If you haven’t heard of Frontier Psychiatrist (FRONT/PSYCH for short) then you’re missing out on one of the best music, movie, food, literature, and culture blogs in America. The DC based website started back in 2010 and eventually expanded its reach to include more than 100 contributors nationwide. Since their expansion, Chicago has become a second home for the online magazine.
This weekend, FRONT/PSYCH will host their second live music showcase ever. The first being in their hometown of Washington DC and featuring Cigarette, Netherfriends, Ryley Walker, and Br’er. To reaffirm their love of the Chicago music scene, they are hosting their second showcase right here in the windy city, and they’ve curated an amazing lineup.
Starting the night off are local pop/punk/new-wave stoners, EGO. You may remember them as MASSIVE EGO back when we reviewed their incredible debut LP Don’t. They may have downsized their ego but their sound has only become more focused with the release of their latest self-titled EP. They’re undoubtedly one of the best bands active in Chicago right now. Get there early, you won’t want to miss them.
Cleveland’s Herzog hits the stage next. They tend to fall into the Power Pop genre but they skirt the lines of indie, punk, folk, and just about anything else you can imagine. You have to love a track called “Silence” that has a raunchy overdriven bass line throughout the entirety of the 2 minute song. Oh, they also have witty, satirical songs about mundane pop culture characters such as Paul Blart. If you haven’t heard their 2010 album, Search, take the time to stream the rest of it via bandcamp, you won’t want to stop listening to it.
Capping the evening off is Baltimore duo, Ed Schrader’s Music Beat. Armed with a floor tom, a bass, and an incredible set of vocal chords, the duo is one of the most unique bands I’ve heard in a long time. Ed Schrader began the project as a solo act with only his floor tom by his side. Bassist, Devlin Rice, adds an amazing dynamic to Schrader’s franticly pounding drums (or should I say “drum”). Their sound ranges from brooding minimalist post-punk to all out high energy punk rock that is impossible to ignore. Needless to say, they provide a visceral live experience that needs to be seen to be believed. For now, study the official video for “Radio Eyes” and just imagine what it will look like performed live on Saturday night.
FRONT/PSYCH spared no expense in making their first Chicago showcase an incredibly broad range of local and national acts. Given the calibre of their online content, I would expect no less from these folks.
This is a late one but hey, it’s a Saturday. You’ve got no reason not to go out and enjoy this eclectic lineup. The beer selection alone should be reason enough to get you out the door.
Doors open at 10pm (show at 10:30) at Quenchers Saloon (2401 Western Ave.) $7, 21+
More info can be found on the Facebook event. Avoid the cover charge at the door, pick your tickets up early here.
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