Radio Free Chicago

Lumpen #94

Lumpen #94

Calling all mix-tape enthusiasts...

Next Saturday, local 'zine Lumpen will be celebrating the release of their latest issue with a party at buddY gallery featuring art installations, a video program, live music, cookies, holiday spirits (PBR) and the "winter potlatch mixtape gift exchange."

According to the Lumpen website, all you have to do is, Make a mix cd or tape and wrap it up. Bring it over and exchange it for one made by a fellow human being. If you leave a gift then you can take a gift.(but we'll prolly have some extras..)

The party is a fundraiser to pay for the current issue of Lumpen. The hard working staff has "leveraged their Swiss chalet's mortgage to get this one out" and needs to raise some ca$h in order to break even. So get crackin' on your mixtape this weekend and come on out next Saturday to experience some great art and music while supporting local underground media. Oh yeah, it's also going to be a "ski lodge" themed party, so be sure to wear your favorite leg warmers, ski goggles, mittens and scarves.

Here's the official info:

Saturday December 18, 2004 9pm
Lumpen Aprés Ski Party
BuddY Gallery
1542 n milwaukee ave 2nd floor
773.837.0145
Suggested donation is $7-$10
Contact [email protected] if you are lost.
www.lumpen.com/buddy/yes.html

'Tis the season...

For giving?...Sharing?...Spending time with loved ones?

Yeah, there's that stuff too...but most importantly, 'tis the season for making lists. Particularly "best of year" lists that compile all of the best (and sometimes worst) pop culture items and moments from the past year.

Among hipsters, record collectors, music geeks and rock critic wannabees, the "Best Albums..." list is of particular importance every year. It allows for everyone to proudly articulate what records they think were "hip," "in" or "most relevant" in the past year and it demonstrates to others where you lie in the music scene spectrum. As a record-collecting hipster music geek, I love compiling my best of list each year and never get tired of checking out what others put on theirs.

This year, I'll be compiling "best of" lists from all sort of music luminaries and scenesters around the city and will be posting them in a couple of weeks here on RFC. Feel free to send us your "best of" music lists (best albums, best shows, best singles, etc. ) as well, and we'll be happy to post them as we get 'em. Drop us a line at [email protected].

The Cure, circa '77

The Cure, circa '77

New Releases Tuesday (12/7)

Ho-ho-ho...just 17 shopping days until Christmas, which means the release schedule will pretty much just consist of re-issues, box sets and other collectibles from now up until the new year. Here's a couple of notable collectibles that will look good under the tree this holiday. The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys (reissue) 1977 debut album from everyone's favorite goth band finally gets an official domestic release...In addition to the remastered original album, this reissue also includes a bonus disc of rarities, demos and live tracks dating from 1977 to 1979.

The White Stripes - Under Blackpool Lights: Live (DVD)
It's Jack and Meg, live in your living room! Here's the review from Amazon.com:
Recorded in Blackpool, England's Empress Ballroom in January 2004 with 8mm cameras, the White Stripes' Under Blackpool Lights comes dang close to capturing the feel of their live show...The grainy film stock is the perfect visual complement to the peals of feedback and strong-armed beats the band delivers in 26 tunes that keep the audience bouncing.

Nobody beats the Biz

Nobody beats the Biz

Grandmaster Flash and Biz Markie spin tonight at Sonotheque

And it's free!

But, as they always say, there is no such thing as a free lunch. (i.e. there's always a catch) And yes, this "free" show is no exception. While you won't have to shell out any actual cash to get in, you do have to RSVP on the sponsor's website and sell them...er.., I mean give them your email address. And, at the event I'm sure you'll be subjected to a barrage of subtle advertising schemes to get you to notice the brand.

The show is sponsored by Scion, a new car by Toyota that is being marketed to the young and hip under 30 crowd. Rather than using traditional advertising methods to sell the car, Toyota is using more subtle techniques (like music sponsorship, internet marketing) to push the brand. The strategy is to create a "buzz" about the car rather than pound more glossy ads into the minds of cynical Gen-Y's who have become disenfranchised with corporate marketing and advertising.

