We're seeking new members for our 2025 Board of Directors, as well as our founding Associate Board for young professionals 35 and under. Details and application at each of the links above.
The CHIRP Blog
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Muddy Waters Edition
Today is the birthday of a man who made Chicago his home (and later, Westmont) and became one of the giants of the blues. McKinley Morganfield was 30 years old (or so) when he finally made his way from Mississippi to Chicago. He had been to the city before and had done some recordings for Alan Lomax. Muddy was looking to make it here. It took a few years before Muddy (who got the nickname from his grandmother and added the surname later on) finally hooked up with a label, run by the Chess brothers. In 1948, he broke through with the songs “I Can’t Be Satisfied” and “I Feel Like Going Home”. He also became a big live attraction, with an ace band which included bass player Willie Dixon. This led to the creation of blues standards like “I Just Want to Make Love to You”, “Hoochie Coochie Man” and “I’m Ready”. With these songs, Muddy established an electrified version of the Delta blues sound that fit the urban, working class lifestyle of Chicago. These songs were popular at home and influenced future blues rockers on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course, as you probably know, The Rolling Stones took their name from a Muddy Waters song. After a brief dry patch, Muddy revived his career in the ‘70s and kept performing until he passed away in 1983. His legacy lives on both at home and abroad. Let’s celebrate his birthday by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Amanda Roszkowski writesCHIRP Radio and CUFF presents “East of Hell” and “Dreams Less Sweet” @ Logan Theater!
This Friday, get the story behind the music at CHIRP Radio’s video event at Logan Theatre, part of the Chicago Underground Film Festival! We’ll be presenting the films A L'est De L'enfer (East of Hell) and Psychic TV: Dreams Less Sweet.
A L'est De L'enfer (East of Hell) is a French documentary that centers around the underground Black Metal music scene of Surabaya, Indonesia. Directed by Mathieu Canagulier, the film illustrates how the community takes a movement that started in Europe and is reinvented with Western codes and Indonesian beliefs.
Founded in 1981 by Genesis P-Orridge, Psychic TV was a group focused highly on videos. Genesis even said, "Psychic TV is a video group who does music, unlike a music group which makes music videos." When Genesis invited 47 artists to create a collective film set to the group's acclaimed second album, Dreams Less Sweet, in a process drawing from the cut-up technique originated by Genesis' friends and mentors Brion Gysin and William Burroughs, as well as the VHS networking practiced by the Temple of Psychic Youth in the 1980s. The resulting work was the video, Psychic TV: Dreams Less Sweet.
The double feature begins at 6:30pm this Friday, April 4 at The Logan Theatre. Tickets are $8. Get yours here now!
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday April 4 to Thursday April 10
(Weekly Voyages is CHIRP Radio's listing of concerts in Chicago at select venues. Information about tickets can be obtained from the venues' Web sites. Do you have corrections or updates for this list? Send us an e-mail.)
Friday April 4
Mr. Blotto, Thinner Teed
Abbey Pub 9pm, 21+
David Guetta
Aragon Ballroom 8pm, 18+
The Dirty Generals, American Musk Ox, Andrew Francis
Beat Kitchen 9pm 21+
RüFüS Du Sol
Bottom Lounge 9:30pm
Midwest Hype, Spare Parts, The Palmer Squares, cLOUD9, ILL Ambition, DJ Steezy
Double Door 8pm, 21+
Crazy Talk, Green Book, Ask Your Folks, Wick
Elbo Room 8:30pm 21+
The Hoyle Brothers
Empty Bottle 5:30pm 21+
Kilo Wattson writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Micha Ward
When I contemplate the impact that CHIRP has had on my life and the lives of others, the word “community” is the one that lingers longest. This is truly a community and everyone is an equal party to its success. Listener, donor, volunteer, music fan, activist… all have a voice in shaping CHIRP to fit the needs of our friends and neighbors. Whether it is as simple as band you’ve never heard or as complex as a cause you should know about, CHIRP is here to serve the people of Chicago. On a personal level, this collective of people, CHIRP volunteers and our listeners and supporters, has made Chicago my adopted home and one that will always be dear to me. I could not imagine Chicago without CHIRP or CHIRP without Chicago. Community.
Today is the final day of CHIRP's spring fundraising drive. Please join me in making sure we hit our $15,000 with a gift at any level. You are a crucial part of the CHIRP community. Thank you so much for your support.
Tony Breed writesWhat CHIRP Means to Me: Tony Breed
Somebody has to do it — for every little thing it takes to run a station, somebody has to do it, or there would be no station. Fortunately there are over 250 somebodies volunteering for CHIRP, so most of the time things go smoothly. As a member of the CHIRP Board of Directors, though, it's my responsibility to jump in when they don't. And it's been a little more difficult than usual this past winter, with the repeated polar vortices and exceptional amounts of snow.
Recently I got a frantic phone call at 6 a.m. from the first-shift DJ telling me that they were unable to get into the CHIRP studios because the front door was jammed. Perhaps there was a better solution than me rushing to the station with a hammer in hand, but I have had experience un-jamming this particular door before, not to mention that I don't always think clearly first thing in the morning. But I didn't mind — it's part of the job — it's part of my job — and somebody has to do it. Another time I found out at 11:55 a.m. that the noon DJ couldn't come in, and the lead-in DJ couldn't stay to cover the next shift. Since I already had the day off, I grabbed my coat and ran over to the CHIRP studios to pull a surprise 3-hour DJ shift. Somebody had to do it, not to mention that DJ'ing is fun and I always enjoy the time I get to spend on-air.
I am thrilled to be a part of this organization, to help out by keeping things running smoothly and jumping in to assist when they do not. I'm really glad that this station exists. I listen to it constantly, and I am committed to keeping it thriving. At times that means running to the station at 6 a.m. to fix a door, but sometimes it's as simple as making a donation so CHIRP can continue in providing you with the live, local and commercial-free listening experiences that you can't find anywhere else. In this case, it means creating a special incentive to encourage others to donate to CHIRP... which reminds me — if you donate $25 or more today and mention that I sent you, you'll receive a mix CD with original cover art designed by me, Tony Breed.
Thank you so much for making what we do possible.