Radio Free Chicago

All Smiles @ Schubas 3/12/07

Let's face it... we live in a post-Grandaddy universe.  And if you are at all like me, you may have been one of those people who put on The Sophtware Slump on repeat to play endlessly. I can't even tally up the times I played "Miner at the Dial-a-View" or "Crystal Lake" alone but the songs definitely permeated my sense of time and direction in life for many weeks. Given this fact, I was excited to see one of the band's former members, Jim Fairchild, continue on in a musical direction as well as join our fine city.      

Akron/Family @ The Empty Bottle 3/10/2007

I know I am prone to hyperbole, but I will be hard pressed to have more fun at a show for the rest of the year (Pfork music fest excluded). Clocking in at 2+hours, it is also probably the longest set I will catch all year. Skirting between absolute chaos and pure tribal genius, Akron/Family blew the roof off the Bottle (not to mention blew the smoking out of the music room..double bonus!!)

Early Dispatches from Austin

A very brief sampling of SXSW day party pics from Thurs and Fri here to start things off...

Download: Grant Lee Buffalo - "Lone Star Song" 

RFC Interview: Baby Teeth

Chicago's favorite sons Baby Teeth, whose recent album The Simp was unleashed on Tuesday, are preparing for their Chicago CD Release Party at Schubas' on March 17th, which is sure to be one helluva shindig and will end a five month hiatus. We had the chance to sit with Baby Teeth to discuss the new album, the recording process, and of course their favorite karaoke songs.

Download the Podcast Interview Here or listen via the streaming audio player below:

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Wanna hear the title track off their new album? 
Download: Baby Teeth - "The Simp"

A Lesson in History

Straight outta Compton, er, the Midwest, comes a unique project created and recorded by local musician David Wolinsky entitled Abe & Ben-History’s First Thugs. Even though Abraham Lincoln and Ben Franklin lived in two different centuries, through the power of time travel, they have joined forces as gangsta rappers spreading the truth, weed, and some bling across the continent. Ben Franklin may have invented the lightning rod, but what people don’t know is he also invented the butter churn bong and the tri cornered thong.

The Panda Band To Rock Benefit for Mary-Arrchie

Every so often a benefit comes around that actually offers an experience not to be missed, here's one we can get behind. On Sunday, March 18th, The Panda Band will make their way from SXSW to Chicago to headline a show at Martyrs' curated by the Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. This will be The Panda Band's first Chicago stop before heading to NY and then on to an Australian tour with Gomez. They have drawn comparisons to The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire, The Beatles and their music is quite infectious. Also, playing will be Chicago's own Slings & Arrows, whose recent EP Animal Grammar includes some of best songs of the year. Solo artist, Dave Fischoff, the electronic cut and paste mastermind akin to The Postal Service will open up the night backed by a full band! All this for only $10! Show starts at 9PM and is a 21 and over event. The Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co is a non-profit theatre that has been a staple of the Chicago theater scene since 1986, best known for their gritty, stellar ensemble acting and daring staging. Each year they celebrate the spirit of Woodstock with their annual Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival, a three-day virtually non-stop marathon of theatre, music, performance art, and spontaneity. More about the bands after the jump.

New Releases Tuesday - (3/13)

Outside of the new Baby Teeth record, not much going on this week in New Releases land due to the fact that 99% of the music industry will be frolicking the streets of Austin this week. However, as a big fan of old school R.E.M., I was really amused to see the name "Mitch Easter" in the new releases section. Easter is easily best known for his work as the producer for R.E.M.'s early classics Murmur, Reckoning and the Chronic Town EP, but he also managed to record some of his own jangle-pop in the early 80s as a part of the band Let's Active. Now, some 18 years after the last Let's Active record, Easter has reemerged with his first ever solo release, titled Dynamico.   

Download: Mitch Easter - "Sudden Crown Drop"

SXSW: A Tale of Two Bands

So yes, I am going down to Austin for SXSW this year, and while I'm looking forward to eating copius amounts of Tex-Mex and drinking myself silly on Shiner Bock, I also will be technically "working" as well. Inspired by the extensive Chicago presence at the festival every year, I'm shooting for a future Newcity cover feature documenting the experience of two local bands running the extensive schmoozing and boozing gauntlet that is the South By Southwest music festival.

