@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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GIANTS
w/ Weaver At The Loom / Guests TBA
Giants, located in the heart of Iowa, is a five-piece instrumental band that originally formed in 2005 as a four-piece band leaving room for vocals-which is evident in their self-titled EP. They have since added guitarist Steve Carlson (ex Here's The Kicker) who has helped shape Giants into a lush, dynamic band. Giants recorded their first full length in 2006 entitled, "They, The Undeserving," and have been touring in support of it since. A full length in 2008 is to be expected as well as a winter tour with the Minneapolis based Weaver at the Loom.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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HORSE IN THE SEA
w/ Kyle Andrews / Guests TBA
Horse In The Sea is the ancient story of a man at war with himself. With squinted, strained eyes he envisions a victory, but the opposite direction shows an inevitable defeat. Developed as a concept, the band played its initial show on the eve of 2007. Horse In The Sea features the introspective songwriting of founding member Joel Janis, the production of Kyle Andrews, and the female vocals of Cynthia Fike and Angelina Lucero. Their music, built around radiant harmonies and an electric folk foundation, maintains the identity of the records that make this sound possible. The debut album, “I Order The Sun To Shine On Everyone” will be released early in the fall of 2007. Also, the band will release a song on Thy Old Murkville Forest, featuring such artists as Denison Witmer, Anathallo, and Page France. They will be promoting their album with a 30-date fall tour including two nights in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia. This fall tour will culminate with an album release party at Chicago’s Schubas Tavern on November 23. Stayed tuned for a West Coast and UK tour in ’08.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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ELI
w/ Save Us, Hollywood / Scarla Myth & To Fall Upon
Eli was born in 2001 on a clear summer night. We had all the hopes and ambitions we could ever ask for. It was more than a joining of musicians but an entity we could all contribute and live through. Thus, throughout the years Eli began playing more and more shows with an ever growing fan base. From charity shows to big venues to basements, Eli has made its way through the local scene while creating lasting memories. Many musicians have come and gone but have all made Eli what it is today. There is love for every one of them. We are more than just a few kids trying to make a name for ourselves. We are a family, dedicated to each other. For those who can embrace music for the feeling it gives them, and not for who’s listening to what. We hope we can be there for you and mean something to you. Please come and share the CD release show with us and make it something we won’t ever forget. This is the second coming
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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SUNDOWNER [chris of the lawrence arms]
w/ Guests TBA
Vocalist and guitarist Chris McCaughan is known to most as one-third of Chicago punk rockers the Lawrence Arms, the less snotty voice complementing the drunken rasp of co-frontman Brendan Kelly. Rocking out in that trio since the late '90s, McCaughan had honed his punk chops even earlier in area groups like Tricky Dick and the Broadways. Always writing, McCaughan eventually found himself with a bunch of songs that were too sparse for the likes of his main gig, so while the Arms were touring in support of their acclaimed 2006 album Oh! Calcutta!, he began hitting up coffeeshops before the band's nightly shows for some solo performances. Armed with just an acoustic guitar, the gigs were well received, eventually leading him to put together a full album under the alias Sundowner. Though most of McCaughan's songs were basically stripped-down tunes à la most singer/songwriters, he still enlisted the help of some friends once inside the local Atlas Studios; Lawrence Arms bandmate Neil Hennessy helped on bass and fellow Chicagoan Jenny Choi
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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SCHOOLYARD HEROES
w/ Creature Feature / Dr. Manhattan & They Found Me, They Named Me
Raucous, relentless and vicious as hell, Seattle, WA’s Schoolyard Heroes are poised to convert any skeptics to their electrifying church of horror! After two albums with The Control Group, countless brutally epic shows opening for bands like The Fall of Troy, Mindless Self Indulgence, Kill Hannah, Daughters, The Birthday Massacre and The Horrors, Schoolyard Heroes have become more than ready to dominate anything in their path. With Abominations—a fierce horror metal-laden onslaught that confronts the evil side of human nature, with narratives that take place during the apocalypse--vocalist Ryann Donnelly, bassist Jonah Bergman, guitarist Steve Bonnell and drummer Brian Turner prove that they’re stronger now than they’ve ever been, having made a gorgeous, raging album completely on their own terms. Schoolyard Heroes are, after all, a band known for their feral, singularly unique take on spazz-out post-hardcore; Iron Maiden meets Karen O at the firing range. Blender noted in a review of 2005’s Fantastic Wounds that the band’s “creeping melodies menace like an unseen villain.”
