we are scene sickness.
the queer, asian-american, female-run music blog
straight out of chicago, il
latest
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mai6fab: chicago’s shooting star
on october 6th, there was absolutely no better place to be than at a small brewery in ravenswood, floating in the digital glitch-pop magic of chicago’s queer asian princess: mai6fab. mai6fab, known off the stage as mai linh, released an ep titled “the six mix” in march of last year – dropping 6 experimental, frutiger metro-esque electronica tracks into the scene. their music ranges in inspiration, with elements drawn from electronic legends like frou frou as well as from japanese techno-dance musicians like perfume. seeing mai6fab live was like witnessing the culmination of a bunch of futuristic internet styles coming…
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My History with Frontega
To new beginnings and new hand-printed t-shirts — Frontega and I met again at the Cobra Lounge almost 2 years since I last heard them live! Picture this: we were in a shoebox sized venue in the back of a bar. I still remember them sitting at that fold-out merch table with cat stickers and screen-printed pomegranate shirts. I even still remember the people there, circling each other yet also somehow dancing shoulder to shoulder. There was something instantly captivating about Frontega. I watched them from over the balcony and through the decorative vines, bells & whistles chiming from the…
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two door cinema club & strfkr grace chicago
As the stage lights go down, and Two Door Cinema Club came up, the band fluttered into the first song of their 2026 tour: “Cigarettes in the Theatre” — a song that poetically begins with the words “it starts in the theatre, a night of encounters.” There was an undeniable magic within the Salt Shed fairgrounds as Two Door Cinema Club was welcomed by Chicagoland with roars of excitement — with credit to supporting act STRFKR for warming up the audience with a psychedelic pop performance to start. To open, STRFKR graced the stage as the colorful fog rolled in,…
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ADORN WITH THE METAL GODCHAIN
On August 8th, Zumiez, the infamous nationwide skateboarding & clothing brand, hosted a hardcore lineup of bands in Chicago’s Daley Plaza – featuring one band in particular, GODCHAIN: a household name in our community. GODCHAIN’s 4 members – drummer Kyle Clark, lead guitarist Luis Montanez, bass player Kyle Ritchey, and vocalist/rhythm guitarist Jacob Campos – are staples of this scene. Loud, fierce, and unapologetic, they have gathered dozens of fans over the last year – to the point where they are so undeniably notable in the scene. Every show of theirs comes with a message, and one that has undoubtedly…
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sincere engineer releases ‘probable claws’ – my review
Deanna Belos, or perhaps known as her elegant ‘nom de plume’ Sincere Engineer, releases her fourth feature album this Friday, entitled Probable Claws. This album is no doubt a masterclass in what it’s like to be a fiery, valiant Midwestern girl with an indestructible desire to write songs for those who seek refuge in feisty, punk-shrouded records. The Chicago punk-pop band has taken the scene by storm ever since her debut album Rhombitian – a 2017 punk album consisting of hits like “Shattering,” “Overbite,” “1K Rats,” and last but not least: “Corn Dog Sonnet No.7”: a song that would soon…
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‘ICE OUT’ INTERVIEW WITH SINCERE ENGINEER, SMOKING POPES, AND LUCKY BOYS CONFUSION
Last Saturday, Chicago’s Bottom Lounge came alive with ICE OUT: a powerful showcase of Chicago’s vibrant music scene united in solidarity with Minnesota after the murder of Renée Good, a Minneapolis resident brutally murdered by an ICE agent in January 2026. The lineup featured local punk & rock legends, including Deanna Belos of Sincere Engineer, Josh Caterer of the Smoking Popes, and Stuhby Pandav / Pat Gilroy of Lucky Boys Confusion & OneLife. I sat down with Deanna, Josh, and Stuhby to talk ICE before the benefit show, where we grew to share our thoughts about Chicago, rock music, and…
