s The best Chicago albums of the 2010

CHICAGO’S FREE WEEKLY SINCE  | JANUARY   THIS WEEK CHICAGO READER | JANUARY 30, 2020 | VOLUME 49, NUMBER 17

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PUBLISHER TRACY BAIM EDITORS IN CHIEF SUJAY KUMAR, KAREN HAWKINS Hunger for You draws on her early Anniversary, Meth, and more CREATIVE LEAD RACHEL HAWLEY MUSIC EDITOR PHILIP MONTORO ARTS & CULTURE experiences with charismatic 41 The Secret History of THEATER AND DANCE EDITOR KERRY REID 11 Visual Arts The legacy of the spirituality. Chicago Music Slide guitarist CULTURE EDITOR BRIANNA WELLEN Museum of Science and Industry’s 19 Review Verböten is a 1980s John Littlejohn brought Mississippi ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAMIE LUDWIG SENIOR WRITERS MAYA DUKMASOVA, LEOR GALIL, Black Creativity exhibition is built punk musical that feels more like an country blues to Chicago. DEANNA ISAACS, BEN JORAVSKY, MIKE SULA on cultural representation and af er-school special; The Leopard 43 Early Warnings Avail, DaBaby, EDITORIAL ASSOCIATE S. NICOLE LANE innovation. Play, or Sad Songs for Lost Boys Stephen Malkmus, and more just- LISTINGS COORDINATOR SALEM COLLO-JULIN CONTRIBUTORS ED BLAIR, NOAH BERLATSKY, digs the real American dirt. announced concerts LUCA CIMARUSTI, MARISSA DE LA CERDA, MARI 20 Picks Find your heart’s desire 43 Gossip Wolf Luf werk mourn the COHEN, JOSH FLANDERS, SHERI FLANDERS, JACK onstage in February vanishing ice caps with a Pritzker HELBIG, IRENE HSAIO, CATALINA MARIA JOHNSON, MONICA KENDRICK, STEVE KRAKOW, SUE KWONG, 22 Plays of Note Grease defi es Pavilion installation, beat-scene NOËLLE D. LILLEY, JAMIE LUDWIG, FOOD & DRINK expectations; Roe is built for series Kinky Yeti throws itself a MAX MALLER, ADAM MULLINS-KHATIB, 03 Restaurant Review Lao entertainment, not detailed history; birthday party, and more. J.R. NELSON, JEFF NICHOLS, MARISSA OBERLANDER, MATTHEW SIGUR, CATEY SULLIVAN Peng You fi ghts for your right to and If/Then is undercut by shallow ------dumplings. storylines and forgettable music. DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL JOHN DUNLEVY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT & PROGRAMS NEWS & POLITICS KRISTEN KAZA 06 Joravsky | Politics Contrary to SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR JANAYA GREENE MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS COORDINATOR what Hillary said, you don’t have to YAZMIN DOMINGUEZ be liked to get stuff done. FILM ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TARYN ALLEN 13 Oscar Shorts The Oscar- ADVERTISING Nominated Documentary Short 312-392-2970, [email protected] Films program explores the ties that CLASSIFIEDS: [email protected] bind amid tragedy and struggle SALES DIRECTOR PATTI FLYNN 14 Ranking Ben Sachs’s favorite VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AMY MATHENY movies of the decade CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGER TED PIEKARZ 16 Movies of note Blake Lively SENIOR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES OPINION LENI MANAA-HOPPENWORTH, LISA SOLOMON can’t save The Rhythm Section from MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE 44 Savage Love Dan Savage CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER WILL ROGERS committing the cardinal sins of spy 24 Best of the 2010s The Reader off ers advice to someone whose fi lms; Mackenzie Davis gets lose in polled dozens of critics to arrive at threesome-loving boyfriend respects NATIONAL ADVERTISING VOICE MEDIA GROUP 1-888-278-9866 the meandering plot of The Turning. an absolutely indisputable ranked some guy more than boundaries. VMGADVERTISING.COM 08 Dukmasova | Politics Who list of several hundred records JOE LARKIN AND SUE BELAIR needs Facebook and Russian trolls that will defi nitely not start any CLASSIFIEDS ------when Illinois election laws sow THEATER arguments. 46 Jobs DISTRIBUTION CONCERNS plenty of bad faith? 17 Dance Kimberly Bartosik’s I 38 Shows of note Sessa, the 46 Marketplace [email protected] 312-392-2970 CHICAGO READER L3C BOARD PRESIDENT DOROTHY R. LEAVELL TREASURER EILEEN RHODES SECRETARY JESSICA STITES AT-LARGE SLADJANA VUCKOVIC

CONSULTANT CAROL E. BELL ------READER (ISSN 1096-6919) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY CHICAGO READER L3C NOTE FROM AN EDITOR 2930 S. MICHIGAN, SUITE 102 CHICAGO, IL 60616 312-392-2934, CHICAGOREADER.COM

AS WE AT the Reader head into 2020, a spirit of outside contributors. Everyone chose annually. The project’s online form in partic- COPYRIGHT © 2020 CHICAGO READER of transformation and renewal prevails. In their ten favorite Chicago albums of the ular will not only stick around longer than PERIODICAL POSTAGE PAID AT CHICAGO, IL keeping with that spirit, we’re publishing past ten years, and we compiled all those this paper will be on the streets but will also ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. CHICAGO READER, READER, AND what as far as anyone here knows is the picks into a ranked list of several hundred include streamable music from 50 records REVERSED R: REGISTERED TRADEMARKS ® fi rst music critics’ poll in the paper’s nearly releases. We hope that this list will provide we’ve decided to spotlight. May it serve as 50-year history. Initially the brainchild a durable tool for discovery, rather than a gateway into the richness and depth of of Reader senior staff writer Leor Galil, it disappearing into the memory hole along Chicago’s music community at least until ON THE COVER: ILLUSTRATION BY JASON WYATT with the glut of year-in-review pieces that we build the next one in 2030—if not longer. FREDERICK. FOR MORE OF JASON’S WORK, GO TO quickly grew to involve nearly half the edi- CARGOCOLLECTIVE.COM/JWFREDERICK torial department and dozens upon dozens music journalists are obligated to churn out —PHILIP MONTORO

2 CHICAGO READER - JANUARY 23, 2020 ll LPY| R  W. Chicago -- oldfriendchicago.com FOOD & DRINK

TK TK

The jiaozi come ten to a bowl in an inky bath of soy and black vinegar. JEFF MARINI FOR CHICAGO READER

RESTAURANT REVIEW

my fear my family would not be able to eat continent—dumplings are a virtual human Lao Peng You fi ghts for your my grandmother’s food as she got older,” says right. But here in Chicago, real, handmade Eric Wat. The Wat brothers’ dumplings are at Chinese dumplings of quality are rare outside the practical and spiritual heart of their new of Chinatown. Apart from specialists such as right to dumplings Ukrainian Village restaurant Lao Peng You, the great Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings, they’re which means “Old Friend.” But they’re not not terribly common there either. A Ukrainian Village specialist doughs it real good. exactly their grandmother’s dumplings: “My But these are jiaozi—silky, two-pleated, Nai Nai always said if we knew how to make half-moon purses clutching firm, often fra- By M S her food we wouldn’t need her anymore,” he grant farces: beef and cilantro; pork and dill; says. “So she wouldn’t tell me what she was egg, mushroom, and chive; among four others. can make OK dumplings, I guess, but I Daniel and Eric Wat learned to make dump- doing. I made jiaozi my whole life just trying They come ten to a bowl swimming in an inky wouldn’t dream of letting my mother-in- lings from their grandmother while growing to recreate something that was close to what bath of soy and black vinegar, shimmering law try them. Her daughter makes them up in the western suburbs. She learned to she’d do.” with amoebas of chili oil that in composite way better than I do, but there’s nothing make them from her mother while growing With at least one variety for each letter isn’t nearly as fierce as it looks. It doesn’t like Omma’s mandu, which have nostal- up near Shanghai and brought her skills along of the alphabet (quenelle, xiao long bao, matter. The broth is an ideal amniotic wait- Igia on their side. via Hong Kong. “I started cooking because of zongzi)—and their ubiquity on almost every ing room to stage these delicate dumplings, ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 3 Search the Reader’s online database of thousands of Chicago-area restaurants FOOD & DRINK at chicagoreader.com/food.

Brenda Siharath prepares dumplings fi lled with pork and dill. JEFF MARINI FOR CHICAGO READER

bobbing safely until plucked by chopsticks And among the northern Chinese restaurants matic-infused soy, black vinegar, and chili with fermented broad bean paste, the deep and swiped through the clear, ruby-red house- that have taken hold in Chinatown over the oil—that’s present across their menu. “If you bowl sprouting with a bouquet of fresh, green made chili oil, which is also not as savage as last eight years, they aren’t the fi rst to strike like one thing you should probably like every- cress. it looks. This liquid presentation solves the ground outside of Chinatown (Lincoln Park’s thing we o er,” says Eric. “The concept was There’s a handful of familiar smaller plates: problem of perishability in an item that may relatively new Xi’an Dynasty Cuisine was fi rst, sort of modeled after a taqueria, where you sliced beef shanks in chili oil; cold chicken be just as delightful when steamed or pan- along with a similar dumpling soup). use a few ingredients and create a multitude spiced with citrusy green peppercorns; cold fried but is more prone to drying or tearing. Two varieties of bing are of a northern style of dishes. You only have to decide what kind of steamed eggplant; or creamy housemade tofu. The brothers say they’re not focusing on themselves: chubby coiled flatbreads rolled textures or fi llings you want.” Along with its focus, there is a pervading any particular regional Chinese cuisine. “We and pan-fried to order with a thick, crackly But it is dough that distinguishes Lao Peng restraint across Lao Peng You’s menu. Sichuan are Chinese Americans after all,” says Daniel. exterior and slightly gooey doughy interior You, which extends to noodles as well, from a peppercorn freaks, chili fi ends, and tweakers “We grew up eating a mixture of di erent re- studded with cumin-y lamb bits or green pile of chewy, cold shoelace-gauge tentacles might look at some of these dishes and expect gional Chinese dishes.” onion. Swipe these through your preferred showered in peanut, cilantro, and green on- the electric ma la buzz common to that region, But at the moment, Lao Peng You does have blend of soy, vinegar, and oil available at the ions, deployed also in chicken and vegetarian but it’s not there. Similarly, a few beverages a particularly northern Chinese bent (the utensil station next to the counter. mushroom broth soups; to wider slippery rib- hold back on the sugar that might otherwise Wats’s grandfather hailed from the north). The brothers adhere to a template—aro- bons swimming in a beef noodle soup fortifi ed obscure the light tannic pleasures of milk tea 4 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll FOOD & DRINK THE I LLINOIS CANNABIS CONVENTION

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Eric Wat dresses some of Lao Peng You’s non-dumpling dishes, which include cold steamed 75+ SPEAKERS eggplant, cold noodles, and vegetarian noodle soup.  JEFF MARINI FOR CHICAGO READER

with herbal jelly or a fi zzy pink soda derived think? The brothers laugh sheepishly. She’s from salty preserved plums. What comes been in for lunch but hasn’t eaten the dump- across with everything—apart from soy, chili, lings. They’re not eager for her feedback. and vinegar—is extraordinary technique. “It’s the most terrifying thing we could do,” People seem to appreciate it. When they says Daniel. opened, the brothers hoped they’d sell about “The best way to describe it in Chinese is 1,400 dumplings a week among seven variet- bucuo. It’s never ‘good.’ It’s always ‘not bad,’” ies. Presently they’re cranking out 1,500 to says Eric. “If we ever thought we did some- necann.com/2020-illinois 2,000 of each in that time, and they’ve still thing good, it would make us feel lazy.” v had to close early on occasions when they run out. With the brand new Year of the Rat start- @MikeSula Contact [email protected] ing last weekend, there is no more auspicious time to eat these dumplings. or call 312-392-2970 But the big question is: What does Nai Nai ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 5 NEWS & POLITICS

Alderman Scott Waguespack campaigning with longshot mayoral candidate Lori Lightfoot last winter LIGHTFOOT CAMPAIGN FACEBOOK PAGE

POLITICS Myth buster Contrary to what Hillary said, you don’t have to be liked to get stuff done. By B J

illary Clinton’s latest outburst “Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work against Bernie Sanders gives me a with him, he got nothing done. He was a ca- chance to shatter one of my least reer politician. It’s all just baloney, and I feel favorite myths about Chicago pol- so bad that people got sucked into it.” itics—that popularity is linked to You know, I’m no Sigmund Freud, but it Hproductivity or that only those who go along sure looks like Hillary’s not about to get over get things done. that 2016 primary campaign anytime soon. No, no, not true. Though good luck getting Her comments are so Chicago. Right up anyone to believe that—especially here in there with the notion that you have to put up Chicago, where going along to get along is a with a little mayoral corruption if you want way of life. the trains to run on time. First, a reminder about what Hillary said This notion should have been disproved in about Bernie this time around, in an interview 2006 during an especially corrupt moment in with the Hollywood Reporter: Mayor Daley’s fi fth term, when the trains were 6 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll NEWS & POLITICS

also running late. So you might say Chicago the council to pass, like Daley’s parking meter got the worst of both worlds. Yet the voters deal. overwhelmingly re-elected Daley anyway. Not only did Waguespack vote against the Back to Hillary’s comments. I hear varia- parking meter deal, he produced estimates tions on this theme all the time from mayoral that showed we were selling a valuable asset supporters who are contemptuous of mayoral for less than it was worth. critics. They say things like: You know what he got for speaking the “I’m so sick and tired of hearing him com- truth? The enmity of many of his colleagues, plaining . . .” who hated him for making them look bad Or, “Why can’t he just shut up and get when they approved this rip-o . along?” Funny how things can change. In 2018, Or, as the fi rst mayor Daley—Richard J.— Waguespack had the foresight to endorse Lori once put it about council critics: “How many Lightfoot in her long-shot race for mayor. This trees have they planted?” was back before even the experts predicted Clinton is saying that being popular with Lightfoot could win. Which shows you what other politicians is how you get things done. the experts know. And that the reason Bernie can’t get things Lightfoot repaid Waguespack by forcing done is because no one likes him. his colleagues to elect him chairman of the First of all, I’m not even sure that getting fi nance committee—perhaps the most presti- things done is all that great, if the thing that gious position in the City Council. gets done is something you wouldn’t want in Recently Waguespack proposed a ban on the fi rst place. Like Donald Trump’s tax break foam to-go containers in Chicago restaurants. for the rich. If he’d done that back in the days of his un- Second, it’s inaccurate to say Bernie can’t popularity, Mayors Rahm or Daley would have get things done. He managed to move health ordered the aldermen to bury it in the rules care from the fringes of the left to the center, committee. something neither the Clintons nor Obama Then if Rahm or Daley subsequently decid- could do. ed they needed the legislation, they would’ve And third, Sanders hasn’t been able to had one of their favorite aldermanic apple achieve his legislative goals—like national polishers introduce a more watered-down health care—because they’re too radical for version of the bill. the powers that be. Not because he’s unlike- It would’ve passed, and the aldermanic able. Hell, Bernie couldn’t get them passed apple polishers would’ve told me: “Told you, if he told jokes, juggled, and did his Richard your guy can’t get anything done.” Nixon impression. Well, we’ll see if Waguespack’s alliance Finally, if Sanders’s congressional col- with Lightfoot can get the foam to-go contain- leagues don’t like him, it’s probably because er ban passed. he makes them look bad by criticizing the As to the issue of popularity, I called status quo. Waguespack to ask how he was getting along I suppose his local equivalent is Scott with the other aldermen since he became Waguespack, alderman of the 32nd ward. For fi nance committee chair. years, Waguespack had a reputation for being “I never thought I was that unpopular back unlikable. I can’t tell you how many aldermen in the days of Rahm and Daley—I tried to be would tell me something like: “I know Scott’s nice to everyone,” Waguespack said. “But now your guy, but no one likes him, and he can’t that you mention it, there were some guys get anything done.” who might say hello to me when we passed in I disagreed on both fronts. For one thing, the hall. But they’d keep themselves at arm’s Scott is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in length if the mayor was around—because Chicago politics—eminently likable. For an- they feared that if Rahm saw them talking other, he got a lot of things done in the Daley to me, they’d get reprimanded. That doesn’t and Emanuel years. happen anymore.” What he got done just wasn’t something I’m telling you—if Scott stays on Lori’s that the mayor or his supporters wanted good side, pretty soon the other aldermen will Waguespack to do. name him Mr. Congeniality. v He helped expose the wasteful and/or cor- rupt proposals that the mayor was ordering @joravben ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 7 NEWS & POLITICS

BOWELS OF DEMOCRACY Objection!

Who needs Facebook and Russian trolls when Illinois election laws sow plenty of bad faith?

B M D

lection season in Illinois brings the on the first line of page 15 of the candidate’s usual accusations of corruption, copi- petition, and the objector has found that John ous paperwork, and byzantine bureau- Smith doesn’t live in the district in which the cratic processes to get on the ballot. candidate is running. On the fi rst line of page Here’s how a seemingly simple, consti- 15 of their appendix recapitulation sheet, the Etutionally sound, taxpayer-dollar-conscious, objector would check o “signer not in district” e ciency-oriented state law can seed doubts as the reason for challenging the signature. about election integrity. Once petition challenges are received, the As you might not recall, to get on the primary State Board of Elections keeps one copy of the ballot, candidates have to fi le a certain number objection on file at the Thompson Center (a of signatures on a petition nominating them for place whose glassy postmodern architecture o ce. Chicago mayoral candidates, for exam- deliciously reflects the spirit of the winding, ple, must have 12,500 valid signatures; major tubular state election bureaucracy), and party U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois need transmits the original and the other copy to 5,000; candidates for state senate seats need the designated local election board that will only 1,000. For each signature to count, the examine the validity of the objections. (As we people signing candidates’ petitions have to be know, objections are just as likely to be bogus real people—voters registered at the address as the original signatures and therefore receive they indicate on the petition. That address administrative hearings in which candidates has to be in the district or jurisdiction that the and objectors have a chance to argue about candidate is running to represent. The signer their validity.) The state board itself only ex- also can’t have signed for any other candidate amines objections to candidates for statewide in that race. o ce (like governor or secretary of state) and After candidates file, their opponents will for o ces whose districts cross county lines. GetYour Swag! often challenge the validity of their signatures County election o cials hear cases related to (the signature isn’t from a registered voter, the districts within their counties. Objections to www.chicagoreader.com/shop voter doesn’t live in the district, etc.). The Illi- candidates running to represent constituencies nois State Board of Elections set the deadline that are fully within the city of Chicago, or that for objections for the March 17 primary ballot overlap city boundaries, are sent to the Chicago at 5 PM on December 9. Board of Elections for review. Now pay close attention: per state law, those The designated election board then notifi es wishing to challenge a candidate’s petition sig- the candidates being challenged. Usually they natures have to fi le an original and two copies send the paperwork via the county sheri , or of a packet containing a narrative summary of through certified mail, and sometimes—like their objections and a set of “appendix recapit- the Chicago Board of Elections does—both. ulation” sheets. These sheets mirror the can- So, within days of the objection being fi led, the didate’s original petition pages, only instead candidates receive at least one of the copies of having lines for signatures and signatories’ of the objection packet fi rst fi led at the state addresses, the appendix recapitulation sheets board of elections. They then have a few days to have lines on which the objector marks the rea- prepare to fi ght the objector’s challenges. Cam- son for her objection. Say John Smith signed paign sta usually spend those days feverishly 8 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll NEWS & POLITICS

combing the appendix recapitulation sheets for attachment of the objection a few minutes objections. The next week, when Jimenez’s ed malfeasance at the state board to explain any apparent errors, and double-checking the later. The campaign volunteers immediately campaign showed up to the Chicago Board of the discrepancy. Mondragon theorized the validity of the signatures they’ve collected. set about checking the appendix recapitula- Election to argue about the signatures, they following narrative: maybe a representative tion sheets against their signatures and voter saw that the board was also using the version for the objector—an Illinois Department Of ondering why you should care? records. of the packet that had more objections. Human Services employee named Elizabeth Besides this being how your de- Jimenez didn’t waive service in time to stop It all came down to the original objection not Diaz-Castillo, who has appeared as an objector mocracy works, one campaign’s it, though. The state board had already given matching its two “copies.” to Munoz’s challengers in the past—delivered experience also shows how this the Chicago Board of Elections the original O cials from both the Illinois State Board of the original objection to the state board at the process can generate deep skep- and one copy of the objection on the 10th. That Elections and the Chicago Board of Elections eleventh hour but realized that there weren’t Wticism about electoral integrity. On November same day the copy was stuffed in a certified told me that this isn’t so strange. In the rush enough signature challenges. What if Diaz-Cas- 25, 2019, Froylan “Froy” Jimenez, a fi rst-time mail envelope and sent to Jimenez, and a copy to build objections that are often hundreds of tillo asked a friendly clerk at the board to time- candidate running for state senate in the First of the original was made for the Cook County pages long, and photocopy all pages, it’s not stamp the top sheet of their objection (which District against incumbent Antonio Munoz, Sheri ’s o ce to deliver. unheard of that the “copies” of the packets was fi led 35 minutes before the deadline) but fi led a petition to get on the Democratic prima- On December 12, Jimenez received notice have missing pages or pages that are out of allow them to come back the next day to ac- ry ballot with 2,265 signatures. On December that the certified letter was ready to pick up order. The discrepancies in the objections tually drop o a packet and copies with more 10, the day after objections were due, Jimenez at the post office and a sheriff’s deputy also filed against Jimenez, though, weren’t just a challenges? Mondragon wondered whether an contacted the state board of elections to ask stopped by to deliver the objection. Once the matter of blank or upside-down pages showing earlier version of the packet with fewer objec- to see the objection that was fi led against him, campaign examined both deliveries, they saw up in copied packets. There were appendix tions got mixed in with the fi nal fi led objection according to his attorney Adolfo Mondragon. an alarming discrepancy: The copy delivered by recapitulation sheets that were numbered in and its copies. This sort of corrupt dealing be- Candidates can waive service from the sheri / certifi ed mail (one of the two copies originally the original packet but not in the “copies,” and, tween a campaign worker and a state employee certifi ed mail and see the objections faster if dropped o by the objector) matched the PDF more importantly, there were appendix reca- wouldn’t be outside the realm of possibility in they provide the state board with a notarized e-mailed by the state board, which was a scan pitulation sheets that listed more objections in this town. a davit. Jimenez faxed the waiver the next af- of the copy they kept in their fi le. The packet the original than its “copies.” “I would note that State Board of Elections ternoon and received an e-mail with a scanned delivered by the sheri , however, had 30 more Jimenez’s campaign immediately suspect- employees sign a nonpartisan political activity

ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 9 NEWS & POLITICS

three packets fi led with the state board didn’t match one another. But another election attor- ney, Michael Dorf, said this type of paperwork screwup within an objector’s camp is very com- mon. He vociferously defended the integrity of the State Board of Elections sta , too. “They’re good people and they are not partisan,” Dorf said. “It’s very unlikely that someone is in- volved in a conspiracy. I respect those people a great deal.” Mondragon prepared a motion to bring up the discrepancy in the copies to the Chicago Board of Elections, but that became moot. Ul- timately there weren’t enough valid objections even in Diaz-Castillo’s beefiest objection to knock Jimenez o the ballot. Still, Mondragon was perplexed by the discrepancy. “I hope it’s benign, but if it’s not it means there are people [working for the State Board of Elections ] who are willing to look the other way to cheat,” he said. “It’s already a system that gives the upper hand to people who are incumbents and have resources.” Presented with the details of the benign scenario, Mondragon said the fact that this could happen at all “adds questions about the integrity of the system—whether it’s a quality control issue or a malfeasance issue.” The state law that requires objectors to fi le an original and two copies was written in 1998. Mondragon wondered whether it wouldn’t be better to require objectors to file just one packet and have state officials make copies themselves, and bill the cost of copying back to the objector. But that would bring up a whole separate problem, according to election law- yer Andrew Finko. “There are constitutional The Illinois State Board of Elections has an outpost on the 14th fl oor of the James R. Thompson Center in the Loop. Objectors fi le their restrictions on imposing costs in First Amend- petitions to knock candidates off the ballot at the counter on the right.  MAYA DUKMASOVA FOR CHICAGO READER ment situations,” he said. “Ballot access is all First Amendment. The legal fi ction is that an objector is a voter who wants to assert their rights to challenge a nomination.” Even though waiver,” said Bernadette Matthews, assistant employees working the counter and many while the other copy was scanned and stored the objector has to pay the cost of copying the executive director of the State Board of Elec- people waiting to fi le challenges to other candi- by the state board, and this is how the diver- objections anyway, “implementing legislation tions, after patiently listening to my presenta- dates.) The objector’s team could have made an gent sets of objections entered the pipeline to that shifts the cost would be di cult. It’s eas- tion of this theory. “I’m not gonna comment on objection packet and produced the needed cop- reach Jimenez. Neither the state board nor the ier to have the objector handle [the copying] the likelihood [of Mondragon’s theory] but I’ll ies, but then realized they didn’t mark enough Chicago Board of Elections have the time nor because that’s not direct money that they’re just say we receive what was fi led. We receive signature challenges to really be safe and resources to examine objection copies to make paying to the state.” the original and the two copies at the same decided to beef it up. The fi nal objection was sure they match the original objection. Unless The bottom line, Finko added, agreeing with time. When an original is received and time- prepared, but the copies filed with it clearly a candidate brings these issues up at a hearing, the spirit of Mondragon’s complaint, is that stamped it’s along with the two copies that are belonged to an earlier, or incomplete, version. they fall by the wayside. state election code is full of rules that help then hand-stamped.” Given the mad rush to fi le on December 9, it’s Asked about the discrepancies between the incumbents and hinder challengers. These People could say Matthews’s denial of an possible that whoever dropped off the three three packets, Diaz-Castillo’s attorney, Thomas rules are written by incumbents, after all. “The allegation of misconduct among her staff is packets to the state board either didn’t notice Jaconetty, responded with an e-mailed state- election code isn’t about access,” he said. “It’s expected. But there’s a simpler explanation for that the “copies” didn’t match the original or ment, saying that the original objection now about denial. There’s 101 ways to get you o the the objection discrepancies. (One that doesn’t knew they didn’t have the right copies and still on fi le with the Chicago Board of Elections “is, ballot. It’s an obstacle course. If you don’t know beg the question of how Diaz-Castillo’s repre- fi led them anyway. The next morning a sta er in fact, identical in all respects, details, and the process you’ll get sandbagged.” v sentative managed to strike a shady deal with from the Chicago Board of Elections picked up particulars” to the objection he has in his own a board of elections employee, in front of other the original and one of the mismatched copies fi le. He didn’t o er any explanation for why the @mdoukmas 10 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll BC  R Through /, daily, : AM- PM, Museum of Science and Industry,  S. Lake Shore Drive, --, msichicago.org, $., $. for children -, free for members. ARTS & CULTURE

positive outcomes.” large-scale exhibition. Every year, MSI’s Black Creativity program “We added science and technology, but creates experiences like the Hero Lab to ex- always kept the art,” says Angela Williams, pose youth to careers and opportunities in deputy creative director at MSI. “And really, creative and STEM fi elds. Mayden, a former in a way, we were ahead of the curve in terms designer for Nike and the Jordan brand, is a of a larger global thinking. Now, STEAM [sci- native south-sider and sees the opportunity ence, technology, engineering, art, and math] to participate in Black Creativity as a way to is part of educational thinking in terms of fi ll the void left by the lack of representation what students need to be looking at towards in these fi elds. the future.” “By me being myself in these environments, Williams took the lead on the “Black Cre- it gives people permission to be themselves, ativity: 50 Years” exhibit, and says one of her and I think authenticity and access to au- favorite highlights was a 2007 exhibit called thentic people is lacking in our community “Design for Life” that featured industrial because we often are told we have to switch designer Charles Harrison. Harrison was the our behaviors, switch our style of speech or chief of design at Sears, Roebuck and Compa- dress in order to be deemed as innovative or ny—the company’s fi rst Black executive—and deemed as intelligent,” Mayden says. “But I was responsible for redesigning the 3-D think I’ve lived the life and have a career that View-Master. refl ects my true self. And if we can have kids “He spent many, many years at Sears and feel like being who they are is enough, then lived right here in Chicago,” Williams says. that’s a blessing.” “The bios [in the exhibit] are really hyper- The Black Creativity Innovation Studio ARIONNE NETTLES MLK Day was the official kickoff of Black focused on Chicago stories, and he’s one of Creativity. Since 1970, the exhibit has drawn those stories.” crowds to the museum to celebrate the cul- Since its inception, Black Creativity has ture, heritage, and contributions of African continued to champion established Black VISUAL ARTS Americans in art and innovation. This year’s artists and innovators while launching the list of exhibits includes a timeline of that careers of those who are emerging. Artists 50-year history, the Innovation Studio, and such as Hebru Brantley, Harmonia Rosales, Black Creativity thrives in its the “Juried Art Exhibition,” the longest-run- Theaster Gates, and Amanda Williams were ning exhibit of African-American art in the featured in Black Creativity before their rise country. to wide acclaim. This year more than 200 50th year Black Creativity started as the Black Es- works are displayed. thetics arts and culture festival with a focus Blake Lenoir, an artist and cultural activist, The legacy of the Museum of Science and Industry exhibition is built on on emerging artists and performances in has artwork featured for the first time this cultural representation and innovation. theater, dance, and music. Publisher John H. year. Lenoir, 28, says he was fi rst exposed to Sengstacke, photographer Robert (Bobby) A. art in museums during a visit to MSI and as By A N Sengstacke, fi ne arts editor Earl Calloway—all a preteen worked there as a volunteer in the of the Chicago Defender—along with history creative studio. Now, his mixed-media piece professor and MSI trustee John Hope Franklin Opaque Metropolis sits on the same walls that and South Side Community Art Center mem- would steal his attention. ittle superheroes dashed out of the one of this year’s honored Black Creativity bers such as artist Douglas R. Williams were “Just to be in that space and to see people’s Black Creativity Innovation Studio innovators. He says he designed the activity infl uential in its creation. “Queen of Gospel” reaction to my work, being from the south and through the Museum of Science to give kids a positive experience that lasts Mahalia Jackson performed at the inaugural side and being able to represent my age group and Industry on Martin Luther King beyond the fun of the day—he wants kids to event. [shows] it’s attainable, and we can do things Jr. Day, their capes blowing and know their own abilities. In 1984 the museum worked with the Chi- that are pretty great right now,” Lenoir says. Lbadges glowing. On this museum family day, “A lot of kids who are coming here, they cago Defender and added science, technology, This year marks multidisciplinary artist the studio was set up just for them. First they feel joy for a moment, but we want them to and history into the exhibition and changed Rory Scott’s third year participating in the picked their superpowers, determined their go home and have that joy be present in their its name to Black Creativity. It added a fund- exhibit. Her work often deals with space and origin stories, and chose an identity. And everyday lives, so we wanted to give them raising gala, supported by Johnson Publishing time, so being part of the 50th anniversary then, of course, next up was building their something—an artifact of their heroism and Company founders Eunice and John Johnson, exhibit has special meaning for her. gear. their brilliance,” Mayden says. “By them which was attended by Oprah. “I’m obsessed with time so it’s a big deal,” The “Hero Lab” was a collaboration with constructing their own cape, picking their su- And in 1988, MSI featured 100 Black sci- Scott says. “It means a lot to be a part of some- Jason Mayden, CEO and cofounder of the perpowers, it gives them agency and we give entists, engineers, and inventors in “Black thing that has been in existence and cultivat- children’s shoe company Super Heroic and them labels that help them be biased towards Achievers in Science,” the museum’s first ed to thrive after all this time. I am incredibly ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 11 ARTS & CULTURE

happy and grateful that I get to celebrate and a group of captivated kids to yell to their par- La Grange Park. After leaving the Innovation and guest experience for about three months. participate in this historic milestone show.” ents, “Hey, that’s Martin Luther King!” Studio, the brothers proudly showed o their As she works to shape the future of the Black In addition to works of art by professional Mackinzie Obamedo is a student at Walter capes and badges in the Juried Art space. Creativity program, she considers her own artists, the Black Creativity program has ex- H. Dyett High School for the Arts and a fi rst- Their trek into the city on MLK Day was experience as a Black woman in science as an tended its focus in recent years to specifi cally time participant in the show. Her entry, a intentional. example. highlight the work of high school student digital photograph called Goddess, shows her “I wanted some type of Black culture expe- “I remember often my own childhood,” artists. Last year it created a dedicated space carefully braiding hair, with perfect triangu- rience to show my children,” Josh Hightower Mayas says. “I grew up in the Washington, for work in the youth category, and this year it lar parts. It’s an image that represents what says. D.C., area and went to museums all the time modifi ed its submission process to encourage Obamedo says is part of her legacy: she does A highlight for the family was the intersec- and saw examples of African-American art entries from more students—in 2020, the hair, her mother does hair, her grandmother tion of art and innovation that Black Creativ- and science. I know deeply how critical those youth exhibition is the largest it’s ever been. does hair, and it all happens in the family hair ity provides. The kids loved the creative and moments were to my own exploration in the Located upstairs with the Black Creativity school, Your School of Beauty Culture, just a hands-on experiences, and their parents loved sciences and my ability to see myself as a sci- logo projected on the wall of the stairwell, the few miles away in Bronzeville. Braiding is her the expansiveness of what they were learning. entifi c person.” exhibition’s youth gallery feels uniquely fresh art. “I wanted something where the kids could And now, Mayas vows to continue to culti- and fi lled with cultural references. There are “I think hair is very controversial because a have fun and learn, but not know they’re vate experiences at MSI so that today’s Black images of Black life, both current and histori- lot of people think of it di erently, especially learning,” Dany Hightower says. “And we kids can have that same ability. cal, that line the dark gray walls. Black hair,” Obamedo says. “I grew up in hair want them to have extensive experience with “It’s an exciting opportunity,” Mayas says, Kenwood Academy High School’s Arthur so I know a lot about it.” di erent fi elds.” “to highlight how creativity and curiosity, Roby, whose portrait of rapper Young Thug Downstairs in the main gallery, families The Hightowers’s experience is one that collaboration, critical thinking have pathways earned him first place in the 2019 youth gathered near works of art that spanned the the museum carefully designed: recognizing into the science as well as to the arts and that category, has portraits of two more rappers spectrum from oil on canvases to ceiling-to- the contributions of Black creatives in a way we make that connection real here through in this year’s exhibit— Lil Baby and the late fl oor-sized quilts. Josh and Dany Hightower that’s accessible and relevant to young minds. the Black Creativity experiences.” v Nipsey Hussle—along with a portrait titled brought their two sons, eight-year-old Wil- Dr. Rabiah Mayas has been the museum’s MLK Smile, which on opening day prompted liam and six-year-old Alex, from suburban Davee Foundation vice president of education @ArionneNettles

The mind-bending cult classic By ensemble member TRACY LETTS Directed by DAVID CROMER THEY’RE EVERYWHERE JANUARY 23 – MARCH 8 Tickets start at $20 steppenwolf.org 312-335-1650

12 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll O-N DSF  R  min. Opens / at Music Box Theatre FILM

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If President Park Geun-hye meld together to tell You’re a Girl) 2020 SHORTSTV a tale of tragedy and hard-won justice. Finally, Life Overtakes Me (dir. John Hap- also under its belt, Learning to Skateboard tas and Kristine Samuelson) offers a deep in A Warzone (If You’re a Girl) explores a dive into an illness known as Resignation Syn- program known as Skateistan, which teaches drome, a ecting hundreds of refugee children young girls in Afghanistan to skateboard. in Sweden, causing them to willingly fall into Directed by Carol Dysinger and Elena Andre- comatose sleep for periods as long as several icheva, the film features adorable, spunky years. In tracing the disease and the refugee girls, a bad ass group of instructors, and a families it a icts, this documentary portrays message of female empowerment, making for an exacting appraisal of the su ering borne by an uncritical and easily digestible portrait of asylum seekers, as transferred onto the prone war-torn Afghanistan. and pristine forms of their innocent children. Though multiple documentaries have been “Recovery is dependent on rebuilding hope,” made about the sinking of the MV Sewol ferry says a Swedish pediatrician in voiceover, in 2014, In the Absence, directed by Yi Seung- which becomes a makeshift thesis for the fi lm Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam, relies almost which, like the 2020 Oscar-nominated shorts exclusively on actual footage and audio from in general, o ers an unfl inching perspective of the incident, creating an eerie and irrevoca- the world while still holding on to some sem- bly damning effect. Bureaucratic cowardice, blance of redemption. v parents grieving their drowned children, and the desperately fought-for impeachment of  @nlcoomes

PREVIEW Short fi lms, big messages THIS WEEK AT The Oscar-Nominated Documentary Short Films program explores the ties that bind amid tragedy and struggle. By N L C THE LOGAN

n our modern world, the political, environ- it is through the portrayal of this relationship mental, and social landscape often feels that the fi lm takes on a glowing, tender qual- Iincreasingly isolating. What, if anything, ity. The hushed croon of a father and son’s connects us to each other anymore? The 2020 voices mingling together in a shared song DR. STRANGELOVE Oscar-Nominated Documentary Short Films offer the audience a glimpse into just what program attempts to address this question the stakes of fi ghting racism and gun violence JAN 31 - FEB 3 AT 11 PM by telling stories about the ways in which we ought to be. are interconnected across boundaries of kin, As the camera pans the dance studio in age, race, and nation through experiences of Walk, Run, Cha-cha (dir. Laura Nix), bodies struggle, love, grief, and laughter. bending and folding in flamingo-like grace, St. Louis Superman, directed by Smriti the story of Paul and Millie Cao unfolds. Ref- Mundhra and Sami Khan, follows Bruce ugees of the Vietnam War, the Caos endured Franks Jr., a Black battle rapper and activist years of separation and hardship before being turned state representative for Missouri, on reunited in the United States. The fi lm focuses his quest to introduce a bill that would defi ne on their reunion and reclamation of joy via GROUNDHOG DAY youth violence as an epidemic in St. Louis, as dance, paying homage to their journeys as FEB 2 AT 9 PM well as to declare June 7 Christopher Harris refugees, but ultimately choosing to find its Day in honor of his older brother lost to gun resonance in two dancers sliding gleefully violence. Beyond politics, Franks Jr. is also across a dance fl oor. father to a fi ve-year-old boy named King, and With a Tribeca win and a BAFTA nomination 2646 N. MILWAUKEE AVE | CHICAGO, IL | THELOGANTHEATRE.COM | 773.342.5555 ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 13 FILM

Aurora

something new? The major American fi lms of the last ten years seemed to exist in isolation from one another, and the minor ones (which would include most multiplex fare) generally stunk. Regardless of whether this country’s culture of stagnation gives way to something more vibrant, I feel confi dent that cinema as a whole will continue to evolve in exciting ways. The past decade offered so many valuable films and fi lm movements that I often had di culty keeping up with them all. Still, the trends that reached my attention were more than enough to inspire gratitude. To name some highlights: there were the four masterpieces that Hong Kong producer-director-studio chief Johnnie To released between 2011 and 2012 (Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, Life Without Principle, Romancing in Thin Air, and Drug War), mirac- ulous fi lms that delivered personal art within popular idioms; the continued rise of female auteurs all over Latin and South America; the wave of groundbreaking documentaries from mainland China, which were as the- matically provocative as they were formally BEST OF THE 2010S provocative; Panahi’s series of self-reflexive fi lms, made in defi ance of the Iranian govern- ment’s ban on his making movies; the final Ben Sachs’s favorite movies of the decade features by such giants as Resnais, Manoel de Oliveira, Agnès Varda, Tsai Ming-liang, and You might have missed some of the most groundbreaking and innovative fi lms of the 2010s. Abbas Kiarostami; and French auteur Bruno Dumont’s unlikely transformation from a dour By B S Bressonian to a maker of madcap comedies. In selecting my favorite fi lms of the 2010s, I considered those I think most likely to endure. s far as U.S. film culture is con- I mentioned, one can fi nd all sorts of movies pong Weerasethakul, Bertrand Bonello, Mi- Some of them, like Fish & Cat and Sunset, cerned, the 2010s were a polarizing online, not to mention writing on what seems guel Gomes, Lucrecia Martel, or Jafar Panahi, broke new ground in terms of cinematic decade. On the one hand, great like all of them. Yet the dominant U.S.-based to name some of the most important directors expression, innovating ways to develop nar- movies were plentiful, and they voices in online film discourse tend not to working today? The cinema of the United ratives or settings. Others, like Life Without came here from all over the world. champion alternatives to multiplex fare, but States is pretty much stagnant at the dawn of Principle and Rambleras, tapped into an aes- AThanks to a multitude of DVD distributors and rather focus on whatever’s most popular in any the 2020s, and the Internet, which might help thetic classicism that, to quote Eric Rohmer, online streaming platforms, one could access given week. As such it feels like mainstream to stir things up, largely seems content with can be ahead of modernism—they point to worthwhile cinema with greater ease than movies and art movies are barely on speaking keeping them still. formal traditions that take us out of the pres- ever before. On the other hand, a small handful terms anymore; and as for U.S. cinema and This isn’t to say the U.S. failed to produce ent and bind us to a sense of timelessness. of corporations dominated (and continue to that of the rest of the world, the two may as good or even great movies in the past de- (Ironically both Principle and Rambleras are dominate) theatrical distribution channels, well be coming from di erent planets, to judge cade. We got at least one important fi lm from extremely pressing in their social concerns, making it di cult to see many of the era’s truly by most of our nation’s cinematic output. One Kelly Reichardt, Richard Linklater, Nathaniel demonstrating that classicism doesn’t have to important movies on a big screen unless you reason why U.S. fi lmmaking was so fertile in Dorsky, Jim Jarmusch, Lewis Klahr, Steven be retrograde in its themes.) Either way I think lived in a big city like Chicago. Even here, sev- the 1960s and ’70s was because American fi lm- Soderbergh, Ben Russell, David Fincher, that time will be generous to these movies. I’ve eral movies on my list of favorites of the 2010s makers were responding to, and sometimes Robert Greene, Janie Geiser, Alex Ross Perry, seen all but one of them multiple times, and I didn’t play in the city outside of festivals, and assimilating, the innovations of such directors Martin Scorsese, Sean Baker, Terrence Malick, fi nd new things to admire about each whenev- one (Wang Bing’s monumental documentary as Jean-Luc Godard, Michelangelo Antonioni, Jesse McLean, and James Gray. Yet outside the er I return to them. Some of these titles aren’t Dead Souls) still hasn’t screened here at all. Alain Resnais, Akira Kurosawa, and Ingmar experimental world, how often did it feel as well-known in this country yet, but I consider The Internet played a big role in this polar- Bergman. Are there any Americans now trying though these fi lmmakers were working in con- this to be only a temporary issue. Great art ization and probably accelerated it as well. As to fi nd local analogues to the work of Apichat- cert or pushing the national cinema towards has a way of reaching wider audiences over 14 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll FILM

time, a process that the Internet can certainly also a laugh riot. No other fi lm this decade made me ing new ways to express himself and comment on the 16. Sack Barrow (Ben Rivers, 2011) My favorite exper- facilitate. laugh more. state of the world. Goodbye to Language, Godard’s imental short of the 2010s was British director-cine- Below are my favorite fi lms of the decade, in rapturous 3-D experiment, was the most spectacular of matographer Rivers’s 20-minute documentary about a order of preference. 6. Tie: In Another Country (Hong Sang-soo, 2012) and these three features, but all were inexhaustible sound- run-down electroplating factory. This was both a moving Nobody’s Daughter Haewon (Hong, 2013) The prolifi c and-image collages that gave pleasure to the senses as elegy for a dying way of life and an eerie piece of found 1. Life Without Principle (Johnnie To, 2011) To’s best South Korean writer-director Hong is the cinema’s great well as the mind. science fi ction, with images of industrial decay reminis- movies validate cinema as the supreme popular art form, chronicler of passive-aggression and romantic frustra- cent of Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker. and this fuguelike narrative about the investment bank- tion, and these two features spoke to his consistency 12. Zama (Lucrecia Martel, 2017) The fi rst feature in nine ing industry was the best of the best. Every sequence of as well as his range. Both are inspired dream narratives years by Argentina’s best director was the decade’s most 17. The Wind Rises (Hayao Miyazaki, 2013) Miyazaki’s this unclassifi able fi lm (which blends comedy, suspense, grounded in deceptively simple (but exactingly com- welcome comeback. A haunting comedy of patriarchal gorgeous animated biopic of aviation engineer Jiro and melodrama) is a masterpiece, as To employs breath- posed) imagery, yet Country is a sunny comedy and and colonial power in crisis, Martel’s adaptation of Anto- Horikoshi (who designed fi ghter planes for the Japanese taking camera movements, wondrous color combina- Haewon is a tragic melodrama. I hope we get another 14 nio di Benedetto’s 1956 novel exhibited the director’s military during World War II) makes me cry whenever I tions, and deeply felt performances to attain the heights features from Hong in the 2020s. genius for visual composition (aided, as always, by her watch it, even though I know full well that it’s asking me of creative expression. It’s so entertaining that you may skillful manipulation of off screen sound) in every shot. to empathize with a monster. A moral provocation of the not recognize its profound moral orientation until a er 7. Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives highest order. you see it. (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2010) Weerasethakul 13. All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace delivered the ultimate work of spiritual fi lmmaking this (Adam Curtis, 2011) This three-part BBC documentary 18. Goodbye First Love (Mia Hansen-Løve, 2011) French 2. Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade, 2016) Like Life Without decade with this funny, moving, and haunting account was, like Godard’s recent output, a heady meditation writer-director Hansen-Løve found new ways to convey Principle, Ade’s epic comedy asked us to consider how of an old farmer’s death and reincarnation. Despite the on the travails of life in the Information Age. It also time’s passing in her exquisitely subtle dramas, which we preserve our humanity within the amoral workings heaviness of his concerns, the imaginative Thai writer-di- provided a number of invaluable history lessons; Curtis include The Father of My Children, Eden, and this of late capitalism. This German feature delivered the rector still found room for talking animals, sex jokes, and explained how our civilization arrived at its current heartbreaking saga of teenage love and its a ermath. decade’s richest characterizations, and its narrative glorious pop music. The fi lm’s playfulness belied a deep condition and asked us to ruminate on the mistakes we The fi lm spans more than a decade but seems to go by structure was ingenious as well. Ade carefully establish- sense of wonder. made along the way. in an instant. es a realist logic for the movie’s fi rst hour, then dashes it with riotous screwball humor. It’s a perfect metaphor 8. Sunset (Laszlo Nemes, 2018) Son of Saul was the 14. Nocturama (Bertrand Bonello, 2016) The singular 19. At Berkeley (Frederick Wiseman, 2013) An alternately for the needed eruption of human kindness from within decade’s best debut fi lm, and with this second feature, French writer-director Bonello made great strides this stirring and agonizing epic by America’s greatest docu- a system that forces us to suppress it. Hungarian director Nemes managed to top it. A his- decade with House of Pleasures and Saint Laurent, but mentarian, Wiseman’s four-hour look at UC Berkeley in torical inquiry on par with those of Roberto Rossellini this creepy fable about 21st-century terrorism was, for 2010 was also the cinema’s most thorough consideration 3. Fish & Cat (Shahram Mokri, 2013) Riffi ng on The Texas and Hou Hsiao-Hsien, this utilized a novel aesthetic to me, his fi nest achievement. A sustained nightmare of of how our society was irrevocably changed by the Chainsaw Massacre and the art of M.C. Escher, Iranian immerse viewers in the social turmoil leading up to a fi lm, Nocturama was also a brilliant piece of fi lm crit- George W. Bush era. writer-director Mokri devised the most impressive for- World War I. No other director has made more purpose- icism, fi nding common ground between such dissimilar mal achievement of the 2010s. His fi lm is an unbroken ful use of shallow focus—one feels lost in Nemes’s fi lms, reference points as David Cronenberg, Robert Bresson, 20. Hard to Be a God (Aleksei German, 2013) German, 130-minute shot that doesn’t preserve our notions of which is precisely their point. and Dawn of the Dead. one of the most important Russian fi lmmakers, spent a “real time,” presenting fl ashbacks, fl ash-forwards, and decade working on this pulverizing sci-fi art fi lm, which dream sequences. Multiple viewings reveal this to be a 9. Rambleras (Daniela Speranza, 2013) The best fi lm I’ve 15. Computer Chess (Andrew Bujalski, 2013) Another turned out to be his last work. An immersive portrait surprisingly humane work as well as a fi ercely intelligent ever seen at the Chicago Latino Film Festival, this life-af- Internet Age origin story, Bujalski’s formally adventurous of societal decay, this featured immaculate sound and one. fi rming Uruguayan comedy meditated on problems that comedy (shot in black-and-white on vintage analogue production design and some of the most unforgettably women face in youth, middle age, and old age without video cameras) posited that the world we live in today hideous imagery in movie history. v 4. Tie: ’Til Madness Do Us Part (Wang Bing, 2013), Bitter feeling sour or programmatic. It’s the rare movie that grew out of the failed social interactions of Carter-era Money (Wang, 2016), and Dead Souls (Wang, 2018) asks us to consider the whole of life, though it approach- tech nerds. It’s hilarious to watch and disturbing to For more of Ben Sachs’s favorite films of the These three features confi rmed that China’s Wang Bing es the subject with tremendous modesty and good think about. decade go to chicagoreader.com/movies is the most fearless documentarian working today. Mad- cheer. The cinema needs Speranza, who works wonders ness took viewers on an unforgettable visit to a mental with color and Super 16-millimeter cinematography, to institution-cum-prison; Money delivered a panoramic make another movie. look of personal and professional discontents in a small industrial city; and Souls, the only documentary I’ve seen 10. Aurora (Cristi Puiu, 2010) The most divisive fi lm of comparable to Claude Lanzmann’s Shoah, was a mam- the Romanian New Wave was also the most rigorous TRUE/FALSETRUE/FALSE moth history lesson about survivors of Mao’s anti-rightist piece of durational cinema since Chantal Akerman’s campaign of the late 1950s. Wang employed a diff erent Jeanne Dielman. A pitch-black comedy about random aesthetic for each fi lm, tailoring his approach to specifi c violence and broken families, Puiu’s three-hour tour de filmfilm festfest social concerns he wanted to address. force pushed the New Wave’s much-lauded, hyperrealist aesthetic into intractable strangeness and unaccount- March 5–8, 2020 5. Inherent Vice (Paul Thomas Anderson, 2014) One able wonder. Columbia, MO of the fi nest literary adaptations in cinema, Ander- son’s faithful translation of a minor Thomas Pynchon 11. Tie: Film Socialisme (Jean-Luc Godard, 2010), Good- TRUEFALSE.ORG novel managed to convey the richness of Pynchon’s bye to Language (Godard, 2014), and The Image Book trailblazing fi ction as a whole. The fi lm is a frightening (Godard, 2018) Cinema’s greatest poet spent his ninth a four-day celebration with nonfiction film, music, and immersive art investigation into the death of 60s counterculture; it’s decade making some of his most youthful fi lms, explor- ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 15 R READERRECOMMENDEDb ALLAGESN NEWF FILM

