The Best Acts Play Mayne Stage
Mayne Stage continues to introduce new acts to its star-studded fall roster including the addition of Darren Hanlon October 5. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The opening acts are yet to be announced. Tickets for the show are $10 beginning Friday, September 3 at 10 a.m. at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.
Darren Hanlon, October 5
Darren Hanlon makes his Mayne Stage debut Tuesday, October 5 with opening guests (to be announced) at 8:30 p.m., 9:20 p.m. and 10:10 p.m., and ending with Hanlon at 11 p.m.
As a young musician, Darren Hanlon slowly got to know his favorite band, Playground, by loaning them his guitar leads, and was soon asked to join as guitarist, in time to record their first EP under new name The Simpletons. He then toured Australia with them for more than five years, standing stage right of songwriting genius, Shane Gelagin.
Hanlon's own songs slowly materialized over that period, and by the time The Simpletons dissolved, he had a small but growing rucksack of tunes that he performed on low-key early weeknights in venues around Sydney. After briefly touring as guitarist/keyboardist for The Lucksmiths and The Dearhunters, Hanlon was finally convinced by Candle records mogul Chris Crouch to commit some of his songs to tape.
After the release of his “Early Days” EP, Hanlon quickly headed to America for a whistle-stop Greyhound bus tour, while national radio at home picked up on an unlikely banjo driven last-minute track called “Falling Aeroplanes”.
During the recording of “Hello Stranger” in 2002, Hanlon collaborated with drummer/instrumentalist Bree Van Reyk, and the pair traveled to Tucson, Ariz. in 2004 to record their album “Little Chills", which took them around the globe.
In 2005, Darren moved to Oxford, UK, and resided there for seven months. His writing for the next project was interrupted briefly with a couple of trips to Scandinavia to support and play in that year's line-up of The Ladybug Transistor, as well as yet another tour in the US with The Magnetic Fields.
After returning home to Australia in 2006, Darren, Van Reyk and good friend Mark Manone (The Lucksmiths) recorded the album “Fingertips and Mountaintops”, marking the beginning of a long collaboration between Hanlon and Portland, Ore. piano/trumpet wiz Cory Gray (Carcrashlander) who flew to Australia to contribute. Hanlon added lyrics to one of these very tunes for his first co-write, included on the album as “Old Dream”.
“Fingertips and Mountaintops” yielded radio songs and new live favorites which began a relentless touring schedule for the next few years and yet another support tour with The Magnetic Fields, this time in Europe. In early 2009, a Rarities collection was released called “Pointing Rayguns at Pagans”.
Hanlon, currently touring with English alternative rock musician Billy Bragg, sums up his repertoire: "I record, I tour, I record, I tour…" Don't miss Hanlon at Mayne Stage Tuesday, October 5.
Supporting Acts Announced
Cains & Abels, a Chicago indie rock band, opens for The Spring Standards, Wednesday, September 8. Cains & Abels began rehearsing in Grand Rapids, Mich. in 2003. Two years later, the EP “Clean Cloud Science” was released on New Blood. Moving to Chicago, the band began working on its recent 2009 States Rights release, “Call Me Up,” engineered by NOMO member, Erik Hall. Learn more at http://www.cainsandabels.com/. Following Cains & Abels, see What About Rosalind, a hip, creative alt/folk band with smart, unpredictable lyrics. Read more at www.myspace.com/whataboutrosalind. Tickets are $8 in advance, or $10 on September 8 at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.
Seafarer, a Chicago indie/folk band, opens for Heypenny and Kyle Andrews on September 10. Formed in 2008, Seafarer recently self-released their debut EP Hiding Places at a benefit for local community radio upstart CHIRP (The Chicago Independent Radio Project) that was organized by the band. Described by CHIRP President Shawn Campbell as “a Chicago four-piece that writes haunting, sophisticated guitar-based songs that are by turns gentle and driving”, the group hopes to join their mid-west contemporaries in continuing to develop an already dynamic regional music scene and local arts community. Read more at http://www.myspace.com/seafarerchicago.
