This is the first Chicago show put together by the Wisconsin Pop Explosion, a collective of Madison-area bands with a serious arts-and-crafts bent. Since forming in January they’ve put out a stack of handmade singles and staged themed concerts complete with pinatas, cupcakes, and onstage knitting–that last quirk a hallmark of live shows by headliners Charlemagne. The group is the brainchild of former Noahjohn front man Carl Johns, who played every instrument on Charlemagne’s 2004 self-titled debut on Winterlander; a brilliant disc of psych-country candyfloss, the record apparently caught the ear of Bruce Springsteen, who included “Prisoner Of” on a playlist of preshow tunes during his latest tour. This year Charlemagne released three limited-edition CD singles in its My Sweet Pony series, which includes tracks from the album “Detour Allure,” slated to come out in November on SideCho Records.
