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The CHIRP Blog
Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesCHIRP Battle of the Bands 2016: Round Two
There will be no repeat champion in the 2016 CHIRP Battle of the Bands. In Round One's biggest upset, last year's winner Modern Vices fell in a shocker to electronic esoterica masters Bitchin Bajas. The surprise fall of the defending champs wasn't the only unexpected result; industry titans Kanye West and Wilco also bowed out early, taken down decisively by DIY stalwarts Lil Tits and Meat Wave, respectively. There were close matches, too; in the round's narrowest margin, Twin Peaks beat out ShowYouSuck by just four votes.
Who will emerge from the sawmill of democracy that is Round Two? There's only one way to find out. Voting for Round Two closes on Wednesday, April 6 at 6 p.m. Now, get out there and help us crown a new champion.
The Wilco Regional
#8 Seed: Meat Wave
Second Round Song: "Delusion Moon"
How They Won Last Round: Rallied an army of DIY kids to hassle dad rock statesmen Wilco.
#5 Seed: The Kickback
Second Round Song: "Scorched Earth Brouhaha"
How They Won Last Round: Yanked the football away at the last second from nu-emo standardbearer Into It. Over It.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday D. Boon Edition
Today we wish a posthumous Happy Birthday to D. Boon, guitarist and lead singer of the Minutemen. The band wasn’t lying with their name - If you don’t like one of their songs, wait literally 90 seconds and you’ll be on to the next one. But you’ll get the same brilliantly melodic anger delivered with all the subtlety of a carjacking.
D. Boon died in a van accident in 1985, way WAY too soon for humanity. Between today’s Day of Action in Chicago, a never-ending Presidential election, political instability at home and abroad, and the continuing struggles between the haves and have-nots, the atmosphere the Minutemen raged against in the 1980s hasn’t gone away. This is the kind of band that would have given the lie to Corporate Pop and its top-down ziplocked smiley-happy Carpool Karaoke nonsense. As it is, we have Double Nickels on The Dime What Makes a Man Start Fires? to point the way.
So light your torch, take your MP3 player, press the "shuffle" button, and share the first 10 songs that play:
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesIn Rotation: Bitchin Bajas & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy
On one side of the room is an "Appalachian post-punk solipsist" who has been conjuring his own unique style of American roots music since the early 1990s. On the other side is a group that emerged from the primal psychedelia of the band Cave into a more placid but no less adventurous style of electronica. Two great tastes that taste great together? Absolutely, thanks to a new release on Drag City. Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties, a collaboration between Bitchin Bajas and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, showcases two approaches to music that combine to form intriguing minimalist structures that subtly change form right in front of your ears .
Tracks from Epic Jammers and Fortunate Little Ditties can be heard in rotation and by request now on CHIRP Radio.
CHIRP DJ writesCHIRP Factory Session - Jon Langford & Sally Timms
The 10th episode of our CHIRP Factory Sessions series features Jon Langford & Sally Timms of the legendary band The Mekons. Going on more than 30 years of collaboration, the duo recently joined us for an exclusive acoustic performance in our warehouse studio building. Their performance features a mix of classic Mekons and Skull Orchard material, along with a rare song from their recent collaboration with Robbie Fulks.
The audio of the session was engineered by Mike Lust of Manor Mobile Recording and the video (along with our exclusive interview with the band) was captured and edited by Big Foot Media.
1. Geeshie (0:21)
2. Land Ahoy! (3:23)
3. Dickie Chalkie & Nobby (6:10)
4. Sentimental Marching Song (9:12)
John Langford>>
Sally Timms>>
The Mekons>>
Bloodshot Records>>
Big Foot Media>>
Manor Mobile Recording>>
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesNew Belgium and Active Trans Make for a Strong Partnership
When it comes to businesses and organizations, “for-profit” and “non-profit” are often thought of as being on opposite sides of the table culturally and philosophically. But look closely at your community, and you will find the kind of partnerships formed between business and non-profits to have fun and make the world a better place.
Such is the case in Chicago, where New Belgium Brewing, a 100% employee-owned brewery, has joined forces with Chicago’s Active Transportation Alliance, a non-profit that has spent the last 30 years helping to develop and improve sustainable transportation options in the city.
Through their partnership with Active Trans, New Belgium will be participating in 2016 events such as Bike the Drive on May 29th and the Bike Commuter Challenge in June. Steve Navas, New Belgium’s Chicago Field Marketing Manager, sums up the synergy involved: “The partnership has made sense for a while, since our values sync so well, and we’re also sponsoring Chicago Bike Week. We look forward to continuing to make Chicagoland a great place for alternative transportation. We definitely love two wheels and helping Active Trans spread that love.”
New Belgium Brewing got its start during a bike ride through Belgium (the country). Two-wheeled transportation is a fundamental part of the company’s DNA. Their collaboration with Active Trans is what on Wall Street they would call a “natural fit.” Fortunately for the Chicago community, it’s also a pairing for a cause that makes life a little better for everyone.