The Turning

NOW PLAYING who self destructs in the a ermath of her family’s death in a horrifi c plane crash. When she discovers the accident Groundhog Day may not have been an accident a er all, she gets swept R Bill Murray plays an obnoxious TV weatherman up in a world of crime she never could have prepared for. from Pittsburgh forced to relive the same wintry day in a It’s not a bad fi lm, per se, but there’s not much to rally small Pennsylvania town over and over again until he gets behind. It’s not as fun and ridiculously explosion-reliant it right, in an unexpectedly graceful and well-organized as blockbuster action fl icks, but it’s not emotionally com- comedy (1993) directed and cowritten by Harold Ramis. pelling enough to be taken seriously as a drama, either. While the movie’s underlying message is basically A Lively is a clear standout—almost unrecognizable and Christmas Carol strained through It’s a Wonderful Life— giving an intense performance unlike anything she’s done hardly a recommendation in my book—the fi lmmakers in recent years—and her rapport with Jude Law works mercifully spare us the speeches and simply demonstrate o en enough to be convincing. And if you loved Lively’s their thesis; as they do they reveal their true virtue: a fl uid frequent and fantastic wardrobe changes in A Simple sense of narrative that works the story’s theme-and-varia- Favor, you’ll at least appreciate the wide array of wigs tions idea with a glancing and gliding touch. Considering and disguises she sports in The Rhythm Section. —C  that none of the characters is fresh or interesting, it’s C  R, 109 min. Now playing in wide release a commendable achievement that the quality of the storytelling alone keeps the movie watchable and likable. The Turning —J  R  PG, 103 min. Sun 2/2, 9 PM. “Have you gone mad?” a grizzled caretaker asks fl ustered Logan Theatre. Also Wed 2/5, 7 PM. Music Box Theatre tutor Kate (Mackenzie Davis) a er a series of increasingly unhinged outbursts. Kate never answers, and neither The Hole does the movie, leaving it up to the audience to untangle Malaysian director Tsai Ming-liang created this 1998 fi lm the mysterious mess strewn out before them. For those Buffalo Theat e En em le P e ent for the French TV anthology “2000 Seen By,” which not endeared to The Turning’s source material, Henry broadcast a 69-minute version titled Last Dance; running James’s novella The Turn of the Screw, it’s a big ask, and 95 minutes, The Hole is the version Tsai prefers, though one most movie-goers will decline to oblige. It’s a shame the fi lm is well worth seeing in any form. Wryly postapoc- given the movie has enough instant charm to pull viewers alyptic and gorgeously shot and framed, this present-day into its maze. Director Floria Sigismondi’s (The Run- SF story charts the eff ects of an epidemic on a Taipei man aways) second feature-length off ering seems promising, and the woman who lives in the apartment directly below from Davis and Brooklyn Prince’s (The Florida Project) his. A er the rest of the building has been vacated, a naturally inviting performances to the uniquely reimag- plumber drills a hole in the man’s fl oor and neglects to ined 90s soundtrack juxtaposed against striking gothic THE fi ll it up again. Periodically the man or the woman or imagery. Unfortunately, a bevy of off screen characters both break into full-scale musical numbers that re-create that only serve to complicate an already meandering plot Hong Kong musicals of the 50s; the rest of the time, and a sorely muddled ending rob it of its full potential. they’re wrestling with the same sort of urban angst and —B J PG-13, 94 min. Now playing in wide By Be ah B un alienation that o en consumes Tsai’s characters. I like all release CAKE of his fi lms, but this one has given me the most pleasure. Di ected y Ste In Japanese with subtitles. —JRJ  Fri 1/31, 7 PM ALSO PLAYING JAN 30 - MAR 1 and Sun 2/2, 1:30 PM. Doc Films Panorama Latinx short film AtTheMAC.org The Rhythm Section showcase There are two things that spy fi lms should never be: 630.942.4000 predictable and boring. Unfortunately, Reed Morano’s Chicago-based fi lmmakers representing Brazil, Colom- McAninch Arts Center Written by one of the former writers and The Rhythm Section is a muddled display of both cardinal bia, Nicaragua, Peru, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Mexico 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn current producer of NBC’s hit show This Is Us. sins. Based on the novel of the same name by Mark screen their short fi lms, ranging in style from experimen- Burnell, the fi lm tells the story of Stephanie (Blake Lively), tal to documentary to science fi ction. 89 min. Sat 2/1, 8 16 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll THEATER CHICAGOSHAKESPEARETHEATER Jane Austen’s classic is filled with wit, romance— and now, glorious song! “BEGINSWILL HAVE JANUARYYOU DANCING IN28 YOUR CHAIR AND LAUGHING WITH HOLIDAY CHEER”CHICAGO NOW “PURE JOY” “SMART & NEWCITY FUNNY” CHICAGO TRIBUNE

I Hunger for You JIMCOLEMAN

DANCE PREVIEW Body of faith Kimberly Bartosik’s I Hunger for You draws on her early experiences with A NEW MUSICAL charismatic spirituality. book, music By I H & lyrics by PAUL GORDON n 2017, when choreographer and former our religious values. I come from North Caro- T I C K E T S adapted from Merce Cunningham dancer Kimberly Bar- lina, and I come from a family [where] half of START AT the novel by Itosik began working on I Hunger for You, us voted one way, half the other way. I needed $ Jane Austen her evening-length work on faith inspired by to question why I was making work at all. Why 35 early personal experiences with charismatic was I in the studio making dances when I felt THROUGH directed by spirituality, the country’s deep division fol- the world was in a place of real distress?” FEB 14 lowing the most recent presidential election Bartosik brought these questions directly BARBARA into her artistic practice. “One thing I started GAINES I H  Y thinking about was the conflation between Thu /-Sat / , : PM, Dance Center religious practice and political belief systems. of Columbia College Chicago,  S. It was right in front of me with my family. I Michigan,  --, dance.colum. edu, $, $ seniors, $  students. was thinking about one’s moral compass and religious practice and the values of compas- sion and giving and life in the Christian faith was a fresh wound in her mind. “I was, like and how there was so much I was seeing that many people in this country, in a state of wasn’t that. [I Hunger for You] was never

distress about how we had gotten to a place about charismatic spirituality—but I grew LEAD PRODUCTION Ray and Judy Burton X. and Carl and where we couldn’t speak to somebody who did up in a charismatic household, and I used to SPONSORS McCaskey Sheli Z. Rosenberg Marilynn Thoma not share our values—our life values, not just go to evangelical services and, even as a J ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 17 THEATER

continued from 17 producer would call ‘being slain in the spirit.’ young girl, I couldn’t figure out how people They go through that experience and emerge could believe in something so strongly that back into their regular state, and they feel a their body actually changed. Their body went certain freedom from the weight of whatever into a different state. As a physical practi- darkness or guilt they have been carrying. tioner and an artist using my body I started I think it’s so beyond performance. I’ve not from that place: How can you believe in some- experienced it in my own body. I’ve only wit- thing so deeply that your body goes into a nessed it.” radical state of being?” The memory resulted in the development Bartosik adds, “I knew that at the services of a major motif in the work, created with her I went to growing up people were not taking company, Kimberly Bartosik/daela. “We were drugs or altering their bodies through any on a residency. It was night. I said, ‘Go outside substance but their pure belief. And it’s in the night and put on your headphones something that I am in awe of. I used that as a and listen to a song that you can get lost in.’ humbling starting point to get beyond my own We all went in different directions into the criticism, which was political and social and forest.” When the dancers returned, Bartosik full of rage, and started looking at the body in prompted them to recreate the experience as di erent states. How can we think about the a consuming pulse, “a deep thing in their body body being an ideology beneath its belief sys- that moved them.” They built dance using the tem, a body in terms of its own existence and pulse as an energetic counterpoint to extreme its blood and its flesh and its breath and its virtuosity. “I think there’s something deep sweat and the things that just make us human about watching these extraordinary perform- and our desire to believe and our desire to ers navigate places of ultra control and ultra have faith?” Beginning with these intensely abandon.” personal questions on national conflict, the Yet faith for Bartosik is something far more two-year process fixated on one essential ordinary. “Dancing is a pure act of faith. You question: “Where in the body is the desire to get up in the morning and have faith that your believe in something outside oneself, be it a body is going to do what you ask it to do. You god or a life?” have faith that somebody is going to connect Although her experiences in the church are to your work. You have faith that you’ll learn now distant, Bartosik retains vivid memories from it and have a chance to make something of bodies phenomenally altered by faith. “You after. To me, every step is an act of faith don’t ever forget watching a body be just in concrete and energetic powers that are Rattleback a regular body and then go through stages beyond me.” v RECORDS of change, speaking in tongues, and finally [falling] to the ground, what a charismatic @IreneCHsiao ANDERSONVILLE'S FULL SERVICE RECORD STORE

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18 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll VERBÖTEN Through /: Thu-Fri  PM, Sat and  PM, Sun PM, Chopin Theatre,  W. Division,  --  , thehousetheatre.com, $ -$, $ student and industry, available same day (pending availability). THEATER

Verböten MICHAELBROSILOW

therapy. At this point in Verböten’s life, there’s nothing about Jason and his bandmates that can support a full musical. Their issues are prosaic: They roll their eyes at the parents they think are clueless. They wish they were older. There is an attempt to bring domestic violence into the plot, but it’s so out of left field that it feels contrived, a manipulative attempt to gin up a crisis just before intermis- sion, not because that’s where the story leads, but because musicals generally need to have a crisis right before intermission. As it follows bandmates Jason, Zack (Jeff Kurysz), Tracey (Krystal Ortiz), and Chris (Matthew Lunt), Verböten shows how music provides an outlet and a sense of belonging for teens struggling to fi nd their places in the world. The problem is their behind-the-mu- sic struggles. If you’re going to write about yourself, you need a ruthless editor to tell you when you’re boring and navel-gazing. That’s missing here. Watching Verböten is akin to reading somebody else’s teenage diary. There’s a lot of het-up Sturm Und Drang, but REVIEW actual fi re to urge musicians on to an encore). none of it is as interesting or momentous as Verböten also ends with a mighty noise. When the author thinks. the titular high school punk band unleashes The score deserves another pass. The Teenage wasteland “Goodnight,” a fl ood of pure joy and unstoppa- numbers that bookend the piece are extraor- ble adrenaline overtakes the theater. Directed dinary. The others, not so much. Percussively, Verböten is a 1980s punk musical that feels more like an a er-school special. by Nathan Allen, Verböten has great potential. they tend to sound similar. Finally, Allen has In between the opener and the finale, his cast emoting at an 11 throughout. That’s By C S  however, that potential is squandered by a impressive in terms of sheer stamina, but it book, written by Brett Neveu, sodden with makes for a static production. If tooth-gnash- self-indulgence, underwritten characters, and ing and big, screaming feels are the default, he opening tune Jason Narducy penned It.” Performed by Narducy’s onstage alter cringeworthy dialogue that often sounds like a they lose their intensity and their urgency. for his autobiographically inspired mu- ego Kieran McCabe, the number is simply particularly overwrought after-school special. Verböten could be great. But fi rst, it needs Tsical about a teen punk band in 1983 is a astonishing, a song with the power to light up Neveu’s book needs to be scrapped until signifi cant fi ne-tuning. v stunner. “New Song” is up there with Fiddler’s your heart and send you scrambling for your someone can come up with a plot that doesn’t “Tradition!” or A Chorus Line’s “I Hope I Get lighter (because before cell phones, we used feel like an elaborate exercise in vanity and/or  @CateySullivan

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ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 19 THEATER

REVIEW Sad songs say so much Isaac Gomez’s The Leopard Play, or Sad Songs for Lost Boys digs the real American dirt. By K R 

f you’re in the mood for some serious really happened to their fallen sibling. decolonizing after the Jeanine Cummins Through fl ashbacks, we get a fragment- IAmerican Dirt backlash, Isaac Gomez has ed but sharp portrait of how Son’s at- you covered. In The Leopard Play, or Sad tempts to avoid the violence and lies that Songs for Lost Boys, now in a blistering and seem to defi ne the men in his family have poignant world premiere at Steep under left him divided and distrustful of others Laura Alcalá Baker’s direction, Gomez re- and of his own desires. His interactions turns to his own roots in El Paso—a border with a former lover (Alec Coles Perez) city that not only reflects the many cracks o er some respite from the fractious men and divisions running through our national at home, but also force him to confront identity right now, but that is also internal- how much of himself he’s kept away from ized by the character identifi ed as “Son.” those who love him. The middle child in a family of Mexican I won’t pretend to know how much of American men, Son (Brandon Rivera) is gay, Gomez’s story comes directly from his lives in Chicago, and has seldom returned to own life. But what he’s crafted here is a El Paso since graduating high school. Even story that demands that we, as well as Son, begin seeing the men in this play as more T LPS than embodiments of toxic masculinity. R SLB These are men who are capable of great Through / : Thu-Sat  PM, Sun  sacrifi ce in the face of their own fears. PM, Steep Theatre,  W. Berwyn,  -- , steeptheatre. There is harshness and anguish, but also com, $ reserved, $  general wit, empathy, and beauty woven through- admission, $ access (“students, out Gomez’s script, which won’t be a sur- artists, whomever”). prise to anyone who saw La Ruta, his play PERFORMING ARTS PICKS about the missing and murdered women his younger brother (Juan Muñoz), a college of Ciudad Juárez (right across the border student in Oregon who is also gay, can’t count from El Paso). The central message—you Find your heart’s desire onstage on Son returning his phone calls. But when can’t outrun your family forever, and Dad (Victor Maraña), whose nickname is sooner or later you have to wrestle that “Leopard,” requests a homecoming to honor shit to the ground—is certainly a, well, in February the ten-year anniversary of his own brother’s familiar one, covered by everyone from death, Son grudgingly complies. Eugene O’Neill to Sam Shepard. The story Or, breaking the curse of the groundhog. Mom is absent working long hours at a comes together here more in bits and Walmart (not the one where a white suprem- glimpses, with big revelations and smaller By I  HK R BW   acist massacred 22 people this past August, realizations sometimes awkwardly woven though that horror is mentioned and Gomez’s together (which is, let’s face it, the way mother does work at an El Paso Walmart). life unfolds in everything but conventional Dad works odd jobs. Dad’s two other surviv- “well-made plays”). But the ensemble THEATER (KERRY REID) Ellington classics such as “Perdido,” “It Don’t Mean a ing brothers (and Son’s own oldest brother) commits to all of it with such rawness and Thing,” and “Hit Me With a Hot Note and Watch Me spend most of their time tossing back Coors, vulnerability that The Leopard Play is hard Sophisticated Ladies Bounce.” Brenda Didier and Florence Walker Harris belting along to Elton John (“Rocket Man” to shake o after leaving the theater. v You can take the red line instead of the A train codirect and choreograph a cast of 15, with Jermaine has particular meaning to them), and studi- to Porchlight’s salute to Duke Ellington, a revival Hill serving as music director. Ruth Page Center for ously avoiding speaking the truth about what @KerryReid of a 1981 Tony-winning musical revue stuff ed with the Arts, through 3/6, porchlightmusictheatre.org. 20 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll THEATER

Wild Terrain COURTESYOFTHEARTIST

grapher Ivy Baldwin reenacts the destruction of the How to Defend Yourself natural world. Bad Bunny, by SPPP artistic director Jo- A er one of their “sisters” is raped, a group of sorority anna Read, places dancers in a forest of artifi cial trees women band together in a self-defense course, which to refl ect on the thorny issue of consent, boundaries, forces them to confront the deepest strains of rage, permission, and the word “yes.” 2/21-2/22, 7:30 PM, trauma, rape culture—and their own desires. Victory Dance Center of Columbia College, dance.colum.edu. Gardens developed Liliana Padilla’s script through the Ignition Festival, and Marti Lyons directs the Legalize Menstruation co-world premiere in association with Actors Theatre Whether it’s shark week, Aunt Flo’s turn to call, or of Louisville. Victory Gardens Theater, through 2/23, Satan has let the sacrifi cial waterfall gush from the victorygardens.org. cursed abyss of hell, Loud Bodies Dance and the Chicago Period Project partner to put some punctu- The Boys in the Band ation on the month of February with a program that A er enjoying huge success with their immersive combines hip-hop, contemporary, social dance, and production of Southern Gothic, Windy City Playhouse comedy in Legalize Menstruation. Top considerations returns to the winning formula of turning their audi- for this dance collective committed to social justice ence into fl ies on the wall at a fraught social gathering. include overcoming the taboo around Mother Nature’s Carl Menninger directs Mart Crowley’s landmark gi and considering that not all who surf the red tide (and controversial) 1968 play about nine gay men at a identify as women. Audience members are invited to birthday party where secrets about themselves pour contribute menstrual hygiene products to be given to out along with the booze. However, unlike Southern homeless and in-need residents of our city. 2/29, 7:30 Gothic, the audience, though seated in the apartment PM and 3/1, 5 PM, Preston Bradley Center, loudbodies- set, won’t be moving from room to room. Windy City dance.com. Playhouse, through 4/19, windycityplayhouse.com. RICH. SUCCESSFUL. UNDER A MICROSCOPE. COMEDY (BRIANNA WELLEN) Roan @ The Gates A civil rights attorney and her wife, an analyst for the Rap Transit: The L National Security Agency, fi nd their personal lives Evelyn Troutman and Sukhjit Singh debut their new in confl ict with murkier agendas in Christina Telesca show that pits stand-ups against each other during Gorman’s play. Lexi Saunders directs for American head-to-head comedy rap battles. Local producers Blues Theater. Stage 773, 1/31-2/29, americanbluesthe- provide professional beats and the night closes out ater.com. with a set from Groovebox. A portion of the proceeds will benefi t GlobalGiving’s wildfi re relief fund. 2/7, 8 Middle Passage PM, Cards Against Humanity, 1551 W. Homer, facebook. Lifeline artistic director Ilesa Duncan and David com/raptransit, $5. Barr III collaborated on this adaptation (directed by Duncan) of Charles Johnson’s novel, which won the The Chicago Puntathlon 1990 National Book Award. First staged in a rollicking Start working out your wordplay because anyone can production with Pegasus Theatre Chicago in 2016 be a contestant in this pun competition. Winners are under the title Rutherford’s Travels, the picaresque determined by celebrity guest judges and audience tale follows Rutherford Calhoun, a newly freed slave applause, and the top punner walks away with $100. from Illinois who tries to escape a forced marriage by 2/10, 8 PM, Call Bar, 1547 W. Bryn Mawr, facebook. hopping on an outbound ship—which turns out to be com/thechicagopuntathlon, $15, $10 in advance. a slaving vessel headed for Africa. Lifeline Theatre, 2/14-4/5, lifelinetheatre.com.

Tim and Eric: 2020 Mandatory Raelle Holder, Kayla Alan Anderson, David Jennifer Latimore, Pictured: Eric Gerard, Ishman. Frank Bria Bakari. Photo by DiMonte Henning and Ayanna Attendance World Tour DANCE (IRENE HSIAO) The infamous comedy duo bring their unique brand of TH Wild Terrain goofs to town (plus unnamed special guests!) for what BEGINS FEBRUARY 5 Same Planet Performance Project premieres two new is sure to be a perfectly bizarre live performance to fi ll

works that contemplate our troubled relationship with that Awesome Show-shaped hole in your heart. 2/22, 8 SEASON SPONSOR the wilderness, literally and fi guratively. In Ammonite, PM, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State, msg.com/the-chica- named for spiral-shelled mollusks that went extinct go-theatre, $47.50. v 847-242-6000 I WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG with the dinosaurs, New York-based guest choreo ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 21 THEATER

head. —J  H G Through 3/15: Wed 1 and 7:30 PM, Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 1 and 5 PM; Wed 2/26-3/11, 1 PM only, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire, 847- 634-0200, marriotttheatre.com, $55-$60.

Not all there Parallel but shallow storylines run through If/ Then.

Performing a show specifi cally written for powerhouse Idina Menzel without Idina Menzel starts you off at a disadvantage. When that musical is also superfi cial and predictable, it’s no surprise that Elyse Dolan’s staging of If/Then for Brown Paper Box. Co. could not deliver. The story follows Elizabeth (Amanda Giles) as she lives diff erent versions of her life. In two parallel plots, If/Then (created by the Next to Normal team of libret- tist Brian Yorkey and composer Tom Kitt) exercises the tired tale of a woman who goes to the magical land of New York City, embittered by a recent divorce and not sure she can love again. I le exhausted at everything the show had thrown at me: confusing timelines, out-of-place choreography, millennial bashing, new mothers eager to give up their careers, oversimplifi ed marriages and divorces, roman-

The Adult in the Room MICHAELBROSILOW ticized ideas of New York City, and—possibly most heinously—the spotlight on a two-dimensional military man who gets an entire solo number about parenting OPENING surface level and frustratingly boring, with little eff ort the Sandra Dee wannabe) and lots of Top 40 radio (“Hey Kid”) while his wife goes through pregnancy and at self-analysis or introspection. knockoff s (“Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” “We childbirth alone. Adulting, D.C. style Pelosi describes herself as “the iron fi st in the velvet Go Together”) that get stuck in your head a er even Giles shined in the rawest moments of the show, but A one-woman show offers an incomplete portrait glove,” but her fi st doesn’t show itself until the fi nal lackluster productions (or a third, or fi  h, or tenth the character of Elizabeth is bland to the core, and the of Nancy Pelosi. 15 minutes, when the plot shi s to the impeachment viewing of the blockbuster 1978 John Travolta-Olivia same goes for her love interests. Bridget Adams-King process. Perhaps the Speaker’s story could be better Newton-John vehicle). as best friend Kate had charisma to carry the show, but Nancy Pelosi is having her moment. From her literal told with a larger cast—hints at her relationship to But the Marriott production, under the direction she was plagued with vocal counterparts that shrilly clapback at President Trump to her dogged and confi - “The Squad” (Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, of Scott Weinstein, defi es expectations. The casting is overwhelmed her low, open belting. Parker Guidry was dent management of the impeachment process, she has Pressley, and Tlaib) could be worth exploring, as could superb and the performances outstanding, with Jimmy the top player in the production; they were refreshingly solidifi ed her position in history as a groundbreaking more backroom interaction with her favorite sparring Nicholas and Leryn Turlington giving Travolta and genuine and believable as Lucas (who, bonus, is a political leader and feminist. The Adult in the Room, a partner, the president. —M  O  T  Newton-John a run for their money as Danny Zuko and bisexual man with character depth that actually goes Broadway Factor NYC world premiere penned by Bill A RThrough 2/15: Tue-Fri 8 PM, Sandy Dumbrowski. The staging—on Marriott’s intimate, beyond his sexuality). McMahon and directed by Heather Arnson and Conor Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 5 PM, Victory Gardens but limited, in-the-round space—is clever and constantly If/Then tries hard to say something important about Bagley, fails to do such a storied career and complex Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773- eye-pleasing. Weinstein and his team heighten every- fate, destiny, and the way we live our lives, but the shal- personality justice. 871-3000, victorygardens.org, $49. thing that is great about this show, most particularly low storylines and forgettable music undercut these Veteran stage and screen actress Orlagh Cassidy the score (Jacquelyne Jones as bad-girl Rizzo belts out aims. —T A I/T Through 2/16: Thu-Fri certainly has the chops to carry a one-woman show, and a version of “There are Worse Things I Could Do” to die 7:30 PM, Sat 2 and 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM; also Mon her plastic smiles and sly smirks are some of the only What’s the word? for), and make even the weaker elements in the show 2/3, 7:30 PM, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. South- authentic glimpses this 75-minute production off ers into R Marriott’s Grease defies expectations. (for example, the show’s almost-not-there plot) strong port, 773-935-6860, brownpaperbox.org, $29.50. Pelosi’s quirks and character. The show’s premise: Pelosi enough to sustain interest. is holding an Instagram Live for a delegation from It is hard not to have low expectations for yet another Weinstein’s secret weapon is his ensemble, who Running Start, a program that helps young women run revival of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s 1971 parody constantly fi nd new ways to play familiar characters. Design for killing for offi ce. Be warned that there’s reading involved, as of/homage to late 1950s working-class youth culture Michelle Lauto reveals the fi re in Marty, a secondary Agatha Christie’s chestnut gets a good-looking the participants’ questions aren’t verbalized, but appear and pre-Beatles American rock and roll. The show, a character usually overshadowed by the more dra- revival at Court. on screens on both sides of the stage. Throughout the staple of community theaters and high school drama ma-fi lled girls in her squad (Sandy, Rizzo, and Frenchy). Q&A, Pelosi waxes poetic on her parents, her biogra- clubs, is packed with memorable mid-century Amer- This is a production to knock all those memories of Sean Graney directs a revival of the most commer- phy, and her political leanings. The telling feels very ican teen stereotypes (the bad girl, the greaser boy, second-rate high school theatrical revivals out of your cially successful play ever. Since Agatha Christie’s

