Video: Electric Six - "I Buy The Drugs"

Here's a new video for "I Buy The Drugs" the first single from the Electric Six's forthcoming album Switzerland, which is E6's third release. I have listened to an advance version of the album, which is only slightly better than last year's Senor Smoke, nothing really stands out to me. The album retains the same goofy musical stylings of front man Dick Valentine, but lacks the drive and staying power the first album had. The Electric Six will be stoping off in Chicago, when they play the Double Door on October 31 during their 'Swiss Vengence Tour' of the US. The Blue Van and Aberdeen City support.

SF or BUST!

A break in posts today, as I get ready for a week in San Francisco. I will be checking out a few shows out there with sporadic posting. Not sure what kind of access I will have out there, but will try to keep this updated. Back in Chicago October 28th, there will be much to do...

CD Review: L.E.O. - Alpacas Orgling

Channeling the spirit and production prowess of E.L.O.'s Jeff Lynne, Boston power popster Bleu. has gathered quite a crew of collaborators for L.E.O., a Travelling Wilbury's-esque supergroup including vocalist Andy Sturmer (Jellyfish), singer-guitarist Mike Viola (The Candy Butchers, That Thing You Do), producer John Fields, Tony Goddess (Papas Fritas), Matt Mahaffey (Self), vocalist/bassist Jason Scheff (Chicago), Paula Kelley, drummer Steve Gorman (Black Crowes), and the Hanson brothers (yes, that Hanson).

Starting out as an experiment in production, Alpacas Orgling was recorded utilizing all that technology has to offer, including brainstorming sessions sent via iChat between Bleu and his collaborators, much like how the first album from The Postal Service was recorded. Alpacas kicks off with a classic electronic overture of strings and melds nicely into "Goodbye Innocence", with its sweeping melodies and elegant vocals loaded with effects, which has musical qualities of The Beatles, Chicago, and of course Electric Light Orchestra. After the first few tracks the tone of the album is set up quite nicely, Alpacas Orgling is not a cover album by any means, it's more of an homage project utilizing the tools and techniques established by its predecessors. From the flowy, gentle sweetness of "Distracted" with its nods to Lennon and Magical Mystery Tour to the effect heavy "Private Line", Alpacas has hooks at every turn, classic melodies and harmonies that will entreat the intelligent power pop fan. And, there is secret track at 40:36 into the last song, which is interesting and a silly little cover of ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down", where the some of the vocals are Barry Gibb-ified and highly synthesized. Overall, a pretty great effort from a group of power pop heavyweights, definitely worth a listen.

Alpacas Orgling is available now on Cheap Lullaby Records.
You can stream the entire album on Not Lame's L.E.O. Exclusive Page

Video: Herman Dune - I Wish I Could See You Soon

Herman Dune is vying for the best album of 2007 in the US, when their forthcoming album Giant will be released stateside. From the advance tracks I've heard, H.Dune definitely has a good shot. Here's the video for the first single off of Giant, it's part anti-folk Raffi/part Swedish Adam Green. You can preview more Giant tracks on their Myspace page.

Check 'em Out: Kiss Kiss (NY)

Probably won't be making much of a buzz until their full length album, Reality Vs. The Optimist is released sometime winter of '07, Kiss Kiss, a New York 5-piece aren't afraid of experimenting with multiple genres and sounds from dream pop orchestrations offset by speedy punk/metal overlays, perfectly placed electric violin, sweet dripping melodies, dark screaming vocals, and various electronics and SFX including chainsaws and crying babies. Bizarre and beautiful, alluring and jarring all at once and often in the same song. They currently have a self-titled EP out on Eyeball Records. You can preview a few more tracks on their Myspace page.

Download: Kiss Kiss -"Machines" - (MP3)
Download: Kiss Kiss -"Says My Doctor" - (MP3)

Download: The Friday 8-Track

Friday 8-track time! Friday 8-track time! Here's an eight-er of songs from 3 bands worth checking out live this weekend! Listen and support...

Program 1:

1. Glass Candy - "Love Love Love" - (MP3)

2. Glass Candy - "Sugar and WhiteBread" - (MP3)

3. Evangelicals - "Here Comes Trouble" - (MP3)

4. Evangelicals - "Another Day" - (MP3)

(flip)

Program 2:

1. Chin Up Chin Up - "This Harness Can't Ride Anything" - (MP3)

2. Chin Up Chin Up - "We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers" - (MP3)

3. Chin Up Chin Up - "Virginia, Don't Drown" - (MP3)

4. Chin Up Chin Up - "Collide the Tide" - (MP3)

MP3's for preview purposes, support your musicians.
See a live show and buy their stuff.

