By Jaime Pitillas
Despite the shortness of February, Chicago is again hosting a smorgasbord of concerts all month long. Here are my ten picks for shows this upcoming month – plus one more for good measure.
Yo La Tengo – February 1st at the Vic
Fade is one of the best albums the new year has brought. It’s a good opportunity to see a great underground band in a particularly mellow phase of its career.
American Wolf – February 2nd at the Beat Kitchen
Locals American Wolf are dropping their hypnotic debut, Myriad. They will be supported by Two Star, Fox the Cat and Pisces at the Animal Pair.
The Vaccines – February 6th at Lincoln Hall
British indie-rockers The Vaccines are coming to the States for an intense month in which they will travel all around the country.
Ty Segall – February 9th at Empty Bottle
The prolific Californian has released three albums in the last year, and started 2013 recording an EP for one of his many side bands, Fuzz. He is performing twice in the same day (but both shows are sold out).
Tiger Waves – February 10th at Empty Bottle
This band has recently released “Fields” and “A Smirk and A Smile”, two excellent singles from its sophomore album. A new show on February 9th at Ace Bar has also been added.
Nick Waterhouse – February 14th at Metro
The retro style of Waterhouse has been piquing interest since his first single was released back in 2010. Now across the world he is presenting his first full-length LP, Time’s All Gone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdmJ91_jCk
Black Joe Lewis – February 16th at Metro
If you like James Brown, you cannot miss this one. Black Joe Lewis and his multitudinal band are explosive on stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTT-pxOUF08
Toro y Moi – February 19th at Metro
Anything in Return is the new record by Toro y Moi (which we recently reviewed), and like the two previous albums, it has been a pleasant surprise.
Eels – February 23th at the Vic
Wonderful, Glorious is the first album since Eels finished their conceptual trilogy about desire. It will be released on February 5, so let’s see what direction Mark Oliver Everett (a.ka. E) is taking for this new project.
Passion Pit – February 22nd at UIC Pavilion
If you missed these guys at Lollapalooza this is your chance to redeem yourself! The duo Matt & Kim will open for them.
Bosnian Rainbows – February 26th at Bottom Lounge
Bosnian Rainbows is the reason of The Mars Volta split-up. Omar Rodríguez-López is the guitarist of this new band that makes an interesting noise-pop.