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Erik Roldan writesCHIRP + Coach House Sounds Present: VERMA
Chicago’s music scene is constantly bubbling with new talent, and five-piece VERMA is no exception. Having release two cassettes in 2010, the band’s ambitious self-description on their facebook page reads, “Verma is amoebic in nature, coexisting with the mechanical.” Their Coach House Sounds Session will be released on Thursday, June 21, stream it at coachhousesounds.com and listen to CHIRP all week for preview tracks!
1. What the dumbest thing you’ve ever done in a basement?
Last fall, we got asked to score one of the Vice Guide to Travel documentaries set in the Congo. We had a really short time to put it all together. We decided to go into our friend Zaid Maxwell’s (Shapers, Laser and Fast and Shit) basement and record the whole thing, mix, and master it in two days. At the time it was a dumb plan but we actually ended up having a great session. Everything couldn’t have turned out any better than it did….and Vice was really happy with the final score. (side note – we will be releasing those recordings in September… more to come on that, but for now check out the webby award winning doc in full: http://www.vice.com/vice-news/the-vice-guide-to-congo-full-length)
Erin Van Ness writesScore 10% off at Insound while giving back to CHIRP!
Want to get 10% off your order at Insound and give a little something back to your favorite radio station at the same time?
Now you can! Click the Insound logo on our website or visit http://chirpradio.org/insound, and use the promo code “happyjune10” when you make your purchase. Doing so will score you a cool 10% off your entire order, and Insound will kick a portion of the sale back to CHIRP.
Insound is an online store that stocks a variety of LPs, CDs, downloads, and other merch. It’s a great way to show off your multi-tasking skills by grabbing new music from the comfort of home while giving back to the best radio station in Chicago.
This promotion is only valid until July 1, so don’t delay and visit http://chirpradio.org/insound today!
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Harry Nilsson Edition
Today, we pay tribute to one of the master of early ’70s pop. Harry Nilsson. He first tasted success as a songwriter, working with everyone from Little Richard to Phil Spector to The Monkees. Little Richard allegedly told Harry that he “sing good for a white boy.” In the second half of the ’60s, he signed with RCA and began releasing acclaimed records that caught the attention of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who both declared Nilsson to be a favorite. A couple of years later, he hit it big when his cover of Fred Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’” was used in the movie Midnight Cowboy and Three Dog Night covered his tune “One”. From that point, Nilsson’s career had its ups and downs, marked by bouts of brilliance. He was just as liable to do some old rock and roll covers, but he had an ability to pen and sing wonderful soft pop classics. He battled with addictions, which ground he career to a halt, but he has become an influential figure in some circles. In honor of Harry, grab your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Kanye West Edition
One of the biggest artists to come out of Chicago is turning one year older today. Kanye West first made his mark as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records. He manned the boards for Jay-Z’s The Blueprint, most significantly. He eventually put out his own stuff, and all of his albums have been critically lauded and best sellers. Kanye has been behind some big hits, but deserves credit for expanding the scope of his music, whether it involves collaborating with Bon Iver or sampling King Crimson. Beyond that, he has assisted many artists and is a fixture in the gossip pages for his unfiltered comments and visible lifestyle. So let’s wish Kanye a happy birthday by hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up on your iPod or MP3 player.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Ronnie Wood Edition
He’s one of the great sidemen in rock. Ronnie Wood got his first taste of success with The Birds, who had a minor British hit with the freakbeat classic, “Those Magic Words”. He next turned up in The Jeff Beck Group, and then Faces, supporting Rod Stewart. The Faces were one of the great live bands of the ’70s, and were a great training ground for Wood’s next gig, taking the place of Mick Taylor in The Rolling Stones. While the Stones’ output hasn’t always been the best during Woody’s tenure, there’s no doubt his laid back vibe has allowed the band to keep humming along (periodically). Wood has also made some fun solo records and he has done some great session work too. Let’s pay tribute to Woody by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.