Inhale Music.

Combining new technology with a cello

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Updated Chicago concert list

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:14:00 +0000

My wallet hates this city.

5/6 - Crystal Antlers, Vivian Girls @ Empty Bottle
5/6 - Adam Freeland (Live) @ Sonotheque
5/7 - Dan Deacon, Future Islands, Teeth Mountain @ Metro
5/7 - Eve 6 @ Durty Nellie's [Palatine]
5/7 - The Sounds, Hey Champ @ Double Door
5/7 - The Berg Sans Nipple @ Empty Bottle
5/7 - Queensryche @ House of Blues
5/7 - Deerhoof, Maps and Atlases @ Bottom Lounge
5/7 - Joe Nice @ Smart Bar
5/8 - Queensryche @ House of Blues
5/8 - Del the Funky Homosapien @ Reggie's Rock Club
5/8 - Mogwai, The Twilight Sad @ Congress
5/8 - John Brown's Body @ Double Door
5/8 - Manchester Orchestra @ Subterranean
5/8 - Plain White T's @ Metro
5/8 - Black Strobe (DJ Set) @ Sonotheque
5/8 - Devlin and Darko @ Debonair Social Club
5/8 - Signal Path @ Beat Kitchen
5/9 - Signal Path @ Beat Kitchen
5/9 - Fall Out Boy @ Allstate Arena
5/9 - Diplo @ Smart Bar
5/9 - The Kills, The Horrors @ Metro
5/9 - Bryan Adams @ Ford Center for the Performing Arts
5/9 - Loney, Dear @ Schubas
5/9 - Cursive, P.O.S., The Berg Sans Nipple @ Bottom Lounge
5/11 - Thrones @ Empty Bottle
5/12 - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band @ United Center
5/12 - Vetiver @ Chopin Theater
5/12 - Bob Log III @ Empty Bottle
5/12 - Iron & Wine @ Lakeshore Theater
5/13 - Iron & Wine @ Schubas
5/13 - Napalm Death @ House of Blues
5/13 - The Dears @ Lakeshore Theater
5/13 - Ben Lee, Low vs Diamond @ Bottom Lounge
5/14 - Lady Sovereign @ Metro
5/14 - Mike Watt & The Missingmen @ Schubas
5/14 - Maps and Atlases @ Reggie's Rock Club
5/15 - King Khan & The Shrines, Mark Sultan @ Bottom Lounge
5/15 - Mr. Scruff @ Smart Bar
5/15 - Pegboy, The Bollweevils @ Metro
5/15 - Chin Up Chin Up, Tight Phantomz @ Empty Bottle
5/15 - Testament @ House of Blues
5/15 - Steven Wright @ Vic
5/16 - Keane, The Helio Sequence @ Aragon
5/16 - Wolves in the Throne Room, Krallice, Indian @ Bottom Lounge
5/16 - Disturbed, Killswitch Engage, Lacuna Coil, Chimaira @ Charter One Pavilion
5/16 - The Vaselines @ Metro
5/16 - Ben Harper & Relentless7 @ Vic
5/17 - Big Business @ Bottom Lounge
5/17 - Destroyer (solo) @ Empty Bottle
5/18 - Melvins (performing "Houdini" in it's entirety with original drummer) @ Double Door
5/18 - Harlem Shakes @ Empty Bottle
5/19 - Death Vessel @ Schubas
5/20 - Black Moth Super Rainbow, School of Seven Bells @ Bottom Lounge
5/20 - Toadies @ Metro
5/20 - Black Dice, Wolf Eyes @ Empty Bottle
5/21 - Mae, Barcelona @ Reggie's Rock Club
5/21 - Pennywise, Pepper @ House of Blues
5/21 - Local H @ Double Door
5/21 - People in Planes @ Subterranean
5/22 - Peaches @ Metro
5/22 - Peaches (DJ Set) @ Smart Bar
5/22 - Empires, Company of Thieves @ Bottom Lounge
5/22 - Clues @ Schubas
5/22 - The Flashbulb @ Empty Bottle
5/22 - Chickenfoot (Joe Satriani, Chad Smith, Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar) @ Park West
5/23 - The Prodigy, Tiga @ Congress
5/23 - Shpongle (DJ Set) @ Abbey Pub
5/24 - Lucky Boys Confusion @ Double Door
5/26 - The Tragically Hip @ Vic
5/27 - The Tragically Hip @ Vic
5/27 - Modeselektor, Apparat, Moderat @ Bottom Lounge
5/27 - Ellen Allien @ Sonotheque
5/29 - Nine Inch Nails @ Charter One Pavilion
5/29 - Kill Hannah @ Double Door
5/29 - Doves @ Vic
5/29 - The New Deal @ Park West
5/29 - Camera Obscura @ Metro
5/29 - Third Eye Blind @ Riviera
5/29 - Viva Voce, Cut Off Your Hands @ Empty Bottle
5/30 - Fischerspooner @ Metro
5/30 - Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Harry Shearer (acoustic) @ Chicago Theatre
5/30 - Holy Fuck @ Empty Bottle
5/30 - Graham Walsh of Holy Fuck (DJ Set) @ Empty Bottle
5/30 - Har Mar Superstar @ Bottom Lounge
5/30 - Do Division Street Fest (Flosstradamus, Handsome Furs, etc.)
5/30 - Meat Puppets, Retribution Gospel Choir @ Schubas
5/31 - Meat Puppets, Retribution Gospel Choir @ Schubas
5/31 - Do Division Street Fest (Menomena, White Rabbits, Hollywood Holt, etc.)
5/31 - Gogol Bordello, Man Man @ Congress
5/31 - Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band @ Empty Bottle

