Radio Free Chicago

Signing Off...Thanks for Reading Everyone

Unfortunately this site has been gathering more dust than readers lately, so it looks like it's time to finally pull the plug on the transmitter and sign off from Radio Free Chicago. Hats off to all of the dedicated and talented writers and photographers who contributed to this site over the years. Great work everyone, thank you so much for keeping this labor of love alive for so long. I hope everyone out there enjoyed reading this blog as much as I enjoyed putting it all together.

Cheers all...

-Brad

 

 

Hailey & Sean's Epic Adventure, pt. 1: Alkaline Trio

Since the release of Damnesia, Alkaline Trio's eighth studio release, I anxiously awaited the 15^th anniversary tour to hit Chicago. When the day of the show finally arrived, my friend Sean (front man of local favorites Egon's Unicat) and I hit the road not entirely sure of what we were in for..

The ride up was about as exciting as any other trip involving those particular stretches of I-80 and I-55, traffic wasn't too terrible until we hit Lake shore Drive. By this point it was at least seven o'clock and at the point where rush hour shouldn't have been a concern, and yet the closer we got to the Metro the worse the traffic became. Sean thought ahead and checked to make sure there wasn't a Cubs game going on, so we had no idea why traffic was so bad on a Monday night. That is, until we saw posters of his face hung in the windows of the shops lining the streets. The face of the man causing hysteria to sweep northern Chicago.. At this point we knew we could blame none other than Paul McCartney. That's right ladies and gents, Paul McCartney was in town. Shit.

After having to park a considerable distance away from the venue and attempting to jog there in skinny jeans, resulting in near death from the humidity, we made it inside just in time to catch our hometown heroes' spectacular performance. (A sincere apology to The Smoking Popes, we really tried to make it for you guys). After fighting my way through the crowd and being literally lifted over the guard rail by security and placed into the photo pit, I had just enough time to get my camera set before a deafening roar of applause erupted from the crowd as the evening's main act took the stage.

Better Late Than Never!: RFC Reviews Van's Warped Tour 2011

For the past six or so years, the Vans Warped Tour has been one of the most highly anticipated events of my entire summer.  It is one of few events where fans of metal, ska, pop, and even hip-hop can all come together and form a group with a passion for music that is not readily seen in many other places.  Although each person attends Warped Tour to see different bands, we are all united there for the same reason; to spend an entire day outside in the blistering heat listening to some of the worlds most talented musicians play their hearts out.

Warped Tour 2011 was one of the best I have ever attended.  After enjoying a hearty breakfast of biscuits and groovy at the Cracker Barrel that I am ashamed to be employed by, my partner, Hailey Williams, and I made our way to The First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park, Illinois.  It took us a while to figure out exactly where we were supposed to go, but once we figured it out it was all uphill from there.  I honestly have no idea how I want to write this article.  So this should be interesting for all of us!

 

Once Hailey and I got our schedules set for the day, we parted ways.  We didn’t meet up again until about 3pm when DRUGS was about to take over the Teggart Stage.  This was the first performance of
the day that I actually made it a point to stop and listen to and, as usual, I was not disappointed.  I always find myself amazed by this band’s uncanny ability to completely control an entire crowd of fans.  They have such a natural stage presence that it’s easy to see how passionate they are about what they’re doing. The band opened with one of my personal favorites, “The Only Thing You Talk About”.  From the very beginning of their set until the very end, every person in the crowd belted out every last word.  I was able to speak briefly with guitarist Matt Good regarding the tour as well as which of the Power Rangers was his favorite.

 

RFC: How do you feel the set’s have been going thus far?

Matt Good: Super good.  Way better than I even thought.  I had, not high expectations, but, you know. 

RFC:  How has the tour in general been?

Matt Good:  It’s a dream come true, you know?  To get a second chance and actually have it turn out good?  That’s really rare.  I think that we all feel extremely appreciative and humble and just really gracious.  Every day is a blessing.  I wake up and I think “Wow, I’m here, I’m doing this again”.  It’s weird, in a way.  I remember doing all of this like, five years ago and having the same feelings where you‘re like “Woah! Look at this huge crowd we‘re playing!”.  To come back and have it happen all over again with the new band it’s almost like, “How is this real?!”  It’s amazing.

