Radio Free Chicago

Video Free Chicago - Yea Big + Kid Static - "The Life Here"

Check these guys out tonight at Metro opening for Rhyemest...

Back at the Burly

Come join us tonight at The Burlington, Jeremy and I are taking over on the decks again under our new DJ guise "Bangers and Mash." We haven't fought out who gets to be "Bangers" (I vote for me!) and who gets to be "Mash," but with my affinity for hip-hop and our mutual, almost separated at the hip-like penchant for Radiohead, Blur and all things Brit-pop, the use of the cheeky moniker was just too good to resist.

We'll be kicking things off around 10. The Burlington is at 3425 W. Fullerton...there's no cover and as always, PBR, Schlitz and Old Style are $2.

News and Notes: Clinic, Ticketmaster, Fiery Furnaces, Fireside

///Clinic will be releasing their fifth album, entitled Do It!, on April 8th on Domino Records. On May 12th they will be swinging by the Empty Bottle to show off their new tunes. The first single from the record, "Free Not Free"/"Thor" will be available February 1st FREE for download with artwork from the bands website.

///It looks like Ticketmaster is working out the details to buy TicketsNow, which means less options when buying tickets in advance. I would assume that would also mean higher service fees. Awesome! [Thanks, TLTP]

///The Fiery Furnaces are holding a quite informal caucus to determine the name of their next album. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Feeling nostalgic about the Fireside?

Free Eels!

After over a decade of service, E decided to curl up in his easy chair with his trusty sidekick this winter and take some time to reflect back on his life as an Eel. The result was not one, but two releases that hit stores today, Meet the Eels and Useless Trinkets. What can you find on these two collections? Here's the official press hype:

Spanning the first decade of EELS music, Meet The EELS offers 24 tracks that showcase the band’s evolution and growth of E as a songwriter, along with 12 videos.  While Useless Trinkets is a must-have collection of 50 hard-to-find B-sides, film contributions and unreleased tracks, and a DVD of live performance footage from Lollapalooza 2006. 

To honor this momentous occasion, RFC is giving away an official Eels prize pack including both collections, PLUS a limited edition signed 7" vinyl single with two previously unreleased tracks; “Climbing To The Moon” (Jon Brion remix) and
“I Want To Protect You.” To enter, drop us a line at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "E is a Genius" in the subject line. We'll draw one winner at random at the end of the week. Good luck!

News and Notes: Tomorrow Never Knows, Distortion, Bjork, Heavier than Heaven

///Tickets are still available for Schubas' Tomorrow Never Knows festival this weekend featuring NOMO, Ohmega Watts, John Vanderslice, Bobby Conn, The Redwalls, and many more. Some great lineups. Shows are 18+ and tickets are $15.

///PopMatters reviews The Magnetic Fields new record Distortion. Continuing on a theme they also review Jesu's Lifeline.

///Courtney Love has decided she wants Ryan Gosling to play Kurt Cobain in the upcoming movie Heavier than Heaven. It is rumored that she has also sent a contract out to Scarlett Johansson to play her in the movie. [Thanks, NME]

///Bjork attacked a photographer in New Zealand, ripping his shirt in half, after he ignored her request not to take any pictures. Remember 1996? [Thanks, Yahoo?]

STAR @ Reggie's 1/8/08

It's a Tuesday night. South Side rock club Reggie's is practically dead. It could be because it is a Tuesday ,but also it's been raining for days. Some goth kids keep dancing to a DJ set that includes PB&J. Who would've thought? After a few bands, Chicago natives STAR hit the stage (not to be confused with Canadian uber-group Stars). Comprised of lead singer Shannon Roberts, bassist Ted Beck, and guitarist Scott Cortez, they've been making a name for themselves on the local scene since their full-length self-released debut, Devastator, last year. Time Out Chicago named it the second best local album of the year. Comparisons to shoegazers My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain spring to mind, but Roberts sounds akin to Tanya Donelly of Belly than the aforementioned groups.

Download: STAR - "Pure Gold Reason"

News and Notes: Nada Surf, Radiohead, Nick Cave

///Nada Surf will be heading out on the road in support of their album Lucky. They stop by The Metro with What Made Milwaukee Famous on April 4th. Lucky will see daylight on February 5th. [Thanks, Filter]

///Radiohead announced the cities for their North American tour. They are in alphabetical order, with no dates, no venues, and no supporting bands listed. [Thanks, PFork]

///Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have announced their new album Dig, Lazarus, Dig! which will be out on April 8th. It's 11 tracks long with the same line-up as 2004's double disc release. [Thanks, Aversion]

News and Notes: Asthmatic Kitty, Stephen Malkmus, Sunset Rubdown, The Hold Steady

///Asthmatic Kitty's roster is all featured on an upcoming DVD entitled Encyclopedia Asthmatica Vol. 1. Look for it on March 4th, included you will find video from all of your roster favorites. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Stephen Malkmus and his Jicks will be coming by The Vic on March 21st in support of the new album Real Emotional Trash (due date: March 4th). That picture you see is the cover.

///NPR's song of the day covers Sunset Rubdown's "The Mending of the Gown."

///The Hold Steady will be holed up with producer John Agnello for the next couple of weeks to record the bands fourth LP.

More Best of 2007: Pics

Wow...I remember thinking this was a great pic before, but after a solid week of seeing nothing but grey outside, it looks heavenly. Anyway, if you're in serious need of more bright, sunny colors like this, head on over to Kirstie's flickr page where she's compiled her favorite concert shots of 2007.

News and Notes: Saul Williams, Radiohead, Morrissey

///Saul Williams' latest release The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (produced by Trent Reznor) was initially released on the internet with the choice to pay $5 (for the high quality version) or a free version (at a lower quality). According to Reznor out of the 154,449 downloads only 18% paid for the release.

///In the UK, Radiohead's In Rainbows, reached #1 after its first week on the shelves. [Thanks, Spacelab]

///Morrissey is reportedly in talks with the Iranian government to play a show in the country in 2008. Unfortunately the U.S.A. might be there too.

News and Notes: Mahjongg, Casiotone, Album Sales Drop

///Chicago's Mahjongg have extended their 2008 tour. They will be playing the hometown gig at SubT's on the 31st of January. Look for their sophomore LP on K Records due in stores February 12th, 2008.

///Casiotone for the Painfully Alone has two new releases hitting the stores, internets, and merch booths. Both are "singles" and one is actually a cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia." Casiotone will also be playing the Beat Kitchen on January 17th with Magical, Beautiful. Oh yeah, a special New Years edition of the song New Year's Kiss is available on the Casiotone website.

///Album sales dropped 15% over 2007 and reached the lowest number of sales per year since Nielsen started tracking these things in 1993. But don't fret record labels, legal online downloads increased and I'm sure that ring tones did too (and really aren't those the money makers?). [Thanks, Spacelab]

News and Notes: Conor & Obama, Atmosphere, Cat Power Tour

///Conor Oberst played a few songs and spoke briefly to the crowd before a rally for Chicago's Barak Obama on Tuesday. The event took place in Council Bluffs at the Iowa School for the Deaf. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Atmosphere has released an album for free download entitled Strickly Leakage. It's thirteen tracks to warm the place up. [Thanks, Billboard]

///Cat Power and her band have set aside a few dates to promote their Jukebox album. Chicagoans can see the group play at The Vic on February 10th. What a lovely early Valentine gift.

Video Free Chicago - Maps - "Le Cadeau du Temps"