22 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll THEATER

comic whodunit The Mousetrap premiered in 1952 in Roe is built for entertainment value, not detailed London, it has never stopped running. So what can a history. It’s oddly jokey at times and has a lot of awk- new production add? ward direct address. Still, Hall’s Weddington makes For the very few theatergoers (like me) who have legalese ring with passion and clarity. Middleton gives never seen the play before: A group of guests arrive McCorvey a sense of fatalism (she expects very little at a newly opened inn while a murderer is loose in the from her life) that’s matched by reckless optimism (she’s countryside. A snowstorm leaves them isolated and one almost always ready for a party). But most of all, Roe is of them may be the murderer. A brave constable arrives urgent. That’s the most frightening thing of all. —C on skis to solve a mystery where no one is who they say S R Through 2/23: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri they are. 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM; also Sun 2/2, 7:30 The actors sell the relentless, over-the-top mugging PM; Thu 1/30 and 2/20, 2 PM; Tue 2/11, 7:30 PM, of the script the best they can, but the true stars of this Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, production are Arnel Sancianco’s fun house mirror set goodmantheatre.org, $20-$60. and Alison Siple’s cartoon-like color-coded costumes. The ceiling of Monkswell Manor is impossibly high, while doors are just tall enough to admit a person with- Age of consent out stooping; this house is basically telling us that real- MPAACT’s campus drama has too many ity is being bent here. The extravagant garb advertises implausibilities. that each of these characters is putting us on. As far as the nonstop droll banter goes, it grows a bit Playwright and MPAACT founding member Shepsu stale a er two-plus hours—much like the hard candies Aakhu was inspired to write this campus sexual everyone keeps popping in their mouths, then throwing assault drama by a conversation initiated by one of away. Whether you fi nd it all a delightful confection or a his two college-aged sons, “two Black males living a bit too sickly sweet is a question mark, but murder and life completely free from my daily protection.” The deceit have rarely been appointed or dressed so well. fear he has on behalf of his family is palpable and, —D S  T M Through 2/16: regrettably, well-sourced—conversations about the Wed-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, Court prevalence of misogyny and assault on universities Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, 773-753-4472, courttheatre. o en sidestep the reality that young Black men in this PROPOSED 2020 SENIOR DESIGNATED HOUSING PLAN org, $37.50-$84. country still live under an unjust cloud of suspicion. ATTENTION ALL PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS and RAD PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS And yet, as justifi ed as Aakhu’s anxiety is, the politics The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) is releasing proposed updates to the Senior Designated Hous- and attitudes behind Spoken Word are virtually indis- ing Plan (SDHP) for public comment. The changes made to these policies are to ensure compliance tinguishable from those found on men’s rights forum with federal regulations and state and local laws, as well as to allow CHA to adopt or change housing Our bodies, ourselves management practices. R Recalling the women behind Roe v. Wade comment sections, amounting to a panicked screed The 30-day public comment period begins January 21 and ends February 20, 2020. While CHA against the very idea of verbal consent. encourages and welcomes all program participants, residents, and the community-at-large to review the proposed updates to the SDHP and attend the hearings, you are not required to attend the In 1984, my roommate drove across two states so she If that reads as loaded or unfair, consider the plot public comment hearings in order to submit comments. The date, time, and location of the public could get a legal abortion. It took a week and cost here: Izzy (Jelani Pitcher) and Paris (Nadia Pillay), two comment hearings are as follows: her a month’s rent. I wasn’t surprised when she didn’t young adults—kids, really—have a clumsy but ultimately –Jan 30, 2:00pm: Minnie Riperton Apts, 4250 S Princeton –Feb 5, 4:00pm: Ella Flagg Young, 4645 N Sheridan Rd come back to school. Abortion week coincided with consensual (if nonverbal) attempt at sex. Misinterpret- –Feb 11, 11:00am: Patrick Sullivan, 1633 W Madison fi nals week and the fi nal installment of tuition pay- ing her roommate’s caginess about that night, a white Public housing residents, RAD Program participants, and the public may submit comments on the Proposed SDHP during the public comment period. The 30-day comment period begins January 21 ments. She had it easy. In 1972, my favorite babysitter SJW caricature (seemingly inked by alt-right favorite and ends February 20, 2020. All comments must be received by February 20. died of an “infection” everybody knew wasn’t from Ben Garrison) puts Izzy on social media blast, making Copies of the Proposed Updates to the Senior Designated Housing Plan will be available begin- not washing her hands. It terrifi es me how quickly the him a pariah on campus. ning January 21 until February 20, 2020 at the following locations: memory of those times fades. After days of silence, Paris—hand in hand with –CHA and HCV Administrative Offices 60 E Van Buren St –Family Investment Center (FIC) 4859 S Wabash St With Roe, Lisa Loomer looks back to Roe v. Wade, Izzy—notifi es the college administration that no assault –Central Advisory Council Office 243 E 32nd St –HCV Regional Office – South 10 W 35th St the 1973 Supreme Court decision that cleared the way occurred, but a cartoonishly villainous administrator –HCV Regional Office – West 1852 S Albany Ave –Erie Neighborhood House: Little Village 4225 W 25th St for legal abortion. Ably directed at the Goodman by admonishes them both and insists the young man face West Town 1347 W Erie St Vanessa Stalling, Roe explores both the legal precedent consequences despite the supposed victim clearly stat- –Spanish Coalition for Housing: North Office 1922 N Pulaski Rd South Office 1915 S Blue Island of the case as argued primarily by Sarah Weddington ing no wrongdoing occured—because the word “yes,” SE Office 9010 S Commercial www.thecha.org (Christina Hall) and the life of “Jane Roe,” aka Norma this play’s other antagonist, wasn’t spoken. Director Mail, E-mail or Fax comments to: McCorvey (Kate Middleton). The production is fright- Lauren “LL” Lundy’s production features some strong Chicago Housing Authority Attention: Proposed SDHP ening, and not only because reproductive rights are performances, particularly by Veronda G. Carey as 60 E. Van Buren St, 12th Floor squarely in the crosshairs of the white supremacist a dean (who sees no confl ict of interest in sitting on Chicago, IL 60605 [email protected] patriarchy that’s been empowered since 2016. Roe is the board overseeing her son’s case), but the script’s Fax 312. 913.7837 frightening because with its bell bottoms and rotary improbabilities cast an ugly pall over the whole aff air. If you have a question about this notice, please call the CHA at 312.913-7300. To request a reasonable accommodation, please call 312.913.7690. TTY 866.331.3603 phones and pre-Internet landscape, it must seem like —DJ SW Through 3/1: Thu-Sat 8 quaint, ancient history to anyone who doesn’t actually If you, or someone you are helping, have questions, PM, Sun 3 PM, Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. you have the right to get help and information in your language at no cost. remember the 1970s, years not slavishly documented in Lincoln, 773-404-7336, mpaact.org, $30-$33, $25-28 Please call us (312) 742-8500 or email at [email protected] to assist you with an interpreter. real time on the socials. students and seniors. v ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 23 The best Chicago albums of the 2010S

The Reader polled dozens of critics to arrive at an absolutely indisputable ranked list of several hundred records that will defi nitely not start any arguments. By R  

Visit chicagoreader.com for more— including loads of streaming music and all  critics’ individual ballots.

hen I consider the past decade in Chicago music, I think about the songs and albums that not only muscled their way into my W memory but also deepened my understanding of the place where I live. Music helped me navigate a city that seems to weath- er seismic sociopolitical changes several times per year—the six months between the FBI’s November 2018 raid of Alderman Ed Burke’s o ce and the mayoral runo election felt like a decade. Songs provided me with new insight  JASON WYATT FREDERICK into the forces driving the record single-year number of public school closings in 2013, the exclude a lot of important Chicago music, even and so on till tenth place, which counted for indie rock, footwork, contemporary classical, Emanuel administration’s cover-up of Laquan though the city left an indelible imprint on pop just one point. This scoring system inevitably powerviolence, and whatever you want to call McDonald’s 2014 murder by Chicago police during the 2010s (hello, drill). So I wanted the generated a lot of ties in the lower reaches of Fire-Toolz. Whether an album listed here tied o cer Jason Van Dyke, the City Council’s ap- Reader to undertake something similar that the list—there are only 44 numerical ranks as- for 44th place or came in fourth, it’s important proval of construction contracts for a $95 mil- would be nothing but great Chicago records, signed to all those albums—but it also created and worth your time. You might not agree with lion police and fi re academy in West Garfi eld top to bottom. some clear winners. the rankings or even the picks, but we hope Park, and the abuse of tax increment fi nancing With that in mind, the music department One benefi t of a massive decade-long retro- you’ll listen with an open mind. —L G to assist billion-dollar developments that will set out to create a “best Chicago albums of the spective is that it can introduce wonderful help displace the disadvantaged people that decade” project. We e-mailed ballots to doz- music to an audience that missed it entirely TIFs are supposed to benefit. Chicago musi- ens of music critics—podcasters, zine writ- the fi rst time around. That possibility guided 44 Twenty-six-way tie, one point each cians not only consider the specifi cs of what ers, bloggers, freelance journalists—who’d our decisions when we chose 50 of those 338 it means to live in this city but also frequently demonstrated their engagement with the local albums to get a little extra attention, in the ANGEL EYES, Midwestern (The engage the community with more than their scene. Our defi nition of a “Chicago album” was form of a paragraph written by a critic who’d Mylene Sheath, 2010) songs. Their albums and activism shape the fluid. The artist could be born here but now picked it. Instead of focusing on the records JOSH BERMAN TRIO, A Dance culture in Chicago and elsewhere. living elsewhere; a group of musicians from with the most votes, we looked for the ones and a Hop (Delmark, 2015) My listening experience, rooted as it has several cities could have convened here to that didn’t seem to have gotten enough atten- BUST!, Suck Kuts (Cassette Deck been in Chicago, isn’t reflected in the “best record. The point was to encourage diversity, tion on other lists. Media Conglomerate, 2010) albums of the 2010s” packages that the coun- not artifi cially narrow the fi eld. We also wanted to represent at least some KWEKU COLLINS, Nat Love try’s major music and culture outlets pub- Fifty-seven critics ranked their ten favorite of the dizzying breadth of Chicago music. As (Closed Sessions, 2016) lished late last year. And I didn’t expect it to Chicago albums from the past decade, and we a result, this might be one of the most varied DIVINO NIÑO, Foam (Winspear, 2019) be. They’re concerned with the broader world compiled the results in an ordered list that “decade in review” pieces you’ll read, covering DREEZY, No Hard Feelings of music or with a narrowly defi ned genre, not wound up 338 albums long. A fi rst-place pick hip-hop, gospel, R&B, house, ambient, hard- (Interscope, 2016) with a specifi c city. I knew these lists would earned ten points, a second-place pick nine, core punk, jazz, metal, electronic noise, soul, FREDDIE GIBBS, Freddie 24 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll ZE’EV, Kismet (self-released, 2016) 2010s vibe like the second full-length from ZMONEY AND CHASE THE blackened sludge crew Lord Mantis. Locri- MONEY, ZTM (4EverPaid, 2017) an and Pelican coursed between beauty and despair; Yakuza and Gigan spun heady, psych-addled trips; Oozing Wound and 43 Thirty-two-way tie, two points each Bongripper, well, ripped. But meanwhile, Lord Mantis stewed in misanthropy, nihil- THE AUTUMN DEFENSE, Once ism, and back-alley grime. Produced by Around (Yep Roc, 2010) Sanford Parker, Pervertor isn’t for the faint WILLIS EARL BEAL, Acousmatic of heart: it’s uncompromisingly bleak and Sorcery (XL, 2012) demands a visceral response. The band have gone through multiple transforma- When I first heard Willis Earl Beal, it tions since 2012, among them suff ering the seemed like his disarmingly shambol- loss of founding drummer Bill Bumgardner ic acoustic lullabies could articulate every in 2016, yet they’ve persevered—and Perver- complicated emotion I was having but tor remains one of Chicago’s most ferocious couldn’t name, then broadcast them back musical exports. —JL to me. The Chicago native recorded Acous- matic Sorcery on a RadioShack karaoke MINISTRY, Relapse (AFM, 2012) machine using cheap or scavenged instru- SEN MORIMOTO, Cannonball!

That masked man isn’t Nobody—well, it’s sort of Nobody. It’s also Willis Earl Beal.  JASON WYATT FREDERICK ments, and even his most fragile song felt (Sooper, 2018) like it could break open the earth. My 2011 NOT FOR YOU, Drown (Sooper, 2018) Reader story on Beal helped him land a OPTIONS, Dri wood Metaphor (ESGN/Empire, 2018) natos, explosive abstract fl ights. Best of all, deal with XL Recordings, which put out (Grandpa Bay, 2015) CHRISTIAN JALON, Vinyled every so o en the furious turbulence of the Acousmatic Sorcery the following year PINK FROST, Sundowning Love (self-released, 2017) rhythm section (which also includes bass- (I helped write the bio for his press release). (Notes & Bolts/BLVD, 2013) JORDANNA, Sweet Tooth ist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten) creates such Beal’s evolution continues to produce music SODDY DAISY, Trashtopia (self-released, 2018) a power ful updraft that Rempis’s scald- that expresses bittersweet yearning with (self-released, 2015) JUDSON CLAIBORNE, Time and ing horn practically reaches low Earth orbit. rare and idiosyncratic power, but I’ll always MAVIS STAPLES, You Are Temperature (La Société —P M cherish his debut. —LG Not Alone (Anti-, 2010) Expéditionnaire, 2010) SUN ROOMS, Sun Rooms (Delmark, 2010) LOCRIAN, Infi nite Dissolution BEAT DRUN JUEL, Suppressor SUN SPEAK, Sun Speak With Sara (Relapse, 2015) (self-released, 2016) Serpa (Flood Music, 2018) MINES, Just Another Thing That OLIVIA BLOCK, Dissolution SURACHAI, Embraced (Trash Audio, 2013) Got Ruined (Lake Paradise, 2013) (Glistening Examples, 2016) TINK, Winter’s Diary 4 MISTER WALLACE, Faggot EP BLOODIEST, Descent (Relapse, 2011) (Winter’s Diary, 2016) (Futurehood, 2016) BOTTOMLESS PIT, Shade Perennial TOUCHED BY GHOUL, Murder PANICSVILLE, A Dragonfl y for Each (Comedy Minus One, 2013) Circus (Under Road, 2016) Corpse (Smeraldina-Rima, 2010) JOSEPH CHILLIAMS, Henry VARIOUS ARTISTS, Cult Cargo: Salsa PAYASA, Demo (self-released, 2018) Church (self-released, 2017) Boricua de Chicago (Numero Group, 2011) QARI & GREEN SLLIME, Opera- COPPICE, Big Wad Excisions tion Hennessy (Broke Ass, 2019) (Quakebasket, 2013) The Numero Group had already offered REMPIS PERCUSSION QUARTET, DARK FOG, Make You Believe (Eye a rough idea of what its Cult Cargo series Cochonnerie (Aerophonic, 2017) Vybe/Cardinal Fuzz, 2018) was about with compilations sourcing mate- DEEPER, Deeper (Fire Talk, 2018) rial from Belize and the Bahamas, but 2011’s Saxophonist Dave Rempis is a vital part of DOLLY VARDEN, For a While (Mid-Fi, 2013) Salsa Boricua de Chicago fl ipped the con- the improvised-music community in Chica- DOWSING, All I Could Find Was You cept of “American music reinterpreted by go and beyond, not just for his playing but SIN ORDEN, Ha Llegado el Momento (Count Your Lucky Stars, 2011) people in the Caribbean” on its head—it also for his networking and programming, (Not Normal Tapes, 2015) FEE LION, Blood Sisters features artists of the underserved Cuban, and he’s in so many great groups that it’s a SONNY FALLS, Some Kind of (self-released, 2019) Mexican, and Puerto Rican diasporas in fool’s errand to choose just one. But I’m a Spectre (Sooper, 2018) HITTER, 2018 Demo (self-released, 2018) Chicago. Culled from the 1970s output of sucker for bands with two drummers, and TREASURE FLEET, Cocamotion IMMORTAL BIRD, Thrive on the Ebirac label, run by community activist when those drummers are Tim Daisy and (Recess, 2012) Neglect (20 Buck Spin, 2019) Carlos Ruiz, Salsa Boricua includes ama- Frank Rosaly—two of the best going—well, TWIN PEAKS, Sunken EP IMPULSIVE HEARTS, Sorry in the teur orquestas throwing down vibrant salsa, that’s game, set, and match. This burly, (Autumn Tone, 2013) Summer (Beautiful Strange, 2016) guaguancó, guajira, merengue, bolero, and long-running ensemble is equally exhilarat- WILCO, Star Wars (dBpm, 2015) LORD MANTIS, Pervertor rumba grooves that could match anything ing whether creating engrossing textural WILD BELLE, Everybody One of a (Candlelight, 2012) coming out of New York or Miami. Lock in explorations or dense, muscular grooves, Kind (Tuff Gong Worldwide, 2019) and let the funk out. —PM   and Rempis likewise excels wherever he RIC WILSON, Soul Bounce Chicago is well-known for forward- thinking ventures: thoughtful melodies, driving osti- (self-released, 2016) metal, but few albums capture the city’s MATT ULERY’S LOOM, Wake an ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 25 Echo (Greenleaf Music, 2013) Tomorrow (Thrill Jockey, 2015) Glimmer (Orindal, 2018) TATIANA HAZEL, Toxic YOUNG PAPPY, 2 Cups: Part 2 of G HERBO, Welcome to Fazoland NICOLE MITCHELL, Mandorla Awakening (self-released, 2018) Everything (self-released, 2015) (Machine Entertainment Group, 2014) II: Emerging Worlds (FPE, 2017) JUICE WRLD, Death Race for Love HARM’S WAY, Posthuman MONVMENT, Geminae (Grade A Productions/Interscope, 2019) Before Shaquon Thomas introduced him- (Metal Blade, 2018) (Dead Section, 2013) KID SISTER, Kiss Kiss Kiss self to the Chicago hip-hop scene as Young KATIE GOT BANDZ, Bandz and NONZOO, Wazoo (Already Dead (Fool’s Gold, 2010) Pappy, the stories told through drill music Hittaz (self-released, 2012) Tapes & Records, 2017) ROY KINSEY Blackie (Futurehood/ were set almost exclusively on the south ONO, Albino (Moniker, 2012) Not Normal Tapes, 2018) and west sides of the city. In 2015 Pappy She was introduced to Chicago in 2011 as KC ORTIZ, Beach Street KITTYHAWK, Hello, Again (Count released the mixtape 2 Cups: Part 2 of “that girl toting the pistol in Shady’s ‘Go In’ (self-released, 2017) Your Lucky Stars, 2014) Everything—the second installment of a video,” but by the time she’d dropped her CHARLES RUMBACK, Cadillac Turns LIL DURK, I’m Still a Hitta series named after his slain friend Mensa first project, Bandz and Hittaz, Katie—or (Monofonus Press/Astral Spirits, 2019) (Only the Family, 2012) “2 Cups” Kifle—and definitively expanded Katiiiieeee, as her signature ad-lib went— SERENGETI, Kenny Dennis LIL DURK, Signed to the Streets the geography of drill to the north side, had become the de facto queen of drill. The EP (Anticon, 2012) (Only the Family, 2013) Uptown in particular. Pappy had some suc- project, produced entirely by her cousin TIGRESS, Tigress EP (Not TY MONEY, Cinco de Money cess with his music while alive, but 2 Cups: BlockOnDaTrack, has never gotten its due Normal Tapes, 2017) (Sibley Boyz Muzik Group/Gold Part 2 of Everything (hosted by DJ Legacy) as one of the era’s best releases, but tough, VERUCA SALT, Ghost Notes Coast Music Group, 2015) has earned him mostly posthumous fame— minimalist bangers such as “I Need a Hitta” (El Camino, 2015) PANEGYRIST, Hierurgy (I, he was murdered at age 20 in May 2015, and “Ridin’ Round and We Drillin” epito- BEAU WANZER, Untitled Voidhanger, 2018) just weeks a er its release. The lead single, mize the spirit of golden-era drill. I’ll never (self-released, 2014) PIVOT GANG, You Can’t Sit “Killa,” has become part of the drill canon, forget the night at some bougie Pirate Bay- ZMONEY, Rich B4 Rap (self-released, 2013) With Us (Pivot Gang, 2019) and Pappy’s lyrics throughout the mixtape sponsored party at Lumen when the DJ RATBOYS, AOID (Topshelf, 2014) use graphic accounts of aggression and dropped “Hitta” no less than three times in JANA RUSH, Pariah (Objects passion to paint a nightmarish picture that an hour. —M  G  Limited, 2017) testifi es to his artistry. —M H  RUSSIAN CIRCLES, Blood Year THE KICKBACK, Weddings & (Sargent House, 2019) Funerals (Jullian, 2017) SABA, Bucket List Project QUIN KIRCHNER, The Other Side (self-released, 2016) of Time (Astral Spirits/Monofonus SINCERE ENGINEER, Rhombithian Press/Spacetones, 2018) (Red Scare Industries, 2017) DUSTIN LAURENZI, Snaketime: SPEKTRAL QUARTET, Chambers The Music of Moondog (Astral (Parlour Tapes, 2013) Spirits/Feeding Tube, 2019) Chambers is the 2013 debut of Spek- In the spirit of albums by predecessors tral Quartet, a Grammy-nominated string such as John Zorn and Marc Ribot, Dustin ensemble that often operates in the clas- Laurenzi’s Snaketime cleverly expands the sical realm and just as often redefines it. jazz palette by exploring a forerunner who The album is an entirely Chicago affair, stood sideways to the canon. In this case, 41 Twenty-nine-way tie, four points each released on Parlour Tapes (a local cassette- the forerunner is Viking-helmed, Bach- focused label dedicated to contempo- infl uenced Beat street musician Moondog, BONGRIPPER, Miserable rary art music) and featuring works by six whose strong sense of melody and deft (Great Barrier, 2014) local composers—which Spektral Quartet 42 Twenty-six-way tie, three points each use of counterpoint and minimalist repeti- BRAID, No Coast (Topshelf, 2014) attacks with Windy City grit and passion. tion provide a vivid, pleasing structure with- BROKEBACK, Brokeback and the On the Liza White piece Zin Zin Zin Zin ABSOLUTELY NOT, Mister in which Laurenzi’s octet can interweave Black Rock (Thrill Jockey, 2013) (inspired by Mos Def’s wordless freestyl- Something (Chain Smoking, 2013) hummable tunes and brawling skronk. CALIFONE, Sometimes Good Weather ing on the Roots song “Double Trouble”) AALIYAH ALLAH, Being It’s avant-garde jazz at its most accessi- Follows Bad People (Jealous Butcher, 2012) the musicians get about as percussive as (self-released, 2017) ble or mainstream jazz at its most avant- CLOUD MOUTH, Keep Well (Kid Sister possible while mostly bowing their strings— BALLISTER, Worse for the garde, depending on how you want to Everything/Ice Age/Adagio830, 2011) you can hear them strike their instruments Wear (Aerophonic, 2015) hear it. Either way, it’s a joy—and evidence CONDENADA, Discografi a while making sonic booms of downstrokes. CANADIAN RIFLE, Peaceful Death of the talent and genius to be found in the (Not Normal Tapes, 2012) —S  C-J (Dead Broke Rekerds, 2018) Chicago jazz scene’s nooks and crannies. MYKELE DEVILLE, Peace, CB RADIO GORGEOUS, Plays CB Radio —N  B  Fam (self-released, 2017) TIME & PRESSURE, The Gateway Gorgeous (Not Normal Tapes, 2018) DRAMA, Gallows (Drama Music, 2016) City Sound (Safe Insound, 2019) DAYMAKER, Amen/Evening BILL MACKAY & RYLEY WALKER, KEVIN DRUMM, Humid Weather SAM TRUMP, Purple Skies (self-released, 2015) SpiderBeetleBee (Drag City, 2017) (self-released, 2012) (Superlative Muzak, 2017) ELEVENTH DREAM DAY, Works for GIA MARGARET, There’s Always LIAM HAYES, Slurrup (Fat Possum, 2015) VUKARI, Aevum (Vendetta, 2019) 26 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll of the artist’s mind. The rest of the album 40 Twenty-eight-way tie, fi ve points each unfurls in surprising leaps from one aes- thetic to another, and nothing is misspent— JOSHUA ABRAMS, Natural the young virtuoso forges ahead to some- Information (Eremite, 2010) where new, his world a kaleidoscopic milieu. ADVANCE BASE, A Shut-In’s —T  C M    Prayer (Orindal, 2012) AZITA, Disturbing the Air (Drag City, 2011) ENGINE SUMMER, Trophy BBU, bell hooks (Mishka, 2012) Kids (self-released, 2017) ARI BROWN, Groove Awakening FREE SNACKS, Fast Food (Delmark, 2013) (Why? Records, 2019) CROSS RECORD, Be Good (Lay Flat, 2012) THE FUNS, My Survival (Manic Static, 2015) CRUDE HUMOR, Jeri’s Grill THE KREUTZER SONATA, The (Not Normal Tapes, 2015) Gutters of Paradise (Don’t Panic/ DISROTTED, Disrotted No Time/Collision Course, 2018) (Diseased Audio, 2015) LA ARMADA, Anti-Colonial DJ NATE, Da Trak Genious Vol. 1 (Bird Attack, 2018) (Planet Mu, 2010) RAVYN LENAE, Crush (Atlantic/Three DJ PAYPAL, Buy Now (LuckyMe, 2015) Twenty Three Music Group, 2018) DJ TAYE, Still Trippin’ (Hyperdub, 2018) RAVYN LENAE, Moon Shoes EP (Three Twenty Three Music Group, 2016) DJ Taye’s Still Trippin’ is a consummate turn LOCAL H, Hallelujah! I’m a in progressive footwork. The Teklife mem- Bum (Slimstyle, 2012) ber employs a palette of rap, R&B, New JEFF MILLS, Emerging Crystal Jersey club, Baltimore club, and more to Universe (Axis, 2014) make the argument that footwork spans MODERN VICES, Modern style and region, while also reconstructing Vices (Autumn Tone, 2014) songwriting’s role in the Chicago subgenre. OOZING WOUND, Whatever As frenetic as footwork can be, Still Trip- Forever (Thrill Jockey, 2016) pin’ is framed by the meditative, wordless JOEY PURP, iiiDrops (self-released, 2017) introductory track “2094,” which immedi- SUN RA, Exotica (Modern Harmonic, 2017) ately dissolves the listener in the recesses TENCI, My Heart Is an Open

