Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Songs for your summer

Every time anyone even says the word we lose it. All year we dream about what it would be like to get those months off. We dream about how amazing it will be to cruise around in weather that is finally above 40 degrees. When it’s finally here, all we want to do is celebrate. So, here are the music essentials that will cover all you need this summer. Each playlist will help you relax a little more and hopefully become your go-to summer songs.

Driving Around (or road trip): Nothing is more freeing than the feeling you get when you roll your windows down, let your hair down, feel the wind hit your face and let the summer breeze fill your lungs. It’s the feeling of pure happiness. At that moment, everything can be upbeat. The only thing that can match that is an equally freeing and happy playlist.

Playlist: “Morocco”- Moon Taxi, “See the Sun”- Henry Hall, “What A Day”- Greg Laswell, “Backstreet Lovers”- The Crookes, “When I Get Older”- Wild Party, “Under the Cover of Darkness”- the Strokes, “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”- the Talking Heads, “Constant Conversations”- Passion Pit, “The Girl”- City in Colour, “We Don’t Need Our Heads”- A Great Big Pile of Leaves, “Elevate”- St. Lucia

Summer Nights: We all need a break. For the past 10 months, we have been cooped up in a classroom after classroom looking at the glimmer of sunlight trying to break through the dying trees with no success. Lucky for us, it’s time to let that go. We get the chance now to spend the nights how we please. We can run around with our friends and go out to see the beautiful scenery that will be blooming around us. So, here is a playlist for those nights, when your music should be just as relaxed as you are.

Summer Nights Playlist- “Driving to Hawaii”- Summer Salt, “Dear to Me”- Electric Guest, “Vacation”- Florist, “Holding Roses”- Twin Peaks, “Chihiro”- Yoste, “Sunset Lover”- Petite Biscuit, “Polaroids”- Josh Jacobson, “Indian Food”- Dumbo Gets Mad, “Am I Just One”- Carey Ott, “Little Brother”- Ella Vos, “Dog Years”- Maggie Rogers, “Take You”- Early Eyes,

Jams for the Summer: Whether you’re outside or inside, with friends or alone, cool nights or sunny days: Whatever the time or weather, summer is the perfect time to break out your favorite songs or find new songs that you can continually jam to. These are some of our favorites.

Jams: “Dissolve Me” -Alt-J, “Mr. Blue Sky” -Electric Light Orchestra, “Lake Shore Drive” -Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, “The Wanderer” -Dion, “Here Comes Your Man” -Pixies, “In the Summertime” -Mungo Jerry, “Naked Kids” -Grouplove, “Come On Eileen” -Dexys Midnight Runners, “Houdini” -Foster The People, “Baby You’re Out” -Mac Demarco

Gluskin’s Recommendation: To finish off our final post of the 2016-17 school year, we asked our Drops of Ink teacher, Mr. Michael Gluskin about his taste in music and any last recommendations for our listeners. What he often looks for is music that is genuine and raw, rather than meaningless “noise and sounds,” he explained. The simple beauty of the violin in a Coldplay song, or the underlying banjo behind many Mumford and Sons songs provide a perfect example of the type of organic sound Mr. Gluskin looks for in his music, which, for some people, is just the way to relax and prepare for a break.

Gluskin’s playlist: “Strawberry Swing”- Coldplay, “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall”-Coldplay, “The Cave”- Mumford and Sons, “I Will Wait”-Mumford and Sons, “Budapest”-George Ezra, “Feel Again”- OneRepublic, “Beautiful Day”-U2, “Sleep On The Floor”-The Lumineers, “From Finner”-Of Monsters and Men, “Higher Than The Sun”- Keane, “Southern Sun”- Boy & Bear, “Mess Is Mine”- Vance Joy

Upcoming Summer Festivals:

Chicago Gospel Music Festival- Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center- Chicago- June 2-3

Spring Awakening- Addams/Medill Park, University Village/ Little Italy- Chicago- June 9-11

Mamby on the Beach- Oakwood Beach- Chicago- June 24-25

Summerfest- Henry Maier Festival Park- Milwaukee- June 28-July 9

Taste of Chicago- Grant Park- Chicago- July 5-9

Pitchfork- Union Park- Chicago- July 14-16

Lollapalooza- Grant Park- Chicago- August 3-6

North Coast Music Festival- Union Park- Chicago- September 1-3

Thursday, May 4, 2017

8 bands you may not know but you should.


  1. Mild High Club:  This eclectic group is specifically for those of us who need to unwind a little. Their elongated rhythms and methodical placement of notes in a sequential order convey a modern sense of relaxation and positivity to anyone who listens.
Songs: “Homage,” “Tessellation.”
  1. Ezra Furman: Whatever mood you’re in: defeated or upbeat, lost or found Ezra Furman has a song for it. His music mix elements of classic rock with new age pop and clever lyrics to showcase everything that you have been missing out on.
Songs: “Mysterious Power,” “Little Piece of Trash.”
  1. Beirut: There is a lot to be said about a good rhythm in music. It highlights the best part of the song, and if it is altered in any way, the song completely changes. Beirut is the perfect example of how rhythm can create a song. While their lyrics and song are good, their rhythm is beautiful and unmistakable.
Songs: “No No No,” “Gibraltar.”
  1. Foxygen: Rock was meant to break tradition, so they should never mix or work together. Foxygen proves that wrong. This group uses their unique sound and lyrics to attract indie audiences from all over. With their mellow rock and contemporary jazz, they prove that sometimes opposites attract.
Songs: “Follow the Leader,” “How Can You Really.”
  1. Belle & Sebastian: For those really happy days, when you’re feeling yourself and everything around you, pop in an earbud and listen to Belle & Sebastian. But don’t worry, the upbeat sounds don’t distract from their brilliant and genuine lyrics.
           Songs: “Piazza New York Catcher,” “Boy with the Arab Strip.”
  1. Tom Rosenthal: Tom Rosenthal is a good, wholehearted man, that he creates his music to match his persona. His slow melodies belong in the clouds.
Songs: “Middle of My Mind,” “All of them Dreams.”
  1. Apache Relay: This band from Nashville, Tennessee creates very sentimental folk-rock music. Think Mumford and Sons, but with a chiller vibe.
Songs: “Power Hungry Animals,” “Good as Gold.”
  1. Happy Fits: A foot-tapping, feel-good band, The Happy Fits create music very true to their name. It’s suggested you listen to them when you are in a good mood or want to be in one because they are sure to cheer you up.  A bonus about this band is that they use their music to raise money for various charities!
Songs: “Too Late,” “Dirty Imbecile.”

Discovery Playlist: "Foreign Bodies" - Radiation City, "Seattle Party"- Chastity Belt, "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)"- Father John Misty, "Man in the Sixties"- Balue, "Hunk Beach"- the Walters, "Lost in the Light"- the Bahamas, "In This Shirt"- The Irrepressibles, "Archie, Marry Me"- Alvvays

Upcoming Concerts:

Vulfpeck- May 6th- Metro- Chicago- 7:00pm

Frankie Cosmos- May 12th- Vic Theatre- Chicago- 7:00 pm

Father John Misty- May 15th- Chicago Theatre- Chicago- 6:30 pm

Tears for Fears- May 15th- Allstate Arena- Chicago- 7:00 pm

Mac DeMarco- May 16th- Vic Theatre- Chicago- 7:30 pm