Chicago Magazine C Notes Blog Praises saki and CTR

First, a note from our founder:

Now, on to business.

To my, and our, great surprise, Chicago Magazine's C Notes blog posted The C Notes Power List: Music’s Hit Makers about six musical "cultural influencers" Wednesday evening. My name was included in a list of people who are doing cool things in Chicago. There's some awesome and inspired people on this list who've decided to take bold steps to help raise the musical awareness level here in the cultural capital of the middle two thirds of our nation. I was not aware that my name would be included on this list until Whet Moser @whet pointed it out on Twitter Wednesday night. Incredible company with whom to be named. Wow.

Obviously I'm very touched to be thought of in this regard and with these excellent people. Had I talked with the author of this post, I would have shared some things that got overlooked when crunching saki, CTR, and CTD down into 110 kind words. There's also a lot of hyperbole crammed into there.

Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party Update

A Benefit for The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis (contribute now!)

After many games of band Stratego, we finally have the lineups set for the big party at the end of September!

The Hideout, Chicago, IL

FRIDAY Sept 26
the coctails
antietam
katjonband (jon langford of the mekons and kat ex of the ex)
the bitter tears

SATURDAY Sept 27
the handsome family
megan reilly
speck mountain
lys guillorn

• Tickets are $15.00 for each night and are available now via Ticketweb.
• Music both nights starts at 9pm sharp, and if you haven't seen Lys or The Bitter Tears before, do yourself a favor and get there on time. Trust me on that one.
• Doors at 8:30.
• Sadly, they're both 21+ over shows. Sorry kids.
  
• Because The Hideout is so wonderfully intimate and because it is a benefit, there will be no guest list.

We have been inspired by SP20 and the kind gentlemen of Red Red Meat to donate any post-expense money we bring in at the door to the

Accelerated Cure Project

who support cutting edge MS research and aren't screwing around while doing it.

• To further this along, Carrot Top Records is paying the travel expenses to get the artists here and back.
• All of the bands have generously agreed to donate their pay for the night as well.
• The amazing and nice ladies at Green Light Go Publicity have offered to donate their time, energy, and expertise promoting these shows both locally and nationally.
• Steve W of Screwball Press has offered to donate some awesome, lovingly screenprinted posters for promotion and sale.

How cool is all this? Only one of many reasons why we love working with all of them. And big thanks to Julia and Michelle for doing the organizational heavy lifting.

And we've already snagged our first bit of press at a Time Out Chicago blog.

Wanna know more about MS?

• Here's a wonky but small computer generated video from Opexa Therapeutics that explains a lot. Even if you're not scientifically inclined, the pictures tell the story.
  
• For those who like to read, the UCSF MS Center has a lot of easy to digest material and is a great resource for both the new and knowledgeable.

We'll post further updates at the CTR News page, and return saki to her irregularly scheduled ephemera.

Friends of Red Red Meat

Nice post from awesome Chicago photographer Jim Newberry about the sudden mid-90's musical renaissance going on here, with Liz Phair, Urge Overkill and RED RED MEAT
all playing within a week of each other. A RRM reunion is huge news for many of us. Urge Overkill not so much. Been wishing them away since their second album and, like ring wraithes, it only seems to make them stronger. Working to confirm that Liz did in fact have to reunite with herself.

So, GO SEE this rare performance by RED RED MEAT at The Hideout on Thursday July 11. It's a warm up for their big slot at the SubPop 20th Anniversary Party in Seattle this weekend—a chance for them to kick off the twelve ten year old rust and see a bunch of old friends in one place. The entire SP20 festival is a huge benefit concert, and RRM have benevolently decided to donate their money to the Accelerated Cure Project, a group aggressively working on finding a cure for multiple sclerosis.

Califone grew directly out of the demise of RRM, so if you dig their wonderful craziness, time to find out the roots!

And speaking of mid-90's Chicago rock, MANTIS are also reuniting for a gig on Thursday, July 17 at Ronnie's, currently the local club most closely resembling their original stomping ground The Czar Bar, in all of it's Algrenesque glory. Rock on Gene, Dave, and Rian!

Trivia: In 1993, The Coctails held their record release party at the Division Street jazz club The Bop Shop. Who played the opening set for The Coctails at this coming out party for their genre bending, critic confounding, garage jazz album "Long Sound?" First correct answer in Comments gets a free copy of "Popcorn Box" mailed to their home. (CT employees and band members not eligible.)