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The CHIRP Blog
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.
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.