Radio Free Chicago

RFC Interview: Spiller Whale

Spiller Whale, a relatively fresh Chicago 3-piece is gearing up to free the fruits of their labor into the recorded realm with the upcoming release of their EP, Fresh Tables on DIY label Uncle Grandpa Records. To celebrate, they are throwing a record release spectacle tonight at Subterranean, sharing the bill with RSTLNE and The Panda Band. Spiller Whale's inviting blend of post-punk, jazz, and synth-pop, will give fans of Fugazi and Menomena something to enjoy. We caught up with Sean, Keenan, Matt to quiz them on the new EP, Chicago, and what's on their playlists.

Download: Spiller Whale - "Maps With No Names" 

News and Notes: THAX, Beginning of the Best ofs, mewithoutYou

///Alex MacKenzie's documentary THAX, about Chicago poet Thax Douglas, is getting the "DVD treatment." Check out the release party and midnight screening on Saturday starting at 6pm. The party is at Golden Age, 1500 W. 17th St. (Pilsen) and will feature performances by Joe Roarty, Brother Derek, and others.

///Theft Liable Prosecution has finished up his Best of 2007. The top album? Datarock's Datarock Datarock.

///mewithoutYou's first two full lengths are being given the vinyl treatment by Gilead Media. Pre-order both albums and save three dollars, plus get some free Gilead Media swag, mewithoutYou swag, and an entry into a contest for all of Gilead Media's current in print releases.

My Brightest Diamond @ Lakeshore Theater 11/11/07

Playing to an audience that was under capacity earlier this month did little to dull the spirit that propels My Brightest Diamond.   

News and Notes: Blake Zweig, Wednesday Night Live, No Empathy

///Chicago's Blake Zweig has spend sometime mixing and mastering some songs. Even adding cello and other embellishments to some old songs, so they sound new too! Check out the MySpace for the songs.

///Tonight Capillary Action, Unique Chique, Red Tape Rummage Sale, and Know Nothing will be playing the 3rd floor loft at 1278 N. Milwaukee. Show starts around 8pm and possibly costs $5?

///Chicago's own, but deceased, No Empathy (Johann's Face) has continued their promise to post new-old songs on their MySpace.

Only 26 More Shopping Days Until Christmas

'Tis the season for boxed-sets and best of's, but compiling all those discs for all the rockers on your Xmas list can get expensive. Fortunately, RFC is back once again to help spare your pocketbook with a chance to win a gift-wrapped copy of the new Libertines greatest hits collection, Time For Heroes, that just hit stores this week. Yes, that's right, not only are we continuing to help you with your Christmas shopping, but we're even sparing you the time and expense of gift wrapping this time around. So if you got a Brit-rawking friend or family member on your list, don't delay and drop us a line at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Libertines" in the subject line and we'll draw a winner at random next Monday (12/3). Good luck!

(psst...in case you missed it, there's still time to enter our Black Friday contest, we'll be drawing winners by end of day this Friday)

RIP: Kevin DuBrow 1955-2007

All devil horns should be rocked at half mast today.

News and Notes: Interpol, Omar Rodriquez-Lopez, Birthmark, Make Believe

///Birthmark, Nate Kinsella's solo project, has his album The Layer available on 12in vinyl, but only from Germany. Contact the guy(s) over at Dunix for the hand numbered limited to 500 vinyl record. Look for Birthmark live in Chicago on January 15th at The Bottle.

///Make Believe have finished up recording their next album Goin' to the Bone Church which should see a Spring time release on vinyl through Flameshovel Records. Not into vinyl? Expect a digital download as well.

///Today Interpol is releasing a Live EP to independent record shops affiliated with the Coalition of Independent Music Stores. You'll have to travel "abroad" to get the six track disc. [Thanks, Buzzgrinder]

///Omar Rodriquez-Lopez (Mars Volta, At the Drive-In) has a few new songs available on his MySpace from an album called The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange.

