CHIRP: Chicago Independent Radio Project

CHIRP is Bleeding Heart Bakery’s Charity of the Month for June and July 2009!

Erin Van Ness — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:37:15 +0000

We are excited to announce that CHIRP has been selected as Bleeding Heart Bakery’s charity of the month for June and July 2009.

$1 from each charity cupcake sold comes back to our organization. So stop on by, pick up a cupcake or two, and bask in the goodness of eating a delicious treat while supporting the work we do.

Bleeding Heart Bakery is located at 1955 W. Belmont in Chicago and is open from 7am to 7pm every day. www.thebleedingheartbakery.com

An interview with Ma Dukes

jeffmin — Thu, 28 May 2009 20:46:28 +0000

Ma Dukes illustration by Donald Ely

Putting J-Dilla’s fifteen year career into perspective is like trying to contextualize Michael Jordan’s impact on Chicago, Nike and the NBA. It’s an insurmountable task really, and while I was preparing for my interview with Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, mother to Dilla and executive producer of the Jay Stay Paid album, I couldn’t help but wonder what more can be asked that hasn’t been asked already? Better yet, how do you address Dilla’s life and death with a mother, who is now suffering at the hands of the same debilitating disease that took the life of her son just three short years ago? In the brief hour long interview Mrs. Yancey managed to set me at ease by answering my questions in ways that left me informed, inspired and believing that the rhythm that traveled through Dilla is something that is inherently born in all of us. Sure it’s difficult to believe that the average joe, music producer or not, could actually share something in common with arguably the greatest beatsmith of all time, but believe me it’s true. It was as much tragic as it was touching, and a feeling best summarized by Ma Dukes herself, “Love is the strongest thing in the world and it ties all of us together, and I don’t care who we are or what we are about we all can be changed and touched by love”.

Since James’ passing, you seemed to have inherited a lot of attention-some good, some bad-have you had time to sit back and let everything digest? Have you had time to mourn?

I just began to realize this year that I didn’t mourn, but I do have a broken heart. At my home there are pictures everywhere [laughs], it’s like a museum here, on all walls, on every shelf, on top of the TV, anything that moves and even on my bed-stand is Dilla. So I have pictures of Dilla in every capacity, and it helps me because I talk to these pictures at times. I just realized how difficult it can be, I do have a broken heart. We were like one because I was with him for the last couple years, but I didn’t mourn because of the suffering he had, and because he had so much music here. I have a confidant because my husband and I get in the car and we put on some of his music and it just makes us feel real good. We talk about things and feel better, so no, I haven’t mourned.

His spirit is till resonating.

It is! And the way it has affected them is that they share.

Dilla’s passing helped shine a light on Lupus, a disease that you’re now battling. Could you tell me a little bit about the disease and what a typical day is like for you?

A typical day…it’s random you never know what to expect [laughs]. It’s an autoimmune disease. A cold wind blows or you turn the wrong way, and then you end up with a bad flu. And even though they can use a flu or pneumonia shot you’re still susceptible to just about anything. I don’t go out much in night- air because I know crazy things can happen, and because I have rheumatoid arthritis. I have a severe case of that, and it’s sort of like in the same family but I cannot distinguish when I’m being attacked by that or Lupus. That was the cause of the heart attack I had in December, not anything Lupus related, but the rheumatoid arthritis aggravated that. One would think it would never affect the heart, but I’m finding that it happens often. So I had to learn to thank God, and I really paid attention to my diet after that. So I do a cardiac diet as a rule, and I don’t really go too far because I have to really think about what it is I do. Life with lupus is hard because so many things come into play. The medicine I take, it’s meant to treat Cancer, and it kills bad cells, but in the process it also kills some good ones. You’re constantly trying to kill the body to prevent being broken down all at once. I’ve been blessed because being with Dilla and watching and working with him in his treatment taught me naturally how to do some things. I’ve really been blessed by that.

How so?

Well, it opened my eyes. Anything I look at and the things I experience through this illness really serve as a point of contact. It reminds me of how my son felt, which I think is very very important. And it brings me closer to his spirit; I believe that his whole work here was about love. I was telling everyone it’s not just about the good things, but it makes you aware of the bad types of love. We need to be aware of what’s going on in our lives, and he brings his vision to us in different phases of his music. For instance with Donuts he breaks it down to variations, he wants us to be conscious of what we’re doing and be able to think about the things that we do and to make it mean something in our lives.

It’s [lupus] an eyeopener it makes me more aware, more conscious of the love and the care that I wish to help and that I can give to children with Lupus. You know anything we can do to bring a smile to the face of a child with lupus whether it be a sunshiney day of camp where they can do these things to make the pain go away. It’s so important because you don’t know from one day to the next if you can move or if you’re going to be on a machine all day. See you don’t know how long you got to live and that one day of sunshine can mean so much. I just wish we can be more conscious of what we do in our time and what we give and say with the people we come in contact with because you never know. It can be one or two words that can make someone’s day, and it can make them think how blessed they are.

It seems like doctors are still having trouble diagnosing Lupus.

They really do, Dilla had been in and out of the hospital for four years before they even found out that he had Lupus. He was having all sorts of bouts with everything; his kidneys shut down several times…everything. And even though he was in the hospital for three or four months at a time they didn’t check him for Lupus. I think that because he was male might have had something to do with it because for the longest time it was believed that males couldn’t get the disease. But without knowledge of family history, I just don’t know-it could be something in the genes. Three or four people in a generation with autoimmune disease is not normal to me. I mean we were never sick other than my sister being diagnosed with Lupus no one was ever sick and she never got hospitalized.

What’s the status on the J-Dilla foundation?

Yes, yes we were forced to take it down because of the estate problems. It was a tricky situation because they weren’t adamant about taking it down they just tried to be a thorn in our side. It was done as professionally as it should have been. We even went through attorneys before we even set things up, and it was done legally in the state of California. We got things going and I had no reason to believe that we couldn’t work together with the estate. They told me they were going to set it up in a better way and I would run the foundation while they helped run it with me, and I would be an intricate part. And I was like okay we’ll do that, and I had no reason to believe that they weren’t going to try and do that [laughs], and they had no intention.

So I said well that’s alright, because of my illness I was not spiritually able to fight and I’m not going to give in to myself, and trying to fight these people was too much. So I just decided to let it roll and try to get my strength together, but now that the tide has turned I’m going to restart the foundation but this time I’m going to go international. So I’m very happy, and I take my hat off to’em even as a block they gave me for a couple of years, it’s gonna be good because we’re gonna go bigger-where all of his fans will take part.

What stage is it in now?

We’re in the early stages and there are so many individuals…oh my god both abroad and here that are waiting and we are going to work together. We’re probably going to have a forum probably within the next month, the people from Suite for Ma Dukes are some key organizers in it, and then we have people from Australia and Germany. Oh my goodness everywhere people are taking a part in this.

I wanted to talk about Suite For Ma Dukes. That album really took hip-hop appreciation to another level.

You’re right about that, there’s something about people who don’t know or understand hip-hop-it’s because they don’t listen. The album made other listeners aware to the fact that they can get so much from hip-hop there is so much there. I mean not every artist is gifted or knows how to deliver to every ear, but there is certainly a message. The writing, I mean there just not jotting down lyrics they’re taking their time, months and months trying to get what’s in their heart on paper. And so it’s another avenue and it opens the eyes and ears of the people who have never been there before and people begin to realize that there’s a lot to hip-hop it’s not like they thought. Unfortunately we hear some things that are not good for hip-hop and we just have to close our ear [laughs].

In the song “Antiquity” the rain hitting Carlos’ bomb shelter studio was left in because Miguel and Carlos felt that it was Dilla making his presence known. Does Dilla still speak to you in his own way?

