Radio Free Chicago

Live Review: (International) Noise Conspiracy@Beat Kitchen 5/27/06

After an incredible set by The Fever (as reviewed by Carlo), Swedish rockers The (International) Noise Conspiracy came on stage with a mission: to rock the ever living shit out of the sweaty, all ages crowd at the Beat Kitchen.

Mission Accomplished!

Dennis Lyxzén is in every sense a man born to entertain, he knows how to make a crowd go ape shit with his smooth as a baby's butt dance moves, jumping off anything on the stage, and propaganda-filled banter. The Noise Conspiracy boys blazed though much of their last release, Armed Love (which slowly managed to grow on me), and favorites from Survival Sickness ("Smash It Up") and A New Morning, Changing Weather. The one thing the show lacked compared to other times I have seen them was Dennis' anti-capitalism speeches, which is always fun to look around and see half the audience confused on whether or not to cheer along with his views...like the FBI is going to kick in and take everyone in as possible terrorist. But as usual, the band was extremely energetic, and the crowd ate it up. During "Capitalism Stole My Virginity," the kids scurried around to get the chance to support Dennis feet as he walked on top of the crowd singing (I managed to hold him up and get a little hand shake...I swear if I ever became gay, Dennis would be on my top of my "have to do" list). I wish I had like 20 more thumbs so I could give the show 22 thumbs up, but take my word, go see these guys if you haven't yet...nothing but outstanding music that is guaranteed to have you shaking your ass within seconds, with one of the best front men in rock to entertain the living hell out of you.

Also, being my first time at the Beat Kitchen I was surprised on how great the sound was during each of the band's set. The venue is pretty decent overall, decent drink prices, friendly staff, and the cleanest bathrooms I have ever been to in a bar/venue. The audience was also refreshing as everyone was cool and full of energy...probably my first time at an all ages show and not getting annoyed.

-Brian Johnston

New Releases Tuesday - 5/30

Not surprisingly, not much going on this New Releases Tuesday following the long holiday weekend. However, there are a couple of albums you may want to check out:

Boards of Canada - Trans Canada Highway [EP] (Warp)
As if there wasn't enough misconception about these guys being from the Great White North (they're actually Scottish), they've now named their latest release after a major highway there.
However, according to AllMusic, this is a "mini-concept LP" inspired by an actual trip by the Scottish brother duo in which they travelled from St. John's, Newfoundland to Victoria, B.C.
This six song EP includes the previously released album track "Dayvan Cowboy" plus four new tracks and a Dayvan remix.

Peeping Tom - S/T (Ipecac)
Yet another new project from Mike Patton (Faith No More, Tomahawk, Mr. Bungle, etc.), this album is reported to be have been six years in the making. Featuring collaborations from Amon Tobin, Bebel Gilberto, Massive Attack, Kool Keith and even Norah Jones, word on the street is that this is Patton's most accessible work since Faith No More.

Also this week...

Les Claypool - Of Whales and Woe (Prawn Song)
Herbert - Scale (K7)
Mikaela's Fiend - We Can Driving Machine (Strictly Amateur)
Modern Machines - Take It From Somebody (Dirtnap Records)

Live Review: The Fever@Beat Kitchen 5/27/06

Dirty, raw, and filled with bloody truth: The Fever aim to reach their fist out into the crowd and hug you in their brooding world of intrigue. The Fever have experienced a shift of musical focus since their 2003 release of Red Bedroom, and I rather enjoy the new direction. Their way too short opening set was filled with mostly songs from their new album In The City of Sleep, which is noir-filled soundscape where Tom Waits, Nick Cave, and John Lennon drink tea and shoot at carnivale dogs in grainy black and white, as audio tremors travel up you legs and shake your body. Lead singer Geremy Jasper gave a top notch performance, shifting effortlessly between screaming emotional outbursts and sweet sonic melodies, drummer Achilles Tzoulafis hammered out a call for all to bob their heads and stomp their feet, and organist J. Ruggiero layered on the textural harmony with tastes of euphoria and melancholy. Some notable standouts include "Crying Wolf", "Labor of Love" (from Red Bedroom, which got everyone dancing), and "Waiting for the Centipede" (my personal favorite): a dog and pony show anthem sauntering it's way down the dimly lit halls and through the mirrors of the fun house. The Fever brought a dose of high energy and a full force torrent of emotion-filled rock-n-roll. Each song packed a heart filled tortured punch, that left you wanting to hear a few more songs. Despite the time constraints, The Fever definitely tore through their solid set with great ferocity and skill. Hopefully, they will come through Chicago soon with higher billing. If you haven't heard In The City of Sleep, I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you like The Apes, The Features, or Firewater.

