Lil Dusk - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Drew Labarre / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - March 11, 2012

Lil Dusk is my good friend Ashely Johnson. A long time lady of Chicago decided to pack her bags and head to the big apple. We tracked these two songs only days before she left us for the even bigger city. What she left us with was these two gems made with her partner Bryan Clopton. With both a mixture of hip hop and sharp singing vocals screaming sex and drugs. What more could you want.

Want to see this live? Here you go...



Lil Dusk - First Song and Second Song

Recorded live in Pilsen in Chicago, IL

The Funs - Nitetrotter Session

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

"All you want to do is bring me down," sings The Funs male half Phillip Lesicko. This band does everything but bring me down though. Crunchy driving guitar backed with beat bopping drums with some 80's punk vocals and you have a nasty mix that is The Funs. Even more interesting his how the duo switch from drums and guitar. The guitar reminds me of a sped up Joy Division. Resident Chicago rockers create the boy girl duo of The Funs. Lesicko also runs his own label called Manic Static. Catch The Funs playing around town and really enjoy these tunes.

This is live footage courtesy of NitetrotterTV, of The Funs while being recorded for this session.



The Funs - Drag, Dead Days, Still Sick, Moon, Yeah Sure and Hey Babe.

Recorded in Pilsen in Chicago, IL

Anthony Levin-Decanini - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Katie Shlon / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - March 4, 2012

Deep in the dark confines of the late Drone City played a man named Anthony Levin-Decanini. A long time Chicago noiser and proud father. We tracked this very original session while Decanini performed live at Drone City with bands Deep Earth and Food Pyramid. A very avant style with uses of electronics and panning. The most interesting being when he used this device that would slide a card through it. The sounds were jarring and frightful but to my delight. Take a listen to this abstract nite session by Anthony Levin-Decanini.


Anthony Levin-Decanini - Live @Drone City

Recorded at Drone City in Chicago, IL

Johnny Young - Nitetrotter Session

Illustration Drew Labarre / Sound Engineering Nathan Gregory / Text Nathan Gregory - March 3, 2012

Watching Johnny Young picking is like watching a ceiling fan go round. Its movement so quick that it looks as if it is standing still. Even more fascinating about his picking is the fact that he only picks with with two fingers. Many people refer to this style as Travis picking after famous guitarist Merle Travis. Johnny Young is quite the experienced guitar player for being so young in age. Well versed at many traditional folk tunes and war hymns, Young plays acoustic 12 string to bar slide to even picking up a banjo for the first time and sounding like a veteran. We spent an early afternoon in the living room of my apartment tracking some great stuff. Keep an ear out for some future releases of Johnny Young and hopefully some collaborations with good friend Ryley Walker.

Here is some great footage of Johhny Young while recording the session and his furry audience.



Johnny Young - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Recorded in Logan Square in Chicago, IL

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