a Light Sleeper


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SHOWS

  • Hi there, and welcome to our website.


    April 22nd, 2013:

    We're playing what promises to be a wonderful house party this Friday night and, weather permitting, we'll be performing outdoors! Scoot on over to our shows section for full details.

    And... be sure to check back soon, as we'll be announcing some really great shows coming up — including our 100th Show / 8th Anniversary Celebration!

  • Music:








  • a Light Sleeper initially emerged in the summer of 2005 as a duo of guitarist D. Pennepalli and drummer Matthew Jung (both formerly of various more 'traditional' rock outfits), exploring minimalism while also experimenting heavily with live-looping and improvisation. In 2007, alto saxophonist Maria Elena Hernandez joined, providing a new focus to the compositions still taking shape as well as bringing a distinctly more classical tone to the proceedings -- a tone further bolstered by the addition of cellist David Keller and violist Traci Newhouse in 2011, both gifted players in classical as well as numerous modern styles. Today, the quintet continues to explore different concepts and approaches, combining myriad elements and styles to not so much defy genre as politely brush it aside.

    For all inquiries, contact us via electronic mail at alightsleeper@gmail.com

  • Upcoming:


    Past... (↓↑)


    • 4/20/13 CIMMFest Showcase at Cole's Chicago 2338 N. Milwaukee, Chicago, IL
    • 3/28/13 Quenchers Saloon 2401 N. Western, Chicago, IL w/ American Draft, Masses
    • 3/12/13 Schubas 3159 N. Southport, Chicago, IL w/ Bastardgeist, Fleur de Lune
    • 12/04/2012 Empty Bottle 1035 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL w/ Night Hours, Altos
    • 10/21/2012 Concision Release Party at Saki 3716 W. Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL w/ Flux Bikes
    • 9/9/2012 GrandBar 1600 W. Grand Avenue Chicago, IL w/ Hope & Therapy, All this Noise for Feeling
    • 7/28/2012 Merchant Street Music Fest at Depot Park 199 S East Ave., Kankakee, IL w/ Tone Loc, Young MC, J.C. Brooks & the Uptown Sound and more
    • 6/24/2012 Empty Bottle 1035 N Western Avenue Chicago, IL w/ Never Enough Hope, Chicago Scratch Orchestra
    • 6/16/2012 Maria's Birthday Party Chicago, IL
    • 4/08/2012 Beat Kitchen 2100 W Belmont, Chicago IL w/ The Night Hours, Castor & Pollux, (For you...)
    • 3/15/2012 Township 2200 N. California Ave, Chicago, IL w/ The Night Hours, coins
    • 3/10/2012 Saki 3716 W Fullerton, Chicago, IL w/ Brontosaurus
    • 2/22/2012 Burlington Bar 3425 W Fullerton, Chicago, IL w/ The Night Hours
    • 1/18/2012 Double Door 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Fotosputnik, Cross Record
    • 12/16/2011 The Gallery Formerly Known As Happy Dog 1542 N Milwaukee Ave 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL
    • 12/03/2011 Studio Nine Fourteen 914 N California Avenue, Chicago, IL w/ Laboratory Dancers
    • 8/16/2011 Hungry Brain 2319 W Belmont, Chicago, IL w/ Otter Petter
    • 8/04/2011 Comfort Station 2579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Geoff Farina, Steven Hess & Joseph Clayton Mills
    • 7/28/2011 ipsento 2035 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL w/ Geoff Farina
    • 7/14/2011 Reggies 2105 - 2109 South State St., Chicago, IL w/ District 97, Treehouse
    • 6/30/2011 Subterranean 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Dave Zagar Trio, Bad Saddles
