By Leor Galil

Copyright chicagoreader

If you’ve ever watched CBS News on channel 2 and heard fantastic local music during a broadcast, it’s likely been the doing of director Mauricio Reyes—he has one of the best ears of any media worker in the city, and this wolf isn’t just saying that because he’s a friend. Earlier this summer, he also helped break the story that Travis Scott had sampled Pixel Grip’s “Pursuit” without permission.

Reyes is an avid runner as well as a voracious listener, and he’s always looking for excuses to share his passions. Around two years ago, he launched Album Runs, a noncompetitive run club for folks eager to move to music and talk about it with other people. Reyes selects an album for participants to listen to on headphones, and everyone runs or walks the selected course (usually the 606) at their own pace. Reyes often invites the musicians who’ve made the albums to get involved: In July 2024, for example, noise-rap duo Angry Blackmen joined Album Runs to talk about their album The Legend of ABM the day before their set at the final Pitchfork Music Festival. Real Ones sponsored the run and held a ticket giveaway to ABM’s Cobra Lounge aftershow that was open to everyone who came out.

The title track and lead single of the forthcoming Drama album Platonic Romance

Reyes has something special planned for the 25th Album Runs meetup on Thursday, September 25. The crew will run to Platonic Romance, the forthcoming album by Chicago dance duo Drama, and vocalist-lyricist Via Rosa and producer Na’el Shehade will be on hand to discuss it. That’s not all, either! Reyes has worked his connections to provide postrun food from Small Cheval and beverages from hibiscus tea maker Ruby, both for no charge—and everybody also gets a free Album Runs T-shirt. The complimentary goodies aren’t unlimited, of course, but you can secure a spot with an RSVP at the Album Runs Eventbrite (linked on the group’s Instagram page). Participants will gather at 6 PM by the 606 entrance at Milwaukee and Leavitt.

Booker, musician, and all-around swell dude Sullivan “Sully” Davis launched promotion company Local Universe in early 2021. It presents comedy shows, concerts, and ambitious events around town—including the rootsy Cosmic Country variety show and the queer country fest Lavender Prairie. The Local Universe umbrella also includes regular bookings at two newer events spaces on the northwest side: Judson & Moore and Color Club. Late last month, Davis took on a more official role at Color Club, becoming the space’s head talent buyer.

“I’m excited to be working for a community-driven venue I’ve been developing alongside for a while,” Davis says. “I’m excited to dive back into comedy programming, take advantage of the possibility of all-ages shows, and build some new series like Green—a monthly all-ages new-artist showcase curated by different Chicagoans of note.” This wolf is looking forward to seeing what else Davis has cooking!

On Thursday, September 18, the International Museum of Surgical Science hosts the second installment of Refining the Third Ear, a monthslong series of experimental music designed to transform the ear into an active instrument. Composer Itsï Ramirez (who’s released music through Philadelphia experimental label No Rent) and self-described “electronic poet” Bret Schneider founded the series around the psychoacoustic phenomenon of the “third ear” as defined by composer Maryanne Amacher. Loosely speaking, this involves using carefully engineered tones to cause the inner ear itself to emit sound—the listener perceives sounds as issuing from within the head and sometimes dancing closely around the body.

Lula Asplund will be part of the Refining the Third Ear concert on Thursday, September 18.

Both Ramirez and Schneider will perform Thursday, along with local sound artist and composer Lula Asplund. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and the performance starts at 7 PM. Asplund, Ramirez, and Schneider will reconvene at the IMSS on Saturday, September 20, for a panel on the development of third-ear music and the history of avant-garde music and art. Tickets are $15, and the panel runs from 1 PM till 3 PM. The series will return to the IMSS on Thursday, October 2, and Thursday, October 16. Students and IMSS members get a $5 discount on tickets, and for members the panel is free.

The new Everson Poe album includes appearances from Sylvia Rose and Melora Cayce.

On Sunday, September 21, heavy Chicago multi-instrumentalist Mae Shults will release her 17th album (not a typo!) under the name Everson Poe, Enough Is a Myth. For this release, Shults drew inspiration from the 2022 straight-to-Hulu reboot of Hellraiser, which cast trans woman Jamie Clayton as Pinhead; this wolf hopes the music will be equally dark and otherworldly. Vocalist Thia Mathes, a new collaborator on the Everson Poe project, sings on Enough Is a Myth, and her clean vibrato lends operatic gravitas to lead single “Lore.”

New releases from two bands who made excellent but overlooked releases in 2024

Two bands who appeared in the Reader’s “best overlooked Chicago records of 2024” list just put out new full-lengths. On September 8, rambunctious alt-rock duo Nüde dropped a compilation called Bloody Gulch (which is also their Instagram handle). It includes every song the band have ever released, plus a few previously unavailable tracks; cassette copies are available through microlabel LittleHeadButt. On September 12, Prathloons released Breadbox, which gets their rootsy midwest emo simmering delightfully. On Friday, September 26, they’ll open for Preston Woolsey at Color Club; tickets cost $18.03, and Prathloons hit the stage at 8 PM.