Radio Free Chicago

?uestlove show sure to be another ?uest to get in the door

The Scion marketing machine is back again to present another fine hip-hop artist behind the decks at Sonotheque. ?uestlove, drummer/producer extraordinaire from the Roots, gets this nod this month with Twilite Tone and Tone B. Nimble again serving as openers. Nothing against ?uest...but I probably won't be making it out tonight, the lines for these Scion events are just too obnoxious.

Last month, I was geniuinely looking forward to seeing Scion's free MF Doom set. I even made a point to try get there early to avoid the inevitable lines. However, one thing lead to another and I didn't get over to Sonotheque until 9:30p. (which is still a bit early in my book) And, sure enough, the line was already backed up all the way down the block. As much as a free night at Sonotheque with MF Doom providing the soundtrack sounded great, it just wasn't worth the wait. Besides waiting outside in the freezing cold for at least 30 minutes, I knew there would probably be at least another hour or two wait once inside before Doom's set would begin. This hour or 2 wait would also mean numerous trips to the bar, resulting in a night that would end up being anything but "free."

The people at Scion are putting together some great shows and probably reaping some great PR, but unless you have all night to kill and have a huge hole burning through your wallet for drinks, I'd recommend resisting the temptation of checking out these "free" events.

Scanning the dial...Gap the Mind

Probably one of the greatest compliments to a radio station or DJ is when you find yourself listening to (and even enjoying) a show that features a style of music that you would otherwise never listen to. Lately, I find myself doing this all of the time when tuned to "The Pride of the South Side," WHPK-FM (88.5).

For example, I can't say that I'm a big fan of bluegrass and folk music, but I find myself listening to "Come All Ye Coal Miners" (a program featuring old time, traditional, and hillbilly music) and "Honky Talk Hardwood Floor" (country, bluegrass, and folk music) almost every week.

However, one of my favorite discoveries on WHPK recently has been a new show called Gap the Mind. According to host Jeff Rufo, Gap the Mind is a "weekly trip from Classic to Acid Folk, instrumental freakout and all points in between." To be honest, I didn't even know there was a genre called "acid folk," but no matter what you want to call this music, I absolutely love it.

While the "acid folk" moniker is a new one to me, not all of the artists played are. Jeff throws in a nice blend of classic folk from the likes of Nick Drake, Bob Dylan and Donovan; psychedelic and experimental folk-tinged music from artists like Syd Barrett, John Cale and Nico; and stark modern folk from Bonnie Prince Billy, 6 Organs of Admittance, Devendra Banhart, etc.

A bit folky, a bit psychedelic, a bit mellow...but always very cool. Check out Gap the Mind every Wednesday from 4p-5p on 88.5 FM on the South Side. Below is a sample playlist from a recent airing:

Band / Song / Album (Label)

-Incredible String Band/ Chinese White/
The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion (Island)
[from Jeff: "this is kinda like the theme song for the show"]
-Simon Joyner/ Obituary/Heaven's Gate (Brinkman)
-6 Organs of Admittance/ Manifestation side A (Strange Attractors)
-Billy Nichols / Feeling Easy / ? (?)
-John Cale/ Amsterdam / Vintage Violence (Sony)
-Nico / I'll Keep it with Mine / Chealsea Girl (Polydor)
-Nick Drake / Fly (unreleased version) / Second Grace (Nick)
-Faust / Lieft.../ IV (Caroline)
-John Fahey / Dance of Death / Dance Of Death & Other PlantationFavorites (Takoma)
-Bee Gees / Odessa / Odessa (Polydor)
-Trad Gras och Stenar / ? / Trees, Grass And Stones (Silence)
-Ghost (w/Damon and Naomi) / Tanka / ST (SubPop)

New Releases Tuesday (2/15)

Really slow week for new releases...I guess the music industry doesn't want to compete with Hallmark. Nonetheless, here are a couple of notables that slipped through the cracks:

LCD Soundsystem - s/t (DFA/Capitol)
After listening to this record briefly, it's pretty clear that James Murphy's career as the one-man dance/rock machine known as LCD Soundsystem will never overshadow his work as a producer and indie-label proprietor. That being said, this record doesn't completely suck...and when Murphy sticks to the ironic dance-punk that he does best, it's a riot.

In fact, unless there are plans to release it as a 12" single, the track "Daft Punk is Playing At My House" is almost worth the price of the entire CD itself. Speaking of 12" tracks, the classic LCD jams "Losing My Edge" and "Yeah" are also included in this double CD release. If you don't own these already (or...[gasp!] haven't even heard these tracks before) this record is easily worth the $13.99, no matter how bad the filler tracks may be.

They Might Be Giants - Here Come the ABCs (Disney Sound)
According to Amazon.com, this record "offers up twenty-five alphabetically themed songs. However, as is their charming way, the two Johns (Flansburgh and Linnell), use the letters as merely the connective tissue, allowing them to pursuit intriguing flights of fancy that consider everything from the relative power of letters and sounds to animal hijinks." Don't worry, these guys haven't completely flipped, this record was purposely made for kids.

Electric Six - Senor Smoke (WEA)
Danger, Danger...this band's 15 minutes are up! (available on import only)

Happy Valentine's Day from Chicago!

Happy Valentine's Day from Chicago!

Weekend Music Outlook

Friday (2/11): Low with Pedro the Lion and Tim Rutili at Metro

I'm still a bit torn on this one...I've already seen Low a few times here in Chicago and I have mixed feelings about the new album (The Great Destroyer). That being said, I've always been a fan of the band and they are always surprisingly good live. An opening solo set from Tim Rutili (Califone, ex-Redd Redd Meat) is a nice bonus, but sitting through a Pedro the Lion set isn't exactly my idea of a fun Friday night.

