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Jim DeRogatis Officially Becomes First Person to Mourn Closing of The Note

The Sun Times' Jim DeRogatis may be the only person on earth who will miss The Note , the Wicker Park music club that is shutting it's doors for good.  It's odd enough that he refers to that listless, dank, horrible sounding room as a "good rock club", but the fact that he refers to it as "Wicker Park's second most prominent rock club...after the Double Door" is downright inexplicable.   Where I could probably count the number of relevant shows held at The Note on one hand, Subterranean has consistently booked the best room in Wicker Park for several years now....consistently beating out even the once-mighty Double Door for the newest and freshest bands.

Roger Waters Loses His Pig at Coachella

You can't make this stuff up.

COACHELLA ORGANIZERS OFFER $10, 000 REWARD AND FOUR FESTIVAL TICKETS FOR LIFE IN EXCHANGE FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF THE INFLATABLE PIG THAT ESCAPED DURING SUNDAY HEADLINER ROGER WATERS' SET

COACHELLA organizers are offering $10,000 and four (4) festival tickets for life in exchange for the safe return of the two-story inflatable pig that broke loose during Roger Waters' set on the final night (Sunday, April 27) of the 2008 COACHELLA VALLEY MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL. The pig escaped and floated into the desert sky just prior to the intermission between Roger Waters' back-to-back sets--marking the only back-to-back COACHELLA sets by one artist in the critically acclaimed festival's history.

Anyone with information on the lost pig, should email lostpig@coachella.com.

Prince "Creep" Video

It's only grainy cell phone video, but I'll take what I can get.

Pigs, Roger Waters Endorse Obama

At the end of Rogers Waters' set at Coachella this weekend, he unleashed the trademark flying pig over the crowd.  This time, the hovering swine bore (boar?) a political message.......the bottom of it simply read "Obama" with a checked box next to it.  Full story here.

Prince Rocks Some Radiohead at Coachella

Prince's set Saturday night at the Coachella Valley Music Festival sounds like it was a classic.  Along with plenty of his classics, he delivered a cover of Radiohead's "Creep".....let's all collectively pray that someone got it on video.  The set also featured guest spots from Morris Day, Sheila E, and a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together".  Full Report here.

Dear Mr. Kanye West: Save the Date

An 8 year old girl from Chicago is pulling out all the stops to commemorate her Holy Communion.  In addition to ample quantities of Mexican food, she's also hoping to have multi-platinum recording artist Kanye West drop by.  To that end, Olivia Morgan wrote Kanye a letter.  The only problem is she can't seem to track down his address. Here at The Ghost we're always glad to put our unsubstantial weight behind a good cause, so with that in mind, here is Olivia's letter (address redacted).

"Dear Mr. Kanye West.  My name is Olivia Morgan I am 8 years old. I live in Chicago and I'm going to make my first holy communion on may 3rd.  I know your a very busy man but do you think you can come to my party at my house? I live by midway airport at [......] Ave.  If you need a lift my mom or my Grandma can pick you up.  I am 1 of your biggest fans and i think you deserved your Grammy Awards.  Do you like Mexican food if not I can order you a pizza from Home Run Inn.  I play soccer and softball maybe you can come one day.  The name of our church/school is Our Lady of the Snows.  I have 12 year old sister who likes you too.  I have a puppy named Nacho Libre don't worry he doesn't bite.  Even if you can't come I will still be your biggest fan.  xoxooxox Olivia Zoe Guevera Morgan  p.s. please try to come"

Bottom Lounge: Not Just Yet

Chicago's own version of "Chinese Democracy", the long awaited reincarnation of the Bottom Lounge, has been put off yet again.  As of today the Pegboy show slated to be the venue's first has been cancelled, and another has been moved.  Earth, slated for April 25th, will now be playing at The Note, and Femme Fatality has been moved from The Note to South Union Arts. 

