Radio Free Chicago

Mark your calendars...

Next Wednesday, the 27th, Radio Free Chicago Night returns to aliveOne. In addition to more drinking and DJ debauchery, we'll also be previewing the new Stereolab record, Oscillons from the Anti-Sun, which hits store shelves on the 26th. (pre-order your copy and support RFC here)

Stay tuned to RFC for more details and the complete DJ line-up...

Happy Tax Day from (I)NC!

Tired of our country's oppresive tax regime? Here's some helpful links courtesy of the (International) Noise Conspiracy:

International Socialist Tendency - A website uniting revolutionary organisations around the world, part of the worldwide anti-capitalist movement.

Smurfing Socialists - Hand Carved Magazine article on the subversive propaganda that is The Smurfs.

Socialism today - The monthly journal of the Socialist Party.

The World Socialist Movement - This website is the collaborative work of socialists around the world.

Scanning the dial...Lost 45s find their way to the Indie-Rock Alarm Clock

So I get an message earlier in the week from my buddY-dwelling friend Matt. On a routine stroll downstairs to check the mail, he stumbles upon a milk crate full of old 45s in the doorway. Apparently this isn't that strange of a phenomenon...people do occasionally leave random goodies and donations for the buddY crew. Last week, they received a random box containing some organic tea, vit.C immunity boost drink mix, incense, & a packet of Q-tips. Many other times they've received random stacks of used books and records that more than likely had been rejected from nearby used media emporiums Myopic and Reckless.

However, according to Matt, this was no ordinary crate full of dollar-bin records. This was a goldmine full of amazing ol' skool funk tracks like Bobby Rush's "Chicken Heads," "Get Down" by Harvey Scales & the Seven Sounds and "Slip Around" from Charlie Hodges. While he was ecstatic about his discovery ("years of crate digging has just landed in my lap"), Matt still had a nagging feeling that maybe someone had misplaced their crate or left it behind from a gig the weekend before. Perhaps Calvin Johnson was loading up the K Records van and forgot to pick up the last crate?

Tuning into WLUW this morning, however, it was quite obvious that no one had claimed the lost records yet...I was awakened to a great set of scratchy funk grooves on Matt's show, "The Indie-Rock Alarm Clark." I didn't get a chance to hear the entire show, but what I heard sounded great. Thanks to whoever donated (or lost) their 45s, and kudos to Matt for bringing them in and playing them on the air. (and nice work sneaking in RJD2 into the set, well-played Matt)

If you happen to know why/how these records landed on buddY's doorstep and who was the benefactor, by all means forward the info this way and help Scooby and the gang solve the mystery of the abandoned records. Or, if you've recently misplaced a milk-crate full of funk 45s, drop us a line and we'll verify if Matt does, in fact, have your records.

Follow up: Q-101 New and Improved? or...

The verdict is in: I'm convinced this station is a sinking ship. After they expanded their playlist on April 1, I programmed Q-101 into my FM presets to periodically check out their new(old) sound. After almost two weeks, I've probably listened to it for a total of about 20 minutes. As I mentioned on the first day of the format tweak, listening to the station completely maddening...in fact, now after checking it out a few times, it's actually become predictably bad. Digging that classic new wave track?? Better keep your finger on the dial, because the next track is almost guaranteed to be some nu-metal/hard rock BS. Shuffle my ass! Sounds like they're purposely arranging the playlist so that you always hear 1 new track, 1 80's track and 1 90's track in every 4-5 song set.

It's really frustrating because some of the old songs they've dug up sound great...last night I heard "Cut You Up" by Peter Murphy and I totally cranked it up. But then they followed it up with "Enter Sandman" by Metallica!?! End result? Radio goes off, CD goes in.

Luckily, I'm not the only one who thinks that Q-101's programming dept. is on crack. According to today's Feder column in the Sun-Times, many industry experts agree that the station's iPod-like "now on shuffle" modus operandi is seriously flawed:

Should a medium that's already universal be comparing itself constantly to a new gadget that's in the craze phase?" the trade publication Inside Radio wondered Tuesday. "Radio in the '70s and '80s didn't compare itself to 8-tracks or cassettes...Mancow Muller, the Q-101 morning star who's missing from the current marketing campaign, finds his bosses' strategy downright hilarious. "Now I'm trying to talk them into sending XM and Sirius Satellite radios to everyone," he said with an evil laugh.

So if anyone from the Q-101 staff is reading this, I'll reiterate what I said before about their brilliant plan to be a radio station that's "like an iPod on shuffle"

Why would you want to listen to someone else's iPod that's stuck on shuffle and doesn't have a "skip" button?? Wouldn't you rather just listen to your own iPod that's filled with all of your favorite songs?

