Radio Free Chicago

News and Notes: Brian Wilson, Nas, New Music Streams, Free Show

///Brian Wilson has wrapped up his new album, The Lucky Old Sun, which will be out on store shelves September 6th via Capital Records. The record contains 11 songs and focuses on a conceptual '50's and '60' Southern California. [Thanks, Aversion]

///Nas' latest album, N*gger, which was supposed to be released back in December, will finally see the light of day on July 1st via Def Jam. The album's title? It's now an untitled project. [Thanks, Billboard]

///To keep your ears happy for the next couple of days Spiritualized have a stream on their MySpace for their upcoming album Songs in A &  E. The stream will be available until May 22nd. In more streaming news The Hold Steady's newest single is available as a stream on their MySpace and an NPR critic reviews the new Scarlett Johansson record. [Thanks, Spacelab & Consequence of Sound]

///If you are looking for something to do tomorrow (Wednesday) night, check out the free show at the Gallery Cabaret (2020 N. Oakley). It starts at 9pm and features Box of Baby Birds, Magical, Beautiful, In the Arms of Annalee.

Flight of the Conchords @ Chicago Theater 5/14/08

When it was announced a couple of months ago the comedic folk duo Flight of the Conchords would be playing in Chicago, the show sold out within minutes. On the day of the show, several people stood outside the Chicago Theater holding signs beseeching people for tickets. With the sold-out audience consisting of hipsters declaring, "I liked them before the HBO show," to middle-aged attorneys who'd paid $400 to a broker for a pair of tickets, FOTC's appeal is perplexingly vast. Not even a year after its debut on HBO, the TV version of Flight of the Conchords has become an American phenomenon. Comprised of Wellington, New Zealanders Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, the real life musicians play everything from acoustic guitars to a digital horn and sing idiosyncratic songs about angels “doin’ it”  and a racist dragon. The guys started off as a band then evolved their shtick into the HBO sitcom last summer. The show follows the daily lives of the transplanted musicians struggling to make a living in New York. Music/comedy duos aren’t anything new, but these guys pull it off in a big way. Maybe it’s those sexy accents, but they are genuinely witty and talent comedians and musicians.

Download: Flight of the Conchords - "Robots"

News and Notes: Bound Stems, Spiritualized, Simpson & Wentz

///Chicago's Bound Stems will be releasing their sophomore LP, The Family Afloat, on September, 9th via Flameshovel Records. If you can't wait that long be sure to look for the vinyl version that they will be caring around with them on tour. Don't have a record player (for shame!)? The record comes with a download code. For you Chicago folks the tour kicks off at Schubas on July 11th. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Spiritualized kicked off their tour last night in Cambridge, England. The tour helps everyone gear up for the release of their next album, Songs in A & E, which will appear on store shelves May 27th. They aren't just touring in England, but making some stops in the US as well, including a stop at Pitchfork Fest. 3-day passes are sold out by the way - get your single day tickets. [Thanks, Spacelab]

///And for our TMZ-like moment - Ashlee Simpson and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz are officially married. The rumors hold that Simpson is pregnant, but the couple has not confirmed the pregnancy at this time. Can the mallcore punks look forward to a joint tour? [Thanks, NME]

DeVotchKa w/ Basia Bulat @ The Vic 5/9/08

There are very few bands, if any, that make music as innately beautiful as DeVotchKa.  A band of modern day gypsies capable of haunting, possessing and inhabiting souls that are in search of the fantastic and they do it all with a flair distinctly their own.

Download: DeVotchKa - "Till the End of Time"

News and Notes: My Bloody Valentine, Traitors via VBS, Mates of State

///Kevin Shields has been working on My Bloody Valentine's TLC makeover. 1988's Isn't Anything and 1991's Loveless are both being cleaned up and remastered for a UK June 16th release date. They are working on a brand new album, but no word on when those songs will be in everyone's hot little hands. [Thanks, Aversion]

///Speaking of the '90's, Saturday night at everyone's favorite dive, The Mutiny, Chicago's VBS will be performing as The Traitors - including ex-Traitors singer Tod Pot. Party like its 1995!