Chicago Innerview Showcase Tonight

Tonight at The Beat Kitchen, local indie music monthly Chicago Innerview will be hosting the second edition of their new monthly music showcases. This time around, local popsters Paper Airplane Pilots will be handling headlining duties, along side two Brooklyn-based bands, Lowry and The Bowmans. Get the full scoop at Innerview's Ghost Media Blog where you can also find out about a "hot shit" freebie courtesy of Innerview publisher Jay Gentile.

Who doesn't love experimental Australian drone?

Tomorrow at 5:30pm, Reckless on Milwaukee will be hosting a rare in-store performance from Australian experimental artist Oren Ambarchi. Here's the official scoop from Reckless HQ:

Oren has released several albums on labels like TOUCH, SOUTHERN LORD, IDEA, STAUBGOLD and TZADIK to name a few...his albums are a unique take on guitar minimalism, focusing on low-end drone yet his sound is that of pristine tones and almost glacial layers of sound. It's soothing, gorgeous, and sometimes unnerving...his last release for Touch "Grapes From The Estate" was a gorgeous amalgamation of minimalism and (dare we say) post-rock shuffle...He is currently in the states touring with SUNN O))), but with Friday being the Sabbat he will NOT be performing at the Logan Square Auditorium and this will be his ONLY Chicago performance, and certainly one not to be missed!

But wait, there's more in-store fun this weekend at Reckless...

Former Melivns and current High on Fire bassist Joe Preston(aka THRONES) will be performing an in-store Sunday at 4pm on Milwaukee and over at the Broadway location, direct from the armpit of the nation (aka Indiana) comes Metro-headliners Murder By Death for an acoustic in-store performance at 2pm on Saturday.

Free Imogen Heap performance

Thursday night's Imogen Heap show at the Park West is sold out, but you can still check out the former Frou Frou vocalist tomorrow by heading over to the Apple Store for lunch. She'll be performing a free in-store at noon sponsored in part by the world's finest news source, The Onion. If you're not familiar with Heap's work, think Björk or Beth Orton, only with more vocal loops and overdubs.

The Apple Store is located at 679 N. Michigan Ave.

New Releases Tuesday - 5/23

The Walkmen - Hundred Miles Off (Record Collection) Album number three from the NYC indie rockers. Nothing here as powerful as "The Rat" or as catchy as "We've Been Had," but lead single "Louisiana"(recorded pre-Katrina) should give them another run at the top of the college rock charts this year.

Mission of Burma - The Obliterati (Matador)
The second studio album since their reunion in 2004 (and only third full-length of their career), these 80's post-punk cult heroes have now actually produced as much material in the new millenium as they did in their original heyday.

Scott Walker - The Drift (4AD)
First record in 9 years from the legendary enigmatic avant-pop crooner.

Also this week...

Murder By Death - In Boca Al Lupo (Tent Show)
Don Peris Go When The Morning Shineth (Badman)
Ocrilim Anoint (I & Ear)
Osaka Popstar - Osaka Popstar and The American Legends of Punk (Rykodisc)
Phoenix It's Never Been Like That (Astralwerks)
Tilly & the Wall - Bottoms of Barrels (Team Love)
Vetiver - To Find Me Gone Dicristina (Stair Builders)

Live Pics: Frog Eyes w/Sunset Rubdown@Schubas 5/18/06

Updated in the Live Photo Archive today are pics from last week's Frog Eyes and Sunset Rubdown show at Schubas. RFC Chief Image Coordinator Nicole Chavas reports:

...[The] Frog Eyes/Sunset Rubdown show at Schubas was incredible...the show kicked off when Spencer got behind his keyboard and said, "This song is a Wolf Parade song, but before that it was a Sunset Rubdown song" and proceeded to play a stripped down version of "I'll Believe in Anything," just him and the keyboards, while I proceeded to drop my jaw in disbelief and amazement and possibly wet myself; I was totally unprepared for something that f***ing AWESOME.

Check out the full review of what Nicole has dubbed the "best show I've seen so far this year" at ThePerfectFaceForRadio.com.