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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TINA SPARKLE
w/ The Unstable & Guests TBA
tina sparkle has been in the works since 1998 when marsha (EX FORECAST/AMAZING KILLOWATTS) and her friend ben started writing songs together. at the time they were a little "grunge" but when they both soon grew in music, everything got more melodic. they started playing with marsha's bro aTomic (EX SCOUTS HONOR/AMAZING KILLOWATTS) on drums. when ben decided to move to olympia for college...we trained clint k on bass. played a show as a foursome and started up writing as a threesome. marsha, clint, and aTomic played like that for a couple years before finding davin (GREYSON/AMAZING KILLOWATTS) as the second guitar adding much needed umph. and now mr. clint has been reborn as mr. DAVE MOE (BLOODY MESS AND THE TRANSFUSIONS). davin field is out of the picture...so NOW we are a monstrous 3-piece ready to make you weep at our next show.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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MASON PROPER [dovecote rec]
w/ Via Audio / The Hamilton Corporation & New Ghosts
In a musical landscape that’s more defined by geography and its accompanying aesthetics, Mason Proper are undoubtedly black sheep. While Detroit’s renown is undeniable and connotatively defiant and eccentric, the area of Northern Michigan where more than half the band is from resembles a vast, frigid expanse of rural America. The groups’ shrill layers of barren, beautiful white sonic indulgences might give you some idea of the home territory, but their compulsively unhinged backbeat, ecstatic guitars, and beautifully charming and surprising pop arrangements recall a more blissful and sharp disposit.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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CHICAGO FARMER
w/ Clifton Roy & Folkstringer & (The Band That) Never Whas
Cody is a folk-singers folk-singer and a poets poet. He was born and bred in Delavan IL, population 25, surrounded by the endless skies of the American Midwest. Before moving to Chicago in 2003, Cody tried his hand at sessions in Nashville and carefully hewed and tested his art in college town bars and honky-tonks around the Midwest. He now plays regularly in the city and its not uncommon to see whole rooms full of strangers erupt and sing along to the choruses of his songs on their first listen (Ive seen it happen). Codys voice is powerful and gritty, emotionally piercing while subtly imbuing additional layers of meaning and poignancy in his lyrical delivery. His song-writing is deeply rooted in the American Folk tradition and all of its grit but with a post Dylan sense of wit, perspicacity and that certain savior-faire. He didnt go to college but he drank all of their beer. Every folk-singer has to migrate to the city, in a way it seems to be hidden in definition of a folk singer anymore. Cody has come to remind Chicago that it is in Illinois. And to remind the rest of the world that when Louis Armstrong redefined, some say invented the art of Jazz in the 1920s he brought his Hot Fives to Chicago to do it. When Robert Johnson wanted to put his Mississippi Mud on wax, his hellhound chased him to Chicago to do it. And same like, Cody has come to Chicago to deliver what it needs, when it isnt even sure itself. He is currently recording a collection of songs from his vast back-catalog and performing across the heartland.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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KILLED BY THE 1ST
w/ The Missing Portrait / Angel & Dust To Ashes
Killed by the 1st debuted on the music scene in 2005. Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, IL, Killed by the 1st have been leaving their mark not only locally, but also nationally with several tours playing a vast majority of the United States in support of their 2007 release, Hold Your Breath EP. In between touring and local shows they are currently working on their full length album due out in the Spring of 2008. Killed by the 1st has mastered a highly unique blend of screamo, hardcore, rock, and post- hardcore; which has led to them being compared to the likes of The Chariot, Hopefall, and Kaddisfly. Utilizing these many styles of music, they have been able to create music that is highly technical, but still catchy.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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LUDO
w/ The Effects & Guests TBA
