Radio Free Chicago

RFC-TV: Emily Jane White - "Dark Undercoat"

New video from Californian gothic folk chanteuse Emily Jane White. A delightfully creepy piece of work here by director Cam Archer, though word on the street is that White's last video "Dagger", was even creepier!?!

News and Notes: Magical, Beautiful, Patrick Wolf, Supergrass, Thurston Moore

///Chicago's Magical, Beautiful has made their latest release, Winterlude, Winterlude, available free for download. No strings attached. Some cover, some originals, all free.

///Patrick Wolf is currently working on a new DVD and a new album. The DVD will feature footage from Wolf's show at London's Shepherd Bush Empire. The new album is slowly being recorded, but there are not many additional details. No release dates for either release have been announced.

///Supergrass have finished recording their new album Diamond Hoo Ha. You can check it out April 15th via Astralwerks.

///Thurston Moore has another solo disc on the market. You can get the Live from SoHo EP on iTunes. The tunes were recorded at the SoHo Apple Store with Sonic Youth buddy Steve Shelley, Chris Brokaw, Samara Lubelski, and Matt Heyner. [Thanks, Pfork]

RFC Interview: Cut Chemist

Long time friends and turntablist legends DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist are back at it again with a brand new project they’ve dubbed “The Hard Sell.” Spawned from an initial one-off show last June at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, the project has blossomed into a complete full-length album collaboration and extensive world tour that will be assaulting listeners with a seamless live mix constructed entirely from vinyl 45s. In order to perform their wax acrobatics this time around, the duo will be utilizing 8 turntables, 4 mixers & 2 effects pedals. Backing them up will be video director Ben Stokes who will be mixing visuals live on two giant screens behind them on stage. We caught up with Cut Chemist, aka Lucas MacFadden, last week via phone to find out more about this extensive musical undertaking that will be rolling into the Park West Friday night. 

News and Notes: Morrissey, Gnarls Barkley, Chris Walla

/// Morrissey lost his voice four nights into his six night stand at London's Roundhouse. The remaining nights were canceled and Morrissey is currently resting his voice. [Thanks, Aversion]

///Remember the news about Gnarls Barkley yesterday? Here is an amendment: The new album will be called Atlantis The Odd Couple and Mission Freak has the new song "Run" up for download. Sounds a bit like Cream to me.

///NPR covers Chris Walla's solo album, Field Manual, and say that it "sounds less like a declaration of independence than a Death Cab album that the other members forgot to show up for."

Girl Talk w/Dan Deacon @ Metro 1/26/08, Late Show

Church is a means for people to worship a deity, whatever shape or form that may be. But for some people, there is such a thing as a music god. Sunday may be a day for attending mass, but Saturday night at Metro became a different sort of worship. Led by demi-gods Dan Deacon and Gregg Gillis of Girl Talk, they basically led their congregation of kids into a blitzkrieg of electronic beats and transformed the youth into abiding, sweaty dance machines.

Download: Girl Talk - "Bounce That"
Download: Dan Deacon - "The Crystal Cat"

News and Notes: Pinebender, My Morning Jacket, Gnarls Barkley, Gang of Four

///With only a week's notice, it's been announced that rarely seen, but really good, Chicago band Pinebender will be playing at Ronny's on Friday the 1st. Javelin, Absolutely Not, and Nouns round out the bill.

///My Morning Jacket will be calling their next album Evil Urges. You can get your urges June 10th via ATO Records. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Gnarls Barkley's sophomore release is nearing completion, but we have less information on that then we do on the My Morning Jacket release.

///Gang of Four is also writing and recording material. Nothing is planned yet, but they indicated a possible online release for the first single (or even online or vinyl). Drummer Hugo Burnham is sitting out of the sessions due to health reasons that the band isn't talking about. Hopefully all will be well.

Friday 8-track: New Music Sampler - Winter '08

1. Blake/e/e/e - "New Millennium's Lack of Self Explanation"

"Based out of Chicago, Blake/e/e/e is a new project finding two members of the Italian band Franklin Delano half relocated to the States... world ethnic spirituals to alt. Country, filled with drones and bones" - from the ablum Border Radio, dropping April 8th on Free Folk Records [LINK]

2. Smallwire - "Aftercast"

"Cascading vocal harmonies, detail rich pop arrangements" - debut full length from this local 5-piece out in April on Moorworks [LINK]

3. Food For Animals - "Tween My Lips"

"Southern hip-hop, ghettotech, Baltimore club, dubstep, power electronics, straight-up noise" - from the album Belly, out now on HOSS [LINK]

4. Carlos y Gaby - "Hot Heavy Heat (A Chase Theme)"

"Analog bliss from veteran sound sculptors" - check out La Voz Sabie De Los Cosmosm, available on vinyl in March on Alpha Pop [LINK]

News and Notes: Flosstradamus, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Winehouse

///Chicago based DJ-duo Flosstradamus is currently working on a new album to be released this summer. Special guests include Kid Sister, Amanda Blank, The Cool Kids, and others.

