Chicago Police Dept. Anonymous Text Message to Tip Line

Click HERE to download the PDF.

History of NY Punk Rock in 8 minutes by Jeffrey Lewis

Zelienople / Joe Grimm / Michael Vallera at Mvsevm

9.5.09 @ Mvsevm
1626 North California, 2nd floor Chicago, IL


9pm - Michael Vallera
10pm - Joe Grimm
11pm - Zelienople


FREE. BYOB.

Formerly called "Green Bicycle Organization," this will be the opening night for this art space

YOUSSOU N'DOUR in Chicago with director in person!

• Join the director of YOUSSOU N'DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE for a post-film Q & A this Friday and Saturday! details below


SHOWTIMES FOR AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3

YOUSSOU N'DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE

"A beautiful meditation on faith, Islam and music." —The Huffington Post
"Critic's Pick!" —New York Magazine

Senegalese pop sensation Youssou N'dour has spent the last 20 years in the spotlight as a world-renowned musician and the iconic representative "voice of Africa." At the height of his career, Youssou became frustrated by the negative perception of his Muslim faith and composed Egypt, a deeply spiritual album dedicated to a more tolerant view of Islam. The album's brave musical message was wholeheartedly embraced by Western audiences but ignited serious religious controversy in his homeland of Senegal. more info...

Starts Friday: Weekdays 5:00, 7:20*, 9:40; Sa/Su 2:30, 5:00, 7:20*, 9:40

*  Director Chai Vasarhelyi in person for a post-film Q & A after the 7:20 shows Friday and Saturday!

RIP Ellie Greenwich

In the early 1960's there was a major lull of rock n' roll (well, in America) between the explosion of the genre in the 50's and the British invasion. The one sliver of hope that was keeping rock and roll together during this time was the Girl Groups. Don't tell me that there isn't one girl group song you don't like, if there is then there is something wrong with you.

Behind these bad ass singers were also bad ass women songwriters: Carole King and Ellie Greenwich. Sadly, Ellie past away of a heart attack yesterday.

Greenwich along with her then-husband Jeff Barry and producer Phil Spector wrote many hits rote "Be My Baby" and "Baby, I Love You" for the Ronettes, "Then He Kissed Me" and "Da Doo Ron Ron" for the Crystals, "Chapel of Love" for the Dixie Cups, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love, and "River Deep, Mountain High" for Ike and Tina Turner. The duo also teamed with another great girl-group producer, George "Shadow" Morton, to create "Leader of the Pack" for the Shangri-Las. Holy Crap!

At this time when many women were still at home, this woman created some of the best songs of the last century. I still get chills whenever I hear "Be My Baby"

Ellie, Rest In Peace.

Go on European Vacation with The Bitter Tears

Ever wanted to go on tour with a rock band? Ever wanted to find out if The Bitter Tears are the same when trapped in a funny looking, tall but narrow, van as they are on stage? Here's your chance to read and heckle.

They head to Europe tomorrow for their first ever tour Over There and we can't wait to hear what the more cultured continent makes of them!

Move over Dali.

If you missed the reading about their east coast tour, it should make for a good appetizer for what's to come.

http://bittertearstour.blogspot.com

Electronics of the Future

The future holds a variety of amazing possibilities. Technology is making truths of our wildest dreams. But what about our roots? What about the superstitions of the past, without which we never would have gotten to where we are today?

Though, my question is not, "What have we done to be true to our past?". But rather, it is, "What if they were right all those years ago?" What if spirits do truly exist; living in the wood of our tables or fixing our shoes late at night? Wouldn't it be embarrassing if we spent so much time and money trying to develop new technologies which an elf or fairy could do without thinking? But we also live in a world where technology has become so integrated into our lives that we surely cannot live without it. At least, it would be a major undertaking and debilitating upheaval which would do more to disrupt our journey into tomorrow than help it.

Think more on that while I make a seeming digression.

Electronics are a very large part of this new, future driven technology which I mentioned above. Our computers, TV's, music players, and communication devices are just a few examples of these electronics; and I don't think I'm mistaken when I say that they greatly affect our lives. But what is the biggest problem with electronics? They seem to be ever evolving, forcing us to upgrade constantly. "Argh!" as a certain lady comic strip character would say. This is extremely distracting to our technologically integrated lives. Every time they unveil the new line of gadgets, we are essentially sent back to the stone age. But wait...Maybe that is just what we need. Let's take a step back, to the days of leprechauns and genies. Let's go back just for a moment. Just long enough to grab some of those "fantasies" in our hands and bring them back with us. Back to the future.

