Firebird’s latest:
August 26, 2026.
Bob Dylan invented the podcast.
Dylan began producing unfiltered, stream-of-consciousness songs in the early 1960s, decades before the podcast made it a format.
by Carys McGrory.
August 22nd, 2026.
A ‘Counter-Review’ of Karly Hartzman and MJ Lenderman Live at Third Man Records.
Not every great live album needs to chase excitement. A defense of Karly Hartzman and MJ Lenderman’s Live at Third Man Records that finds beauty in its slowness, looseness, and post-breakup melancholy.
by Ezra Ellenbogen.
August 16th, 2026.
Only filth will set you free.
Reject a clean, shiny, sanded-down life. Listen to filth. It’ll set you free.
by Kaden Kaden.
August 13th, 2026.
Living in a half-dream: Fishmans’ Long Season.
Reflecting on the cycles of life and once-lost memories through psychedelic pop.
by Josh Ludviksen.
July 29, 2026.
Forest takes the stage.
The alt-rock singer juxtaposes intimate moments of female sexuality with an energetic live show.
by Mimi Mikhailov.
July 26th, 2026.
Did Friko Find Something Worth Waiting For?
On their excellent new album Something Worth Waiting For, Chicago indie rock band Friko takes us on a dreamlike journey through growing up, feeling lost, escaping, and waiting.
by Yining Wang.
July 16th, 2026.
Who owns music in this new garden of beasts, era of copyright?.
Modern music has always walked the tightrope between fair use and infringement. In this article, I discuss the power dynamics of music copyright through examples involving major artists like Kanye West and the major record labels. I also examine the advent of AI in music and how the industry is scrambling to secure its future. Looking ahead, who will be protected, and who will be left behind?
by Alexandra Moxey.
July 6th, 2026.
Madison Cunningham at Thalia Hall.
Photos of Madison Cunningham at Thalia Hall on April 10th, 2026.
by Olivia Greipp.
July 2nd, 2026.
I make time capsules. You should too.
When you realize that you’re living through a period you’d like to remember, make a playlist of it. Here are some of mine.
by Roxane Bushofsky.
June 27th, 2026.
I Snuck into UC Berkeley to see Wisp.
It was worth it.
By Mimi Mikhailov.
May 26th, 2026.
How jazz learned to break rules.
In most music, a wrong note is a mistake. In jazz, though, you can make it work.
By Unnathi Venkatesh.
May 23rd, 2026.
Meet the Korean pop misfits leading the K-Electronic scene.
What the indie K-electronic scene has in store for Korea and the US.
By Jina Jeon.
May 18th, 2026.
Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel at Space.
Photos of Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel at Space on February 13th, 2026.
by Olivia Greipp.
May 11th, 2026.
BENEE at the Metro.
Photos of BENEE at the Metro on March 10th, 2026.
May 6th, 2026.
Claire Dickson In Perfect Balance
Released on March 13th, Claire Dickson’s newest album is a refreshing take on jazz, nature, and the balancing act of life, music, and poetry.
by Mimi Mikhailov.
May 4th, 2026.
Punk Music Taught Me How to Love
Punk has the ability to imbue us with that intoxicating blend of tenderness and ire, to animate our desire to reshape the world and help us find a positive direction for doing so.
by Kaden Kaden.
May 3rd, 2026.
Alemeda at Avondale Music Hall.
Photos of Alemeda at Avondale Music Hall on February 24th, 2026.
by Olin Nafziger.
April 27th, 2026.
The Music of The Sound
Uncompromising and intense, The Sound was post-punk at its finest.
by Aahaan Singh.
April 26th, 2026.
Jordan Ward at House of Blues.
Photos of Jordan Ward at House of Blues on March 15th, 2026.
by Olin Nafziger.
April 20th, 2026.
Glaive Makes A Goal With "Y'all"
Creative ambition, the early 20s experience, and polo jerseys.
by Jina Jeon.
April 17th, 2026.
Politics without words.
The Art Ensemble of Chicago, John Coltrane, and Sun Ra offer us an insight into the poetic possibility of politics without words.
by Ezra Ellenborgen.
April 14th, 2026.
What Color Is She? Pale Orange, Woody Brown, and a Mixed Green
She’s Green with Sunshy, Avsha at Schubas. A low-expectation weeknight show became an unexpected pleasure, tracing color and texture through live sound.
by Yining Wang.
April 11th, 2026.
The anatomy of “coworker rap”: an investigation into a baffling subgenre.
For those who would rather throw tomatoes than applaud, a whole new world of hip-hop awaits.
by Kevin McDermott.
April 9th, 2026.
Bryce Vine at Bottom Lounge.
Photos of Bryce Vine and opener OUT IN FRONT at Bottom Lounge on February 26th, 2026.