RFC:  How many years have you been on Warped Tour?

Matt Good:  This is my 5^th Warped Tour. 

RFC:  Are there any other bands on the tour that you make it a point to stop and watch?

Matt Good:  Uhm, no, not specifically.  There’s a lot of bands that I’m friends with that are on the tour and if I notice that they’re playing I’ll definitely go watch them.  Most of the bands on the tour are bands I’ve toured with.  The first day we were here I watched We Came As Romans and I sang with them on their last song.  I like to watch Asking Alexandria and Black Veil Brides because they’re all really good friends of mine.

RFC:  What is the most interesting thing to happen on tour thus far?

Matt Good:  Well, last night, I don’t remember this happening cause everything was fine, and we went out to the bar, and it was fun.  Then we got back to the bus and I don’t remember anything that happened on the bus.  Apparently, I threw my phone at the ceiling of the bus and it hit me in the face and I have a bump on my forehead now.

RFC:  Who was your favorite Power Ranger?

Matt Good:  Tommy, the White Ranger.  You know why?  He makes no sense.  He can beat everyone up at once so why even have the other guys there?

Chris Bathgate Is Amazing, Needs Your Help To Continue Being As Such

I don't know if you know who Chris Bathgate is but you should. You see, I have the unfair advantage of being born and bred right in Bathgate's own backyard (The backyard of southeast Michigan, that is; not his literal backyard although that would have been weird, right guys?) so it's only natural that I adore the Ann Arbor darling as much as I do. The love for Bathgate, however, is not situational. No matter where you're from, Bathgate's darkly haunting folk tunes are sure to strike a chord of emotional resonance with you. His latest album, Salt Year, not only sits atop the running list of "Best Albums of 2011" compiled by yours truly but has also garnered a signifcant ammount of buzz from such notable sources as NPR. It's no surprise to anyone who's heard Salt Year, of course; The album is a masterpiece. From the opening confessions of "Eliza (Hue)" to the heartwrenching regret of the title track, Salt Year is as close to perfect as I've heard an album be since Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy. 

Don't take my word on it, though! Check out this great review from RFC sister site Mezzic! (Fun fact: This review may have been written by me. But seriously, this is the best thing I've ever written. Ever!)

 

 Chris Bathgate - Poor Eliza

 

Now, kids, here's where I want to help you out. You see, Bathgate is as harrowing a performer live as his record would have you believe. So do you want to see him come to your town? Of course you do! Now Bathgate, in his infinite kindness, has made that a dream that you can achieve, all by handing over a few dollars to the Michgander's Kickstarter!

Watch Bathgate's video below and see why the singer really does deserve a Lincoln or two from your wallet.

Need more Bathgate? Of course you do! Check out his bandcamp and stream Salt Year in it's entierty before it ends up on everyone's queue at the end of twenty-eleven.

Nothing Is Wrong With The Sophomore Disc From Dawes

I almost feel as if California quartet Dawes had planned the name of their second album Nothing Is Wrong just to land the above headline that renders the album a perfect masterpiece. I know they didn't but it's a clever move, especially considering at what caliber of talent Nothing Is Wrong finds Dawes performing at. 

Dawes became darlings of the Midwest with the unironic classic rock sound of their debut album, North Hills. In the years since the release, Dawes has found themselves sharing the stage with everyone from Bright Eyes to The Walkmen, playing noteworthy festivals the world over, and selling out venues like Lincoln Hall on their own solo tours. Of course, the adoration coupled with the fact that Dawes isn't exactly doing anything new or groundbreaking resulted in a bit of a Dawes backlash that left me curious to see how the naysayers would react to the band's newest disc. 

It ends up if those naysayers are still saying their nay, it's fallen on deaf ears. Nothing Is Wrong has capitolized upon the buzz Dawes has built over the past two years and then some. The group's garnering high profile tours and glowing reviews left and right and with good reason: Nothing Is Wrong is filled with instant classics ("So Well", "How Far We've Come", a stellar version of which can be found at Daytrotter) that find Dawes perfecting the timeless formula that's endeared them to so many. Sure, Dawes isn't doing anything that the likes of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young haven't done before but Dawes isn't about being groundbreaking. It's about making anthemic, '70's tinged songs that wear their heart on their sleeves in an endearing every-guy sort of way. Anyone who's ever had their heart broken will find a sympathetic shoulder to lean on in front man Taylor Goldsmith's lyrics, which find the frontman alternating between sober apathy, bitter disdain, and lovelorn longing.

