I am not a hipster. I do not wear thick, black, non-prescription glasses, my Converse are not covered in elaborate doodles, nor do I own a messenger bike or a side-satchel covered in obscure punk band buttons. But I know good music. And good food. And good movies. I like Florence+the Machine, high quality cheesecake and smart humor. From concerts to cuisine, I’ll be bringing you the best of the Midwest.
MUSIC:
Sleigh Bells @ The Beaumont Club July 12 7 p.m. $20
Sleigh Bells’ trademark ear-splitting drum beats and guitar assaults provide an interesting backdrop to the gritty yet mellifluous vocals of Alexis Krauss, who formed Sleigh Bells in 2008 with guitarist Derek Miller after meeting in a Brooklyn restaurant. Since then, the duo has already released two albums. Sleigh Bells’ aggressive music style is exemplified in the heavy guitar riffs and screamed lyrics of the song “Infinity Guitars,” whereas their more mellow side is exposed in the slower, but equally powerful, “Rill Rill.” Sleigh Bells’ publicist described the band’s newest album, “Reign of Terror,” as “the sonic equivalent of a beautiful shotgun to the head.”
Walk the Moon @ The Granada June 12 8 p.m. $12
With only an EP out–a shorter length album–Walk the Moon’s catchy guitar rifts, upbeat lyrics and memorable bridges have earned them a steady stream of followers, including a crowd of thousands at last year’s Lollapalooza. Their brand of fist-pumping, feel good alterna-pop is a cross between Two Door Cinema Club and The Killers. Walk the Moon’s energy comes out in their live performance as well as their music. The trippy melodies of “Anna Sun” are expressed in the even tripper face-painting that occurs ritually before each show. Walk the Moon will release their first full-length album on June 19–seven days after their Lawrence show. Come hear the songs before the rest of the world.
“Come find us out there in real life!” Walk the Moon invites you, as expressed on their website, “We want to party with you. Like, wild-rumpus-style.”
MOVIES:
“The Hedgehog”–Liberty Hall Coming in June
Don’t worry–a vintage cardigan, large-frame glasses and skinny pants are not required to watch a film at Liberty Hall. Many of the movies shown actually have universal appeal, such as “The Hedgehog,” a film coming to Liberty Hall in June. Receiving many accolades from various international film festivals, “The Hedgehog” details the life of a precocious but bored 11 year-old girl, Paloma, who plans to end her life on her twelfth birthday. As the fateful day approaches, she forms friendships with two adults who ease her disgust of growing up. “The Hedgehog” is a French film with English subtitles, but emotion is not confined to languages.