Live Review: The Ettes @ Subterranean 10/03/06

After great sets by The Village Green and The Purrs, The Ettes, a young 3-piece from LA took the stage, to deliver one of the best sets of the night and restoring my faith that there is still some life left in 60's garage rock. The Ettes used to be all girl band, but now with a male bass player, maybe comparisons to The Donnas will end. The Ettes far surpass those Donnas in style and in sound. Built on a strong foundation of 60's garage rock, London beat, and classic American Punk, The Ettes aren't messing around when it comes to playing and creating music.

Lead singer/guitarist Coco, decked out in go-go boots and 60's frock, channels a hybrid of Nancy Sinatra and Holly GoLightly on her succulent vocals and Karen O. screams, bass player Jem layers on some slick basslines, and drummer Poni is out of this world. At first, I was like "oh, female drummer, that's cool", but then she started playing and I was blown away, it wasn't cutesy the way Meg White can sometime seem. Poni is seriously a damn good drummer, which really vitalizes The Ettes teeming sound. Their highly infectious set was loaded with a bunch of gems off their recent LP Shake The Dust, which was released on Sympathy For The Record Industry and was recorded & produced by Liam Watson (The Kills, The White Stripes), which is truly great album. Fans of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's and Thee Headcoatees, will definitely find something to love on Shake The Dust. I stood there mesmerized by The Ettes set, some highlights include two extremely well done covers of The Guess Who's "It's My Pride" and Reigning Sound's "We Repel Each Other" (anyone who can play a solid Greg Cartwright tune is a winner in my book). As far their original songs, "Dead & Gone", is pounding hurdy gurdy of a track that will get you screaming "yeah, yeah, yeah!" and "No More Surprises" is a no-nonsense, straight-ahead punk rock song that would make Billy B. Childish take notice. All around solid set from a band to keep an eye on and a ear to. I definitely recommended picking up Shake The Dust, you can preview more tracks on their Myspace.



Setlist:
Reputation
It Ain't You
Alley Cat
Spend My Money
It's My Pride (The Guess Who Cover)
Dead & Gone
Ghosts
Beggars
No More Surprises
We Repel Each Other (Reigning Sound Cover)

Download: The Ettes - "No More Surprises" - (MP3)

Live Review: The Village Green & The Purrs @ Subterranean 10/03/06

At 9:03PM on Tuesday (10/3), the Subterranean was looking pretty dead, in terms of audience numbers, which was sad because the three bands playing that night: The Village Green, The Purrs, and The Ettes put on a great show. I came wanting to see all three bands, but only planning a review of one, by the end of the night, I had to write about all three. So, here's Part One.

When you choose a name like The Village Green (that one would associate with the Kinks' album The Village Green Preservation Society) and even stating The Kinks as an influence, you better have the chops to back up such a bold proclamation. After seeing and hearing The Village Green play, they exceeded my expectations. Their music draws from a variety of influences from Blur, Supergrass, The Kinks, tossing in some bluesy vamps and flirting with UK ska, The Village Green sound inviting and familiar. Lead singer and songwriter, J. Nicholas Allard, who is responsible for much of The Village Green's sound, has a voice that is earthy and fine tuned. Allard's vocals were complemented quite nicely by the driving melodies and perfect Brit power pop harmonies provided by his musical accomplices. They barreled through their set of songs off their recent release Feeling The Fall and their self titled EP, without much audience interaction or breathing room between songs. I don't know if it was due to the lack of audience and they just wanted to finish their set, or if this is just how they play live. It did not diminish their sound quality at all, you would have never guessed they recently replaced two band members in June. It was that solid and they have some pretty catchy songs, which doesn't hurt.

