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Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Madonna Edition
Her debut album came out 30 years ago, a piece of R & B and dance inflected pop that was diverting. Then her videos hit MTV, and Madonna became a star. But no one anticipated that she would become the best selling female solo artist of the rock era. Today is Madonna’s birthday, and let’s face it, anyone who can stay fairly relevant over three decades in pop music is a formidable talent. She went through as many image changes as any singer since Bowie. She made headlines in the gossip columns and so often shocked sensibilities. More importantly, she wrote and performed scads of great songs. And you can never count her out. Sure, she’s had her share of lackluster releases, but she is capable at any time of putting out something great. Let’s pay tribute of Madonna by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday 07/26 to Thursday 08/01
(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 August 16
Nathan Grant
Abbey Pub 9pm 21+
Elephant Stone, Coffin Ships, Mexican Knives
Beat Kitchen 9pm
Through the Roots, Fortunate Youth, Micah Brown
Bottom Lounge 5pm
Govinda, Sunsquabi, Confresi
Bottom Lounge 9pm
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Kurtis Blow Edition
Today, let’s pay tribute to one of the pioneers of hip hop, Kurtis Blow. Blow was the first rapper signed to a major label, and the first rapper to have a certified gold single for his classic, “The Breaks”. Blow ended up recording eight albums, racking up hits like “If I Ruled the World” and “Basketball” while influencing many rappers with his flow. For example, Run of Run-D.M.C. early on got the nickname “The Son of Kurtis Blow”, and he has been name checked in numerous hip hop songs as well as artists like They Might Be Giants and, most memorably by Tom Tom Club in their immortal hit “Genius of Love”. In honor of Kurtis Blow, please grab your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday 08/09 to Thursday 08/15
(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 August 9
Blackalicious, Young General
Abbey Pub 9pm, 21+
Departure, Petibone, Time Crash, The Brains of the Operation
Beat Kitchen 8:30pm, 21+
Northside Ruckus with Matthew Ferris Band, Of The Poet, Blue Eyed Jesus
Bottom Lounge 6pm
Polarcode, AyOH, Aly Jados, Rachael's Surrender, Skye Daru
Double Door 8:30pm 21+
The Hoyle Brothers
Empty Bottle 5:30pm, 21+
Gauntlet Hair, Population, Magical Beautiful
Empty Bottle 9:30pm, 21+
The Lawrence Peters Outfit, Jack Grace, Cloudbirds
Hideout 10pm, 21+
Mickey Hart w/Tea Leaf Trio
House of Blues Chicago
Greensky Bluegrass, Dog1
Lincoln Hall 9pm, 21+
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday David Yow Edition
Let’s pay tribute to a leader of a legendary Chicago band. David Yow first came to prominence with the noise rock band Scratch Acid. Scratch Acid quickly built a reputation for its visceral music (one journalist compared them to The Birthday Party) and Yow established himself as one of the most unhinged frontmen anywhere. After Scratch Acid dissolved, Yow and guitarist David Wm. Sims hooked up with Duane Denison to from The Jesus Lizard who came from a similar place, but developed a more sophisticated musical approach, with Yow’s antics contrasting increasing intricate (and somewhat arty) noise. I’ve seen Yow stage dive off the Metro stage with no one to catch him. A July 3 Didjits show at the old Exit found members of the audience wielding protest signs that said F— The Pigs, while Yow came out to introduce the band wearing a Nazi uniform and then gave a speech in convincing German (or something that sounded like German). This same wild man is an accomplished cook, who has worked at restaurants here and in Austin, Texas. Earlier this year, he released a limited edition solo LP of experimental music that was packaged in a concrete monolith. Yow is a true original. Let’s wish him a happy birthday by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.