Playing Chicago

With Debut LP Spirit Tamer, Mia Joy Invites You Into Her Sacred World—On Her Terms

A meditation on the connection to self, creating and debunking personal myth, enduring changes post-heartache, and believing in the promise of...

Jessi Roti

Bodies of Water LP Takes Moontype from Solo Bedroom Songwriting to Chicago's Most Hyped Rock Trio

That, and the power of friendship. The trio, made up of singer, songwriter and bass player Margaret McCarthy, guitarist...

Jessi Roti

A week after global protests calling for Justice at Spotify, the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers Chicago Chapter sees more action ahead

Members of the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers' Chicago chapter protesting outside Spotify offices at 225 W. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL on Monday, March 15, 2021. “We got music. We got rhythm. Don’t exploit us with your algorithm!” That was just one of the slogans chanted by dozens of...

Jessi Roti

PLAYING CHICAGO15 Songs to Usher in Spring

Spring is just around the corner - but this is Chicago. Anything can happen. It has snowed in April here (cue Prince). Luckily, neither the lingering chill in the air nor the ongoing pandemic can stop the city’s creative pulse. There are dozens of releases from exciting, rising musicians set to...

Jessi Roti

Piwa Brings the 'Bass Down' to Take Her Next Steps as an Artist

At age 17, the singer-songwriter, then known as Tapiwa, was in California with her mom for rounds of auditions after a successful submission tape for the Snapchat...

Jessi Roti

Waltzer Brings Debut LP Time Traveler to Noonchorus for One-of-a-Kind Album Release

The group’s multi-level home-on-wheels was decked out with fire poles and a swing, and personalized nooks for each member that, while varied to match their “Spice”...

Jessi Roti

Emily Blue Searches for Queer Utopia on Forthcoming Pop Project The Afterlove

One of the first Chicago artists I’ve ever seen appear on stage flanked by dancers who not only made their choreography and transitions appear effortless,...

Jessi Roti

PLAYING CHICAGOWays to Demonstrate Black Lives Matter on Bandcamp Friday

Sen Morimoto Photo by Dennis Elliot Amidst a pandemic largely impacting people of color, during a summer that’s seen some of the most racially-charged unrest in recent memory — surprise! — a lot’s been happening in the American city with the third largest Black population. Unlike cities such as New...

Micco Caporale

PLAYING CHICAGOHalf Gringa Meditates on Uncertainty on Force to Reckon LP

” The opening licks of Half Gringa’s sophomore release, Force to Reckon, took me back to the early 2010s, when I lived in the South and would careen around bends...

Micco Caporale

PLAYING CHICAGOSupport these Musicians on Bandcamp this Friday

DEHD is one of the many Chicago-based artists you should consider supporting via Bandcamp this Friday. Photo Credit: Alexa Viscius In case you’d forgotten, here’s your reminder: that pandemic? Still happening. Which means Bandcamp Fridays are also still happening, and one’s coming up at the end of...

Micco Caporale

After a Decade in the Club, Dance Loud Celebrate Debut LP "The Moment"

It’s what happens when an electronic duo whose career has been as energetic and careening as their namesake, has to pause — literally. Chicago-based artists Kristin Sanchez and Desereé Fawn Zimmerman were...

Micco Caporale

White Folks Rioted at Disco Demolition Night - But Didn't Silence Dance Music's Black and LGBTQ Voices

It was 79 degrees outside when local DJ Steve Dahl set fire to a crate of disco records in a publicity stunt so hot, it scorched music history. Disco Demolition Night happened in Chicago on July 12, 1979. But in many ways, the event doesn’t feel too distant. Blowing up records was supposed to boost...

Micco Caporale