All hail our gentle and benevolent savior, Lord Mantis.  JASON WYATT FREDERICK

ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 27 Field (Hobbies, 2019) totally improvised music—loops of billow- KINGLOUIE, Tony (Lawless, 2014) No Witness (Jagjaguwar, 2014) VARSITY Parallel Person (Babe City, 2018) ing, burbling synths topped by the breathy OOZINGWOUND, Earth Suck VELCROLEWISGROUP, Amnesia arias of her vocals—sound as melodious and King Louie’s earliest work was rough around (Thrill Jockey, 2014) Gaze (Safety Meeting, 2017) cogently narrative as a meticulously pro- the edges, a prophecy of Chicago rap’s OOZINGWOUND, Retrash ZE’EV, GTP (self-released, 2018) duced pop song. Her standout 2017 release, national breakthrough. Yet initially, he high- (Thrill Jockey, 2013) Love Sick, is as challenging and rewarding lighted a knowing sense of humor that sug- OPENMIKEEAGLE, Dark Comedy as anything by Bjork or FKA Twigs, with the gested, if not optimism, then at least the (Mello Music Group, 2014) same internal drama as an all-consuming personality to bridge the gulf between a TOMSCHRAEDER&HISEGO, love aff air—and the same splendid highs and far-flung regional satellite and the main- Gush (self-released, 2015) lows. I can easily imagine “I Can’t Sleep” stream. Then the Chicago scene suddenly SICKOMOBB, Super Saiyan: topping the charts in a musical universe went supernova, creating a darkly contro- Vol. 1 (self-released, 2014) more keen on free exploration than our versial new center of gravity. His response, SMINO, Noir (Zero Fatigue/ own. —J R N Tony, was Louie’s best project of the Downtown/Interscope, 2018) decade, despite being his least colorful and TRAXMAN, Da Mind of Traxman most tersely aggressive, because he recog- (Planet Mu, 2012) nized that the ground had moved beneath RONTRENT, Raw Footage 38 Thirty-way tie, six points each everyone’s feet. He went back to the source (Electric Blue, 2012) for a brooding, apocalyptic project that RYLEYWALKER, Golden Sings That BLACKERFACE, Distinctive managed the neat trick of charging its grim- Have Been Sung (Dead Oceans, 2016) Juju (Sooper, 2019) ly violent times with undeniable electricity. BEACHBUNNY, Prom Queen It also launched three classic street singles: TALsounds, Love Sick (Duel Disk Media, 2018) “Til I Meet Selena,” “Live & Die in Chica- DATESTUFF, Date Stuff (Sooper, 2017) go,” and “B.O.N.,” the last of which spawned DOWSING, It’s Still Pretty Terrible re-versions coast to coast. —DD 39 Three-way tie, 5.5 points each (Count Your Lucky Stars, 2012) THEEVENINGATTRACTION, MAPS&ATLASES, Beware & CONEHEADS, L. P . 1. aka 14 Year Old High The End, Again (Classic Waxx, 2018) Be Grateful (Barsuk, 2012) School PC- Fascist Hype Lords Rip Off THEFLATFIVE, It’s a World of Love NICKMAZZARELLAANDTOMEKA Devo for the Sake of Extorting $$ $ From and Hope (Bloodshot, 2016) REID, Signaling (Nessa, 2017) Helpless Impressionable Midwestern FREESNACKS, Eat Good Tape JANICEMISURELLMITCHELL, Internet Peoplepunks L . P . (Why? Records, 2018) Vanishing Points (Southport, 2013) (International Players Club, 2015) GHERBO, Humble Beast (Machine MONOBODY, Raytracing (Sooper, 2018) NICHOLASSZCZEPANIK, Please Entertainment/150 Dream Team/ Stop Loving Me (Streamline, 2011) Cinematic Music Group, 2017) A gem of Chicago’s underground, instru- mental quintet Monobody play a multifacet- Nicholas Szczepanik began releasing sub- Despite blowing up off the 2012 smash hit ed prog-rock fusion with expansive shi s in lime drone pieces late in the aughts, just as “Kill Shit,” Lil Herb always refused to be sound and style. Raytracing, their masterful I discovered the joys of solo walks, and they labeled a drill artist. He showed us why on second album, journeys through prog rock, remain my favorite companions for ten-mile his 2017 debut album as G Herbo, Humble jazz, postrock, melodic math rock, and even 37 Twenty-six-way tie, seven points each rambles through Chicago’s neighborhoods. Beast. With raw, honest retellings of street the occasional metal riff . Monobody supple- The best of those albums, 2011’s Please tales mixed with sobering refl ections on his ment their pulsing piano passages, squiggly JOSHUAABRAMS&NATURAL Stop Loving Me, begins with a bottomless childhood, the 21-year-old contextualized synth lines, heavy bass grooves, and rollick- INFORMATIONSOCIETY, current of churchy organlike chords that and humanized the violence that defined ing guitar leads with lap steel guitar, vibra- Simultonality (Eremite, 2017) seems to come from just out of view, swell- Chicago drill. Humble Beast balances soul- phone, and programmed electronics to cre- BOBBYCONN, Rise Up! (Fire, ing through slowly shi ing musical shapes ful production, gritty yet introspective ate a cornucopia of techniques and timbres. 2010 reissue of 1998 album) as if from within a bank of clouds. Eventu- rhymes, and club hits, showing Herb begin- And unlike prog percussionists who go COPING, Nope (Protagonist, 2012) ally, Szczepanik resolves the drone into a ning to master his cra and catapulting him overboard, drummer Nnamdi Ogbonnaya massive final chord that feels like finding into position to become one of rap’s bright- cra s intricate, propulsive beats that always Coping already have the classic emo one- the peace of home a er a long journey—it’s est stars. —AAII mesh with their surroundings—he knows album-and-done trope covered—now they a sanctifying balm to those of us dedicated when to pull back and when to go all out. await rediscovery. The band’s sole full- to spending time alone, whether by choice THEHECKS, My Star —SM length, 2012’s Nope, opens with a scream- or not. —J R N (Trouble in Mind, 2019) ing call-and-response vocal passage that IMMORTALBIRD, Akrasia MOTHEREVERGREEN, Mother bleeds teenage angst: “Have you ever TALSOUNDS, Love Sick (Ba Da Bing!, 2017) (Closed Casket, 2013) Evergreen (self-released, 2016) thought that I don’t care for anything you ANGELAJAMES, Way Down MYGOLDMASK, Leave Me have to say to me?” The band’s unabashed Over the course of the past decade, Natalie Deep (self-released, 2014) Midnight (Goldy Tapes, 2013) youthful confi dence and willingness to be Chami, who records and performs as TAL- JOIEDEVIVRE, The North End NEHI, Off ers (Grand Jury, 2016) obnoxiously disorienting recalls local emo sounds, has mastered the art of making her (Count Your Lucky Stars, 2010) ANGELOLSEN, Burn Your Fire for legends Cap’n Jazz as well as their own 28 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll FEB 15 at TIED HOUSE LOFT 3157 N SOUTHPORT AVE

Canyon (Plus Tapes, 2011) FINS UP + STAYPRESENT: SMOOTH DJs DKV TRIO, Sound in Motion in Sound (Not Two, 2014) FREAKWATER, Scheherazade (Bloodshot, 2016)

Catherine Irwin and Janet Beveridge Bean have recorded as Freakwater mostly in Chicago, but seven albums and 25 years into their career, they shi ed to Louisville, expanding their band with some north Ken- tucky musicians. The result is Scheheraza- de, filled with looser, bigger versions of their gothic country dirges—an aesthetic with more sweep and more serrated edges. Angel Marcloid of Fire-Toolz may very well play a fl aming power drill. It’s a trade secret. “Down Will Come Baby” is a characteris-  YACHT ROCK JASONWYATTFREDERICK tically uncanny track, turning the lullaby A VALENTINE’S “Rock-a-bye Baby” into a loping Morricone outlaw epic for murdered infants. Every DANCE PARTY emo-revival infl uences, Snowing and Alger- song on Scheherazade swings and rasps; non Cadwallader. Nope is an exhilarat- you don’t want them to stop, even as they ing 100-meter dash of unhinged emotion- cut you. Though Irwin and Bean will proba- Doors at 7:30pm al exasperations and tangled guitars, with bly always be better known for their classic Tickets at LH-ST.com the melodies acting only as a home base 90s material, this record may be their most to return to. Into this outpouring, Coping perfect. —N B incorporate teenage love, awkwardness, heartbreak, and rebellion—the makings of PASTOR DONALD GAY, On a Glo- a benchmark record for midwestern emo. rious Day (The Sirens, 2019) —TJ K No stranger to hard times, gospel sing- CORDOBA, Break the Locks Off er Donald Gay has faced formidable chal- Everything New (self-released, 2018) lenges over the past decade. In 2010, he CUPCAKKE, Queen Elizabitch became the only surviving sibling of a leg- (self-released, 2017) endary musical family when he lost his last elder sister, pianist Geraldine Gay (the Gay Cupcakke may be retired from rap, at least Sisters scored gospel hits from the late for the moment, but her second full-length, 1940s through the ’60s). But on his debut 2017’s Queen Elizabitch, is still out there as a leader, released when he was 73, his turning heads. Her music is witty, authen- deep bluesy feeling and sure command of tic, and often hilariously explicit, with his material remain undiminished. On a Glo- track titles such as “Cumshot” and lyrics rious Day, which juxtaposes songs by his that straddle the line between playful and sisters with time-tested standards, demon- raunchy (“I save dick by giving it CPR,” for strates again and again how resolutely instance, or “I’m tryna fuck for a buck, not life-affirming gospel can be. Appearanc- make love to Jodeci”). Queen Elizabitch es by Donald’s son, vocalist and coproduc- also shows us the diversity in Cupcakke’s er Gregory “Juno” Gay, and by his guitarist repertoire: on “33rd” she’s upbeat, poppy, nephew, Donald “Bosie” Hambric, also testi- and inspirational, while on “Reality, Pt. 4” fy to his thriving lineage and the vitality of she raps a capella about her struggle to the tradition. —A C find an audience, her thoughts of suicide, and the hunger and poverty she endured GIGAN, Multi-Dimensional Fractal-Sorcery growing up in Washington Park. She may and Super Science (Willowtip, 2013) be famous for her salacious rhymes, and it’s GRAMPS THE VAMP, The Cave of true, she’s all that—but she’s also a lot more. 10,000 Eyes (self-released, 2016) —S N L GREAT SOCIETY MIND DESTROYERS, Spirit Smoke (Slow Knife, 2011) DISAPPEARS, Live at Echo HIEROGLYPHIC BEING & JITU ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 29 AHN SAHM BUHL, We Are Not THEKICKBACK, Sorry All Over (Caff einated, 2013) also showcases Reid’s superb composi- the First (RVNG Intl, 2015) the Place (Jullian, 2015) CHEER ACCIDENT, No Ifs, Ands tions, including the lyrical “Etoile” and the TIMKINSELLAMARVINTATE or Dogs (Cuneiform, 2011) open-ended “Glass Light.” —A C Raw house music producer Jamal Moss, LEROYBACHANDANGELOLSEN, CHICAGOSYMPHONYORCHESTRA aka Hieroglyphic Being, has been inspired Tim Kinsella Sings the Songs of Mar- CONDUCTEDBYRICCARDOMUTIWITH SERENGETI, Dennis 6e (Fla- by otherworldly jazz keyboardist and com- vin Tate by Leroy Bach Featuring BARBARAFRITTOLIANDOTHERS, Verdi: mingoPop, 2018) poser Sun Ra since the start, so his collab- Angel Olsen (Joyful Noise, 2013) Messa da Requiem (CSO Resound, 2010) TEKLIFE, On Life (Teklife, 2017) oration with longtime Sun Ra Arkestra alto MANNEQUINMEN, Mannequin CHIEFKEEF, Almighty So HENRYTHREADGILL, In for a saxophonist Marshall Allen for RVNG Intl. Men (Addenda, 2011) (self-released, 2013) Penny, in for a Pound (Pi, 2015) was a dream come true. The result is a mix ROBMAZUREKOCTET, Skull CHIEFKEEF, Back From the TINK, Winter’s Diary 2 (self-released, 2014) of live ingredients, including digital horn, Sessions (Cuneiform, 2013) Dead 2 (Glo Gang, 2014) polyrhythmic drumming, and spoken word. VICMENSA, There’s Alot Going CUPCAKKE, Eden (self-released, 2018) Teen heartbreak is real. In 2014, there J.I.T.U. means “Journey Into the Unexpect- On (Roc Nation, 2016) DISAPPEARS, Era (Kranky, 2013) wasn’t a high school on the south and west ed,” and this album—drawn from nine days NICOLEMITCHELL’SBLACK GORILLAZ, Humanz (Warner, 2017) sides where you couldn’t find teenage of jam sessions with six musicians and two EARTHENSEMBLE, Intergalactic LIVINGBYLANTERNS, New Myth/ girls passionately singing “Somebody real vocalists, all composed and conducted by Beings (FPE, 2014) Old Science (Cuneiform, 2012) is hard to fi nd,” the opening lines of Tink’s Moss—lives up to that name, merging unpre- POLOG, Die a Legend (Columbia, 2019) “Treat Me Like Somebody” from Winter’s dictable industrial-edged house beats with POSTANIMAL, When I Think of Jointly led by drummer Mike Reed and Diary 2. Since her debut in 2011, the rapper free-jazz experimentation. —J  A You in a Castle (Polyvinyl, 2018) vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, the ensem- and singer-songwriter has been releasing RUSSIANCIRCLES, Guidance ble Living by Lanterns has released just mixtapes that teens would rush to down- HOGG, Solar Phallic Lion (Scrapes, 2016) (Sargent House, 2016) one album: New Myth/Old Science, a mag- load from DatPiff, but this 2014 project is HURTEVERYBODY, 2K47 JACKIESHANE, Any Other nifi cent study in artistic transformation and what arguably propelled her name beyond (self-released, 2015) Way (Numero Group, 2017) a special entry in Reed’s ongoing investiga- Chicago. The essence of Winter’s Diary 2 JOANOFARC, Life Like (Polyvinyl, 2011) SMITHWESTERNS, Dye It Blonde tion of post-1950s Chicago jazz history. Reed refl ects beloved 90s R&B, yet it’s also rel- RAVYNLENAE, Midnight (Fat Possum Records, 2011) and Adasiewicz started with an enigmat- evant to the newer forms of heartbreak Moonlight EP (Atlantic/Three Twenty VICSPENCERANDCHRIS ic 1961 tape found in the Sun Ra collection the Internet age introduced to relation- Three Music Group, 2017) CRACK, Who the Fuck Is Chris of the Creative Audio Archive (located at ships. —J   G ANGELOLSEN, My Woman Spencer?? (self-released, 2016) Ravenswood’s Experimental Sound Studio), (Jagjaguwar, 2016) TORTOISE, The Catastrophist extracting fragments and ideas from the TOUPEE, Dinner Parties OVENS, Settings (self-released, 2012) (Thrill Jockey, 2016) rehearsal recording and expanding them (Rotted Tooth, 2013) PIXELGRIP, Heavy Handed (FeelTrip, 2019) TREE, The Tree EP (self-released, 2011) into a suite of compositions—not strictly Ra, WOOPARK, Smokes (self-released, 2014) RAWNERVE, Raw Nerve JEFFTWEEDY, Warm (dBpm, 2018) not strictly them, but occupying some cre- AVERYRYOUNG, Tubman (FPE, 2019) (Youth Attack, 2010) VEEDEE, Vee Dee (BLVD, 2011) ative interzone. The ensemble mingles Chi- DONNIETRUMPET&THESOCIAL MIRANDAWINTERS, Xobeci, What cagoans and New Yorkers, and the result is EXPERIMENT, Surf (self-released, 2015) Grows Here? (Sooper, 2018) a constant delight—swinging, buoyant, open, SIAMESETWINS, Demo and prodding, with a scintillating lineup that (self-released, 2011) includes Greg Ward’s mercurial alto saxo- SAMTRUMP, Love Notes phone and Mary Halvorson’s tensile guitar. (Superlative Muzak, 2017) —JC VAMOS, Spiderbait (Maximum Pelt, 2015) VARAHA, A Passage for Lost LOCRIAN, The Crystal World (Utech, 2010) Years (Prosthetic, 2019) VICMENSA, Innanetape (self-released, 2013) OKGO, Hungry Ghosts (Paracadute, 2014) 36 Twenty-fi ve-way tie, eight points each TOMEKAREIDQUARTET, Tomeka Reid Quartet (Thirsty Ear, 2015) BURDENED, Crippled by Fear (self-released, 2017) Cellist Tomeka Reid had already been a DEADRIDER, Chills on Glass valuable part of the Chicago jazz scene 34 Twenty-three-way tie, ten points each (Drag City, 2014) for years when her quartet released its MYKELEDEVILLE, Maintain self-titled debut in 2015—and soon there- AGAINSTME!, Transgender Dysphoria (No Trend, 2019) 35 Twenty-three-way tie, nine points each a er, she took on the world. Now based in Blues (Xtra Mile/Total Treble, 2014) THEFUNS, The Funs (Manic Static, 2013) New York, Reid creates new improvisation- ARRIVER, Tsushima (Bloodlust!, 2012) HAKI, Positive (self-released, 2014) ANATOMYOFHABIT, Anatomy al paths for string-forward groups not only HALFGRINGA, Gruñona of Habit (self-released, 2011) with her own bands but also as a valuable The second full-length by Chicago heroes (self-released, 2017) THEATLASMOTH, Coma Noir member of the Art Ensemble of Chica- Arriver is a departure for metal: it’s creative JACKIELYNN, Jackie Lynn (Profound Lore, 2011) go. The foundations of those explorations and interesting, rather than getting lost in (Thrill Jockey, 2016) BONGRIPPER, Satan Worshipping can all be heard here: myriad kinds of elec- an unthinking preoccupation with what’s MAHALIAJACKSON, Moving on Up a Doom (self-released, 2010) tricity fl ow through Reid’s exchanges with supposed to make metal “metal.” Tsushima Little Higher (Shanachie/Spirit Feel, 2016) CELLPHONES, Get You Alone guitarist Mary Halvorson, and the album is progressive in the truest sense—it draws 30 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll from many inspirations, including a 1905 Marcloid cooks up a kitchen-sink combi- naval battle during the Russo-Japanese nation of industrial, vaporwave, new age, War, rather than from just one—and it danc- dance pop, and black metal, peppered with es through its amalgam of styles without AOL sign-on dings, cat meows, and that riff losing its identity. Identity is key for Arriver, from “43% Burnt” by the Dillinger Escape and they derive their sense of artistic self Plan. At times, it sounds the way logging in no small part from their mental intensity: on has felt for the past couple years—that the brawn of Tsushima is more multifaceted is, like slamming a nonstop torrent of news, than single-minded, more extravagant than opinions, and advertising into your brain at restrained, and more cerebral than visceral. 100 miles per hour. It’s a testament to Mar- —J R  cloid’s skill and curatorial acumen that Drip Mental makes sense of it all, balancing its BRUISED, Rotten Codex disorienting deluge against the exhilara- (Chicago Research, 2019) tion and joy of discovery. I found peace here when nothing else could soothe my over- “Things fall apart, the center cannot hold,” whelmed mind. —EB Cesar Robles Santacruz sings in “Satisfying Texture,” the delicately unwieldy postpunk FRAIL BODY, A Brief Memoriam jam at the heart of 2019’s Rotten Codex. For (Deathwish Inc., 2019) the past half decade, Bruised have been ROBBIE FULKS, Gone Away steadily gaining ground in the city’s punk Backward (Bloodshot, 2013) scene with their brooding, goth- infused tunes, and this full-length shows the quin- During the years that Robbie Fulks played tet at their musical peak. Unlike many punk regular Mondays at the Hideout—perform- releases, it’s never repetitive, swinging ing 250 staggeringly varied shows from 2010 through a wide range of sounds—including through 2017—the club sometimes felt like a the driving, intense “Psychic Stain” and the campfire gathering of sure-handed musi- drony, industrial “No Neutral Architecture.” cians fondly recalling tunes they’d heard Bruised speak perfectly to the unbearable long ago, breathing new life into their melo- heaviness of these times, which we endure dies with each pluck of a string. In the midst (to quote “Psychic Stain”) by “looking for an of that remarkable residency, Fulks released answer in the dark.” —KC  Gone Away Backward, a studio album that beautifully captures the cra smanship and CAVE, Neverendless (Drag City, 2011) collaboration of his most intimate acoustic concerts. De ly singing wise and witty lyrics The theater of Cave comes through best that roam across the American landscape, in the nuances of their Krautrock-shaped Fulks made indelible 21st-century Chicago psych, and 2011’s classic Neverendless cap- music built on memories of old-time Appala- tures the band at their absolutely most chia. —R  L  Motorik. To maintain the effectiveness of such exactingly steady repetition, they LA ARMADA, La Armada have to set a mood by carefully modulat- (Fat Sandwich, 2012) ing every sound swirling, twirling, and wrig- gling around the edges of the track—wheth- Radical hardcore band La Armada hail er produced by Moog or man. The 14-plus- from the Dominican Republic, where they minute “This Is the Best,” with its ceaseless, put down their roots in political activism almost taunting outro, and its follow-up, and became a force in the country’s punk “Adam Roberts,” with its swelling synths community. After relocating to Chicago and a jaunty organ line, do this with a pre- in 2007, they released their self-titled full- cision that you might overlook if you allow length debut in 2012. The band pair their the foursome’s rhythmic thrum to hypnotize fierce sound, heavily influenced by grind- you. —KW core and powerviolence, with raw anti- establishment lyrics (all in Spanish) that CHIEF KEEF, Back From the focus on immigration, colonialism, and class Dead (self-released, 2012) struggle. The guttural opening words of ERRAUNT, The Portent (self-released, 2015) the fi rst track, “Esclavitud Organica” trans- FIRETOOLZ, Drip Mental late to “Hypocrisy! Cynicism! Falsehood! (Hausu Mountain, 2017) Eat shit!”—describing the world in crisis that La Armada are fi ghting to destroy and save. On her third album as Fire-Toolz, Angel —S N  L ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 31 DAMON LOCKS BLACK MONUMENT six-song EP-almost-LP in 2014, limited to cheek take on the device of recapitulation Whether you call it posthardcore, slowcore, ENSEMBLE, Where Future Unfolds 500 copies, via now-defunct label Auto- in classical music demonstrates the sense emo, or indie rock, Slow Mass’s debut full- (International Anthem, 2019) matic Recordings. At one moment raw and of humor integral to Smith’s life and work. length, On Watch, is definitely one thing: unrelenting, at the next haunting and ethe- —N  J art. The 2018 album overfl ows with intrica- In his merely extremely ambitious past real, Pennsylvania occasionally shows its cies—it moves from a twinkling introduction projects, Damon Locks o en used urgent, stitches—it’s clearly the work of an under- THIRD COAST PERCUSSION, (“On Watch I”) to blistering chaos (“E.D.”) ethereal vocals that evoked June Tyson’s ground group trying to iron out its identity Paddle to the Sea (Cedille, 2018) and ends with a gentle, expansive poetic work with Sun Ra, but for this Big Bang of and ambitions. But more important, it also incantation (“G’s End”) that encapsulates ambition he’s assembled a radical squad- demonstrates the band’s early willingness This gorgeous album contains a tradition- the vastness of Slow Mass’s expertise. I saw ron of genius vocalists, instrumentalists, to experiment with mood, as well as their al Shona song, six marimba solos by Jacob the band open two shows in 2019, and each and dancers who draw on decades of Black inventiveness in lashing their melodic pop Druckman, and Third Coast Percussion’s time they delivered their set with cathar- Arts Movement audio, centuries of Afri- structures with freakish rhythms and howl- own arrangements of Philip Glass’s Aguas tic potency. In the decade to come, they can music, and millennia-to-come of Afro- ing noise. These brilliant songs are the fi rst da Amazonia. Its centerpiece, though, is a deserve to headline more shows of their futurism. It seems too on-the-nose to use evidence that Melkbelly would become one collective composition by the quartet that own—and they’ve already started 2020 with the word “art” to describe this album, con- of Chicago’s most important revelations of scores the 1966 short fi lm Paddle to the Sea, two new singles. —M H  sidering that the second sleeve of its gate- the 2010s. —KW  storyboarded so tightly that big accents in fold cover contains (in lieu of another the music land precisely atop dramatic cuts piece of vinyl) a series of stunning prints by MIKE REED, Flesh & Bone (482 Music, 2017) in the movie. Alternately lushly melodic Locks. But this masterpiece is everything RP BOO, Legacy (Planet Mu, 2013) and intriguingly knotty, fi lled with intricate 32 I want, and more than I expect, from art. SERENGETI, Kenny Dennis III multilayered rhythmic phasing that’s simul- —J  A (Joyful Noise, 2014) taneously hypnotizing and baffling, Pad- CIRCUIT DES YEUX, Reaching for dle to the Sea reminds us that the super- Indigo (Drag City, 2017) 11.5 points LUCKI, Alternative Trap With the 2014 album Kenny Dennis III, rap- human rigor that classical players struggle (self-released, 2013) per Serengeti was poised to wrap up the to achieve isn’t an elitist aspiration—rather MARKER, New Industries saga of the fictional Kenny Dennis (his than cut off such musicians from “regular” (Audiographic, 2019) uber-Chicagoan alter ego) and his partner people, it opens up new ways for their work Jules, but their tale continued through the to engage us, both intellectually and emo- In the 2010s, Ken Vandermark appeared rest of the 2010s. It made a midlife crisis tionally. —P M on at least 100 records. The veteran saxo- sound wonderfully odd, and it made Odd phonist and clarinetist takes the Braxtonian Nosdam sound like one of the best produc- TWO HOUSES, I Feel so Good I Can’t imperative of self-documentation very seri- ers in the game. The album’s use of actor Feel Myself (Rad Girlfriend, 2016) ously, and his recordings are rarely casual Anders Holm as Kenny’s estranged friend/ RYLEY WALKER, Primrose aff airs—the quality goes in before the name outside POV may also be the last time Green (Dead Oceans, 2015) goes on. But New Industries is his achieve- skits made sense on a hip-hop album. If you ment of the decade. Made with Marker, a don’t want an O’Doul’s and a hot dog by the band of exciting younger Chicagoans that’s end of this one, you’ve listened to it wrong. also the newest group under his leader- —JH  ship, the 2019 album combines impeccable studio recordings with a companion CD of CHARLES JOSEPH SMITH, War of live versions that suggests how the scores the Martian Ghosts (Sooper, 2018) invite reinvention each time out. With this 31 Two-way tie, 12 points each ensemble, Vandermark has found the best Dr. Charles Joseph Smith’s instrumen- vehicle yet for his compositional concept, tal concept album War of the Martian DEAD RIDER, The Raw funneling postpunk energy into explod- Ghosts refracts his story of war and ghosts Dents (Drag City, 2011) ing architecture. Issued in physical form on through the lens of dissonance and decay. the reedist’s own Audiographic label, New With little but its ten track titles and ste- Led by Todd Rittmann, Dead Rider accom- Industries sold out immediately. It resolutely reophonic piano, Smith transports the lis- plish a delightfully disturbing perversion requires a reprint. —JC tener to a Martian landscape, strange and of rock ’n’ roll that befits an alumnus of mystical, akin to that imagined in Robert U.S. Maple and Cheer-Accident. On the MAKAYA MCCRAVEN, In the Moment Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land or band’s second full-length, turgid bass synth, (International Anthem, 2015) Philip K. Dick’s Martian Time-Slip. Smith 33 Four-way tie, 11 points each louche horns, and Rittmann’s creepy, ole- MAKAYA MCCRAVEN, Universal shapes and reshapes his virtuosic piano aginous croon and jagged spurts of guitar Beings (International Anthem, 2018) playing with fierce experimentation: cha- THE ATLAS MOTH, An Ache for the all contribute to an atmosphere of deca- MELKBELLY, Pennsylvania otic time- signature jumps, ever-shifting Distance (Profound Lore, 2011) dent, addictively groovy decay. Much of (Automatic Recordings, 2014) motifs, occasional gothy synth accompa- INTO IT OVER IT, Intersections the music’s distinctive feel comes from the niment, a one-minute interlude of distant (Triple Crown, 2013) drumming, shared here by Theo Katsaounis Before becoming Chicago’s most exciting and unevenly spaced legato chord strikes, RETIREMENT PARTY, Strictly and his eventual replacement, Matt Espy: rock band with the release of 2017’s Noth- and even a 20-second punked-out track Speaking (Tilde, 2017) they stagger and stumble, slipping out of ing Valley, Melkbelly dropped a modest called “Recapitulation,” whose tongue-in- SLOW MASS, On Watch (Land Land, 2018) phase or just flat-out falling through the 32 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll floor, but they always snap right back on ern pop songs, cracking and warping piec- musical supercollider with jazz, psyche- pulse, the winding line connecting begin- beat to let you know they meant to do that. es of them till they sound like dusties, then delic, experimental music, and more. They ning to end. Logically speaking, the full- As Hannibal Lecter has proved in other ven- looping them amid bustling percussion. close the LP with the soundscape “Fate length debut from a band who deliberate- ues, deviance kept under tight control is He’s also an arresting rapper and a wise, Deals a Hand,” which stretches for more ly mischaracterized themselves as “CCR o en more eff ective than off -the-leash cra- vivid lyricist, with an endearingly coarse than 21 minutes, and side one’s two sonic via Minor Threat” shouldn’t have ended up ziness. —P M voice that underlines his weary empathy. journeys are nearly as epic in scale—not among Chicago’s musical masterstrokes He dropped a streak of fantastic albums in unlike the outre experiments of Meddle-era of the past decade, but throughout their LUPE FIASCO, Tetsuo & Youth the 2010s, but his hard-won critical break- Pink Floyd. Drummer Michael Kendrick eight-year run, Disappears were always in (Atlantic/1st & 15th Entertainment, 2015) through, Sunday School, is stacked with so augments his kit with all manner of bells, the business of defying expectations. Riff s many knockout tracks that it’s era defi ning. chimes, and cymbals, while Brent Fuscal- wobble like they’re on sea legs, Brian Case’s —LG do adds basslike guitar, thumb piano, and yawps sound tongue-tied and tipsy, and 30 Eight-way tie, 13 points each clouds of whispered vocals. The fi nal ingre- every drum fi ll pops like a pistol—more than dient comes from genius guitarist Prze- an album, Lux is a postcard from another CUPCAKKE, Ephorize (self-released, 2018) myslaw K. Drazek, whose textural waves world. —S NS  DISAPPEARS, Guider (Kranky, 2011) of guitar and similarly treated trumpet G HERBO, Ballin Like I’m Kobe lend a Morricone-esque soundtrack vibe GROWN UPS, More Songs (Topshelf, 2010) (Machine Entertainment Group/ to the album—and to Mako Sica’s unique JEREMIH, Late Nights: The Cinematic/150 Dream Team, 2015) sound. —SK Album (Def Jam, 2015) KIDS THESE DAYS, Traphouse OPEN MIKE EAGLE, Brick Body Kids Still Rock (self-released, 2012) MAVIS STAPLES, One True Daydream (Mello Music Group, 2017) NEGATIVE SCANNER, Nose Vine (Anti-, 2013) RUSSIAN CIRCLES, Memorial Picker (Trouble in Mind, 2018) (Sargent House, 2013) SMINO, Blkswn (Zero Fatigue/ Downtown, 2017) 27 Four-way tie, 15 points each MAVIS STAPLES, If All I Was Was Black (Anti-, 2017) ADVANCE BASE, Nephew in WEEKEND NACHOS, the Wild (Orindal, 2015) Worthless (Deep Six, 2011) Kaina, Next to the Sun JEAN DEAUX, Krash (self-released/Empire, 2018) Why waste money on anger-management GANSER, Odd Talk (No Trend, 2018) classes or a gym membership when you 28 Four-way tie, 14 points each can create one of the grooviest powervi- When Ganser released their full-length olence records ever to emerge from Chi- CSTVT, The Echo & the Light debut, Odd Talk, they were still relative cago’s hardcore metal scene instead? In (Tiny Engines, 2010) newcomers in the city’s music scene, but 2011, Weekend Nachos did just that with KAINA, Next to the Sun (Sooper, 2019) the four-piece had already established their fourth LP, Worthless. It’s an unforgiv- themselves as a band to watch. With the ing record fueled by a fury that can only be In a music industry that enforces constant sleek synths, disjointed guitars, and plenti- expressed with crushing layers of distor- output, Kaina wants us to slow down. The ful grooves of Odd Talk, Ganser have cra - tion and rage-filled lyrics. The band com- act of feeling—and processing all the good ed a smart take on postpunk that provides a bine their merciless grooves with brutal and bad, complexity and confusion that breath of fresh air even as it nods to Chica- 25 Four-way tie, 17 points each hardcore breakdowns and sandwich them comes with it—is the overarching theme of go’s noise-rock past. Not every band can hit between some of the city’s heaviest doom Kaina’s fi rst full-length, Next to the Sun. Her a sweet spot between sophistication, trepi- JAIMIE BRANCH, Fly or Die riffs to create a powerviolence master- voice is smooth, her energy is calming, and dation, and weirdness, but even when Gan- (International Anthem, 2019) piece that couldn’t have come from any- her lyrics (which she writes herself) eff ort- ser grapple with diffi cult modern relation- SABA, Comfort Zone (self-released, 2014) thing but the grit and grime of Chicago. lessly bounce around the luscious melo- ships and personal, political, and existen- TOUPEE, Leg Toucher (Moniker, 2015) —N R dies she sings. Kaina has all the makings of tial anxieties, they make it sound like a blast. a star, and between her eager experimenta- —J L  Toupee’s Leg Toucher, the four-piece’s tion with musical composition and her cel- last full-length before disbanding, sounds ebration of identity and all that forms it, NO MEN, Dear God, Bring the like it was recorded mid-exorcism. Front 29 she’s refreshingly undefinable. —B Doom (Let’s Pretend, 2016) woman Whitney Allen (now Whitney Fra- B gassi) pivots from sludgy sneers to incoher- TREE, Sunday School ent shrieks, and the mix might as well have (self-released, 2012) 13.5 points MAKO SICA, Essence (La Société 26 Five-way tie, 16 points each been run through a blender set to “puree.” Expéditionnaire, 2012) Despite all this, the chaotic sound that Allen Rapper-producer Tremaine Johnson, aka DISAPPEARS, Lux (Kranky, 2010) crafts with bandmates Nick Hagen, Mark Tree, can spin a symphony out of a single Mako Sica are one of Chicago’s most Fragassi, and Scott Frigo still does exactly broken-sounding sample. To make what he genre-shattering bands, and on their fin- Listening to Lux is like fighting a fever what they want it to do. Swirling goth-rock calls “soul trap,” he also cribs from mod- est album, 2012’s Essence, they feed their dream: the paranoia, the quickened guitar riff s create an ominous backdrop, but ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 33 the horror punk of “Mommy Is a Mummy” ed nine songs with the intent of sprinkling ly obscure—they lay it all out there, albe- ensure you will—they speak to our willing- and “The Spider That Lives in Your Hair” them across a series of split seven-inches. it in their own idiosyncratic way—but they ness to be called. There’s nothing like a live channels Halloween-store camp rather than When that fell through, the trio—guitarist- build mystery all the same, stoking antici- Ono performance, but Spooks is a grand attempting actual terror. —A W vocalist Chris Sutter, bassist Joe Gac, and pation that buzzes and lingers even in the offering, recorded by two bands playing drummer Ryan Wizniak—pieced together spaces between notes and songs. Some- at once in counterpoint. The album is cin- KANYE WEST, Yeezus (Def an album. From the caustic guitar stabs of times Cunningham and Stewart provide ematic in its narrative construction, which Jam/Roc-a-Fella, 2013) “Keep Smoking” to the triumphant explo- answers to the questions they raise, but it’s gives shape to furious noise that sounds the sion that closes “Panopticon,” Meat Wave more fun to listen to the album and arrive at emotional arc of characters voiced by poet- merge the catchiness of Chicago punk your own solutions to their lyrical puzzles. performer Travis, who spits, sasses, and bel- 24 with the austerity of the city’s noise-rock —J R lows powerful, terrible words. Each listen greats, resulting in an album that doesn’t unearths a new story arc, a new deviant JEREMIH, Late Nights: The Mixtape just pay homage to the past but also uses sound, a new foundation beneath its noise, (self-released, 2012) 17.5 points that history to pave a new path forward. like sweeping a dirt floor. “You will never —D A   cover dirt!” —ST

