Jeffertitti's Nile (Father John Misty, The Entrance Band) in stock at saki!

Jeffertitti from Father John Misty (and formerly of The Entrance Band) left us with a few LPs and 7"s from his project, Jeffertitti's Nile! If you went to the Lincoln Hall show last night, they were the first opener. If you came to our in-store the night before, Jeff was the bass player (and it was his birthday)!

What better way to wish a total nice guy and awesome musician a happy birthday than to come and buy some of his tripped-out psych-pop records!? According to the band's page, these are sold out, so you won't see them in too many other shops. Come get you one today!

Happy Birthday, Jeffertitti!

 

Father John Misty at saki 10/29/12

Father John Misty at saki 10/29/12, a set on Flickr.

Were you here? An amazing set not just for an in-store.

Orwells at saki 10/29/12

Orwells at saki 10/29/12, a set on Flickr.

Matthew Friedberger in-store at Reckless Broadway Today 6pm

Hey friends

Matthew Friedberger will play a free set at Reckless Records in Lakeview (3126 N Broadway) this evening at 6pm. 

His new album Matricidal Sons of Bitches comes out today, and Reckless will giving out special sets of MSOBs trading cards. 

Epitonic saki Session: The Orwells and Father John Misty

Father John Misty (aka J. Tillman, formerly of Fleet Foxes) joined us with Chicago friends (and Creative Control alums) The Orwells on Monday, October 29 at saki for an Epitonic saki Session presented by the folks at Aquarium Drunkard!

Here are some photos from the event. Stay tuned for the full sessions on Epitonic!

 Father John Misty

The Orwells

Vinnie the Intern #21: Kendrick Lamar - good boy, m.A.A.d city

To understand the new Kendrick Lamar album, we must go back. Let's go back to 1993. Dr. Dre's The Chronic and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle had recently been released, Compton was portrayed as a dangerous city ridden by gang violence, notably the Bloods and Crips, Death Row Records was in full force, and on the East Coast, Ready to Die was being prepped for release which would ignite a rivalry still in effect today: Biggie or Tupac? At this time Kendrick Lamar was seven and growing up in Compton, listening to these albums. His mother and father left Chicago because of its gang violence, ultimately ending up in a similar situation. It is easy to see this backdrop in his newest album good boy, m.A.A.d city (m.A.A.d being an acronym for My Angel on Angel Dust). It has a retro feel but melds the traditions of current hip-hop. It states on the cover, a short film by Kendrick Lamar. With an ongoing story-line and vivid details of growing up in Compton, it proves to be one of most cohesive listens of the year.

good kid, m.A.A.d city (A Short Film by Kendrick Lamar) 

After hearing "Backseat Freestyle" and his arrogant, uncharacteristic lines like "Damn I got bitches: wifey, girlfriend, and mistress," I was a little concerned until I heard it in the context of an album, just proving sometimes context can be equivalently important as the music itself. Another concern developed after seeing a list of guest spots as well as producers such as Just Blaze and Pharell. It seemed to be the makings of a pop record. I presumed a couple bangers and big name guest spots to overcompensate for the lack of substance. This again, was thankfully not the case. The guest spots blend seamlessly into Kendrick's verses and are, in no way, intrusive to the overall story-line.

New Releases @ saki 10/30/12!

Barbaras - 2006-2008 LP
Andrew Bird - Hands of Glory CD
Cody Chesnutt - Landing On A Hundred CD
Daphni - JIAOLONG LP (Dan Snaith of Caribou!)
Matthew Friedberger - Matricidal Sons of Bitches CD
Grails/Pharaoh Overlord - Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 5 LP
Hospitality - Monkey 7"
HTRK/Tropic of Cancer - Part Time Punks Radio Sessions LP
LA Vampires with Maria Minerva - Integration LP
Menahan Street Band - The Crossing CD
Nadja - Dagdrom LP
Pedro The Lion - various reissues LP
Punks on Mars - Bad Expectations CD/LP
Rats on Rafts - Emma Sofia 7"
Soft Moon - Zeros LP
Andy Stott - Luxury Problems LP
Tracey Thorn - Tinsel & Lights CD/LP
Tortoise - TNT LP
V/A - Eccentric Soul: Omnibus (7" box set from Numero!!!)
Velvet Underground - & Nico CD (45th anniversary deluxe edition)
Wax Fang - Mirror Mirror CD/LP
John Zorn - Music & It's Double CD