Quickie Album Reviews

Grandaddy - Just Like The Fambly Cat (V2 Ada) Grandaddy’s swan song is as good a farewell gift as any band can give. Instead of phoning it in, as many bands in the midst of breaking up might do, they chose to record what might be their best work yet. At turns soft, sunny and playful, others frenzied, frantic and desperate, it’s an album packed with more ideas than most bands have in an entire career; a rich aural experience that rewards repeated listens. – Gabe Burger

Division Day – Beartrap Island (Self-release)
Lines like "A dirty kid with insects all in your mouth," "I want your blood inside my head," and "Are you a murder friend?" represent the sort of lyrical absurdity you can expect from Division Day’s first full-length album, but try to dislodge them from your mind and you’ll find them all steadfastly in place. Catchy, varied, and original, Beartrap Island is a must-have release from one of indie rock’s most shockingly unsigned bands. – Joe Fielder

The Electric Soft Parade - The Human Body EP (Better Looking Records)
ESP has assembled a strong batch of well-produced, well-studied pop/rock tunes in The Human Body EP. A band that wears its ambition, and its influences, on its sleeve, their sound makes it no secret they want to be BIG. Originally released in the U.K. last year, the U.S. release gets an extra psychedelic workout, The Captain. Standouts include Cold Word, the epic Everybody Wants, and Kick In The Teeth (which has a riff that must’ve been raided from Josh Homme’s footlocker). – Gabe Burger

RFC Interview: Walter Meego

After countless DJ sets around town recently and a sold out headlining gig last month at the Empty Bottle, local funky electronica trio Walter Meego reemerge tonight at the Dark Room in a brand new incarnation they call "Super Meego Soundsystem." Combining the performance aspect of their live show with the seamless flow of their DJ sets, the Meego Soundsystem will mix, edit and loop tracks on the fly via a wired mix of turntables, laptops and other electronic gadgets. RFC recently caught up with Meego's Jarrett Spiegel to discuss more about the band and their latest scheme to get the dancefloor moving.

So...how was last week's DJ gig at Betty's. Any crazy debauchery go down with the bondage/Bettie Page theme?

Last week's gig at Betty's was good fun. It was the first time we ever performed our Super Meego Soundsystem set (we did it kind of sneakily) and people seemed to be up for it. The Super Meego set is something we're all really excited about getting out and playing. The music is really, really fun and we have a lot of fun doing it. There wasn't any really excessive debauchery at the event but our manager won a raffle for what turned out to be a vibrating, two-pronged dildo that was infused with pressure-sensitive lights (L.A. Gear-style); so that was pretty amusing.

For those who may not be familiar with your work, explain more how "Super Meego" differs from the regular ol' Walter Meego?

The traditional Walter Meego performance is more like going to see a regular band. It's just us playing instruments on stage and playing OUR songs. The Super Meego Soundsystem is something we're ultimately only interested in playing for clubs. It's a lot more like a DJ set than a performance. It's a combination of different musics, most of which is other peoples'. While seeing us perform live is like a general live performance where you'd want to be attentively viewing, the Soundsystem set is something you're gonna want to dance to. Our interaction will likely be lesser and the focus will be on the jams.

What do you call your style of music? (electro-pop? experimental? dance?)

We don't really have any sort of genre-specifictitle for what we do. I guess its ultimately just pop music. We try to make pop music thats fun and palatable but also a little experimental by nature (think groups like Gorillaz or Basement Jaxx).

What's the next recording project for Walter Meego?

The next recording project we're doing will be our next single. The immediate plan is to continue releasing a series of singles. The next 12" will comeout on Brilliante. The A-Side will be titled "Romantic" and will come out on September 19th in the U.S./October 17th in the UK. It will be accompanied by remixes from our friends Salva and Flosstradamus and will also be the subject for our first music video.

Sounds good, but you got to get an album out...you owe to the people. Oh, by the way, which one's Walter?

Unfortunately, there is no real Walter. The reality is that we're kind of like Wu-Tang - we form like Voltron. The only difference is, when we form, we become a guy named Walter.

Water Meego's latest single, "Hollywood," is out now on Brilliante Records. For more info, check out WalterMeego.com.

Hefty gets crunk!

As a part of their ongoing 10th anniversary celebration, local electronic stalwart Hefty Records has unleashed a new flossed-out megamix of label favorites mashed up with the hottest mainstream hip-hop tracks. Ever wondered what Mike Jones would sound like rapping over Savath & Savalas? Missy Elliott backed up by John Hughes? E-40 produced by Eliot Lipp? Wonder no more and download the 40-minute mix here, put together by L.A.'s edIT.

New Releases Tuesday - 5/16

Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (Third Man/V2) "...Whether it’s the middle-eastern flavored title track, the glammed-up Store Bought Bones, or the glorious pop/rock of Together, from start to finish, Broken Boy Soldiers doesn’t disappoint." Also, if you're bored, crank up Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him" to hear the inspiration for the riff in the hit single from this record, "Steady As She Goes."

Twilight Singers - Powder Burns One (Little Indian)
WOXY.com sez..."Possibly his best effort yet, Greg Dulli returns under the Twilight Singers moniker with a record that more closely resembles his Afghan Whigs material than any of his previous solo outings. A wide range of guests include Joseph Arthur, Ani DiFranco, and ex-Whig John Curley."

Also this week...

