What’s going on this week? New music from Pink and QOTSA, The Alley lives, Riot Fest announces aftershows + more On the Radar.
Chicago staple The Alley returns from the dead
The closing of Chicago staple and haven The Alley was a sad day in Chicago. People from all over and of all ages mourned the passing of their favorite store. Owner Mark Thomas promised it wouldn’t be the end and vowed to have the store come back in a new fashion. Seems like he kept true to his word as The Alley 1776 opened up last weekend.
Sitting at 3223 N. Clark, right across the street from their old location, the new shop has same rock n roll attire and kick ass shirts everyone loves, but with a new perspective. The Alley pop-up shop sits on the second floor while the first floor is housed by a coffee shop. Thomas says in the future he’d like to work with nearby restaurants to create an ever-changing menu, including food that can be ordered from the Belmont Avenue. How long will it be open? Thomas says that’s up to the fans to decide.
“People are going to have to start showing their local retailers love,” he told DNAInfo. “And if they don’t, it’ll be an Amazon world and the neighborhood will be empty.”
Pink and Queens of the Stone Age drop new music videos
It’s been way too long since we last heard from Pink. Luckily, she’s back with her new single “What About Us?” The song premiered a couple weeks ago while the video premiered last week. Directed by Georgia Hudson, the clip shows Pink and her crew pulling off some stunning choreography in the city streets and the desert. The track comes from her upcoming album Beautiful Trauma, out October 13.
Not to be outdone, Queens of the Stone Age also released their new music video for “The Way You Used to Do.” Shot in black and white, we see Josh Homme and the band grooving to the smooth track. Near the end, Homme breaks away from the group and shows off his own moves in tribute to Cab Calloway. We always knew Homme had some impressive moves! QOTSA’s new album, Villains, drops this Friday (Aug. 25).
Riot Fest reveal late night shows featuring Taking Back Sunday and New Found Glory
Lollapalooza isn’t the only festival with kick ass aftershows. Last week, Riot Fest revealed their late night shows for 2017. This year features shows from Chicago’s own punks The Orwells at House of Vans for a free show, The Queers and the Ataris, New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, and Bayside to name a few. Check out all the late night shows here. You better hurry, tickets are going fast.
Riot Fest goes down September 15 – 17 in Douglas Park and there’s still time to grab your tickets. This year’s headliners include Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, and the newly reformed Jawbreaker. You don’t want to miss out.
Upcoming Shows
Seminal punks Green Day grace Wrigley Field as part of their Revolution Radio tour with Catfish and the Bottlemen. It all goes down August 24, but you better get tickets now.
Lady Gaga brings some bad romance to Wrigley Field on her Joanne World Tour August 25. Grab tickets while you still can.
2 Chainz plays the Chicago Theatre August 26 as part of his Pretty Girls Like Trap Music Tour. Find tickets here.
Logic and Joey Bada$$ swing by Chicago on the Everybody’s Tour August 24 at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island. Click here for tickets.
Chicago Artist Spotlight: Kyle Mann
If you’re looking for a mellow groove featuring lush soundscapes and a hint of 70s dance music, then Kyle Mann has you covered. The Chicago native recently dropped his fourth release, Surface, last month. And it’s like taking a trip back in time to the 1970s.
His music is lowkey and soothing – it won’t make you break a sweat on the dancefloor, but it will get you swaying. Songs like “Start Again” and “Like Animals” have a sultry swing to them and subtle elements of disco. It won’t bring up images of John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, but it will remind you of the disco era. Make sure you check out Mann’s latest LP.
Mann also plays in a group called Dozens, who released their latest album, Rare Form, in 2014.