 And here is the future, as I see it:
Technology mixed with magic. Why not build electronics that not only receive software updates to better run computer programs, but also come with hardware upgrades? Electronics that "learn" how to perform better by actually having small improvements made to the physical hardware. Improvements made by the same shoe repairing elves of folklore. Just download a few gnomes, sprites, or any other mythological representative right before you go to bed; leave a few morsels of food and perhaps a shilling now and again; power off you equipment; and wake the next day to a "brand new" home theater system.

Just imagine: Smart Electronics.

 Take the strain off the metal mines and landfills, put the long neglected peoples of yore back to work, and listen to the new hot single on the Dolby Digital Surround Sound 5.1 speaker system that used to be your clock radio.

Once again, I leave the rest up to you. Go forth and make the future today!

Fruit Flies Come

From the University of Kentucky Dept. of Entomology

Fruit flies are common in homes, restaurants, supermarkets and wherever else food is allowed to rot and ferment. Adults are about 1/8 inch long and usually have red eyes. The front portion of the body is tan and the rear portion is black. Fruit flies lay their eggs near the surface of fermenting foods or other moist, organic materials. Upon emerging, the tiny larvae continue to feed near the surface of the fermenting mass. This surface-feeding characteristic of the larvae is significant in that damaged or over-ripened portions of fruits and vegetables can be cut away without having to discard the remainder for fear of retaining any developing larvae. The reproductive potential of fruit flies is enormous; given the opportunity, they will lay about 500 eggs. The entire lifecycle from egg to adult can be completed in about a week.

Red eyes. Who knew? They are not the only ones around here, I can tell you that.

I missed you saki blog.

New Califone Film & Record!

New album "All My Friends Are Funeral Singers" will be out October 6 on Dead Oceans, and Califone's Tim Rutili has also directed a film that will screen as they play during the upcoming tour. Its not the first time Califone has taken the mixed media approach to its artistic vision (Deceleration One & Two) but this will be a feature film and will be submitted to film festivals in 2010. Narrative involves a psychic whose Indiana home is haunted by members of The Bitter Tears. Or something like that, check it out here:


All My Friends Are Funeral Singers Trailer from Califone on Vimeo.
Here is the whole tour itinerary thus far, courtesy of Pitchfork:

10-10 Chicago, IL - Museum of Contemporary Art #
10-11 Chicago, IL - Museum of Contemporary Art #
10-13 Pittsburgh, PA - Andy Warhol Museum #
10-14 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom #
10-15 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
10-16 Ithaca, NY - Cornell Cinema #
10-17 Montreal, Quebec - Ukrainian Federation #
10-20 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall #
10-21 Portland, ME - Space #
10-22 Cambridge, MA - Brattle Theater #
10-23 New York, NY - 92Y Tribeca #
10-24 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
10-25 Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
10-26 Charlottesville, VA - The Southern #
10-27 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
10-28 Birmingham, AL - WorkPlay Theatre #
10-30 Bloomington, IN - Bear's Place #

# Film performance

2nd CTD DJ night @ The Burlington

Yes, it is time once more for CTD staffers to dig through their collections and give your ears an upgrade...

Monday August 31st is the date for this momentous event...and it will also be the date for my Chicago DJing debut!

To celebrate this, I am compiling a special set for the occasion, and the set list will then be posted here on the blog site, and which point the first CTD free music giveaway competition will begin!!

All you need do is mail me here at pete@ctdltd.com with what you think the link between the tracks is, and which one is the odd one out. The winner will be allowed one free album of their choosing from the immense CTD in stock catalog (no collector's sets or box sets, sorry!).
Competition will a month after the posting of the set list, where rules will be reiterated - and be warned, it is not as easy as it will first look :)

Good Luck!

A Reggae Interpretation of Kind of Blue

Upcoming album on SECRET STASH RECORDS - 9.29.09



Available through Saki and your favorite record store

Might Be Moving to Montana Soon

Working late tonight and listening to the hapless Cubs play the Padres on the WGN 720AM. And at 11:22pm, on Wed. August 19, I heard the first Christmas commercial of the year for an artificial tree company.

NEW Boris/9dw album out 8/25

E-mail Scam

Beware of this e-mail scam! The Better Business Bureau warns against these "awards" that a company called US Commerce Association is giving out claiming they recognize local businesses. See article here



The e-mail will have a subject like "Carrot Top Distribution Receives 2009 Best of Chicago Award" and ask you to follow a link to receive your award. I didn't click it but I assume that's when it takes you to a site asking you for money and provides the template press release.

Grass Console

Grass Console is a site run by Alex Cobb (Students of Decay / Taiga Remains) that has some great vegan recipes. Additional recipes can be found on the Students of Decay blog

New Ducktails album on Olde English Spelling Bee

We should have these next week!