Download: The Village Green - "When The Creepers Creep In" -(MP3)
Download: The Village Green - "Wrap Your Love Around Me" -(MP3)

Next up, was The Purrs, 4 piece from Seattle, who apparently missed their gig in MN, the night before because a low-flying owl crashed into their windshield (pesky owls!) The Purrs came together as a band the good ol' fashion way: Classified Section, which probably explains why they look like a hodge podge of characters, but when they play it all seems to make sense. They are bound by a common thread, a love for neo-garage music and drinking songs. File their sound somewhere between The Verve and Brian Jonestown Massacre, they have enough talent and ambition to put on a good live show and their music is of the catchy, feel good variety, though I feel much of it was lost on me. They sound great live, but in my opinion the best song of the night was "Get On With Your Life", with it's quivering Spanish surf guitar and slurping vocals: 'You're never gonna take me alive, so you see it's just a waste of your time...', it felt like their most finely crafted song and really stood out from the rest. Their set was comprised of songs off their forthcoming new album and the 2005 release The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of, which you can sample in it's entirety on their website.

Setlist:
Drive
Taste of Monday
She's Gone
Get On With Your Life
Junk & Jill
Loose Talk

Download: The Purrs - "Get On With Your Life" - (MP3)
Download: The Purrs - "She's Gone" - (MP3)

Video: Supersystem - White Light/White Light

Here's the new video from Supersystem, "White Light/White Light", who are set to reek rock havoc at the Beat Kitchen tonight (10/10) with their eclectic blend of electronic punk-rock, that is so intricately designed to make you dance and bang your head. Zombi opens.

Bandwidth: Aftermath

I just wanted to say "Thank You" to all the people who came out to Bandwidth on Friday night, to all the bands and DJs that kept the party going, and to the Kinetic Playground for putting us up for the night, without these important elements Bandwidth would not have been as fun or successful. So, Thank You to You All.For those of you, who missed the boat Friday night, I have to admit you missed a pretty spectacular show. However, you can still share in our experience and support the artists involved by purchasing their CD's on their respective sites, listen to their music, and attend their upcoming shows!So, please show your support. I can not stress this enough because it takes the collective energy of us, fans as well as the spirit and music of our local bands to continue to make the Chicago music scene as outstanding as it is and that's the way it should always be.
Thank you for your time and support!!!

Support these artists:
ALL CITY AFFAIRS
COLTRANE MOTION
SKYBOX
DJ LA*JESUS

and for making it happen:
FuturePerfectRadio.com
RadioFreeChicago.Org

Check 'em Out: Elanors

Elanors : Here's another Chicago four-piece to keep your eyes on, building on a strong foundation of classic romantic piano, mixed with swirling melodies, gorgeous vocals with a Jeff Buckley vibe, and beautiful chaotic bass synth and crashing guitars that find their way into the composition so smoothly. Coming off a summer tour with Husky Rescue and recently signing with Parasol Records, their upcoming record Movements (set to be released Oct. 17) is going to make a definite buzz locally and nationwide. Check out samples on their Myspace. Also, you can catch the Elanors live when they play The Note on Nov. 10, before they embark on a nationwide tour early next year.

Download: Elanors -"She Had A Dream" - (MP3)

Interview: DJ LA*Jesus

As a part of RFC's Bandwidth previews, here's a recent interview with the man with a plan himself, DJ LA*Jesus, whose increasing presence in the ever-growing live DJ/rock show arena, is due to his reputation as a true entertainer. With his saint-like skills behind the wheels of motion and his effervescent personality, DJ LA*Jesus is determined to get you on the floor and shake your body to salvation!

How did this LA*Jesus phenomenon get started?

It started Halloween '02: after resisting it for years, I'd decided to go as Jesus. I had avoided it for so long 'cause I thought it was too obvious -- I already bore a slight resemblance with the hair and beard. The "LA" was added after a dude at a party, whom I didn't know, referred to me as "LA Jesus" and it stuck. Well, folks reacted very well to it, and I had a ball, so I decided to wear the costume to some shows in the effort to get people excited and dancing. At a Flaming Lips show in May '03, one thing lead to another and I found myself dancing onstage with them. This lead to several subsequent onstage appearances and -BAH-BAM!!! it was a hit. The F'Lips even went on to include a small cameo from me in their Fearless Freaks documentary released last year.

What's your philosophy when it comes to DJ'ing?

It's my view that the folks on the dancefloor should be taken for a ride! They should be surprised and psyched to hear a song they love, and equally so when hearing a track they've never heard before. Good DJs know how to do that. I've always appreciated a DJ that challenges me when I'm on the dancefloor, so I try and throw things out there that may be risky -- I know that's what makes a good experience for me, and I can't be alone. Furthermore, I think it's very important to play what's true to yourself, to play what moves you.

How does LA*Jesus plan to save the dancefloor?