Ghost Recommends: Plants and Animals Thursday at Schubas

I first saw Montreal's Plants and Animals  at the Iceland Airwaves Festival last fall and had my proverbial socks thoroughly knocked off.  Since then their full length debut has been released, and it is every bit as good as I hoped it would be.  Critics seem to have a tough time putting a label on them, and that's largely because their songs are so diverse.  Such diversity tends to be frowned upon by industry types because its tough to market, but in this case it is a massive, glowing positive.  The band might stir up cathartic emotion with Arcade Fire-ish choruses at one moment, and the next could be nailing a percussive African guitar riff, but the common thread is that they never forget to revolve their musings around strong melodies and well constructed songs. From time to time you will see the "jam band" tag added to the description, which couldn't be further from reality.  The band, all music school grads,  knows their way around their instruments and certainly doesn't mind letting you know that, but it never veers into self-indulgence. 

Their live show is one of the more unique and well-executed offerings I've seen, and I strongly recommend anyone with a couple spare hours Thursday night drop by Schubas and check it out.  Meanwhile, take a listen to "Bye Bye Bye" the opening track off of Parc Avenue, which was released in the US last week on Secret City Records.

Listen to "Bye Bye Bye" by Plants and Animals

Velvet Revolver 90210: Slash v. Weiland

  In this age of glossed over PR releases and highly controlled communications, there is something remarkably enjoyable about watching a very public self-destruction.  While it may not be Britney-esque just yet, the acrimonious breakup of singer Scott Weiland with his band Velvet Revolver has some serious potential.

After essentially quitting on stage a couple weeks ago, a bout of squawking press releases has followed, and they just keep getting better.  According to the Huffington Post Slash was quoted as saying "This band is all about its fans and its music, and Scott Weiland isn't 100% committed to either. Among other things, his increasingly erratic on-stage behavior and personal problems have forced us to move on."

Weiland immediately shot back, "The truth of the matter is that the band had not gotten along on multiple levels for some time.... I choose to look forward to the future and performing with a group of friends I have known my entire life, people who have always had my back. This also speaks to my commitment to my music and my fellow band mates in [Stone Temple Pilots] and to the fans who I feel would much rather watch a group of musicians who enjoy being together as opposed to a handful of discontents who at one time used to call themselves a gang."

Death Cab For Cutie to Play Millenium Park

The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot  is reporting that Death Cab For Cutie will be playing the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park on June 3rd.  Tickets are reportedly going on sale on April 19th for $45 or $10 for lawn. Death Cab will add to the small list of rock bands who have played the city's crown jewel, including Wilco and The Decemberists.

What's Up This Week: Electric Six and Other Live Previews From Chicago Innerview

There are quality bands both musically and lyrically, and there are good bands that are both funny and entertaining. Then there is Electric Six, which is all of the above. The cult followers of the Dick Valentine-led 6-piece can pretty much assume that the band is either playing a live date somewhere, working on a new album, or possibly making one of their dozens of hilarious, half-hearted music videos. A fresh batch of songs from their fourth release, verbosely titled I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me from Being the Master, may not explore many new topics, but it will provide new life to aging songs from their 2003 release Fire. The "Dance Commander" replacement, "It’s Showtime," ends with Valentine’s wisdom: "Don't tell me how to do my job now / 'Cause I'm totally doin' my job now" — which Electric Six does every time they take the stage. (Appearing at Double Door on March 29) --text: Joseph O'Fallon--photo: Pieter Van Hattem

Click here for more live previews, including Acid Mothers Temple and Le Loup.

Even Dr. Pepper is Tired of Waiting for "Chinese Democracy"

The makers of Dr. Pepper are trying to cajole Axl Rose into finally releasing the famously overdue new Guns n Roses album Chinese Democracy, which has been in production for.....uh, 17 years.  The soft drink has said that if Rose drops the album in 2008, every person in the country will get a free can of Dr. Pepper.  Only two people are exempted from the offer.....former Guns players Slash and Buckethead. "It took a little patience for us to perfect Dr Pepper's special mix of 23 ingredients, so we completely understand and empathize with Axl's question for the perfect album," said a company spokesperson.