6/1 - Menomena @ Empty Bottle
6/2 - Straylight Run @ Subterranean
6/3 - No Use For A Name @ Abbey Pub
6/3 - A Camp @ Double Door
6/4 - Dillinger Four, Japanther @ Bottom Lounge
6/4 - Freedy Johnston @ Schubas
6/5 - 1990s @ Schubas
6/5 - Smoking Popes @ Double Door
6/5 - Jenny Lewis @ Park West
6/5 - Telepathe @ Empty Bottle
6/6 - The New Mastersounds @ Double Door
6/6 - John Vanderslice @ Empty Bottle
6/7 - St. Vincent @ Epiphany
6/8 - The Crystal Method (Live) @ House of Blues
6/8 - Strung Out @ Reggie's Rock Club
6/8 - Art Brut @ Schubas
6/9 - Mr. Lif @ Abbey Pub
6/9 - Art Brut @ Schubas
6/10 - Art Brut @ Schubas
6/11 - Art Brut @ Schubas
6/11 - Starlight Mints, Evangelicals @ Bottom Lounge
6/12 - Art Brut @ Schubas
6/12 - Isis, Pelican @ Bottom Lounge
6/12 - Ozric Tentacles @ Abbey Pub
6/12 - VHS or Beta Dee Jays @ Debonair Social Club
6/13 - Phoenix @ Park West
6/14 - Dane Cook @ United Center
6/14 - 311, Ziggy Marley @ Charter One Pavilion
6/14 - Passion Pit @ Empty Bottle
6/14 - Metric @ Metro
6/15 - Twista @ House of Blues
6/15 - Indian @ Empty Bottle
6/17 - Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood @ United Center
6/17 - Ellen DeGeneres @ Chicago Theatre
6/17 - Michael Ian Black & Michael Showalter @ Lakeshore Theater (late)
6/18 - Propagandhi @ Bottom Lounge
6/18 - O.A.R., Robert Randolph & The Family Band @ Charter One Pavilion
6/18 - George Lopez @ Rosemont Theatre [Rosemont]
6/18 - Louis CK @ Vic
6/18 - Michael Ian Black & Michael Showalter @ Lakeshore Theater (early)
6/18 - Andy Dick @ Lakeshore Theater (late)
6/18 - X @ Double Door
6/19 - X @ Double Door
6/19 - Michelle Shocked @ Space [Evanston]
6/19 - Louis CK @ Vic
6/19 - Jim Breuer and Danny Bhoy @ Lakeshore Theater (early)
6/19 - George Lopez @ Rosemont Theatre [Rosemont]
6/20 - George Lopez @ Rosemont Theatre [Rosemont]
6/20 - X @ Double Door
6/20 - The Offspring, Dropkick Murphys @ Charter One Pavilion
6/20 - Paul Van Dyk @ Congress
6/20 - Bill Engvall @ Vic (early)
6/20 - Jimmy Fallon @ Vic (late)
6/20 - Pansy Division @ Subterranean
6/20 - Tiny Vipers, Balmorhea @ Empty Bottle
6/20 - Jim Breuer and Danny Bhoy @ Lakeshore Theater (early)
6/20 - Bob & David & Friends @ Lakeshore Theater (late)
6/20-21 - BAM! Fest
6/24 - The Orb @ Bottom Lounge
6/25 - Sir Richard Bishop @ Empty Bottle
6/25 - Au Revoir Simone @ Logan Square Auditorium
6/26 - Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago @ Allstate Arena
6/26 - Jay Reatard @ Bottom Lounge
6/26 - ABC, Berlin, Wang Chung, Cutting Crew @ Rosemont Theatre
6/26-7/5 - Taste of Chicago @ Grant Park
6/27 - Kings X @ Double Door
6/27 - Thunderheist @ Schubas
6/27 - Better Than Ezra @ House of Blues
6/27 - Shellac @ Bottom Lounge
6/28 - Shellac @ Bottom Lounge
6/28 - The Fray, Jack's Mannequin @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]
6/28 - Bottomless Pit @ Schubas