Nothing Is Wrong is chock full of songs that the band has perfected on the road and the tightness of the foursome is evident throughout the album. For proof of this, look no further than the quick paced and intricate guitar work on "How Far We've Come", a track anyone who's caught Dawes over the past two years will remember from the song's triumphant sing-along nature. Nothing Is Wrong finds the band taking the formula they perfected with North Hills and running with it. The song writing is stronger, the musicianship more precise. With their sophomore effort, Dawes proves that the instant-classic sound of their debut was no fluke and if this trend continues, we'll have a lot of the same to enjoy from the foursome in the future.

 

 Dawes - Coming Back To A Man

 

In Case You Missed It: Middle Brother Bests The Competition With Debut

A lot of albums have come and gone this year without a listen from me. It's like this most years: There's simply too much new, noteworthy music to keep up with when having an active life outside of sitting at my dekstop for hours on end. Usually these releases are ones I haven't heard hide nor hair from, and crop up towards the end of the year after a slow, steady gathering of buzz. This year, however, it seems that one of the best discs of 2011 was one I was supposedly anticipating but had languished in my iTunes library, unlistened, for months after it's release. That album? The debut by indie rock supergroup Middle Brother.

There was no reason for me not to like - Nay, love - Middle Brother. The group, after all, is comprised of the frontmen of my three favorite "non-Devotchka bands that start with the letter D": Dawes, Delta Spirit, and Dear Tick. However, after being let down in the past by supposed "super" groups of the alternative persuassion (Namely Bad Books, the collaboration of Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine that was more like a split LP than a collab, and Monsters of Folk, the supergroup no one asked for.), I just couldn't muster up the excitement to care about Middle Brother. I mean, honestly, so far as supergroups go, Traveling Wilburys inarguably did it best so why bother trying? Leave it to Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith to prove me wrong.

Middle Brother features an impressing array of tracks that showcase the talent of each member in turn all the while still sounding like a collaboration. No one gets overshadowed and each guy's talents are showcased in equal parts, in equal turns.

Middle Brother - Someday

The band's titular track recalls the supremely talented Jonny Corndawg. "Thanks For Nothing" is a sunny-sounding track for the unlucky in love, with Goldsmith and Deartick's John McCaully harmonizing like sweet baby angels. "Someday" is a completely sincere 1960's romp, complete with a choir of girl-group "Ah"s. "Blood and Guts", however, takes top honors here. A track from Goldsmith's old Simon Dawes days, "Blood and Guts" is a rarity that made an appearance during the band's first Daytrotter session and is a song that I always hoped would show up on Dawes's new record. I loved "Blood and Guts" upon first listen. To hear that it's only gotten better with age has forced me, with Middle Brother, to rethink my aversion to supergroups and embrace the sound.

Middle Brother - Blood and Guts

Wiping off the Dust... Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer!

I know the length of time since Dragonslayer was released is pretty miniscule compared to the average of most WotD entries but I can't help it- I've fallen much too deeply in love with this album this summer to not write a million jillion (or a couple hundred, mundred) words about it! When Dragonslayer dropped in 2009, I liked Sunset Rubdown and the rest of Spencer Krug's work but was not fully enamored by it. Not that I felt it was lacking, oftentimes it just felt like too much and I couldn't give it the focus it asked for. Two years and almost three Krug releases later, thank God it's finally clicked.

Sunset Rubdown - Idiot Heart

Dragonslayer is an epic, romantic yarn. Not "epic" in the sense of a buzzword from a new Doritos ad-campaign but epic in the sense that the name of the album is Dragonslayer. Pretty much every song is a muscular machine filled to the brim with emotionally resonant moments! Krug's gotten a reputation for inscrutable lyricism- here his words remain as fanciful as ever but with an ever-present (and welcome) hand outreached to you and yours. His songwriting hasn't been simplified, just streamlined; my imagination sees a white board in the studio with "MOVEMENT" and "FEELING!!!" underlined and circled a few times at the top of the 'do not erase' section. The songs here don't dawdle, they hurdle, or gallop, or soar, or at the very least scuttle slyly before erupting in pieces like the stirring, melancholic finale of "Apollo And The Buffalo And Anna Anna Anna Oh!"

