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The CHIRP Blog
E. Malcolm Martinez writesCHIRP Welcomes The Mountain Goats to Two Sold Out Shows at The Old Town School This Weekend!
John Darnielle, aka The Mountain Goats, will preach to an adoring choir at the Old Town School Of Folk Music (4544 N Lincoln Ave) on Saturday, April 19th and Sunday, April 20th, at 8pm. Both shows are sold out.
A prolific songwriter hailing from Claremont, California, Darnielle formed the “band” in the early nineties and was its only member for many years. Often recording directly onto a Panasonic boom box cassette recorder in his home, Darnielle’s low-fi, acoustic melodies and jarringly raw lyrics earned him a small but dedicated following. The Mountain Goat’s first official studio album, Zopilote Machine (Ajax), was released in 1994, and their following has only continued to grow. Their 14th album, Transcendental Youth (Merge Records), came out in 2012.
Darnielle will perform both Chicago shows solo, with longtime Mountain Goat Peter Hughes joining him on the second leg of the tour in June, the first time they have toured as a duo since 2007. The band’s fan base is an incredibly dedicated one, with many fans traveling far and wide to bask in the musical storytelling of The Mountain Goats. It will be an incredible weekend at the Old Town School Of Folk Music.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday Apr. 18 to Thursday Apr. 24
(Weekly Voyages is CHIRP Radio's listing of concerts in Chicago at select venues. Information about tickets can be obtained from the venues' Web sites. Do you have corrections or updates for this list? Send us an e-mail.)
Friday April 18
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Genome, Chachuba
Abbey Pub 9pm 21+
Excision
Aragon Ballroom 7:30pm, 18+
American Wolf, Boyfrndz, Pisces at the Animal Fair, Space Blood
Beat Kitchen 10pm, 21+
Kelsey Phillips writesCHIRP Night at The Whistler is Back on April 14th with The Iceberg and Cassettes on Tape!
Put your winter coats away and join CHIRP Radio on Monday, April 14th for our monthly CHIRP Night at the Whistler! This month, we have local bands The Iceberg and Cassettes on Tape, both of which are sure to bring us some reverb to go with our libations.
Local dudes Cassettes on Tape are gonna hit us with some fuzzy shoegaze, with hooks like their influences The Smiths and My Bloody Valentine. Joining them are some more hometown heroes, The Iceberg, made up of members of other Chicago bands like Absolutely Not, Swimsuit Addition, and Sybris. This group has been writing songs together for a few years now, and are definitely worth heading out on a Monday night for.
Head to the Whistler on April 14th and let these bands make your Monday less Monday-ish with the help of some excellent Whistler cocktails. Music starts at 9pm and the event is 21+. See you there!
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Stuart Adamson Edition
The legendary BBC DJ John Peel once referred to this man as “Britain’s answer to Jimi Hendrix.” I don’t know how many people shared that opinion, but there is no doubt that Stuart Adamson could do so amazing things on his guitar. Adamson got his start in the post-punk band Skids, playing fantastic songs such as “Working For the Yankee Dollar”. Once Skids ran its course, Adamson really hit the big time, fronting the powerful Big Country. Big Country may have been a victim of “amazing first single syndrome,” as “In a Big Country” was so powerful, it was tough for the band to match. But Adamson and crew put out some fine records and he continued to grow as a guitarist (and, of course, he was famous for making his guitar sound like bagpipes). Sadly, Adamson passed away in 2011. In honor of Adamson on his birthday, please grab your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.
Azure writesJoin Us For the 12th Annual CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights on Saturday April 12th!
Calling vinyl collectors and lovers of all things awesome! It’s almost time again for CHIRP’s 12th Annual Record Fair & Other Delights!
Come join the fun this Saturday, April 12th, 2014 at Chicago Journeymen Plumbers’ Union. This is your chance to browse through thousands of records from over 50 vendors from across the great Midwest. We've got labels (including Already Dead Tapes & Records, FPE Records, plus Chicago’s own Reggie’s Live) slinging merchandise for you all day…keep your eyes peeled for some good finds!
And what is the “Other Delights” part you ask? Besides the greatness of the record fair, you’ll have the chance to hear some sweet tunes for the always amazing Windy City Soul Club. You can also test your music knowledge during the Music Quiz, hosted by CHIRP’s very own Austin Harvey. Win some cool prizes during the CHIRP Raffle, too!
As if all this wasn't enough, there will be food and drinks. I repeat, food AND drinks. Chow down on some tacos from our buddies over at Big Star, and for our vegan friends we've got Upton’s Breakroom to satisfy your tummies through the day. Keep your spirits high with some coffee from good folks at Dark Matter, who will also be selling the limited edition CHIRP Radio Morning Mix Blend at the fair. For all the adults out there, Goose Island will be providing libations to keep you hydrated and feeling good.
If this sounds like something you’re into, we want to see you there! For all you enthusiasts out there who are looking for first dibs, you can hit the early bird from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for just $25. General admission to the Record Fair, beginning at 10 a.m., is only $7, or $5 with a flyer. Parking is free for all those attending the fair. Come join us for a day of music, fun, and good times!
Chicago Journeymen Plumbers’ Union is located at 1340 W. Washington Ave., Chicago, IL 60607. The Record Fair is from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Early Bird 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.). For more information regarding the fair and the full list of vendors, visit chirprecordfair.org.