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The CHIRP Blog
spikeydlux writesIn Rotation: The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club
Power pop is music built for summer: power chords and pool parties, sweet harmonies and starlit nights, bicycles and popsicles, tan lines and fruit wines. The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club knows this. The Chicago band’s new album Rock and Roll Motorcycle Dinosaur dropped this week, and its cool tunes are perfect for these hot days.
The band’s five members have been playing and recording together since 2009, making what they call “roughed-up power pop” that blends elements of glam, surf, psychedelic, pop and punk into irreverent, rowdy fun.
Hear them in rotation on CHIRP Radio, listen to the new album in full on their website , or catch them live this Saturday, July 18, at the Bottom Lounge for a record release celebration.
Big Rob writesBig Rob Kerr Goes to Mamby on the Beach: Day 2
written by Big Rob Kerr
From a Comfortable Chair:
Day 2 of Mamby on the Beach was not nearly as exciting as the first but I am not entirely sure if that was possible. Sunday made me appreciate what a special event had been put together on Oakwood Beach this weekend. The quality of the festival was able to be soaked in Sunday.
The general setup of the grounds used the venues space well. A narrow grassy approach with vendors led beyond the third stage and opened wide to the beach. The Main stage on the left to the north and the Tent to the right on the south end. The lake was ever present in the festival backdrop and but enormity and atmosphere of the Tent stage was the real gem of the Mamby production.
Sunday did not have the afternoon "Will it rain?" speculation of Saturday, nor did have French producer Klingande, canceling due to reported visa issues. The moment of day 2 of this new and exciting festival was when the mask, white glove and top-hat wearing Claptone played his track "Liquid Spirit" in the Tent. I must say raving in a giant tent on the beach with the beats from mysterious Germans was pretty great for a Sunday afternoon.
The gripes included in the Day 1 recap were still present throughout the weekend but the entire experience of the festival far eclipsed them. I can say at least for me, Mamby on the Beach was a highlight of the busy Chicago summer.
With Love,
Big Rob at the Beach
(Photos produced by Carpe Momentum Media and Da Black Swan and provided courtesy of Mamby on the Beach)
(Carpe Momentum Media)
Big Rob writesBig Rob Kerr Goes to Mamby on the Beach: Day 1
written by Big Rob Kerr
From the Red Line:
Empire of the Sun or Zhu was the biggest question of the first day at the first Mamby on the Beach festival on Oakwood Beach on Chicago's south shore.
There was a definite feeling out period needed upon arrival to Chicago's newest beach fest. Young camera-ready bodies eager to be viewed were mixed in with the venerable house music lovers which made for a great new party environment Saturday evening. Anxious excitement became dancers bliss when Felix da Housecat took over at 5 in The Tent stage.
Mamby's big day one question was answered for me as Empire of the Sun ended the night and had me melted to the same dance spot that Röyksopp had me melted to directly before them. Every track from their album Ice on the Dune hit the crowd sonically as well as visually.
Conflict is present as always with these events as I loved the second half of Saturday's lineup of entertainment immensely, but I must say I am concerned about the elitism apparent at this Mamby on the Beach. The biggest example of this being that general admission ticket patrons could buy only beers and sangria, no hard liqueur for the masses.
Mamby provided all in attendance a fantastic chance to see artistic dance music presented on a grand stage but it was troubling to see organizers divide it's attendees. A+ for the talent but a B+ for the production. That said, I cannot wait for day two.
With Love,
Big Rob at the Beach
(Photos produced by Carpe Momentum Media and Da Black Swan and provided courtesy of Mamby on the Beach)
(Da Black Swan)
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesThe Week That Was and Will Be: What’s Up at CHIRP Radio (7/13/15)
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
- Pitchfork is Here!!! Once again it's time for one of the world's premier music festivals. This Friday, July 17 through Sunday July 19. Wilco, Sleater-Kinney and Chance the Rapper headline. CHIRP Radio will also be there hosting the Record Fair and Other Delights, too. Friday single-day tickets are still available.
- CHIRP Radio presents "First Time: First Trip" at Martyr's on Wednesday July 15th
- CHIRP Radio welcomes Bonnie "Prince" Billy to the Old Town School of Folk Music on Wednesday July 15th
NEW MEDIA:
- Eddie Saygo interviews Toupee
- Story Week Festival: Literary Rock and Roll
- Stories of Philanthropy: The Urban Art Retreat
- Top Five songs about bicycles
- Firday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Ronnie James Dio Edition
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesFriday MP3 Shuffle: Happy Birthday Ronnie James Dio Edition
[photo credit: facebook.com/OfficialRonnieJamesDio]
Metal is fun. That’s one of the unspoken messages from Ronnie James Dio whenever he flashed the Sign of the Horns gesture he made standard issue in head-banger circles in the ‘70s and ‘80s. That gesture gave generations of fans their own shorthand for community and good times. A gifted vocalist whose neoclassical leanings added a new dimension to Metal’s sound and fury, Dio is best known for fronting Rainbow, Black Sabbath (following Ozzy Osbourne’s departure), and the band that was named after him. By the time of his untimely death in 2010, Dio’s reputation not just as a great singer but a representative of the genre was more than secure.
It’s only fitting that we throw horns in his honor on the occasion of his birthday. You can also play the MP3 Shuffle by sharing the first 10 songs you hear when you press the shuffle button on your MP3 player…