Yes, he does! And it’s funny because it’s just not in the music there’s certain things I see or hear in my mind. There was a time when I woke up at 4:00am to total outrageous sunshine in my window. I was wondering [laughs], I thought I had overslept! But the sun doesn’t shine at 4:00am in the winter time in Detroit. I got up out of the bed and outside it was pitch black, but in my window the sunshine came in. And it’s just like the music in your mind that you can’t get it out of your head: confirmation.

I know you’re still very fond of Detroit, and I’ve read in interviews the urgency behind programs for the youth.

There are no real recreation areas in the neighborhood that I lived in. There is one that’s maybe a mile from me that is never open; I guess the city doesn’t have the funds to keep it open. There were two others in the area but both those are shut down. The area is so torn. To give you an example one of the photographers that does a lot of work for Stones Throw, said that when he came down to Detroit it reminded him a lot of Katrina. It wasn’t downtown Detroit where the neighborhoods are nice this is in the hood and it does look like Katrina; boarded up, burned up, vacant lots and houses with no windows no doors, open air holes, it’s just horrible. Places are so unsafe for youth. I remember there was a time in Detroit when they had a vacant building the city would get them boarded up or torn down so nobody would get raped or use drugs in there, but I actually can tell you there are no less than sixteen vacant houses on my block. You have to come down to the neighborhoods to see how people are really living. I mean if it wasn’t for a guy like Amp Fiddler, Dilla may have never been discovered. He didn’t charge anything to teach Dilla how to work the board.

Can you tell me about the Jay Stay Paid album?

Well the experience has been spiritual in a way because it was like a gift. Pete Rock was a gift-he was Dilla’s idol. [Laughs] It’s funny because Pete would always say that he idolized Dilla. Dilla had a profound love for Pete and his work, he meant everything to him. The love he had for Amp in guiding him was the same love he had for Pete. It was like Pete was way up there and Dilla just wanted to be in that area. I know Dilla’s smiling from Heaven at Pete who knows Dilla’s work and knows what he was feeling. It’s just short of Dilla coming down and finishing the work himself.

Will the proceeds of this album go to the J-Dilla foundation?

It’s my hope that when the proceeds go to the estate some will come our way, which will help Dilla’s children. This will keep their education going and much of the proceeds will go to the Lupus foundation as well.

I know music is something that is part of you, weren’t you going to make an album?

Yes, I had promised Dilla [laughs] two little jazz albums. It was supposed to be me recording some standards that he wanted me to work on. And I hadn’t gotten to those yet and of course I was going to write some, and I guess I was so overwhelmed with his passing then I got sick and I just decided to put it to the aside. I don’t know if I was feeling sorry for myself or what, but I don’t feel that way anymore and I told my husband that I would do it toward the end of the year. And I told my husband he better get ready because he plays the upright bass. I intend to see it through because it’s something I promised Dilla, and it’ll be a tribute to him.

You’ve been a fan of music before and now after your son’s life. What sort of impact have you seen him make on the world and what sort of imprint has that left on you?

The imprint it left on me was that I have to open my eyes, and I can’t sit around, but to make it big and spread it as wide as possible because it’s a message not just for Detroit but for the world. You know he made a statement during the time he was in ICU, it was sort of an out of body experience, but the statement he made was “I need more time. I want to give my gift back to the world”. And I will never forget it because when he came to, and was able to come out of the hospital he was with us almost year after that, and I realized he was talking to the master and he was given the time he needed to complete the work he needed to complete. The fact that he wanted to give his gift to the world he has done that, and I want to see that all his work is given back to the world, and I can’t let anything go. I have to keep a promise not just the promise that he made, but for his fans.

We must acknowledge that love stands, and to be able to receive it through music is so personal…it’s such a beautiful thing. When Dilla was in that hospital he was tied to like fifteen different machines at one time and each one of those had monitors making all types of music. Beeps and horns all going at the same time. And all I can think of is he’s listening to all this hour after hour day after day what type of beat is he coming up with now [laughs].

CHIRP out and about

Shawn C. — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:35:27 +0000

Summer is always a busy time for CHIRP, and this summer is even busier than usual, with the planned launch of the web version of our new radio station!

As we move toward our late-summer launch, you’ll be seeing us out and about around the city.

We’re excited about an upcoming CHIRP benefit show generously planned by Chicago’s soulful rockers The Right Now. They’re playing a show with Love in October and Jenny Gillespie on Saturday, June 27th at Martyrs’, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit CHIRP! Showtime is 10PM, and tickets are $8.

Summer is a great time to see music outdoors, and we’re really looking forward to the new Monday night live music series at Millennium Park. Every week is a winner - including CHIRP favorites like the Sea and Cake, and a long-awaited return by the Feelies!

CHIRP will have a table at the Old Town School’s Folk & Roots Fest July 11th and 12th, so be sure to stop by and pick up great new CHIRPradio.org swag.

And of course we’ll be back at the Pitchfork Music Festival July 17-19 with our record fair under the big tent on the Union Park tennis courts.

Hope to see you at one or more of these cool events.

Weekly Voyages Sat 5/23 to Sun 5/31

Karin F. — Sat, 23 May 2009 23:49:18 +0000

What’s that, you say? You’ve nothing to do? Lame friends? Like music? Hmmm… We might be able to point you in the right direction…

Read on for some excellent examples of melodic happenings this week!

saturday, may 23

White Mystery, Stranger Waves, Ian & The Astrophysicists
Hideout
9pm
21+

Cotton Jones, Lightning Dust, The Dan Smart Field Auxiliary
Schubas
10pm
21+

The Yolks, Jonny & The Limelites, Ryan Pits & The Boy Toys, Les Deux Magots, Kitten Forever
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

sunday, may 24

So Cow, The Teaparty, House Sounds
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

monday, may 25

tuesday, may 26

Ellen Allien, Leo 123, Mux Mool, Andrew Kevins
Sonotheque
9pm
21+

Camera Obscura, Agent Ribbons
Metro
9pm
18+

Royal Osprey, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, Son Cats, Distractions
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

wednesday, may 27

Bongripper, Tarrakian, Imperial Battlesnake
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

thursday, may 28

Dent May, Very Truly Yours, My Gold Mask
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, Animal Hospital, Lineland
Hideout
9pm
21+

friday, may 29

Camera Obscura, Agent Ribbons
Metro
9pm
18+

Maximum Wage, Dasboton, Tyler Jon Tyler
Hideout
10pm
21+

Viva Voce, Cut Off Your Hands, Beaujolais
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

saturday, may 30

Do-Division Fest with
Flosstradamus, Handsome Furs, Viva Voce, JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound, Dark Meat, Lamajamal
Damen & Division
12-10pm
All ages

Holy Fuck, Crocodiles
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Number of the Beats, Ted Eliason & the Psychedelic Party Sextet, Begin By Gathering Supplies
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

Meat Puppets, Retribution Gospel Choir
Schubas
10pm
21+

Chicago Afrobeat Project, Mucca Pazza
Hideout
9pm
21+

Fischerspooner, Ssion
Metro
8pm
18+

Oriental Pleasure
Permanent Records
6pm
All ages

Har Mar Superstar, Republic of Lights, 28 Mansions
Bottom Lounge
9pm
21+

Digital Leather, The Shanks, Daily Void, Ratattack
Cobra Lounge
9pm
21+

sunday, may 31

Do-Division Fest with
Menomena, White Rabbits, Hollywood Holt, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Memorial Band, Jai Alai Savant, Bad Veins
Damen & Division
12-10pm
All ages

Chandeliers, Ear Pwr, Golden Birthday
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

Holy Fuck, Crocodiles
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Meat Puppets, Retribution Gospel Choir
Schubas
10pm
21+

Meat Puppets, Sunset
Permanent Records
2pm
All ages

Gogol Bordello, Man Man
Congress Theater
9pm
All ages

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Memorial Band, Bugglette, The Syllable Section
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Cass McCombs, Judson Claiborne, Relevant Hairstyles
Hideout
9pm
21+

More comics about music for your edification.