    • 5/28/2011 Cole's 2338 N Milwakee Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Laboratory Dancers, rock falls
    • 1/23/2011 Whistler 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Seafarer
    • 12/04/2010 Underground Lounge 952 W Newport Ave, Chicago, IL w/ Laboratory Dancers
    • 10/09/2010 Saki 3716 W Fullerton, Chicago, IL w/ Green Pasture Happiness
    • 10/08/2010 WNUR "Airplay" Live Broadcast Evanston, IL
    • 10/01/2010 Quenchers Saloon 2401 N Western Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Ami Saraiya, Laboratory Dancers
    • 9/11/2010 Cole's 2338 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL w/ DiBiase, Masses
    • 9/10/2010 Mayne Stage 1328 Morse Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Seafarer, Heypenny, Kyle Andrews
    • 7/31/2010 Mike & Molly's 105 N Market St., Champaign, IL w/ Shipwreck
    • 5/22/2010 House Cafe 263 E. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL w/ Armor Class, Ami Saraiya & the Outcome, Crash Davis Spectacular
    • 5/21/2010 Firebird 2706 Olive St., St. Louis, MO w/ Black Market Peace, City of Takers
    • 5/15/2010 Big Muddy Pub 204 State Street Alton, IL w/Hope & Therapy
    • 4/24/2010 LemonDrop 416 W Commercial St., Springfield, MO
    • 2/22/2010 Whistler 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL w/ Daredevil Christopher Wright
    • 12/05/2009 Ball Hall 1621 N Kedzie Blvd. #3, Chicago, IL w/ Laboratory Dancers, Good Night & Good Morning
    • 12/03/2009 Bottom Lounge 1375 W Lake St., Chicago, IL w/ Armor Class, Aaron Fox & the Reliables
    • 11/15/2009 Cole's 2338 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL w/ Syna So Pro, .e
    • 10/10/2009 Luminary Center for the Arts 4900 Reber Place, Saint Louis, MO w/ Syna So Pro, Glass Waves
    • 10/09/2009 Red Herring 1209 W Oregon St, Urbana, IL
    • 10/05/2009 Martyrs 3855 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL w/ Leaf Bird, Royal Osprey
    • 9/18/2009 Cole's 2338 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL w/ Royce, Splendid Ape
    • 8/27/2009 JP's Pub 139 Main St Burlington, VT w/ Nuda Veritas
    • 8/26/2009 Davis Square, Sommerville, MA
    • 8/23/2009 Solly's Tavern 1942 11th St Washington DC w/ Pure Horsehair, Wendell Kimbrough
    • 8/22/2009 The artDC Gallery 5710 Baltimore Ave Hyattsville, MD w/ Low End String Quartet
    • 8/21/2009 The Trash Bar 256 Grand St Brooklyn, NY w/ Gigantic Hand
    • 8/13/2009 Quenchers Saloon 2401 N Western Ave Chicago, Illinois w/ Couch Forts, greyovercoat
    • 6/02/2009 Ronny's 2101 N California Ave Chicago, IL w/Love Raid, Found Objects
    • 5/30/2009 McKinley Foundation 809 S 5th St Champaign, IL w/Rusalka
    • 5/16/2009 Sheridan House 737 Sheridan Ave Columbus, OH w/Couch Forts, Adam's Castle
    • 5/15/2009 Rachel's Cafe 300 E 3rd St Bloomington, IN w/Found Objects
    • 5/06/2009 Gallery Cabaret 2020 N Oakley Chicago, IL
    • 2/27/2009 Quenchers Saloon 2401 N Western Ave Chicago IL w/ Royce
    • 12/12/2008 Green Bicycle Organization 1626 N California, Apt.2 Chicago, IL
    • 11/15/2008 The Cinemat 123 S. Walnut St Bloomington, IN w/ Found Objects, Selfish Whales
    • 11/14/2008 Constant Spring 219 S Main St Goshen, IN w/ Crash Davis Spectacular
    • 11/08/2008 WNUR "Airplay" Live Broadcast
    • 11/01/2008 The BASSment 2999 Saint Anne Drive Dubuque, IA w/ Aural Resucitation Unit
