Our (fairly) regular roundup of Music & Arts related news from Chicago-based web media, featuring thoughts and insight from some of the city’s most dedicated writers.
- An oral history of the Chosen Few Picnic, the ‘Woodstock of house music’
How a family Fourth of July party grew into an annual event that attracts more than 40,000 fans
by Leor Galil
South-side DJ collective the Chosen Few, which Wayne Williams founded as a high school student in 1977, played an instrumental role in popularizing disco and house music in Chicago during the late 70s and early 80s—at first, both styles were largely confined to gay clubs. Given the huge influence that house has had on pop’s subsequent development, its embryonic years have acquired a mythological glow that rubs off on any artist active in the field at the time—and the Chosen Few have found a way to share their slice of that glory.… [ Read more ] [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ] - R&B Goddess Kehlani Kicks off Inagural Tour at Lincoln Hall
Kehlani, 20-year-old Oakland R&B up-and-comer, is having a pretty decent year. After the “America’s Got Talent” ex-contestant left a sizeable dent in last year’s soundscape with her trippy debut Cloud 19, she signed to Atlantic Records, released an even more impeccable R&B mixtape You Should Be Here and is headlining her first tour to celebrate.
Her flow, blotchy vibratos sewn along the beat in a Kanye soul-rap cadence, elevates contemporary alternative R&B with a dynamic and textured swagger. Paired with glossy, ’90s-inspired production, her honest, progressive rhymes about maneuvering relationships run circles around the album’s rap features–local hip-hop soulsters BJ The Chicago Kid and Chance the Rapper.
Kehlani’s You Should Be Here tour, with “dream rapper” Pell, will premiere right here in Chicago on July 7 at a sold-out, all-ages show at Lincoln Hall, 7:30 p.m.
- Best of Chicago winners Melkbelly drop a new single
Best of Chicago winners Melkbelly drop a new single, the Velcro Lewis Group makes an album with John Forbes, and more.
by J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
Mighty Chicago noise-rock outfit Melkbelly, named “Best cross between the Breeders and Lightning Bolt” in the Reader’s recent Best of Chicago issue, are dropping new tunes! On Thu 7/2 they’ll release a seven-inch called “Bathroom at the Beach” b/w “Piss Wizard,” and this wolf is willing to bet it’s gonna kick a metric crap-ton of ass.… [ Read more ] [ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]
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