Tony TB — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:37:27 +0000

I just found a couple of interesting new things in the twin worlds of indie/web comics and music.

First, a indie publisher called Poseur Ink will very shortly be releasing an anthology of comics about music called Side B. Contributors include Chicago’s own Jeffrey Brown (who designed CHIRP’s Record Fair poster and t-shirt — contact us for more info on how to get one!), as well as Mitch Clem and Box Brown.

Side B, as you may imagine, is a follow up to their 2007 release Side A.

Meanwhile, I Love Tapes is a new web comic about a band. It’s a collaboration between Ned Hugar, who’s also a contributor to Side B, and Frank Gibson, who contributed to Side A. And in addition to the satire of the indie rock scene, Frank and Ned periodically post streaming mixes. How fun is that?

(Incidentally, Frank writes another comic called Tiny Kitten Teeth, in collaboration with Becky Dreistadt. It’s not about music, but go check it out anyway. The art reminds me of what you might see if you wandered through the art section of a thrift store while on psychedelic drugs.)

Weekly Voyages Thurs 5/14 to Wed 5/20

Karin F. — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:58:53 +0000

The economy ain’t so bad, baby. Cheer up and get out to one o’ these here shows that are somewhere between cheap and free. Yeah, you heard it right.

Check the listings for what we got in store for you this week.

thursday, may 14

Mike Watt & The Missingmen, Nones
Schubas
9pm
21+

Cave [record release], Cacaw, Centipede Eest
Hideout
9pm
21+

Lady Sovereign, Chester French, Hollywood Holt
Metro
8pm
18+

Baby Teeth, My Dear Disco, Post Honeymoon
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Maps & Atlases, Netherfriends, Pet Lions
Reggie’s Rock Club
9pm
17+

friday, may 15

King Khan & The Shrines, Mark Sultan, Maximum Wage
Bottom Lounge
9pm
18+

Chin Up Chin Up, Tight Phantomz, Sleep Out, Rain Delay Theatre
Empty Bottle
9pm
21+

Yea Big + Kid Static, Hood Internet, Mad Happy
Hideout
10pm
21+

saturday, may 16

The Vaselines, The 1900s
Metro
9pm
18+

Disappears, Stranger Waves
Permanent Records
6pm
All ages

WHPK Summer Breeze with
Thomas Function, caUSE co-MOTION!, Johnny & the Limelites, White Mystery, The Names That Spell
University of Chicago at 58th St. and S. University Ave.
12-5pm
All ages

The Effigies, MOTO, Life Sentence, Iron Reminders
Reggie’s Rock Club
5pm
All ages

VEGA, Hey Champ, Moon Goons, Cousin Cole
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Haymarket Riot [record release, Valina, GOLD
Hideout
9pm
21+

Regal Standard, Coupleskate, Heypenny
Schubas
10pm
21+

sunday, may 17

Destroyer, Sonoi
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

monday, may 18

CHIRP Benefit with
Blasted Diplomats and DJs Dustin Drase & Kristin Marks
The Whistler
9pm
21+

The Melvins perform “Houdini”
Double Door
9pm
21+

Harlem Shakes, Bear the Bell, Megafauna
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

The Bellrays, 2 Plus 2, The Mediums, Venom Lord
Bottom Lounge
9pm
18+

tuesday, may 19

Windy & Carl, Green Pasture Happiness, Pete Fosco, Al Niente
The Mopery
8pm
All ages

Death Vessel, Speck Mountain, Rego
Schubas
9pm
21+

wednesday, may 20

Black Dice, Wolf Eyes
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Black Moth Super Rainbow, School of Seven Bells, Follows
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

The Toadies, The Willowz, Pool of Frogs
Metro
9pm
18+

Joyce’s Visions of Dawn (Paris ‘76 Project)

Kumar M. — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:32:35 +0000

Joyce is one of those Brazilian musicians whose work you discover and think to yourself, how did I not know about this? Not only is her back catalog from the 70’s and onward a goldmine, she even grows better with time. She’s constantly releasing fresh material like 2001’s Gafiera Moderna (you need this).

Well, the kind people at Far Out Recordings have really done it this time. They somehow dug up Joyce’s “lost” acid folk album from 1976 that was never released, dubbed Visions Of Dawn (Paris ‘76 Project). Generally, when “ultra obscure” material is reissued, its accessibility corresponds with its obscurity. Not this album. It’s one of Joyce’s most precious works, start to finish, and features her best instrument: voice.

Led by the sharp lyrics and gorgeous, expressive voice and guitar of Joyce the trio is completed by the expert musicianship of her close friends Nana Vasconcelos (percussion) and Mauricio Maestro (electric bass, vocals, guitar and producer) who were both crucial in creating this masterpiece.

The album is softer than her dancefloor classics you may know of, like Samba De Gago or Aldeia De Ogum (beautifully sampled for the backing of Aloe Blacc’s Bailar). Most of the vocal treatment is sans lyric and leads each composition as another instrument. The album opens with a folkier version of her classic song Banana but all others are completely new, to my knowledge. The mood is soothing throughout and when you finally arrive at the undulating breathwork on Chegada, you start to realize that something very special happened during those sessions in Paris in 1976.

For the local Chicagoans, Joyce’s Visions of Dawn is available at Dusty Groove. And if you want to catch up on all the Joyce classics, Mr. Bongo’s The Essential Joyce: 1970 - 1996 lives up to its title.

Weekly Voyages Thurs 5/7 to Wed 5/13

Karin F. — Thu, 07 May 2009 11:00:16 +0000

thursday, may 7

Deerhoof, Maps & Atlases, Serengeti & Polyphonic
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Dan Deacon & Ensemble, Future Islands, Teeth Mountain
Metro
6:30pm
All ages

Berg Sans Nipple, Brighten Up, Above Below Sea Level
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

The Sounds, Hey Champ
Double Door
9pm
21+

Sonoi
The Whistler
9pm
21+

friday, may 8

Mogwai, The Twilight Sad
Congress Theater
8pm
All ages

Rodriguez, Vampire Hands
Schubas
10:30pm
21+

Del The Funky Homosapien
Reggie’s Rock Club
8pm
17+

saturday, may 9

The Kills, The Horrors, Magic Wands
Metro
9pm
18+

Baby Alright, Judson Claiborne, Afri Caribe, Alla, Roommate, Spires That in the Sunset Rise, Pillars & Tongues
Hideout
9pm
21+

Loney Dear, Headlights
Schubas
10pm
21+

Cursive, P.O.S., Berg Sans Nipple
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Sex Negatives, Daily Void, Tyler Von Tyler
The Mopery
10pm
All ages

Expo 70, Three Eyed Skull
Permanent Records
6pm
All ages

sunday, may 10

Child Bite, Dadad, Eyes, Meth & Goats
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

monday, may 11

Centro-Matic, Monahans
Schubas
9pm
21+

tuesday, may 12

Vetiver, Papercuts, Singleman Affair
Chopin Theater
1543 W. Division
8pm
All ages

Iron & Wine, Katie Stelmanis
Lakeshore Theater
8pm
All ages

John Doe & The Sadies
Double Door
9pm
21+

wednesday, may 13

Iron & Wine, Disappears
Schubas
9pm
21+

The Dears, Great Northern, Eulogies
Lakeshore Theater
8pm
All ages

Ben Lee, Low vs Diamond, Dawes
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Modern Creatures, Twin Crystals, Daily Void
Cobra Lounge
9pm
21+

Weekly Voyages Thurs 4/30 to Wed 5/6

Karin F. — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:50:17 +0000

The local pig run has been cancelled, but here’s some other stuff for you to do this week.

