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
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWhat’s Happening at CHIRP Radio (Week of March 28)
Upcoming Events
- CHIRP Radio and React Presents welcome Operators to Schubas on Monday March 28th
New Media
- Amelia Hruby interviews Celine Neon
- The 2016 Battle of the Bands: Round 1 is complete!
- In Rotation: Ratboys
- The Friday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Tom Wilson Edition
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Tom Wilson Edition
(photo from The Daily Beast)
This week we wish a posthumous Happy Birthday to Tom Wilson, a key figure in ‘60s music who made brief but permanent marks as a member of that most precarious of occupations in the record industry, the producer.
From an artistic perspective, most producers at best take care of the business end of things while staying out of the way and letting the musicians work. The best ones, however, have the ability to put the right pieces together at the right time to make magic on tape.
Many “name” producers are known for working with a specific band (George Martin) or cultivating a specific sound (Phil Spector). But few can match Wilson’s eclectic and forward-thinking catalog. Hailing from Texas, he got his start by founding a jazz label that produced the debut albums of Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor. Wilson would go on to contribute to the early work of several landmark artists of the 1960s including Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Animals, The Velvet Underground, Nico, and Frank Zappa’s band The Mothers of Invention. Some of the artists were recording their first albums, others were transitioning from folk and roots music into more amped-up electric sounds.
It’s probably the fact that he died young and most of his work was with artists who had yet to become icons that he’s not hailed as one of the “super-producers” of his day. There’s little doubt that many of the Sounds of the ‘60s would be different had he not come along.
In Mr. Wilson’s honor, take your MP3 player, press the "shuffle" button, and share the first 10 songs that play:
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesIn Rotation: Ratboys
Upon hearing a band is named “Ratboys,” one (especially one of a certain age) might be inclined to picture a group of Punk rockers, or maybe an ‘80s Metal-revival outfit. Don’t be so quick to judge this book by its cover, though. This particular group of Ratboys, a Chicago band fronted by Julia Steiner on vocals, mixes acoustic and electric guitars to make music that’s based in Pop, Rock, and even some roots music. It’s a tuneful, inviting sound, with songs like “MCMXIV” that capture what a warm Spring day in Chicago feels like.
After several Bandcamp releases, Ratboys have recently released their debut album AOID. Selections from this album are playing in rotation and by request on CHIRPradio.org.
Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesCHIRP Battle of the Bands 2016: Round One, Part Two
Welcome to the part two of the opening round of the 2016 CHIRP Battle of the Bands. Click here to see part one, and read an explanation about the project and methodology. Voting for Round One closes at 6pm on Sunday, March 27, so make like Mayor Daley and vote early and often.
The Chance Regional
#1 Seed: Chance the Rapper
First Round Song: "Sunday Candy"
Why They're Here: The transcendent 2015 Donnie Trumpet collaboration Surf
#8 Seed: In Tall Buildings
First Round Song: "Flare Gun"
Why They're Here: The literary (and lovely) indie pop of 2015's Driver
Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesCHIRP Battle of the Bands 2016: Round One, Part One
It's officially spring. That means it's once again time to crown CHIRP's favorite Chicago band. Inspired by the mayhem of that famous basketball tournament, we've once again collected 32 of the city's best current bands for the CHIRP Battle of the Bands.
In 2015, Modern Vices charged to an unexpected victory in a final round that saw the tournament's first-ever tiebreaker. They'll have the chance at repeat glory in 2016, and they'll be joined by 31 other artists that met the following criteria:
* Born, based, or founded in Chicago or the suburbs
* Earned a significant amount of airplay on CHIRP
* Released new music in 2015 or 2016
Below, vote on your favorites in part one of our Round One match-ups. Part two is right here. Voting for Round One closes at 6pm on Sunday, March 27. Is this Chance the Rapper's year? Can Veruca Salt hang tough? Will Meat Wave pull a stunning upset? The answers to those questions, and more, await your input.
The Wilco Regional
#1 Seed: Wilco
First Round Song: "Random Name Generator"
Why They're Here: The flirting-with-trademark-disaster rock of 2015's Star Wars
#8 Seed: Meat Wave
First Round Song: "Witchcraft"
Why They're Here: The post-punk brawn of 2015's Delusion Moon