Sunset Rubdown - Apollo and the Buffalo and Anna Anna Anna Oh!

The best song of this set of some of the best songs I've ever heard in my life (IMHO!!!) is "You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)." It's danceable, it's beautiful, it's a cry-while-smiling/smile-while-crying masterpiece, as Krug makes promise after promise to a strained lover. "I'd like to have to you navigate to hills where no musicians live, and on the way decide which mendings of your will you're willing to allow," flows into "I'd like to throw this trumpet down and go on empty handed, and I'd like to think I am not one of them- but I know I am. So I'd like to just, follow you a while," and the song rolls higher and higher into a climax that even the backseat of a car can't tarnish.

Sunset Rubdown - You Go on Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II)

I always felt Spencer Krug was brilliant, but brilliance doesn't necessarily translate to favorites. With the rise of Dragonslayer, Krug has handily become one of my favorite songwriters. Between this and his 2010 Moonface EP "Dreamland: Marimbas and Shit-drums" alone he's been taking up a whole lot of space in my head, heart, and body. To my ears, Dragonslayer is a genuine opus and achievement even from someone as endlessly prolific and ambitious as Spencer Krug. It's a blessing! Look at you go!

Ben Sollee Expands His Repertoire With Inclusions

I've always had a weak spot for the cello so it's no surprise that I took an immeadiate shine to Ben Sollee when I first found out about the classically trained cellist-slash-dreamboat (Seriously. Look at him! He's cute as a button!) via his collaboration with Daniel Martin Moore. With Dear Companion, his cd with Moore, Sollee cemented his place in my heart and we all know that with that place comes the outlandish adoration that involves a vigorous daily e-stalking regime that makes certain no forthcoming release will go unnoticed. Somehow, however, Sollee's latest solo effort, Inclusions, escaped me so when I found out about the disc's existence, it was like getting a belated birthday present from my second favorite cellist (My first, naturally, being the eleven year old cellist-in-training I babysit).

Inclusions, start to finish, is an album that gets lovelier with each passing listen. Each element audible here - Be it Sollee's intimate vocals, a gently strummed acoustic guitar ("Captivity"), or the album's recurring brass section - has been captured at it's finest and it seems as if each element of Inclusions begs to be noticed in a different fashion the more familiar you get with the record.

You can listen to Inclusions all the way through at Sollee's bandcamp and if you like what you hear (which I'm sure you will), you can toss the man ten bones to get a copy for your very own. If you're still not ready to commit, just take a listen to the triumphant "Close To You".

 

 Ben Sollee - Close To You

 

Video: Julian Lynch - Terra

I'm not quite sure how I originally came across Julian Lynch early last summer, but I'm really glad I did! I immediately honed in on "Winterer One" off of his Orange You Glad? LP, and never looked back! According to factual data, I've listened to it literally more than any other song IN THE WORLD in the time since. So this year's Terra is a real tranquil treat! 

 

 

The gorgeous, simmering video for "Ground" reminds me of the trippy LaserDiscs my dad used to watch in the 90s. All in the Family!

Julian Lynch - Terra

 

RFC Interviews: ibid.

ibid. is the musical output of strapping young Portlandian Gabriel Mathews. Splitting time between home, and Los Angeles, where he attends Occidental, his work bears the mark of a budding audiophile- the spacious, loose production is often as much the focus as Mathews' nocturnal crooning. It gives his songs a strange, off-kilter feel as if getting a brief, fogged glimpse into the world of someone with very different eyes than you. His EPs Bison and Missive are more industrious and pounding, but as his craft develops his physical form comes more and more into the frame- culminating in his most recent release, India Ink.

India Ink is spare and beautiful, often featuring only Gabriel, a piano, and a whole lot of room to muse or lament at your leisure. The difference between the reverbed-out layered vocals of a song like  "Two Years," (from Bison) and the softened creaking of Mathews' voice on India Ink opener "No Bones" makes it all the more affecting. Even a more bizarre and kinetic piece like "Worth" seems an inch a way from breakdown on an album this introverse.

