The Coctails on MTV News 1994

Giving Away a Coctails Box

Never got an answer to this when posted 2 months ago, but we have gotten a few decent guesses, so let's run it up the flagpole yet again and see if anybody salutes:

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.

Hint #1: It wasn't Hal Russell!
Hint #2: Around the same time, the artist in questions opened on a bill for Corndolly and The Coctails.

And the answer is

Liz Phair

Sweet 16 Benefit CD Now Available

The amazing CD put together by Mark Greenberg and The Coctails is now available for sale via our mailorder site. Very few available or order now!

V/A "Happy Sweet Sixteen Carrot Top Records"
--Special, very limited edition CD made for the CTR Sweet Sixteen celebration at The Hideout September 26-27, 2008. Includes ALL EXCLUSIVE TRACKS, each with a 16 theme by nearly every band ever released by the label. Like the long weekend, all profits from the CD will be donated to The Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.

Tracks by TALL DWARFS, HANDSOME FAMILY, KATJONBAND, ANTIETAM, MEGAN REILLY, ARCHER PREWITT, BITTER TEARS, COCTAILS, David Greenberger of DUPLEX PLANET, RETSIN, NAYSAYER, PALM FABRIC ORCHESTRA (POI DOG PONDERING), SLIPSTREAM, LYS GUILLORN, and birthday phone messages from SPECK MOUNTAIN & DARLING DOWNS. Gorgeous cover art by Archer Prewitt & beautiful letterpress printing by John Upchurch. All organized by Mark Greenberg of The Coctails.

CTR Sweet 16 Recap...In Pictures!

Patrick receiving the Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Compilation

Giant and delicious carrot cake from our friends at The Hideout

Make a wish!

Best MC's ever; Carrot Top's own, Allison & Jason announcing our raffle

Carrot Toppers celebrating in style

The Bitter Tears 09/26/2008

KatJonBand 09/26/2008

Antietam 09/26/2008

The Coctails 09/26/2008

Mark Greenberg presenting the Carrot Top Sweet 16 Compilation to Patrick

Lys Guillorn 09/27/2008

Megan Reilly 09/27/2008

Megan Reilly featuring Antietam 09/27/2008

The Handsome Family 09/27/2008

The Party and The Archive

The party was a blast and if you weren't able to make it, we think you missed something very special that certainly won't happen again any time soon.

A big surprise came when The Coctails announced that they'd organized a compilation CD with a new track by almost every band who's ever been on CTR, each with a Sweet 16 theme! It's been two days and I'm still blown away by the enormous difficulty of that task—all the while managing to keep it a secret from (almost) all of us at work for the last four months. Wow.

To make it even better, we raised a big chunk of cash that still needs a full accounting. We'll post some pics, dollar figures, thanks, and thoughts after a good night's sleep.

In the meantime...

A nice short film (7.5 mins) about Record-Rama in Pittsburgh, the world's largest record collection—currently on the block and yours for only $3 million.

If you think that's high, watch the 7.5 minute video!

The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

Sweet 16 Press Links

Chicago Tribune by Greg Kot

The Weekend's Best Shows (Recommended)
Show of the Day: Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party
One of the city’s finest indie labels throws itself a birthday celebration with eight bands spread over two nights of music, including a reunion by avant-lounge pioneers the Coctails; guitar-monster Tara Key with her excellent trio, Antietam; and hardcore roots duo the Handsome Family, Friday-Saturday at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, $15; ticketweb.com.

Daily Herald (KatJonBand + Sweet 16)

As expected, a mature pulse of antiwar sentiment and relevant social concern courses throughout the diverse proceedings. Smart, sinewy, spiky and occasionally sonorous, "KatJonBand" is evidence that even while forging their own paths, sometimes punks should listen to their elders.-Jeff Pizek

KatJonBand performs with The Coctails, Antietam and The Bitter Tears as part of Carrot Top Records' Sweet 16 Party at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago. $15; proceeds benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis. (773) 227-4433.

