Looming: “Seed” Full Album Stream

a1470389108_10.jpg

Today we are beyond excited to host the full album stream for Looming‘s new album Seed on our site. Check out Seed in its entirety on the player below.

 

Seed is the band’s follow up to 2015’s Nailbiter, both released by No Sleep Records. It has now been roughly four years since the band started here in Springfield in 2013. We got the chance to reflect a little bit on things with Jess, Mitch, and Brandon in the band.

I mean we basically started this band as a fun little local project that specifically wouldn’t tour. But when you have a community that’s as supportive as Black Sheep, you can’t help but go as far as you can, knowing that you have people who really believe in you. -Mitch Baker, guitar

With the writing and recording process for Seed, the band had to take a much different approach than with Nailbiter which was recorded by Brandon Carnes when Southtown Studio was in operation behind Black Sheep.

The writing process was really new to us because we had just moved to different parts of the country so it relied heavily on google docs and videos and demos. I would take the demos sent over and use a rock band USB microphone to record myself over them in my little apartment in Austin then email them back to Pittsburgh and we just did that until we had a record and finished the rest in the studio. – Jessica Knight, vocals/bass

Brandon talks about each of the band members coming out to Pittsburg one by one to record their parts for the new album. “It wasn’t until after the record was finished that we even played the songs together as a full band.” Jess says that the album itself has a theme of change and growth, which stems from some of them (herself and Brandon), leaving their hometown here in Springfield. With this album the band also brought in Nick DeMarco in on guitar. With Seed being released, the band is gearing up for their big release show at Black Sheep on Monday with Screaming Females, and a tour that will span nearly the entire month of October.

I personally feel really excited to play this show at Black Sheep and with Screaming Females because it really feels like everything has come full circle and we get to be back with our community. Every time we do this we know it is right because this is where our support system is. I’m just stoked that Screaming Females is coming back to town because they truly are one of my favorite bands. I would drive the distance and buy myself a ticket to see them, and here they are in my own backyard. – Jessica

Looking back on Looming’s four years as a band which now includes an EP and two full length albums, some slight member changes, members moving, multiple tours, and multiple tour vans, it certainly has been a wild ride for them.

When we started this band, we had no idea the impact it would have on our lives. We had no idea how many incredible people these songs would help us meet. The long drives. The van arguments that you look back and laugh at. The van accident. The outpouring of support from friends and strangers that helped us when the accident happened. Signing to a rad record label. You can’t plan for any of that. This band has absolutely transformed us, but still when we get together and practice it feels just like it did in the basement on 7th Street. – Brandon

The band has announced all of the dates for their record release tour spanning throughout most of the month of October. You can find all of those dates listed on the band’s facebook page right here.

Looming’s official album release show is this Monday, October 2nd at Black Sheep along with Screaming Females, Street Eaters, and Choir Vandals. There are still a few days left to purchase tickets in advance! You can get tickets online right here, or also at Dumb Records during the day. Find a facebook event for that one right here.

October 6th at Black Sheep: Poetry Fight Club

21949899_1985426835034958_3332784276281045576_o.jpg

Continuing the with non-standard rock n’ roll shows at Black Sheep – on Friday, October 6th we are once again trying something new and allowing a new group in town – The Poetry Fight Club – to take over our space. What’s this all about? Here’s a description of what to expect from a facebook event:

Poetry Fight Club is an intimate monthly event hosted by Johari Idusuyi and Emma Wilson. Each month, we propose a question, and then at the event, we all share a poem that centers around that month’s question. The goal is to promote the creation of new work through these prompts, and also to encourage attendees to get comfortable sharing what they’ve written.

For October we ask: What are you harvesting? This prompt is extremely open and flexible! Interpret it how ever you would like. To participate in Poetry Fight Club, bring a poem that answers this question to share with the group.

Bring a pen and paper too for a writing exercise.

This will kick off at 6:30 pm on Friday, October 6th. Feel free to come out if it sounds like something you would be interested in! Admission is $3. Find a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a good look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep this autumn.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Clothing Swap + Reggae Night

21462295_10156207104742289_6045952034934657416_n

After our last roundtable meeting earlier this month bringing up many that had ideas and suggestions as far as what they want to see or help book at our space, we are taking some things on different from the regular ol’ show. Tonight we will be hosting a clothing swap inside of Black Sheep! This will be paired up with a DJ night of sorts by Jim Whitehead of Animals With Human Names who will be playing all of his favorite reggae cuts off of vinyl. Here’s an explanation of the clothing swap from the facebook event:

Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your closet, a swap party is a great time to make new friends and find new threads! Please bring clean goods in gently used condition this includes clothes, shoes, books, bags and jewelry. Guests should also come with an extra tote bag for carting home their finds.

Admission for this is $5 – bring five bucks and whatever stuff you would like to submit to the swap, and then you can just go inside and take whatever you like! Pretty cool. This is happening that night from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Check out a facebook event right here. Also check our shows page for all of the events coming up inside Black Sheep this fall.

Tonight at WUIS: “A Glimpse Into The Underground” Art Exhibition

Screen Shot 2017-09-26 at 7.56.26 AM.png

Tonight! We do not have a show or anything going on at Black Sheep tonight, however there is an opening for an art exhibition at the WUIS building on the University of Illinois campus (One University Plaza, WUIS-130) that very much relates to our space and a lot of the shows we have hosted. That is the opening for the “Glimpse Into The Underground” art exhibition, featuring the works of Brian Galecki (Dumb Records, Black Sheep, Dumb Fest), Kamila Glowacki (Nectar, Girls Rock C-U), and Veronica Mullen (Dumb Fest, Blips & Chitz, Ghoul Jr.). The opening will be taking place this evening from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. This will include poster and album artwork on display, as well as plenty of photos from Veronica. Brian Galecki will have limited edition screen printed posters available for sale just for the showing.

