Radio Free Chicago

More Bollocks on Bangers

Did you check out Hot Chip on Sunday and are curious what they played last night? Check out the Bangers & Mash blog for last night's setlist as well as news about the Oasis ticket pre-sale that starts today. Limey!

Check Out Hollywood Holt Tonight @ Evil Olive

Kanye approved! (more info on tonight's gig here)

Get on the List: Langhorne Slim

Longtime RFC favorite Langhorne Slim is back in Chicago this week at The Abbey Pub and we want to get you on the list! Just drop us a line to radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "Slim Pickins" in the subject line for your chance to win.

Download: Langhorne Slim - "Restless"

News and Notes: My Bloody Valentine, Austin City Limits, Morrrissey and Marr

///My Bloody Valentine, who are in town this weekend at The Aragon, have announced that they are set to record two new albums. MBV haven't released an album since 1991's sophomore album Loveless.

///Today kicks off Austin City Limits in Texas. For those of us unable to make it down there you can watch the whole thing live at AT&T's Blue Room . To see who's playing when, check out the schedule here.

///In misleading headlines news, according to NME "Morrissey and Marr Collaborate for Smiths hits and rarities compilation." So Morrissey chose the title ("The Sound of the Smiths", how brilliant) and Johnny Marr oversaw the mastering. Is that really collaboration? Nuh uh! I mean, they declined $2million to have a Smiths reunion. As if they would really collaborate on anything. And if you look at the tracklisting, it's like Louder than Bombs 2.0. but you have to admit, the headline is intriguing. Too bad it's a little white (miserable) lie!

More Free Show Goodness

The Sea & Cake play a free show at the CSO this Saturday at 8pm as a part of Macy's Day of Music. Be on the lookout next month when The Sea and Cake's latest album, Car Alarm, drops October 21st on Thrill Jockey.   

Catch Calexico For Free Tonight at Millenium Park

Summer is ending quick, get out while still you can! Catch Calexico outdoors tonight for free at Millenium Park as a part of the World Music Festival. Festivities start at 6pm with special guests Salvador Duran & Mariachi Luz de Luna Grupo Zazhil.

Download: Calexico - "Two Silver Trees"

The Great Pumpkin Finally Returns

Via Greg Kot and the Trib: The Smashing Pumpkins have announced they will play their first hometown shows since 2000, with a four-night residency in November split between the Chicago Theatre and the Auditorium Theatre.

More Block Party Pics

Kirstie now has her first photos up from Hideout Block Party 2008, check out the set here.

Mogwai Cancels Canada and US Dates

Immediately following their performance at Sunday's All Tomorrow's Parties in New York, Mogwai drummer Martin Bulloch was hospitalized due to complications from his pacemaker. He was discharged from a local hospital and told to return to Scotland for additional treatment.

Subsequently their gig here in Chicago Friday at the Congress Theater has been canceled along with dates in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Canada. They hope to return to the US sometime in early 2009.

Early Returns From the Block Party

Check out Jeremy's pics from Day 1 both days here, Bangers & Mash has a backstage interview with Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip here. More coverage to come...

I Like to Move It Move It

It seems like everyone and your mom (oh DIP) is going to the Hideout Block Party this weekend, so I don't have to tell you to check it out. I envy those who can attend on Sunday because the thought of missing Ratatat and a DJ set by Hercules and Love Affair makes this Brooklyn transplant cry hot tears of homesickness. Please go in my stead and don't forget to dance like no one is watching!

Ratatat's latest album, LP3, is their most accomplished to date and — as long as they stick to their uptempo numbers, as any dance-oriented electronic act should when they perform live in my opinion— they won't disappoint. Hercules and Love Affair's self-titled on DFA is the most stunning debut I have heard all year, somehow both a loving tribute to disco and totally fresh at the same time due in no small part to vocal contributions from Antony and the Johnsons' Antony Hegarty. And, as H&LA band mate Andrew Butler djed my twentieth birthday party years ago and was already mind-bendingly good back then, I can heartily endorse the Sunday night set.

Download: Hercules and Love Affair - Time Will.mp3

Download: Ratatat - Shempi.mp3

Download: Ratatat vs Cassie - Me & U (Siik remix).mp3

Cut Copy @ Metro 9/17/2008

After my fourth stint at Metro in two weeks I can say with confidence that seeing Aussie dance commandos Cut Copy was hands down one of the most trying and yet electrified shows I have seen this year. If you were amongst the lucky handfuls who waited out the delay for Cut Copy's set at Pitchfork Music Festival this year, then you understand what I mean.

Darker My Love @ The Vic 9/12/08

I distinctly remember when I received a promo copy of the new Darker My Love record, 2, in the mail a couple of months back. I had been digging the single "Two Ways Out" that had been getting some spins on Indie 103.1, so I dropped the disc right in the player after opening up the envelope. I think I had sensed it a bit before, but upon listening to the entire album, all I could think of was how much they sounded like the second coming of The Dandy Warhols. Then, a couple of weeks later came news that they'd be hitting the road this fall with (wait for it...) The Dandy Warhols! Well, I guess I wasn't the only one who noticed the resemblance.

Download: Darker My Love "Two Ways Out"

News and Notes: The Flaming Lips, The Streets, The Kanye West

///The Flaming Lips are contenders in the battle for the Official State of Oklahoma Rock Song. Their song "Do You Realize" is up against "Oklahoma" by The Call, "Let's Have a Party" by Wanda Jackson and "Move Along" by the All-American Rejects among others (including Elvis, JJ Cale and Three Dog Night). You can vote for your fave here. You don't even have to be an Okie.

///Mike Skinner, better known as The Streets, plans on incorporating a large scale audience participation part of his show in which the fans say hello to each other and introduce themselves. He also plans on incorporating a Moses-esque feat in which he parts the crowd in half, runs down the middle and surfs back up to the stage.

///Everyone's favorite Kanye West has rereleased a new version of his song "Love Lockdown" less than a day after announcing on his blog that he was doing it. Furthermore, I just scrolled through his blog for Ss and Gs and he simply says "Beautiful" in response to the latest Dr. Dog video for their song "The Ark." Severed heads are totally "FRESH!!!" (It is a cool video though)

The Walkmen @ Metro 9/12/2008

Friday night before New York’s The Walkmen hit the stage I made a list of ten songs I wished to hear. These ranged from their entire catalogue (save for their remake of the Harry Nilsson album Pussy Cats), with nearly two songs from each album, though I tended to stick with songs off their first album Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone; it being my personal favorite and all. 60% of my wishes came true.