Free Booze and Show Alert: Andrew Andrew w/Trachtenburg Family tonight @ Hideout

Click here to RSVP

News and Notes: Casey Calvert RIP, Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine

///Hawthorne Heights' guitarist, Casey Calvert, was found dead on Saturday morning from unknown causes. The band does not think drugs or other illegal activities were involved. [Thanks, Aversion]

///The Jesus and Mary Chain are looking to release a new album. Currently Jim and William Reid are picking the best twelve out of their new batch of songs that they each wrote separately. Look for the new album sometime in the spring or summer of next year. [Thanks, NME]

///My Bloody Valentine will "do a Radiohead" and release their upcoming album via the Internet. Unlike Radiohead, they will probably be setting the price, so they aren't doing a Radiohead as much as they are doing an "every other band who has done this previous to Radiohead." They also are planning on a vinyl release. [Thanks, Billboard]

Max Eastley @ Pritzker Pavilion 11/11/07

As part of the Chicago Humanities Festival (which ran from Oct 27 through Nov 11) Max Eastley provided live accompaniment to a video he worked on with David Buckland called Arctic. Using a the homemade monochord electo-acoustic instrument called simply “Arc” he created haunting all encompassing drones that mixed well with the sound and vision of ships and icebergs in the high arctic.

News and Notes: Deerhunter, Tapes N' Tapes, Amanda Palmer

///Deerhunter will be taking a break for an unspecified period of time. Also, At the Drive-in are still on their indefinite hiatus. [Thanks, Filter]

///Amanda Palmer - of the Dresden Dolls - expects to release her solo debut early next year. Titles, record labels, and songs are yet to be determined. [Thanks, PFork]

///Tapes N' Tapes have finished recording a new album for XL Records. They are expecting an early 2008 release. David Fridmann recorded the band at Tarbox Road Studios.

Happy Black Friday

Hey, what are you doing sitting in front of your computer? Shouldn't you be out taking advantage of gigantic, door-busting savings at your local big box outlet? Well, fortunately you've come to the right place because RFC is here to help get you get an early start on that shopping by giving out some freebies that some indie rakwers on your list are sure to enjoy.

1. VINYL!

We've got some 7" copies of the latest Illinois single, "We Were Wrong," to give away...drop a line to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Illinoize" in the subject line and we'll put in a good word to Santa to drop a copy in you stocking soon.

2. HIPSTER-T!

Check this shit out yo, give this to the favorite hipster on your shopping list and we'll keep it a secret that you actually scored it for free instead dropping $40 bucks at Urban Outfitters, err, I mean TankTheory.com. As an added bonus, we're also throwing in a copy of the new CD from fashionable new Los Angeles band, West Indian Girl. Drop us a message to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "T-shirt and a WIG" in the subject line for your chance to win this prize pack.

Download: West Indian Girl - "To Die In LA"

You can get anything you want at Alice's...

Happy Thanksgiving!

News and Notes: Thanksgiving Binge, EMI, Love of Everything, Pennywise, Hold Steady, Art Brut, Mountain Goats, Zune

///In order to boost it's bottom line EMI Music has earmarked $100 million to buy up independent record labels. They are also looking towards the typical cutbacks to help as well as digital distribution. Maybe they should look towards a good roster? [Thanks, Aversion]

///Chicago's Love of Everything has a new song available on the MySpace. It's called "Style Matters" and is a relatively quiet affair.

///Pennywise is teaming up with MySpace to attempt an alternative distribution model. In March you will be able to purchase the bands album in stores, or add Textango as a MySpace friend. From there you will be able to purchase the album for free. [Thanks, Billboard]

///NPR has made Washington D.C. performance of The Hold Steady and Art Brut available for your listening pleasure.

///The Mountain Goats have revealed their new album, Heretic Pride, which will see the light of day after the Christmas holiday rush. Actually, just in time for a late Valentine's Day, February 19th. [Thanks, PFork]

///Interested in purchasing a new Zune? Read a review.

News and Notes: Radiohead Cover, Brian May, Reckless

///Radiohead have revealed the album cover to the physical version of In Rainbows...and it's nothing special. [Thanks, Aversion]

///Brian May PhD (of Queen) will become the next Chancellor of John Moores University in Liverpool. May finished up his dissertation in October.

///Reckless Records has been nominated for a Plug Award in the category of best record store. To vote for them, or a different store you have a crush on go to PlugAwards.com.