///In celebration of a sunny Friday, check out the full album stream of the pop-gum-sweet Mates of State's new record Re-arrange Us. You can pick up a physical copy on May 20th via Barsuk. [Thanks, Punknews]

Live Pics: Clinic @ Empty Bottle 5/12/08 (early show)

News and Notes: City v. Music Promoters (or, contact your alderman...stat!), Lolla Additions

///UPDATE: Channel 11 now has their Chicago Tonight segment regarding the ordinance available on-line. Click here to check out the panel discussion with Jim Derogatis and alderman George Cardenas. Obviously we're biased, but this video would appear to support what's been asserted in print so far about the aldermen seeming "out of touch" with how the scene works. For additional perspective straight from the aldermen's mouth, check out the extensive interviews posted earlier this week over at Time Out Chicago.

///UPDATE: Ordinance has been shelved!! (for the moment)

/// The backlash against the proposed city council ordinance to place more restrictions on music booking is not only growing, but it's started to organize. Check out savechicagoculture.org to get all the details about the ordinance and instructions on how to contact your alderman. Don't delay, the ordinance will be voted on TOMORROW. Also be sure to check back for updates with Jim DeRogatis, who has been an invaluable resource in bringing this issue to light.

///DeVotchKa, Iron & Wine, Saul Williams, Tiny Masters of Today and mid-90s one-hit wonders The Toadies(!?) have been added to the line-up of Lollapalooza, plus about a dozen other bands that I've never even heard of.

RFC TV: Supergrass - "Diamond Hoo Ha Man"

RFC Interview: Dizzee Rascal

This Wednesday, UK grime superstar Dizzee Rascal returns to Chicago for a co-headlining gig with NY underground legend El-P. It's been a while since we've seen Dizzee in these parts as there was a rather extensive three year gap in between the release of his sophomore album, Showtime, in 2004 and his latest, Maths & English, that came out last year. The gap seemed even longer here for American fans as Maths only received a "soft" release in the States then (via download only) and it wasn't until just a couple weeks ago that a physical domestic version was made available on store shelves via Definitive Jux. RFC caught up with Dizzee on the phone last week while he was taking care of business at Def Jux HQ in New York to discuss the new record and find out what he's been up to these past few years.

News and Notes: RFC Presents...our last?, TOC live reviews, Sonotheque party

///Hey, so we're presenting The Long Blondes at the LSA on the 24th...don't miss this one, it may be one of our last if all this City Council bollocks goes through!

///Check out the Time Out Chicago music blog for fresh reviews of the Cut Copy/Black Kids and Robyn shows this week. Also, congrats to A.J., who was the winner of our Black Kids vinyl contest this week.

///The Empty Bottle, American Apparel and Venus magazine are teaming up tonight for a party at Sonotheque. Not only can you get in for free if you RSVP to Venus, but word on the street is that there will also be scantily clad ladies from American Apparel passing out free swag.

RFC TV: James Pants - "Cosmic Rapp"

New James Pants record Welcome out May 27th on Stones Throw

RFC TV: The Republic Tigers - "Buildings & Mountains"

Tokyo Police Club @ Metro 5/5/08

Tokyo Police Club, in support of their most recent release Elephant Shell, must have raced thru every 2 minute song in their catalog to fill the hour or so set in front of a packed Metro crowd that didn't appear to sit still for a single second of it. 

Download: Tokyo Police Club - "Juno"

Quickie Contest: Black Kids Vinyl

In honor of their Chicago appearance tonight at The Abbey with Cut Copy and to celebrate their new major label record deal with Columbia, RFC is giving away some sweet hot pink 7" vinyl of the new Black Kids single "I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You.” Drop us a line TODAY to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "hot pink black kids" in the subject line for your chance to win.

The Black Kids debut record, Partie Traumatic, hits domestic store shelves on July 22nd.

News and Notes: Free downloads a plenty...

///Yesterday Nine Inch Nails released a free download of their entire new album, The Slip. Is Trent on new meds or is he just more prolific these days and feeling generous?

///And speaking of drugs, The Dandy Warhols yesterday announced they'll be self-releasing a new album this summer titled Earth to the Dandy Warhols, with a free download of the first track available now. You can go to the Dandys homepage to sign up, or you can just snag it with no strings attached at Stereogum.

///Keep tabs on the Office website this summer as they'll be releasing a new record in mid-July and will make it available as a free download for an entire month. Plus, vinyl copies are promised "for cheap."

///Actually, you know what...forget all this downloading BS, it's going to be 80 degrees and sunny today! Get your ass outside and go to a real record store!! New releases out today from Elvis Costello, Matmos, Four Tet, Republic Tigers, Last Shadow Puppets and more.