Marnie Stern at Empty Bottle | Concert review
"All I've got is time," Marnie Stern told the crowd at the Empty Bottle on Wednesday night, repeating a line from her bouyant, slightly frantic anthem "Hell Yes" (off her latest effort for Kill Rock Stars, Chronicles of Marnia). "It's really true. I haven't had sex in a thousand years."
The New York–based singer/songwriter/guitarist—whose stage banter is made all the more great due to her high-pitched Coffee-Talk-with-Linda-Richman accent—had a lot to say about her dissatisfying sex life.
Concert photos | Fleetwood Mac at United Center
Last weekend, the Mac attacked the United Center. Buckingham, Nicks, Fleetwood and McVie (John, that is; Christine hasn't toured with the group in ages) speed-plucked and harmonized through their back catalog of California radio gold. They're sporting a couple of new tunes, too.
In case you missed it: Some of our favorite local musicians selected their favorite Fleetwood Mac songs for us. Check out the deep cuts dug by Kelly Hogan, John Stirratt of Wilco and more. Hogan never fails to deliver a killer anecdote. Love her.
5 things to do today: Friday, April 19
Zabriskie Point Dir. Michelangelo Antonioni. 1970. 110mins. Having diagnosed the sick soul of Europe, Antonioni travels to America. As if discovering a new planet, he gazes on endless highways, crass commercialism, Death Valley lovemaking and comfy consumer lifestyles (the latter memorably exploded in the finale). Dismissed by many on initial release, Zabriskie Point today epitomizes Antonioni's formal mastery. Gene Siskel Film Center. 6pm. $11, students $7, members $6, School of the Art Institute students and faculty $4.
COMEDY
NBC 5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern relays tales of workplace shenanigans, then a Second City improv team reenacts them in Newsprov for the Arts. All proceeds benefit Chicago Lights, a nonprofit org that works with low-income families. Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut St (chicagolights.eventbrite.com). 8pm. $20, advance $15.
BOOKS
Local publisher Curbside Splendor launches a new series of readings, discussion and live music at Billy Corgan's Highland Park tea house. James Tadd Adcox, Okla Elliott and Kathleen Rooney read work on the theme of "origins" and Jacob S. Knabb provides live music. Madame ZuZu's. 8pm. Free.
COMEDY
Doughy, pale, lovable oaf Jim Gaffigan has moved on from Hot Pockets to enriched wheat flour for his Wonder Bread Tour. You know the drill: silly voices, the sweatpants lifestyle, junk food. Chicago Theatre. 7, 9:30pm. $39.75–$49.75.
DANCE
"In here, we are whole." As an extension of the monthly works-in-progress series, "Fraction," four emerging Chicago choreographers—Francesca Bourgault, Ashley Deran, Lauren Warnecke and Jessie Young—present seven distinctive pieces. Links Hall at Constellation. 8pm. Donation $10–$20.
Six films opening in Chicago
Since a Terrence Malick/Rob Zombie/Tom Cruise collaboration will never, ever happen—although it's fun to envision the hypothetical results—you'll have to make do with the three rubbing shoulders in our just-posted crop of new Film reviews:
In To the Wonder, Malick discovers fast food.
With The Lords of Salem, Zombie becomes a sensitive director of actors. Really.
Cruise destroys the world in Oblivion.
Journalist Juan González serves as a guide to an illustrated version of his book in Harvest of Empire.
A catastrophe in L.A. is only the beginning in It's a Disaster.
No Place on Earth: A caver unearths a Holocaust story in Ukraine.
Weekend events in Chicago
Friday, Apr 19
One net positive about the imminent Red Line construction south of Roosevelt? No more inebriated White Sox fans clogging up the train. Until May 19, though, you and the rest of the rowdy bunch can hop on the El to watch the South Siders. Today, they take on the Minnesota Twins. U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W 35th St (312-674-1000). 7:10pm; $5–$85.