There’s plenty.

thursday, april 30

Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Other Lives
Schubas
9pm
21+

Notes and Scratches [record release], Paper Thin Walls
The Whistler
9:30pm
21+

Peanut Butter Wolf, James Pants, Mayor Hawthorne, Dam Funk
Abbey Pub
9pm
18+

Mastodon, Kylesa, Intronaut
Metro
8pm
18+

Wizzard Sleeve
Permanent Records
6pm
All ages

Greg Ashley, Wizzard Sleeve, Box Elders, Radar Eyes
Bottom Lounge
9pm
21+

friday, may 1

Version Fest 09 Official Unofficial After Art Fair May Day Party
Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Salem, Love Connection, DJ Shoulders
Co-Prosperity Sphere
9pm
All ages

Russian Circles, Lichens, Plague Bringer
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Empty Heads, Screaming Females
Permanent Records
6pm
All ages

The Krunchies, The Smith Westerns, Predator, Bukkake Boys
Empty Bottle
9pm
21+

Superpitcher, Daniel Mnookin, Brian Ffar
SmartBar
10pm
21+

Converge, The Hope Conspiracy, Disnihil, Poison Planet
Subterranean
6:30pm
All ages

Converge, Indecision, Wait In Vain, Boiling Over
Subterranean
10:30pm
17+

saturday, may 2

Version Fest 09 Finnisage Closing Event
Chain & The Gang (feat. Ian Svenonius), The Hive Dwellers (feat. Calvin Johnson), Mahjongg, These Are Powers
Co-Prosperity Sphere
9pm
All ages

Aleks & The Drummer, Jeremy Jay, Kristeen Young, Bengal Lancer
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Screaming Females, Sass Dragons, Heart Shaped Hate, The Mermaids
The Mopery
10pm
All ages

Decibully, Foundry Field Recording, Darling [record release]
Hideout
9pm
21+

CHIRP’s Smashing Time DJs Carrie Weston & Mary Nisi
Hideout
11:30pm
21+

Ha Ha Tonka, Unicycle Loves You, Ben Weaver
Subterranean
9pm
17+

Eddie & The Hot Rods, Vibrators, Prima Donnas, Poison Arrows
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Office, Loyal Divide, Kyle Andrews, The Seedy Seeds, Coltrane Motion
Double Door
5:30pm
21+

The Gunshy, Defiance Ohio, Madeline, Cup’n'String, Al Scorch
Reggie’s Rock Club
10pm
17+

sunday, may 3

The Books
Museum of Contemporary Art
7 and 10pm
All ages

Ponytail, Think About Life, Bird Names
Schubas
9pm
18+

MORTIFIED featuring The Blue Ribbon Glee Club
Beat Kitchen
9pm
21+

monday, may 4

Bowerbirds, La Strada
Schubas
9pm
21+

Mice Parade, Gregory & The Hawk
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Youth Group, The Horse’s Ha
Hideout
10pm
21+

tuesday, may 5

Ghost, Baby Dee
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Helicopters, Bob Nanna & Lauren Lo, Save Pointe, Goodbye Satellite
Double Door
9pm
21+

wednesday, may 6

Crystal Antlers, Vivian Girls, Bird Talk
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

The High Strung, Light Pollution, Soft Speaker
Schubas
9pm
18+

The Detroit Cobras, Dexter Romweber Trio
Double Door
9pm
21+

Weekly Voyages Thurs 4/23 to Wed 4/29

Karin F. — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:27:33 +0000

We love springtime. Flowers, showers, shows.

Ahhh. (That’s a sigh of relief, not a scream.) Dig?

Yeeah. Dig on the happenings this week.

thursday, april 23

Peter Bjorn and John, Chairlift
Metro
9pm
18+

The Manikins, White Mystery, The Yolks, Bundle of Fags
Cobra Lounge
9pm
21+

Life and Times, Poison Arrows, Story of the Sea
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Hackensaw Boys, Trampled By Turtles
Schubas
7 and 10pm
21+

friday, april 24

Version Fest 09 Opening Night
Kill Memory Crash, Ga’an, Old Fake
Co-Prosperity Sphere
7pm
All ages

Pelican, American Draft, Chord
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Immediate Sound Series 3-Year Anniversary
Ken Vandermark, Ab Baars, Wilberte de Joode, Martin van Duvynhoven
Hideout
9pm
21+

MC Chris, Whole Wheat Bread
Beat Kitchen
7pm
All ages

Mason Proper, Dan Smart Field Auxiliary, Raise High The Roof Beam
Beat Kitchen
10:30pm
17+

John Hammond
Schubas
7:30pm
21+

saturday, april 25

Throbbing Gristle, Emeralds
Logan Square Auditorium
7 and 10pm
All ages

Noah & The Whale, Ferraby Lionheart, Anni Rossi
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Accordion Club
Empty Bottle
2pm
21+

Immediate Sound Series 3-Year Anniversary
Ab Baars, Wilberte de Joode, Martin van Duvynhoven, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Mats Gustafsson, Paal Nilssen-Love
Hideout
9pm
21+

Flosstradamus
Sonotheque
9pm
21+

Superdrag, Van Ghost, Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra
Metro
9pm
18+

Hey Champ, Anti-Crew, The Swaggstas
Reggie’s Rock Club
10pm
17+

sunday, april 26

M. Ward
Vic Theatre
7:30pm
All ages

Throbbing Gristle, Bruce McClure
Logan Square Auditorium
7 and 10pm
All ages

Mountains, Sam Prekop & Archer Prewitt
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Version Fest 09:
Pillars & Tongues, Judson Claiborne, Thin Hymns
Co-Prosperity Sphere
7pm
All ages

Benefit for Sexual Assault Awareness Month with
The Laureates, Tyler Jon Tyler, Martha Berner
Schubas
7:30pm
21+

PissPissPissMoanMoanMoan, Jerkagram, Twin Cats, I Know No Means Yes
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

monday, april 27

Version Fest 09 Electronique Night
Mudboy, J+J+J, Light Polite, Pizza Dog
Sonotheque
9pm
21+

D. Rider, Gold, Kitty Rhombus
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

tuesday, april 28

Azita
Museum of Contemporary Art
6:30pm
All ages

MOTO, Bust!, Bi-Furious, Fascist Beauties, Red Channel
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

Tony Conrad & Keiji Hano, David Daniell & Doug McCombs, Bloodyminded
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Bury My Teeth, Chatty Cathy, Leaves
Schubas
9pm
21+

wednesday, april 29

The Thermals, The Shaky Hands, Point Juncture WA
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Weekly Voyages Thurs 4/16 thru Wed 4/22

Karin F. — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:12:14 +0000

Warm weather, we summon thee . . .

Oh hey, it worked! Erm, I mean — not that we’re into Wicca or anything — not that we’re against the practice either — we’re neutral, er . . . THE POINT IS that it’s getting nice out! Ride a bike, walk, just get outta the house to these shows this week.

And don’t forget to party with us at our Record Fair after-parties at Reggie’s on Sunday and The Whistler on Monday!