UPDATE: Axl Rose, in a comment to the New York Post's Page Six, said  "We are surprised and very happy to have the support of Dr Pepper . . . This came totally out of the blue."  But he added that "...some of Buckethead's performances are on our album, I'll share my Dr Pepper with him."

DMX Won't Be Taping Any "Rock The Vote" PSA's Anytime Soon

Thanks to the lovely folks at Perfect Face For Radio for pointing out this high-minded intervew that DMX did with XXL Magazine.  You can find the full interview, arguably as funny as the below, at the XXL site.

Are you following the presidential race?
Not at all.

You’re not? You know there’s a Black guy running, Barack Obama and then there’s Hillary Clinton.
His name is Barack?!

Barack Obama, yeah.
Barack?!

Barack.
What the fuck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?

Yeah, his dad is from Kenya.
Barack Obama?

Yeah.
What the fuck?! That ain’t no fuckin’ name, yo. That ain’t that nigga’s name. You can’t be serious. Barack Obama. Get the fuck outta here.

You’re telling me you haven’t heard about him before.
I ain’t really paying much attention.

I mean, it’s pretty big if a Black…
Wow, Barack! The nigga’s name is Barack. Barack? Nigga named Barack Obama. What the fuck, man?! Is he serious? That ain’t his fuckin’ name. Ima tell this nigga when I see him, “Stop that bullshit. Stop that bullshit” [laughs] “That ain’t your fuckin’ name.” Your momma ain’t name you no damn Barack.

So you’re not following the race. You can’t vote right?
Nope.

 

Live Preview: The Tilly and The Wall Interview

story by Jen Fischer
photo by Rob Walters

Like so many of us, Jamie Pressnall holds down one of those day job things. As she answered a recent call from Chicago Innerview, she mentioned that she had just finished work. Reflexively, I asked if she'd been in the studio. "Oh, I work at a coffee shop," she replied. Just like the rest of us who don't travel the globe with our super-cool indie band, she has to bring in the cash. When you talk to her, you get the sense that the tap-dancing percussionist from Tilly and the Wall never stops moving. And soon, she'll be on the move some more.

         

As the group nears completion of its third album to be released, like its others, on Connor Oberst's Team Love label, they are also launching a tour, which kicked off on February 28. Jamie's excited. The group hasn't toured the States in a long time, and they're ready to treat fans to some new music, including the release of a March single featuring two new songs that won't be on the upcoming album.

"Overseas is a blast, but no one really knows our band, whereas here it is much more fun. It takes it to another level because everyone is familiar with our songs," she says. "There's a shared energy when we perform and everything is much more meaningful after not being around our hometown fans."

Click here to continue reading the interview.

Tilly & the Wall :: with Capgun Coup and Skybox ::  Subterranean :: March 25.

Reflecting On Their Needs: The Cribs Interview

story by Caroline Evans
photo by Janette Beckman

Gary Jarman is talking above the din of a small but crowded shop in the English city of Leicester, where he is scrambling to finish errands before hitting the stage with his band The Cribs. "I’m buying a birthday card for my father,” he says. “I forgot to get him one. You know, there’s never enough time to get everything done while you’re on tour."

         

Jarman can speak with some authority on the subject. The Cribs, made up of Jarman and his brothers Ryan and Ross, are famous for their extended tour schedules — as they relentlessly supported 2005’s The New Fellas with barely a day off in two years. While night after night of gigging tightened the post-punk group’s live shows and solidified a devoted fanbase, it also wore the band down as stress, anxiety, and homesickness took their toll. When the time came for a hiatus, the Wakefield band decided they not only needed a break from the road, they needed a break from each other. Gary got as far away as he could and took up residence in Portland, Oregon.

Click here to read the rest of the interview.

The Cribs Play Double Door on March 25th.

What's Cooler Than Being Cool?

Owning your own motherfucking jet , like Iron Maiden does.

10 Reasons to To See British Sea Power at The Empty Bottle

story by Katie Bordner
            photo  by Eva Vermandel         

                                                                             

While interviewing Noble of British Sea Power, I created a "Top 10" list of reasons why a person might enjoy going to their show at the Empty Bottle on March 24, which is a Monday:

         

10. They have added an early show. That means if you’re a working stiff you can still go to the 8 p.m. show and not risk a day of pain on Tuesday.