/// Scarlett Johansson will be releasing an album full of her interpretations of Tom Waits songs on May 20th via Rhino's Atco imprint. To keep the celebrity count high Nick Zimmer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Sean Antanaitis of Celebration play on the record with TV on the Radio's David Sitek producing.

///It looks like Amy Winehouse is heading to rehab, again. [Thanks, Aversion]

News and Notes: Bread and Bottle, May or May Not, Stephen Malkmus, Marion Knight

///Chicago's Bread and Bottle are finishing up their debut record to be released on Johann's Face/Lucky Gator Records. Until new songs are available check out the demos on their MySpace.

///May or May Not have posted a new song to Send Space for your downloading pleasure. Downloading not your thing? Then check their MySpace. It's called "Be My Tree."

///Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks new album Real Emotional Trash is apart of Matador's Buy Early Get Now program. If you preorder the album you will receive a stream of the entire album, the b-side "Walk Into the Mirror" exclusive to this promotion, full live show recorded on December 21, 2007 at Doug Fir in Portland, all other b-sides and/or exclusive tracks related to this record  (posted on the BEGN site 90 days after street date.), and a poster for Real Emotional Trash (to be picked up or shipped on street date -  Tues. March 4th. with the record.). Catch the band live March 21st at The Vic. [Thanks, PFork]

///Marion Knight, co-founder of Death Row Records, has been named as a part of a gang injunction against Mob Piru in Compton, CA. Knight, a middle-aged business man, said "This is crazy."

Video Free Chicago: Feist - "I Feel It All"

More video hijinks from Feist!

News and Notes: Coachella, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Tapes 'N Tapes

///The 2008 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival's full lineup has been announced. From April 25th-27th you can see Roger Waters, Portishead, Jack Johnson and many more. Buy your plane tickets now.

///In other news the Yeah Yeah Yeah's have gone into the studio to start working on a new album to follow-up 2006's Show Your Bones. [Thanks, Aversion]

///Tapes 'N Tapes will be releasing their sophomore album on April 8th via XL Recordings. It's called Walk it Off and was produced by Dave Fridmann. [Thanks, Filter]

Two Ton Boa @ The Vic 1/5/2008

Usually in the beginning of the year, the winter doldrums set in causing a dearth of solid shows. But a week into the new year, Olympia, Washington opening act, Two Ton Boa, gave a worthy performance. Two Ton Boa is primarily Sherry Fraser and her backup band. Opening for superstars the Dresden Dolls isn't an easy feat, but she's an impenetrable frontwoman who carried the show.

Download: Two Ton Boa - "Comin' Up from Behind"

News and Notes: RIP John Stewart, Permanent Records, Cursive, Save the Music Business

///John Stewart, of the Kingston Trio, has died at the age of 68. He died of a massive stroke and brain aneurysm on Saturday. Stewart, who wrote the Monkee's hit "Daydream Believer," was a part of the 1960's folk revival for his six year (and 13 albums) stint in the Kingston Trio. After the band disbanded he recorded over 40 solo albums.

///When you get a receipt at the Dominick's location at Chicago and Damen make sure to check the backside. You may find a "$1 off any purchase" coupon for Permanent Records, which is located just East on the very same street.

///Cursive have begun writing and recording songs for their follow-up to 2006's Happy Hollow. They will be playing a few scattered gigs between writing sessions, but none of them pass through Chicago. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Greg Knot over at the Tribune along with the Songwriters Association of Canada tell the music business how to save their business - with a digital tax.

White Williams @ Schubas 1/18/2008

White Williams (Ne Joe Williams) has been breaking out since dropping his debut record, Smoke, last November. Pitchfork and many other media outlets gave it quite a bit of love. This fall he opened for mega-group Battles so it was just a matter of time before he'd headline his own show. Using processed beats, analog synths, and live guitars and bass, Williams instantly garnered comparisons from party monster Girl Talk to throwbacks of glam rock and everything good that's evolved from electronica in the past 20 years. But with such great songs and great hype on his side, why did Williams fall flat?

Download: White Williams - "New Violence"

New York Dolls New Album, New Tour

Thirty-five years since their inception and down several members the New York Dolls are still acting like they are rock 'n' rolls toughest and sexiest act. The band, who influenced anybody from The Ramones to The Smiths, were precursors to most of the sloppy and energetic guitar playing you hear now. After a string of festival and summer tour dates in 2003 a reunion is in full swing. This year you can expect to see the follow-up to 1974's Too Much, Too Soon and a U.S. tour.

If you're in Chicago on February 23rd you can see them at Wicker Park's Double Door, where there is no shortage of skinny males in tight jeans and make-up.