Now Playing
Current DJ: Michael Griffith
Eel Romance It's in your DNA from Funny Blue (Self-released) Add to Collection
The CHIRP Blog
Entries categorized as “Interviews” 93 results
Mike Nikolich writes15 Minutes with Superfyre
Ayme “Superfrye” Frye is a popular CHIRP DJ (Mondays 9am – noon) and an accomplished musician. Her trio will be playing with 8-bit crEEps at CHIRP Night at the Whistler this Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 8 pm.
We caught up Superfyre to ask her what’s in store for her upcoming performance.
Q Ayme, you’re a DJ, musician and podcaster. How do you manage to channel so many interests and do them so well?
A “I am an explorer and I have had the chance to live in cool places like Alaska, Costa Rica, Montana, Japan and Spain. I’ve been trained by exceptional musicians like Hamid Drake, Kelan Phil Cohran, Rockin’ Johnny Burgin, and Thomas De Utrera. I’m finally ready to focus on music full-time and I have put together a great band.”
Mike Nikolich writes8-bit crEEps Play New Sounds on Old Circuits
Chicago’s music scene is bursting with talented bands that deserve national attention, and 8-bit crEEps is no exception. Founded in 2016 after guitarist Mick Kong, bassist Jbird James and keyboardist Ginger Glitch dissolved The Van Goghs, they beefed up their sound and became the 8-bit crEEps when former Wedding Photography drummer Joey Charch joined the band.
“We were looking for a new drummer and put an ad on Craig’s List,” Mick says. “Joey’s drumming blew us away. He helped transform our sound and we’ve continued to refine it ever since.”
While 11 of The Van Gogh’s pop gems live in perpetuity on Soundcloud, the 8-bit crEEps have a harder-edged sound, featuring longer tracks that give the quartet plenty of opportunities to stretch out and show off.
“Our music definitely has a psych-surf/post-punk sound,” Jbird says, “but we have been influenced by so many artists and genres of music that we find it difficult to put a label on our music. We describe it as new sounds on old circuits.”
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesA Conversation With Ken Stringfellow of The Posies
Jon Auer (l.) and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies (photo from City Winery Web site)
The Posies have been around the world and back again. Formed by Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer in Bellingham, WA during the 1980s-90s creative tidal wave of west coast rock music, the band enjoys a well-earned repuation for their records, their outstanding live shows, and a spirit of collaboration with musical peers and newcomers. The story continnues as they visit select US cities on their 30th Anniversary Tour.
On Wednesday, January 31st, CHIRP Radio welcomes Ken and Jon to City Winery where they will take the stage and perform songs from The Posies' entire catalog. Prior to the event, CHIRP was able to ask Ken some questions about himself and the band.
You’re now entering your fourth decade of making music. For the benefit of our social media world, sum all that up in one or two sentences.
I come from very humble origins, and I've been gifted the world, and music has been the interface. It's a miraculous substance.
Mike Nikolich writesJen Dot Can’t Wait to Take the Stage at CHIRP Night at the Whistler
by Mike Nikolich
Break-ups are never easy, and Jen Dot claims she’s still not over the break-up of Swimsuit Addition, a popular Chicago band that was considered one of our city’s rising stars as recently as 2016.
“It broke my heart when Swimsuit Addition dissolved,” Dot says. “I put my heart and soul into that band and I wondered if I ever could recapture the magic.”
Fortunately for us, Dot is resilient, as evidenced by the release of Can’t Wait, a fine new recording by her latest band, beastii. While she still smarts from the pain of the dissolution of Swimsuit Addition, Dot clearly has moved on, calling her new album “Some of the best work of my career.”
beastii and Sex No Babies are the featured acts at the January 24 edition of CHIRP Night at the Whistler. The show starts at 8:30 pm, and admission to free to anyone 21 years or older.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesA Chat With The Right Now (Performing NYE 2017 at The Hideout!)
The clock is about to run out on 2017. But that doesn't mean CHIRP Radio is done celebrating the holiday season and an amazing year for the station. Not with Chicago band The Right Now ringing in the New Year in style with an "Up All Night" show on December 31st at The Hideout. We recently had a chance to talk to Brendan and Stef about the band and what they've got going on for the New Year...
First, an introduction for the CHIRP readers. Tell us something you want us to know.
Greetings! We’re a seven-piece soul/pop band from Chicago called The Right Now. We’re very excited to partner with CHIRP for an amazing New Year’s Eve show at the Hideout.
As we close out 2017, what do you see as the band’s big accomplishments for the past year?
Brendan (keys, guitar): We had a big year in 2017 since we released Starlight, our first album in five years. The band hit the road hard, playing fests and clubs all over the midwest and East Coast. The reception to the album was pretty incredible. We knew we had done something our fans would appreciate, but hearing NPR’s Sound Opinions rave about it (comparing Stef to Adele!) and getting spins on college radio all over the country knocked our socks off. We also had a tragedy this year that Stef will touch on.
Stef (lead vocals): 2017 will be the year that forever changed my life. Brendan touched on some of the incredible support the band received upon the release of our third album, Starlight. It was so amazing to release a product after five years and have it be so well received. We got to go back out on the road and tour following the release and had a packed summer with some really memorable moments.
Unfortunately, 2017 will leave me, my family, and this band with an immense loss. Tragedy struck my homefront early this year when I lost my very best friend and the father of my children tragically to suicide. Since then, this band has gotten much closer as family and as a creative team. We take our jobs very seriously as we realize that we have such a unique platform to connect and help people while we are here. We’ve partnered with Hope For The Day, an incredible organization that is on a fearless mission to make mental health a safe and comfortable topic to talk about. Founder Jonny Boucher and the rest of their team were there for my family when I needed their support the most and we are honored to give back where we can to this extremely important cause. Readers can visit this page for more information on our story.