Check ‘em.

thursday, april 16

Brother JT, Cave, Neal Morgan
Hideout
9pm
21+

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Dub Trio, Cheer-Accident
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

CHIRP’s own TTTTotally Dudes DJs
The Whistler
9:30pm
21+

Cold War Kids, Amazing Baby
Schubas
9pm
21+

Shilpa Ray, Alla, Pezzetino
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Silent Scones, Days Off, The Blind Shake, Nervous Fingers
Subterranean
9pm
21+

friday, april 17

The Bad Plus
Old Town School of Folk Music
8 and 10:30pm
All ages

Four Tet, Leo 123, DJ Warp vs Striz
Sonotheque
9pm
21+

Simian Mobile Disco
Metro
10pm
18+

Simian Mobile Disco (DJ set), Bald Eagle
Metro
11pm
21+

Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, Justin Townes Earle
Double Door
9pm
21+

Kool Keith with Kutmasta Kurt - Dr. Octagon vs. Dr. Dooom
Reggie’s Rock Club
10pm
17+

Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Algernon, DM Stith
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Starfucker, Kuroma
AV-aerie
8pm
All ages

Wye Oak, Pomegranates
Hideout
10pm
21+

The Feed, Death Ships, Lacona
Beat Kitchen
10:30pm
21+

saturday, april 18

The Handsome Family, Marissa Nadler, Barry McCormack
Schubas
9pm
21+

Life During Wartime DJs Bald Eagle & Mother Hubbard
Hideout
9pm
21+

Canadian Rifle, Chronic Seizure, Unwelcomed Guests, Daylight Robbery, 97-Shiki
Lucky Gator Loft
9pm
All ages

Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, Dag Juhlin
Logan Square Auditorium
8pm
All ages

Daily Void, Black Math, Eat Sugar, Keji Al Feju
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

sunday, april 19

Ohtis, Jon Drake & The Shakes, Derek Porter
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

The Handsome Family, Marissa Nadler, Barry McCormack
Schubas
9pm
21+

Reds and Blue, Black Feelings, Skeleton Breath
Hideout
9pm
21+

Peelander-Z, Birthday Suits, Black Actress
Reggie’s Rock Club
8pm
17+

monday, april 20

CHIRP Benefit with CHIRP DJs and Mako Sica
The Whistler
9pm
21+

Extra Golden, Icy Demons
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

tuesday, april 21

Yann Tiersen, Asobi Seksu
Logan Square Auditorium
9pm
All ages

wednesday, april 22

Tinariwen
Old Town School of Folk Music
7 and 10pm
All ages

Movie Star Junkies, Empty Heads, Big Knife
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

French Kicks, Ultra Sonic Edukators
Schubas
9pm
21+

Wale, Mic Terror, BBU, Dave Coresh
Abbey Pub
9pm
17+

The CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights: this weekend in its NEW HOME!!!

Shawn C. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:49:45 +0000

Did you realize the CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights is just days away — April 18th and 19th?!? There’s so much that’s new and exciting about this year’s fair. We can hardly contain ourselves!

First off, we’re thrilled about our new location - Plumbers’ Hall at 1340 W. Washington. We’re also pleased as punch that graphic novelist extraordinaire Jeffrey Brown designed this year’s logo, immortalized on limited edition t-shirts and posters…paying tribute to the fair’s new home. Check it out on the Record Fair page.

We’re also excited that we have tons of new dealers this year, in addition to lots of longtime favorites. Dealers will be selling new and used vinyl, CDs, posters, publications, crafts, and more. Some of our favorite local nonprofits will be representing too.

What else? Well, we’ll have great music - live acts including Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Dreamend, Ceiling Stars, and more, as well as lots of celebrity DJs. And Reggie’s will be providing food to strengthen your shopping stamina.

And finally, this year we’re doing something we’ve wanted to do for ages — having an after-party on Sunday night at Reggie’s Rock Club featuring tons of CHIRP DJs like the Smashing Time crew, Dr. Drase, and Michael Ardaiolo — shop all day, dance all night…from 7PM onward!
$5 regular admission or $3 with your record fair ticket.

Fair hours are:
Saturday, April 18 - 10AM*-5PM $7 regular admission, $5 with flyer, ad, or a receipt from any independent record store dated April 18 - show your support for Record Store Day!
*Special pre-admission Saturday from 8-10AM for $25
Sunday, April 19 - 10AM-5PM $7 regular admission, $5 with flyer or ad

Help CHIRP get a broadcast signal - write a letter supporting LPFM

Shawn C. — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:38:19 +0000

There are so many exciting things happening with CHIRP this month – construction of our new studios, the annual CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights, great CHIRP events around town – and we’d like to share with you another piece of exciting news, and ask for your help.

CHIRP has been invited to go to Washington DC to participate in Low Power FM Leadership Days. CHIRP President Shawn Campbell and I will have the opportunity, with other LPFM advocates from across the nation, to meet with members of Congress, FCC officials, and other leaders in Washington. We leave for Washington on April 22nd!

We’re very excited about launching our online station this summer, but we also hope to be able to secure a LPFM broadcast license. For this to happen, we need Congress to pass the Local Community Radio Act, and the FCC to consider our situation in their rulemaking. Our national partners tell us that hand-written letters from our supporters are one of the most effective tools in getting our message the attention it deserves.

Our goal is to have every CHIRP supporter hand write a letter of support for the Local Community Radio Act, and we’re asking for your help. Please copy and paste the text below into a Word document, and underneath the text we’ve provided, hand-write your own reasons for supporting CHIRP.

Perhaps you are in a local band, and you believe community radio is crucial to your band’s success. Maybe you are dissatisfied with the availability of local news or music on the radio, and think a community radio station would help. Maybe you think the airwaves are over-commercialized and too dominated by corporate voices.

Whatever your reasons, please write a line or two from the heart, and sign with your complete name and address (please make sure your writing is legible!). Letters can be returned to CHIRP in the following ways:

*See us at the CHIRP Record Fair this Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19
*Mail your letter to us at:
CHIRP
4045 N. Rockwell
Chicago, IL 60618
*Scan your letter and email it to: jlizak@chirpradio.org

We want to hand-deliver these letters to your elected representatives next week, so please return them quickly.

Thank you for your support, and we’ll report back after our trip to Washington!

LETTER TEXT TO COPY AND PASTE:

I strongly urge you to support the bipartisan bill to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service, also known as the Local Community Radio Act (HR 1147/ S. 592). The bill, sponsored by Reps. Mike Doyle and Lee Terry and Sens. John McCain and Maria Cantwell, would expand non-commercial low power FM radio and allow locally produced, community radio to flourish.

Expanding LPFM radio is an issue that has received widespread support from Republicans and Democrats alike. Increasing the number of LPFM radio stations across the country will help restore much needed diversity to our airwaves, bringing forth new voices and viewpoints that are often overlooked by large commercial broadcasters. LPFM radio stations will also play an important role in keeping America secure by broadcasting crucial safety information to their communities, as happened during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

I am a supporter of a local organization, the Chicago Independent Radio Project, which is working to secure a low power FM station in Chicago. The time to act is now. With your support, we can help make this happen.

[[[[[[INSERT YOUR OWN COMMENTS HERE]]]]]]

Please support the Local Community Radio Act. Thank you.