Ludo is a power-pop rock band from St. Louis, Missouri that is known for harmony-driven tunes with strong lyrics and an extensive touring schedule that has developed a solid fan base (known as Ninjas). The band started out "armed with a van, two ferrets and a DIY three-song demo"[1] in 2003, and released its debut self-titled album that summer on St. Louis independent label Redbird Records. In the run up to their second recording, Broken Bride (a rock opera EP released in 2005), Ludo began to make its mark on the music scene outside of St. Louis. The band, still touring constantly, won contests to play at South by Southwest and to have a video produced by Fuse, played at the Winter X Games[2], appeared as part of the Warped Tour and were named "The Next Big Thing" by Fuse.[3] Ludo recently finished recording their second full-length album, "You're Awful, I love You", in Los Angeles with Island Records and producer Marc McClusky. It is set to be released February 26, 2008.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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THE BACKROOM
w/ Elsinore / Nathan Edwards & Guests TBA
The Backroom wafts a 50's sentiment in an up-to-date power-pop wrapper: an Abercrombie Cardigan, a Hollister poodle skirt. They captivate with accessible melodies, crisp but velveteen smooth vocals, and lyrics that surprise, gliding easily to insinuate themselves into the soundtrack in your mind.Keith von Kaenel heads the band as the songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist. Matt Greenfield plays the bass guitar while singing back up vocals and Matt Jankowiak plays the drumset.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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JERRY JOSEPH ELECTRIC
& THE DENVER VESEYS
[of the jackmormons, stokholm syndrome]
w/ The Employees & Guests TBA
Joseph got his start in music in the 80's when he led the reggae/rock band Little Women, based out of Boulder, Colorado, which ruled the Rocky Mountain club circuit for most of the 80's and broke up in 1993. Joseph continued to record before an oft-publicized drug addiction temporarily sidelined his career. The process of getting clean took Joseph to New York, Montana, Salt Lake City, where the Jackmormons were formed in 1996, and eventually to Portland. Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons "Mouthful of Copper" was the second release from Jerry Joseph & The Jackmormons on Terminus Records and follows the critically acclaimed Conscious Contact which was released in early 2002. Jerry Joseph & the Jackmormons have released four other albums as well. Throughout his successful career, Joseph has collaborated with such acts as Vic Chestnutt, Widespread Panic and J. Mascis.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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FROM THE HEADLINE
w/ Flowers For Dorian / Amrita & An Aesthetic Anaesthetic
Harkening back to emotional rock's pioneers, FTH toys with danceable indie beats rooted in emotionally expressive yet vulnerable songwriting. Combining catchy hooks, jazzy interludes and other-worldly vocals, this Milwaukee-based band exhibits a musical cohesiveness and maturity far beyond their years.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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THE RIKTERS
w/ Sars Flannery & Joe Dizllio
"Some rock power trios find themselves adding over-dubs in the studio to fill in holes when their drums-bass-guitar setup doesn’t attain adequate sonic hugeness. Chicago band The Rikters don’t need to – the trio’s “neo-classic indie rock” has a fullness that belies its basic setup. The group cites Elvis Costello and At The Drive-In as influences, which makes sense- The Rikters deliver Costello-esque power-pop hooks via crashing waves of guitar, but minus ATDI’s self-indulgence. The group’s new EP, Don’t You Get It – released at the show – features equal amounts of power and pop. For a small indie record, Get It sounds amazing."- The Onion AV Club on Don't You Get It
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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MARITIME [ex promise ring, dismemberment plan]
w/ Inspector Owl & Kid, You'll Move Mountains / Company Of Thieves
Formed out of the ashes of the Promise Ring and the Dismemberment Plan, indie rock outfit Maritime come by the way of Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee. Davey von Bohlen (vocals/guitar), Dan Didier (drums), and Eric Axelson (bass) formed in 2003. With an earnest pop sound that taps into the sandy-toned melodies of Elephant 6 and classic punk hooks, Maritime released their debut album, Glass Floor, in 2004. Arriving in 2006, We, the Vehicles marked their first release for the Flameshovel label.
SAT. FEB. 9TH - 8PM
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
$6 // $5 dressed in 70's attire
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70'S NIGHT @ THE HOUSE CAFE
w/ The Unit Theory as Led Zeppelin
Right To Remain as Black Sabbath
The Menagerie as 70's Cover Band
Join Kickstand Productions for a night of wonder and mystery as we probe into the inner workings of a psychadelic rock show. Witness local faves The Unit Theory / Right To Remain and The Menagerie plow through spirited renditions of covers of songs that defined a decade. Discounts will be given to anyone who is dressed in 70's attire...or who comes to the show under the influence of some illicit substance*.