7/2 - Explosions in the Sky @ Congress
7/5 - mewithoutYou @ Metro
7/10 - REO Speedwagon, Styx, .38 Special @ Charter One Pavilion
7/10 - The Jonas Brothers @ Allstate Arena
7/10 - Cryptacize, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone @ Hideout
7/10 - Fountains of Wayne (Acoustic) @ Park West
7/10 - Arj Barker @ Lakeshore Theater (2 shows)
7/11 - Arj Barker @ Lakeshore Theater (2 shows)
7/11 - No Doubt, Paramore @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]
7/12 - Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]
7/16 - Elton John, Billy Joel @ Wrigley Field
7/17 - Def Leppard, Poison, Cheap Trick @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]
7/17 - Pitchfork Music Fest @ Union Park (The Jesus Lizard, Tortoise, Built to Spill, Yo La Tengo)
7/18 - Pitchfork Music Fest @ Union Park (The National, Fucked Up, Matt and Kim, Wavves, etc.)
7/19 - Pitchfork Music Fest @ Union Park (The Flaming Lips, Grizzly Bear, M83, The Walkmen, Black Lips, Vivian Girls, etc.)
7/21 - Elton John, Billy Joel @ Wrigley Field
7/21 - Incubus, The Duke Spirit @ Charter One Pavilion
7/22 - Crue Fest @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]
7/23 - Lymbyc Systym @ Schubas
7/24 - The Wrens @ Schubas
7/25 - The Wrens @ Schubas
7/25 - The Dodos @ Subterranean
7/25-26 - Wicker Park Fest @ Damen North and South Stages
7/30 - Ekoostik Hookah @ House of Blues

8/7-9 - Lollapalooza @ Grant Park (Beastie Boys, Jane's Addiction, Depeche Mode, Kings of Leon, Kaiser Chiefs, Atmosphere, Friendly Fires, The Raveonettes, Delta Spirit, etc.)
8/10 - Daedelus @ Empty Bottle
8/11 - Phish @ Toyota Park [Bridgeview]
8/21 - Nickelback, Hinder, Papa Roach @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]
8/21 - The B-52's @ House of Blues
8/21 - Apocalypse Hoboken @ Bottom Lounge

9/2 - The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic @ Charter One Pavilion
9/3 - The Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic @ Charter One Pavilion
9/12 - U2 @ Soldier Field
9/13 - U2 @ Soldier Field
9/24 - Killdozer, The Urinals @ Abbey Pub
9/26 - Dave Matthews Band @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre [Tinley Park]

10/9 - Venetian Snares, Wisp @ Reggie's Rock Club
10/16 - UFO @ House of Blues

Ping pong'd

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:20:00 +0000

Andy Angelos

[ ] Good at ping pong
[X] Terrible at ping pong

<a href ="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1105867/">Where should Andy Angelos have to buy my lunch from?</a> <br/> <span style="font-size:9px;"> (<a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com"> polls</a>)</span>

Updated Chicago concert list.

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:45:00 +0000

This list is good for my soul. This list is not good for my wallet.

