Airiel with Blushing and Bodywash

*All events are 21+ valid ID required for entry*
7 PM – Doors
8 PM – Show

AIRIEL

Active since the late 90's, the Chicago-based group's lush washes of effects-heavy guitars and yearning vocals recall U.K. shoegaze acts like Kitchens of Distinction and Ride, and American indie songwriters like Bob Mould. The group released a series of four Winks and Kisses EPs in 2003 and 2004, then sporadically resurfaced with the albums The Battle of Sealand (2007) and Molten Young Lovers (2017). Winks and Kisses was remastered for a 20th anniversary deluxe reissue in 2023. The 20th anniversary deluxe edition included demos dating back to the group's 1997 formation and several previously unreleased songs. ~ Paul Simpson

BLUSHING

On their recently completed third LP, Sugarcoat (releasing May 3, 2024), Blushing’s dynamism is on full display, flitting effortlessly from spacey psychedelia to twee pop jangle with finesse and panache. Having once again enlisted Ringo Deathstarr's Elliot Frazier and Ride's Mark Gardener for engineering, mixing, and mastering duties, Sugarcoat is a dense, reverb-laden exploration of alt rock’s 40+ year history that conjures up concord from chaos. Whether it’s the post-punk-tinged “Seafoam” (which happens to feature Jeff Schroeder on lead guitar) or the hypnotic psych of “Slyce”, Blushing weaves a cohesive musical arc that effortlessly blends their disparate influences into a sonic watermark that is unmistakably their own.

BODYWASH

Bodywash formed in 2014 as a vehicle for the sonic bond between Chris Steward and Rosie Long Decter. The Montreal duo conjure a dreamscape with airy vocals, intricate guitars and pulsating synths over a heavy rhythmic foundation. In 2019, they released their debut LP, Comforter, which received praise from Bandcamp Daily, NPR, Clash Mag and elsewhere. The sophomore LP finds the band experimenting with glitching drones and cascading vocals while exploring themes of dislocation and decay. In support of the record, the duo has played a series of headlining dates across North America as well as festival spots at SXSW, Treefort Fest, Sled Island and more.