23 GREG WARD, Touch My Beloved’s Thought (Greenleaf, 2016) VARIOUS ARTISTS, Bangs & Works 12 Vol. 1 (Planet Mu, 2010) 18 points 20 Two-way tie, 21 points each ANGEL OLSEN, Half Way Home In the beginning, there was house, which (Bathetic, 2012) 31.5 points borrowed from breakdancing to help form RATBOYS, GN (Topshelf, 2017) juke—and then Chicago gave birth to foot- TASHA, Alone at Last (Father/ work, a dizzyingly fast and weird dance Daughter, 2018) 11 Two-way tie, 34 points each style accompanied by a similarly fast and weird turntablist-approved soundtrack. Ohmme, Parts LALA LALA, The Lamb (Hardly Art, 2018) British electronic musician Mike Paradi- 19 nas gathered 25 cuts by Chicago produc- Lala Lala’s The Lamb is an immersive and ers in 2010 and kicked off the decade with YEESH, Confi rmation Bias (Tiny 16 illustrative experience, combining lay- Bangs & Works Vol. 1 (on his own Planet Engines, 2016) 22 points ered vocals, fearless exploration of varied Mu label), a genre-defi ning compilation of DEHD, Water (Fire Talk, 2019) 25 points sonic territory, and Lillie West’s knack for footwork music that includes innovators RP honest and introspective storytelling. The Boo and DJ Rashad. Vol. 1 helped some of 18 Three-way tie, 23 points each London-born, Chicago-based songwrit- the producers on its roster undertake inter- 15 Two-way tie, 26 points each er showcases her creative growth on this national tours, and in 2011 it begat Bangs & ANGEL BAT DAWID, The Oracle sophomore effort, blending genres and Works Vol. 2. —SC-J (International Anthem, 2019) MICK JENKINS, The Water[s] ranging across the emotional spectrum on MELKBELLY, Nothing Valley (Cinematic Music Group, 2014) the album’s 12 tracks—whether the coax- (Wax Nine, 2017) WHITNEY, Light Upon the Lake ing subtlety of “Scary Movie” or the jarring NEGATIVE SCANNER, Negative (Secretly Canadian, 2016) introduction of “I Get Cut.” Throughout 22 Three-way tie, 19 points each Scanner (Trouble in Mind, 2015) the record, melodies leap out that will stick with you long a er you’ve fi nished listening. AMERICAN FOOTBALL, American 14 —RZ  Football (LP3) (Polyvinyl, 2019) 17 BEN LAMAR GAY, Downtown NONAME, Room 25 TWIN PEAKS, Wild Onion Castles Can Never Block the Sun OHMME, Parts (Joyful (self-released, 2018) 27 points (Grand Jury, 2014) (International Anthem, 2018) Noise, 2018) 24 points PURPLE MOUNTAINS, Purple Mountains (Drag City, 2019) Singers and multi-instrumentalists Sima 13 10 Two-way tie, 37 points each Cunningham and Macie Stewart birthed their debut full-length as Ohmme in 2018. ONO, Spooks (Moniker, 2015) 31 points CHEW, Feeding Frenzy (Iron Lung, 2018) 21 Three-way tie, 20 points each Parts is a moody, avant-garde, psychedelic landslide that plunges you into the depths In 1983 the Reader called Ono “Chicago’s Feeding Frenzy is a relentless assault of MEAT WAVE, The Incessant of some big questions: identity and the best-kept secret.” Here we are, nearly four D-beat hardcore from C.H.E.W.—the pay- (SideOneDummy, 2017) expectations that govern it, the meaning decades later, still blessed more than we off a er a series of small releases brimming MEAT WAVE, Meat Wave (Hawthorne of consumption, and mislaid faith toward deserve. What is this blessing? Fearless with promise. The group—comprising three Street/Let’s Pretend, 2012) the end of a tumultuous decade. The album avant-garde art that demands our surren- Orlando transplants and a front person balances tensions and contortions against der, nothing less. Ono drag us into the dark- who’d never sung in a band before—are as Meat Wave’s self-titled debut was never each other, whether personal or political, est confl icts of American history, but if you brutal as they are seamless. Ben Rudolph, supposed to be an album. The band record- instrumental or vocal. Ohmme aren’t exact- stay with them—and the grooving bass lines Russell Harrison, and Jono Giralt (the 34 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll ®

aforementioned transplants) click together DJ Rashad and his Teklife comrades poured with the intuitive precision of three players decades of dance music into Double Cup. who know and understand one another’s Its soaring vocal samples and pulsing kicks inner workings. Doris Jeane’s raspy, mock- convey every emotion it’s possible to feel ing growl grabs listeners by the throat in while your sweat cools in the 4 AM air: confrontation and anguish. —T C  pride, lust, anxiety, fear, ecstasy, bravado, and (by the time it concludes with “I’m Too NNAMDI, Drool (Sooper, Hi”) utter intoxication. The album is haunt- Father/Daughter, 2017) ed by the viscous trinity of highs alluded to in “Drank, Kush, Barz”—ironic companions to the record’s high-speed beats. Though Rashad’s time with us was cut short, his leg- acy will live on through a lifetime of tracks, a generation of inspired producers, and SPECIAL GUEST NEAL FRANCIS the footwork masterpiece Double Cup. —J R  This Friday! January 31 • Park West

9

CHANCE THE RAPPER, Coloring Book (self-released, 2016) 40 points 8 4 JAMILA WOODS, Heavn (Jagjaguwar/ Closed Sessions, 2016) 51 points KANYE WEST, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Def Jam/ Roc-a-Fella, 2010) 73 points 7 JAMILA WOODS, Legacy! 3 Legacy! (Jagjaguwar/Closed Sessions, 2019) 58.5 points CHANCE THE RAPPER, Acid Rap (self-released, 2013) 85 points 6 2 CHIEF KEEF, Finally Rich (Interscope/ Glory Boyz Entertainment, 2012) 65.5 NONAME, Telefone points (self-released, 2016) 98 points Saturday, February 22 Friday, April 10 • Park West 1 Vic Theatre On Sale T his Friday at 10am! 5 SABA, Care for Me BUY v TICKETS DJ RASHAD, Double Cup (self-released, 2018) 101 points AT (Hyperdub, 2013) 71.5 points ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 35 Recommended and notable shows and critics’ insights for the week of January 30 MUSIC b ALLAGESF THURSDAY30 PICK OF THE WEEK The Anniversary See Pick of the Week at le . Model Stranger and Wet Tropics open. 8:30 PM, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln, $29, $25 Cult emo darlings the Anniversary celebrate 20 years in advance. 18+ since their sudden rise and fall Lea Bertucci Saariselka headlines; Lea Bertucci and Brokeback Duo open. 9:30 PM, Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, $12, $10 in advance. 21+

Sometimes Lea Bertucci treats architecture as an extension of her instruments. For the 2019 album Resonant Field (NNA Tapes), the compos- er, sound designer, and instrumentalist brought her alto saxophone into the confines of the Marine A Grain Elevator in Silo City, a collec- tion of three such elevators in Buff alo, New York. The structure’s size—it’s 13 feet wide and 90 feet high—resulted in a 12-second natural delay that let Bertucci play with or against her own impro- visations. In postproduction, she layered her reeds’ long tones, twisting trills, and decaying echoes over field recordings and other musi- cians to vertiginous, psychedelic eff ect. For last year’s Phase Eclipse (Astral Sprits), she used a more immediate approach, putting her fingers directly on rolling tape in order to alter the pitch and progress of Amirtha Kidambi’s voice. On her current tour, Bertucci intends to use wood- winds, tapes, and electronics to draw silo-size sonic experiences out of the smaller spaces she’s playing. This concert, part of the Hideout’s Res- onance Series of experimental music, also fea- tures a rare duo performance by Brokeback, with Areif Sless-Kitain’s percussion accompany- ing the melodic six-string electric bass of band- leader Douglas McCombs. Headlining the show is Saariselka, a duo of singer-keyboardist Mari- elle Jakobson (ex-Date Palms) and pedal steel guitarist Chuck Johnson. —B M

ZACHBAUMAN Gerrit Hatcher group Jake Wark headlines. 9 PM, Elastic, 3429 W. Diversey, second fl oor, $10. b

Chicago has a rich tenor sax tradition—Gene TA   M S   WT  Ammons, Johnny Griffin, Von Freeman, Fred Thu /, : PM, Lincoln Hall,  N. Lincoln, $, $ in advance, + Anderson, and so on. With tradition comes pre- scription; Chicago tenors, to fi t the mold, need to be able to summon a broad tone, a bluesy vibe, and a steady stream of improvisational INJANUARY as the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate and the Get Tom Petty twang and slightly more subdued vocals. Internal confl icts ideas. Local saxophonist Gerrit Hatcher has no trouble living up to those demands. The naked Up Kids led emo’s second wave, a group of five young adults from broke up the Anniversary in 2004; in 2016, minus Roelofs, they reunit- sound of his horn, documented on three solo Lawrence, Kansas, calling themselves the Anniversary released a ed for a short tour. Now those members are back to perform a handful albums, ranges from ear-drilling high notes to striking debut. Built around the dueling guitars and vocals of Josh of two-set shows around the midwest, with their fi rst sets consisting door-blocking low end. On last year’s Burnt Pan Rolling Boil (Kettle Hole), Hatcher builds up Berwanger and Justin Roelofs and backed by the infectious Moog of Breakdown start to fi nish and the second focusing on its follow-up, motifs incrementally, getting plenty of mileage lines and high vocal harmonies of Adrianne Verhoeven, Designing a Her Majesty (Vagrant, 2002). The Anniversary may not have experi- from one notion before moving to the next. But Nervous Breakdown (Vagrant) earned the quintet a cult following. enced an American Football-level resurgence, but emo afi cionados on the brand-new The Good Instinct of the Morn- ing (also on Kettle Hole), his fi rst eff ort as a band- Widely considered one of the best emo albums of the era, the LP was have bestowed a similar posthumous respect on their first album. leader, Hatcher also shows an affi nity for those also their last in that style—the Anniversary’s second and fi nal record Considering the band’s history, this might be the last time to hear its second-wave free jazz saxophonists who record- detoured into classic rock and indie psychedelia, with Moog replaced songs (and them) live. —SM ed for ESP-Disk; the album includes “Man Alone,” which originally appeared on Charles Tyler’s 1967 by organ and piano and its aggressive ri s and angsty roars traded for LP for the storied avant-garde label. On that 36 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll Find more music listings at chicagoreader.com/soundboard. MUSIC

Loading up a Meth. song is a prelude to being vis- ballooned to around 200 members before dissolv- cerally blasted; the local six-piece, which debuted ing in 2003. Many of those connected to the crew in 2017 with The Children Are Watching, operate at have gone on to leave their marks on the cultural full boil 100 percent of the time as they blend power landscape here and around the country—includ- noise, metal, mathcore, hardcore, and straight-up ing Pugs, Psalm One, Off whyte, and Open Mike screaming. In 2018, founder Seb Alvarez (Cadence Eagle, all of whom provided archival material for Fox, Tweak) told the blog Open Mind Saturated November’s Nacrobats compilation, A in the Square. Brain that he’s always wanted to call a project Meth. (It’s packaged with the book A Love Supreme, a because of the word’s dark, uncontrolled impli- must-have history of the group’s journey.) For this cations. His other projects also suggest a level of Nacrobats reunion show, Pugs recruited a crowd of hyperactivity—and on some, such as Liberal Scum’s former members, among them Psalm One, Thaione recorded-in-90-minutes antifascist work White Amer- Davis, Cos G, Ri Napalm, Off whyte, Kao Ra Zen, ikkka, he’s even more direct. Meth. released their and the groups Centric I.E. and 1993 (aka Roger second full-length, Mother of Red Light (Prosthetic), Rodriguez and Brian Nevado, co-owners of Loop in August, and it’s a masterpiece of complex aggres- streetwear shop Jugrnaut). They’ll perform solo and sion that never quite numbs out the listener even as collaborative songs in a round-robin-style set, and it overloads the senses. —M K  Pugs will also screen a preview of a forthcoming Nacrobats documentary. Given how many of the people who joined the crew in their youth are still Nacrobats 9 PM, Emporium Wicker Park, 1366 involved in the city’s culture, this reunion would N. Milwaukee. 21+ F make a great hook for the fi rst chapter of the next Nacrobats book. —LG  Nacrobats PUGSATOMZ Hyperprolifi c rapper and Culture Power45 label co-owner Marcellous “Infi nito 2017” Lovelace and Chicago hip-hop scene player Sterling “Pugs Atomz” track, the horn-heavy lineup of Hatcher’s band— recall Tyler’s associate Albert Ayler. —B M Price are both former members of the Nacrobats FRIDAY31 which includes cornetist Ben LaMar Gay, tenor sax- crew, and when Lovelace asked Pugs last year ophonist Keefe Jackson, bassist Katie Ernst, and about releasing a vinyl compilation of old Nacrobats Hardy Sean Stemaly opens. 8:45 PM, Joe’s Bar, drummer Julian Kirshner—and the rippling, high- Meth. Greet Death and Lume open. 8:30 PM, tracks, it kicked off a wave of celebrations that will 940 W. Weed, sold out. 21+ energy improvisations they spin out of the tune’s Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $12, $10 in continue through 2020. Pugs founded Nacrobats as gospel-tinged theme and Hatcher’s own melodies advance. 21+ a Kenwood Academy student in 1993, and the group Today’s biggest pop-country stars take lyrical J

