Seek out something unfamiliar!
[READER]( The Daily Reader August 25, 2023 This summer, the New Yorker [cut its six-page Goings On About Town section down to a two-page spread]( written entirely by staffers. Iâve long been fond of the section; it provided a glimpse of the cityâs nightlife through bite-sized, analytical previews of upcoming performances, written by critics whose wide-ranging tastes often introduced acts to the pages of a magazine that might not otherwise deign to recognize their existence. Goings On About Town as I loved itâbustling, varied, surprisingâisnât the same now that the pool of freelancers who once shaped it are no longer contributors. I loved reading the dance music Goings On About Town entries written by esteemed critic and [onetime Reader contributor]( Michaelangelo Matos. He just wrote [a loving and even-handed reflection of his time contributing to the section for his terrific newsletter]( Beat Connection. âI got to highlight something good, something of my choosing, that was happening at the clubs of the world's biggest city nearly every week,â Matos wrote. âI got to write about DJs for a general audience and I got to use three-dollar words.â This reminded me of what I love about contributing to the Readerâs concert previews section, which we once called Soundboard. Every issue gives me the opportunity to write about several touring and local musicians whose work draws me in for some reason. Then I get to figure out what about their music interests me, why I think they matter, and, most importantly, why I think you should give them your attention, if just for one night. I spend a good chunk of time on the three previews I contribute to the section. I usually take a couple hours to pore over local concert calendars, often taking time to listen to musicians who Iâd never heard of before that moment, in search of the handful of concerts I feel passionate enough about to pitch to the section editor, [Jamie Ludwig](. In the days and hours leading up to my deadline, I usually listen to the acts Iâll write about on a loop, which is illuminating and also a little frustrating; thereâs so much music I want to hear thatâs unfamiliar to me that I sometimes have difficulty focusing on, say, a single EP for an assignment. Squeezing all my feelings, insights, and research into a paragraph or two also can be a challenge for me, since I prefer to write long. (Have you read [my 6,500-word story about throwing out ceremonial first pitches at minor league baseball games]( yet?) All this is worthwhile to me, since I get to tell you what is happening in Chicago music and nightlifeâand I hope I encourage you to seek out something unfamiliar. This is the section where I cover nonlocal acts, but I still spend a good chunk of the space on Chicago musicians. For the newest issue, I wrote about two local acts that happen to be celebrating brand-new releases at Metro: [D2x]( (who performs Friday) and [Neptuneâs Core]( (who play the following night). If neither of those suits your tastes, I hope you keep digging through [the rest of our concert previews](. Chances are youâll find something that will pique your interest. Sincerely,
â[Optical Illusions,]( by Kevin Lozano (The Nation)
â[Noname is accountable to her community, not the internet]( by Mark Braboy (The TRiiBE)
â[Inside the Unmistakable Madness of Milwaukeeâs Rap Scene]( by Alphonse Pierre (Pitchfork) Mick Jenkins, [The Patience](
Beth McDonald, [the new moon's out of the way](
Lucas nâ the Lurkers, [Sucks](
ð Leorâs â[penultimate August 2023 playlist]( playlist
[First pitch: a journey through ceremony and baseball](
A summer project for a Reader writer reveals how minor league baseballâand the people who see themselves in itâmeasure success. by [Leor Galil]( | [Read more]( â
[Alexis Lombre brings her many-hued sound world to the Chicago Jazz Festival](
The pianist, singer, composer, and producer will share vivid, genre-blurring songs from her forthcoming debut album. by [Hannah Edgar]( | [Read more]( â [The Body unleashes unpredictably predictable doom]( by [Noah Berlatsky]( | [Read more]( â [Teatime with Lisa Low](
The Chicago poet discusses her new chapbook, Crown for the Girl Inside. by [Luz Magdaleno Flores]( | [Read more]( â Hey Chicago, what do you read? September 7 is our Books Issue, and we want your book recommendations! Click below to complete our Books Poll. [TAKE OUR BOOKS POLL](
[Issue of
Aug. 24 â Sept. 6, 2023
Vol. 52, No. 23]( [VIEW / DOWNLOAD ISSUE [PDF]](
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