When DJ LA*J takes the stage you know it's time to really let go and lose yourself in the moment. I'm out to not only make you wanna shake what the Good Lord gave ya, I want to make you laugh, smile, feel alive. Up, Bustle and Out have a track I spin that says it all, "Dance your troubles away / every weekend you got bills to pay / BUT RIGHT NOW / Dance your troubles away..." After a recent performance, one individual commented on my myspace, "You made me see God" -- so there you go ;)

If you could make a mix cd to give to God, what 3 songs would have to be on it?

A mix for the big man... hmmm...
"I Just Want To Celebrate" - Rare Earth
"Just A Thought" - Gnarls Barkley
"Kooler Than Jesus" - My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult
(yeah, God's got a sense of humor, don't worry).

I'm sure he does. So, what's up next for LA*Jesus?
Working on remixes -- particularly a series called The Prophets of the Modern Age. The first of which, entitled "All We Have Is Now (She Moves She: 23)", places The Flaming Lips atop the beats from two different Four Tet tracks. This mix, amongst others, is available on my myspace. Also, folks can catch me live Oct 25 (w/ Flosstradamus & Mickey Avalon) at Darkroom and Oct 27 (w/Islands) at Metro.

Who are you listening to at the moment?
Aceyalone - "Lost Your Mind"...
now the wonderous Party Shuffle has selected:
"We Listen Every Day" - The Go! Team. Nice.

Ah, yes, Party Shuffle, a miracle of modern science. Thanks for your time, DJ LA*J!

For more miracles and to feel and breathe the dance gospel of DJ LA*Jesus, be sure to stick around after the live bands for his DJ set tonight at Bandwidth (around midnight?), sure to make a "believer" out of even the toughest music agnostic.

Download:
DJ*LA Jesus Mix - "Come in Out of the Corner" (MP3)

BANDWIDTH: A Launch Party Revolution

After all the drama, the time to celebrate is finally upon us. BANDWIDTH, a celebration of the eminent re-launch of RadioFreeChicago.Org and the 1-month anniversary of FuturePerfectRadio.Com, will finally be unleashed at The Kinetic Playground tomorrow night (10/6). The fantastic lineup includes: All City Affairs , Coltrane Motion, and headliner Skybox. After the live music, the DJs take control. DJ LA*Jesus will save the dancefloor with his mixing miracles and the Radio Free DJs will be spinning some of their favorites into the early AM hours.

Tickets are only $7 ($5 w/Student ID).

Doors open @ 9PM and will burn hot until 4AM!

The Kinetic Playground is located at 1113 W. Lawrence - across from the Aragon, and steps from the Lawrence Red Line stop, it don't get much easier.

Oh, did I mention there will be tons of FREE stuff? Well, we will be giving out free CDs, Samplers, Posters, and other cool swag from our sponsors Domino Records and V2 Music. And there will be an everflowing stream of $2 PBRs. Classic.

So, come out bring your friends and dance, because we are giving you the excuse!

Interview: All City Affairs

When he's not spinning records as DJ Hugsen Kissus, or pounding away the funk beats in local 3-piece Baby Teeth, Peter Andreadis is working like a busy bee on his solo project All City Affairs. With the recent release of ACA's latest LP "Bees" on Lujo Records, All City Affairs is primed to bring it's vibrant infusion of rock, funk, reggae, jazz, and hip-hop sound to a wider audience with an upcoming tour and even a new album in the works. Peter took some time in his busy schedule to answer a few questions for RadioFreeChicago.

How long have you been working on All City Affairs? Where did the name come from?

All City Affairs has been around since about 2000. It started as a band under my real name and then became a band-band, and then became just me again with no band and called All City Affairs. I wanted to call it All City Affairs, because when I was playing with live musicians we were from all over Chicago.

What are your plans for ACA?

My plans with ACA are to finish the next record and play as much as I can in the fall. I'm working on booking for out of town dates.

So, you perform primarily as a one man band, what can an audience expect from a live ACA show?

An audience can expect me to be selling the songs in a very genuine way. When I am at home working on these tunes I can get lost in them. Really get carried away and all. Now that they are finished and I am performing them in front of people, I get the same feeling. It's my time alone up there and I'm just trying to give people the same experience of what I felt in my room at conception.

What is the most difficult aspect to recording as ACA?