11/14 - The Hold Steady, Drive-By Truckers @ Riviera
11/14 - Subtle @ Empty Bottle
11/14 - Drop the Lime @ Sonotheque
11/14 - Kraak and Smaak, Orchard Lounge @ Subterranean
11/14 - Ben Weasel @ Reggie's Rock Club
11/15 - Ben Weasel @ Reggie's Rock Club
11/15 - Deerhunter, Times New Viking @ Metro
11/15 - The Sea and Cake @ Empty Bottle (2 shows)
11/15 - Pegboy @ Beat Kitchen
11/16 - Atmosphere @ Vic
11/16 - Cloud Cult @ Double Door
11/17 - Bishop Allen @ Subterranean
11/18 - No Age @ Reggie's Rock Club
11/18 - Hawthorne Heights @ Metro
11/18 - Smashing Pumpkins @ Chicago Theatre
11/19 - Smashing Pumpkins @ Chicago Theatre
11/19 - Pelican @ Subterranean
11/19 - Ingrid Michaelson @ Park West
11/20 - Melvins, Big Business @ Reggie's Rock Club
11/20 - Aziz Ansari @ Lakeshore Theatre
11/20 - Low vs Diamond, Barcelona @ Subterranean
11/20 - Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice @ Congress
11/21 - Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Thrice @ Congress
11/21 - m83 @ Bottom Lounge
11/21 - Calexico, Bowerbirds @ Metro
11/21 - Dub Trio @ Subterranean
11/21 - Bane, H2O @ Reggie's Rock Club
11/21 - VHS or Beta DJs @ Debonair Social Club
11/21 - Camper Van Beethoven @ Abbey Pub
11/21 - Smashing Pumpkins @ Auditorium Theatre
11/22 - Smashing Pumpkins @ Auditorium Theatre
11/22 - Camper Van Beethoven @ Abbey Pub
11/22 - Brightblack Morning Light @ Hideout
11/22 - The Aquabats @ Metro
11/22 - Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains, Friendly Foes @ Beat Kitchen
11/22 - Margot & The Nuclear So & So's @ Bottom Lounge
11/22 - DJ? Acucrack, Acumen Nation @ Reggie's Rock Club
11/22 - Fishbone @ Subterranean
11/22 - 2020 Soundsystem @ Martyrs'
11/24 - "100 Songs" featuring Trevor de Brauw (Pelican) @ Sonotheque
11/24 - Clique Talk @ Empty Bottle
11/25 - El Guincho @ Empty Bottle
11/26 - Kid Sister, Flosstradamus @ Metro
11/26 - Derrick Carter @ Smart Bar
11/29 - Nada Surf @ Metro
11/29 - Boris @ Empty Bottle
11/29 - The Verve Pipe @ Martyrs'
12/2 - El Ten Eleven @ Schubas
12/2 - Mudvayne @ Congress
12/2 - Akron/Family @ AV-aerie
12/2 - Juliana Hatfield @ Double Door
12/3 - Amanda Palmer @ Metro
12/3 - Jeremy Enigk @ Bottom Lounge
12/3 - Yes @ Chicago Theatre
12/5 - Venetian Snares, The Flashbulb (DJ set) @ Reggie's Rock Club
12/5 - The Black Crowes, Vetiver @ Riviera
12/6 - Bound Stems @ Empty Bottle
12/6 - Matthew Dear @ Vision
12/7 - Lovely Little Girls @ Beat Kitchen
12/7 - Emeralds @ Empty Bottle
12/9 - Reverend Horton Heat @ Metro
12/9 - Neil Young @ Allstate Arena
12/10 - Suicidal Tendencies @ House of Blues
12/10 - Ted Leo, Tim Kinsella @ AV-aerie
12/11 - Mercury Rev @ Metro
12/11 - The War on Drugs @ Schubas
12/12 - Noah & The Whale @ Empty Bottle
12/12 - Jeff Mills @ Smart Bar
12/12 - Oasis @ Allstate Arena
12/14 - CSS @ Metro
12/14 - Wu-Tang Clan @ House of Blues
12/17 - Longwave @ Double Door
12/18 - Bon Iver @ Vic
12/18 - Twisted 15 @ House of Blues (Eagles of Death Metal, Cold War Kids, Scott Weiland)
12/26 - Lucky Boys Confusion @ Metro
12/27 - Lucky Boys Confusion @ Metro
12/27 - My Morning Jacket @ Chicago Theatre
12/27 - Rusted Root, Backyard Tire Fire @ House of Blues
12/28 - Rusted Root, Backyard Tire Fire @ House of Blues
12/28 - My Morning Jacket @ Chicago Theatre
12/29 - Umphrey's McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
12/30 - Umphrey's McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
12/31 - Umphrey's McGee @ Auditorium Theatre
12/31 - Justice DJ Set @ Congress
12/31 - Hum @ Double Door
12/31 - Future Rock, Daedelus, Dark Party, Ben Silver @ Abbey Pub
12/31 - Local H, Sybris, Office @ Bottom Lounge
12/31 - The Lawrence Arms @ Reggie's Rock Club
1/12 - Reel Big Fish @ House of Blues
1/20 - The Killers @ UIC Pavilion
1/24 - Victorian Halls @ Beat Kitchen
1/24 - Frightened Rabbit @ Empty Bottle
1/26 - Metallica, Machinehead, The Sword @ Allstate Arena
1/27 - Metallica, Machinehead, The Sword @ Allstate Arena
1/29 - Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power @ Empty Bottle
1/30 - Lindstrøm @ Smart Bar
3/7 - Tapes 'n Tapes @ Metro

The Notwist - Neon Golden

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:24:00 +0000

Just came across this the other day and am loving it so far. Tons of awesome sounds and textures going on throughout this album. Almost has the feel of the Postal Service but with better production value.

The Notwist - Neon Golden

In honor of the RNC.

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Sorry...but I couldn't resist. I will get back to posting albums shortly. This is too good to not share. Thanks for the heads up, Jordan.

Random skate video shot at 120 fps

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:41:00 +0000

Beautiful video. Not sure who the music is they synched it to, but I like it as well.
skate - shot on red - 120 fps from opus magnum prod. on Vimeo.

My new obsession: Trentemoller

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:21:00 +0000

L O L L A P A L O O Z A

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 03:44:00 +0000

Wow.

After attending my first Lollapalooza last year, I anxiously awaited for this year to arrive with extremely high hopes. After this past weekend I can safely say I was not let down.

First things first, last year my house was out of hand. We had a rotating cast in and out of the house with around 8 people staying in my 3 bedroom house in Chicago. People sprawled on couches, chairs, the floor, and a tent or two set up in the backyard for storage purposes. This year, my cousin and his wife flew in from Texas and my brother drove down from Milwaukee. Much easier to maintain and my house does not look like an earthquake it on the insides after the festival this year. So, we were working with a lot smaller group than the year before.

