Radio Free Chicago

RFC TV - Mystery Jets - "Young Love"

The kids in the UK love these guys, this single is due out on March 10. Wikipedia actually lists their style as "new prog"???? What's that about?

News and Notes: Stephen Malkmus, Maxim, Wilco, Fireside Bowl

///For those of us who are too lazy to figure out the new file sharing system, you can listen to the new Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks album, Real Emotional Trash, on MySpace.

///A few days ago Maxim was busted for reviewing the new Black Crowes album that they could not have possibly listened to. Apparently Maxim's reviewer heard the single and extrapolated the entire rest of the review from the single. Anyways, now the magazine has apologized.

///Wilco's D.C. show last night can be heard on NPR. The band can also be seen on this upcoming weekend's Saturday Night Live.

///The Fireside Bowl Project, aimed at remembering the venues glory days, now has a blog for you to reminisce over.

Nina Nastasia @ The Hideout 2/11/08

There will always be countless numbers of folk singer-songwriters strumming their acoustic guitars at any given moment, but few will ever make music as compelling and convincingly personal as Nina Nastasia.

Download: Nina Nastasia - "Settling Song"

News and Notes: Kid Sister, Sasquatch, Modular Records

///Local female rap phenom Kid Sister has signed to Downtown Records, look for her full-length debut KoKo B. Ware to drop this summer.

///Time to cash in on those frequent flyer miles...the line-up for the Sasquatch festival in Quincy, WA (couple hours east of Seattle) has been announced and it's pretty damn impressive: R.E.M., The Cure, Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, M.I.A. and the Flaming Lips' "U.F.O. Show" will be headlining.

///What's better than $2 PBRs? Free PBR, of course! Australian indie label Modular Records (Avalanches, Wolfmother, Cut Copy, etc.) is hosting a party at The Burlington tomorrow night with lots of boozing and DJ hijnks. Click here to RSVP. [Thanks, MyOpenBar]

RFC TV: Richard Hawley - Live At Other Music

Episode lucky number seven in the Live at Other Music series featuring an intimate evening with the incomparable Richard Hawley...

News and Notes: Magnetic Morning, NY Philharmonic, Oscars

///Adam Franklin and Sam Fogarino of Swervedriver and Interpol respectively are getting together and writing tunes for a new band called Magnetic Morning. You can look for an EP on April 19th via DH Records. [Thanks, Aversion]

///The Lions, a Jamaican inspired group, are described as: "Reggae rhythms n' dub techniques mash with the sound of Ethiopia, Africa, Colombia and a heavy dose of laid-back California soul, jazz, and funk." Their new record "Jungle Struttin'" is now available via Ubiquity Records.

///The NY Philharmonic will be performing in North Korea today. Politically, musically, and diplomatically this is a pretty big deal. Next we need Shellac, St. Vincent, or Super Furry Animals to make the trip.

///The Oscars went down without a major hitch, there were even winners.

Radio Free Chicago Presents at The Heart of Gold!

Shake off the post-Valentine blues and find some 'love' in the Heart! RadioFreeChicago.org is presenting another dance your pants off event on February 22nd at the Heart of Gold, in honor of the Great General George Washington, first president of the United States, and purveyor of glam rock fashion. So, dust off your powdered wig and get thee to ye olde Heart of Gold on 2.22 and enjoy the musical stylings of Unicycle Loves You, The Safes, and The Pinks!

The Details:
RadioFreeChicago.Org presents:
Unicycle Loves You, The Safes, & The Pinks

February 22nd, 2008 TONIGHT
Show starts at 9PM - $5 *suggested donation
21 and over

Heart of Gold
3036 N. Lincoln Ave, 4th FL
Chicago, IL 60657

More about the Bands after the jump!

RFC Interview: David Johansen (NY Dolls)

It's been a long, strange trip for the New York Dolls...well, actually more like one really short but intense trip and then an unexpected extended relapse decades later. (you can read the full story at your leisure via Wikipedia here), Oddly enough, at this point, the reformed Dolls have been together about as long as the original incarnation of the band, and according to ringleader David Johansen, they've definitely played more gigs this time around. Despite being down to just two surviving members (Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain), the Dolls are forging ahead in a 2008 with another North American tour and a live album in the works for release later in the year. Their bus will be rolling into  Wicker Park this weekend for a sold out Saturday show at Double Door, so RFC recently caught up with Johansen via phone to get a preview of what we can expect to hear out of the New York Dolls some 35+ years since they first hit the scene.

