Famous Laughs - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Drew Labarre / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 28, 2012

As cold air rushes across your face as your boat creeps down and empty river. You notice colors bursting across the sky in aw of this beautiful juncture. In this moment you realize that you are safe and content with life for at least today. Famous Laughs is the solo project of Kansas City native and now Chicagoan Jake Acosta. Also, a member of the popular Distractions and part genius behind tape label Teen River. Had a blast relaxing to this twenty minute psychic wave that Famous Laughs gave us at his former pad Ball Hall. Get stoned and get lost in this beautiful piece.

Also don't miss this live video during the Nitetrotter session itself of Acosta's performance done by NitetrotterTV.



Famous Laughs - Ball Hall Session

Recorded at Ball Hall in Chicago, IL.

X+X - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Calvin Whitehurst / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 27, 2012

When we first started this blog, we started in a record store called Mixtapes in East Moline, IL before we relocated to Chicago. One of the regulars around Mixtapes was our best buddy Heat Jones. Heater used to ride deep in this big huge black van with a Raiders logo on it. Other than just being one of the coolest guys the Quad Cities has to offer, he also is the man behind X+X. Heater mixes all his favorite styles of music from psych rock to noise which creates his original style of music. Add Craig on bass and Heat's captain beefheart style vocals and you have psychedelic concoction . We invited X+X up to Chicago to play a sick show at Schwag City with Milton Melvin Croissant from Denver. Heat and crew who always come party ready opened the night and really gave Chicago a new sound that they embraced. Check out X+X live from Schwag City.

X+X - live number one, live number two and live number 3

Recorded at Schwag City in Chicago, IL

Shitty Wizard - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Katie Shlon / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 26, 2012

Shitty Wizard, the dark side of Iowa City's electronic guru Alex Body. We were really lucky to find out Alex was tagging along with Supersonic Piss when they visited Schwag City. Alex gave us a crushingly loud dooming metal performance. On his knees with a guitar and a mic, this delayed out fuzz fest is a great stoned jam. Be on the look out for an Alex Body performance and check out his new LP Cutting Down Camelot. Good Nite.

Shitty Wizard - Shitty Wizard Live

Recorded at Schwag City in Chicago, IL

Supersonic Piss - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Duane Jewett / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 22, 2012

I was so excited when Supersonic Piss wrote to us about doing a session. We said hell yes and brought them right into the living room of Schwag City for a loud ass performance. A guitar full stack, huge bass amp and crazy ass drums behind some real pissed off vocals brings together the feel of SSP. SSP hails from Iowa City where they recently released a new full length LP on Chicago's Rotted Tooth Recordings. I remember being a kid and being amazed by drummer Joe Ross while he drummed for old projects like Swing by Seven. Now he is has grown into one of the sickest drummers around while being layered with some of the nastiest players and Supersonic Piss is a noisy nightmare that I would jam any day. Catch SSP in your town as they continue to tour heavily and realize how everything is fucked.

Don't miss this sick live video straight from the recording session at Schwag City on NitetrotterTV.



Supersonic Piss - Girls Have Dicks, Secret Hideaway, Choke Yourself Awake, An Easy Lay, Spit in yr Face, Less of Me, Say it ain't So

Recorded at Schwag City in Chicago, IL

Dugout Canoe - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Katie Shlon / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 21, 2012

Dugout Canoe is the solo project of Fairfield, Iowa's own Jacob Issac. The bouncing looping guitars over even bouncier beats clothed with Issacs reverbed vocals bring his creative sound. It is very exciting to find a diamond from such a small town in the midwest. Was lucky to catch him while on tour when he played our home base Schwag City. Smashed in the tiny confines of our living room we tracked this colorfully large noise. Seek out Dugout Canoe coming to your living room and be delighted with his unique grooves.

Dugout Canoe - Song 1, Song 2 and Song 3

Recorded at Schwag City in Chicago, IL

Cool Memories - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Katie Litteral / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 20, 2012

"To Live and Die in Logan Square," the perfectly titled recording that Chicago four pack Cool Memories blessed us with. Cool Memories have been around the city for quite awhile and most know the name. Luscious waves of synth swirling into electronic piano, while soloing guitars and saxaphone coax your ears. Perfectly constructed bass and drums hold together this magical tune as singer Bret Koontz lulls listeners. It seems rare to catch a Cool Memories performance but most are lucky to see the members other projects. They also are residents to locals hot spot Situations. We were lucky enough to catch this session before they left on an east coast jaunt. If you see a flyer that reads Cool Memories, don't miss it.

Check out this video courtesty of NitetrotterTV of Cool Memories live at Situations during the recording of this nite session.



Cool Memories - "To Live and Die in Logan Square"

Recorded at Situations in Chicago, IL

Unmanned Ship - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Duane Jewett / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - February 6, 2012

Not every band needs vocals to get there point across. Some take a more exciting route with a wall of amps and stoner heavy sound to shatter there listeners ears. Unmanned Ship, a three piece hailing from Chicago, IL are a complete sick package. Thick repetitive bass lines and screaming guitar held together with a tight drummer make your head bob with every beat. With a new LP on the way through Rotted Tooth Recordings, the future for these three seems very bright. We were really excited to have them play our Nitetrotter Fest of 2011. They really set the tone for the rest of the nite.

This was the last session recorded after a marathon session at there practice spot Situations. Check out this sick footage live from Nitetrotter Fest 2011 courtesy of Joe Martinez Jr. Also check out other Unmanned Ship videos on NitetrotterTV.


Unmanned Ship - Track One, Track Two, Track Three, Track Four, Track Five

Recorded at Situations in Chicago, IL.