Following Seafarer is Chicago-based trio A Light Sleeper. Born from the looping experiments of Dheeru Pennepalli, A Light Sleeper swirls creeping guitar and vocals, resonant saxophone, and lithe drumming into coarse hooks and flowing epics. Foregoing the drastic dynamics and calculated bombast of previous efforts (Re:Rec, Bargos Steeler, Creign), ALS opts instead to focus more on the interplay between moods, textures and tones. Building their songs layer upon layer, Pennepalli (guitar/voices), Maria Elena Hernandez (alto saxophone/voices), and Matt Jung (drums/keyboards) cultivate an organic sound that is a touch eerie, yet at times simple and poignant. Since 2005, ALS has been floating along the periphery of Chicago’s experimental scene, self-releasing two albums and playing small shows. In 2009 ALS signed on to release their album Amicability with Another New Calligraphy, a project that helps Chicago artists. Learn more at http://www.alightsleeper.com/. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. September 10. Tickets are $7 in advance, or $10 on September 10. Tickets are available at http://www.maynestage.com/ or at (773) 381-4554.
Haywood Yards, a Chicago indie bluegrass band, opens for Shannon McNally and Hot Sauce, Friday, September 17. Backed by lead singer Mike Semrad, the band’s lyrics describe the trials and joys of working-class existence and the heartbreak of homesickness. The band’s live shows are known for reckless and tight jams of danceable bluegrass-disco. Learn more at www.myspace.com/haywoodyards.
After Haywood Yards comes Antony Ablan and The Tramps. Ablan grew up in a Wisconsin town on the Mississippi River. Without heavy influences of the mainstream, he was free to explore the vast landscape of American music, finding himself in the great lineages of blues, folk, country, and, of course, rock ‘n roll. Today, Ablan has created a sound that is genuine and timeless, yet creatively his. Dramatic rock ‘n roll and gritty back-porch ruggedness live amongst sincere ballads and bright sunshine radio-ditties. Ablan humbly serves the great Americana tradition, across genres, and across eras. For more information, visit http://www.antonyablan.com/. Tickets are $10 in advance, or $12 on September 17. Tickets are available at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.
The Loneliest Monk, Chicago's art rock duo, opens for Drew Andrews & The Spectral Cities October 8. The Loneliest Monk is the musical marriage of two artists with two different backgrounds. Front lady, Michelle Morales (master-of-cellos, keyboard, vocals), has performed live with talented acts such as Phillip Glass, Kanye West, and The Foo Fighters. With a lovely, fragile voice, she sings of all things cute, fun, and innocent, while Miles Benjamin (percussion, vocals, tiny pianos) lets his untamed passions pour over in a darker, more mysterious tone. The Lonliest Monk is a performance, not just a rock show. Elaborate costumes, masks, and sets are supported by an avant-garde sound. Morales and Benjamin bring to the stage a sort of cool, haunting and sexual air that is a welcoming detraction from the current indie trend. Following The Loneliest Monk is In Tall Buildings and Zach Pietrini & The Broken Bones. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 on October 8. Tickets are available at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.
Chicago rock band A Tundra opens for Hosannas Thursday, October 14. Comprised of Donny Mahlmeister, Shelly Steffens, Theo Katsaounis and Liz Payne, A Tundra plays rock music with a variety of influences. Learn more at http://www.atundra.com/. Following A Tundra is Conductive Alliance, a Chicago band combining experimental music with Japanese classical and Dutch pop. Learn more at www.myspace.com/conductivealliance . Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 on October 14. Tickets are available at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.
About Mayne Stage
Mayne Stage is located at 1328 W. Morse Ave. in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. Mayne Stage showcases emerging and established local and national musical acts, theatrical performances, comedy and more. It is the ideal location for a variety of private events. For more information, or to see a list of upcoming shows, call (773) 381-4554 or visit http://www.maynestage.com/. “Like” Mayne Stage on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MayneStage and follow Mayne Stage on Twitter at @MayneStage
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