I would say the most difficult thing about recording ACA is that there is no one there to edit but me. I have to be conscious of what is relevant and interesting and what is just musical vomit that I've decided to throw out that day? or week? After a few listens I can usually tell if a particular song will be compelling to audiences or whether it's only compelling to me, because I've created it.

What inspires you as a songwriter?

At the core of songwriting, the artists that inspire me are Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Sly Stone, David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and Neil Young, etc. I can listen to any number of those artists' tunes and just break down and cry at how beautiful they are. As far as sounds are concerned and production, I would say Dr. Dre, the Neptunes, Timbaland, Squarepusher, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Aphex Twin. I'm very interested in rhythmic patterns and what makes things progressive and moving underneath the melodic and harmonic structure of a song. If you don't have a moving rhythm, what do you have?

You are in constant motion yourself, does that motivate your work on All City Affairs?

Yes. A dominant influence on All City Affairs is my reluctance to relax. I don't like idle time. It makes me nervous. I'd rather strum out some chords on my guitar or tap out some rhythms and walk down the street and beat-box something.

What's your favorite part of Chicago and the local music scene?

Chicago feels like a small town. You can see the same people walking down the street everyday if you wanted to stay in the same neighborhood. If you move around a lot, like I do, you see new people. But sometimes I like to visit some old haunts and see old friends. I also like the fact that there are many, many talented musicians here and the bar is always set high. I like the pressure of knowing that there is a bit of competition. I work best under pressure, I always have.

Finally, who are you listening to these days?

I'm really into the new Baby Dayliner CD called Critics Pass Away. His name is Ethan and he is from NYC. Great pop tunes, with a dance floor appeal. I'm also listening to Donald Fagen's Morph The Cat, Broadcast's Tender Buttons, The Roots' Game Theory, and Ludacris' Release Therapy. Oh, and I checked out a copy of Company from the library, which was a Stephen Sondheim musical from 1970.

Thanks for your time, Peter!

You can "send yourself to work" on the dancefloor at The Kinetic Playground this Friday, when All City Affairs takes the stage as part of BANDWIDTH: A Launch Party Revolution.

Download: All City Affairs - "Send Yourself To Work" - (MP3)
Download: All City Affairs - "Man Of Modern Times" - (MP3)

WHA? THE APOCALYPSE IS UPON US?!

Can it be? Apocalypse Hoboken returns for one night only? Growing up in Chicago, definitely had its advantages, all through high school I found myself listening to some of Chicago's finest punk bands of the time and hitting those all ages shows at the Fireside Bowl. It was the perfect atmosphere for many a tortured and angsty youth to rock out to the likes of Apocalypse Hoboken, Oblivion, Mary Tyler Morphine (also planning a reunion show), The Blue Meanies, The Smoking Popes, and the list goes on. Many of my favorites have disbanded and/or moved on to new projects, but the news of Apocalypse Hoboken re-uniting for one night only couldn't make the young punk in me any happier. Apocalypse Hoboken and Oblivion will be playing the Abbey Pub on December 29th, tickets are on sale now!

Download: Apocalypse Hoboken - "Sweet Transvestite" - (MP3)
Download: Apocalypse Hoboken - "Do You Love Me Now?" - (MP3)
Download: Apocalypse Hoboken - "The Devil Has A Pussy" - (MP3)

Video: Apocalypse Hoboken - Little Fingers

(see above post)

Check 'em Out: Skybox

SKYBOX: transplants to Chicago from Arizona via Missouri, they must have traveled by electro-disco-folk-rock covered wagon. This kitschy 5-piece play an amalgamated sound, they don't want classified, though you can have fun picking out the influences on their songs. Their debut album Arco Iris, is superb demonstration of their craft. Tim Ellis' lead vocals call to mind Devendra Banhart and Julian Casablancas, especially on "Various Kitchen Utensils", a hodge podge of Tom Waits piano tickled to life by Christian Fields, and sprinkled with wooden box beats and other burlesque textures by Anthony Hornyak. Skybox is a great band with a sound that just won't quit.

"They have shared the stage with heavyweights like The Figurines and Head of Femur and have been invited to play industry showcases at The Midwest Music Summit and the CMJ Music Marathon in November." Listen to more of their songs at purevolume and on their Myspace.

You can check out their entertaining live show for yourself, this Friday, Oct. 6 @ The Kinetic Playground, as part of Bandwidth: A Launch Party Revolution.

Download: Skybox - "Various Kitchen Utensils" - (MP3)