Boris - Pink (Southern Lord)
Controlling The Famous - Automatic City (The Militia Group)
Dinosaur Jr. - Green Mind [Reissue] (Rhino)
Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been [Reissue] (Rhino)
Espers - Espers II (Drag City)
Home & Garden - History and Geography (Exit Stencil Recordings)
Mae Shi - Terrorbird (Strictly Amateur)
Radio 4 - Enemies Like This (Astralwerks)
Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope (Sire)
Russian Circles - Enter (Flameshovel)
Thievery Corp. - Versions (18th St. Lounge)
Whirlwind Heat - Types of Wood (Brille)

Sigur Ros w/ Amiina @ Lyric Opera House 5/9/06

After taking an elevator up to the balcony accompanied by a tuxedoed usher as polite applause rippled across the theater for openers Amiina, I knew this wouldn’t be a typical rock show. In a venue that regularly hosts performances of Die Fledermaus and Cosi fan Tutte, Sigur Rós’ epic compositions and enormous sound still seemed fit to share the stage, even if the fans in attendance were not typical of the Lyric Opera House’s usual black tie audiences.

The four Icelandic women of Amiina wowed the crowd with their skills on the strings, incorporating bells, electronics, and even the saw into their short opening set. The strings were the focus of every song, with the quartet sitting in a small square atop a tall platform, seemingly unaware an audience existed. As each song progressed, various members left the platform to smoothly wander the stage from instrument to instrument, building the sound gradually in the typical post-rock style Sigur Rós made popular. Amiina’s sound was also very reminiscent of another Icelandic band, Mum, especially as the precious tinkling of the bells were looped and layered through the Apple computer that rested incongruously on stage. After thanking the audience with some very adorable broken English, the band wrapped things up with an uncharacteristically danceable song with a serious beat.

After taking in the beauty of the Lyric’s interior and hitting up the nicest bathroom I’ve ever used at a concert, the lights dimmed and the curtains drew back to reveal the band positioned behind a sheer white screen. Easing into “Glósóli” from their latest album Takk . . ., the shadows of the band and their instruments moved across the screen as they played from behind while faint gray video of leaves blowing and feet stomping projected onto the stage. The sound grew gradually, eventually filling the entire room with the final minute’s heart-pounding drums and singer Jon Thor Birgisson’s piercing voice, every note of every instrument crystal clear. As the song finished and the crowd cheered, the screen rose to reveal the band, the women of Amiina perched on their platform in the familiar square position, Jon standing awkwardly in front of the microphone at the center of the stage with his guitar and bow in hand.

After that stellar beginning, the band’s set focused primarily on songs from their most recent albums, the rockin’ Takk . . . (“Hoppipola” and “Sæglópur” were definite standouts) and the far more mellow and sedative ( ) (Yu-si-yo!), which often left me wanting to close my eyes and just take in the sounds in peace. The lighting very much complemented the show as video continued to stream on a screen behind the band; the greens, blues and reds flashed across the stage in perfect timing with the music, while the shadows of the various band members could often be seen along the theater’s side walls. Meanwhile, the band stood rather rigidly on stage, with most of the movement coming from the sways of the members of Amiina as their arms flowed with the bows of their strings. Only once did Birgisson speak, and whether it was broken English or unintelligible Icelandic (or maybe Hopelandish?), no one in the audience was quite sure what he said.

After briefly leaving the stage to more of that polite applause, the screen lowered in front of the band again as they returned to the stage to close out the show with "Untitled #8" from ( ). Building their sound very gradually while the lighting strategically revealed the silhouette of a different band member each second, the band eventually made its way to a booming ending as strobe lights flashed across the audience and forced me to turn away my eyes and plug my ears while Birgisson’s ear-splitting siren voice soared above the massive wall of sound. Blind and deaf, but pleased, Sigur Rós dropped their instruments and left abruptly, returning to the stage seconds later for a final bow to their thrilled audience.

Chicago Rocks once more

This weekend, local collective/record label Molemen Inc. presents Chicago Rocks, an annual event showcasing some of the best hip-hop acts in the city. Now in its fourth year, Chicago Rocks kicks off tonight at the Abbey Pub and continues Saturday night at Metro.

For more information and a complete talent line-up, visit www.molemen.com/chicagorocks

KEXP launches Blog

KEXP, the independent radio station in Seattle "where the music matters," and sponsor of this year's Intonation Fest, has launched their own Blog. The new site features exclusive DJ commentary, music news, podcasts, live performance pics and more. KEXP has long been a leader in enhancing their terrestrial broadcasts with live and archived content available on the Web, and this looks like another great feature that should serve to solidify their worldwide popularity even further. Check it out at http://blog.kexp.org