Ibid. - No Bones

There's a ramshackled focus running high through this one-man project that's supes intriguing soooo we recently had a digital sit-down (no relationnnn!) with ibid./Gabriel Mathews!

Prepare for compound questions and answers!

RFC Reviews: TV on the Radio - Nine Types of Light

Like with Conor Oberst's more recent output, it was initially pretty difficult for me to get into the older, more mature and spiritual TV on the Radio. I mean, I liked 2008's Dear Science. I liked it a whole lot- it's great! But compared to the darker, more despotic heights of past triumphs Return to Cookie Mountain and the Young Liars EP, I was unsure of their future. When I saw them at the Metro in 2007 (with the absolutely extaordinary Subtle), they were already giving of a kind of "chill dad" vibe that was a little unsettling in light of how brilliantly unsettling their formative years were. What would an album called Nine Types of Light have to offer?

Well, I thought first single "Will Do" was sorta wack. It seemed pleasantly romantic, and of course well-produced (Dave Sitek will never let your ears down!), but felt weirdly slight in light of the emotional mountains that TVOTR have deconstructed throughout their career. Then, I saw the video:

 

 

Holdfast & Warm Ones take over the Beat Kitchen!

Holdfast, a band that RFC Thinks You Should Know... if nothing else but because they make us feel real damn good, are playing at the Beat Kitchen June 12 with fellow local power poppers Warm Ones. Tickets are $8 and are already on sale! To make the deal even sweeter, Reckless Records will be doing a ticket giveaway the week of the show. You can stream/buy their EP Like The Sun at their bandcamp page.

Warm Ones, a band I was previously unfamiliar with, appear to be a pretty interesting crew. Their debut album Sprezzatura (!) holds dynamic, emotive guitar pop as its center but inhabits a number of rock/pop tropes pretty well (the opener is a sweet proto-punk type rager)! Male+female vocals are utilized pretty irresistably on "Small Spies," and perhaps most importantly there is a song called "Get Shit Set." It doesn't have to be an awesome song, but it is. I'm listening to this album while I type this! And I'm way into it! You can stream the whole thing, via Soundcloud module, here on their official site. Pick a song! I dare you! It'll probably sound sweet!

Here's live footage of Warm Ones performing their song "Busy All Day," at the Empty Bottle last September:

 

Hold fast, warm ones: it should be a pretty rad show! (did you see...what i did...there?)

An Interview With Sara From WOOM

The story of how I "discovered" this two piece from NYC was through a friend who, in every sense of the word, has devoted his life to music. So when I asked him what he was listening to blaring in the background his response was an intense mixture of pure exhilaration and panic. 

He told me he had a single track, but could not find anything else by this mystery band ... although there was a bartender who apparently held to coveted copy of the album. I boldly ventured into Swig (the bar) and snatched up what could be perhaps the most precious kept secret this city - nay, this country - has to know. 

WOOM, formerly members Fertal Crescent, are led by Sara on vocals and percussion and Evan on guitar. They have toured with such bands as Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof ... and recently released their album and Badabing records in July of 2010.

THIS YOU MUST HEAR!- But before you do, you should know a bit about the lovely and darling Sara, who I spoke to on a mid-winter dreary afternoon. 

Sara is a percussionist and vocalist. 

Evan plays guitar.

Sara resides in New York City, where I spoke with her via the telephone. She has a cathartic voice, lovely and inviting. 

Safe word?

Sara: Bologna.

So how did Woom come about?

Sara: Before Woom, I was in a band, Fertile Crescent. And after meeting and playing with Evan, we became Woom.

This is a signature question I like to ask all of my interviewees. What is your favorite kind of cheese?

Sara: I really enjoy those small, perfectly wrapped processed cheeses enveloped in wax. (Babybel) Their texture is really fascinating and the entire process of peeling and eating the delicious cheese is an experience like no other. There is something about the tactile nature, it is like a fetish object ... it's sexy.

Robots Vs. Dinosaurs?

Sara: Lately, I've been a brontosaurus with my four-year-old friend. So we have been eating leaves from trees and stretching our necks out, it has been a lot of fun. So I am going with dinosaurs.

