Many of us are already starting to go stir-crazy at home, and social-distancing measures haven’t even been in place for a week. If you can afford to invest in new music, now’s the time. Did you get ticket refunds for the canceled shows you were planning to go see? Or do you just have beer money in your pocket that you suddenly can’t spend? You can use it to support musicians without making the pandemic worse.
Bandcamp offers a huge universe of music, as well as tools to help you discover artists from around the world. It’s also a great way to explore the scene outside your doorstep without leaving your home—you can find a new local favorite and extend a hand to your musician neighbors. These six Chicago acts are a fine place to start: they all have music on Bandcamp, and they’ve all had to cancel or postpone shows due to COVID-19 precautions.
Sick/TiredSplit 12-inch with Triac
Thrashcore band Sick/Tired haven’t put out new music since 2016, but they remain a staple at underground punk and hardcore shows—they were supposed to play Subterranean on March 21. The four-piece’s discography is full of seven-inch splits with fellow thrash bands such as Baltimore’s Triac and Fort Wayne’s Nak’ay. You may not be scared of COVID-19, but Sick/Tired’s mix of guttural death growls and piercing emoviolence screams will make the hair stand up on your neck.
Change Is Bad by Stuck
