Radio Free Chicago

Pitchfork Podcast Preview

UPDATE: A second podcast has been posted and more acts have now been "officially" announced, though it seems all of this is common knowledge at this point:

Sonic Youth (performing Daydream Nation), Girl Talk, Powerhouse Sound, Cat Power, Clipse, Grizzly Bear, Professor Murder, Jamie Lidell, Of Montreal, Iron and Wine, The New Pornographers, De La Soul, The Ponys, Battles, Stephen Malkmus

Download: Pitchfork Podcast Preview #2

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Is this for real? Sounds like one of those traffic and tourist info radio stations that they pipe into theme parks:

http://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/splash/PMF_07_backline_01.mp3

Meanwhile, as per usual, the critics and Bloggers can't wait a couple of more days until the official announcement is made and are now rampantly throwing out bands rumored to be on the bill.

Menomena, Field Music, Land of Talk @ Empty Bottle 3/20/07

Last Tuesday at the Bottle was a real treat because there were not just one or two, but three great bands to see, who oddly enough were all composed of exactly three people. Portland Oregon’s Menomena played a fantastic set with a good collection of songs that varied between more typical indie rock fair and swept up instrumentals (sometimes within the very same song as in the case of “Cough, Coughing.”)  Field Music from the UK also played an engaging 45-minute set that felt a little more light hearted than Menomena’s.  Montreal’s Land of Talk  opened up the set modestly but with promise playing songs from their album Applause Cheer Boo Hiss.

I-GO Car Sharing To Release Comp CD

Chicago-based I-GO car sharing company is cooking up a compilation CD that will feature local Chicago bands that will be available in every I-GO vehicle. For the past couple weeks bands have been invited to upload a few tracks to be considered for the comp as well as a chance to perform live at the Release Party at the Metro on May 31st. On Monday April 2, the voting begins, so be sure to swing by and vote for your favorite Chicago band to land on the comp CD. Stay tuned to www.igocars.org for a chance to win VIP tickets & other prizes.

What's a road mix, without a little taste of asphalt?
Here's hoping The Siderunners sent in a track.
Download: The Siderunners -"Due South"

Get on the List: Robert Gomez

Like his pals and new labelmates Midlake, Robert Gomez is yet another emerging talent to arise from the suddenly noteworthy music scene of Denton, TX. Known for his "melancholy indie pop songs that speak of love found and love lost" (couldn't have said it better myself, AMG!), Gomez released his latest opus, Brand New Towns, earlier this year and on Bella Union records and is now hitting the road with a full 6-piece band. This week they'll be swinging by Schubas for a late Friday night gig and RFC wants to put you on the list.

Drop a line to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Denton rawks" in the subject line and we'll draw a winner at random tomorrow (Thurs) morning. As an added bonus, we'll also send our one lucky winner a copy of his new record. Good luck!

Download: Robert Gomez - "Closer Still"

Download: Robert Gomez - "Stuck Inside" (rare B-side!)

Loney, Dear/Erik Harms & the Trophy Wives/Doleful Lions @ Schubas 3/18/2007

While most of the city’s music fans and musicians were in Austin, there were still things going on for those of us left behind. This past Sunday night it was the latest Swedish indie pop sensation on Sub-Pop, Loney, Dear. (Yes I spelled that right, there is no “L”, even though everyone I talked to wanted to say lonely.) Opening for them were locals Doleful Lions and Erik Harms & the Trophy Wives rounding out a nice night of pop music.

The Colour @ Schubas 3/14/07

What drew me most to the songs of the four piece LA band The Colour was the lead singer's voice.  There's a real sense of young but detectable desperation even amongst the thick guitar chords in songs like "Save Yourself," which is definitely my favorite of theirs. Infused with a real modern sense of The Doors and Led Zeppelin, The Colour drew a definite array of appreciative young women to the front of the stage. 

Ratatat with 120 Days @ Logan Square 3/21/07

The vernal equinox brought some rain and warm weather to Chicago, but it also brought the indie kids out to hear some watered down electronic music.

RFSL Turns 1!

Congrats to Radio Silver Lake on their 1 year anniversary! Unfortunately, the RFC corporate jet is down for repairs this week so I won't be able to attend the party, but if you happen to be in the greater Los Angeles area tomorrow night be sure to swing by and wish Joe a happy anniversary.

RFC Interview: The One A.M. Radio

Hrishikesh Hirway is the one man studio junkie behind the name The One A.M. Radio. After scoring critical acclaim with his 2004 release, A Name Writ in Water, Hirway finally reemerged this year with a brand new album titled This Too Shall Pass, released last month on Dangerbird Records. Now, after endless hours of solitary recording, Hirway is bringing his intricate compositions to life on the road and making a stop here this Sunday (3/25) at South Union Arts at Ronny's. RFC recently caught up with Mr. One A.M. Radio via email to discuss his latest opus, but we also ending up getting a great Chicago story that Hirway described as 'one of the best weeks of my life.'

Download: The One A.M. Radio - "Lest I Forget"

Keeping Austin Weird

 

As expected, following around two bands and hitting up all of their showcase and day party performances took up almost all of my time at SXSW. Since I didn't have a lot of leeway to wander around and bounce between venues, whenever there was any free time, I just went straight for the self-indulgent favorites that I circled on my itinerary. Because of this fact, I couldn't begin to report a comprehensive overview of this year's festival, but like most, I still came home with a slew of random stories from my time in Austin. For starters, I didn't end up catching a lot of new hype bands like Peter Bjorn & John, Cold War Kids and Midlake but did end up seeing performances by Donovan (yes, that Donovan), John Doe (X) and Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction) with Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)!?! I also watched Badly Drawn Boy while standing behind the lead singer of Starsailor?!? For a second there, I thought I had been transported to the year 2001...

Dean and Britta @ Schubas 3/15/07

I’m a huge fan of both Luna and Galaxie 500 and it’s clear to me that after this length of time Dean Wareham has not only built up a fantastic back catalog of albums and songs, but still has the magic to create more. Singing alongside his enchanting wife Britta Phillips (who also played with Luna in its last few years), the melodies literally ran off the stage as the audience tried to catch them if only to hold on to the moment of bliss they were experience just a little bit longer. While they played songs spanning across their careers, their set was, in one word: lovely.

Download: Dean & Britta - "Wait For Me"

Live Pics: Bandwidth VI/Karaoke Post Party

Kirstie has yet another fine batch of pics from Saturday's Baby Teeth CD release party. but most importantly, she also snapped a lot of the karaoke action at the upstairs post-party as well. Karaoke pics of Tim Tuten, Bobby Conn and Kelly Hogan follow after the jump.

New Releases Tuesday 3/20

Run, don't walk, to your friendly neighborhood record store today. Big local releases from Andrew Bird, The Ponys and The Zincs. Other essential releases from Adult, LCD Soundsystem, Low, Ted Leo, El-P, Modest Mouse and J Dilla. Hopefully you're not like me and didn't blow all your cash at SXSW so you can afford pick up a few of these today. Click here for the short list via Metacritic and here for the complete list via AllMusic. Happy shopping!

Prototypes @ Schubas 3/12/07

If the Prototypes were to write the Zombies song “Time of the Season” they might had written a triumphant “It’s the time of the season for dancing.” Fronted by the captivating and energetic Isabelle De Loussal, this French pop four-piece swung open their arms to the welcome of the happily moving crowd ready to embrace their catchy rhythms with an enthusiasm rarely seen on a Monday night.

Best Fishnets in Indie Rock

Head on over to TPFFR for Nicole's "glam-a-rific" review of last week's Of Montreal show at Metro.