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The CHIRP Blog
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Russell Mael Edition
Let’s wish a happy birthday to Russell Mael, the lead singer for my all-time favorite band, Sparks. Since the late ’60s, Russell and his brother Ron have made a career on trying to hit the pop charts by subverting pop conventions. Sparks actually started as Halfnelson, changing their name after the band’s debut album (full of wiggy post-psychedelic pop) stiffed. Even then, Russell’s odd falsetto stood out. It moved more to the forefront when he and Ron went to England and became glam rock stars, Ron’s ornate compositions having no regard for what notes Russell would have to hit in order to cram tons of lyrics into a short space. In 1979, Sparks worked with Giorgio Moroder on the groundbreaking disco/rock album No. 1 In Heaven, and Russell’s angelic vocals were a template for future hi-NRG dance music and future synth-poppers like Bronski Beat and Erasure. Nowadays, Russell has mastered the art of stacking vocals on Sparks’ more recent baroque, classical music inspired albums. To this day, he can hit those high notes in a distinctive style. It’s no wonder noted producer Tony Visconti said that Russell is the best vocalist he has ever worked with. Let’s pay tribute to Russell Mael by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle, and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday 10/05 to Thursday 10/11
(Do you have corrections or updates for this list? Send us an e-mail.)
Friday October 5
Holiday House, Aktar Aktar, Triggerfish, Red Collar Radio
Beat Kitchen: 8:30pm
Chicago Skyway, Marlon Montez
Beauty Bar: 9pm, 21+
Lagwagon, Dead To Me, The Flatliners, Useless ID
Bottom Lounge: 8pm, Other
KB, Tedashii, Lecrae, Trip Lee, Pro, Andy Mineo
Congress Theater: 7pm
The Last Vegas, Hessler, The Infected, Bruce Lamont
Double Door: 9pm, 21+
The Hoyle Brothers
Empty Bottle: 5:30pm, 21+
Supreme Cuts, Sh*t & Shine, Duane Pitre, Tatsuya Nakatani & Vanessa Skantze
Empty Bottle: 9pm, 21+
Plush
Hideout: 10pm, 21+
Sidewalk Chalk w/ Jamie Lono and Katz Company
House of Blues Chicago: 7:30pm
Firewater, Deals Gone Bad, FETCH
Lincoln Hall: 10pm, 21+
Audiences, Carbon Tigers, Parlours, Hemmingbirds
Metro: 9pm, 18+
Septeto Nacional de Cuba
The Old Town School of Folk Music: 7pm & 10pm
Lark’s Tongue
Reckless Records: 6pm
Jimbo Delta
Reggies Music Joint: 5:30pm, 21+
Mad Bread, The Blackberry Bushes String Band, Rockett Pass
Reggies Music Joint: 9pm, 21+
Kingsfoil, Set the Trend, Grand Finale, Having Antlers
Reggies Rock Club: 6pm
Smoke DZA, Mr Muthafuckin’ Exquire, Flatbush Zombies, Cashius Green w/Pheo Nakim, Kembe X & Alex Wiley
Reggies Rock Club: 10pm, 18+
Julian Velard, Julia Klee
Schubas: 7pm, 18+
Fink, Daniela Sloan
Schubas: 10pm, 21+
Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts, Nate Manic
SmartBar: 10pm, 21+
Garnet Rogers
SPACE: 7pm
Crocodiles, Punks on Mars, Michael Lux & The Bad News
Subterranean: 9:30pm
Green Velvet, J Phlip, Paul Johnson
The Mid: 10pm, 21+
Whitler Tips
The Whistler: 9:30pm, 21+
Shawn Campbell writesHomeMade Pizza Company Raises Some Dough for CHIRP this Wednesday
CHIRP is pleased to partner with the Lincoln Square Homemade Pizza Company store this Wednesday, October 3rd, for a great fundraiser!
The Homemade Pizza Company at 4603 N. Lincoln Avenue will donate the following amounts to CHIRP:
$4 for every large or gluten-free pizza sold
$2 for every large salad sold
$1 for every calzone or flatbread sold
10% of the price of every gift certificate sold
This fundraiser is taking place on Wednesday, October 3rd, and applies to the Lincoln Square store at 4603 N. Lincoln only. Orders must be picked up at the store to apply toward the donation. You can place orders in advance at homemadepizza.com.
Erin Van Ness writesWhy I Volunteer
Over the course of our Fall Membership Drive, we’re sharing some of the inspiring stories we receive from our volunteers and members. Today, Assistant Guest Coordinator, Blake Burkhart, shares why he enjoys volunteering for CHIRP.
Hearing a song for the first time is an interesting experience. Sometimes I’ll feel indifferent, or I’ll enjoy it once and move on. On the other hand, there are times when I hear a piece of music, and I am absolutely floored. I’ve never known a source that gives me that feeling as reliably as CHIRP Radio. It’s the combination of an eclectic library and the fact that the DJs (with great taste) actually choose their sets themselves, something that is sadly uncommon these days. I have been an enthusiastic listener since day one, and I have CHIRP to thank for introducing me to many wonderful tunes.
I started volunteering thinking it would be an honor to help this cause in any way I could. That was almost two years ago. Since joining, I’ve hung posters, handed out fliers, interviewed bands for podcasts, snapped photos, shot videos, helped plan events, and hosted my own shows. There have been some thrilling and rewarding experiences to say the least, but the best feeling of all is when a person I’ve never met, in another state—or country!—listens to my show and tells me that they like something I played that they had never heard before. To me, that’s the whole point of what this station is trying to achieve.
—Blake Burkhart
DJ and Volunteer since 2011
Agree that CHIRP is a vital service worth supporting? You can always:
- Learn about volunteering CHIRP Radio is always accepting new volunteers. No experience in radio required—just an enthusiastic attitude and a willingness to pitch in!
- Become a member CHIRP needs more than just birdseed to run the station. Show your support by becoming a member today!
- Share your story What does CHIRP Radio mean to you? Let us know and we may feature your story in future materials!
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Annie Clark Edition
Today we pay tribute to a rising contemporary talent who has earned the increased attention she has been getting — Ms. Annie Clark a/k/a St. Vincent. Clark got her start in Polyphonic Spree and then went on to join Sufjan Stevens’ touring band before striking out on her own. Instantly, she garnered comparisons to Kate Bush, and while that’s certainly valid in some respects, with each album she has further honed and developed a distinctive style around her cool vocals, her melodic abilities, the textures of her tunes and her great guitar playing. Her third and most recent album cracked the Billboard Top 20. Meanwhile, she also found time to collaborate with David Byrne on an album. Let’s pay tribute to Ms. Clark by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.