Tonight's performance is a part of an entire tour sponsored by Scion that will be bringing Grandmaster Flash and The Biz to other hip urban locales in Philadelphia, L.A. and Austin, TX. Tonight's show will also feature local hip hop artist Tone B. Nimble (of All Natural) and Chicago DJ The Twilite Tone.

Marketing cynicism aside, it sounds like a great line-up of artists, especially for a Monday night. Hopefully the advertising and product placement won't be too obnoxious and your email account won't become overridden by Scion spam after signing the RSVP. My recommendation would be to give them a bullshit email address (or maybe an old hotmail address you rarely use) and then drop Sonotheque briefly to check out the scene. If it's too crowded and the marketing is obnoxious, you can easily bail and won't be out any cash. If everything is fine, then throw down a couple of drinks and enjoy seeing the legendary Grandmaster Flash do his magic on the decks.

Sonotheque is located at 1444 West Chicago Ave., go to www.sicon.com/metro to RSVP your free admission to the event.

Alternative, My Ass!

Alternative, My Ass!

Shitty station promotes good music?!?

Conspiculously absent from the RFC concert calendar this week were appearances by The Hives, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, Secret Machines, Califone and Snow Patrol. Normally I wouldn't hesitate to add any of those bands to the concert listings but...

They're all be presented by..(gasp!)..Q-101!

Yes, I know...The Hives, Modest Mouse and Califone are all great live bands and Franz Ferdinand is easily the hottest rock act of the year...but the show is sponsored by Q-101! I just couldn't list anything associated with that pale excuse of an "alternative" station. Plus, you know that Q-101 association is going to bring the dorks from the 'burbs in like droves to Uptown. Not to mention the shows are at The Aragon (aka The Scaragon) , which is notoriously known for its bad sound. So the crowd is going to suck, the sound is going to suck and you're going to have to pay 6 bucks for lukewarm and watered-down drinks.

Resist the urge...all of these bands have played here before and are almost guaranteed to return soon to much better venues. Besides it's not there's a shortage of great shows and events this weekend, here's some quick recommendations:

Typical Cats at the Logan Square Auditorium (Fri, 12/3)
In the final years of the last millenium, two native New Yorkers added a page to Chicago's hip hop history with the advent of the WHPK Wednesday Night Rap Show. Although short-lived and never formally christened, the Show had heads from Roosevelt to the Hundreds stuck on 88.5 FM midweek. In the show's aftermath, from the ashes of countless vinyl crates and echoes of chaotic show-closing freestyle sessions, Typical Cats was born.

Featuring MCs Qwazaar, Qwel and Denizen Kane, producer/dj Natural and media assassin Kid Knish, the Typical Cats are firmly planted in tradition, unorthodox in invention and possessed of a strength only earned in the furnace of experience. Their sound is the Future that hip hop's Past would have had if its Present weren't held hostage by the uninspired and unrepentant.

Matthew Dear at SmartBar (Sat, 12/4)
Texas-born, Detroit-based Matthew Dear has made remarkable steps toward becoming one of America’s best new techno artists. Between his stunning live performances and evolved DJ sets, Matthew has perked the ears of the industry’s best. His debut album under his birth name, Leave Luck to Heaven, was released in winter 2003-04 on Spectral Sound/Ghostly International, having garnered positive reviews in such publications as Rolling Stone, Spin, NME, and the NY Times and remaining on the CMJ RPM chart for over 13 weeks.

"Fruit," Chicago's Queerest Dance Party at The Hideout (Sat, 12/4)
WLUW's Think Pink radio program is hosting an event they're dubbing "Chicago's queerest dance party." Think Pink hosts Erik and Ali will be spinning music ranging from 80s to Electro and Hip-Hop to Dance Punk. Chicago's hottest homos, femmes, butches and straights are all invited.