My cousins got in town Thursday night and after some catching up we hit the town. This (as expected) was pretty much the theme of the weekend. Drinking > Concerts > Rediculous Cab Rides> Drinking > Bars. There was a crew of DeFilippis' and many other supporting cast members. Very fun.

There were multiple bands at Lolla I was excited for, and there were other bands I was REALLY excited for. I had never seen Radiohead and I had never seen NIN before. Both bands did not disappoint. Along with those there were many other that just flat out killed it.

Gogol bordello was the biggest surprise of the weekend for me. I had no idea what they would be like live going into the show and they put on a show! Violin, accordion, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drummer, and two scantily dressed singers. The band had so much energy and it was very infectious. This was the first show of the weekend I saw. The video sucks but bear with me - they get better.

After Gogol we basically started the process of camping out for Radiohead. Bloc Party set up an hour after Gogol and they were pretty good as well. Didn't get any video or pics of that, as I was basically just sitting mentally preparing for Radiohead.

And then came Radiohead. We had a pretty great spot and overall the show was exactly what I expected it to be - - perfect - - Those guys did not disappoint. Their set had mostly everything from In Rainbows and then a lot of older classic stuff (ie - Paranoid Android, Fake Plastic Trees, Idioteque!!!!!, Everything In It's Right Place, etc.) Their lighting was incredible and the sound was perfect. My only gripe is that the crowd was seriously lame. I'm assuming it was dud to drinking all day long in the 90 degree sun but the lack of enthusiasm was semi-awkward after songs were played. Thom Yorke even said something along the lines of, "You guys are really quiet out there." AKA - "WTF...We are the best band in the world. Quit being pansies and ball up." Oh well, I was happy.

Day 1 ended with an 8 people awkwardly jamming into a random guys Lincoln Town Car and getting a ride back to my house. It was awesome - 6 in the back, my brother and I in the front and everyone was fairly inebriated. The driver was probably the nicest guy of the whole weekend I came across. Here is a pic from the cab of my bro and I practically sitting on each others lap in the front, laughing from the pain.

Here's a video of the outside madness that was occurring outside of the festival as well. when that ends, the downtown city streets of Chicago become a playground.

Day 2 (Saturday) started 10 AM Saturday with a Bloody Mary bar at a friends apartment and an overall sense of collective enthusiasm after the experience everyone had the previous night.

We started off early that day with 2 British Dance-Punk bands, Does It Offend You, Yeah and Foals. Both had great crowds and a lot of energy for playing early afternoon shows. Does It Offend was particularly awesome. I will definitely be checking them out again when they come around. I can imagine seeing them in a cramped bar or venue to be an intense experience.

What came next was (as expected) the highlight of the weekend for me. Booka Shade! I had seen zeeeeee German duo one other time in my life and I walked away feeling I had been 1 of 200 people that had witnessed something special. I felt the same after leaving their set at Lolla (with around 5,000-10,000 other people this time.) Booka had non-stop energy and their show was a dance party from start to finish. It. Kicked. Ass. The crowd was really into it as well and everyone was having a great time, including the band. It was evident that nobody wanted it to end. My video does it absolutely NO JUSTICE whatsoever. It was a hot sweaty mess and I didn't feel like messing with my camera much.

After Booka Shade I made my way to a DJ set by Does It Offend You, Yeah. I figured they were pretty bad ass as a band, so lets see what they do as DJ's. Good choice. It was the first time I had ventured over to the DJ area of Lolla and it was awesome. The crowd was WAY into it and everyone was dancing in a shady area in the woods basically. DIOYY played a lot of Daft Punk, old hip hop, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember. It was very fun.

I caught half of Battles set, but at this point I hadn't eaten in about hmmmm, all day, so I went and got some food and geared up for Rage Against The Machine. I was really excited for this but it just wasn't in the cards. We got there a little late so we were extremely far back and the sound was terrible where we were. There is something just wrong about seeing Rage Against the Machine and not leaving with your ears hurting badly from the loudness of the show. Oh well, one dud of the weekend. If I could do it over again I would have been in the mosh pit up front .... scratch that. Might not survive. They had to stop the show at least 4 times because it was getting out of control Zach De La Rocha looked scared on the monitors that someone was gonna die. Intense.

That night consisted of a post party at my place followed by a trip out to Evil Olive in Wicker Park. The night got out of hand. I left the bar around 4:30 and knew it was going to effect my waking up the next morning. No pics or vids from that night, as I was likely unable to operate a camera effictively. Haha.

The 3rd and final day everyone was a little lagging and burnt out after the first 2 days of no sleep and drinking as though we were all in college again. We got into the festival around 3:30 which was about 3 hours later than every other day. We made it to Lolla in time for Chromeo, which was really fun and something I had definitely wanted to see. After that we basically just sat around and camped out for Girl Talk............

