Radio Free Chicago

Viva Voce In-Store Today

Before they hit the Bottle tonight, the Portland husband and wife duo known as Viva Voce will be swinging by the Reckless on Milwaukee for a free in-store performance at 6p. The Reckless crew raves, "Viva Voce have always had a 90s college rock sort of thing going and they still do (a good thing in our eyes) with some similarities to YO LA TENGO, GALAXIE 500, the VELVET UNDERGROUND. This Portland husband and wife duo make no frills pop music with a bit of a psychedelic edge and they succeed with flying colors."

The band is currently on a co-headlining tour with Silversun Pickups, check out their official tour Blog here.

Download: Viva Voce - "When Planets Collide" 

RFC Interview: Slings & Arrows

Receiving critical praise recently for their work as "Public Four," this local 5-piece abruptly changed their name two weeks ago to become "Slings & Arrows." Now this Saturday at Metro they're making their live debut under the new moniker, opening for fellow local scenesters Airial and Office. RFC caught up with the band earlier this week at their practice space to discuss more about the name change and Chicago's burgeoning indie rock scene.

Download the Podcast interview here, or listen via the streaming audio player below: 

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Wilco Clan Ain't Nothin To Fuck Wit'

Damn...did anyone else see that YouTube clip Stereogum posted today of Jeff Tweedy giving a sweet right hook to this idiot who jumped the stage at a recent Wilco show in Missouri? There's even a clip of Tweedy apologizing after the fact, though you can hardly blame the guy. I think just about anyone would've reacted the same way. Not to mention, it's nice to an see idiot fan getting his due. I think we've all probably quitely wished at some point that we could do the same to an annoying fan at a show.

Live Review: Nina Nastasia @ Lakeshore Theather 10/15/2006

I know that lately it might seem like I only go to good shows or that I might not be able to have discriminating taste.  That simply isn’t true on either counts. First of all, I do have discriminating taste. For instance, I hate Foreigner. I hate them so much I don’t even like them in an ironic, “Hey look everyone I bought a twenty-five cent Foreigner single” way. I think that quarter would be better spent on a laundry fund somewhere.  Secondly, I do occasionally see shows and bands I’m not entirely thrilled with. I just simply choose not to blog about them. There’s already so much negativity in the world I just don’t see the point.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system and so people don’t think I’m just some nebulous gush of happy “I love every band and musician from the beginning of time!” I can with relief say I thoroughly enjoyed Nina Nastasia’s set on every level. 

RFC Interview: The Changes

Friday night at Double Door, The Changes return to Chicago to officially celebrate the release of their debut full-length, Today is Tonight, released last month on Drama Club Records. RFC recently caught up Changes vocalist/guitarist Darren Spitzer via email to discuss the new record and what's in store in the future for these local boys done good.

Free Naked Raygun Show Tonight

...at least that's the word on the street.

UPDATE: Or not?? The above hyperlink still works, but the post seems to have mysteriously disappeared on the Chicagoist homepage.

Live Review: Beirut @ Empty Bottle 10/12/06

Nicole reviews last Thursday's Beirut show at the Bottle with openers Animal Hospital and Hack and a Hacksaw.

Click here for the complete photoset.

Live Review: Juana Molina @ Lakeshore Theatre 10/14/06

Juana Molina is an Argentinean born musician who had a previous career as a television actress in home country, which is perhaps why whenever I’ve seen her live little bits of her sense of humor and personality show through between the songs. This time, at the very beginning of the first song, her vocals were barely audible until one of the sound guys fixed something. The audience sighed with relief, relishing in the loveliness that followed, and she joked, “Oh they weren’t there before? Good!”

Get On The List: Maritime @ SubT

One of Milwaukee's finest,  Maritime is bringing the wonderfully melodious pop sounds of their new album We, The Vehicles to Chicago this Thusday (10/19) and we want to get you on The List! Radio Free Chicago in association with Subterranean are giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky winner.

Live Review: Mew @ Metro 10/3/06

Dan from Future Perfect Radio reviews the good, the bad and the proggy at Mew's recent performance with Kasabian at Metro. Click here for the full scoop.

New Releases Tuesday - 10/17

Annuals - Be He Me (Ace Fu) Carlo dug them live last month at SubT, now you can get finally get your hands on their recorded work as their debut hits stores today. First 30 buyers via AceFu's on-line store get a bonus 7."

Download: Annuals - "Brother"

Free Concert Alert 2: Lupe Fiasco

Last fall Flash Concerts, brought in Pete Yorn for a free secret performance in Chicago. This year they are at it again, booking Chicago buzz rapper Lupe Fiasco and providing more ways to obtain entry and score other VIP opportunities.

Free Concert Alert: Cold War Kids

Spin.com and Knob Creek whiskey have teamed up with Schubas to bring an RSVP only FREE concert this Friday (10/20) featuring the Cold War Kids, whose full-length LP Robbers and Cowards was released last Tuesday. So, how does one get in?

Live Review: Mojave 3 @ Park West 10/11/2006

It was absolutely thrilling to see Mojave 3 for the first time. They’ve put out five stellar albums and it’s no secret that Neil Halstead is an incredibly talented person whether he’s composing perfect folk melodies solo (as on Sleeping on Roads) and with Mojave 3, or when he created lush shoegaze textures with Slowdive. Halstead is also a very unassuming person in that he exudes a real modesty. His brilliance is immediately clear once he starts singing and he has the ability to transform space and time in a way that makes you want to live in the same solitary moment in which only his voice and his music exists.

RFC Interview: Two Sheds

Alright. Let me put this out there in as artless and straightforward a way as possible: You need to listen to Sacramento's Two Sheds.