Illinois Entertainer March 2016 | Page 20

Knuckle Puck: Life Imitating Art Continued from page 20 www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com T U E S D AY, M A R C H 1 A CD release celebration for the blues artist's new Alligator release, "The Chicago Way." The best blues bargain in town...Lagunitas and WDCB's Blues Time with Tom Marker present a monthly show dedicated to the blues. Plus new in 2016 - BBQ by AUTRE MONDE, available throughout the evening Bluesday Tuesday with Toronzo Cannon W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 Raffle prizes featuring restaurant gift cards, family photo package, jewelry, spa services, theme baskets and more! From 7pm-10pm Line Up for Lisa Benefit music by Expo '76 F R I D AY, M A R C H 4 Spirituals to Depression-era blues, from ragtime to traditional jazz—Tuba Skinny;s sound evokes the rich musical heritage of their New Orleans home. Doors open at 7 pm. Tuba Skinny S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 5 Founder, primary songwriter and former lead vocalist for Georgia Satellites Dan Baird & Homemade Sin plus The Jimmys In The SideBar Ralph Covert's Acoustic Army T U E S D AY, M A R C H 8 Come on out and celebrate the third anniversary of our evening of spoken word hosted by Maureen Muldoon with musical improvisation by Cathy Richardson. Voice Box with Cathy Richardson W E D N E S D AY M A R C H 9 , 1 6 , 2 3 , 3 0 A month-long Wednesday night residency p eforming two sets. Doors open at 7 pm. reaching the heights that Louis The Child are reaching. Though the group – comprised of Robby Hauldren, 19, and Freddy Kennett, 18 – isn’t letting their age stand in the way of a serious career making music. “For a while, we had a tough time getting into the places that we were performing,” Hauldren admits, “but aside from that, as long as there’s quality music, it shouldn’t really matter how old you are.” Both members were active in different areas of electronic music before linking up, with Kennett already producing under the title Fatboy, and Hauldren operating under the alias Haul Pass, concentrating more on mashups and DJ’ing. Since joining forces, LTC has been building a buzz around Chicago, with 2016 being a breakout year. The duo is performing two shows at the legendary Coachella Music Festival next month, performing the same weekend as heavyweights LCD Soundsystem, Jack Ü, and M83. “It’s always been about making good music,” Kennett confirms about the duo’s philosophy. “We decided after our first couple shows to stop seeking them out, and to work on getting our music out to as many people as possible, working five to eight hours a day on producing music. Now, the past 10 shows have been sold out. Working on music first has been the decision that really brought us here.” Out of LTC's growing catalogue, “It's Strange" has served as their breakthrough single. A Hype Machine hit, the track contains more than 20 remixes in its official release formats. It’s a light and groovy Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel B leeding-heart-on-your-sleeve poppunk is nothing less than a tradition in Chicago, and south suburban outfit Knuckle Puck may just be the next heirs to the purple velvet throne, delivering heartfelt songs of heartbreak and redemption. The band - vocalist Joe Taylor, guitarists Kevin Maida and Nick Casasanto, bassist Ryan Rumchaks and drummer John Siorek - have released a steady stream of EP’s since 2011, including 2013’s The Weight That You Buried and 2014's While I Stay Secluded. In the summer of 2015, Knuckle Puck released their debut full length, Copacetic, a record that’s upfront and unabashed particularly on the brash "Poison Pen Letter,” while moments like “Ponder” offers a more vulnerable and wounded perspective. Attend a Knuckle Puck show and you’ll witness a room full of fans feverishly emoting along to every word of Copacetic’s epic closer, “Untitled.” Summer 2015 also saw another landmark event for the group – Knuckle Puck was a part of the Warped Tour. It’s a trek Maida looks back on as a memorable, if not surreal, experience. “I remember (the Massachusetts show) was insane,” Maida recalls. “None of us really had any real concrete expectations for Warped Tour. But days like that, and in Tinley Park, and a handful of other dates where we actually had a pretty sizable crowd just watching us, is just like, ‘Whoa, this is kind of weird.’ It almost looks like you’re looking at a painting, and it’s not real. You’re just looking at something that was made up, but it’s like reality, in front of your face.” Anytime people just watched us, I was like, ‘Wow. Knuckle Puck photo: Ashley Orborne F R I D AY, M A R C H 11 Free entertainment at FitzGerald's in the club and SideBar inclues The Velvet Jimmys, Cast Iron Skillet, Pack of Stanleys and Ian Leith. Doors to the club open at 7 pm; SideBar at 5 pm. Green Mile Pub Crawl S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 1 2 Performances by Switchback and the Colleens Irish Stepdancers, The Dooley Brothers, Beatles Band (featuring Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Tony Kidonakis and Joe Camarilllo), Cannonball. The Mayer School Stepdancers with Paul and Mary McHugh will perform in the aft \