Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Tickets on Sale Friday for New Performances at Mayne Stage

Mayne Stage continues to introduce new acts to its star-studded fall roster including the addition of An Evening with P.J. O’Rourke at 7 p.m. September 22, Liquid Soul at 9 p.m. October 1, Nervous But Excited at 7:30 p.m. October 10, The Black Swans at 8:30 p.m. November 3, and Two Hours Traffic at 8:30 p.m. November 10. Tickets for the shows go on sale Friday, September 17. Purchase tickets at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

An Evening with P.J. O’Rourke, September 22

Americans for Prosperity Foundation Illinois presents An Evening with P.J. O'Rourke, "the funniest hard-bitten, cigar-smoking conservative writer in Chicago," at 7 p.m. September 22. The event is hosted by Colonel (IL) J.N. Pritzker IL ARNG (Retired). A private reception and book signing of O'Rourke's soon-to-be-released book, "Don't Vote: It Just Encourages the Bastards", begins at 6 p.m., followed by a show at 7 p.m. O'Rourke, a self-proclaimed libertarian, has been a writer for more than 40 years, specifically with political and conservative economic views.

Don’t miss P.J. O’Rourke at Mayne Stage Wednesday, September 22. There is no cost to attend the event; however, guests must pre-register at http://americansforprosperity.org/090210-afp-il-activist-event-pj-orourke. For more information, visit http://www.maynestage.com/ or call (773) 381-4554.

Liquid Soul, October 1
Mayne Stage welcomes Liquid Soul at 9 p.m. Friday, October 1. The Grammy-nominated combo that has built its reputation on a compelling mix of jazz, hip-hop, funk and hard-bop made its Telarc debut with the release of One-Two Punch (May 2006).

Pioneers of the acid-jazz movement during their early days in the Chicago club scene of the mid-1990’s, Liquid Soul has evolved over the past dozen years into a musical compendium of sounds and styles that starts with jazz and embraces hip-hop, R&B, dance, funk, techno, world, spoken-word and much more. Led by innovative saxophonist/composer Mars Williams, the eight-piece collective has conquered nearly every corner of the U.S. and is looking to turn up the juice in Europe and other parts of the world via their Telarc debut.

One-Two Punch is Liquid Soul’s fifth recording and clearly their most ambitious since their self-titled, mostly-live debut album in 1996. Make Some Noise, their follow-up effort in 1998, cemented their reputation for delivering the goods in a studio setting as well as from the stage. Since then, they have continued to hammer out infectious grooves with Here’s the Deal (2000) and Evolution (2002).

Catch Liquid Soul at 9 p.m. Friday, October 1. Tickets are $20 and go on sale Friday, September 17. Purchase tickets at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Nervous But Excited, October 10
Nervous But Excited plays Mayne Stage at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 10. Michigan-based, Pleasantly Aggressive Folk Duo Nervous but Excited (NBE; Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver) is two songwriters, two singers, three guitars, a mandolin, a violin, a ukulele, a few harmonicas, dead-on harmony, some vaguely choreographed dancing, an impressive amount of laughter and a glockenspiel. Their original repertoire ranges in topic from smart, introspective narratives to the tactfully political... and they still dabble a bit in the love/post-love variety every now and then.

Road warriors to the core, their endless passion has landed them on stages with folks like Ani Difranco, Iron and Wine, Utah Phillips, Ben Gibbard, Catie Curtis and Cheryl Wheeler to name a few.

When Kate and Sarah take the stage (or living room), the listener won't be able to deny the power of their laughter, combined with their genuinely emotive lyrics and arrangements. They are not afraid to sing loud and sing hard. The sensitive tug of their voices will pull you through worlds of progressive politics, and their harmonies have been described as the kind that builds so smoothly until suddenly they start to shake your insides.

The duo continues to navigate the endless road of music touring and are impressive in their search to find where their music lives within all of us. These are not two musicians that are just looking for audiences to play to. They are looking for audiences to sing to. To laugh with. To appreciate. To breathe in and to take home. Their humor has welcomed us all, their melody has held us, and their movement has energized us.

