Radio Free Chicago

"You're not getting away this

"You're not getting away this time..." American Music Club w/Eitzel (front)

Alt-rock nostalgia rocks Chicago this weekend

This weekend, three legendary alt-rock bands from the late 80's and 90's are back in town for one last harrah...

Luna - Thursday and Friday at Abbey Pub
Dean Wareham has decided to put his post-Galaxy 500 project to rest, but he's taking the band out for one last tour. Besides playing all of the classic hits from the Luna anthology, they'll also be playing plenty of tracks from their recently released swan song, Rendezvous. If you can't make the shows this week at the Abbey, or are still craving more Wareham-tastic melodies after their Chicago stop, you can follow the Luna farewell tour next week to Madison on the 15th, Champaign on the 16th and Cincinnati on the 18th, where they'll be playing the historic Southgate House. For a complete list of dates, check out the official Luna website at www.fuzzywuzzy.com

American Music Club - Friday and Saturday at Schuba's
Mark Eitzel is back together with the American Music Club and the band is out supporting their first record in 10 years, Love Songs for Patriots. It’s also been 10 years since they’ve last toured as a band, so fans are really salivating about this tour. Will Johnson of Centro-Matic opens.

Pixies - Saturday thru Wednesday at Aragon
Yes, it finally happened...the Pixies are back together and are playing 5 nights in a row at the Aragon! Yes, that's right...5 nights at the Aragon!! It was originally planned as a 3-night event, but after tickets sold out almost instantly, they added a 4th...and then a 5th. Good news for procrastinating Pixies fans, though, tickets are still available for the final show on Wed (11/18). A different opening band plays each night, but most notable is the Tuesday night show. The Coctails are reuniting for a one-off performance as the opening act on Tuesday night. It will be their first performance since the close of Lounge Ax in 2000 and only their second live performance since 1995. Fans who randomly choose to buy tickets for the Tuesday show definitely got the luck of the draw on this one.

Who listens to this crap??

Who listens to this crap??

Windy 100 Now Blows Even More!

The word on the street last week was that WNND-FM (100.3), formerly "Windy 100," would be dropping its "hits of the 80's and 90's" format in favor of a brand new format, complete with new call letters and imaging.

Granted I wasn't holding my breath for WNND-FM to reinvent itself as something revolutionary that would change my perception of commercial radio, but there was a small chance that it could change into something mildly interesting (it couldn't really get any worse).

Perhaps it would change into an all hip-hop station like New York's Hot 97? Chicago has two stations that play hip-hop and R&B (WGCI and Power 92), but there aren't any stations that just play hip-hop.

Perhaps it would change to a younger skewing or more alternative version of 'XRT? In San Diego, this type of format has been wildly successful. Combining the mellow adult rock stylings of 'XRT with hard rockin' alterna-staples like Nirvana, The Beasties and NIN for the kids, San Diego's KBZT-FM 94.9 has actually already beaten its rival (Clear Channel's 91X) in the ratings after barely two years of existence.

Also, last year in Los Angeles, a new commercial station calling itself "Indie 103" debuted in Los Angeles as an alternative to the more mainstream "alternative" station KROQ. (the station that Q-101 was originally modeled after) Indie 103 is a commercial station that actually sounds alternative...their current playlist boasts The Libertines, The Streets, Tegan & Sara, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Stills, The Faint, The Walkmen, Morrissey, The Cure, etc, etc. While Indie 103 hasn't toppled "world famous" KROQ in the ratings, they are still around a year later and holding strong. Maybe WNND-FM could change into something like this?

Not quite...

Last Thursday, WNND transformed into WILV-FM, "The New 100.3, Love FM," a lite rock station that plays nothing but love songs. According to the story by the Sun-Times' Robert Feder, core artists heard on the station include the likes of Phil Collins, Anita Baker, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire and, of course, Barry White. But wait, there's more...I found a sample playlist of the station on the internet, other featured artists so far include Linda Rondstadt, Barbara Streisand, Taylor Dayne, Michael McDonald and Klymaxx.

Are you kidding me? A station that plays nothing but cheesy love songs?? Apparently WNND's previous format of watered-down adult contemporary music just wasn't lame enough?? Does Phil Collins really put people in the mood? Does anyone in 2004 really want to listen to Klymaxx?

Again, I wasn't expecting much from the station, but somehow they've managed to make the commercial radio dial in Chicago even worse.

Here's a great discussion topic...what's the worst radio station and/or music to come out of Chicago? Click on "comments" on the right or drop an email to rfceditor(at)hotmail.com

New Releases Tuesday (11/9)

As we get closer to the Holiday season, the release schedule is starting to slow down a bit overall. However, Tuesday marks a couple of new releases with deep Chicago roots. Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken (Anti) Former Bloodshot star and Chicago resident moves up to the big leagues with a new release on Anti records, home to such heavyweights as Tom Waits, Nick Cave and the last release from Elliott Smith.

Coctails - Popcorn Box (Carrot Top)
3-CD box set from the former Chicago indie-pop superstars. Released by local label Carrot Top Records, the set features "material from their entire oeuvre including many studio songs that never found a place on an album."

Immediate Action Returns...

Friday night at Sonotheque, Hefty Records is hosting another Immediate Action Night. Headlining this event will be Italy's Retina.IT, who will be bringing his minimal electronica/tech-funk/dance sound to the Sonotheque dance floor.

The rest of the night will feature all local acts...Joshua Esustis of Telefon Tel Aviv and head Hefty honcho Slicker (aka John Hughes III) will open the night with live DJ sets. Then, lcoal slowcore favorites L'Altra will perform live.

Doors open 8, show is at 9. Admission is $10, 21+ only. Sonotheque is located at 1444 W. Chicago Ave.

The Abstract Science presents underground sounds from the 'D'

Tonight at Sonotheque, WLUW's Abstract Science presents the Detroit Underground Tour featuring DJs Kero, Derek Michael and special guest Quantazelle. Detroit Underground is an independent record label that "represents a heady hybrid of Berlin-inspired, gangster glitch and down-home midwest techno." Actually hailing from Windsor, Ontario (just across the river from the 'D'), tour headliners Kero and Derek Michael are also the proprietors of the Detroit Underground label. "Special guest" Quantazelle is a local DJ who is coming off her first full-length release on her new label subVariant.

Tonight's show is a part of Abstract Science's Funk the Mental series, which occurs every first Wednesday of the month at Sonotheque. "Resident Selectors" are Chris Widman and Don Solo. Widman and Abstract Science can be heard every Thursday night from 10p to 2a on WLUW-FM (88.7)

Vote early, Vote often!

Vote early, Vote often!

Rock the Vote...Get Half Off!

After you vote today, don't forget to save your receipt....

Three local venues are offering half price admission tonight to those who perform their patriotic duty today at the polls. Just bring in valid proof that you voted, (I don't think just an "I Voted" sticker will count) and you'll get half price admission at The Empty Bottle, The Bottom Lounge and the Logan Square Auditorium. For more information, visit www.voter-reward.com.

New Releases Tuesday (11/2)

Local Label Releases: Plush- Underfed (Drag City) Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Sprout and the Bean (single) (Drag City) Christina Carter - Living Contact (Kranky) Autistic Daughters - Jealousy and Diamond (Kranky) Various Artists - Kompilation (Kranky)

Other Essentials:
Various Artists - DFA Compilation #2 (DFA)
Chicks on Speed - 99 Cents & Remixes (Chicks On Speed)
Grandaddy - Below the Radio (Ultra)