Check out short interviews NPR Illinois and Rachel Otwell organized to preview the show right here. Find a facebook event right here. After today’s opening the gallery will remain open to the public for viewing during the day up until November 3rd. Also check out a video preview of what to expect below:

New Band Pages: The Little Death

21985928_1684544111576228_1699703223_o

Good morning and welcome to another week. This week’s featured band with a new band page on our site is “The Little Death.” They describe themselves as that “self-deprecation emo-indie rock” and you can find more about the band as well as check out one of their music videos on their newly created band page right here. The Little Death do not have any shows lined up at Black Sheep as of right now, but keep an eye out in the near future!

Our current total current band count in Springfield by band pages on our site is now at 45. (We cleaned up the list a bit this weekend). Check those all out on our current bands page right here. Do you play in a band here in town or are a solo project that has not yet set up a page with us? Email us at blacksheepspringfield@gmail.com and we would love to work with you to set something up!

NPR Illinois: “A Glimpse Into The Underground” Art Exhibition Preview

veronica-pic_0.png

WUIS / NPR Illinois has posted a nice preview segment for the upcoming art exhibition “A Glimpse Into The Underground” featuring the works of Brian Galecki, Kamila Glowacki, and Veronica Mullen. The exhibition will have its opening this coming Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm in the WUIS building on the UIS campus. After that the pieces will remain on display for public viewing for over a month until November 3rd.

You can check out the full preview segment on the NPR Illinois site right here. Interview segments have also been airing on WUIS 91.9 throughout this weekend. On the segment you can check out interview pieces with all of the artists, and also a video interview with Brian Galecki about the exhibition, also on the youtube player below.

Find a facebook event for the upcoming art exhibition right here.

Looming and Screaming Females Debut New Songs

21686974_10154805478861232_1480299716789958909_o.jpg

Wow, this weekend has been a good one for new music coming out – could you believe it but both Screaming Females and Looming both debuted brand new songs a couple of days ago on Friday! Both bands will be performing at Black Sheep on Monday, October 2nd – one week from tomorrow.

The new Screaming Females song is called “Black Moon” which you can find streaming on the youtube player below. This is the band’s first new song since their 2015 album Rose Mountain which was released shortly before the band performed at Black Sheep the first time around that March.

Then also on Friday, Impose Magazine debuted a new track from Looming’s upcoming album, Seed. The song is the title track of the new album – “Seed.” You can check out the song in the Impose Magazine article online right hereSeed‘s official release is at Black Sheep for the show on October 2nd. It is being released by No Sleep Records and is Looming’s second album after Nailbiter was released in 2015.

Tickets for the show on October 2nd are still available! You can purchase advance tickets for $12 online right here, or also inside Dumb Records at any time the store is open (every day from noon – 8:00 pm). Advance tickets will be available until 8:00 pm on Sunday, October 1st. After that they will be available at the door for $15.

October 9th at Black Sheep: Brendan Wells Plant Music, Plants With Human Names, Emasculate Regression, Rella

21762803_10213718320539997_7734411542615592483_o.jpg

Today we have a special show to tell you about coming up on Monday, October 9th. We are continuing to try a few new things at Black Sheep and this one is going to be a plant-themed show for all of the plants out there. For this show we have Brendan Wells Plant Music coming from Minneapolis, Minnesota. What is that? It is music for plants. Have a listen on the player below. We also have hip hop project “Plants with Human Names“, formerly “Animals with Human Names”. Emasculate Regression is also performing a special farm sounds set for this show. Before that is solo project of Clare Frachey, “Rella.” And opening things up we have Brian Galecki goofing off on the omnichord.

This show will start at 7:00 pm. Here is the big kicker – the show is $7, BUT if you bring your own *living* plant, the show is $3. So bring your plants! Check out a facebook event for this one right here. Also be sure to check out our shows page for a look at what else is coming up at Black Sheep this fall.

Tonight at Black Sheep: Brandon Austin (CD Release), HILGY, Jermaine Bollinger

19780539_1583677851677310_7356092353234948185_o

We just have one event happening this weekend at Black Sheep – and that is this show featuring Brandon Austin, solo R&B performer tonight. This is still Brandon’s release show as far as we know – Brandon is releasing a CD called “Beauty in Ordinary Things” which is already out on iTunes and all of that good stuff. Brandon also released a music video for one of the songs off of the CD – “Lost And Found” yesterday, which you can check out right here. One of the other artists opening up the show is “HILGY” also from here (?). Then we also have Jermaine Bollinger opening things up.

This one starts at 7:00 pm (doors at 6:30), and is $5. Check out a facebook event for the show right here. Also check out our shows page for a list of everything we have coming up at Black Sheep this fall.

Stick People: “Lips”

a0432193598_10.jpg

Today we bring you a stream of Stick People‘s five-song release Lips, recorded right here in our neighborhood at Southtown Sound. Check out those tracks streaming below. Also head over to the Stick People bandcamp page to download the songs. Physical copies of this will be available at Dumb Records very soon! Also if you have not yet seen the music video to the second track “Lips” – be sure to go check it out right here.

Stick People do not have any shows currently lined up at Black Sheep! How about that!