Radio Free Chicago

The Early Bird Gets the Worm

 

Don't oversleep, tix available via Ticketmaster.com

New Mannequin Men Album to be Released June 9

Our friends at Flameshovel Records recently sent over a carrier pigeon with this message scribbled on a tiny piece of paper, rolled tightly into a little tube, tied with a pink ribbon: Good day! New Mannequin Men record, "Lose Your Illusion, Too", coming June 9, 2009.

As you might imagine, my immediate reaction was "Exciting, I love Mannequin Men", followed by "My, those Flameshovel dudes sure like to keep it Egypt circa b.c." and "So, is this thing going to fly back on its own? How does this work?". Not to worry, they followed up with an email explaining that the new Mannequin Men record is going to be a fantastic, fresh departure for the band and that the bird made it back safely to Flameshovel HQ.

They also hinted that we at RFC may have the privilege of receiving a song or two from the record before its release. Remember, you heard it here first! Stay tuned, we'll get the tracks up as soon we receive another pigeon.

Tonight at the Burlington

  

In addition to storming the decks at the Burlington tonight, as an added bonus we'll also be teaming up with the Capitol Street Team beforehand for a Record Release Party in honor of the new album from L.A. duo The Bird and the Bee. If their delightfully sunny SoCal pop stylings don't warm you up, then the bonus $1 PBR special from 8-11 most certainly will. Stick around the rest of the night for DJ sets from RFC's Chief Open Bar Correspondent Garin Pirnia, Chief Dance Correspondent Samantha Vincenty, new News Director Erin Osmon and, of course, yours truly.

Future Perfect Relaunch

Our friends over at Future Perfect Radio have launched a completely new website with a fresh new look and a revamped line-up of indie music channels. The site now boasts over 25 genre-specific channels that let you fine tune your indie listening to such specific niches as Twee-Pop, Chamber Pop, Bleep Pop ("A Chance to Cure"), Post-Rock, Lo/Fi and Experimental ("Flux"). Plus, there are numerous "geo-centered" selections like Portland, New York, Scandinavi and...wait, what's this.., there's even a "Chicago Scene" channel! Crank it up at FuturePerfectRadio.com.

Gems from the Pitch Pile- Clatter Clatter

There's something to be said for sheer replay value, and today's featured artist-- the Bostonian band Clatter Clatter-- has that in spades. This crew from the eastern seaboard can weave a serious hook, pulling together melody lines that will haunt your every waking moment until someone starts humming "Like A Prayer" (or any 80s pop song has a staying power that's almost primal).

Graduates from the Berklee School of Music in Boston, it's clear these guys know music. Every instrument gets its day; there's nothing muddled or awkward about their sound, nothing superfluous or thrown in to show off (and if there's is, congratulations, because they sure fooled me). Clatter Clatter sounds polished, clean and-- best of all-- like they're really enjoying themselves. Bubbling over with three-part harmony, jangly guitar, thumping piano, and lyrics that are tongue-in-cheek, these guys seem to realize that in its heart of hearts rock is fun. Their debut EP, Too Many Boxes, is available tomorrow (January 27th). (Amazon)

Clatter Clatter -- "Downpour"

Clatter Clatter -- "Australia"

RFC DJ's @ The Burlington Wed Night

Yes, the rumors are true...the crack staff of Radio Free Chicago will be storming The Burlington, 3425 W. Fullerton, this Wednesday night (1/28). My homies and I will be churning out a plethora of sweet sounds for your eardrums, and we'll even bathe at least 48 hours in advance!

I know, I know. It all sounds too good to be true. However in true Radio Free fashion, we will be offering all this AND a few spectacular surprises. The suits won't let me reveal said surprises just yet, but stay tuned. Let's just say we may or may not be handing out fabulous giveaways in celebration of a brand new album release and there may also be a ridiculously cheap drink special going on. (But don't say that I told you. OK?!) So kids, be there or be punching yourself in the noggin' the next day.

PS. I can also promise I won't play any Hall & Oates. I'm fully aware that joke has run its course.

Numero Group to Release 'Local Customs' Series

An album from the "Eccentric Soul" series, compiled and released by Chicago-based Numero Group, (figuratively) knocked me on my ass the first time I gave it a turn on ye ole table way back in 2008.

After further exploring this illustrious group of vinyl junkies, I became hopelessly obsessed and committed to spreading the Numero Group gospel. Yeah! Yeah! (Did I just get all Ian Svenoniusy?!)

Kneel before your robot overlords!

This Saturday, January 24th, Chicago's favorite (only?) electro-nerd punk sextet, Dr. Killbot, plays their record release show at Subterranean.

Dr. Killbot has a reputation for putting on a unique performance (see: cooking bacon on stage/audience participation), free of pretensions and chock full of awkward and comedic banter between band members. You won't find any of these fellas sporting pocket protectors or tossing twelve sided die in an impromptu game of Dungeons and Dragons (well...maybe) but you may hear the Windows XP product key sung in five part harmony. I failed to mention, Dr. Killbot has their very own Drunk Bot (now new and improved!) which audience members feed beer. Beer is the Drunk Bot's life source! Gaze in wonderment as he traipses through the crowd, doing the bidding of his creators.

Their sophomore album, Creature Compendium, will be available for purchase on CD and Robot Buddy flash drives. See how they embrace the future!

Download: Dr. Killbot - "Prohibition"

Get on the List: Disco Biscuits w/ RJD2 and Prefuse 73 @ The Congress

Double-decade fan favorite The Disco Biscuits play The Congress on January 24th. If you know anything about the jam band/raver circuit chances are you've at least heard of these guys-- and if you haven't, then for heaven's sake, go see the hullabaloo for yourself. Joining them are the illustrious RJD2 (underground hip-hop wizard, sporting a trilogy of albums) and Prefuse 73, toting some nicely beat-centric numbers. Listen and judge for yourself: I've included some mp3s.

Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Audience 18+. Drop us a line to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Disco Tix" in the subject and we'll draw three winners at random who'll each get a free pair of passes to the show. Afterwards they're $25. Long story short: go. It's good, it's fun, and, if you're on the damn ball, it's free.

Prefuse 73-- "One Word Extinguisher"
RJD2 -- "1976"

I Like to Move It Move It

Despite the fact that writing show reviews is against my religion (also forbidden: "Family Guy", talking about wine for more than a minute and a half, grown men who use the word 'yummy'), I'll make a few comments about last Saturday's TNK Fest show. Not only was it my first time at Schubas — the downstairs reminds me of the stage space at Union Pool back in Brooklyn, and also it smelled like hot dog water for some reason? — it was my first time seeing all of the acts on the bill. I made it there for the second half of Thunderheist's set and they were mmm...not as good live as I'd hoped, but I think they were having some sound issues. Happily though, I found two more things to love about the Chicago music scene: Hey Champ and Willy Joy. In the parlance of Ebay: Five stars, item mint-in-box, would do business with again. For real though, the dance music here is what makes Chicago so great to me. When I first moved here I was like this but shows like Saturday's have made me like this!

Hey Champ is halfway to Famoustown; they opened for Justice at the Congress on NYE and they're signed to Lupe Fiasco's label 1st and 15th. You can hear Willy Joy DJ at Rino on Wednesday but you'll be hung over from the Obamactivies, so let's all go to to Rehab at Evil Olive on the 26th. Cool? Cool.

Hollywood Holt - Hollywood (Willy Joy Remix) 

Hey Champ - Cold Dust Girl (Yello Fever Re-fix)

We have a new president. Let's drink.

It's January 20, 2009 folks, and you know what that means...

After you've ever so slyly live streamed all of the inauguration footage while on the clock at your day job, combed through Flickr streams and played with all of the fancy, interactive news graphics, you can then go home and mourn the passing of Rachael Maddow's "Lame Duck Watch". Or, you can go out and have "hooray for President Obama" drinks. Or, you can go out and have have LOTS of "hooray for President Obama" drinks. 

I, my friends, will be doing one of those very things. (Hint: It's not the first or the second.)

For your glass-clinking pleasure, read on for spots where you can celebrate President Obama AND head-bob to some tunes. Seriously.

Gems From The Pitch Pile

For those of you who haven't read my introduction post, I'm the official unpaid intern of this castle and as anyone who's had an internship knows, I'm now knee-deep in a plethora of random neglected tasks that have been collecting dust for the past 10 months. As if I didn't have enough to do already, last week I made things even worse by casually mentioning that I happen to enjoy listening to downloads while running on the treadmill.

"Oh," said Brad, eyes glazing over with a sudden manic joy, "I have MP3s for you."

So in honor of all the hours I've logged so far shifting through the 7867 new press pitches in the RFC inbox, I bring you the first official Gems From The Pitch Pile...because the motto of every good intern is "I Torture Myself So You Don't Have To." (If somebody knows that in Latin, I'll get it made into a T-shirt and will post the results)

Look Forward To: Disappears w/ The Lanterns @ The Hideout

This just in: Disappears will be playing with The Lanterns and Clock Hands Strangle at The Hideout, Thursday February 19.

The Lanterns are a guitar-driven, newish collaboration featuring members of Tortoise, White Savage and Eleventh Dream Day. This will be their fourth show after recording at Phantom Manor Studios, though there are no plans for a release just yet. Sound good? Yeah, I think so too.

In the event you've been holed up in a Siberian cave over the past six months, Disappears are a psychedelic super-set with guys from The Ponys and The Boas that played a sold-out show at Schubas last night w/ Department of Eagles. They have a couple of self-released 7 inches out as well as a live CD (that's a compact disc kids).

This is going to be a super-cool local show so be there, or be punching yourself in the noggin' the next day.

Pleased to Meet You (Hope You've Guessed My Name)

How do, bloggers and bloggettes?

My name is Paige and I am RFC's "Deputy Editor" (and by deputy editor I do mean "unpaid intern"). As the newest addition to the RFC crew, I thought I'd take a breather and introduce myself before dropping headfirst into an uploading spree-- and since the best way to introduce yourself is to subject other people to things you like, I'm uploading a couple of MP3s that have found themselves on my "Recently Played" list. So, enjoy the gift (and buy their albums) and I leave you with a quote from the comments section of the illustrious Stereogum (or, more specifically, their Reader Comments), one which will serve me well in the weeks ahead:

"FORBIDDEN OAN TEH INNERNET:
1. Liking things
2. Not liking things
Posted by: Matthew Wilder at 08/18/08 1:30 PM"

The Hold Steady -- "Hornets! Hornets!"

Flobots -- "Handlebars"

Warren Zevon -- "Werewolves of London"

CHIRP Dance Party Fundraiser @ The Hideout

This Saturday, January 17, DJ's Mary Nisi and Carrie Weston of Smashing Time will be reviving their infamous Hideout dance party, to benefit the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP). Though I never really NEED an excuse to get good 'n' sweaty to New Order and Biggie Smalls, supporting indie radio sounds more than legit.

I'm pretty sure I'll be there unless, you know, my neighbor discovers I'm the rat who ran over his paint cans to snake the parking spot I didn't dig out. In that case, you'll find me face down in a Ukrainian Village gutter somewhere.

Details:

Hideout Dance Party for CHIRP

Saturday January 17

11:30 p.m.

$5 donation