- Sick/Tired
On Saturday the Empty Bottle is putting on Winter Frozen Dancing, a free afternoon concert featuring Marnie Stern, Diarrhea Planet, and Heavy Times that’s being held outdoors. It’s tough to imagine spending more than a few moments outside considering how miserable the weather’s been this week, but if Diarrhea Planet’s four guitarists can tear it up outdoors, I can certainly brave the cold to see that happen.
Hellfyre Club is an eclectic hip-hop collective based in LA, though, as I note in Soundboard, it has some local connections: Open Mike Eagle is from the south side and Milo moved to Chicago in the fall. “They both do some heavy lifting on Hellfyre Club’s most recent release, November’s pay-what-you-want online compilation Dorner vs. Tookie, and they’re part of the core four-man group appearing at tonight’s crew performance, alongside original member Busdriver and label founder Nocando. On Dorner vs. Tookie their idiosyncratic perspectives, distinctive forms of charisma, and tics in rhyming style work together to make something bigger than the sum of its parts (‘the Megazord,’ as they say on Bandcamp). These dudes clearly have a ball making music together, and the MCs fill the tunes with shout-outs to their compatriots (some subtle, some obvious) and endearing little in-jokes that hint at their deep bonds even when you’re not in on them. I’m not entirely sure why, say, Open Mike Eagle feels the need to tell Busdriver on ‘Apologies’ that he’s ‘sorry I get haircuts you’ve already had,’ but their camaraderie is audible in his voice.”
Sun 3/2: Sick/Tired at Township
