Radio Free Chicago

Jarvis Cocker @ Galerie Chappe (Paris)

Nestled on a corner in Montmartre, the renown heart of Parisian artistic creativity, rests Galerie Chappe. Alongside the picturesque tree-lined steps leading to Sacre Coeur, Galerie Chappe has housed Jarvis Cocker and his band since Monday. Located in the creative heart of Paris, Montmartre, this self-installation is intended to question and explore, "What is music?" The week long stint or exposition, whatever you may call it, included such unconventional activities including Children's Day and a pilates class, with each day dotted with performances favoring Further Complications, his new album due out on May 19th.

Ha Ha Tonka (w/ Ben Weaver) - Subterranean 5/2/09

Being more of a fan of music of the heavier persuasion (i.e. anything that ends in the suffix "-core"), I was not initially inclined to give Bloodshot Records’ Ha Ha Tonka a try when a friend first suggested them to me. When I saw them live about a year and a half ago I was surprised to be completely won over by their country-tinged rock and four-part harmonies. Overall they’re reminiscent of Kings of Leon, with a bit more soul. Not long after I picked up their 2007 release Buckle in the Bible Belt, and found it to be one of the best releases of that year  (check out the chilling “Hangman” for that four-part harmony I mentioned earlier).

It’s been about a year since I saw them at Lollapalooza last August but it’s clear that even in the space of two years, the band has really developed a confidence and musicianship that could definitely propel them to “big name band” status, should the stars align correctly. 

Ha Ha Tonka - "Walking on the Devil's Backbone"

Get on the List-- Tera Melos @ The Beat Kitchen

Today for your ticket giveaway pleasure, we humbly offer a pair of freebies to Tera Melos' Beat Kitchen shindig next Wednesday (5/13). Self-styled practitioners of the "math rock" genre, this trio (formerly quartet--their forth member left to, ironically, become a math professor) out of California have been putting out experimental electro-rock since 2005. With a song structure that would make my English prof's soul split in two but with the technical know-how and rhythmic complexity to pull it off, Tera Melos are a show all in themselves.

Say it with me, class: to enter, drop a line to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Tera Tix" in the subject line. We'll draw a winner at random Monday, and shoot you an e-mail with further instructions. Doors at 6:30, show at 7:00 pm, and this baby is all ages so feel free to bring your three-year-old because its never too soon for experimental rock. Tera plays with Native and Or So It Goes.

Lips All Request! (for reals this time)

Knowing how much Wayne Coyne loves to please, I guess this story isn't that much of a surrpise. Initial reports of an all-request The Flaming Lips set at this year's Pitchfork Music Festival ended up being false, but it turns out that the band has decided to go along with it anyway and will start fielding requests from ticket buyers. Here's the official press statement: 

...due to popular demand, The Flaming Lips will play selected requests from fans in the "Write the Night" format. All ticket buyers, including those who have already purchased, will be sent a link via email and have the chance to vote on requests, which the band will do their best to accommodate.

“The Lips are more than glad to be part of ‘Write the Night’. They will do their best to accommodate the wildest and most obscure of requests – covers included.”

-- Wayne Coyne

Gems from the Pitch Pile-- Rupa & the April Fishes

Born in Northern India, bred in Southern France, and with two stops (the second one permanent) in San Francisco Bay, it makes sense that Rupa Mayra-- founder and lead singer of Rupa and the April Fishes-- produces music that in one song combines all the best days of Blue Line: Jackson stop street musicians. They have songs in French, English, Hindi; they switch and lock between Argentinean tango, Gypian ragtime, American folk, German polka, Indian ragas. In a way, they're one of the few bands that actually do fit the often clunky label of "World Music," so often used to simply tag (and subsequently clump into one massive ball of Playdoh) any music not in English.

Rupa & the April Fishes -- "Un Americaine A Paris"

Rupa & the April Fishes -- "Wishful Thinking"

Touch presents Fennesz, Rosy Parlane & CM von Hausswolff @ Southbank Centre (London) 4/21/09

"Ether is Southbank Centre’s festival of innovation in sound and art with an emphasis on digital culture, cutting-edge collaborations and cross-arts experimentation."

For over a quarter of a century, Touch has continued to release some of the most exceptional experimental electronic music found in any given year. Fortunately for their London fans, they also organize particularly memorable live events showcasing the talents of their artists. Since Southbank Centre's Ether festival aims to represent "cutting-edge collaborations and cross-arts experimentation" as well as "innovation in sound and art," perhaps there never was anyone more capable of delivering this than them.

Get on the List: Freeland 5/6 @ Sonotheque

Today we've got a pair of freebies to electro-giant Freeland's Wednesday night gig at Sonotheque. Adam Freeland has been breaking beats out of England since 1993, and his next album Cope TM: Freeland (slated for release in June) combines shoegaze guitars, actual drums, and songwriting into the kind of club-banging that literally breaks the floor.

System's the usual: drop us a line at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com, with "Freeland Tix" in the subject line. Since the show is Wednesday, we'll be drawing the winner tomorrow morning, so keep one eye on that inbox, kiddies. Doors at 8:30, show at 9:00-- Freeland will be performing with DJ Alex Metric and Michael Serafini.

Freeland -- "We Want Your Soul"

Franz Ferdinand @ Riviera 4/30/09

A nice sweaty Thursday evening was had by all at the Riviera with some of Scotland’s finest exports. Yep, the stylish boys of Franz Ferdinand are touring in support of their third album, Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, and delivered those new tracks with charisma and some added oomph that seems missing from the album. The sold out crowd responded passionately to both new and old songs—most notably the iPod Touch commercial track of “No You Girls,” and its commercial predecessor, “Take Me Out” (for Playstation).

Stage presence is not a problem for these affable lads, with singer Alex Kapranos charming the pants off anyone within a decent radius. Clad in slim striped trousers, Kapranos leapt high and leaned into the crowd with ease, simultaneously playing the perfect showman and keeping the atmosphere casual and more intimate than the Riviera really allows. But his breezy demeanor is magnetic, and you find yourself easily fixated on his every move as he struts, poses and repeatedly jumps a good couple of feet off the ground for dramatic effect.

RFC Interview: Joe Pug

 "The day before his senior year as a playwright student at the University of North Carolina, Joe Pug sat down for a cup of coffee and had the clearest thought of his life: I am profoundly unhappy here. Then came the second clearest. Pug packed up his belongings and drove the longest route possible to Chicago."

Quoting Joe Pug's biography, you get the impression that you've dipped into a piece of American folklore. Having covered him in a Pitch Pile back in February, we snagged Joe over the phone for a few words before his 8:00 PM gig at Schubas' tonight and tomorrow.