Saturday (2/12):

The Perceptionists at Abbey Pub (late)

After an early show featuring Dutch indie-rock veterans Bettie Serveert, underground hip-hop group The Perceptionists take over the stage for the late show at the Abbey. (I'm guessing there won't be much audience overlap between shows)

Actually more of a side project than an established group, The Perceptionists combines Def Jux solo artist Mr. Lif with fellow Boston native Akrobatik on the mic and DJ Fakts One behind the decks.

Much like the Friday night Low show at Metro, I'm also a bit torn about whether this show is worth seeing. I think Mr. Lif is amazing...his 2002 solo album, I Robot, was an outstanding record that I would recommend to any hardcore hip-hop fan. Akrobatik on the other hand...well, he's alright...but I can't say that I've ever been blown away by his work. Furthermore, the Perceptionists' debut album doesn't drop until March, so I have no idea how this new collaboration sounds. This show's a bit of a gamble...but then again nothing beats discovering a new band live first before hearing their record.

John McCain sez: "Corporate radio,

John McCain sez: "Corporate radio, you suck!"

McCain continues fight for community radio

While the future of Chicago's only 100% free-form radio station, WZRD-FM, is still in limbo, there was some promising news from Washington this week that could potentially lead to space for more stations like WZRD on your radio dial in the future.

(from radioandrecords.com, allaccess.com)

Sens. McCain, Maria Cantwell and Patrick Leahy yesterday (2/9) introduced the Local Community Radio Act, which would allow additional low-power FM radio stations to go on the air and stop further studies on how LPFMs may interfere with existing FM stations.

McCain said, "While low-power FM stations were authorized five years ago, implementation has been severely hampered by commercial broadcasters' flagrantly exaggerated claims of interference. The most recent obstruction, a two-year study conducted at the behest of broadcasters, cost taxpayers over $2 million and proved what the FCC and community groups have known for years: Low-power FM stations will not cause significant interference to other broadcasters' signals. It is time for broadcasters to stop hiding behind false claims of interference when they are really afraid of the competition from truly local broadcasters."

Cantwell's statement added that “large broadcasters have tried to block access for low power FM stations using tired arguments that don't hold up to reality. This is an important fight to ensure that these affordable, community-oriented radio stations are allowed access to our nation's airwaves.”

Leahy's quote says that "(f)or too long now the number of low power FM stations the FCC could license has been limited by unrealistic and unnecessary rules requiring these smaller stations to search for available frequencies far from any full-power broadcaster. This bill will open up the airwaves to truly local broadcasting while protecting full-power broadcasters from unreasonable interference and preserving important services such as reading services for the blind.”

For those about rock...(Low salutes

For those about rock...(Low salutes you)

Concert preview: Low

If you're planning on seeing Low this Friday at Metro, you can get a sneak preview of how their new material sounds live Wednesday afternoon at www.woxy.com (aka "97X, [BAM!] The Future of Rock and Roll"). The Duluth slowcore trio will be rockin' the 97X Lounge tomorrow at 2pm Chicago time and will undoubtedly be playing quite a few tracks from The Great Destroyer, which just hit store shelves two weeks ago. Unfortunately, 97X currently doesn't archive any of their past shows or live performances, so you'll have to have your WinAmp or Real player locked in to 97X at 2pm sharp.

Chicago's Ben Vida, aka Bird

Chicago's Ben Vida, aka Bird Show

New Releases Tuesday (2/8)

Local and Related:

Bird Show - Green Inferno (Kranky)
Outhud - One Life to Leave (12") (Kranky)
Andrew Bird - Mysterious Production of Eggs (Righteous Babe)

Other Notables:

Boom Bip - Blue Eyed in the Red Room (Lex)
Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust (Epitaph)
The Frames - Burn the Maps (Anti)
Apparat - Silizium (EP) (Shitkatapult)
Mia Doi Doi Todd - Manzanita (Plug Research)
Hood - Outside Closer (Domino)

The Wizard is silenced!

Northeastern Illinois' community radio station, WZRD-FM (88.3), aka "The Wizard," is off the air. The transmitter has been shut down and station volunteers have been locked out of the studios.

UDATE (2/7)
The saga continues...

Alyssa Joy Coiley has resigned from her position as station manager of WZRD, effective last Thursday. The station continues to be off air.

UPDATE (2/3)

Still no "official" word on how or why WZRD's broadcast license was allowed to expire. There has been very little information released because, according to WZRD music director Dave Pecoraro, the station is trying to keep coverage of the incident to a minimum so that other broadcasters don't try to take advantage of WZRD's situation and try to apply to take over their frequency.

(dial space in a market as crowded as Chicago is extremely valuable...thus, word of an opening on that dial would cause any current and would-be broadcasters to swarm on the vulnerable license like sharks)

Like station manager Alyssa Joy Coiley, Pecoraro also notes that everyone at the station is working hard to get back on the air as soon as possible. We'll keep you posted here on RFC...

UPDATE (2/2):

According to an email sent to WZRD volunteers by station manager Alyssa Joy Coiley, station management had recently contacted the FCC about the status of their license and found out that the WZRD was currently operating without a license. This, of course, is in violation of FCC rules and the station was advised to cease broadcasting immediately until the issue is resolved. Coiley then went on to say that they are currently in the middle of an appeals process with the FCC in an effort to restore compliance and legally return to the air.

It's not clear at this point whether the station's license had expired due to negligence by WZRD staff or whether the problem occured at the FCC's end.

Qwel, of Typical Cats

Qwel, of Typical Cats