Father John Misty & Orwells In-Store TODAY

Hey everyone, we've received a few calls about the free in-store with Father John Misty and The Orwells today. It is FREE and open to all, but we do have an occupancy limit and if we exceed that, we will have to stop letting people in for safety reasons! If you are concerned, we can only recommend that you show up as early as possible. We certainly hope that everyone who wants to will get in to enjoy this awesome free show with two of our favorite bands! See you around 6!

CMJ Day 4

Saturday, the last day of CMJ, might just have been my favorite. Here's why:

I reluctantly get up with still not having much sleep. After a few errands, in particular to Best Buy to get a memory card reader, (which I have yet to figure out if it is working) - I meet up with one of my favorite customers, Mike from Wuxtry in Athens, GA. His label, Happy Happy Birthday to Me is having a CMJ showcase later that evening at Public Assembly. But during the day, I meet him at MOMA with his friend Keenan.

I've visited MOMA once before, and was looking forward to revisiting some of my favorite works of modern art, such as Dali's The Persistence of Memory and Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

The most exciting featured exhibit was "Century of the Child: Growing By Design 1900-2000." Taken from MOMA's website: "This exhibition and website tracks the confluence of modern design and modern childhood, presenting individual and collective visions for the material world of children - a diverse array of ideas, practitioners and objects illustrates how progressive design has informed the physical, intellectual and emotional development of children..."  Or in other words, TOYS! It was inspiring and nostalgic to see so many imaginative toys, designs and playgrounds on display, even though it was a tad disappointing that nothing was allowed to be touched. The best part, there was even pieces of the Pee Wee's Playhouse on display:

While most have asked, Chairy did not make an appearance.

I have dinner w/ Mike and Keenan, and tell them that I will visit them later at the showcase. At this point, I am exhausted, and I think I'm starting to catch a cold. I go back to my lodging and try to take it easy for a while, all the while considering canceling my plans to go back out. With a little help from my hosts, I decide to head back out. It's the last night of CMJ, and my last big night out in New York. It would be tragic if I didn't go out (and I'm sure writing about how I stayed in and grumbled would be a lot less interesting).

I hop the G to the L and head into bustling Williamsburg on a Saturday night. As soon as I head to the street corner where the venue, Public Assembly, was located, I was halted by a line of police blocking the street. I ask one officer what was going on, and he mentioned that the street was closed for the time being, because there was a "capacity issue" at a venue next to where I want to go (apparently Ghostface was there). Seriously?! I came all the way up here to get stopped, and to not know when they were going to open up the street again. I devised a plan to mention I was in a band playing at the venue that didn't have a capacity problem, but before I could tell my fib to the other cop across the street, I noticed he was granting other not attending the ill-fated Ghostface show to enter the block.

As soon as I enter, I am greeted warmly by my friends on the HHBTM label, Orca Team and Tunabunny. I knew I made the right decision of attending, because this was by far my favorite showcase. Orca Team grooved everyone with their arctic-tinged brand of surf-rock

While Tunabunny did their anarchic version of twee-pop. It's sort of hard describe Tunabunny, except for maybe putting Pylon meets Young Marble Giants in a blender.

I hang out w/ my friends for a while, helped them load the van, and did our good-byes, which always takes longer than expected - because it's so great to see old friends and I'm not sure when I'm going to see them again.  This trip to New York was outlined with reunions with friends. If there is one thing that I have gained from working in the music industry for the past five years, are the genuine friends I've made in several corners of the world.

Carrot Top Records Around The Country

Many Carrot Top Records artists have taken it upon themselves to play shows in the next few days.
Friday, 10/26 (TONIGHT) :: The Handsome Family :: Engine House Theater :: Madrid, New Mexico
Saturday, 10/27 :: Antietam :: Hank's Saloon :: Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, 10/28 :: Wee Hairy Beasties :: The Hideout :: Chicago, IL :: 4pm Kids 8pm Adults
Monday, 10/29 :: Speck Mountain :: Township :: Chicago, IL :: w. Companion

Be Our Friends :: Your saki-Oriented Weekend Plans!

