Chicago

The last time I spoke with Chicago indie rock duo Friko – comprised of vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger – was in November of 2023.  They’d just announced their signing to ATO Records (home of phriends of PHILTHY like Deer Tick, Honey Harper, Joseph, Margaret Glaspy, Neal Francis, and Pink Mountaintops),...

Local Run for Cover Records outfit Another Michael are headlining a hometown show tonight at Johnny Brenda’s.  However, we’re just as excited to get another chance to see Tenci, who will be providing direct support.  Tenci is the Chicago-based indie folk project of singer/songwriter Jess Shoman, who we have...

Last week we met Chicago teenage alt-rock quartet Neptune’s Core, who made their Philadelphia debut with a top-shelf rock show at Kung Fu Necktie.  However, it turns out that we have a mutual friend in Chicago indie rock duo Friko, comprised of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger....

Chicago’s music scene has been making a major splash in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection recently, with acts like Friko, Ratboys, Squirrel Flower, Elizabeth Moen, Dehd, Neal Francis, Macie Stewart (one-half of Finom), and Half Gringa playing some of our favorite shows of recent years.  And...

Last week, Chicago duo Friko – comprised of vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger – announced the release of their debut LP, Where we’ve been, Where we go from here, which is set to hit shelves February 16th.  The announcement came alongside their drop of lead single, “Crashing...

“We’re so excited to play as many new songs as we can fit in, maybe all of them…  We’ve just been practicing the new record for the release show, the 25th at Schubas in Chicago,” says Julia Steiner, vocalist, lyricist, and guitarist for Chicago post-country (a term championed by...

Chicago-based Americana singer/songwriter/guitarist Elizabeth Moen seems to be familiar with a lot of friends of PHILTHY…  She’s shared stages with the likes of Margaret Glaspy, Lissie, and Buck Meek, and even performed as a guitarist for Squirrel Flower in 2021…  And last year Moen released Wherever You Aren’t, her...

Unfortunately, Chicago trio Dehd’s show scheduled for this past Sunday at Union Transfer had to be cancelled with someone in the group’s touring party testing positive for COVID….  But, just today they announced more than a month of Fall dates, including an October 22nd stop at Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia. ...

“I’m just overwhelmingly grateful because I struggled to get anything going for a long time in my life,” says 33-year-old Chicago musician Neal Francis, who is about to kick off a massive tour, which includes headlining dates, festival stops, and a run supporting Amos Lee.  The dates are in...