Maybe you were too busy surviving Lollapalooza to keep up with the hottest music news. Catch now with the latest edition of Chicago Music’s On the Radar.
Jennifer Lopez to receive Video Vanguard Award at VMAs
Jennifer Lopez’s list of accolades gets bigger. The singer is set to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards. As if that wasn’t enough, her “Dinero” video is up for two more VMAs. Other recipients of the Video Vanguard award include Pink in 2017, Kanye West in 2015, and Beyoncé in 2014.
Lopez also plans to perform at the ceremony. This will be the first time she’s hit the VMA stage since her 2001 performance of “I’m Real” with Ja Rule. The 2018 VMAs will go down at New York’s Radio City Hall August 20 on MTV. See the complete list of the nominees here.
Nicki Minaj delays her album… Again
Anyone eagerly waiting for Nicki Minaj’s new album will have to wait a little longer. Queen will now drop August 17. The delay is the result of waiting for a Tracy Chapman sample to clear. Minaj broke the news in a post to her fans to coincide with her Apple Music Essentials takeover playlist:
“So there’s a record on Queen that features 1 of the greatest of all-time. Had no clue it samples the legendary Tracy Chapman – do I keep my date and lose the record? Or do I lose the record and keep my date? Do we push #Queen back 1 week? Ugh, I’m torn y’all help,” she wrote.
The album was originally slated to release June 10 but was pushed back to August 10. She later posted a poll on Twitter with both options asking fans to weigh in. Most agreed to push back the LP.
Check out her full statement here.
Laura Jane Grace reveals new band, album, and tour
Chicago resident Laura Jane Grace is back with new music, but this time, it’s not with Against Me! Grace has a new band dubbed Devouring Mothers featuring Atom Willard (drums) and sound engineer Marc Jacob Hudson (bassist), who has worked with Against Me!, Taking Back Sunday and more. The band’s full-length debut is expected to drop sometime this fall. Grace didn’t reveal a release date or tracklisting but said the following on Twitter: “I recorded an album. It’s a solo album, except that it’s not cause my friends @atomwillardisme and @yaytour did it with me. Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers. It’s going to come out this fall on @bshq. I’ll tell you more specifics about the album soon, I promise.”
The band will also embark on a short winter tour in support of the LP. Dates kick off November 2 in Rock Island, IL and wraps up with a three-night stint in Chicago on November 8, 18, and 29. Tickets are on sale now. This marks Grace’s first New music since the release of Against Me!’s 2016 album, Shape Shift With Me.
Upcoming Shows
Pusha T brings his Daytona tour to the House of Blues Wednesday, August 8. Get tickets here.
You don’t want to miss Jay-Z and Beyonce’s OTR II show at Soldier Field August 10. Make sure you get tickets here.
Three-fourths of the original Smashing Pumpkins play two nights at the United Center with special guest, Metric August 13 and 14. You still have a chance to get tickets here.
Catch The Gaslight Anthem with Matt Mays and Joe Sib at the Riviera Theatre Saturday, August 11. Grab tickets here.
Chicago Artist Spotlight: Dos Santos
If you haven’t been listening to Dos Santos, you’ve been missing out. This Chicago quintet has been lighting up the city with their blend of traditional Latin music and American jazz since 2013. Featuring Alex Chavez (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jaime Garza (electric bass), Nathan Karagianis (guitar, vocals), Daniel Villarreal-Carrillo (drums), and Peter Vale (congas, bongos, percussion) they released their critically-acclaimed self-titled LP in 2015. They followed this up with Fonografic the following year building up a rabid fanbase along the way.
This year, saw the release of their debut LP on International Anthem dubbed Logos. They put a new spin on Latin music that’s irresistible. They fuse Latin beats and rhythms with elements of jazz and rock that make them stand out. Just try not to dance when their single “logos” comes on. Spend the rest of summer jamming out to their intense grooves.
Dos Santos is currently on tour in support of their latest release. Check out their dates here. They’ll play a home show at Subterranean on August 18. Get tickets here.