         

9. The new album is titled Do You Like Rock Music? My guess is if you’re reading this, you’d be inclined to answer ‘yes’. If, however, you do not, Noble is of the opinion that you "must have a black soul." If you have a black soul, I guess you have other things to be worrying about.

8. The new album is not called Now That's What I Call WWII Joy Division: "People seem to think we always wear World War Two uniforms and sound like Joy Division," Noble says. "We haven't been anywhere close to that for five years now."          

7. Do You Like Rock Music? was recorded all over God’s green earth. And theory states that interesting recording stories facilitate worthwhile live shows: "We started off writing in a massive concrete water tower where we lived with 200 pigeons in squat-like conditions," Noble recalls. "Then we spent some time at home and in a partially disused military fort in Cornwall recording extra parts and noises." They finalized the album in a forest in the Czech Republic, where Noble says “we had thunderstorms, bike rides in the woods and streams…and encounters with wild boar and roe deer.”

         

6. You might learn something. Songs off the new album touch on the Great Skua (an Atlantic seabird), Big Daddy (a professional wrestler), and Polish plumbers, to name a few: "I sometimes go bird-watching and I always loved the name of the Great Skua," Noble describes. "Though this bird is a pirate of the sea and steals other birds' food. Not a nice character, but he was born that way."

         

5. They are hardcore about a good time. Take, for instance, their alterego band/performance Club Sea Power: "We used to do it once a month," Noble explains. "It would often feature foliage, beer, saucy fashion shows, live radio discussions, the 200-year-old family folk group The Copper Family, and some unhinged rock-a-thons." Now, if that isn’t motivation enough to go to the show, well then, there are still four more reasons.

         

4. You might see someone get hurt: "Phil [The Wandering Horn] received three broken teeth and 10 stitches in his jaw after jumping 12 feet off the speaker stack," Noble reports. "Woody, [the drummer], did his back in whilst sweeping his floor with a dustpan and brush."

         

3. A pretty solid rock ideology: "Rock music to us meant something life enhancing, something fantastic, intense or beautiful, something that stops you in your tracks and makes you forget everything," Noble declares.

         

2. "It'll either be gravely serious or a laugh,”  according to Noble. “Most likely you will encounter a bit of both."

1. Noble promises the one key ingredient to the best night of your life. "We are bringing an old-fashioned wrestling outfit too, so you can wear that if you want."

                   

Let the magic begin.

         

British Sea Power :: with The 1900s :: Empty Bottle :: March  24 (two shows).

South By Southwest 2008: All You Need To Know

"To the Devourer it seems as if the producer was in this chains: But it is not so, he only takes portions of existence and fancies in the whole.

But the Prolific would cease to be Prolific unless the Devourer, as a sea, received the excess of his delights.

These two classes of men are always upon earth, and they should be enemies; whoever tries to reconcile them seeks to destroy existence."

--William Blake

What's Up This Week: Capgun Coup and Other Live Previews From Chicago Innerview

Capgun Coup, the latest Omaha band to join Conor Oberst’s Team Love line-up, embodies the well-established Omaha scene that favors playful imagery sung by a chorus of voices instead of linear story-based lyricism, packs as many instruments into their multi-part songs as possible, and gets even the most stubborn arms-folded audience member to let down his guard and clap along. Capgun falls in between the more serious guitar-driven approach of Cursive and the smiley tap-dancing Tilly and the Wall (both bands that Capgun will support this spring.) The album plays like a live album, replacing stage banter with strange sampling and deteriorating instrumentation that runs continuously from song to song throughout a one-hour set. Although the debut received mediocre reviews and the album could be cut down to a brilliant 10-minute mix, it leaves plenty to anticipate as the band moves forward. (Appearing with Tilly & the Wall and Skybox at Subterranean on March 25) --text: Joseph O'Fallon

Click here for more live previews, including Boredoms and Beach House