NBC 5 Chicago’s Mary Ann Ahern relays tales of workplace shenanigans, then a Second City improv team reenacts them in Newsprov for the Arts. All proceeds benefit Chicago Lights, a nonprofit org that works with low-income families. Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E Chestnut St (chicagolights.eventbrite.com). 8pm; $20, advance $15.
5 things to do today: Thursday, April 18
MUSIC
With more than 100 movies slated for screening and more than 50 musical acts expected to perform, the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (which begins today) promises a gluttony of visual and aurual stimulation for audio- and cinephiles. New this year is CIMMcon, a conference within the festival, that includes panels on subjects as disparate as grant writing in the arts to a blues oral history narrated by musician Billy Branch. CIMMfest also honors the Rolling Stones with a "CIMMpathy for the Stones" series, featuring 10 documentaries about the legendary rock band. See all of our recommendations. April 18–21. Various venues including Logan Theatre and Music Box. Average price $10.
ART & DESIGN
As part of the Conversations at the Edge series, Chicago artists Eric Fleischauer and Jason Lazarus present and discuss twohundredfiftysixcolors the highly anticipated film they created out of thousands of animated GIFs. Gene Siskel Film Center. 6pm. $11; students $7; GSFC members $6; Art Institute of Chicago staff, and SAIC faculty and staff $4; SAIC students free.
BOOKS
Thomas Dyjas shares his book, The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream, which provides a detailed history of Chicago and the cultural movers and shakers that shaped the city. Harold Washington Library, Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. 6pm. Free.
An MPC maestro hailing from Rhode Island, AraabMUZIK has lent his skills to numerous rapper's singles and albums over the years, before setting out on his own in the open-ended world of instrumental hip-hop. He's quickly graduated from behind the scenes to big festival attraction and his old-school (Dre and Dilla) meets new school (Diplo) stylistic approach has caught on with all except trance remixers. Live, he brings out the best of the MPC's realtime excitement, making for an unusually good live electronic show. The Mid. 10pm. Free with R.S.V.P. at clubtix.com.
Five things to do today: Wednesday, April 17
FOOD & DRINK
To raise funds for hunger relief, Martha Bayne eschews the high-priced benefit dinner and instead sells soup. Good soup. By chefs, both amateur and pro. Don't miss tonight's gathering; it's the last Soup and Bread of the 2013 season and features soups inspired by items commonly found on a pantry shelf. (The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, hideoutchicago.com). 5:30pm. Pay what you can.
BOOKS
Showcasing a mix of authors and genres, the Book Cellar's monthly Local Author Night is a nice chance to familiarize yourself with the Chicago lit scene (as you familiarize yourself with vino from the Cellar's café). Tonight's locals, reading from their most recent books, are BJ Best, Susan Hahn, Amy Leach and Kathleen Rooney. (The Book Cellar, 4736–38 N Lincoln Ave, bookcellarinc.com). 7pm. Free.
DANCE
The latest concert from the Space Movement Project dynamically considers, well, space and movement. "Out of Step in the Same Direction," incorporates familiar quirks and formations that the female dance group has used in the past but brings them to a new venue. Also, founding member Stacy Wolfson performs a farewell solo, Mountains and Concrete. (Hamlin Park Fieldhouse, 3035 N Hoyne Ave, chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/Hamlin-Park). 7:30pm. Free.
GAY & LESBIAN
Gay Paul Bunyans deserve a DJ night too, and the Burlington's monthly Burly event draws bearded boys aplenty. Other queers and allies are also welcome—it's a welcoming vibe in general. You could probably even bring your blue ox. (3425 W Fullerton Ave, theburlingtonbar.com). 9pm. Free.
MUSIC
Marnie Stern brings her frantic, spellbinding guitar work and infectious energy to the Bottle. The Upper East Side shredder just released her fourth album, the awesomely titled epic Chronicles of Marnia. (Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave, emptybottle.com). 9pm. $12.
Album of the week | The Flaming Lips' The Terror
In this new ongoing feature, we'll spotlight the most notable record of each week.