Chicago Reader (Critic's Choice and Recommended)

Coctails, Antietam, KatJonBand, Bitter Tears
When: Fri., Sept. 26, 9 p.m.
Phone: 773-227-4433 or 866-468-3401
Price: $15

-There isn’t much new to say about Chicago’s beloved Coctails. Dressed in their trademark skinny suits, the quartet spent the late 80s and early 90s paying goofy, endearing tribute to every type of evening-out music, from jazz, exotica, and Rat Pack crooning to British Invasion pop. After the band’s 1995 farewell show at the Lounge Ax, John Upchurch, Barry Phipps, Mark Greenberg, and Archer Prewitt all went on to other things, but they’ve remained on call. Since their first reunion show in 2000—a joyous, generous, tightly executed set to bid the Lounge Ax adieu—they’ve been sporadically coming back together, as though at the flash of some indie Bat Signal, and each time they’ve created another were-you-there scene milestone. Today the Coctails headline the first night of Carrot Top Records’ Sweet 16 Party, one of the year’s best unsung festivals; former Chicagoans the Handsome Family headline tomorrow. Proceeds go to the Accelerated Cure Project, a multiple-sclerosis research organization. —Monica Kendrick

Chicago Sun-Times Blog by Jim DeRogatis

--Carrot Top Records, one of Chicago's least-hyped but most consistently excellent independent labels, celebrates its Sweet 16 birthday this weekend with two shows to benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Friday's lineup includes the Coctails, Antietam, the katjonband (with Jon Langford Katerina Ex of the Ex) and the Bitter Tears, while Saturday's features the Handsome Family, Megan Reilly, Speck Mountain and Lys Guillorn. Both shows start at 9 p.m., and tickets are $15.00 per night via www.Ticketweb.com.

Time Out Chicago

--Low-key local indie label Carrot Top celebrates its 16th anniversary in style with a bevy of its favorite players. Idiosyncratic lounge act the Coctails reunite for a rare one-off, while indie mainstay Tara Key unleashes her inner guitar goddess with the revered trio Antietam. Longtime friends Jon Langford and Katherina Ex of—you guessed it—the Ex open as the KatJonBand following a set by the Bitter Tears. Profits from tonight's show will be donated to the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.

CTR Sweet 16 Filled with Presents for YOU!!

In order to raise a HUGE amount of money for the Accelerated Cure Project at Carrot Top Records' Sweet 16 Party this weekend at The Hideout, we have gathered an amazing, never-ending group of generous donations from our favorite people and places. Tickets to the bash are still available here.

Come celebrate with us and you can come home with one, or MORE of these fabulous prizes...

• Wine tasting for you and all your friends @ Cellar Rat Wine
• The Coctails - 12 inch action figure set courtesy of PRESSPOP Inc. in Japan
  
• 6 tickets and private opera box for Lucinda Williams @ Riviera 10/14 courtesy of Jam Productions
• 2 Signed Wilco posters
• A Thrill Jockey gift set of books, limited edition ELPEES and rare posters
  
• Gift certificates to: Vella, Uncle Dan's and Ruff Haus
• Tshirts from the infamous Chicago venue, Lounge Ax
• Summersweet garden consultation
• 10 tickets to Roller Derby bout at UIC on 10/25 thanks to WCR
• Beginning Pilates Package from Balance Health & Wellness
• Artwork and Dog Book from Emily Flake
• The Coctails gift set including: "Let's Enjoy..." 10" EP, Book of Images and tote bag
• A special gift package from Second City
• Bloodshot Records gift set including a signed Andre Williams poster, CDs, tshirts and a DVD
• Pairs of concert ticket for upcoming shows at Epiphany, The Hideout, Metro, Lake Shore Theater and Schuba's

Intrigued yet?!

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors for their contributions!
We hope to see you this weekend.

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.)

Carrot Top Records Sweet 16 Party

We don't have the order and dates yet, and we're still hoping to rope in another surprise or two to add to the fun, but after a lot of discussion we can now confirm the following:

Fri Sept 26 and Sat Sept 27 The Hideout Chicago featuring
The Handsome Family
Antietam
The Coctails
Megan Reilly
KatJonBand (Jon Langford of The Mekons & Kat Ex of The Ex)
Speck Mountain
The Bitter Tears
Lys Guillorn

Logistics, price, and exact running order of bands are all being worked on along with several harebrained ideas. We'll post more details as soon as we get them, both at the CTR News site and at The Hideout website. We can't wait! Big, BIG ups to The Hideout for allowing us to invade for a whole weekend. Truly the most gracious club owners on the planet.