Off Our Backs Feministed News Journal described NBE as: "Kate and Sarah deliver high-quality, intelligent tunes with the skill and passion of legendary folksingers in the making." NBE is currently on tour supporting their latest project, a six-song EP entitled Just the Two of Us (Our Duo Doing Duos). This EP finds Kate and Sarah alone in the studio conquering the challenge of interpreting soul, R&B, indie pop-rock and 80's rock into their pleasantly aggressive style. NBE chose six duos - The Righteous Brothers, Indigo Girls, K-Ci & Jojo, The Weepies, Tegan and Sara, and Roxette - to cover as a fun challenge for themselves and their voices and as a treat for NBE fans. The EP is accompanied by a series of 6 short and quirk-filled YouTube videos, shot and edited by Kate and Sarah, explaining in one ridiculous way or another, why they chose each song.

In April 2009, NBE released Anchors, the first ever 100 percent carbon neutral CD release. Teamed up with their indie label Riot Grrrl Ink, NBE meticulously tracked all the energy used in the project, from the gas to get to the studio and the energy needed to power and heat it. All promotional paper items were produced using 100% post consumer materials. All energy that could not be avoided was offset through renewable energy credits. NBE and RGI are proud to call it Anchors: {the green album}.

Musically, Anchors is many steps beyond what NBE has done in the past. Kate and Sarah's unique vocal harmonies are enhanced by many talented players including Girlyman, Lyndell Montgomery and Chris Bathgate among others who joined them to color in the lines of the songs with a sweet-tasting assortment of warming-your-feet-by-the-fire-in-the-wintertime kind of instrumentation.

Since 2004, NBE has toured consistently in support of nine releases, Just the Two of Us (Our Duo Doing Duos) (2010 Covers EP), Anchors (2009 Studio), {home}spun (2008 Live), Bootleg from the Basement (2008 EP), Once More... With Feeling (2006 Studio), eight live songs (2005 Live), Torch Song Evolution (2004 EP). Previous independent albums include Kate Peterson's 2005 release of Undone and Sarah Cleaver's 2004 release From Where I Stand.

They have played many established rooms across the country and with artists such as Ani Difranco, Catie Curtis, Lucy Kaplansky, Utah Phillips, Melissa Ferrick, Cheryl Wheeler, Ferron, Toshi Reagon, The Butchies, Alix Olson, Bitch, Girlyman, Pamela Means, Chris Pureka and Ember Swift.

Nervous but Excited is represented by Riot Grrrl Ink and distributed nationwide by Goldenrod Music.

Catch Nervous But Excited at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 10. Tickets are $10 and go on sale Friday, September 17. Purchase tickets at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

The Black Swans, November 3
The Black Swans make their Mayne Stage debut 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 3. In July 2008, The Black Swans’ friend and band mate, Noel Sayre, passed away. He was a great violinist and a great person who helped define the band in sound and spirit.

Columbus, Ohio natives, The Black Swans, are currently mixing their new album, Don’t Blame the Stars, a concept album about being agnostic and placing your faith in music and friendship instead of a higher power, with nods to R&B, country, and rock and name-checking Joe Tex, Roy Orbison, Jimi Hendrix, Sam Cooke, Iris Dement, and many others. It was recorded (mostly) in a garage and mixing in a kitchen. Noel played on most of the songs just weeks before he passed.

In late June 2007, DeCicca co-produced the first new recordings by 1970's Monument recording artist, Larry Jon Wilson, and they featured Noel Sayre on violin on four tracks. Wilson was featured in the cult documentary Heartworn Highways that also includes early portraits of Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt. These new recordings took place in Perdido Key, Florida. It was released in June 2008 on U.K. label 1965 Records. Drag City released it in the U.S. in summer 2009.

Currently, DeCicca is producing a new album by Bob Martin, whose 1973 RCA album Midwest Farm Disaster is a classic and a favorite. The Black Swans’ Chris Forbes (electric guitar) and Canaan Faulkner (bass) also lend their talents to the recording.

