's still filled with plenty of distorted heft. i think i still prefer by the throat; i saw frost play live during sonar chicago in 2010, shortly after the release of that LP, and he had the seated crowd enthralled as he slowly let loose his swells of guitar noise and pensive beats. but the new album is still an interesting listen, so i can't wait to see how frost performs the new material live. the empty bottle-related show is happening at constellation, formerly known as the viaduct theater, and (though i'm not sure if i've ever been) i've heard good things about the spot. tickets and more details are right here.

also on the lineup with frost is cleared, a chicago duo consisting of michael vallera (aka COIN, an alias that's appeared on opal tapes) and steven hess (who's been involved with groups like pan-american and locrian). spaced-out, reverberated guitars and rattling, loose percussion seem to be the norm for the duo, as they've put out a trilogy of albums on the local label immune over the past few years. you can try all three at the label's bandcamp page.

so, it sounds like an interesting night. zoinks!

friday funk: luke slater, jeff derringer, lokua

happy friday! and now i'd like to share three varied shades of techno, a track from each of the three artists playing tomorrow night at smart bar: luke slater, jeff derringer, and lokua.

this should be a good one - it'll be slater's first chicago gig since 2002. you can learn more about this night with oktave and prosthetic pressings via this preview piece i wrote for ChicagoMusic.org - it's jam-packed with info and full of music links. head to the facebook event page for a few more details, and a reason to arrive early. read, listen, see you tomorrow!

(and thanks be to youtube, as usual.)

luke slater (as planetary assault systems) - call from the east | ostgut ton


jeff derringer - compassion | M_REC LTD


lokua - underly2 | CPKAY RCRDS

this thursday: faltyDL and bill kouligas at chicago's pritzker pavilion

it's almost summer here in chicago, which means tons of street festivals and free public concerts in the coming months, and which usually means at least a few must-see shows at the magnificent jay pritzker pavilion in millennium park.

this year there sadly appears to be less electronic music offerings than usual, even by the slim standards of previous years - which makes the notable events even more notable. keep in mind the loops and variations series, which starts off with a bang this thursday night, thanks to two well-regarded out-of-towners, each with their own flair for adventure: ninja tune and planet mu's faltyDL is likely to offer up some soulful stuff with heavy hints of garage and techno, while bill kouligas, owner of berlin's acclaimed PAN imprint, might move a bit farther into more abstract environs. (click here and there for some sounds from each artist, respectively.)

the show will start at 630pm and presumably run until 9pm or so. graciously, venue rules allow visitors to bring their own food and drink - yes, you can bring alcohol - and picnic gear, so be sure to come adequately prepared. the pritzker pavilion is one of my favorite places in the city, and this is one of the venue's most forward-thinking electronic music lineups this summer, so i'm pretty excited. see you there!

patty plays SMART BAR, with MARCO BAILEY and KARL MEIER

i'm really excited to play my second gig at smart bar on saturday, february 9th!

there's been a couple switch-ups at the top of the bill but it's all confirmed now: veteran belgian selector marco bailey is the night's headliner. he'll be coming to town right before he drops a new LP - and the 100th overall release - on his own label MB elektronics.

karl meier will round out the night's program. karl is a longtime chicago-based artist who definitely knows his stuff... listen to this mix, then go check out this podcast/event concept that he's affiliated with, fear of music.

it's a huge honor and a pleasure to be on the bill with both of these artists. it should be a really fun evening, and a techno-heavy weekend at smart bar with chris liebing, tommy four seven and shiva the night before.

yours truly will be playing a three-hour opening set. head to the facebook event page for all details and updates, and be prepared to come early and stay late!

friday funk: chris liebing at smart bar TONIGHT

more friday funk, no way? yes way. this one is for the chicago heads, tonight, at smart bar, with oktave and little white earbuds:

it's been a long time since chris liebing last came to chicago, and tonight shall be my first time seeing him in solo action. if you don't know, liebing is the mind behind the always-interesting techno label CLR, and the voice - that very charming voice - who commands the equally worth-your-time CLR podcast. i am looking forward to seeing what he puts together at smart bar. jeff derringer from oktave, who this week cooked up a set for smart bar's smart mix series, and qbot, fellow local dj and destination unknown radio host, will also play sets. enlighten yourself further by checking out a recent interview with LWE, and find any more details at facebook. see you there!