Radio Free Chicago

I Like to Move It Move It

Don't know if you guys have heard: The economy's having a bit of trouble. It's bad enough that I lost my day job, but now I hear that the Borders on Michigan Ave is closing! A popular retail chain in its death throes pretty much screams "total disintegration of society," doesn't it?  I almost feel guilty -- nay, un-American -- for never shopping in these places. First they came for the Circuit City, and I said nothing.

Big-box stores are headed the way of dinosaurs and landlines and someday even Sam Walton's family will be living on ramen and St. Ides. So why not throw money at local venues instead? Doubling your show intake will not only strengthen our local economy, it will create the sort of unifying, hedonistic end-of-days atmosphere that spawns significant cultural movements. And countless unplanned pregnancies...which is bound to create more jobs somehow right? Yup I pretty much just solved this whole problem, you can thank me later.

A glance to the left will show you plenty of concert listings but today I'm especially psyched for one. May 30th is a long way off but I've already cleared my schedule for the Chicago date Fischerspooner has announced. Though Fischerspooner's heyday was in the early aughts, their performances are legendary and I think Casey Spooner is one of the smartest people in electropop (second only to LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy). Plus their version of Wire's "The 15th" is one of my favorite covers ever. I sure hope we're all still around by then...see? I'm ramping up the "smoke em if you got em, this ship is goin' down slow" New Depression sexiness! What an exciting time to be alive.

Fischerspooner - The 15th

Bobby Bare, Jr. @ Schubas 2/21/09

 

For some, the initial foray into the music of Bobby Bare, Jr. is by way of his family tree. While those taking that route may not find what they expected, they may indeed find what they needed.

Tortoise is Back in the Studio?!

Happy hump day people...

Live Nation and Ticketmaster are attempting to rule the musical universe, throngs of undergrads are bead-dazzled and hungover, we're still processing Obama's first address and it's my birthday! What's more? Last night at dinner Jerry Springer and his 20-something entourage were sitting in the next booth. Needless to say, I truly had to resist the urge to make up stories about baby-daddies while throwing plates and shattering glasses.

Last night I also received word (from someone who plays in another band with members of Tortoise) that Tortoise is back in the studio recording a new album. This was especially exciting (even more so than Jerry Springer sitting with twins) as I have been eagerly awaiting a follow up to their 2006 release, "A Lazarus Taxon" for quite some time now.

While I haven't been able to track anything down online, I did check out their website and found a pretty great chronology dating back to '88, and even better head-shots of the band. The Thrill Jockey website also reports that their classic album "Standards" is available on vinyl (red vinyl to be exact) for the first time in three years. Finally, here's a link to a great live performance from 2004 in Belgium. Stay tuned as I dig up more info on the new album.

Gems from the Pitch Pile - Blind Pilot

Blind Pilot should be nothing new to you.

Their 11-track debut, 3 Rounds and a Sound, cracked onto the indie scene last year and has been gaining steady momentum since (when NPR takes notice, boy howdy, you've got it made). So why feature them on a Pitch Pile when they've already effectively been pitched?

Because they're coming to Chicago and you should probably go - and since you won't go until you know who they are (and until they have the illustrious gold star of RFC approval, which we FedEx to all bands for fridge-hanging purposes), it's my duty to make the introductions. Charmed.

Blind Pilot - "The Story I Heard"
Blind Pilot - "3 Rounds And A Sound"

O'Death @ La Maroquinerie (Paris) 2/18/09

After graduation plans changed in the past year for this Chicagoan, I was brought back into the world of academia that I had hoped to put behind me for a few years. Since returning to France for a spring stint studying at the Sorbonne, I've been scouring the upcoming Parisian shows for an alternative to cafés and pints. Aside from Alkaline Trio's recent gig at a club smaller than the Fireside Bowl, one particular show made me stop in semi-disbelief. Paris was the last place I thought would host the folk-rock (self-prescribed 'metal') fusion of New York City's O'Death. 

O'Death - "Lowtide"

T & G Tribute

Things were sounding pretty grim early on Wednesday, but fortunately it didn't turn out to be a complete doomsday scenario for Touch & Go Records. After a collective sigh, we here at RFC HQ decided to celebrate the label forging on as an independent record label by revisiting the extensive back catalog and sharing some of our personal favorites from over the years.

Bedhead - "The Unpredictable Landlord"

The Black Heart Procession -"Tropics of Love"

Blonde Redhead - "In Particular"

Calexico - "The Black Light"

Enon - "Disposable Parts"

Nina Nastasia - "Ugly Face" 

Shellac - "Copper"

TV On The Radio - "Staring At The Sun"

New Fol Chen album, Liars remix

I usually try to keep the news local at RFC, but I thought this was too good to pass up...

Fol Chen, a funny little pop gem from Highland Park, California, released their debut LP titled "Part I: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made", on Asthmatic Kitty two days ago. You can check it out here. If you like The Blow, Danielson Family, Of Montreal or just good weirdo pop in general, I command you to click on that little blue link in the last sentence. This is one of those records that caused a knee-jerk, "dance in my ergonomic office chair" reaction which is typically kosher and/or hilarious to the surrounding co-worker audience. However, I recently moved desks and now sit next to section editors and food critics who weren't so accustomed to the fine art that is office chair-dancing. Luckily, they seemed amused.

What's more? Julian Gross from The Liars got his hands on the song "Cable TV" and put together a sweet little remix. Listen to it here.  NPR also did a story on Fol Chen you can read here.