Sincerely,

_________________________
(Name)
_________________________
(Address)
_________________________
(City, State, Zip)

Weekly Voyages Thurs 4/9 thru Wed 4/15

Karin F. — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:50:28 +0000

Slowly but pretty surely, spring is easing its way into the Chi. Wait, there’s still snow on the horizon? Bah! Who are we even kidding?! At least this week is looking pleasant. In that light, why not enjoy these mild nights with some pretty sounds? Though I won’t even bother to mention the sold-out shows for a certain local chap who’s gotten so big that his shows are going for a hundred bones… but there’s plenty more you can do on the cheap. Read on for more.

thursday, april 9

Dr. Dog, The Cave Singers, Golden Boots
Double Door
8:30pm
21+

Sebastian Tellier, Lemonade, Zebo (DJ set)
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Daniel Knox
Hideout
10pm
21+

The Hood Internet, Huggies Supreme, Jokers of the Scene
Sonotheque
9pm
21+

Gentleman Auction House, Butterfly Assassins, Soft Speaker, Big Science
Abbey Pub
9pm
18+

friday, april 10

Neko Case, Crooked Fingers
Chicago Theatre
7:30pm
All ages

Crystal Castles, Gatekeeper
Bottom Lounge
7pm
All ages

Crystal Castles (DJ set), Beau Wanzer & Jordan Z
Sonotheque
9pm
21+

Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Psychedelic Horseshit, Stranger Waves
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Dr. Dog, The Cave Singers, Golden Boots
Double Door
8:30pm
21+

Lucero, Titus Andronicus, Catfish Haven
Metro
8:30pm
18+

Speck Mountain, Small Sur
Hideout
9pm
21+

saturday, april 11

Acid Mothers Temple, Sonic Suicide Squad
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Mates of State, Black Kids, Sunbears!
Metro
7pm
All ages

The Academy Is…, Empires, Evan Taubenfeld
Bottom Lounge
5pm
All ages

The Dials, Coupleskate, Jonny Rumble
Bottom Lounge
10pm
21+

sunday, april 12

Dredg, Torche, From Monuments To Masses
Empty Bottle
8:30pm
21+

monday, april 13

Gutbucket, Crocodiles
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

tuesday, april 14

Alexi Murdoch, Dawn Landes
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

wednesday, april 15

Faun Fables, Azita, Wrekmeister Harmonies
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Pretty and Nice, Interiors, Dreamend, Hospital Ships
Empty Bottle
9pm
21+

Goodie Friday at the Atlantic!

Dustin D. — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:02:23 +0000

Join us on Friday April 10th, as CHIRP launches our new monthly residency at The Atlantic!
For our first outing, DJs Steven Chesney and John Carrigan will be manning the decks.

Goodie Friday with CHIRP DJs Steven Chesney and John Carrigan
Friday April 10th
10pm-2am
@ The Atlantic
The Atlantic, an Irish Pub is located at 5062 N Lincoln Ave.
No Cover!

We’ll be at The Atlantic every 2nd Friday of the month.
Help us kick off the inaugural event with a bang!

RSVP on Facebook

Show Review: Masshysteri/Hjertestop @ Sub T

Chris S. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:23:10 +0000

Pulling up rather late to the Subterranean, fighting off the cold-death-rain as I ran from the ATM around the corner, I was over joyed by being inside. I handed my ID to door guy, followed by ten bucks and ran up the stairs, hearing the last few notes of Big Knife’s set. This was my second biggest regret of the night. My first being that I missed the opening band, Duress‘ set.

Fronted by local zinester and defender of the stage dive, Matt Rolland (Mindless Mutant zine), Duress features current members of other local straight edge bands One Foot in the Grave and Poison Planet. Duress brings a fast, abrasive and short brand of hardcore to the party, which sits somewhere between Minor Threat and SS Decontrol.

Getting their start by handing out demo tapes at local hardcore shows, they’ve built their own mini hype machine on the local hardcore message board, along side regular shows around the Chicago and Northwest Indiana area. I was disappointed that I missed their set, but being a local band, I’m sure I’ll cross paths with them in the near future.

You can download their demo for free at the Myspace profile.
www.myspace.com/duresschicago

Chicago’s Big Knife, who describe themselves as “the new wave of Hell Yeah Metal,” play thrashy lo-fi alcohol fueled garage punk with heavy elements of stoner rock and healthy doses of New Wave of British Heavy Metal thrown in for flavor. Beyond hearing the songs on their Myspace, I honestly don’t know much about them, which adds to the sadness of catching the last few chords of their set.
www.myspace.com/bigfuckingknife

No Slogan, hailing from Chicago’s south side hit the stage third. These Chicago punk veterans have been heavily active in the Southkore records scene, as well as socially active in the Pilsen and Little Village communities. Their style of socio-political punk rock brings to mind the sound of classic Chicago punks such as the Bhopal Stiffs and the Effigies, while their punk rock ethics come straight out of the DIY scene.

I’ve seen No Slogan more times than I can honestly remember and over the last two years, they’ve been getting consistently better. Where their first two 7″ were good, their latest album, Aversion Therapy (Residue Records) ups the bar quite a bit. Their set last night was honestly the best I’ve ever seen them play. Fast, tight, aggressive and completely in sync with one another.
www.myspace.com/noslogan

Hjertestop, from Copenhagen, Denmark took the stage next. Their sound is similar to the obscure sounds found on the classic Killed By Death compilations. With a definite slant towards European squatter punk and an obvious early 80’s East Bay vibe propelling them, Hjertestop manage to create a sound that’s familiar, yet unique. Their set was fun and high energy, in a way that only a Euro-punk band can execute. The band is made up of ex-members of the Young Wasterners and Incontrollados and their sound is equally reminiscent of both bands. They execute with early 80’s street punk smarts, skillful knowledge of their instruments and a friendly tip of the hat to their influences.
Hjertestop will be returning to Chicago on May 2nd with Crude, Unit 21 and Closing in at the Beat Kitchen. Catch them while they’re still state side.
www.myspace.com/hjertestop

Last up was Masshysteri, who features ex-members of International Noise Conspiracy, the Viscous, the Regulations and countless other Swedish punk bands. Masshysteri seemingly draws influence from early 80’s punk bands such as the Avengers and the Mutants, while tying in aspects of American garage rock and hints of the arty early Los Angeles punk bands such as the Weridos and X.

The set was a lot shorter than I expected, but covered a great deal of ground, including ending the show with a cover of the Chuck Berry classic, Johnny B. Goode, sparking the most dancing of the entire night. Most of the songs were executing at slightly below break neck speed, with clean almost jangly guitars acting as the motor that propelled the simple, yet effective drumming. The way the guitar tones played off of one another almost made me think that I heard a keyboard, even though there was a definite absence of keys.

Masshysteri reminds me of everything that I like about early 80’s punk without sounding like a nostalgia act. They borrow enough from their influences to keep things sounding familiar and rooted within the scene, but still manage to make things interesting by combining well executing male/female vocals with well written, high energy guitar playing. This all seems to be evidence that the members of this band took away some important positive aspects from their previous bands. They have a solid understanding that good musicianship can be executing effectively by keeping things simple and that over complicating things isn’t always necessary. They also give their style of punk some hips, allowing it to be as equally dancable as it is welcoming of the pogo.

Masshysteri’s full length LP, which is available stateside via Feral Ward records (http://www.feralward.com/home.html), is a well produced piece of punk rock, without sounding glossy and still manages to capture the vibe and energy of their live performance. Unfortunately, Masshysteri will not be returning to Chicago on this tour, so you’ll have to just take my word for it and give the LP a few spins while stage diving from your bed. The only other option would be a trip to Sweden.
www.myspace.com/masshysteri

Weekly Voyages Mon 3/23 to Sun 4/5

Karin F. — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:28:10 +0000

I don’t know why so many actors end up with rock stars [e.g. Joanna Newsom + Andy Samberg = whaaat??!], but stranger pairings have happened, truth be told.

