The Pickpockets

Pickpockets at Silvie’s July 17th

Brian — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 23:27:04 +0000

The Pickpockets commemorate the start of the Battle of Stalingrad with a July 17 show at Silvie’s (1902 West Irving Park Road). Wear a red star, bring a sickle, drink some vodka.

Do Svidaniya,
The Pickpockets

March in like a lion

Brian — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:50:06 +0000

Seriously, rent a costume and draw whiskers on your face and everything. The doorman at Goose Island Wrigleyville, 3535 North Clark Street, will not hassle you at all next Friday, March 5 when you explain that you are there to see the Pickpockets. This is a big show for us, people, so please come out and show your love.

February gets short shrift, again

Brian — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 16:21:37 +0000

The Pickpockets will be playing two shows in early 2010. The first will be at the band’s home-away-from-home, Silvie’s Lounge, on 1/30. The second will be at Goose Island Wrigleyville on 3/5. The band will buy free drinks for anyone who shows up with a live groundhog.

Own a piece of future history

Brian — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:58:13 +0000

This is one eBay auction all Pickpockets fans will want to own:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280385034121

August 21st – Silvie’s Lounge

Brian — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:54:42 +0000

August 21st was the birthday of the Clash’s late, great Joe Strummer.

Honor thy rock gods by going to see a live show.

We suggest:

The Pickpockets
Silvie’s Lounge
Friday August 21st, 10p-1a
$5

Getting outside of the norm

Brian — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:48:46 +0000

Thanks to everyone that came out to see us the Humboldt Park Art Fair over the weekend. When the day started, it didn’t look like the weather would cooperate, but in the end it turned out to be a beautiful day with some nice breezes keeping us cool while we played. Playing in Humboldt Park is always a change for us – the unique acoustic properties of the boathouse mean that we usually sound okay to the audience, but can’t hear ourselves as well as in a tightly packed club. Singing real harmonies for the first time without being able to hear them was a little daunting for me. Ditto for debuting a new song. The upside is not being a puddle of sweat after the show.

A few weeks back Kiri and I did an acoustic show at the Elbo Room, which is also a change of pace for us. Anyone who’s seen us knows that we’re loud, and I probably hide my limitations as a guitarist behind some of that volume. Stripping the songs down means you’ve actually got to play the right chords and stuff. We also threw a couple of covers together, including one at the last minute as a sort of tribute to the late Jay Bennett. We also worked up some different arrangements of our songs, including a folksy take on a bombastic tune we sometimes end shows with. All told, it was a nice change of pace and something we’ll probably do again.

But for now it’s back to the amiliar – a show at Silvie’s Lounge on August 21.

Feedback in the Park

Brian — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:51:38 +0000

Just a reminderm the Pickpockets make their annual outdoor appearance at the Humboldt Park Art Fair this Saturday. There will be art, music, food, and beer in one of Chicago’s most beautiful parks, and admission is free. We go on at 4:35 p.m. – perfect if you have an early bedtime, kids or a hangover.

Reminder – Kiri and Brian Acoustic

Brian — Mon, 25 May 2009 15:34:54 +0000

Happy Memorial Day! Just a quick reminder that Kiri and Brian will be playing an acoustic show tonight at the Elbo Room (2871 N Lincoln Ave) with our friend Kjell Hilding of RockPaperScissors. The fun starts at 9 PM. Hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it you can watch live at http://app.synclive.com?venue/17434.

Pickpockets in the Park & a Bonus Unplugged show

Brian — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:00:41 +0000

Summer has finally come to Chicago. That means we get to extract ourselves from our favorite dank clubs and play some outdoor rawk.

On Saturday, June 13th, we’ll be playing at the Humboldt Park Art Fair for the second year in a row. The Art Fair takes place in the park’s Boathouse, and we go on at 4:35pm … but there are a bunch of other bands and cool stuff to check out. The festival proceeds benefit Graffiti Zone’s after school arts program. Kiri may get a sunburn, which is fun for the whole family.

But first, Brian and Kiri will be playing a special acoustic gig this Monday, the 25th (that’s Memorial Day, kids) at the Elbo Room (2871 N Lincoln Ave). We’ll be sharing the bill with fellow Augustana alumn Kjell Hilding of RockPaperScissors. The fun starts at 9. If you can’t make it to the show, you can watch online at http://app.synclive.com?venue/17434

Gig Announcement

Brian — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:54:42 +0000

The Pickpockets return to Silvie’s Lounge on 4/25/09. If you gave up great music at cool places for Lent, or if you would like to kick a kid, then this is the show for you.