Lovely Little Girls is an avant-rock band led by artist Gregory Jacobsen and bassist Alex Perkolup. Using Jacobsen’s grotesque paintings as a basis, they write theatrical suites that morph from of-kilter dance anthems to punishing and ridiculous prog. Influenced by artists such as Fred Frith, Magma, The Residents and Captain Beefheart, Lovely Little Girls moves between No-Wave, Rock-in-Opposition prog, metal and free jazz. Initial simple musical motifs quickly deform into charges of odd harmony and tangled polyrhythms; yet it is grounded in a love for catchy melodies. Jacobsen’s syllable-stuffed cut-and-paste prose adds to the absurdity with lyrics about over-ripe food, incompetent sex and undignified death.

Black Bear Combo was formed in 2002 by Doug Abram, a noise drummer inspired to take up horns after hearing Romany musicians in Ceske Krumlov. Our travels have taken us across the country, to festivals on both coasts, Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans, the Halloween party at the White House, and every nook and corner of Chicago. We’ve played rock clubs, basements, festivals, weddings, funerals and parties of every description. Our sound is rooted in different styles from eastern Europe which we play in a way that’s all our own. But it would be nothing without sharing it, so we’ll see you at the next show!!!