By The Smile When You Call Me That Affairs Desk

“With its roots-flecked focus and universal themes, Jakob Dylan’s recent Women + Country houses a certain familiarity, and that feeling was enhanced by his Three Legs band at the comfortably full Park West on Monday,” Althea Legaspi writes in the Tribune.
“Harmonies from Neko Case and Kelly Hogan honeyed Dylan’s vocal leads during the show as they did on record. And it was Case’s own band, some of who have released records with their own respective bands on Chicago’s Bloodshot Records, who backed Dylan onstage. Windy City associations aside, it was the shared experience of hard times and waning love sentiment that further connected Dylan’s rural soundscape to this urban setting.”
A couple of clips.
1. There’s got to be someone we can trust.

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Posted on April 29, 2010

By The Beachwood Pretty Vacant Affairs Desk

“One by one, each alone, we see the FOUR SEX PISTOLS walking along these mean London streets,” Roger Ebert wrote in his just-released never-made 1977 screenplay for the Sex Pistols.

In CLOSEUPS, each one turns while still walking and addresses THE CAMERA.
STEVE JONES
We don’t make music – we make noise.
PAUL COOK
We’re so pretty vacant and we don’t care.
SID VICIOUS
We like noise – it’s our choice.
JOHNNY ROTTEN
We want to destroy the passer-by.
STEVE JONES
Passion ends in fashion.
PAUL COOK
We’re the blank generation.
SID VICIOUS
We don’t make rock and roll – we make chaos.
JOHNNY ROTTEN
Got a problem, and the problem is you. What you gonna do?
During these closeups, the beat of the TITLE SONG has been insistently ESTABLISHING itself beneath the dialogue. Now the VOCAL begins as we:
CUT TO:
TITLES
MUSIC:
The SEX PISTOLS singing “ANARCHY IN THE U.K.”

Before the madness began, Ebert had never heard of the Sex Pistols.

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Posted on April 27, 2010

By Dr. Fretgood

The Fretgood Revolution tube amp.
1. OD 6.

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Posted on April 22, 2010

By The Beachwood Rock Saves Lives Affairs Desk

“This is the one day that all of the independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances. Festivities include performances, cook-outs, body painting, meet & greets with artists, parades, djs spinning records and on and on. Metallica officially kicked off Record Store Day at Rasputin Music in San Francisco on April 19, 2008 and Record Store Day is now celebrated the third Saturday every April.”
A few selections from participating Chicago bands and record stores from Saturday.
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1. Sweet Cobra @ Reckless (Downtown).

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Posted on April 21, 2010

By The Beachwood Madmen Across The Water Affairs Desk

Elton John played a greatest hits show last week to enthusiastic reviews. Here are some highlights (and some maddeningly brief snippets).
1A. Handing tickets out for God.

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Posted on April 20, 2010

By Matt Harness

Who says time travel is hard?
If you’re interested in classic country, just open up the record player and put the needle to Whitey Morgan and the 78s. Close your eyes and you are transported back to a time when Willie, Waylon and Merle ruled the airwaves and the honky tonks.
The fivesome from the Detroit area have one album out, Honky Tonks and Cheap Motels, and are finished with another. The big news came when the outlaw outfit signed with Bloodshot Records. The newest album most likely will be on shelves in the fall.
Whitey Morgan and the 78s aren’t blazing any new trails with their sound. They just do classic country the way you’re supposed to do it. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. And after a dozen beers, this is a band best heard live.
I recently spoke to bass player and band spokesman Jeremy Mackinder to better to get know these guys and gals. And yes, there is a Whitey Morgan. His real name is Eric Allen.

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Posted on April 15, 2010

By Matt Harness

April’s lineup of Bloodshot Records shows couldn’t get off to a better start than with Tuesday’s Dogfloydapalooza. Hosted by the Bottom Lounge, folks can listen to Andre Williams, The Goldstars, and Jon Langford and The Cashed Johnnies while sipping on brews from Dogfish Head and Three Floyds, which is based in Munster, Ind.
Here’s what else is going on this month.
Artist: Alejandro Escovedo
Venue: Old Town School of Folk Music
Date: Saturday, April 3
Sample:

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Posted on April 2, 2010