The SoundBite

Built to Spill at Thalia Hall, 8.18.22 Pilsen has long served as a historical haven for Chicago immigrants on the lower west-side of Chicago, first for the German and Czech population who gave the neighborhood its name, and then most notably as the Mexican American cultural center of the city in the second half of the 20 th century. Gentrification, however, has pushed the Hispanic population farther west to Little Village as new developments and University of Chicago students have moved in from the east. Through all the demographic changes and cultural stratification though, Thalia Hall has stood on the corner of Allport and 18 th street, a relic from a time where Pilsen could warrant an opera house and now presents itself as a multilevel punch bar, new American restaurant, and concert venue. For some, Thalia Hall is another sign of gentrification, but as a Chicago Historical Landmark, it would be worse to withhold it from the community. Owners 16’’ on Center to their credit, h...

Quinn Christopherson, Julien Baker, Sharon Van Etten, and Angel Olsen at The Salt Shed, 8/10/22 Besides a near-fatal collision between two bicyclists and claims of a broken femur just outside the front gate, the third show to kick off at the newest venue in Chicago began without a hitch. It was only 5:30 and the bumper-to-bumper rush hour parked on the Kennedy Expressway was close enough to turn off their radios and listen in. They were in luck, because ahead of his full-length debut, Quinn Christopherson was capitalizing on an audience full of Tumblr and IPA enthusiasts who provided a sizeable energy and who will surely be clamoring for a physical release once September 16 th rolls around. It was a brief set, but one that made an impression, and not only for the manufactured importance of being one of the first artists on this particular stage. In reality that importance, at least from Christopherson’s end, should have come from the small handful of musicians who predated him; Makaya...