chicago Archives - Backseat Mafia

Album Review: Pan•American – ‘Fly The Ocean In A Silver Plane’: An intricate set of guitar blessed ambience which steer the emotions.

It’s sobering to think that Mark Nelson aka Pan•American has been diligently considering and creating musical radiance for over twenty-five years now. Guitarist, vocalist and founder member of post-rock, ambient…

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Album Review: Blue Earth Sound – ‘Cicero Nights’: Beaming out of Chicago, a fresh and funky take on the smoother side of jazz.

Now here’s a refreshing take on Cinematic Jazz, an album which thrives on the musicians’ interaction rather than the overall widescreen vibe, on the chemistry fizzing between instruments rather than…

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Music

News: Chicagoans Pretoria return with new EP If We’re Pretending

Building off a trio of singles released last year, the Michigan-formed and Illinois-based quartet Pretoria‘s new EP takes a sideways look at upping sticks to chase a new dream, which…

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Album Review: The majestic Horsegirl unveil their stunning masterpiece ‘Phonetics On And On’, ahead of US. UK and European tour.

At the risk of using superlatives so early in a review, I haven’t got this excited about a band since I heard the first single from Fontaines D.C.. Originally from…

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Track: The inimitable Horsegirl ‘Switch Over’ with another über cool laconic delivery ahead of album release and tour.

New York-based Chicago trio Horsegirl today releases the laconic and über cool single ‘Switch Over’ ahead of their second album ‘Phonetics On and On’ which is out next month. It’s been…

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News: The majestic Horsegirl announce new album and grace us with the fabulously louche single ‘2468’

A lot has been happening to Chicago’s enigmatic Horsegirl since the release of their stunning debut ‘Versions of Modern Performance’ back in 2022 – of which I said in my…

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Live Review: Marika Hackman / Oyeme / Art School Girlfriend – Sleeping Village, Chicago 05.10.2024

Review and Photos by Victoria Wai 21 packed-out and sold-out venues for a North American tour celebrating the album Big Sigh were all wrapped up for Marika Hackman with a final sold-out…

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Premiere: Burr Oak stun with emotionally poignant and surprisingly heavy ‘Annabelle’

There’s a moment, about two-and-a-half minutes into the title track from Burr Oak‘s new EP, where everything drops out except a nervous, agitated guitar line—then, chaos and an almighty musical…

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News

News: Local H share remastered ‘P.J. Soles’ from forthcoming reissue

Chicago pair Local H are celebrating a pair of important anniversaries this year. Not only is it the band’s 30th year in existence (with their most recent record being early-pandemic…

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Premiere: Chicago-based Evan Uhlmann takes us on a dreamy trip to the exquisite beauty of ‘Lake Michigan’.

We are very honoured to premiere the new track ‘Lake Michigan’ from Chicago-based musician Evan Uhlmann. Uhlmann wrote his first song at age five, he later studied under Ray Davies…

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