New Year's

New Year's shows are starting to pop up again, with Margot and the Nuclear So-Sos at Schubas, Jon Brion at the Harris Theater, Spoon at the Metro and now Black Kids at the Empty Bottle. Usually when hyped up bands play small venues I make a point to see them before they blow up even if I'm not sure I'm into them, just in case they could win me over live (see: Peter Bjorn and John). But I definitely won't bother this time, even if it wasn't New Year's Eve . . .

Happy holidays! Back on Monday, both blog and radio show.

EDIT: But wait! This show gets the award for most depressing New Year's show:

Everclear and the Lovehammers @ the Hyatt Regency O'Hare

Woo!

Empty Bottle Special Guest Guessing

Alright, I've caved to the pressure, bought a ticket to the Empty Bottle's "secret show" on Thursday, and put some time into analyzing who it could possibly be. Assuming this "special guest" is a bigger band playing in town around that time, I've checked out the bands playing the Riv/Aragon/etc. on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday; my prediction is it's either Interpol or Spoon, two Empty Bottle-friendly bands that would definitely sell out the venue "in a matter of minutes" (Interpol even more so). Spoon does have a history of doing these sorts of special shows at smaller venues (though usually sponsored by Jack Daniels or Budweiser or something), but Interpol does play the Aragon at 7:30 Thursday night, so it might make sense that they head over to the Bottle afterwards for this "late night" show. Time will tell! Put in your bets now.

More ways to win . . .

Another way to win Spoon tickets: just buy the new album (that name again: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga) at any Reckless tomorrow and give them your info. Winners are announced on Thursday!

Free Spoon Show?

Um, what's this? Spoon is playing a free show next Friday at Schubas at 11PM, sponsored by Bud Light? And you can only win tickets from Schubas or WXRT (or from Bud Light reps in "bars around town", whichever those may be)? Apparently Spoon is all about doing the free pre-album release shows sponsored by alcohol(last was Jack Daniels at the Metro). Annoyingly, this is during P4k weekend, but I'll try to win tickets anyway. Or go on a massive bar crawl this weekend.