We're happy to be nominated in four categories for the Reader's 2024 Best of Chicago poll. Find them all here and cast your ballot by December 31!
The CHIRP Blog
Nikki Stout writesCHIRP Champion: Alli Hagg
Welcome to our new volunteer feature: CHIRP Champions! We'll be using this space to highlight special folks within the CHIRP sphere who have been recognized by their peers for making extraordinary contributions to the organization. First up is Volunteer Coordinator Alli Hagg!
What first drew you to get involved with CHIRP, and how long have you been with the organization?
I started just about a year ago, so I'm still a newbie compared to a lot of folks! CHIRP was the first station I found when I drove into the city to look for an apartment (with the range of the signal what it is, that really feels like fate). I was hooked from then, and when I was six months in to living in the city and still feeling disconnected, I turned to volunteering at the station to help me find a sense of community and place. It's delivered!
CHIRP Radio writesChicago Sounds: Wilco
|
|
Rising from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo in the 1990s, Eddie writesTop 5 Songs For the Beach
by Eddie Sayago
The beach is always a refreshing way to cool off in the summer, as many of us make our way to the various spots along the coast (East, West, the Great Lakes, etc.) whenever we need an escape from the heat. Here are five songs to accompany your next beach read or swim.
Ramones “Rockaway Beach”
From the album Rocket to Russia (Sire/Warner, 1977)
A homage to the largest urban beach in the United States, this place must be worth the trek for the Ramones. The original lineup (Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee, and Tommy Ramone) are from the Forest Hills neighborhood in Queens, which means it would take about 40 minutes to get to Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, or nearly double that if you take the subway and bus.
Luckily they can hitch a ride to the beach once known as the “Irish Riviera” thanks to the large community from the Emerald Isle. A getaway for the idle rich in the 18th century, Rockaway Beach became popular with the masses once the railroad station and the amusement park Rockaways’ Playland opened in the early 1900s.
CHIRP Radio writesCHIRP Radio Weekly Voyages (Jul 15 - Jul 21)
Upcoming Events:
- Tuesday July 16: CHIRP Radio Music Trivia (Pitchfork Edition) at Beermiscuous
- Friday July 19 - Sunday July 21: CHIRP Radio Record Fair at Pitchfork 2024
- Friday July 26 - Sunday July 28: CHIRP at Out of Space
- Friday July 26 - Sunday July 28: CHIRP is a media sponsor for Wicker Park Fest
- Saturday July 27:CHIRP Welcomes Guerilla Toss to the Empy Bottle
- Sunday Aug 4:CHIRP Welcomes Mei Semones to Schubas
- Wednesday Aug 14:CHIRP Welcomes Ghost Funk Orchestra to Schubas
DJ M-Dash writesPinksqueeze: Their New Single and Why They Love Chicago’s Music Scene
by Andy Frye
The once-young music fan in me was lucky to catch local favorites PINKSQUEEZE when they played at Cobra Lounge on May 11 with indie rock veterans Skating Polly. The all-queer foursome—comprised of Ava (vocals/guitar … she/her), Anna (bass… she/her), April (vocals/guitar… she/they), and Logan (drums …they/them)—released their first full-length album Be Gay Have Fun last summer to great acclaim.
Pinksqueeze’s presence at that warm Saturday night show seemed to signal the band had brought summer back early, exclusively for their friends and fans at Cobra Lounge. Certainly, Pinksqueeze put on a performance that was everything you'd expect from the band: kinetic, emotional, outspoken, and super fun.
The Chicago band’s guitarist, April, described it as a homecoming in more than one way.
"We always love playing at the Cobra Lounge, and this was such a fun show. We were excited to play with Skating Polly…they are such a rad band that we've been listening to.” She added "Some years ago, our bassist Anna interviewed Skating Polly early in their music career—so it felt like a really special full circle moment to play with them. And they were really lovely to meet and play with."