*joke
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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JUNE [victory rec]
w/ From Here On After / The Young Sea & A Turning Point
Like other Chicago-area bands such as Fall Out Boy and the Academy Is..., June offered up an infectious mix of pop-punk and rock since forming in the first half of the 2000s. Starting out as a semi-joke to play around town, Tim Brennan (vocals/guitar), A.J. Brown (bass/vocals), Mark Palacz (guitar), and Mark Sutor (drums) got more serious as their four-song demo and live show soon amassed a substantial local following. They independently released The June EP in mid-summer 2004, and despite having little tour experience outside of their hometown, the band soon inked a deal with local heavyweights Victory Records. Their label debut, If You Speak Any Faster, was issued in August 2005 and considerable nationwide touring followed. The band released their significantly poppier effort Make It Blur almost exactly two years later.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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ARMS & SLEEPERS [fake chapter rec]
w/ Loose Lips Sink Ships & Tigers In The Backseat
Comprised of Max Lewis (programming, keyboards) and Mirza Ramic (bass, keyboards), Arms and Sleepers is more than music, as performance is combined with visuals by talented Boston artist Dado Ramadani. This visual extension is conceived through collaboration between Dado and the band members. Ideas and sketches of the subject and meaning of each song are labored until the right images are created. The visuals are put together and synchronized perfectly with the rhythm of each song, providing the audience with a complete audio and visual experience.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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TUB RING
w/ Foxy Shazam / Karate High School & Peachcake
Tub Ring is a tornado of genres mixing punk, classical, surf, a-capella, hard-core, pop, and whatever else crosses their path into one cohesive blend of rock. Tub Ring has created an enormous underground market with their bizarre genre of spazzed pop rock, with no financial help, no manager, NOTHING... except hard work, non-stop touring, and inventive song writing with intellegent lyrics. Clocking in at over 150 shows per year from 2001 to 2006 thoughout North America, Europe and Japan, there are few bands that can match Tub Ring's determination and commitment to music. Touring partners include Mindless Self Indulgence, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Estradasphere, The Girly Freak Show, Kill Hannah, Wesley Willis, Dog Fashion Disco, The Fully Down, and many more.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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PELICAN
w/ Black Cobra & Unearthly Trance
The secretive instrumental art metal outfit Pelican was formed in Chicago by guitarists Trevor de Brauw and Laurent Lebec, with bassist Larry Herweg and his sibling drummer, Bryan. Owing a great debt to pioneering forefathers Neurosis and often compared to Boston's nearly as influential Isis (minus the vocals, naturally), Pelican coincidentally also found a home at Isis mastermind Aaron Turner's Hydra Head Records. After making their debut with an eponymous four-song EP in 2003, Pelican expanded their epic, otherworldly trance-metal to continent-sized movements with 2003's critically acclaimed Australasia album and followed it with 2004's The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw. After nonstop touring, playing in clubs, small halls, and mammoth festivals, the quartet took a much-deserved break. They returned to the studio in 2006 and released City of Echoes in June 2007, followed by the live CD/DVD After the Ceiling Cracked later that December.
this years host...RORY LAKE!!!!
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
$7 or $6 dressed in prom attire
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the 3rd annual
ROCK N' ROLL PROM PARTY
Hosted By Brayton Cameron (of Mother Leopard & Cub / Melon Boat)
w/ Rory Lake Karaoke Dreams & The Truck City Bandits
Join Kickstand Productions for the 3rd installment of the popular 'Rock n' Roll Prom' series. We are pleased to announce that this years event will be hosted by the infamous Rory Lake and his Karaoke Dreams! Come dressed in prom attire and have your photo taken at the door with your b-gurl / b-boi. Try to spike our punch bowl and Pat, and or, Chewie will kick you upside your nappy-ass thrift store get-up. The Truck City Bandits will be playing drunken versions of your favorite songs from the 80's and 90's just before you sing the night away with Rory Lake and his Karaoke Dreams. Bring your dancing shoes and your A-game because a prom king and queen will be crowned at the end of the night...all this set to the backdrop of a Letters To Cleo song. In summation, the greatest night of your godamn life.
@ THE HOUSE CAFE
263 E. Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL
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CRYSTAL CASTLES
w/ Health & Guests TBA
we are crystal castles
we are 1 boy and 1 girl
we are named after She-Ra's home
we play rough.
“Crystal Castles warp the space/time continuum so even Christopher Lloyd wouldn't recognize it” - Pitchfork
“one of the best things to come out of Canada since Arcade Fire” - NME