Girl Talk.........

I have never been in a crowd like that before in my life. If you fell over, you were probably gonna die. There were so many people to see him that it was semi-ridiculous. Aside from all of that, the man knows how to put on a show. He had ENERGY and stage presence like nobody else I saw all weekend. Jumping around, dancing with the 30 or so people he just brought on stage, and sporadically screaming in the mic about how he loved Lollapalooza. Pretty fun. Throughout the show toilet paper was being launched into the crowd along with many other things. I got some great pictures and videos from this. It was a SPECTACLE.

The concert ended with Greg gillis (aka Girl Talk) throwing an inflatable raft into the crowd and crowd surfing inside of it. Eventually he jumped out and crowd surfed all the way back to the sound booth where he faded out of the last track he had started. It was theatrical, and awesome. The crowd was into it.

There he is after he dove out of the raft. Some other random kid jumped in and got his 15 minutes of fame being passed around as well.

The final show of the weekend was NIN (sorry Kanye, you're annoying). I went in with high hopes and was blown away. By far, my favorite show of the weekend. The show was amazing from start to finish. It started witha lot of tracks off Ghosts that were very chilling and beautiful to listen to, and then the second half of the show was straight rock and roll NIN. The crowd was into it, the lights were amazing, and it just couldn't have been a better way to end the weekend!!! Trent Reznor also gave an amazing speech about Lollapalooza and how appreciative he was that people enjoyed his music. It was very candid and really cool to hear. I went into the weekend expecting Radiohead to be far and away the best show, but NIN stole the show. Incredible start to finish.

All in all, the weekend was incredible. I can't say enough about it and I am not ready to go back to reality. I got to see my cousins who I had not seen in about 5 years, hung out with my brother, saw a ton of friends from the past and college, and witnessed some musically redonk performances. Let the countdown begin to next year.

Upcoming Chicago Concerts

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:19:00 +0000

8/5 - She & Him @ Park West
8/6 - Tilly & The Wall, The Ruby Suns @ Abbey Pub
8/7 - RX Bandits, Portugal. The Man, Maps & Atlases @ Metro
8/8 - We Are Scientists, Oxford Collapse @ Abbey Pub
8/8 - Amanda Palmer @ Lakeshore Theatre
8/9 - Pegboy @ Bottom Lounge
8/12 - Eddy Grant @ Martyr's
8/14 - The Duke Spirit @ Empty Bottle
8/14 - Jukebox the Ghost @ Schubas
8/14 - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head @ Sub T
8/14 - James Murphy (DJ set) @ Smart Bar
8/15 - Matthew Dear @ Smart Bar
8/15 - Racebannon @ Beat Kitchen
8/16 - Oneida @ Empty Bottle
8/17 - Handsome Furs @ Empty Bottle
8/17 - The Ex @ Logan Square Auditorium
8/17 - Pterodactyl @ Bottom Lounge
8/21 - Weedeater, Black Cobra @ Double Door
8/22 - The Faint @ Vic
8/22 - Ben Weasel @ Reggie's
8/23 - Ben Weasel @ Reggie's
8/23 - Boat, Creeping Weeds @ Schubas
8/23 - A-Trak @ Sub T
8/23 - Aesop Rock @ Abbey Pub
8/23 - Bang! Bang! @ Empty Bottle
8/28 - Tub Ring @ Beat Kitchen
8/30 - Don Caballero, Ponytail @ Sub T
8/30 - Richie Hawtin @ Metro
9/3 - Andrew Bird @ Millennium Park
9/3 - Xiu Xiu, Prurient @ Bottom Lounge
9/3 - Reggie & the Full Effect @ House of Blues
9/4 - Mike Gordon @ Park West
9/5 - Shudder to Think @ Park West
9/5 - The Juan Maclean @ Empty Bottle
9/5 - Van Ghost @ Sub T
9/6 - Sons and Daughters @ Double Door
9/6 - U-Melt @ Martyr's
9/6 - The Wombats @ Empty Bottle
9/7 - Benevento/Russo Duo @ Martyr's
9/7 - The Indobox, Low Life (feat. Clay Parnell) @ Tonic Room
9/9 - Lymbyc Systym, This Will Destroy You @ Bottom Lounge
9/10 - Does It Offend You, Yeah? @ Sub T
9/11 - Ra Ra Riot, Walter Meego @ Sub T
9/12 - Holy Fuck @ Sub T
9/12 - The Walkmen @ Metro
9/15 - Balkan Beat Box @ Logan Square Auditorium
9/17 - Low @ Epiphany
9/17 - Cut Copy, The Presets @ Metro
9/17 - Cut Copy (DJ Set), The Presets (DJ Set) @ Smart Bar
9/19 - Jenny Lewis @ Epiphany
9/20 - Lagwagon, MxPx @ Metro
9/20 - We Are Wolves @ Sub T
9/20 - Evangelicals @ Beat Kitchen
9/20-21 - Hideout Block Party @ Hideout (The New Pornographers, Ratatat, Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Black Mountain, etc.)
9/21 - A Place to Bury Strangers @ Empty Bottle
9/23 - Say Hi @ Sub T
9/24 - Sigur Rós @ Chicago Theatre
9/24 - Miss Kittin & The Hacker @ Abbey Pub
9/26 - Mogwai, Fuck Buttons @ Congress Theatre
9/26 - Why? @ Bottom Lounge
9/26 - Hayden @ Schubas
9/27 - My Bloody Valentine @ Aragon
9/27 - Buckethead @ Vic
9/28 - Hot Chip @ Metro
9/28 - Hot Chip (DJ set) @ Smart Bar
9/28 - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds @ Riviera
9/29 - Hot Chip @ Metro
9/29 - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds @ Riviera
9/30 - Born Ruffians @ Schubas
10/1 - The Wedding Present, Dirty on Purpose @ Empty Bottle
10/2 - Liam Finn @ Lakeshore Theatre
10/2 - Beck, MGMT @ Aragon
10/3 - Beck, MGMT @ Aragon
10/6 - Black Kids @ Metro
10/6 - Ani DiFranco @ Chicago Theatre
10/7 - Talkdemonic @ Schubas
10/8 - The Dodos @ Bottom Lounge
10/9 - My Morning Jacket @ Chicago Theatre
10/10 - My Morning Jacket @ Chicago Theatre
10/10 - Stereolab @ Vic
10/10 - Silver Jews @ Metro
10/10 - Southern Culture on the Skids @ Schubas
10/11 - The Kooks @ Riviera
10/11 - Oh My God, Baby Teeth @ Sub T
10/12 - Pinback, Make Believe @ Bottom Lounge
10/12 - Riot Fest 2008 @ Congress Theatre (Mighty Mighty Bosstones, ALL, Mustard Plug, etc.)
10/17 - The Notwist @ Logan Square Auditorium
10/18 - King Britt @ Empty Bottle
10/19 - Dead C, Wolf Eyes @ Empty Bottle
10/24 - Ekoostik Hookah @ Martyr's
10/25 - Fujiya & Miyagi @ Bottom Lounge
10/25 - Lotus @ Park West
10/25 - Lykke Li @ Empty Bottle
10/27 - Of Montreal @ Riviera
10/29 - Mest @ House of Blues
10/31 - The King Khan & BBQ Show @ Bottom Lounge
11/21 - m83 @ Bottom Lounge