    • 10/01/2008 Bottom Lounge 1375 W Lake St Chicago, IL w/ Tacoma Narrows, Bombay Bicycle Co., Raise High the Roof Beam
    • 9/06/2008 Open House 1205 S. Walnut St Bloomington, Indiana w/ Couch Forts
    • 8/29/2008 Cal's Bar 400 S Wells St Chicago, IL w/ Fotosputnik
    • 8/05/2008 Swing State 19041 W. Grand Ave Lake Villa, IL w/ Ghost & Flower, PANTHERYETTI THUNDERTHRUST, Aural Resuscitation Unit
    • 8/02/2008 Winds Cafe 2657 N Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL w/ Mas Trueno
    • 7/19/2008 Savoy Recreation Center 402 Graham Drive Savoy, IL w/ Free the Fox, Pompeii Pilot, Cellar Door
    • 7/18/2008 Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center 3301 Lemp Ave St. Louis, MO w/ Palace of Electricity
    • 6/21/2008 Heart of Gold 3036 N. Lincoln, 4th Floor Chicago, IL w/ Armor Class, Leaf Bird
    • 6/14/2008 Maria's Birthday Party Chicago, IL w/ greyovercoat, Crash Davis Spectacular
    • 5/24/2008 South Union Arts 1352 S. Union Chicago, IL w/ Ten Speed, Rock Falls
    • 3/26/2008 Empty Bottle 1035 N Western Avenue Chicago, IL w/ Nalle, The Zoo Wheel, Paul Metzger
    • 12/02/2007 Empty Bottle 1035 N Western Chicago, IL w/ Putois, Kindle, Leafbird
    • 10/12/2007 South Union Arts 1352 S. Union St. (Pilsen) Chicago, IL w/ Woelv, above.below.sea.level, Dax Tran-Caffee
    • 6/23/2007 Bbop Korean Restaurant 3952 N. Sheridan Road (at Irving Park) Chicago, IL w/ Dweller in the Eagle's Den, Implulse Eclectic
    • 6/23/2007 WNUR "Airplay" Live Broadcast Chicago, IL
    • 5/19/2007 Void Room @ The Canopy Club 708 South Goodwin Ave Urbana, IL w/ Casados
    • 5/11/2007 Gojangles Lounge 3407 N Clark Chicago, IL w/ Armor Class
    • 5/06/2007 South Union Arts 1352 S Union Chicago, IL w/ Kyle Mann Combo, Sunil K Chopra, A Toothless Life
    • 5/05/2007 Infidel Group Open House 3016 Logan Blvd. #1 Chicago, IL
    • 3/08/2007 Ronny's 2101 N California Chicago, ILw/ Tim Daisy 3, Renee-Louise Carafice
    • 11/10/2006 Schubas 3159 N. Southport Chicago, IL w/ Geoff Farina
    • 8/24/2006 Empty Bottle Western & Cortez Chicago, IL w/ Azita, Cairo Gang
    • 8/11/2006 South Union Arts 1352 S. Union Chicago, IL w/ Renee-Louis Carafice
    • 6/24/2006 House Party Chicago IL w/ Chrome Robes, Snow Beast
    • 5/30/2006 South Union Arts 1352 S Union Chicago, IL
    • 4/22/2006 Sylvie's Chicago, IL w/ Catamount, Shipwreck
    • 4/06/2006 Chicago Cultural Center Michigan/Randolph Chicago, IL
    • 3/31/2006 River Breeze Art Gallery 14 W Downer PL Suite 16 Aurora, IL
    • 3/05/2006 Empty Bottle 1035 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL w/ AM Syndicate, Death Ships
    • 1/28/2006 Mojo's Springfield, IL w/ Ghost in Light, Shipwreck
    • 1/27/2006 Hi-Point St. Louis MO w/ Ghost in Light, Shipwreck
    • 1/25/2006 Canopy Club Urbana-Champaign, IL w/ Piglet, Shipwreck
    • 1/03/2006 The Empty Bottle 1035 N. Western Ave Chicago, IL w/ Jeff Parker's A Cuschicle
    • 1/02/2006 WNUR "Airplay" Live Broadcast Evanston, IL
    • 10/15/2005 Morpho Gallery 5216 N Damen Chicago, IL
    • 10/14/2005 Morpho Gallery 5216 N Damen Chicago, IL
    • 7/16/2005 Hothouse Gallery 31 E Balbo Chicago, IL
    • 7/15/2005 Mutiny Chicago, IL w/ Catamount
a Light Sleeper


Maria Elena Hernandez

Alto Saxophone, Voice

Maria Elena Hernandez



Matthew Jung

Drums, Keys

Matthew Jung



David Keller

Cello

David Keller



Traci Newhouse

Viola

Traci Newhouse



D. Pennepalli

Guitar, Voice

D. Pennepalli