To get some context going prior to the event, I sent out the same four questions to the heads of both of my "subjects," Office and The 1900s. I was just hoping to get some notes down for my piece before jumping into things in Austin, but I ended up getting some great responses from both Scott (Office) and Ed (1900s) so I thought I'd share them here on RFC.

Metro 25th at Hideout?? Whaaa?

Ummm...so this makes a lot of sense:

(from Post No Bills)
This year Metro is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and although the lineup hasn’t been revealed yet, today the club announced that it will be feted, a la Touch and Go Records last year, by the Hideout at its September block party. 

Who are the ad wizards who came up with this one!

Bandwidth VI: Baby Teeth CD Release!!

The March edition of Bandwidth is a special one, RFC has teamed up with Satellite Booking and Schubas to present the Baby Teeth CD Release Party with All-Star Karaoke Jam After-Party! All this goes down this Saturday, March 17th at Schubas, the festivities begin at 10PM. This will definitely be a sold out event, so purchase in advance. NYC's Baby Dayliner and Chicago's own The Bitter Tears will open. Stay tuned for a Baby Teeth Podcast and their new album The Simp releases tomorrow (3/13).

Download: Baby Teeth - "St. James Infirmary/Six Foot One"

Get On The List: All Smiles

A year after Jason Lytle decided to put Grandaddy to rest, guitarist Jim Fairchild has returned to the scene with his own solo project called All Smiles. Originally from the West Coast, Fairchild recently moved to Chicago and is currently previewing the new material with a Monday residency this month at Schubas. Stay to tuned to RFC for a review of tonight's show, but for now we'd like to hook you up with a guest list spot +1 for next Monday's All Smiles performance (3/19) with opening act Dappled Cities. Hit us up at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Free Smiles" in the subject line and we'll draw a winner at random tomorrow at noon. Good luck!

Download: All Smiles - "Moth in a Cloud of Smoke"

El Perro Del Mar @ Lakeshore Theater 3/6/07

El Perro Del Mar’s 2006 self-titled album was one of my better discoveries last year. Her unique brand of Motown-inspired twee tempered by her exceedingly depressing take on life and love won me over, and I couldn’t wait to see how these songs would translate to the live stage. Turns out everything came together exactly as I would have hoped as El Perro Del Mar gave us a sweet, affecting performance that will definitely stick with me for some time.

Yee-Ha! SXSW Round-Up Sat at Hideout

Kudos to whoever birthed this concept, it's a really great idea and ideal for all the dedicated music fans who can't justify a week-long trip to Austin every year. That being said, RFC is actually making the pilgrimage to SXSW this year, so keep it here next week for possible updates during the festival and (the more likely scenario) a post-fest wrap up the following week.

WRTE-FM Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Regrettably I always seem to forget about WRTE-FM, better known as Radio Arte. Granted, the station pumps out less than 100 watts and doesn't reach much beyond its home in Pilsen, but that's not a good excuse since the station has a great website and a decent quality audio stream. And no, I'm not fluent in Spanish, but a majority of WRTE's programming during the day is English or bilingual and they really put together a great mix of music. As expected during their Latin Alternative programming blocks, you'll hear bands like Los Amigos Invisibles and Kinky, but then later you'll hear four songs in English right in a row straight off of the American college radio charts. And if you're not familiar with Kinky and like, don't worry, it sounds nothing like the crap they blast at full volume inside Flash Taco to keep the drunk gringos from lingering too long.

Pre-order Ponys, Get Lots of Swag

Matador is pulling out all the stops for the launch of their first record with one of the newest bands on their roster, Chicago favorites The Ponys. If you pre-order Turn The Lights Out at Matador's website you get hooked up with all sorts of Ponys exclusives, including a live download of their recent show in January at Schubas and access to a sneak preview on-line stream of the new album. Go to www.matadorrecords.com/the_ponys for the complete details or stop by a Reckless Records location where one of their friendly clerks will take down your info and forward you to Matador HQ.