The Black Swans have a limited vinyl release coming out soon on St. Ives, called Words Are Stupid, a concept album that includes Noel.

Catch The Black Swans at Mayne Stage November 3. Tickets are $10 and go on sale Friday, September 17. Purchase tickets at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Two Hours Traffic, November 10
Two Hours Traffic plays Mayne Stage at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 10. Their most recent album, Territory, is the follow-up to the Charlottetown band’s Polaris Prize nominated and internationally acclaimed sophomore album, Little Jabs. Once again produced by Joel Plaskett, Territory builds on the promise of Little Jabs as the band continues to write and record sunny pop gems for the heart and head.

Territory, however, also finds Two Hours Traffic discovering the shadows at the side of the road. Right from the get go this becomes apparent as the gold into lead alchemy of the rousing opener Noisemaker kicks in and by the time the title track tells its tale of disillusionment and betrayal you know you are settling in for a drive on the darker side. Indeed, songs such as Weightless One, Drop Alcohol, Wicked Side, and Lost Boys all explore the approaching dusk but just like the more hopeful tracks on the album (Happiness Burns, Sing A Little Hymn) they all lock into the close your eyes, sing along choruses and instantly memorable lyrics that have put Two Hours Traffic on the melodic map.

Initially conceived as a two-piece, lead singer Liam Corcoran and guitarist Alec O'Hanley recruited bassist Andrew MacDonald and drummer Derek Ellis while attending university in their hometown of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. After releasing their April Storm EP in 2003, a friendship was struck up with Halifax hero Joel Plaskett who offered to produce the band's first proper album. While their eponymous debut and their follow up Isolator EP were received warmly by critics, it wasn't until 2007's breakthrough Little Jabs that the world really took notice. Appearing on dozens of year-end best of lists, Little Jabs also garnered an ECMA for Best Pop Recording and was a finalist for the coveted Polaris Music Prize. Add to this, three coast to coast tours, appearances at festivals such as Hillside, CMJ and SXSW and shows across the Atlantic, and Two Hours Traffic is one of the most visible and successful Canadian independent acts of the last two years.

Don’t miss Two Hours Traffic at Mayne Stage on November 10. Tickets are $10 at the door and $8 in advance at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Supporting Acts Announced
Chicago artist Roy Ivy opens for Colin Tyler on September 16. Learn more at http://royivy.bandcamp.com/. Tickets are $7 at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

The Crombies, a ska band, opens for Drop Steady on Sunday, Sept. 19. The Crombies are an all-star, 2-tone styled side project of Deal’s Gone Bad guitarist Dave Simon and former Deal’s Gone Bad member Mike Park. Visit their Facebook page for more information: http://www.facebook.com/thecrombies#!/pages/The-Crombies/143443309023438?ref=ts. Following The Crombies is Tracer Bullet. Tickets for the show are $10 at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Chicago artist Martha Berner opens for Darren Hanlon October 5. Learn more about Berner at http://marthaberner.com/. Tickets are $10 at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Guitarist Tim Sparks opens for The Andreas Kapsalis & Goran Ivanovic Guitar Duo on October 7. Learn more about Sparks at http://www.reverbnation.com/timsparks. Tickets are $15 at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Chicago artist In Tall Buildings opens for Drew Andrew & The Spectral Cities Friday, Oct. 8, following The Loneliest Monk. Learn more about In Tall Buildings at http://intallbuildings.com/. Folk rock group Zach Pietrini and The Broken Bones play after In Tall Buildings. Read more at http://zachpietriniandthebrokenbones.com/. Tickets are $10 at the door or $8 in advance at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Michael Golden & Friends opens for Hosannas on October 14, followed by fellow supporting acts A Tundra and Conductive Alliance. Learn more about Michael Golden & Friends at http://mikegoldenandfriends.com/. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance at http://www.maynestage.com/ or (773) 381-4554.

Village, a Chicago pop band, opens for Jaill on October 29, following special guest Team Band. Learn more about Village at http://www.myspace.com/villagegroup. Tickets for the show are $10 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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