Go find yr own rock star. We’ve got you started; click below for the where and when in the upcoming weeks.

monday, march 23

The Blue Ribbon Glee Club [record release], DJ Michael Ardaiolo
The Whistler
9pm
21+

Stereo Total, Leslie & The Ly’s, Pure Magical Love
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Imperial Battlesnake, Quatre Tete, Droids Attack
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

tuesday, march 24

The Death Set, Team Robespierre, Ninjasonik, Totally Michael, Cerebral Ballzy
Co-Prosperity Sphere
7pm
All ages

Death Ships, Tell Your Friends
The Whistler
9pm
21+

Clem Snide, The Heligoats
Schubas
9pm
21+

wednesday, march 25

Fred Anderson’s 80th Birthday with Harrison Bankhead, Tim Daisy, DJ Peter Margasak
Hideout
9:30pm
21+

A.C. Newman, Broken West
Logan Square Auditorium
8pm
All ages

Mannequin Men, Plastic Crimewave Sound, Gunslingers, Cave
Empty Bottle
9pm
21+

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Aleks and the Drummer
Schubas
9pm
18+

Takka Takka, Sister Suvi, Soft Speaker
Co-Prosperity Sphere
8pm
All ages

thursday, march 26

Pterodactyl, Black Ladies, Paper Mice, Hearts Of Darknesses
Hideout
9:30pm
21+

Themselves, Serengeti, Dirty Diamonds, CoachHouse
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

friday, march 27

Archer Prewitt, Big Science, James Elkington
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Plants & Animals, Netherfriends
Schubas
10:30pm
21+

saturday, march 28

Brian Jonestown Massacre
Hideout
9:30pm
21+

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Cryptacize, Golden Birthday
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Fruit Bats, Disappears
Schubas
10:30pm
21+

Baby Teeth, The Sleeptalkers, Le Concorde
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

sunday, march 29

The Ladybug Transistor, Canasta
Schubas
9pm
21+

Blueblood, The Pack A.D., Nones
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

monday, march 30

Sleepy Sun, Thee Hardy Mums, MRDR
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

The Von Bondies, Nico Vega
Schubas
9pm
21+

tuesday, march 31

The Sonnets, Shifties, Thermoset
Empty Bottle
9pm
21+

wednesday, april 1

The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice: Gone Primative
Epiphany
8pm
All ages

Chandeliers [mixtape release show], Garotas Suecas, Herculaneum
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

thursday, april 2

Alla [record release], Cave, My Were They, BlackMath
Schubas
8pm
21+

The Black Fortys, Raise High The Roof Beam, Bob Dey’s Tank Engine Band
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

friday, april 3

WAVVVES, Vampire Hands, My Gold Mask
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

The Gaslight Anthem, The Heartless Bastards, Good Old War
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

saturday, april 4

Hidden Mitten, Blue Ribbon Glee Club
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Efterklang, Zelienople
Schubas
10pm
21+

sunday, april 5

Pelican, Tombs, Harpoon
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

The Tallest Man on Earth, The War On Drugs, Red Cortez
Schubas
8pm
18+

Weekly Voyages Mon 3/9 to Sun march 15

Karin F. — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:54:35 +0000

Spring is finally on its way! Since bands don’t like touring in the winter, now they’re all stir-crazy and goin’ a-tourin’ all over the place. Don’t believe me? This week is chock-full of shows, which we’ve organized for you below.

Also, apologies:

We’ve been on somewhat of a hiatus for a spell, but mom and dad are okay now.

or,

The internets in this haus were on the fritz, but it’s all good in the hood now.

Ahem.

monday, march 9

Dillinger Four, The Brokedowns, Psyched To Die, Deep Sleep, Bust!
Reggie’s Rock Club
8pm
17+

Mass Shivers, Capillary Action, Ancient Lifeways
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Sic Alps, TV Ghost
Evanston Space
1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, Ill.
8pm

tuesday, march 10

Seams, CHIRP’s own DJ Michael Ardaiolo
The Whistler
9pm and 11pm (2 sets)
21+

wednesday, march 11

Women, Volcano!, Thin Hymns, Bengal Lancer
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Blasted Diplomats, The Shirks, Absolutely Not, Blackmath
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

The Weakends, Sang des Loups, Ghost Slums
Cobra Lounge
9pm
21+

thursday, march 12

Tindersticks, Jon Langford and Sally Timms
Epiphany
8pm
All ages

Headlights, Maserati, Pomegranates, Oceans
Empty Bottle
9pm
21+

White Mystery, Frustrations
The Whistler
9pm
21+

The 1900s, Cotton Jones, Mazes
Schubas
9pm
21+

dd/mm/yyyy, They Found Me They Named Me, Blueberry Fist
Beat Kitchen
8:30pm
17+

Ours, Watersweet, Metrovox, The Atlantic Divide
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

Dear & The Headlights, Yourself and The Air, Reubens Accomplice, Miniature Tigers
Reggie’s Rock Club
8pm
17+

friday, march 13

Tricky, The Floacist
Epiphany
8pm
All ages

CHIRP’s own TTTTotally Dudes DJs
The Whistler
9:30pm
21+

Matthew Dear, Guido Schneider, Frankie Vega, Gianna Hardt
SmartBar
10pm
21+

Milemarker, Sweet Cobra, Canadian Rifle
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Factums, Daily Void, Zola Jesus, Wet Hair, Max Elliot
AV-aerie
7pm
All ages

Here We Go Magic, Callers, Tim Kinsella
Beat Kitchen
8:30pm
All ages

The Whigs, Dead Confederate, Trances Arc
Bottom Lounge
8pm
18+

saturday, march 14

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
The Vic
8pm
18+

Black Lips, Gentleman Jesse & His Men, Boystown, The Get Drunk DJs
Logan Square Auditorium
8pm
All ages

Chairlift, YACHT, Via Audio
Schubas
10pm
18+

Madeleine Peyroux
Park West
7:30pm
18+

Cut Off Your Hands, Jai Alai Savant, Coupleskate
Hideout
9pm
21+

Human Highway, The Magic, Cotton Jones
Empty Bottle
10pm
21+

Prince Rama of Ayodhya/Mako Sica
Permanent Records
5pm
All ages

The Queers, Poison Arrows, The Scissors
Reggie’s Rock Club
7pm
All ages

Edie Sedgwick, Medications, Builder/Destroyer
Ronny’s
9pm
21+

The Tossers, Lord Mike’s Dirty Calypsonians
Metro
9pm
18+

sunday, march 15

Handsome Furs, D*R*I, Tiger Surprise
Empty Bottle
9:30pm
21+

Nomo, The Chap
Schubas
9pm
21+

The Laureates, Eat Sugar, Paul Cary
Subterranean
8:30pm
21+

Alla
The Whistler
9pm (2 sets)
21+

Fiasco, Rabid Rabbit
Hideout
9pm
21+

An Horse, My Gold Mask, Denise Hradecky
Abbey Pub
9pm
18+

Artist Spotlight - Off With Their Heads

Chris S. — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:02:19 +0000

Last night, I stood outside the Beat Kitchen, as I have many times before, waiting for my best beer-hero buddy John Duggan to ride up Belmont Avenue. It was already a good night, because any night that starts with a can of Hamm’s is going to be special. Tonight we were seeing the much-hyped (with good reason) Minneapolis punk band, Off With Their Heads.

Off With Their Heads is a project based around Ryan Young, whose songs covers familiar topics, such as heartbreak, depression and drug used, but manages to tackle it all in a fresh and self deprecating manner. Unlike other bands that can be classified as “pop punk” or “beard punk,” Off With Their Heads comes out swinging with a “no bullshit,” dark and often times unsettling set of punches, to the tune of familiar pop hooks. The lazy comparison would be to call them the middle ground between Rivithead and J Church. I tend to see them as the band that makes depression fun again.

The show started off with Mundelein Illinois’ young upstarts, the Please and Thank Yous, who whether they know it or not were playing chords straight from the handbook written by Cringer and Jawbreaker. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, as these are two of my all time favorite bands. Their set was short and favorably rough around the edges, just the way any young punk band should be.