Pitchfork Music Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:46:00 +0000

2 Words - Animal Collective

I had no idea what these guys would be like live considering all of their albums are so experimental and somewhat "out there," but they were by far the best show I saw all weekend. One of the better concerts I have seen in the last few years, actually.

Fleet Foxes, The Dodos, and Caribou were also pretty awesome.

Overall, Pitchfork had their act together. The festival was extremely organized and well put together with a good lineup. As expected, the hipsters of Chicago did not disappoint and I was able to view multiple pairs of jorts, ironic sunglasses, and tattoos that will certainly halt future career plans. Well played hipsters.

Here are some videos from the festival Pitchfork has posted.

Fleet Foxes

Animal Collective!!!

Caribou

Dizzee Rascal

The Dodos

Public Enemy

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:08:00 +0000

Usually around once or twice a year I hear an album that really makes me stop and realize why I love music. This album does that. From start to finish this album had my attention, so much so that I listened to it three times in a row while I sat at my desk at work.

This album escaped me for almost a year now, until my friend informed me that we went to school with Justin Vernon aka - Bon Iver, and told me to give the album a listen. Vernon was in an extremely popular band called Deyarmond Edison while I was in school at the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, and I had heard nothing of them after they broke up.

Well, 2 years later and talent pays off. Vernon MADE it. On the world stage... Pitchfork Magazine named his album in the top 50 of 2007 and numerous other magazines have given it 5 out of 5 stars. THE MAN IS OPENING FOR WILCO THIS SUMMER. W I L C O. That's a pretty good sign.

Anyways, here is the album. If you like it, buy it, or see the artist live. I'm seeing him this weekend at Pitchfork Music Festival and I can't wait.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Atmosphere - When life gives you lemons, you paint that shit gold

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:01:00 +0000

Good hip hop out of Minneapolis. I have heard "You" on the radio before which strikes me as somewhat weird for Atmosphere, nonetheless it is a damn catchy song. These guys have put out some quality, thought provoking hip-hop over the last 10 years.

