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Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Gary Numan Edition
He was the first electronic rock star. Shy Gary Numan got his start playing aggressive punk inspired music with Tubeway Army, already exploring sci fi themes, along with introspective looks at loneliness and alienation. Legend has it, while recording the first Tubeway Army full length, he stumbled on a synthesizer in the studio, and by his next album, keyboards became the prominent part of his sound. The chilly yet warm tones were perfect for his paranoid anthems, and Tubeway Army’s next album yielded the amazing “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”. Numan then went solo and upped the synths on the classic Pleasure Principle, as “Cars” gave him a worldwide smash. His career has had its ups and downs since then, as he discovered he had Asperger’s Syndrome and that he influenced legions of keyboard rock acts (like Nine Inch Nails). He is still a vital artist and a must see live performer. In honor or Mr. Numan, please grab your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.
Jason Crock writesCouldn’t You Wait?: The Story of Silkworm
The particular charm of Silkworm is explained many times over the course of Couldn’t You Wait?, a documentary that was self-released by the filmmakers last month as a $5 DRM-free download. It may be producer Steve Albini who puts it most succinctly: “People that like Silkworm really like Silkworm, but they’re not like normal people, and there aren’t that many of them.” What made the band strange, and what made them a taste worth acquiring, is a subject the filmmakers have been plumbing since beginning the project in late 2006. To tell the story of how different the band’s path was, and how Chicago played a part in that story, several subjects are interviewed, and their responses are interspersed with clips of the band’s performances throughout the years.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Thursday 03/07 to Thursday 03/14
(Do you have corrections or updates for this list? Send us an e-mail.)
Thursday March 7
American Opera, Paper Thick Walls, Oblio & Arrow, Giants In La Mancha
Abbey Pub 8pm, 21+
Swearwords, The Directionals, Warm Ones
Beat Kitchen 8:30pm, 21+
Velvet Revolution
Beauty Bar 9pm 21+
Secondhand Serenade
Bottom Lounge 7pm
Kilo Wattson writesCHIRP Sponsors SXSW Showcase
For South by Southwest 2013, we’re really happy to be teaming with Side One Track One, Pop Press International, No Play Music and Sasha Lord Presents to bring you DC VS Austin on March 15. The party is free (no credentials required), and will run from noon to 6pm featuring two stages of music (with DJ Baby Alcatraz spinning in between sets). See below for the lineup and set times. Hope to see some of you there! Look for the CHIRP banner!
Inside Stage Set Times:
12:20-1:00 – Dance For The Dying
1:20-2:00 – The Bad Lovers
2:20-3:00 – Lowercase Letters
3:20-4:00 – The Sour Notes
4:20-5:00 – Dana Falconberry
5:20-6:00 – American Hearts
Outside Stage Set Times:
12:00-12:40 – Letting Up Despite Great Faults
1:00-1:40 – Bella Russia
2:00-2:40 – Kid Congo And The Pink Monkey Birds
3:00-3:40 – Hundred Visions
4:00-4:40 – Shark Week
5:00-6:00 – Ringo Deathstarr
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesDon’t Miss the 20th Anniversary of the Chicago Underground Film Festival
It’s been 20 years since a young Columbia College film student named Jay Bliznick established a film festival that would spotlight creative film and video work outside of the system that supports major Hollywood players and elitist distributor events. For him and others who share his passion for film and desire to see new, original projects, years of dedication and effort have established the Chicago Underground Film Festival as one of the most respected and anticipated annual events for cinephiles, movie buffs, and anyone else who wants to see the kind of independent, experimental, and documentary work that doesn't make it into the local metroplex.
This year’s festival will treat audiences to outstanding work from the past and present. In the words of Festival Coordinator Lori Felker, ”We've got a really energizing mix of films from the past 20 years mixed in with current in-competition films. It really gives you a sense of how broad the definition of ‘underground’ is, how weird ‘weird' can get, and interesting and talented people are.”