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The CHIRP Blog
SKaiser writesThe Week That Was and Will Be: What’s Happening at CHIRP Radio (7/6/15)
SPECIAL ANNOUCEMENTS:
There's a couple days left to enter the New Belgium Tour de Fat car-for-bike challenge. We shared the experiences of 2011 cat trader Dave Pabellon, 2013 trader Johnny Mays and original 2009 trader Joseph Marinaro over the past week. If you're ready to enter, click here for the New Belgium car trader page.
NEW MEDIA:
- CHIRP Radio's latest Factory Session with Chicago's own Circuit de Yeux
- Eddie Sayago gives us Faux Yeah! Top Five Songs with F-Bombs in the Title
- Cher Vincent interviews Chastity Belt
- The MP3 Shuffle and a very Happy Birthday to Vince Clark!
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
It's the summer of the bicycle. If you have an old bike lying around and would like to donate it to a good cause, please bring it to the Go Albany Park Bike Drive on Sunday, July 12th. Stop by for music provided by CHIRP Radio and free bike repair service.
SKaiser writesTour de Fat Car Trader Benefits Include Friendly People at New Belgium
This Wednesday marks the deadline to submit your sweet soul to the Tour de Fat car-for-bike challenge. The folks at New Belgium Brewery will take good care of you and we at CHIRP Radio are happy to support the Tour de Fat celebration in Palmer Square this Saturday, July 11th.
Click here if you're ready to give up a your vehicle and commute by bicycle for one year, or longer if you fall in love with two wheels of transport.
We met up with original car trader of 2009, Joseph Marinaro. He enjoys keeping in touch with the New Belgium people and encourages the 2015 car trader to commute by bike as long as possible.
"The freedom and health benefits are amazing and the experiences are plenty and thrilling," he said.
CHIRP: Where do you currently live and what are you doing these days?
Marinaro: In early 2010, I moved to the farthest reaches of the suburbs, Crown Point, IN!!! I still work downtown and make the 50 mile-each-way commute by car, now. While we have bikes, family life (I have a stepson in high school, a stepdaughter in grad school and a four year old son) gets so busy that put exercise is usually hiking, swimming and going to places we have to drive to.
CHIRP: Why did you take the challenge to give up your car?
Marinaro: I was fairly new to city life and found owning my Jeep was more of a hassle than it was worth.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Vince Clarke Edition
Today we say Happy Birthday to one of the most accomplished musicians and songwriters from the world of Synthpop. Vince Clarke was one of the original members of Depeche Mode and wrote many of their early songs, including their first UK top-10 hit “Just Can’t Get Enough.” Although their album Speak and Spell put them on the map as a musical force, Clarke and his band mates parted ways soon after its release. No hard feelings, though; While the band went on to international stardom, Clarke teamed up with singer Alison Moyet to form Yazoo (Yaz if you’re in North America) and released two albums, one of which is the underrated classic Upstairs at Eric’s. He then joined forces with vocalist Andy Bell to form the duo Erasure and sail through the charts with Dance-Pop hits like “Oh L’Amour,” “Chains of Love,” “A Little Respect,” and “Breathe.”
Along with having mastered analog and digital electronic instruments, Clarke has produced a fantastic catalogue of music. Wish him a Happy Birthday by taking your MP3 player, pressing the “shuffle” button, and sharing the first 10 songs you hear:
SKaiser writesIs 2015 Your Year for the Car Trader Challenge?
The deadline is fast approaching to enter New Belgium's Tour de Fat car-for-bike challenge. If you're unfamiliar, take a look at details and enter your spectacular self-made video here.
CHIRP Radio supports the Tour de Fat celebration in Palmer Square on Saturday, July 11. Entries are due by Wednesday, July 8.
In 2013, Johnny Mays took the challenge and says this for the next winner: Don't half ass it. Read on for Johnny's commitment to the yearlong ride.
CHIRP: Where do you currently live and what are you doing these days?
Mays: I live in Houston, TX and work for Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC), IT auditing Fortune 500 companies. I also teach yoga on the side.
CHIRP: Why did you take the challenge to give up your car?
Mays: I was sick of working corporate America life, and I wanted to get out to travel and see the country - on a bike!
Cher Vincent writesA Chat With Chastity Belt
On their sophomore album, Time to Go Home (Hardly Art), Chastity Belt have left the house parties behind in Seattle, WA, and risen through the ranks. From spotlight performances at this year's SXSW, to an opening slot on rock's newest leading lady, Courtney Barnett's latest NA tour, they have had continued momentum that will likely land them on many year-end lists.
Embracing their womanhood, Julia Shapiro and her all-female band command, and rightfully earn, respect. While they were here for their headlining tour through the Midwest, Cher Vincent got to chat with them, and discussed their humble beginnings, feminism, and their future pursuits.
You all met in college in Walla Walla, WA. When did you decide that you could form a band together?
The band started as a joke. Julia and Lydia thought up "Chastity Belt" as a great name for a punk band and they started chanting it at parties and flipping over tables. We were friends, so eventually Annie and I joined. Sometimes after a band played at a party we would take over their instruments and start playing "Photograph" by Nickelback. One of the frats had a battle of the bands at the end of the year, which we took as our opportunity to extend the joke one step further. We wrote one song, performed it in heavy eyeliner and chokers, and won the battle of the bands.