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The CHIRP Blog
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Alex Van Halen Edition
Today we wish a very Happy Birthday to Alex Van Halen, drummer of the band that bears his name. Alex doesn't get mentioned in musical anecdotes nearly as much as his band mates, which is understandable considering he shared a stage with David Lee Roth, the textbook obnoxious/mesmerizing front man, brother Eddie, the electric guitar innovator, and Michael Anthony, the charasmatic bass player whose backing vocals were in retrospect quite critical in getting Roth's lead vocals across. Alex’s distinctive drum kit sound powered the band to the pinnacle of the Rock world between 1978 and 1984 with albums that included Van Halen, Van Halen II, Diver Down, and, natch, 1984. The band’s longevity and high-profile lineup changes may have worked against their legacy as one of the groups that showed just how big (and sucessful) Hard Rock music could get. They’re still together, though, with Roth returning to the fold after a long absence, Eddie’s son Wolfgang handling bass duties, and Alex still laying down the beat. So give the drummer some and say Happy Birthday by pressing the “shuffle” button on your MP3 player and sharing the first 10 songs you hear:
CHIRP DJ writesCHIRP Factory Session - Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt of The Sea and Cake
Two of our favorite Chicago musicians, Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt of The Sea and Cake joined us for an exclusive live session, performing new material and a couple of classics, reworked as a duo!
Recorded and engineered by Mike Lust of Manor Mobile Recording, this session features Sam on guitar, vocals, and synthesizer and Archer on guitar and effects. The beautiful video was shot and edited by Big Foot Media.
Sam Prekop >>
Archer Prewitt >>
Thrill Jockey Records>>
Manor Mobile Recording>>
Big Foot Media>>
Ross M: Conceptually Gross writesCHIRP Welcomes Vetiver to the Old Town School of Folk Music on May 8!
Vetiver hits up the Old Town School Of Folk Music this Friday, May 8th at 8pm with EDJ (AKA Eric D. Johnson from, amongst many other things, Fruit Bats) opening up. Vetiver are touring behind their latest, Complete Strangers, their 6th full length. Where they were once seen as part of the freak folk movement (mainly due to the friendship and involvement of Devendra Banhart), Vetiver have been slowly smoothing out the rough edges and with Complete Strangers have cobbled together a breezy, 70's AM radio collection of tunes that will surely make your ears smile. CHIRP Radio is thrilled to welcome them to our equally breezy city.
Greg Kantowicz writesIn Rotation: Minsk
Dark and heavy but satisfying like your favorite stout, local band Minsk have a brand new album released by Relapse. Their first release since 2009, The Crash and The Draw stands out from its doomy post metal brethren with interesting percussion, layered vocals, and thoughtful progressions. Named after the capital of Belarus, the band found inspiration from the city's remoteness and its history of destruction and rebuilding. Minsk formed in 2002 with roots in Peoria and Chicago and they are currently finishing a tour in Europe with Floor. You can hear them in rotation on CHIRP Radio and at their website www.thesoundofminsk.com.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesThe Week That Was and Will Be: What’s Happening at CHIRP Radio (5/4/15)
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The next edition of CHIRP’s Factory Sessions will debut on Wednesday, May 6 at 11:00am Central. This session features Sam Prekop and Archer Prewitt of The Sea and Cake. Join our Event Reminder page on Facebook to make sure you don't miss the on-air debut, and look for it on the blog this week!
NEW MEDIA:
- Story Week Festival: Turning Issues Into Story
- First Time: First Lie
- In Rotation: Ghastly Menace
- MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday, Darcy Wretzky!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- CHIRP Radio welcomes Vetiver & EDJ to the Old Town School of Folk Music on Friday, May 8