On Saturday, 3/25 and Sunday, 3/26, we hosted the first three shows of #EB25 2017! Here's a recap for all our friends out there who are far away, couldn't make it, or were too drunk to remember.

First, we saw a visit from New Orleans duo QUINTRON & MISS PUSSYCAT co-headlining with our boy NOBUNNY on Saturday. Everyones favorite rodent rock group, RATSO AND THE RABBITS, opened. Headed by local television star RATSO (Chic-A-Go-Go) this rambunctious crew kicked things off with a bang.

NOBUNNY performed next. We're always ready for the loud and energetic performance this woodland creature brings to our stage. And in nothing but his skivvies, to boot! This was NOBUNNY's seventh Empty Bottle performance - in the words of the great FOREIGNER, "feels like the first time."

QUINTRON AND MISS PUSSYCAT brought a much-needed blast from the past in the form of their signature genre-defying "Swamp-Tech" dance music. Due to an unfortunate accident during home repairs, Mr. QUINTRON had his left arm captive to a sling. Luckily, he brought friend and fellow N'awlins boy Benny along to fill in for his injured appendage. Fun fact: did you know QUINTRON and Bottle bossman Bruce go way back to their college days at University of Missouri?

On Sunday, we revived an olden day tradition of two TORTOISE shows in one days. Both shows were opened by THE LONESOME ORGANIST, the one-man band project of Jeremy Jacobsen. Using guitar, keys, harmonica, steel drum, and various percussion instruments, Jacobsen put on a spectacular show not once, but twice.

Speaking of double trouble, celebrating #EB25 with Chicago post-rock legends TORTOISE twice in one day is kind of a dream. These guys have played the Bottle over a dozen times, yet the sheer magnitude of their talent never ceases to amaze. During one of their encores, they welcomed JIM ELKINGTON, guitarist from ELEVENTH DREAM DAY, to the stage to shred with them. 'Twas an amazing evening we shall never forget!

Thanks to everyone who made it out! On deck for our #EB25 Anniversary Series... 

• April 14th - The Cool Kids, Owen Bones, The Boy Illinois

• April 15th - New Bomb Turks, Daylight Robbery, Son of a Gun, Mixed Deuce, Bric-a-Brac Records DJs, Benefit for Ben Reber

• April 28th - Pissed Jeans, STNNNG, The Catburglars

• May 13th & 14th - The Black Lips

• May 19th - Big Freedia

• May 27th - Local H

With the impending arrival of the 25th Anniversary of The Empty Bottle (t-minus less than a year) we’ve been feeling all kinds of nostalgic. Earlier this month we had the two-night book release of The Empty Bottle Chicago: 21+ Years of Music/Friendly/Dancing complete with prolific headliners BLONDE REDHEAD and THE PONYS. To continue our celebratory streak, let’s take a look back at some iconic shows from Bottle’s past:

May 2nd, 1998-For just $7 you could see Modest Mouse touring their then-recent album The Lonesome Crowded West with support from Portland garage rock vets DEAD MOON and longtime Bottle friends JOAN OF ARC, a Kinsella brother project.

May 12th, 2010 -Just six years ago we housed the Louisiana experimental pop group GIVERS along with electronic project PAPER BEAR and Chicago natives ABBOTT SMILE for a mere $8.

May 26th, 2005 -Over a decade ago the badass female fronted alt-rock piece HEARTLESS BASTARDS (who recently played Thalia Hall) graced our stage with LOCKED SOUND and classic rock lovers BIG WHISKEY.

June 7th, 2009 - What cost $12 in 2009? A ticket to see psych pop heroes PORTUGAL. THE MAN, a year shy of going from indie to Atlantic. With Spanish-infused pop act APOSTLE OF HUSTLE and bi-coastal Chicago/Portland indie group YOURSELF AND THE AIR filling out the lineup, the bottle was anything but empty that night.

Portugal The Man

June 14th, 2009 - An important band now more than ever, indie electronica icons PASSION PIT synthed out to “Little Secrets” back in 2009 with support from indie pop outfits HARLEM SHAKES and frequent PASSION PIT opener CALE PARKS, best known for his contributions to Polyvinyl Records’ band Aloha.

Passion Pit

June 28th, 2003-From Brooklyn indie newcomers to "the most vital, current band in America," (Associated Press) TV ON THE RADIO co-headlined with English post-punk band THE FALL for a two-night Bottle appearance starting the 28th.

TV ON THE RADIO

June 30th, 2000-Talk about a time warp. Split up into seven lovely parts for your internet browsing attention spans, THE WHITE STRIPES entire summer 2000 set is available for your nostalgia-craving pleasure. They hit The Bottle stage with STERLING and THE RACE.

white stripes

Want more history? The Empty Bottle Book, edited by JOHN DUGAN & published via Curbside Splendor Publishing. Get it from our webstore right meow.