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2.29 DREW EMMITT & VINCE HERMAN DON’T MISS... 2.12 Patrizio Buanne UPCOMING SHOWS OF LEFTOVER SALMON 2.7-8 KINDRED THE FAMILY SOUL 3.1 CORKY SIEGEL’S CHAMBER BLUES 2.1 Elle Varner 2.13-15 10,000 Maniacs FEAT. ERNIE WATTS AND GORAN IVANOVIC WITH J. BROWN 2.16 CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC 2.16 Adam Weiner of BRUNCH 3.2 MARQUIS HILL Mac Powell & the MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC BENEFIT 2.2 Low Cut Connie 2.21 KEITH WASHINGTON Family Reunion 3.3 CYRILLE AIMEE THIRD DAY FRONTMAN 2.22 MYSTICK KREWE OF LAFF 2.18 Miki Howard FEAT. DONNA ALLEN MARDI GRAS BASH FEAT. 3.4 THE IDES OF MARCH House of Bodhi WITH LOLA BONERAMA & BIG SHOULDERS FEAT. JIM PETERIK 2.4 2.19 The Four C Notes BRASS BAND WRIGHT FEAT. J. IVY & SAM TRUMP FRANKIE VALLI TRIBUTE 3.5+6 COWBOY JUNKIES 2.23-24 ANDREA GIBSON Chi-Town Sings: 3.8 WE BANJO 3 2.10 Ryan Montbleau RAUL MIDÓN AND LIONEL LOUEKE BRITISH INVASION 2.20 2.26 3.9 JACK BROADBENT 2.27 FREDDY JONES BAND 2.11 Miki Howard MIKI SINGS BILLIE 2.25 Fatoumata Diawara WITH BRETT WISCONS 3.10 ANA POPOVIC feb feb feb feb 5 6 9 17

Storm Large Robert Randolph & The Manhattan Donavon Frankenreiter of pink martini the Family Band Transfer with Christina Holmes ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 37 Find more music listings at MUSIC chicagoreader.com/soundboard.

continued from 37 complex vision and deep lyrics benefi t from the large tropes from 80s and 90s hits—drinking cold beer, canvas of a full-length record. That said, he cooks driving trucks, praying, partying, feeling heartbreak— on EPs too. At the top of January, he dropped The and bulk them up with hip-hop beats, hyperslick pro- Circus (Free Nation/Cinematic Music Group), which duction, and catchy hooks that sound engineered in despite running less than 20 minutes provides him a lab. Twenty-nine-year-old Mississippi native Hardy with plenty of time for clever verses. Atop the sleepy (aka Michael Hardy) began his career as one of synths of “Diff erent Scales,” Jenkins surveys hip-hop’s Nashville’s song scientists; he was a cowriter for complicated landscape, framing his observations bro-band duo Florida Georgia Line, then worked on with a reference to Chief Keef’s underground staple smash singles by the likes of Blake Shelton and Dallas “Faneto”: “Sosa been call this shit here the zoo,” Smith. But his real moment in the sun came with he raps with levelheaded clarity and an unruffl ed last year’s gloriously stupid earworm “Rednecker,” a fl ow. “Multiple elephants in the room, ain’t nothing song of his own where he boasted about the size of new / Poachers done settled in, they using seda- his hometown (small) and the mounted bass on his tives, too.” Investing in his cra and community has Saint Icky wall (big) over drum machines, organs, and twangy taken Jenkins far, and will no doubt carry him further. ZACHJAROSZ yet spaced-out guitars. At the end of last year, —LG Hardy released Hixtape Vol. 1, a ten-song, collabora- tion-heavy collection that includes cameos by Keith Urban, Morgan Wallen, and Zakk Wylde. Whether Saint Icky Part of the Badluck Records Coat or not you’re into songs about hunting deer and Drive. Nightfreak, Deep Crush, Chuck Trash, drinking beer for breakfast, you have to admit that Rapscallion, and Badluck DJs open. 10 PM, direct Hardy’s voice is the loudest one calling across coun- message @badluck_records on Instagram for try music’s glitzy new frontier. —L C  venue address, admission is a donation of $10 or a winter coat. b

Mick Jenkins Earthgang headlines. 10 PM, Local label Badluck Records is celebrating its fi rst House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, sold out. 17+ birthday with a showcase at a Logan Square DIY venue. Badluck, whose garish yet artful sound takes With his 2014 breakout release, The Water[s], Warped Tour to grad school, has invited the bands Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins demonstrated that his Nightfreak, Rapscallion, and Deep Crush to share

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38 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll Est.Est.1954 1954 Celebrating over 6165 years of service service to Chicago! MUSIC 1800 W. DIVISION (773) 486-9862  N LINCOLN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG  .. Come enjoy one of Chicago’s finest beer gardens! JUST ADDED ON SALE THIS FRIDAY!  Every Shiny Thing: A Tribute to Joni FEBRUARYSEPTEMBERJAJANUARYDECEMBERNUARY 11...... 202330 23 12 ...... MIKEDA THEDJFLABBYVID SKID QUINNRUT FLABBY FELTEN HOFFMANLICIOUS HOFFMAN SHOW SHOW 8PM 8PM SEPTEMBERJA JANUARYDECEMBERNUARY 12...... 2131 13 .....WAGNER LADY ALISONSTRAY STARDUST AMERICAN&BOLTS MORSEGROSS DRAFT Mitchell with Andrea Bunch FEBRUARYSEPTEMBERJAJANUARYFEBRUARY NUARY 13...... 2224 241 .....THE ..... DJAMERICANJEFFDADY BLOTTSKIRKNAMOS AND DJRO SKID MARIO OMTROUBADOUR LICIOUS MEN NIGHT  The Weight Band JANUARY DECEMBER 25 14 SCOTTYMIKEJOE LANASA FELTEN’S “BAD & BOY” BIRTHDAYSOMEBODY’S BRADBURY SHOW SINS SEPTEMBERJAFEBRUARYNUARY 14...... 23 2 ....WHOLESOMERADIO WELCOMEWHITEWOLFSONICPRINCESSTONY TO DO THE DJRO NIGHTSARIOBIG GAME GROUP PARTY!  Happy Traum MURPHYANDSKIPPIN’ JON THOMPSON ROCKS MCDONALD 9:30PM JANUARYFEBRUARY 26 3 WHOLESOMERADIOPROSPECTMOJO 49 FOUR 9PM DJ NIGHT  Mohsen Namjoo JAFEBRUARY NUARY 17...... 5 MIKE MORSEFOSTER FELTENJA &MIE& WAGNERHIGGINSWAGNER WITH & FRIENDS FRIENDS 8PM DECEMBER 15 VIVEK TONY DOPAUL ROSARIO GROUP JAFEBRUARYNUARY 18...... 6 THE SMILIN’ RON MIKEAND BOBBY RACHEL FEL TOANDN SHOW THE CLEMTONES FOR TICKETS, VISIT OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG FEBRUARYFEBRUARYJANUARYDECEMBER 27 25 716 .....WHOLESOMERADIO MODESTRCPROSPECT BIG BAND JOHNSON FOUR 7PM 9PM DJ NIGHT SEPTEMBERJAJANUARYNUARY 19...... 2429 .....RC LEAGUE BIG BAND SITU OF 7PMAT ERICSION DAVID FEBRUARYDECEMBER 818 THEMORSE LOCKOUTSMAXLIELLIAM & WAGNER 6PM ANNA FEBRUARYFEBRUARY 269 .....RCBIRDGANGS HEISENBERGPHILTHOMAS BIGO’REILLY 9:30PMABA MATECKIND UNCERTAINTY 7PM BAND PLAYERS 7PM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY  :PM JAFEBRUARY DECEMBERNUARY 20...... 1019 TITTY RCCHRISDANNY CITTYBIG FIRSTQUIGLEY DRAHERBANDWA 7PMRD PROBLEMS JAJANUARY DECEMBERNUARY 21...... 30 20 DUDE DJPROSPECTOBLIQUE SKID SAMETO LICIOUSNY STRATEGIES FOUR DO RO 9:30PMSARIO GROUP FEBRUARYJANUARYFEBRUARY 31 2811 .....PETER ALISONFLABBY GROSSHOFFMAN CASANOVA SHOWQUARTET 8PM 8PM SEPTEMBERJAFEBRUARY NUARY 22...... 26 12 .....PETER ELIZABETH’SBAD CASANOVAFORUM RC BIG CRAZY QUARTETBAND 7PMLITTLE THING FEBRUARY 1 AMERICANNO HERO TROUBADOUR NIGHT Chicago Children's MARCHSEPTEMBERJA NUARY 1...... SMILIN’ 24...... 27 .....DORIANMIKEFEATURING TAFELTEN’S PETERJ BO HOMEBOYBEAUTIFUL CASONOBBY BIRTHDAY ANDVA THEQUARTET SHOW CLEMTONES 9PM SEPTEMBERFEBRUARYDECEMBER 28 21321 ..... TO WELCOMEFLABBYZ28URS HOFFMAN TO THE BIGSHOW GAME 8PM PARTY! JAFEBRUARYDECEMBERNUARY 25...... 1522 RICHWHOLESOMERADIO EXPERIENCE THE WICK BIRTHDAY DJ NIGHT BASH Choir • Gather Ye MARCHFEBRUARY 2...... ICE 163 BULLY TONYPROSPECT PULPITBO DOX ROSARIO AND FOUR BIG 9PM GROUP HOUSE JAFEBRUARYDECEMBERNUARY 26...... 523 MORSERC BIG THE BAND& WAGNER HEPKATS 7PM WITH FRIENDS 8PM SEPTEMBERFEBRUARY 29 17 .....SOMEBODY’S PROSPECTRICK SHANDLINGSKIPPIN’ SINS FOURRO 9PMDUOCK 9:30PM MARCHFEBRUARY 3...... CHIDITAROD 196 FEATURING MORSESMILIN’ BOBBY& JOE WAGNER LANASA ANDAND WITH THETARRINGTON CLEMTONESFRIENDS 8PM 10PM Round FEBRUARYDECEMBER 728 MODESTRICKYD BLUES JOHNSON POWER SEPTEMBERJAFEBRUARYNUARY 27...... 30 21 .....OFF THE THE LAY-DOWN VINE THE 4:30PM STRAY RAMBLERSBOLTS MARCHJAFEBRUARYJANUARYNUARY 7...... 28...... 1 228 FIRSTTHESMILIN’JAMIE LOCKOUTS WHOLESOMERADIOWARD WABOBBYGNER PROBLEMS AND & THE FRIENDS CLEMTONES DJ NIGHT 3PM FEBRUARYJANUARY 2 923 NUCLEAR HEISENBERGWHOLESOMERADIOAMERICAN JAZZ QUARKTETTROUBADOUR UNCERTAINTY DJ 7:30PM NIGHT NIGHT PLAYERS 7PM EVERY TUESDAY (EXCEPT 2ND) AT 8PM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY  PM OPEN EVERYMIC ON TUESD TUESDAYAY (EXCEPT EVENINGS 2ND) (EXCEPTAT 8PM 2ND) OPEN MIC HOSTED BY JIMIJON AMERICA iLe

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY  PM John Doe, Kristin Hersh, and Grant-Lee Phillips present The Exile Follies

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY  PM Seamus Egan (of Solas) In Szold Hall

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY  PM Cheryl Wheeler In Szold Hall

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY  PM Sierra Hull with special guest Jodee Lewis

SUNDAY, MARCH  PM

JigJam Irish Bluegrass • In Szold Hall

FRIDAY, MARCH  PM Hayes Carll with special guest Allison Moorer

SUNDAY, MARCH   & PM Ladysmith Black Mambazo

the bill with Badluck rappers Chuck Trash and Saint ACROSS THE STREET IN SZOLD HALL Icky. Icky has hit his stride since joining the Bad- TUESDAY4   N LINCOLN AVENUE, CHICAGO IL luck roster, releasing Saintiva Mixtape in July and   Global Dance Party: Heavy Metal for Meditation, Vol. 1 in October. The Sessa Corolla and Seres de Luz. 8 PM, Beat Carpacho y su Super Combo latter project is a hesher-friendly burst of hip-hop Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, $13. 17+ angst fi ltered through pop-punk melodies that sets WORLD MUSIC WEDNESDAY SERIES a high bar for the next volume. Icky and Trash both São Paulo singer-songwriter and guitarist Sessa FREE WEEKLY CONCERTS, LINCOLN SQUARE plan to debut new songs at this show, so their label’s called his 2019 debut Grandeza (Boiled), which  Zhou Family Band second year is already looking bright. And Badluck means “greatness” in Portuguese. The record lives is giving back to its hometown too: the venue will up to its title; Sessa’s stripped-down, minimalist accept donations of winter coats in exchange for bossa nova is both dreamy and raw. His beguiling OLDTOWNSCHOOL.ORG entry. —J R combination of amateurishness and suaveness, J ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 39 Find more music listings at 3730 N. CLARK ST METROCHICAGO.COM MUSIC chicagoreader.com/soundboard. @ METROCHICAGO

continued from 39 ence. Even among this wave of fast-breaking acts, OBSCURE WELCOMES MAGIC CITY as well as the juxtaposition of Spanish guitars with 22-year-old Cordae Dunston—aka YBN Cordae—has ROBERT HOOD HIPPIES female backing vocals and Afro-Brazilian percussion, cut a distinctive path. While growing up in Prince LOWKI / CINNA TIM ATLAS recalls Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes’s great George’s County, Maryland, in the mid-2010s, Cor- FRI JAN 24 FRI JAN 31 1966 Os Afro Sambas. “Flor do Real” could almost dae released a few mixtapes as Entendre, which be an outtake from that record, if not for its trippy, he’d later call “the worst rap name in history.” He sexy lyrics: “To live in the guts of those who make us enrolled at Towson University in 2015, got a job at a horny / It’s good / Fucking is the pleasure of sound,” nearby TGI Friday’s, and numbed himself on Xanax— METRO PRESENTS Sessa and his backing vocalists sing (in Portuguese) until three years later, when he dropped out, quit JACQUES METRO PRESENTS with detached innocence. On “Orgia,” Sessa has the restaurant, and embraced some rappers from HARU NEMURI a back-and-forth with a woman, their voices echo- the YBN collective whom he’d befriended through GREENE AT SLEEPING VILLAGE ing and entwining over isolated, supple bass. Other social media. In 2018 he re-emerged as YBN Cor- AT SLEEPING VILLAGE WED MAR 25 SAT MAR 14 songs get a little noisier: “Tanto” starts as quiet folk dae, released remixes of tracks by Eminem and J. and about halfway through turns into the sort of Cole, and made his live debut at popular Miami hip- spiky, dissonant tropicália practiced by Brazilian con- hop festival Rolling Loud, appearing during a set by temporaries such as Negro Leo. Sessa’s mysterious, his crew’s fi gurehead, YBN Nahmir. Since then, he’s concupiscent vision is fl amboyant yet laid-back; he become the collective’s star: his debut full-length, lets you know he can seduce you without even try- July’s The Lost Boy (Atlantic/YBN), peaked at num- ing. —N B ber nine on the Billboard 200 and earned two Grammy nominations, including Best Rap Album. Cordae’s clean, understated rapping elevates his intelligent writing and down-to-earth charm, giving WEDNESDAY5 him a broad appeal that not even milquetoast main- stream gatekeepers can resist. He’s an adaptable YBN Cordae Guests had not been announced at vocalist, and on The Lost Boy he jumps between sty- press time. 6:30 PM, Avondale Music Hall, 3336 N. listically scattered instrumentals so nonchalantly it’s Milwaukee, $32. b like he doesn’t even notice the differences; when the vitriolic beat on “Broke as Fuck” transitions Since hip-hop seized control of pop music, art- into a sumptuous soul melody, he switches gears as ists such as Juice Wrld, Lil Nas X, and Lil Tecca smoothly and flawlessly as somebody who’s been have rocketed to fame with little industry experi- doing it since birth. —L Gv

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40 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll CHICAGO SHOWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IN THE WEEKS TO COME

b ALL AGES F EARLY WARNINGS WOLF BY KEITH HERZIK Sleeping Village Club, on sale Fri 1/31, Never miss GI-dle 5/5, 8 PM, House of 10 AM, 17+ a show again. Blues, on sale Fri 1/31, 3 North by North, Wilde, God PM b Awful Small Aff airs 2/17, Sign up for the Glitter Picks fund-raiser for 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle F newsletter at Planned Parenthood featur- Nothing Nowhere, Danger chicagoreader. GOSSIP ing Natalie Grace Alford, Incorporated, Ro Ransom, Bad Bad Meow, Bubbles Bogues 5/15, 7 PM, House of com/early Brown, Boys V.S. Girls, Chad Blues b WOLF the Bird, DJ Doom Dyke and One Love for Teri Bristol guests from No Men, and fund-raiser featuring Blu Gettoblaser, Ares, Intermod- A furry ear to the ground of more 2/6, 9:15 PM, Empty 9, Boy Alberto, Czboogie, al 2/7, 10 PM, Spy Bar Bottle Georgie Porgie, DJ Greg Vagabon, Angelica Garcia the local music scene Great Grandpa, Joey Neb- Haus, DJ Heather, Jeff 4/15, 8 PM, Maurer Hall, Old ulous, Miloe 4/11, 7 PM, Pazen, Jevon Jackson, Town School of Folk Music b YOU’RENOTALONE if climate change Subterranean b Michael Serafi ni, Paul John- WGCI’s Big Jam 2: Ballers & Sammy Hagar & the Circle, son, Sandy Alvarado, and Rappers Edition featuring makes you feel like you’re in a sci-fi dys- Whitesnake, Night Ranger more 3/28, 10 PM, Smart Bar Dababy, Lil Baby, Iman topia. Chicago public artists Luftwerk, 8/14, 7 PM, Hollywood Casino Oreofest with DJ Oreo and Shumpert, Andre Drummond on the other hand, were inspired by a Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, on more 2/21, 8 PM, Metro, 18+ 2/15, 9 PM, Credit Union 1 trillion-ton iceberg the size of Maryland sale Fri 1/31, 10 AM b Jay O’Rourke Band, Spies Arena at UIC, 18+ Ernie Hendrickson & the Roll Who Surf 2/14, 7 PM, Reg- Windy City Smokeout featur- that split from Antarctica in 2017, and in On Band 3/6, 9 PM, Hideout gies’ Music Joint ing Darius Rucker, Dierks response they created the multimedia Hip Abduction 4/11, 8:30 PM, Palaye Royale, Hunna, Arrest- Bentley, Jon Pardi, Morgan project Requiem: A White Wanderer. It Martyrs’, on sale Fri 1/31, ed Youth 5/3, 6:30 PM, House Evans, Riley Green, Cody includes sculptures that resemble shards 10 AM of Blues, on sale Fri 1/31, Johnson, Ryan Hurd, Cody Hot Snakes 2/23, 9:30 PM, 10 AM b Canada & the Departed, of ice, as well as a sound installation and Empty Bottle Peach Pit, Haley Blais 4/30, Randy Rogers Band, Lainey a collaborative piece for orchestra and Iamnotshane 4/5, 6:30 PM, 9 PM, Bottom Lounge, 17+ Wilson, Tyler Booth, Ross voice, the latter created with composer Chop Shop b Phosphorescent 5/7, 7:30 PM, Ellis, Angie K, Walker Coun- and former Chicagoan Katherine Young. Iguanas 6/19, 8:30 PM, Fitz- Park West, on sale Fri 1/31, ty, and more 7/10, 2 PM; 7/11- Gerald’s, Berwyn, on sale Fri 10 AM b 7/12, noon, United Center b Both audio components are based on seis- 1/31, 11 AM Pokey LaFarge 6/4, 8:30 PM, mic recordings of the berg’s slow disinte- Ivy Queen 3/29, 8 PM, House Thalia Hall, 17+ gration, and on how that might sound to of Blues, on sale Fri 1/31, Alfonso Ponticelli 3/13, 8 PM, UPDATED sea animals. The installation will use the 10 AM, 17+ SPACE, Evanston b Jade Novah 4/9, 8 PM, Bottom Porches, Sassy 009 4/16, 8 Astrid S, Josie Dunne 4/24, 22-channel sound system at Jay Pritzker Chaz Cardigan ALEXANDER KALYK Lounge, 17+ PM, Thalia Hall, 17+ 8 PM, Bottom Lounge, can- Pavilion, where it runs Friday, January 31 , James Taylor & his All Star The Read podcast featuring celed; refunds available at till Sunday, February 2 , from 11 AM to 6 PM Band, Jackson Browne 6/10, Kid Fury & Crissle 5/9, 8 PM, point of purchase b each day. All weekend, guided “sound Deeper, Tenci 4/2, 8:30 PM, 7:30 PM, United Center, on the Vic, on sale Fri 1/31, Dadju, LP Offi shal 2/12, 7 NEW Lincoln Hall, 18+ sale Fri 2/7, 10 AM b 11 AM, 18+ PM, Concord Music Hall, walks” will help visitors appreciate the Disturbed, Staind, Bad Wolves J.I., Apollo Rai 2/6, 7 PM, Reg- Reigning Sound 3/3, 9 PM, canceled; contact point of installation, and on Saturday the Pritzker Arcade 88, Chance & the 8/20, 7 PM, Hollywood Casi- gies’ Rock Club b Sleeping Village purchase for refund informa- stage hosts concerts of Young’s collabora- Arrow, Jonfi n, Boundary no Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, Kechi, Kahiem Rivera, Manny Reuben & the Dark, Faux Prix tion b tive piece at 5 PM and 7 PM (the latter fol- Waters 2/6, 8 PM, Burlington on sale Fri 1/31, 10 AM b 10x, DJ Cash Era 2/12, 2/18, 8 PM, Schubas, 18+ Soulwax 3/3, 8 PM, Metro, Avail, Dillinger Four 3/12, 7 Dra Week, Bambiraptor, 9:15 PM, Empty Bottle DJ Shadow 5/14, 8 PM, Park show postponed; contact lowed by a panel discussion). PM, Concord Music Hall, on Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Krewella 5/16, 9 PM, Concord West, 18+ point of purchase for refund Last year local producers Azarias, DJ sale Fri 1/31, noon Club, Kachi the Band 2/7, Music Hall, on sale Fri 1/31, Soul Sisters featuring information, 18+ Skoli, and Loony Is Normal launched the Bayside, Senses Fail, Haw- 7 PM, Lincoln Hall 10 AM, 18+ Untamed Shrews with Laura series Kinky Yeti, joining the likes of Open thorne Heights, Can’t Swim Drag Prom featuring Auntie La Oreja De Van Gogh 6/8, Doherty, Maryanne Johnson, 5/30, 7 PM, Concord Music Heroine, Hinkypunk, Abhi- 8 PM, House of Blues, on sale Cristina Mercader Blue UPCOMING Beats and Push Beats on the city’s beat Hall, 17+ jeet, Tenderoni, Wanda Fri 1/31, 10 AM, 17+ Band, John Mead’s Rock scene —aka its arty instrumental hip-hop Mwata Bowden’s One Foot Screw, and Live Band Kara- Lady Lamb 3/17, 8 PM, City & Soul Revue Ensemble, Sam Bush 2/7, 8 PM, Maurer community. Kinky Yeti stands out among In-One Foot Out Ensemble oke 2/15, 7 PM, Thalia Hall, 17+ Winery b Anne-Marie Akin, Donna Hall, Old Town School of Folk local events partly because it books rap- 2/7, 8:30 PM, Constellation, Eve 6, Alien Ant Farm 5/24, Love & Basketball featuring Herula, Jackie Jasperson Music b 18+ 8 PM, Bottom Lounge, 17+ DJ Chubb E. Swagg, Joe Kol- & John Erickson, and more Com Truise (DJ set), Jeremiah pers and singers, not just producers. On Jack Broadbent, Benjamin Family Crest, Beth Bombara lege 2/16, 10 PM, Chop Shop 2/15, 8 PM, Szold Hall, Old Meece, Abstract Science DJs Saturday, February 1, Kinky Yeti throws J a ff e 3/9, 8 PM, City Winery 2/12, 9 PM, Schubas, 18+ Lowerlipdrip, Griff en, Malci, Town School of Folk Music b 2/13, 10 PM, Smart Bar itself a fi rst-anniversary party at Bourbon b Faux Furrs, Daydream Review, RXM Reality 2/28, 9 PM, Steely Dan, Steve Winwood Jacquees, Jacob Latimore, on Division; the three cofounders will BTS 6/5-6/6, 7:30 PM, Soldier Flora, Breether 2/19, 8 PM, Subterranean, 17+ 6/26, 7:30 PM, Hollywood FYB, Bluff City 2/9, 7 PM, Field, on sale Wed 2/5, Subterranean, 17+ Lucii 2/21, 9 PM, Chop Shop, Casino Amphitheatre, Tinley House of Blues b perform, along with rappers Sudo Black, 3 PM b FitzGerald’s 39th annual 18+ Park b KCL, Chris Siebold/Tim Seiss- CMoneyWave, Kilt Karter , Vantablac Sol, Chaz Cardigan 4/6, 7:30 PM, St. Patrick’s Day Festival Mägo de Oz, Liran’ Roll 3/17, Stereolab 5/10, 7:30 PM, the er/Jonathan Marks 2/8, 7 PM, Martell DB, and Nabuddah. Beat Kitchen b featuring Dooley Brothers, 8 PM, House of Blues, on sale Vic, 18+ Reggies’ Music Joint Rogers Park record and stereo shop Cheekface, Noiseland, Ferret Fitz & the Celts, Belvederes, Fri 1/31, 10 AM, 17+ Sunk Heaven (Sediment Club) Kembe X, Alex Wiley 2/9, Bueller 2/13, 8 PM, Schubas, Cannonball, Shannon Rovers, Mako Sica, Traysh, Talsounds 3/3, 9:30 PM, Hideout 7 PM, Schubas b Audio Archaeology (1324 W. Devon) is 18+ and more 3/14, 1 PM, FitzGer- 2/20, 9 PM, Sleeping Village Mayo Thompson 3/25, Paranoyds, Spendtime Palace closing for good—Saturday, February 1, is Combo Chimbita 3/12, ald’s, Berwyn, on sale Fri 1/31, Stephen Malkmus with Qais 8:30 PM, Constellation, 18+ 2/7, 9:30 PM, Hideout its last day. On Sunday, the store began 9:30 PM, Hideout, on sale Fri 11 AM b Essar & the Magik Carpet Smiley Tillmon Band featuring Rusko 2/7, 9 PM, Concord selling its inventory at a deep discount, 1/31, 10 AM Flamenco Quartet Project 3/9, 4/2, 8:30 PM, Thalia Hall, 17+ Kate Moss 3/25, 8 PM, Fitz- Music Hall, 18+ Chris Cresswell 3/23, 6 PM, 7:30 PM, SPACE, Evanston b Stephen Marley 4/3, 8 PM, Gerald’s, Berwyn, on sale Fri J. Roddy Walston & Palm with new records between 30 and 50 per- Cobra Lounge b Roberto Fonseca 3/8, 7 PM, SPACE, Evanston b 1/31, 11 AM Palm, Parker Gispert 2/6, cent off . Owner John Arnsdorff couldn’t Rodney Crowell 3/28, 8 PM, Armitage Concert Hall, Old Dave Matthews Band 6/26- Tokimonsta 5/9, 9 PM, Metro, 8 PM, SPACE, Evanston b be reached for comment by press time. City Winery b Town School of Folk Music b 6/27, 7:30 PM, Huntington 18+ Waltzer, Andrew Sa, Space —JRNLG Cryptic Wisdom, Illvibe, Fratellis 6/13, 8 PM, Metro, 18+ Bank Pavilion, on sale Fri 2/21, Tommy Cash 4/1, 7:30 PM, Gators 2/7, 9:30 PM, Sleeping Moses 3/11, 6:30 PM, Subter- Frights 4/4, 7:30 PM, Bottom 10 AM b Lincoln Hall b Village ranean b Lounge b Napalm Death, Aborted, Tweens 4/19, 8:30 PM, Hideout, Young Xav, Johleee, Kenny- Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or e-mail Leo Dan 3/18, 8 PM, Thalia Gentle Heat, Wombo, Sad Tombs, Wvrm, Inner Decay on sale Fri 1/31, 10 AM fl owers 2/8, 8 PM, Reggies’ [email protected]. Hall, 17+ Baxter, Sunblood 3/11, 9 PM, 4/24, 6 PM, Reggies’ Rock Undercover presents Sinden, Rock Club, 18+ ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 41 Less scrolling.