Following them was the Vicelords (not to be confused with the Chicago street gang of the same name), which was an all-star band of sorts. Featuring members of current Chicago punk bands Vacation Bible School and the Brokedowns and fronted by veteran Chicago punk front man and ex-Apocalypse Hoboken singer, Todd Pot. Their sound was equal parts Easy Instructions for Complex Machinery era Apocalypse Hoboken and drugged out psych-punk. This was my first time seeing these guys and I was equally impressed and left wanting a few more songs. Todd Pot still has one of the best, most unique voices in punk rock.

Finally, rounding out the evening was Off With Their Heads. They played a healthy blend of older songs and newer songs, mixing in limited witty banter and beer soaked sing-a-longs. What I found most surprising about the show is that their Chicago following has grown a bit since last I saw them. Previously, I saw them at the same venue playing with semi-known locals, but ended up playing to a room that was only a quarter full. The audience this time around was far more receptive and slightly younger. The space was a little over half full, so roughly a hundred heads in the room. It felt good seeing them receive a positive response here, as often bands of their size, regardless of how much a Chicago audience likes a band, will simply fold their arms, bob their heads and politely clap at the end of the song. Seeing the Beat Kitchen transformed into a “moshitorium” for a band that isn’t a local hardcore band was refreshing.

I think what strikes me the most about Off With Their Heads lyrics is that Young says (and quite possibly acts out) things we’ve all felt, but rarely had the courage to say out loud. We’ve all been through break ups where we thought that maybe putting a brick through your ex’s window would be a good idea, but better judgment kicks in and instead you throw yourself a one person pity-party and listen to Morrissey all night. Young straight up says it in their song Horse Pills and the Apartment Lobby, leaving you under the impression that there’s a pretty good chance that the content of the song actually happened. The honest lyrics are really only part of the equation though.

Although their songs are based off of the rudimentary punk rock formula, they do what great pop song writers have been doing for years. They take a familiar formula and reinvent it in a new and interesting way. Darker, high gain guitar tones similar to their fellow Minneapolis punks, Dillinger Four and Rivithead, recorded to sound like Sorry Ma era Replacements, tossing in the honesty of Jawbreaker and using the chord progressions made famous by bands like the Ramones and Dead Boys. Not that this is a hard-fact formula, because listening to their first record, Hospitals and then comparing it to their most recent album, From the Bottom, you see a progression of a band who might show its influences, but just as soon tears them down.

Off With Their Heads is one of the best things going in punk rock right now, so if you haven’t gotten on board yet, you probably should. They’re currently embarking on a European tour, but will be back in Chicago April 1st at Ronny’s.

Local Community Radio Act reintroduced in House

Shawn C. — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 21:49:07 +0000

The bill that will help the Chicago Independent Radio Project secure a broadcast frequency has been reintroduced in the House of Representatives. This time around, it’s H.B. 1147, still called the Local Community Radio Act.

We feel very optimistic that the bill will pass this year. We had the chance to participate in a national news conference today with the introducing co-sponsors, Representatives Doyle (D-PA) and Terry (R-NE). Both are very enthusiastic.

We’ll be asking you soon to write and call your members of Congress and ask them to support HB 1147. If you’re feeling industrious, you could even do that right now. You can find Congressional contact info at congress.org.

And of course even before we do secure a broadcast license, we still do plan on launching the web version of CHIRPradio later this year on the web. We’re moving forward with those plans, and will keep you updated.

A heads-up on the CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights

Shawn C. — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:20:22 +0000

Big fun! The CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights returns for a 7th year…but this time, we’re in a brand new location — the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union, 1340 W. Washington Blvd. We’re extremely excited about our new home — all dealers will be in one big room, and we even have a parking lot! In addition to all the great vinyl dealers, live music and DJs, and tasty food, we’ll have some added fun and games this year, details TBA.

Mark your calendars for April 18th and 19th, because it’s going to be a good time!

By the way, if you’re sitting in a vinyl or CD collection that you no longer want, the CHIRP Record Fair is a great time to rid yourself of unwanted music. You have two options — rent a table from us and make a bit of extra money selling your wares, or, if you don’t feel like going to that trouble, donate your collection to CHIRP, and we’ll take care of the rest.

If you’re interested in being a dealer, you can download the contract here. If you want to donate you collection, e-mail chirp (at) chicagoindependentradioproject.org.

Punk Rock Armor

Dustin D. — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:03:46 +0000

What could be more punk rock than a St George and the Dragon inspired suit of armor made entirely of punk rock records from 1986? How about 100 black vinyl skulls forged from the top hits of the same year? Sounds pretty righteous!

Check out the video below to see Artist Ted Riederer’s process from studio to gallery

via Current, Nylvi

Bottle Up and Explode: P.A. in Record Stores!

Katherine R. — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:36:21 +0000

I’ve been getting my dose of internet humor almost solely from a few blogs recently: It’s Lovely, I’ll Take It!, which is all about disturbing real estate listings, Vintage Microwave, which is all about disturbing free stuff on Craigslist, the “blog” of “unnecessary” quotations marks which, well… and finally, Passive Aggressive Notes, a blog dedicated to collecting and posting “painfully polite and hilariously hostile writings from shared spaces the world over.”

Some recent gems from P.A. Notes include this snippet of fashion advice for the ladies, and this back and forth taped to a candy machine.

My downstairs neighbor’s dog has been barking for weeks, but because of my now hyper-awareness of the hilarity and ineffectiveness of taped-up notes, I’ve been waiting for a good time to talk to her face-to-face about it. I’m not the kind of person who leaves passive aggressive notes, I say to myself.

Then my friend Nate brought this P.A. posting to my attention:

top five musical crimes perpetuated by record store customers in the 90s and 2000s

Aaaah! I never worked in a record store (well, I did, it just wasn’t the kind you could tape notes up in), but I did spent a stint as an angry bookstore clerk in Wicker Park (oh, you know where). The store had many arbitrary rules (no photography, no cell phones, re-shelve the books or we charge a one-dollar re-shelving fee), which necessitated the posting of many passive aggressive signs, several of which I myself wrote!

At the time I didn’t think my notes crossed the line, but with a few years’ distance, I can see them for what they truly are: passive aggressive. (My current favorite note, which didn’t exist while I worked there, is this posting about the photography rule, with a passive aggressive nod to customers’ Flickr accounts.)

Nevertheless, I have to say I savor the stereotypical rudeness — written or otherwise — I encounter in mom and pop shops. For what is Reckless Records without the constant debate over whether the clerk on the other side of the counter is rolling his eyes at you? (I’m not making this up: search the Yelp listing for the word “judgmental” or “holier-than-thou” and see for yourself.)

So I say long live record store P.A.! Record shopping is just a little too sterile without it.

A Look at Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Dustin D. — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:52:42 +0000

Amidst all the RIP notices (Lux Interior, Blossom Dearie, Touch & GO Distro…..) I thought maybe we should post something a bit more upbeat. My good friend Chris Sienko recently tracked down the final two Roland Kirk albums that he was missing for his collection, and emailed me about an article he wrote about Kirk for Blastitude.

As he describes it, “The article contains 28 capsule reviews of Kirk’s canonical albums (not counting bootlegs or posthumous CDs released after his death). It is originally sourced from two lengthy emails sent to Blastitude’s editor-in-chief, Larry Dolman, explaining what I had been listening to obsessively for the last 8 months or so. If it reads like a breathless, middle-of-the-night email, that’s because it basically is (cleaned up a bit and augmented later for print-readiness).”

Definitely well worth a read, and if you haven’t heard Kirk’s “Domino”, I suggest you do yourself a favor and check it out!

TTTTotally Dudes at the Whistler this Thursday night

Shawn C. — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:09:20 +0000

Snow, rain…snain? Bad weather be damned, come to The Whistler this Thursday night from 9:30 for the DJ stylings of CHIRP’s own Dr. Drase and DJ Manwich. We’ll be there.