Creative Control, Santah, Brother George, Burlington, Psychic Twin, Old Style Light, Netherfriends, 1972, Everything Is Terrible!, BIGCOLOUR, 312 Urban Wheat Ale, Father John Misty, The Orwells, Aquarium Drunkard. You have 100,000 ways to show saki how much you love us this weekend. Comedy, new records, live music, costumes, the 70s. And half of these events involve gratis beverages. There is no reason not to be our friend this weekend.

Friday, October 26th :: 8pm at saki | A Very Creative Control Halloween w. Joe McAdam, Soft Candy, Chad Briggs, Rebecca O'Neal, Martin Morrow, Think Tank, Jamie Campbell, Joe Fernandez, Kris Simmons, & Angela Vela. We will also be giving away two pairs of passes to see Kyle Kinane courtesy of Up Comedy Club.

Friday, October 26th :: 9pm at Burlington | Santah You're Still A Lover Release Show II w. Psychic Twin & Brother George. Old Style Light hosted bar 9pm until it runs out. saki is releasing the vinyl version of YSAL next month! Pre-order the vinyl here. 

Saturday, October 27th :: 8pm at saki | 197BOO! Halloween Party: Netherfriends, Everything is Terrible!, BIGCOLOUR (as Can). Beverages provided by 312 Urban Wheat Ale. Attendees will be transported back 40 years to an alternate version of 1972, one seen through the eyes of the record store canon.

Monday, October 29th :: 6pm at saki | Aquarium Drunkard presents: Father John Misty and The Orwells. Free, all-ages in-store.

A Very Creative Control Halloween!

Creative Control, the ONLY variety show in Chicago hosted by Joe McAdam, is getting into the holiday spirit with an all-character showcase tomorrow night, with appearances by:

Chad Briggs
Rebecca O'Neal
Martin Morrow

Jamie Campbell
Joe Fernandez
Kris Simmons
Angela Vela

With sketches (which will probably feature characters, I'll bet!) from Think Tank!

and musical guests Soft Candy!

We'll also be giving away two pairs of passes to see Kyle Kinane, courtesy of Up Comedy Club. That dude's one of the best comics to ever crawl out of this city!

Friday, October 26th. 8pm (seriously).
Free, but bring candy and money to donate to the performers.

Join us after the show at The Burlington for Santah's Record Release show for their new EP (on saki records) 'You're Still A Lover'! Psychic Twin & Creative Control alumni, Brother George also performing! We'll be in high spirits so we'll probably buy you a drink if you ask nice... Here's the Facebook event for that: http://www.facebook.com/events/487638641255801/

That's it, right? I think that's all. Hope you can make it!

Julia and Patrick at Lounge Ax a Long Time Ago

Taken from the Facebook Lounge Ax page (which I cannot see, so...). Not sure of photographer. Thinking it's probably Heather Whinna, but if you know, please let us know.

In the background lurks Sheila Sachs.

Mali: no rhythm or reason as Islamist militants declare war on music in a country where music is akin to mineral wealth

Tinariwen threatened. Musicians have left the sonorous West African country in droves. Festival au Désert cancelled or moved on the road. While the north is now controlled by Salafists, the south is living under a military coup since March. Sad sad sad.

Tinariwen (c) Marie Planeille

The pickup halted in Kidal, the far-flung Malian desert town that is home to members of the Grammy award-winning band Tinariwen. Seven AK47-toting militiamen got out and marched to the family home of a local musician. He wasn't home, but the message delivered to his sister was chilling: "If you speak to him, tell him that if he ever shows his face in this town again, we'll cut off all the fingers he uses to play his guitar with."
The gang then removed guitars, amplifiers, speakers, microphones and a drum kit from the house, doused them with petrol, and set them ablaze. In northern Mali, religious war has been declared on music.

Even the legacy of Ali Farka Touré has been challenged in his home town.

The town of Niafunké just south west of Timbuktu, where Ali Farka Touré was mayor for many years, is now under Islamist control. "I know that if Ali were to awake from his tomb today," says Afel Bocoum, Touré's former sidekick and Albarn's partner on the 2002 Mali Music project, "he would just go straight back into it. He would die twice."