Freezepop @ Subterranean 2/13/08

So, there's this synthpop band called Freezepop. Until last Wednesday night, I'd never heard of them. My friend is a huge fan and roped me into going. The trio is best known for contributing their music to video games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band. It makes sense since Freezepop's music encompasses bleeps and beeps and centers on lyrics about school boy crushes and technology. At the venue, I was shocked to discover what a cult following this band truly has. The place was packed with a division of either 20 year-old ravers or video game geeked out guys. What followed was surely a memorable evening.

Download: Freezepop - "Brain Power"

Get on the List: St. Vincent @ Schubas 2/23

Annie Clark, the young singer/songwriter and guitar prodigy better known as "St. Vincent," is back in town this weekend for two sold out shows at Schubas. Oops, didn't get your tickets yet? No, prob, RFC saved a couple just for you. Just drop a message to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "List Me Annie" in the subject line and we'll randomly draw one lucky winner to put on the guest list with a +1. Be sure to get your entry in by Friday morning and good luck!

Download: St. Vincent - "Now Now"

Super Furry Animals @ Metro 2/16/08

I hold these truths to be self evident: 1. Super Furry Animals are one of the top ten bands of all time.  2. The Super Furry Animals put on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen.  3. Out of all of the bands putting out music in the world today, the Super Furries are one of the most creative, dynamic, and perhaps just downright weird bands I’ve ever heard or witnessed in the flesh.

News and Notes: Spoon, LCD Soundsystem, Cassette Deck

///If you are waiting for new material by Spoon you just have to wait until April 8th. Via Merge, Spoon's new 8 song EP will feature a couple of versions of "Don't You Evah", "All I got is Me", and remixes of the latter song.

///The LCD Soundsystem are contributing their next piece of song-writing magic to the soundtrack for the movie 21. The new song "Big Ideas" as well as songs by Rihanaa, Rollings Stones, MGMT, Broadcast, and more will be featured on the Columbia released soundtrack. Look for it March 18th. [Thanks, Pfork]

///Cassette Deck, of the greater Chicago-land area, are putting on a trilogy of release shows at the end of the month for their bands Vacation Bible School, Bust!, and The Budgets. They are calling it Record Safari and it features shows in Elgin, Chicago, and Wonder Lake.

News and Notes: Suing Universal, Limbeck, My Bloody Valentine

///A group of musicians (from quite some time ago) are filing a suit against Universal claiming that the label underreported sales figures and therefore underpaid on royalties. Artists include Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Benny Goodman. [Thanks, Aversion]

///The alt-country Americana pop band Limbeck are coming to town on Thursday in support of their brand new self-title album. They will be playing Schubas at 7pm with John Ralston and more. I haven't listened to this guys in some time, but I really dug Hi, Everything's Great.

///My Bloody Valentine will be heading to America, sometime. No times or dates, just a promise not to worry, they will be coming to America.

Basia Bulat @ Schubas 2/7/08

Basia Bulat's debut full length, Oh, my Darling, is every bit as precious as the title would insinuate.  The album is full of sweetly seductive vocals atop of ukelele, strings and claps that seem to insist upon your return for more, all while maintaining a sort of a harmless, wholesome perspective. 

Download: Basia Bulat - "Snakes and Ladders"

News and Notes: Gnarls Barkley, God's Reflex, The Mobius Band, Thom Yorke

///More Gnarls Barkley news. The duos' new album The Odd Couple will be released on April 8th via Downtown/Atlantic. They are working on videos for their first two singles, including "Run" and "Who's Gonna Save My Soul." [Thanks, Pfork]

///If you are missing that Midwest mid-90's emo-rock check out the Rockford IL's reunited God's Reflex at the Cobra Lounge on Saturday. They are also releasing a new album, When it's Down to This, which follows up 2000's Scene's from a Motel Seduction. There is a song on their MySpace.

///The Mobius Band has given the music world a Valentine's Day present with a free covers EP, featuring covers by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, The National, Bob Dylan, Daniel Johnston, Daft Punk, and Neil Young. Sweet deal.

///As we reported a couple days ago, Thom Yorke DJed on NPR's All Songs Considered.