Naturally, I picked of a doozy of a week to kick things off. April has been loaded with fantastic albums, and today two of my favorite (so far) of 2013 see release, from the Flaming Lips and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. You can't go wrong with either.
The Terror stands alongside The Soft Bulletin as a definitive statement from one of the great bands of the last quarter century.
Read the review after the break.
Five things to do today: Tuesday, April 16, 2013
AROUND TOWN
Academy Award–winning director William Friedkin (The Exorcist and The French Connection) returns to his birthplace. The influential filmmaker sounds off about his memoir, The Friedkin Connection. Harold Washington Library Center. 6pm. Free.
BOOKS
Edward Hirsch, the renowned poet, critic and prez of the Guggenheim Foundation, speaks at this Society of Midland Authors event. A social hour, with complimentary snacks and a cash bar, begins at 6pm. Cliff Dwellers Club. 7pm. Free.
Dazed and Confused. Dir. Richard Linklater. 1993. 102mins. Here's the great thing about Linklater's sprawling, '70s-set teen comedy: You get older, and it stays the same age. Logan Theatre. 8pm.
MUSIC
Shuggie Otis + Jesca Hoop + DJRC Otis was assumed to be a recluse, but it turns out he’s been steadily writing and recording since he dropped Inspiration Information nearly 40 years ago. So why has his comeback taken this long? It was 12 years ago that Luaka Bop first reissued that 1974 masterpiece, repackaging it with a few choice cuts from his 1971 disc, Freedom Flight, including the exquisite, kaleidoscopic pop of “Strawberry Letter 23,” Otis’s best known song. At the time it was ahead of the curve yet it turned out to be Otis’s last album until now: Epic/Legacy’s new reissue of Inspiration adds a handful of unreleased tracks from that era plus a bonus disc, Wings of Love, which compiles unreleased tunes recorded from 1975–2000. Lincoln Hall. 8pm. $20.
CLASSICAL & OPERA
The CSO and Chicago Symphony Chorus join forces in Bach's monumental Mass in B minor, led by Riccardo Muti. All four of the vocal soloists make their CSO subscription debuts in this program: Eleonora Buratto (soprano), Anna Malavasi (mezzo-soprano), Saimir Pirgu (tenor) and Adam Plachetka (bass-baritone). Symphony Center, Orchestra Hall. 7:30pm. $40–$275.
We're still here!
By now you've probably heard there have been some major changes at Time Out Chicago. What hasn't changed: We are still your best source for restaurants, bars, art, comedy, theater, music, festivals, shopping, museums, LGBT, dance and film coverage—and now you'll find it all online.
I've heard lots of questions from readers over the past couple of weeks. Here a sampling, with my answers below:
Does TOC still exist?
Alive and kicking—see above.
Are you still doing restaurant reviews?
Yes! And theater, comedy, art, museum, film, music and dance reviews. Look for them on the site almost daily.
Who's still on staff?
Julia Kramer (Food & Drink editor): Covering restaurants & bars
Kris Vire (associate editor/Theater): Covering theater, comedy, LGBT
Brent DiCrescenzo (managing editor): Covering music
Laura Pearson (associate editor/arts & culture): Covering dance, art & design, books
Jake Malooley (senior editor): Covering museums, fests, city events (a.k.a. Around Town); film
Laura Baginski (editor): Covering shopping & style
Martha Williams (photo editor)
Jessica Johnson (senior online producer)
Erin Delahanty (digital marketing manager)
Rob Ruthardt (senior digital sales manager)
Marla Tarantino (accounting specialist)
What will the site look like?
For the next couple of months, the site will look the same, but you'll see a lot of new content updated daily (best things to do each day of the week, best events of the weekend, etc.). Later this summer, the site will get a complete overhaul and sparkling new apps for tablets and smartphones, making all of our great content much easier to find.
Are you sad TOC is longer in print?
Of course. And we miss our former colleagues. But we are fully committed to creating the best arts and culture website in Chicago. We're excited about what's to come, and we're sure you will be, too. Until then, you know where to find us.