But some are fighting back with the only tools they have, music. The Festival au Désert will likely hit the road next spring for a festival tour. Some musicians have stayed in Mali, but fled south to the capital, Bamako, and they have started to raise their voices, too.

I don't give a fuck what they say," is Malian rapper Amkoullel's terse answer to a question about the Islamist music ban. "We won't let them get away with it. We don't need them to teach us how to be Muslims. We're a secular tolerant country, where everyone declares their religion according to their feeling. And in any case, they know that a Mali without music is an impossibility.

Read the full Guardian article here.

2012 Pumpkin Carving @ Weegee's Lounge!

Join us tomorrow night @ Weegee's Lounge for our annual pumpkin carving. Pumpkins & tools provided!

Bill Murray shirt by Derek Smith now available at saki!

Creative Control alumni & one of our favorite Chicago comedians, Derek Smith, dropped off some of his Bill Murray t-shirts for us to sell! So, starting NOW we're your Chicago record store of note for all your Bill Murray t-shirt shopping needs.

All T's are black with either white or grey printing. We have sizes small-2XL in various brands. This isn't sweat shop labor, Derek prints these T's himself.

Come support Chicago comedy, record stores AND Bill Murray all at the same time!

New books in stock for gift season!

We've got a slew of new books in stock that just might make perfect gifts for your giftees this time of year! Here's a couple that we highly recommend!


Michael Wertz - Dog Dreams

Maya Hayuk - Just Good Vibes

One Gear: Converting & Maintaining Single Speed & Fixed Gear Bikes

CMJ Day 3

Okay, on with Day 3:

I'm running on very little sleep. My hosts, although gracious, have a penchant for VERY LOUD alarms starting at 6 AM.  I'm starting to feel run down, but since there is so much more CMJ and New York to see, I soldier on. 

Ed from CTD recommends that I eat at Mamoun's.  Since he is a native New Yorker and has good taste in general, I take him up on it.  Plus, the location he says I should go to is near where all the CMJ panel's are located, so I really don't have any excuse. 

Much like my favorite falafel joint in Chicago, Sultan's Market, there is a "hurry up and order" vibe, and I get a little flustered. There are people piling behind me to order at the shoebox sized restaurant, but I order a standard falafel sandwich, and ask the girl next to me if I could use her hot sauce.

I obviously took this picture before I thought that dousing my falafel in the third-level-of-hell hot sauce all over it. While I nearly died from my folly, it was a damn good falafel and I ate all of it. My stomach is a tad upset and my lips feel like they've burned off - but I attend my last scheduled panel:

"Seasoned Experience in a New Music Industry" is the panel I attend - I figured it would be a good way to hopefully get some new ideas to implement for our releases at the CTD compound. Speakers included Michael Goldstone, the owner of Mom + Pop, and Richard Gotteher, the co-founder of The Orchard.  Hearing their stories were interesting, and I did receive some insight into what some successful industry owners have accomplished both at home, and overseas.

Later in the evening I check out some bands at Pete's Candy Store, an intimate venue in Williamsburg. One that stuck out in particular, was a Chicago band called Leaf Bird.  Coincidentally enough I went to high school w/ one of the band members.  It's a mixture of Sea & Cake and Tortoise, added with many, many pedals and effects. (release on Plus Tapes!)

My friends and I need to pop over to Manhattan for a little bit, and this is my first and time I venture into the city in the evening. We stop by a venue in the East Village because my friend needed to pick up a coat he left there a couple days prior.  My best friend used to live in this neighborhood nearly a decade ago, and a lot has changed since then. What used to be what I perceived as a little run down and funky, has turned into a major hub of fratty type night life.  We also head to Chinatown to visit a place called Santo's Party House - a place that controversially touts "the best sound system in New York," and is also co-owned by party king Andrew W.K.  This is also a CMJ venue, but in the evening it has been replaced by typical repetitive club beats and awkward dancing.  Two overpriced drinks (with added gratuity) later, we call it a night.

Friday night was fine, but also kind of a wash.  Saturday ends up being a much better day, and more on that in the next installment...