Touch & Go Cuts Distribution Ties, Downsizes Operations

Turns out it's not a complete death, but it's certainly the end of an era at venerable Chicago institution Touch & Go Records. The official word from owner Corey Rusk is that the label is downsizing and will no longer provide distribution services for other independent labels like Drag City, Flameshovel and Kill Rock Stars. Check out the full statement from Rusk in Greg Kot's Tribune post here.

Gems from the Pitch Pile-- Western Civ

This is Western Civ's third offering, and it shows. Their press release is full of bashful meanderings about not being able to define their sound, which is dandy-- I can't define whether I'm wearing my glasses until I spent ten desperate minutes tearing the apartment apart (and, by the way, I am wearing my glasses). However, they clearly know enough what they want their sound to be to claw their way there with a vengeance.

I admit, when listening to these tracks I was initially turned off. These are definitely children (or maybe friends with benefits) of the 80s/early 90s stock which means a certain degree of hardcore minor-chord "argh life sucks" jerk rock. The first thing that made me pay attention to their cuts was the eponymous REM (ha! it's a pun!) jangly guitar, a sound which I wish I could wrap up and give as a present on Valentine's Day because it says "I love you" better than novelty boxes of Nerds (thank you, Professor Makagon). After that, my turnabout was virtually guaranteed. Their sound-- even at its most angst-ridden-- has a floating reverb quality that screams "Sonic Youth! REM! Silver Jews!" (And their next album seems to have been produced at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium Studios... ha.) Even more amazing is when you realize this sound's coming from essentially three dudes, supplemented occasionally by three other dudes and a folding chair. Any band that mics a folding chair is okay in my book.

Western Civ -- "Capitol Steps"
Western Civ -- "I Am a Waterfall"

Monotonix @ The Hideout 2/15/09

 

Loud, raw and wonderful, last night Israeli three-piece Monotonix launched what could only be described as a fun and welcome assault onto the sold out crowd of The Hideout.  They are the type of band you go to see because they have the anything can happen quality to them and the constant anticipation of what they will do next keeps you enthralled. 

Monotonix - "Body Language"

New Wilco Film: 'Ashes of American Flags'

A new film documenting portions of Wilco's 2008 tour will be released April 18th, 2009 (Record Store Day). Check out the trailer for "Ashes of American Flags" below.

School of Seven Bells @ Bottom Lounge 2/12/09

School of Seven Bells(SVIIB) are one of those bands that after slowly creeping onto my radar the past few months, have suddenly become a current favorite. Judging by the crowd they pulled last night at Bottom Lounge, it appears they've caught the attention of numerous other Chicago fans as well. Headliners Fujiya & Miyagi clearly brought in their fair share of people to the club, but the buzz factor surrounding SVIIB was evident in the fact that a huge line built up outside the venue doors just prior to the advertised show start of 9pm. 

SVIIB - "Conjur"

Countdown to V-Day

Deep down we all know that Valentine's Day is a crap holiday popularized by people who know how to sell stuff. First big in 19th century England, the Americans caught on about 10 years later (you know, like with Coldplay and "Da Ali G Show") when an incredibly smart woman decided to make bank by mass-producing greeting cards. Or so says Wikipedia, which means it must be true.

That said, I'm not a total V-Day hater. If someone decides to drop me a tiny, punch-out Ninja Turtle card that says "Pizza, Be Mine", I will probably laugh and maybe even tape it up somewhere on my desk for the next week. I'm also more than happy to eat any candy (except those nasty little hearts) you might not want to ingest. However rather than spend exorbitant amounts of dinero on prix fixe dinners and his and hers spa treatments, I prefer to have a beer at a show and act naturally ( i.e. a few notches above civil) to my boyfriend, bless his soul, who would be suspicious of any such act of seasonal kindness.

In the spirit of normality, here a few V-Day shows that won't arouse suspicion and might even prompt a little post-rock romantical action.

Antony and the Johnsons tonight at the Vic

As I said to RFC colleague Erin the other day, I firmly subscribe to the belief that "writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Granted, I dance all the time and edit architecture books for a living. But ne'er the twain shall meet! Anyway, it's why I've never actually read Pitchfork or its ilk. We have the technology to hear music on demand, why would I want to read Rando Windbag's description of it? It's just my personal preference to head straight to the source (Hype Machine).

That said: Listening to Antony and the Johnsons makes me feel like a lilac-scented angel with white feathers for eyelashes is putting her face up to mine and fluttering the eyelashes all over me. It makes me feel serene and lucky to be near something so delicate and beautiful. I didn't quite know what to do with Antony Hegarty before the last album, I Am a Bird Now, and then I was obsessed. Before that I think his gender bending and warbling and earnestness confused me and I was being a coward, a damned emotional coward. And now suddenly I'm letting Ticketmaster rape my wallet and suggesting you do the same so that we can all see one of his legendary performances tonight at the Vic. I'm going alone and I'm not wearing mascara because I'll probably cry.

His videos are really great too. From this year's The Crying Light:

Antony and the Johnsons - "Aeon"

New Leash on Life Foundation Benefit @ House of Blues

Give it up for the pooches, people!

A benefit show for the New Leash on Life Foundation featuring Devil in a Woodpile, The Del Moroccos and the The Stacks will be taking place at the House of Blues Back Porch Stage Saturday, March 7th at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 (in advance, $20 at the door) and a limited edition poster designed by Jay Ryan will be available for purchase on site.

The New Leash on Life Foundation is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that works to find homes for shelter dogs who might otherwise be euthanized. Through adoption, foster and educational programs, NLOL addresses the importance of spay/neuter and concerns about breed-specific legislation.

Autographed memorabilia from the Chicago Bears and musical groups like Kings of Leon and Girl Talk will be auctioned off, as well as Chicago Blackhawks tickets and Lollapalooza VIP weekend passes.