AVANT/CHICAGO

This is what the web can do for us. Show us a video concept of a video that was never made by a band that we love, just a little hip-hop outfit from the Chi. called the Cool Kids. Watch it here.

So much comes in, so we need to turn it out.

• The 88 to release new album, play the Cell, WGN
• Byther Smith on NPR Podcast
• Rachael Yamagata to release new album - listen here
• Ha Ha Tonka to release album, play Metro
• Chicha Libre to play World Music Fest

Urban Belly opened as a new eatery in the Logan Squarish area. They came firing out of the gate with more local press coverage then a disgruntled Sun-Times columnist's quiting. We saw it on Chicago Mag's site, HuffPost and it's surely all over the chat rooms and such. So this begs the question - why the hype?  Must have a hella PR team. If this were a indie rock band from Brooklyn, I'd have to assume suckage. But this is food, so maybe a taste is in order. Space looks cool, prices are average.

Free music. New album streams.  Enjoy. (Backyard Tire Fire, Verve, Silent Years, Delta Sprit and others)

David Byrne has designed and made 9 unique looking bike racks that sort of match the character of the spots the NYC has placed them in. (the Williamsburg one is called the Hipster and is shaped like a guitar - mainstream proof #109) A neat idea. Can we get Billy Corgan to design some bus stops or something for Chicago?

Twitteroo - Good Links

• 1 dude in 3 bands, about to blow up
• Justice needs your help for DVD
• Denny's Rockstar menu is out
• Paste looks at Next 25 bands to know
• TV on the Radio drop next single

While Burning Man fires up in the desert out west, here in the city there's lots of worthy stuff going on at the Entheon Village.

FYI - this is one of the best music sites on the web.

Obama is everywhere - the art world ain't no different. Here's the latest from Manifest Hope Gallery.

A note to young creatives - if you're struggling with which art form to concentrate on may we suggest body painting. Looks pretty expressive and the clients seem to be friendly as well. Much better then slaving over say, a keyboard.

Recently Chicago Magazine came out with the industry's yearly page filler the "best of list".  Almost all crumbling old media rags do it and occasionally there's some items on them we have to comment on.  (The Reader put there's out awhile ago and it was so bad it lacked comment - the 2 "best" blogs each had only 5 posts for '08 after the 7th month) Here's some thoughts on Chi Mag's list-

• If Lair's Club is the Chicago Magazine choice for best dance spot, Lair's Club must now be the hot spot for 30ish office drones.
• Choosing the Map  Room and Hopleaf as top beer destinations is like saying go to the MCA and Art Institute to see art - obvious and lame.
• Chicago style hot dog - Portillo's. Seriously? Does the city's best burger come from Culver's?
• The only success - Icy Demons as best Indie Band - stealthy pick.

Help Save This Historic Chicago Theater.

We had a long ass weekend over here.  Our other half was having a birthday and we went all out. We first threw a 'secret' show at the Gorilla Tango Theater that featured lots of our friends and people from our movie. It was a comedy variety show based on Jessica and it was frickin' hysterical. We pretty much packed the place and had a great experience from all ends. We headed on to Piece, a perfect spot for a large, diverse group of folks, and guzzled good beer and enjoyed the quality pizza. From there we headed to Davenports which started with a little piano playing and ended with a great Nitz and Howe Experience,a mix of lite humor and song.  The bookend days to Saturday were spent taking it easy.

The Artist's Guide to Making Money

1. Create art
2. Print guide and then...
3. ???
4. Profit!

And it's only 10 bux now.

Vonzweck Art Receptions Are Done

Got this email on Friday. Seems the very popular and notable monthly artist series will not be happening this month or ever again at the Von Zweck place. (link is terribly out of date) But he has lined up an amazing show at the Barn featuring pretty much everyone that's ever displayed at his 'gallery.'  The email is in full if you choose to continue to read and get the specific deets.

Flosstradamus crushes it with a deep mixtape for Mad Decent.  Life ain't sh** but....

 

Setlist 8/23/08 WLUW

• St. Germain - What's New
• Boombox - Stereo
• Ween - Up On A Hill
• Redwalls - Game of Love
• Hood Internet - Get Up And Get Out

Simple Google map of all traffic cameras in the Chicago area. Watch out for eyes in the sky. But...for 30 bux this product makes your plate blurred in all cameras.

Sounds inviting but is there a pool?

Twitterish Twits

• One Hit Wonder Archive
• New Cool Kids single from Mt. Dew
• 1900s release vinyl single
• Sustainable dance club on the way (like BFSC)
• Thievery Corporation to release new album

Fun With Pictures.

This guy is A) a crack baby, B) a Meth head - notice his tongue hanging out, or C) so drunk from swilly PBR he has to hang on the tent ropes to keep his balance.

LSD  making a comeback via its original purpose - mental therapy.

We haven't put much stuff here from Jessica's blog and now as good a time as any. There's this exciting video from the commercial she did for Ameri-cash, wrote a funny little tale, took Bill Coppington on a road trip and even encourage extra-marital affairs.  Well that's the kind of quirky stuff you can get at her site. Enjoy her wit and humor. We certainly do.

Don't know Iceberg Slim? Get yourself educated. He's from Chicago and there's 2 films coming out about his life featuring Ice T, Mos Def and Macy Gray. Here's some of his spoken word recordings.

Iceberg Slim
"The Fall (The Game) Part I" (mp3)

"Broadway Sam" (mp3)

"Mama Debt Part I" (mp3)

from "Reflections"

More On This Album

Twitter Dee Twitter Dum

• Former Indie buzz band apparently still around
• New Wilco songs live from Indiana
• Rest In Peace Leroi Moore
• New Sigur Ros video out
• China cuts off iTunes access

Probably the best show in the city tomorrow bar none. Listen here. Buy here.

Hood Internet + Aesop Rock and Rosebuds = chill, mid-day music

Get Up Get Out

You know we're not into Vampire Weekend. We've listened to them and seen them live and the feeling ain't there for us.  They don't suck by any means, but the hype machine is cranked up a few notches too high on these "Upper Westside" kids.  And while we might malign the effects of the promotional music biz on the web, we're giving these guys cred for using their look and sound to reach out to an unknown fanbase - the Prepster.  Which leads into -

This article by Prefix not only touches on the points of how bands are hyped and die on the web, but also how in the creative realm where eclecticness and brashness are celebrated, Vampire Weekend's mainstream style and easy-to-digest sound is in fact sort of refreshing.

Could a seeminly harmless blog post make us really want to pack up and move to LA? Well if there ever was such a post this is it. First off the picture is in fact worth a 1000 words. This is our city's celeb gossip columist showing mad hooch-thigh via a skirt not fit for someone 10 years her junior?  Second who the f**k is this guy and why is she writing about him like he's somebody? Maybe the jokes lost on us, but seriously. And never heard of the Dirty, but after visiting, we're at a loss for words. (think HotChickswithDbags, but less Dbags and more hot chicks who are in fact Dbags themselves) Lastly Carmines, in the Viagra Traingle, Liz...you lost, lost soul. Is this what Chicago has become? Could LA be this bad?

Excuse us, our lunch is coming up.

Twittering Our Way To The Top(ic)

• Neil Young announces AllState show with Wilco
• Of Montreal announce Chi show, odd album
• Studio session from NPR, Daytrotter - many hype bands
• Deerhoof album, Chicago date
• New Tv on the Radio single, album art