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The CHIRP Blog
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Richard Hawley Edition
Today is Richard Hawley’s birthday. He first came to prominence with the band the Longpigs, who had a couple British hits in the 1990s. After they fell apart, he did sessions, including playing with Pulp, finally striking out on his own in the early aughts. His second album Lowedges got him some attention with his crooning voice (with a hint of Scott Walker) and lush, romantic songs. Further albums used titles based on places in his native Sheffield as he further perfected his classic sound. And each one climbed higher on the British charts. With his last two albums he began experimented with longer songs, and on last year’s Standing On The Sky’s Edge, he added some psychedelic sounds and wound up with a #3 UK album. Hawley also got to fulfill a lifelong dream by producing Duane Eddy. He is one of the most consistent artists of the past 10 years. In Richard’s honor, please grab your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.
Kyle Whelliston writesThe First Album I Ever Stole: “Toto IV”
If you came of age in a certain time, between the death number one of the vinyl record and the shining pony magic of the digital compact disc, your first album probably came in a 3-by-4 inch plastic cassette. The music clung to a spool in the form of chromium dioxide shavings, and the recording was identified by way of the artist's name in bright red block letters. Once I had saved up eight dollars in allowance so I could buy The Go-Go's Beauty and the Beat from the Nice Price collection, my career as a music consumer was underway.
Much later, ten dollars earned from mowing lawns went towards Run-DMC's self-titled album, a purchase that my CHIRP colleague Micha Ward made as well. Both albums influenced my young adulthood greatly. But this isn't about either of those.
This is about the first album I ever stole.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday Jan. 17 to Thursday Jan. 23
(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 January 17
Leopold And His Fiction, Winnie Page & The Dirt Band
Abbey Pub 9pm, 21+
Adia & The 7 Eyes, Bittersweat & The B-Sides, Midnight Sinners, LA Volt
Beat Kitchen 9pm, 21+
The Marla Vickers Project
Elbo Room 8pm 21+
Andy Allo, Underdogs From Outerspace and more
Elbo Room 8:30pm 21+
The Hoyle Brothers
Empty Bottle 5:30pm, 21+
Ghosthouse, BAATHHAUS, White Gold, 1WO
Empty Bottle 9pm, 21+
Nikki Glaser, Tom Brady
Hideout 7pm & 10pm, 21+
Kelsey Phillips writesJoin Us for CHIRP Night at the Whistler with Sister Crystals and Today’s Hits!
Assuming you all survived the hell that was ChiBeria, grab your rain boots and head to Logan Square for CHIRP Night at the Whistler!
Every second Monday of the month, CHIRP Radio brings in some awesome bands for a night of good booze and better music. This month we have local dream-pop quartet Sister Crystals, who's debut self-titled LP dropped last summer and who have been making themselves heard at venues all over the city. Lauren Whitacre's etherial vocals paired with some solid melodies will go pretty great with some Whistler libations.
Joining them is Chicago's own James Swanberg, aka Today's Hits, who's been recording a song every day for the past…God, how long has it been now? Looks like around 1025 days at this point. If that's not reason enough to come check him out, give his catchy-as-hell garage rock tracks a listen and you'll be sold.
Meet us at the Whistler on Monday, January 13th at 9pm to check out these solid bands and drink obnoxiously good cocktails . As always, the event is 21+, and we'll be raffling off prizes. See you then!
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesWeekly Voyages: Friday Jan. 10 to Thursday Jan. 16
(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 January 10
In La Kesh, Inbound Kennedy, The Good Old Boys
Abbey Pub 9pm, 21+
Big Black Bird
Beat Kitchen 9pm, 21+
The Lost Brigade, Pitchy and the 44s, Kathy Greenholdt
Double Door 8:30pm, 21+
Sunnyside Up
Elbo Room 8pm 21+
SounsSmith, TOOFUNCHILD, Simon, Atom Poets
Elbo Room 8:30pm 21+
Martin Van Ruin, Farewell Milwaukee, Will Phalen and the Stereo Addicts
Empty Bottle 9:30pm, 21+
The Hoyle Brothers
Empty Bottle 5:30pm, 21+