Show Review: Future Islands with Oh, Rose at The Fillmore, 9/4/21

What is it that makes Future Islands great? Over fifteen years of consistent output has been compelling but can tend toward monotony. At first blush, the song lyrics are as boxy and obvious as the titles. The music is almost entirely devoid of melody.  So what is it? Continue reading “Show Review: Future Islands with Oh, Rose at The Fillmore, 9/4/21”

Show Review: Future Islands, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 9/14/18

All Photos by Tiffany Black Darquea

If you haven’t had the opportunity to acquaint yourself with the picturesque Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma, you ought to.

The venue’s main stage is a cozy, dark, and ambient-lit renovated barn. However, that wasn’t the setting for Friday’s show. Future Islands and ESMB played to a steep grassy hillside of wine sipping mid 30’s and 40’s hill bouncers.

Gundlach’s second stage features exquisite views of sprawling vineyard property. It is intimate but comfortably open and spacious for moving about during the show.

The opener, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat (ESMB), sauntered out anxiously, compensating with awkward stand up and 90s references. But the folks on the hill stood to attention when ESMB drilled forward at a fast pace into their avant garde post-punk set. Continue reading “Show Review: Future Islands, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat at Gundlach Bundschu Winery, 9/14/18”

Preview: Pitchfork Music Festival, 2015

Pitchfork

This Friday, July 17th, through Sunday, the 19th, 45+ bands will descend upon Chicago’s Union Park to perform at the 10th annual Pitchfork Music Festival. Tickets are officially sold out and that’s hardly a surprise. The stellar line-up consisting of the most iconic underground acts includes Wilco, Run the Jewels, Sleater-Kinney, Jamie XX, Future Islands, Perfume Genius, The Julie Ruin, Caribou, and Shamir.

Continue reading “Preview: Pitchfork Music Festival, 2015”