New Releases Tuesday (4/12)

Local Labels

Adult. - D.U.M.E. (Thrill Jockey)
Detroit electro duo makes their Thrill Jockey debut with this 6-song ep. Mark your calendars, they'll be playing the Bottle on May 7.

Supersystem - Always Never Again (Touch & Go)
Formerly known as El Guapo, Insound calls them a cross between Kraftwerk and Q and not U. They'll also be gracing the stage of the Bottle soon...on April 29.

Zincs - Dimmer (Thrill Jockey)
The newest member of the Thrill Jockey roster, the Zincs "play brooding pop music rooted in the mysterious sounds of America and Britain to which the band grew up listening."

Husky Rescue - Country Falls (Minty Fresh) The Guardian calls this this Finnish-based band "part Royksopp, part Goldfrapp..a joyous clash of electronica and folk."

Other Notables

Les Georges Lenningrad - Soopa Dupa (Troubleman Unlimited)
Of Montreal - The Sunlandic Twins (Polyvinyl)
The National - Alligator (Beggars Banquet)

Schubas presents free screening of Dig!

Tomorrow night, Schubas will be presenting a free screening of Dig!, the award-winning rockumentary about the bizarre rivalry between The Dandy Warhols and the uber-disfynctional Brian Jonestown Massacre. The screening is in celebration of the DVD release of the film, which hits store shelves tomorrow (4/12) . As I raved last year before its big-screen debut at the Landmark Century Theatres, this is a great documentary and a must-see for any hardcore music fan. Definitely take advantage of this free screening, though I would also recommend picking up the DVD as well...trust me, it gets even better after multiple viewings.

The Dig! screening starts at 8pm, Schubas is located at 3159 N. Southport.

This white boy can dance!

This white boy can dance!

K Records founder plays buddY this weekend

(4/11) Devotion to Accuracy Dept: OK, so I totally botched this story...Johnson's set at buddY was actually a solo acoustic set. Still great nonetheless, but it was hardly a night of dancing and debauchery.

This Saturday (4/9) in Liquor Park, former Beat Happening frontman, esteemed Halo Bender, Dub Narcotic dance master and K Records founder Calvin Johnson will be invading the buddY Gallery for a night of dancing and debauchery. Johnson will undoubtedly be bringing an entourage of K Records cronies, so hijinks are sure to ensue.

Johnson is currently doing a DJ-set tour as "Selector Dub Narcotic" and will be wrapping up the Midwest leg of the tour this Saturday after some raucous performances in DeKalb, Davenport and Beloit. If you've never seen Johnson perform live, you definitely need to come to check out this show. Even if you can't stand his music (OK, maybe he's not the best singer ever), it's worth seeing him live to experience his amazing white-boy dance moves.

buddY Gallery is located at 1542 n. milwaukee ave, above Labinski Furniture...show starts around 9pm

WOXY.com spreads love to Windy City

Legendary alt-rock stalwart and current internet-radio phenom, WOXY (aka 97X...[BAM!] The Future of Rock and Roll), is spreading its love beyond the Ohio border to the Windy City. Tomorrow night at Abbey Pub, the station will be presenting its first-ever Chicago concert.

Headlining the night is Brendan Benson, a power-pop newcomer from California who All Music Guide calls "this decade's Matthew Sweet." The Strands and Charlie Mars open. The event is 18+, show starts at 10pm. The Abbey Pub is located at 3240 West Grace. Tickets are $15, but if you're lucky, you may still be able to pick up a free pair of tix by tuning in to WOXY. Good Luck.

Metro's new "mPod"

Metro's new "mPod"

Metro launches new website

Have you seen the new Metro website yet? Joe Shannahan and Co. launched the new site last week and it's chock full of new improvements and features. While I liked the stark design of the old Metro website, the new version is significantly more streamlined and easier to navigate through. For example, in the "shows" section you can now scroll down through two months worth of events or click on individual dates via the calendar interface. There are also big, pretty pictures of each artist playing as well as a direct link to order tickets for each show. (unfortunately, the link is through Ticketbastard, so you'll be charged a serious "convenience" fee for this on-line privilege)

However, the most notable new feature on the site is easily the mPod player. This nifty little device let's you toggle through songs from upcoming Metro acts. Not only does the mPod display tell you who and what you're listening to, it also tells you when they will be appearing at Metro. A very clever marketing tool and a great way for fans to check out new music.

Check out all of the new improved features on the Metro website at www.metrochicago.com.