Resfest 2004 at MCA (Fri, 12/3-Sun, 12/5)
The 8th annual RESFEST Digital Film Festival rolls into Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art this weekend. Advertised as their biggest yet, the festival features short films, music videos, motion design, live music, guest speakers and much more. Currently taking touring 33 cities in 13 countries on six continents, it is the largest festival of its kind in the world. For a complete listing of events, visit www.resfest.com.

New Year’s Rockin’ Eve in Chicago…

No, Dick Clark won’t be trading in his comfy perch atop Times Square in New York for a live broadcast from the Windy City this year…

But, as usual, Chicagoans will have a plethora of great bands to ring in the New Year with. As much as I hate to make plans ahead of time, December is now upon us and it’s time to start thinking about what show(s) to check out on New Year’s before tickets sell out. Plus, my usual New Year’s plans are now shot since the Flaming Lips are playing the Big Apple this year, so I really need to start weighing my options. After some investigation, it seems as if Chicagoans have three different options this year if they truly want to “rawk-in" the New Year.

1. Party like it’s 1995!

Yes, another rash of alt-rock nostalgia hits the city as Guided By Voices, Urge Overkill and Local H will all be headlining New Year’s shows at local venues.

Nothing against local rockers Scott Lucas and Nash Kato, but the one of note here is easily the Guided By Voices show(s). Ever prolific, beer chuggin’ GBV frontman Robert Pollard has decided to put the band to rest, but to the delight of local fans, has decided to go out in style with two final performances at the legendary Metro on the 30th and 31st. I’m not even that big of a fan of GBV, but even I have to admit that this sounds like it will be the best New Year’s Eve party in Chicago this year. Who better than to down beers and rock out with on New Year’s than Bob Pollard?

Unfortunately, both shows sold out in like 5 minutes (no big surprise there), so you’re pretty much out of luck unless you want to shell out big $$ to a scalper or ticket broker. That being said, you may want to keep an eye out on eBay or Craig’s List where you may be able to find tickets at somewhat reasonable prices. If all else fails, or if you’re just flat broke, find Santa at your local mall ask him to leave a pair of GBV tickets in your stocking this Christmas. You might also want promise Santa that you’ll leave cookies and beer for him on Christmas morning…I hear that’s his favorite and you’re going to need all the help you can get in trying to get a hold of these tickets.

2. Folk it Up!

As usual, Schubas and The Hideout will be featuring rock show line-ups with a bit more folksy twang. Bloodshot's Kelly Hogan will be ringing in the New Year in the quaint confines of The Hideout. Hogan's set should be extremely tight by the time the 31st rolls around...as she is scheduled for a Thursday night residency at The Hideout all month long.

Over at Schubas, fellow Bloodshot recording artist Bobby Bare, Jr will be brining a full band up from Nashville (yee-haaa!) to entertain the crowd at the house that Schlitz built. But wait, there's even more Bloodshot goodness...Chicago's very own Nora O'Connor will serve as the opening act for this show.

3. Shake ya ass!

Downstairs from the GBV show, resident spinners DJ Colette, Miles Maeda, Justin Long and Brad Owen will be keeping the beats flowing at SmartBar. Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door, but that's a bargain considering this party will be going non-stop until 4am.

However, my pick for those who want to shake their ass on New Year's has to go to the RJD2 show at the Abbey Pub. As I've hyped on this site before, RJD2 always puts together great sets and keeps his audiences groovin' all night long. Plus, for this show, RJD2 will be joined by local underground hip hop artist Pugslee Atomz on the mic. Opening the night will be a Galapagos4 showcase featuring Qwel (of Typical Cats), Offwhyte, Robust and Royce. According the Abbey website, the night will feature 3 rooms of music, a VIP room, a balloon drop and champaign toast at midnight. At only $30 bucks a pop ($35 at the door), this show is also sounds like a quite a bargain and is probably where yours truly will be spending his New Year's.

Bobby Bare, Jr.

Bobby Bare, Jr.