Atmosphere - When life gives you lemons, you paint that shit gold

Andrew Bird - Soldier On

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:52:00 +0000

I just recently heard about Andrew Bird and starting listening to him, but everything I have heard from him I have liked thus far. He is a talented guitarist and violinist, and creates many interesting textures and layers with his violin by looping and using effects. This is the latest EP he released and it is a good start to see his range as a musician.

Andrew Bird - Soldier On

Coldplay - Viva la Vida

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:22:00 +0000

Coldplays fourth studio release. Not bad after a first listen. They're no Radiohead... :)

Coldplay - Viva la Vida

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:44:00 +0000

The latest output from Greg Gillis aka Girl Talk. An interesting mash up that once again goes all over the place. Gillis is also taking the Radiohead/Trent Reznor approach to releasing albums - pay what you want. Here is a link to his web site where you can pay whatever you want for his album. Enjoy.

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals

Benga - Breezeblock Mix

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:56:00 +0000

I have been slightly obsessed with Dubstep over the last 2 months, and this guy is one of the biggest names around. Hailing from London, Benga is one of the pioneers of this sound and he has been all over the place the last 2 years. I just had a chance to see him in San Francisco and I dropped the ball because my flight landed late (aka I was lame.) Doh. Anyways, this is a great mix he released at the start of this year. Check it out.

Benga - Breezeblock mix

!!! and The Field playing around in the studio

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:22:00 +0000

I'm on a video kick right now. More album posts to come soon.

Daft Hands - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Saw this homage to the French gods known as Daft Punk and had to post.

Lollapalooza #10 - Broken Social Scene

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:48:00 +0000

Broken Social Scene is a super-group out of Canada with somewhere around 20 rotating members. Almost everyone in the group has their own musical side project or band (after this year, probably the most notable member being Leslie Feist - who is now starting to sell out arenas after her monumental year in 2007 (partly due to Apple playing a song of hers in a commercial)). Is that all it takes these days?? 1 Apple commercial? Anyways, rambling on. Broken social Scene is good and this is my favorite album of theirs. Side note - Feist's album from this year is great as well (The Reminder). Listen if you haven't yet.

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People

Lollapalooza #9 - Gogol Bordello

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:33:00 +0000

Gogol Bordello is a multi-ethnic Gypsy punk band from the Lower East Side of New York City that formed in 1999 and is known for its theatrical stage shows. Much of the band's sound is inspired by Gypsy music, as its core members are immigrants from Eastern Europe. The band incorporates minor-key accordion and fiddle (and on some albums, saxophone) mixed with cabaret, punk, and dub as well as multiple languages. Phill Jupitus has described the band as "a bit like The Clash and The Pogues having a fight... in Eastern Europe," while Kenneth Partridge of The Hartford Courant described lead singer Eugene Hütz's voice as "somewhere between that of Borat and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog".

I laughed when I read this description of the band because it is pretty dead on. I have heard these guys have quite a fun show live. This album is their latest release from 2007.

Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!

Ultimate - 3:29
Wonderlust King - 3:58
Zina-Marina - 4:19
Supertheory of Supereverything - 2:56
Harem in Tuscany (Taranta) - 3:33
Dub the Frequencies of Love - 6:15
My Strange Uncles from Abroad - 5:19
Tribal Connection - 5:05
Forces of Victory - 5:23
Alcohol - 4:54
Suddenly... (I Miss Carpaty) - 5:36
Your Country - 4:15
American Wedding - 3:38
Super Taranta! - 6:44

Lollapalooza #8 - Explosions in the Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Explosions in the Sky is an American instrumental post-rock band from Texas. The band has garnered popularity beyond the post-rock scene for their cinematic, elaborately developed guitar work, narratively styled instrumentals, and their enthusiastic and emotional live shows. The band is a 4 piece usually with 3 of the members on guitar and the other on drums.

Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is not a Cold Dead Place

"First Breath After Coma" – 9:33
"The Only Moment We Were Alone" – 10:14
"Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean" – 8:43
"Memorial" – 8:50
"Your Hand in Mine" – 8:17

Lollapalooza #7 - Wilco

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:09:00 +0000

The newest release from Chicago based Wilco.

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

Lollapalooza #6 - Foals

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:45:00 +0000

More Dance Punk out of the U.K.

Foals - Antidotes

"The French Open" – 3:46
"Cassius" – 3:50
"Red Socks Pugie" – 5:09
"Olympic Airways" – 4:19
"Electric Bloom" – 4:55
"Balloons" – 3:01
"Heavy Water" – 4:32
"Two Steps, Twice" – 4:39
"Big Big Love (Fig. 2)" – 5:47
"Like Swimming" – 1:58
"Tron" – 4:48

Lollapalooza #5 - Radiohead

noreply@blogger.com (Ross DeFilippis) — Wed, 21 May 2008 17:40:00 +0000

The best album of the 90's.
The best album of the last 10 years.
The best touring band in the world.
The most influential band of the last two decades.
Probably my favorite album.
Yeah, I'm a fluffer.

Radiohead - OK Computer