Strangest Venue you've ever played?

Sara: We dont have a booking agent, so many of our shows have been pretty strange. One of the upsides is getting to play some interesting shows, one example is a show we played in Oakland, CA. We cave made out of paper; at the end of the night we all tore down the house and had a dance party with the paper structure crumbling all around. No one got hurt despite all the potential for paper cuts. 

If you had to carry 50 pounds of one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

I would probably carry cotton candy. Light yet delicious.

Any records from childhood that inspired you?

My parents were school teachers, so our music collection was sort of small. But I would have to say Kraftwerk, Computer Love. 

 

If you were to write a book, what would it be called and what would it be about?

Sara: Well, I wrote a book of short stories when I was in school called "Stories to Read In-Transit." But I do enjoy to write. 

You have toured with several bands, namely Pit Er Pat, Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof. How was that?

Sara: It is great to play with friends, because you really learn a lot from them, and the experiences that you have differ and add a certain flavor unique from the others. We played with Pit Er Pat in Chicago, and recorded at their house in Los Angeles. 

When you go on tour, what is one thing you don't leave home with out?

Sara: Well this is not one thing I leave with, but I always get a bag of spinach while on the road. Since it is so difficult to eat healthy, it really comes in handy.

What is the worst advice you've ever been given?

Can I tell you good advice? I am paraphrasing my friend Gregg from Deerhoof. He said basically, "As an artist, you should really just show up and it would dissolve all that initial shame you may feel." So his advice has given me a lot of courage as an artist to just go with that initial creative impulse.

WOOM: Click to download

 

Daytrotter Prepares To Barnstrom Once More!

It's no secret that we here at RFC are huge fans of Daytrotter, the internet's best music discovery tool. Nary a week goes by that we don't link to something amazing they did and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only RFC-er that has a Daytrotter sticker proudly placed on the bumper of her car. If you trolled around RFC during the summer, you might remember the massive coverage we gave to Daytrotter's Barn on the 4th of July, a concert that saw Sean Moeller and the rest of the Horseshack's champions of music return to Codfish Hollow, one of DT's frequent Barnstorming stops, with acts like Dawes and the Walkmen in tow. Well, it's time to get excited again because it was recently announced that Daytrotter's 4th Barnstormer is mere weeks away! With acts like Sondre Lerche, Guards, The Romany Rye, Hellogoodbye, and the ultra-lovely Keegan Dewitt, this barnstormer promises to be bigger and barnstormier than ever and this time around the Daytrotter crew will be hitting some brand new barns, right outside of Chicago and Ann Arbor, Michigan! Check out the full schedule below, but first, listen to some Keegan Dewitt, won't you?

 

Keegan Dewitt - Nothing Shows

 

Daytrotter Presents... Barnstormer 4

April 26th - Free Range Film Festival Barn
909 County Road 4, Wrenshall, MN

April 27th - Hoosier Grove Barn
700 W. Irving Park Rd., Streamwood, IL

April 28th - Lakeview Farms Barn
12075 Island Lake Rd., Dexter, MI

April 29th - Kalyx Center
442 E. 1300 North Rd., Monticello, IL

April 30th - Codfish Hollow Barn
3437 288th Ave, Maquoketa, IA

Get your tickets for the 'stormer at Daytrotter.com and don't forget to check out sessions by each of Barnstormer 4's incomprable artists: Sondre Lerche, Keegan Dewitt (who was so lovely, the Horseshack had him back for an encore), Hellogoodbye, and The Romany Rye!

Thao & Mirah Spread the Love!

Thao Nyugen by herself is a beast. Mirah solo dolo is a force to be reckoned with. Together, they spell utter annihilation for any emotions not named "Happiness" or "Woo!" And well, when Thao, Mirah, AND tUnE-YaRds get together: "Eleven" happens and you get an insta-jam of 2011.

Thao & Mirah - Eleven [ft. tUnE-YaRds]

The Thao & Mirah album (titled, Thao & Mirah) will be out via Kill Rock Stars on April 26th. Until then, you can bounce around and hug the ones you love to "Eleven" and swoon to this super lovely little video featuring another track from the upcoming album, the Thao-penned "How Dare You."

 

 

Joy! Spring is almost here, everyone! Joy!