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Anyone can play! Find your new class at oldtownschool.org

42 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll OPINION OPINION

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SAVAGE LOVE Stranger things A threesome-loving boyfriend respects some guy more than boundaries. hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh By DS hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

: I’m a 33-year-old dom back on, go complete- fortable during a threesome, woman in a relationship ly soft again. Even when I how do I politely call it off? I with a 43-year-old man. My sucked the guy’s dick: noth- don’t want to embarrass any- boyfriend’s fantasy is to have ing. So my boyfriend, who one, but this went on for two a threesome with another was observing and jerking hours and the guy never got man. He enjoys watching me off, suggested we forget the it up. How do I terminate a have sex with other men and condoms in the hopes this threesome without sounding then intermittently fucking guy could stay hard. I said no like a bitch? —T  me. But he mostly likes to and restated my boundary. ODUM watch me get fucked. For The guy still couldn’t get it P a long time, my boyfriend up, hopped out of bed, and matches would send nudes or videos started getting dressed. a: To politely call off a of him fucking me to men My boyfriend offered to let threesome, TODUMP, all you we met on dating apps. We the guy cream pie me if he gotta say is, “Hey, this isn’t would talk dirty about it would stay. I said fuck no and working for me—let’s take during sex. Recently, we met the guy left. a rain check.” Say it while Let’s party like it’s 1999, back up with a man for the fi rst I don’t know why the guy pulling up your pants and use time. I don’t think it went couldn’t get hard. But I cer- your “fi nal answer” voice. when the Reader was the place in well. tainly don’t think my bound- And the “rain check” thing My boyfriend and I have ary should be compromised doesn’t have to be sincere. Chicago to meet your match. had conversations about my because a stranger can’t get The “rain check” thing is fear of contracting an STI. So it up. My boyfriend keeps mostly a nice, polite, face-sav- before the threesome start- suggesting we meet up with ing, ego-sparing way to ease ed, I explained that condoms this guy again so he can “get someone out of your pants/ Submit a FREE Matches ad for a chance were required. They both closure.” He really wants to bed/playroom/apartment/ to be published in our Feb. 13 issue! agreed. This guy was really watch this guy at least come whatever. And if anyone nervous and when he put a on me. My boyfriend and this starts arguing with you, don’t condom on, he went flac- guy have since texted about worry about being polite, Submissions are due by 11:59 PM CT on Friday, February 7, 2020. cid. He would try to fuck me him fucking me again. TODUMP. Go ahead and be ChicagoReader.com/matches with his flaccid, condom-cov- I thought this guy was kind a bitch: “This is over, you/

ered penis. He would take of an asshole. My boyfriend they need to go, rain check the condom off, jerk off, was definitely an asshole. My rescinded, asshole/assholes.” hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh get semi-hard, put a con- questions are: If I’m uncom- And while we’re on the ll JANUARY   - CHICAOREADER 43 OPINION

 WILLPORADA/UNSPLASH

subject of terminating things trusted and you aren’t safe to help the situation? FWIW: with assholes, TODUMP, with him, TODUMP, alone or I’m in a happy open marriage you need dump your incred- with a third. and have never once tried ibly shitty fucking boyfriend DTMFA. to initiate anything with him. immediately—and there’s no This is every woman’s I’ve never been attracted need to be polite about it. nightmare scenario when it to him before and wouldn’t Fuck him. Your boyfriend comes to cuckolding or hot- want anything to happen tried to coerce you into hav- wifing—that her boyfriend or between us again, anyway, ing sex without condoms husband will pressure her to even if the kiss was hot. when he knew you didn’t do things she doesn’t want to Complicating matters, my want to; you consented to do during a sexual encoun- friend wanted to re-raise the having a threesome on the ter with another man. Guys possibility of opening up his condition that condoms be like your boyfriend not only relationship with his partner, used. Attempting to reopen- don’t deserve to have GGG which he insists has nothing ing negotiations about your girlfriends or their fantasies to do with me. (My friend is stated boundaries once the fulfilled, they ruin things for male and his partner and I threesome was underway other wannabe cucks, stags, are both female.) —F  was a violation of your con- and hot husbands. He not WNB sent. And your boyfriend only deserves to be alone knew you wouldn’t want to forever; he deserves to be A: Hmm . . . I have a hunch embarrass anyone and mali- kicked in the balls forever. you were something of a ciously attempted to wea- sore subject before this ponize your consideration : One of my closest friends incident, FWNB, however for other people’s feelings kissed me while very drunk, isolated. If the text messages against you! Can’t you see told his female partner, your friend’s partner saw that? He was hoping you and now he’s not allowed confi rmed fears she’d already wouldn’t embarrass him by to see me anymore, even in been told were irrational, refusing to have sex without group settings. (I am also your exile is likely to last as condoms after he “offered” female.) I understand that long as their relationship to let this guy cream pie you cutting off contact is the does. But take heart: if your (come inside you) to get him universally recommended friend decides to reopen to stay! He was hoping you’d fi rst step a er someone discussions about opening Hookups = rather risk an STI than risk cheats, but considering how up their relationship in embarrassing or contradict- close we are as friends, it the wake of this incident, ing him! And on top of that, is heartbreaking to think your friend will likely be he spoke to this guy like it I might lose him over this single again soon. If they do was up to him—up to them— one incident. We are former manage to stay together, what happened next, like you coworkers and we’ve been FWNB, the only way to get were a Fleshlight or tube close friends and regular back into her good graces— sock or something! drinking buddies for 12 years. and back in your friend’s And now your asshole boy- Nothing has EVER happened life—is to gracefully accept friend is pressuring you to between us before this your exile. (Going to her and get back together with a guy one very drunk night. We saying, “It only happened who couldn’t get it up with a ended up making out on the because we were so drunk!” condom on when he knows sidewalk outside of a bar and isn’t quite the slam dunk you you don’t want to have sex exchanged a few semi-dirty think it is, seeing as you and without condoms? A guy who text messages later that her boyfriend are drinking couldn’t be bothered to say night, which—unfortunately buddies.) It’s a paradox, I goodbye after you sucked his for all of us—his partner realize, but if she sees that fucking dick? And your boy- saw. He thinks we just need her boyfriend is willing to cut friend is claiming you owe to be patient and one day off all contact with you to set him (or them) closure? WTF? we’ll be able to pick up our her mind at ease, FWNB, she This relationship should friendship where we le off . may be willing to give your have been over the moment And while I know he needs to friendship her blessing down your boyfriend made it prioritize his partner now, I’m the road. v clear some stranger’s dick scared that we actually won’t was more important to him be able to stay friends a er Send letters to mail@ than your health, safety, and this. Do I just swallow my savagelove.net. Download Visit www.squirt.org boundaries. In that moment— sadness about the likelihood the Savage Lovecast that moment he attempted of losing a best friend over Tuesday at savagelovecast. to hook up today to barter away your bound- a relatively minor infi delity? com. aries—he proved he can’t be Or is there anything I can do @fakedansavage 44 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll The Chicago Reader is community-centered and community-supported. CHICAGO FOR CHICAGOANS You are at the heart of this newspaper. Founded in 1971, we have always been free, and have always centered Chicago. Help us to continue to curate coverage of the diverse and creative communities of this fabulous city.

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Mid-level Quantitative Developer AVE APT 2B, CHICAGO, IL 60649 FT- MS in Physics, Eng, Comp Senior SQL Database The true and real full name(s) and Sci, Mathematics or closely Administrators – Master’s Deg residence address of the owner(s)/ rltd field. Must’ve coursework or foreign deg equiv in CS, CIS, partner(s) is: WILLIAM E. MCNEAL in computational methods or CompApp, IT or Eng + 2 yrs exp 7116 S. CORNELL AVE APT 2B numerical analysis. Must’ve 1yr in position or IT fi eld (or Bach Deg CHICAGO, IL 60649, USA of work exp in a quantitative role + 5 yrs exp); & exp with Windows that invlvd numerical simulations environments, SQL Server This letter is to notify that on in stochastic diff erential equations administration, .NET, SSRS, SSIS, February 25, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. & Monte Carlo simulations. In Visual Studio, VSS & TFS. Apply an auction will be held at 83rd & lieu of 1yr of work exp, Akuna to (inc Ref # 10002) HR, NetZoom, Halsted Self Storage, Inc., located will accept exp in an internship 2300 Cabot Dr, #535, Lisle, IL at 8316 S. Birkhoff Ave, Chicago, or research project that incl’d 60532 IL 60620, to sell the following numerical simulations in stochastic articles held within said storage differential equations & Monte Senior Valuations Analyst, units to enforce a lien existing Carlo simulations. Must pass INTL FCStone Inc. seeks a under the laws of the state of coding exam prior to offer. Senior Valuations Analyst (Job Illinois. Multiple positions. Code 530063) in Chicago, IL to 2. Developer-Data Infrastructure implement and ensure uniform 475 Natalie Bennett FT-BS in Info Sys, Computer valuation processes, practices 107 James Harris Eng, Compu Sci, or rltd field. and modeling across a variety of 341 Keith Mays, Jr. Must’ve coursework or conducted financial instruments and traded 117 Barbara Dukes research during studies that incl’d asset classes, and to develop 156 Jazzerae Carr Data Structures & Algorithms, complex financial models. Up 335 Stephen Grandberry Distributed Computing, to 10% domestic travel required. programming languages Java, Mail resume referencing Job Code This letter is to notify that on A series of political Scala, or Python, and scripting 530063 to Rosemary Carlson, INTL February 25, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. an M ILIZ language Bash. Must pass coding FCStone Inc., 1251 NW Briarcliff auction will be held at Hyde Park OB E exam prior to offer. Multiple Parkway, Suite 800, Kansas City, Self Storage, Inc., located at 5155 engagement events by positions. MO 64116. EOE S. Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 3. Mid-Level FPGA Engineer- 60615, to sell the following articles the Chicago Reader FT-BS in Computer or Electrical TransUnion, LLC seeksSenior held within said storage units to Eng, or rltd fi eld & 5yrs of exp as Developers for Chicago, IL enforce a lien existing under the Hardware Engineer, Hardware location to design & develop laws of the state of Illinois. Dvlpr or rltd. 5yrs exp must software applications. Master’s have incl’d VHDL/Verilog exp, in Comp. Sci./Info. Science & 413A James Hendricks understanding of algorithms & data Eng./related field + 2yrs exp. or 46 Alvin Daniels structures using simulation tools. Bachelor’s in Comp. Sci./Info. 423 Dorothy Heard Come join the Chicago Reader for In lieu of Bach’s degree +5yrs Science & Eng./related field + 384 Culver Medical Supply exp, will accept a MS in Electrical 5yrs exp. req’d. Req’d skills: Ab 10194 Raymond White Eng’ing or closely rltd field w/ Initio (Co>op, GDE), Query>IT, 535 Candice Martin coursework in VHDL/Verilog, Control Center, BRE, Express>IT/ 10120 Thomas Murton algorithms, & data structures using ACE development, JSON, XML, 371 Darryl G. Fairley simulation tools. Must pass coding Oracle, Unix/Linux, shell scripting, 10153 James A Lott ELECTION NIGHT Autosys, SQL Developer, Hadoop 6 Raymond White exam. Multiple positions. 4. C++ Developer-FT-BS in Comp (MapReduce). 20% telecommuting 544 Chanel Long Sci or rltd field. Coursework, permitted. Send resume to: R. 100 Mescha Lammy internship or research must’ve Harvey, REF: THC, 555 W Adams, 267 Erika Richardson incl’d C++ & Python. Must pass Chicago, IL 60661 463 James Hendricks WATCH PARTIES coding exam prior to offer. V333 Darryl Simmons CLASSIFIEDS Multiple positions. Loyola University Chicago is 374 Brianne Kelly Please ref job & direct resumes seeking an Assistant Professor of 61 Dante Edwards to: Megan Suerth, Akuna Capital Computer Engineering in Chicago, 71 Lazinnial Brandon LLC 333 S Wabash, 26th Floor, IL to instruct undergrad courses in 10147 Brianne Kelly With hosts Ben Joravsky and Maya Dukmasova* Chicago, IL 60604. areas of Engg Sci, Comp Engg, & 10158 Waymon Curry rel programs. Pls send resume to 202C Stephen Weinstein DocuSign, Inc. has openings in [email protected] & ref job 073186. Chicago, IL: Prod Designer (Job This letter is to notify that on Code: IM131) Prod deliverables February 25, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. for evry stage of design process. an auction will be held at South MARKETPLACE Shore Self Storage, Inc., located at JOBS Req: BS or foreign equiv in Comp Eng, Comp Des, Human-Comp ADULT SERVICES 7843 S. Exchange Ave, Chicago, IL Interaction or rel fld & 6 mos in 60649, to sell the following articles held within said storage units to designing consumer, enterprise & Danielle’s Lip Service, Erotic ADMINISTRATIVE mobile user exp. To apply, send enforce a lien existing under the Phone Chat. 24/7. Must be 21+. laws of the state of Illinois. resume to [email protected]. Credit/Debit Cards Accepted. SALES & Must ref. Job Code in subject line. All Fetishes and Fantasies Are EOE M/F/D/V 265 Wesley Jones Welcomed. Personal, Private and 237 Da Great Yekuti Azor El MARKETING Discrete. 773-935-4995 DocuSign, Inc. has openings 231 Rashaunda Sanders in Chicago, IL: SW Eng (Job 444 Ned Leeper FOOD & DRINK Code: IM134) Des, dev, test & 601 Alicia Washington Live Stream on implement SW modules & apps LEGAL 322 Cozette Armstrong SPAS & SALONS to support, dev & enhance cloud 505 Cozette Armstrong content mngmt capabilities. Req: 255 Alethea Rayford the Reader’s MS or foreign equiv in CS, EE, NOTICES 253 Erica Cooley BIKE JOBS or rel fld & 3 yrs exp implement 208 Briana Tyner SW &/or apps for cloud content Notice is hereby given, pursuant 442 Korianda Johnson facebook mngmt. To apply, send resume to to “An Act in relation to the use 328 Jess Gill GENERAL [email protected]. Must ref. of an Assumed Business Name page Job Code in subject line. EOE in the conduct or transaction This letter is to notify that on M/F/D/V of Business in the State,” as February 25, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. New Hampshire amended, that a certifi cation was an auction will be held at Aaron Prima Power North America, Inc. registered by the undersigned with Bros. Self-Storage, Inc., located at REAL is seeking a Field Service Engineer the County Clerk of Cook County. 4034 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL in Arlington Heights, IL (company Registration Number: Y20003012 60653, to sell the following articles Primary Watch Party headquarters) and other various on January 17, 2020 Under held within said storage units to ESTATE unanticipated worksites in the U.S. the Assumed Business Name enforce a lien existing under the with the following requirements: of MJM OCCASIONS with the laws of the state of Illinois. Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6-8 p.m., Free BS Degree in Mechanical business located at 3022 SARAH Engineering, or related field or ST, FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131 122 Jeremy Clark RENTALS foreign equivalent degree. 1 year of The true and real full name(s) and 600A Narlin Brothers GMan Tavern, 3740 N. Clark related experience. Required skills: residence address of the owner(s)/ 306 Elnora Clay FOR SALE perform maintenance, repair or partner(s) is: JASON MARTINEZ, 558 Kamla Ronan installation of punching machines, 3022 SARAH ST FRANKLIN 541 Royal Traders punch/shear combination, loading PARK, IL 60131, USA; MONICA 548 Anna Long NON-RESIDENTIAL and unloading robots, night train J MARTINEZ, 3022 SARAH ST 117 Brian McCoy storage systems, and stacking FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131, USA 201 Horace Howard ROOMATES systems (1 yr); train customer on 544 Brian McCoy the use / care and maintenance Notice is hereby given, pursuant 329 Tanya Lyda of the punching machines, punch/ to “An Act in relation to the use of shear combination, loading and an Assumed Business Name in the STATE OF ILLINOIS, unloading robots, night train conduct or transaction of Business PUBLICATION NOTICE OF storage systems, stacking systems in the State,” as amended, that COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR MARKET- (1 yr); review projects from the a certification was registered by NAME CHANGE. Location Cook initial off -loading of the equipment, the undersigned with the County County - County Division - Case the set-up of punching machines, Clerk of Cook County. Registration Type: Name Change from Cheryl Super Tuesday Watch Party PLACE punch/shear combination, loading Number: Y20002981 on January Marie Malden to malden cheryl and unloading robots, night train 15, 2020 Under the Assumed marie Court Date March 03, 2020, storage systems, and stacking Business Name of P AND M HOME 9:30 AM in Courtroom #1707 Case Tuesday, March 3, 6-8 p.m., Free systems (1 yr); troubleshoot the SERVICES with the business # 2020CONC000008 GOODS repair of hydraulic, pneumatic located at 328 OAKMONT DR, and electronic repairs and BARTLETT, IL 60103 The true and STATE OF ILLINOIS, Promontory in Hyde Park, 5311 S Lake Park Ave W. SERVICES conduct repairs from simple to real full name(s) and residence PUBLICATION NOTICE OF complex processes and design address of the owner(s)/partner(s) COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR special tooling (1 yr). Up to is: PAUL SOCKI 328 OAKMONT NAME CHANGE. Location Cook HEALTH & 100% travel required; must be DR, BARTLETT, IL 60103, USA County - County Division - Case willing to relocate as required. Type: Name Change from Jeff rey WELLNESS Please submit resume to Notice is hereby given, pursuant Raynard Sanders to sanders jeff rey [email protected]. to “An Act in relation to the use raynard Court Date March 11, INSTRUCTION of an Assumed Business Name 2020, 9:30 AM in Courtroom #1706 Senior Software Developers – in the conduct or transaction Case # 2020CONC000029 Master’s Deg or foreign deg equiv of Business in the State,” as *Dukmasova will just co-host the March 3 event. Look for special co-host Feb. 11. MUSIC & ARTS in CS, CIS, MIS, CompApp, IT or amended, that a certifi cation was NOTICES registered by the undersigned with MESSAGES WANT TO ADD A LISTING TO OUR CLASSIFIEDS? LEGAL NOTICES E-mail [email protected] with details ADULT SERVICES or call (312) 392-2970 46 CHICA OREADER - JANUARY   ll STATE OF ILLINOIS, owner(s)/partner(s) is: RAFAL in the conduct or transaction Notice is hereby given, pursuant PUBLICATION NOTICE OF MAJOREK 6545 W DICKENS of Business in the State,” as to “An Act in relation to the use COURT DATE FOR REQUEST AVE. APT. 2W, CHICAGO, IL amended, that a certifi cation was of an Assumed Business Name FOR NAME CHANGE. Location 60707, USA registered by the undersigned in the conduct or transaction Cook County - County Division with the County Clerk of Cook of Business in the State,” as - Case Type: Name Change Notice is hereby given, pursuant County. Registration Number: amended, that a certifi cation was from Jason Bradley Medalis to “An Act in relation to the use Y20003074 on January 27, registered by the undersigned to Emma Jaye Medalis Court of an Assumed Business Name 2020 Under the Assumed with the County Clerk of Cook Date February 19, 2020, 1:30 in the conduct or transaction Business Name of FISH AMONG County. Registration Number: PM in Courtroom #203 Case # of Business in the State,” as BICYCLES with the business Y20003049 on January 22, Ragnar Benson Construction Company, an HVAC, Electrical. Subcontracts will be award- 20195009339 amended, that a certifi cation was located at 1301 W FLETCHER 2020 Under the Assumed registered by the undersigned ST #602, CHICAGO, IL 60657 Business Name of TWISTED Equal Opportunity Employer, Chicago, IL ed based on price and ability to perform work. Notice is hereby given, pursuant with the County Clerk of Cook The true and real full name(s) KITTY KOCKTAILS with the 60606 – P: 312-764-6600, is seeking disad- All disadvantage businesses should contact to “An Act in relation to the use County. Registration Number: and residence address of the business located at 4700 S. of an Assumed Business Name Y20003003 on January 16, owner(s)/partner(s) is: SARA LAKE PARK 308, CHICAGO, vantaged businesses for the CTA Project RAGNAR BENSON attention Kasia Popa at - in the conduct or transaction 2020 Under the Assumed MICHELE BIEKER, 1301 W IL 60615 The true and real full MC-022 O’Hare Line – Irving Park Station [email protected] 312-764-6600 to dis- of Business in the State,” as Business Name of SUDDEN FLETCHER ST #602, CHICAGO, name(s) and residence address Escalator Replacements and Stationhouse cuss subcontracting opportunities. Please amended, that a certifi cation was UNIVERSE with the business IL 60657, USA of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: registered by the undersigned located at 11001 DEBLIN LN KATHERINE THOMAS, 4700 S. Canopy Repairs Projects located in Chica- submit all bids no later than February 12th, with the County Clerk of Cook APT 101, OAK LAWN, IL 60453 STATE OF ILLINOIS, LAKE PARK 308, CHICAGO, IL go, IL for subcontracting opportunities in the 2020 at 12PM. The bid will be publicly opened County. Registration Number: The true and real full name(s) PUBLICATION NOTICE OF 60615 Y20003018 on January 21, and residence address of the COURT DATE FOR REQUEST following areas: Demolition, Lead Abatement, by CTA on February 13th, 2020 at 3:00PM. 2020 Under the Assumed owner(s)/partner(s) is: MARK FOR NAME CHANGE. Location Concrete, Masonry, Structural & Misc. Steel, For more information please contact us at Business Name of ABOVE RICHARD BERNAL 11001 Cook County - County Division Painting, Escalator Replacement, Plumbing, 312-764-6600 or Email [email protected]. GRADE APPLIANCE SERVICE DEBLIN LN APT 101, OAK - Case Type: Name Change from with the business located at LAWN, IL 60453, USA Ki Won Lee to Kiwon Julian Lee. 6545 W DICKENS AVE. APT. Court Date March 25, 2020, 9:30 2W, CHICAGO, IL 60707 The Notice is hereby given, pursuant AM in Courtroom #1706 Case # true and real full name(s) and to “An Act in relation to the use 2020CONC000047 residence address of the of an Assumed Business Name the platform The Chicago Reader Guide to Business and Professional Services travel legal moving COLLABORATIVE PREMARITAL Brigitte BIG “O” MOVERS Now Hiring! FAMILY Schmidt Fall & Winter Sale Drivers & Travel Your Way DIVORCE Experienced Movers MEDIATION Bell, P.C. 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