Today between 4-6pm on WEVL 89.9FM, you can listen to a baseball tribute show I recorded for the station last week. It’s a bit out dated because I was certain that the Cubs would make it past the first series. Silly me.
October 9, 2008
September 25, 2008
Calexico = Free Music
Calexico performing a free show at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millenium Park as a part of the World Music Festival.
September 4, 2008
Music of Bird
Last night, Andrew Bird started off Blockbuster Week, a series of free concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millennium Park.
Lovely.
September 1, 2008
The Shape of Jazz
Ornette Coleman performing at the 30th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival last night.
No matter what, the Sears Tower always seems to get in the shot!
August 13, 2008
WEVL needs your vote!
Hey there Mild Uproar readers, today is the last day to vote for Memphis Flyer’s “Best of Memphis” poll. Last year, our favorite WEVL was ranked #1 for Best Radio Station. It would be great to see them repeat!
So, if you love the station or even the fact that WEVL brought us two crazy kids together (celebrating our 2nd anniversary yesterday, I might add), then please take the online poll.
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE!!!
August 4, 2008
Working Lolla (Video Update!)
Yesterday, I finished up a three day working stint for VH1 at this year’s Lollapalooza, which had to be largest attended in the festival’s history. Luckily, most of our time was spent away from the crowds and sun, and on a platform interviewing artists. The platform was about fifty yards away from the AT&T Main Stage on the south side. So, even when we were working or waiting to work, we had a great spot for some of the main acts and even a decent position for the Myspace Stage, which was positioned on the opposite side of the AT&T Stage. And sense we had very few interviews to get, we had multiple chances to actually go out into the festival. So, basically I got paid to attend the festival.
Here is a list of some of the musicians I was able to see (working and not working): The Go! Team, Duffy, Gogol Bordello, Mates of State, Bloc Party, Stephen Malkmus, Radiohead, The Ting Tings, Dr. Dog, The Gutter Twins, MGMT, Explosions in the Sky, Okkervil River, Broken Social Scene, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, James Lidell, Lupe Fiasco, Wilco, The Whigs, Brazilian Girls, Chromeo, G. Love, Gnarls Barkley, Girl Talk, Mark Ronson, Kayne West, and NIN.
The platform from where we were stationed most of the day. Every once in awhile it got busy with the local news.
Our vantage point from the platform.
Here we are working with a reporter for Rolling Stone out in the festival.
The insanity of a Girl Talk show.
Another angle of our spot on the platform as Radiohead is about to take stage. Notice the Sears Tower on the left hand side.
The sun setting over the city.
Radiohead at night.
The Buckingham Fountain in the middle of Grant Park (remember Married… with Children).
A few more photos here.
VIDEO UPDATE:
Radiohead performing “No Surprises” for an insane amount of people.
July 29, 2008
Mr. Smog plays Millenium Park
Yesterday, Trey and I caught Bill Callahan (aka Smog) playing at the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park as part of the the Audible Architecture Concert Series. Good, good stuff.
A few songs I can recall: Rock Bottom Riser, I Feel Like the Mother of the World, Our Anniversary, Sycamore, Diamond Dancer, Bloodflow, and Cold Blooded Old Times.
July 22, 2008
Pitchfork `08
First off, let me just say we had a great time hanging out this past week in Greer’s Ferry (photos here), Memphis, and Nashville. And even though we saw a fair share of friends and family, our time was so short that we still missed out on a lot of ya. We didn’t even get a chance to see all our friends down at WEVL, which was a real shame. I was even hoping to do a live show, but it was impossible with our tight schedule. I wonder if I would have been still able to work the board?
Anyway, when we got home Friday night, we had our tickets (bought months ago) for this past weekend’s Pitchfork Music Festival. And as Apryl reminded me, we have been there since the beginning in `05.
Even though we might have been veterans, it was a hard adjustment being at the festival after a week of being on the road. In fact, we had planned on getting back last Thursday and resting the day before the festival. But when we got the chance to see friends and family in Nashville, we lost our day of rest.
On Saturday, I ventured out to the festival’s grounds at Union Park to catch the very last number from Memphis’ own Jay Reatard. In fact, I would have missed it completely if Apryl hadn’t gotten in the car and dropped me off. She was determined to get a little rest and didn’t come out until early evening. So basically, I got Jay creating a lot of noise to end of his set, followed with a middle finger to the crowd. Okay. The best part was that he was wearing an Oblivians tee shirt. Represent!
Saturday’s highlights definitely belonged to Caribou, !!!, Jarvis Cocker, and an amazing ending set from Animal Collective.
Unlike the first day which was uncharacteristically cool, Sunday was a hot one. I made sure that I got there in time to catch a favorite of mine, The Dirty Projectors. And I’m pleased to say that they didn’t disappoint. For some reason or another, I was surprised to find them so down to earth and just appreciative to be at the festival. During one of their last numbers when their microphones went out for the majority of the song, they continued on without a single complaint. When their microphones were finally brought back up towards the end of the song, the crowd gave out a loud cheer. They ended their set with their cover of Black Flag’s “Rise Up”.
After catching four more acts, I feel asleep for about an hour in the shade as Les Savy Fav rocked out in the background. Highlights on Sunday belonged to The Dirty Projectors, King Khan & the Shrines, M. Ward, and Bon Iver.
And now, a few photos (I stopped taking a lot of photos after year one when I found it impossible to get a high-quality shot from any distance other than the photographers’ pit. If you want to see better quality photos, search “Pitchfork Music Festival” on Flickr.)
Not much to see here, but on that stage with the Flying V is Jay Reatard. Do Memphis proud! Or just flip off the thousands of folks who woke up to come see you. Either one.
England’s Dizzee Rascal just before he started giving the sound engineer a hard time because his monitors weren’t loud enough. It certainly was loud enough for us out in the crowd. The highlight was when he performed his first single (from when he was 19), “Fix Up, Look Sharp”. Still his best song.
Pitchfork or Woodstock `94?
Apryl was very disappointed she missed !!! for the sole reason it meant missing the always enjoyable dance offerings of Nic Offer. Offer, who also fronted the always entertaining electronic, dance group Out Hud, has dance moves that just make you feel better about your own busta moves. But yet, he does them with so much enthusiasm that you can’t help being swept up in the fun.
The very charming and funny Jarvis Cocker.
The Dirty Projectors. I have missed several of their shows in Chicago, so I was really excited to see them. One of the few acts I stood in the hot sun for all weekend.
Another act I stood in the heat for, during at least part of the set, was King Khan & His Shrines. What a nut, but a lot of fun!
M. Ward never ceases to amaze me. Apryl got to the park just around his third song but still managed to catch the large majority of the set. One of the few acts that came on for an encore, which he used to perform his “favorite Daniel Johnston song,” which happens to be “The Story of an Artist”.
Apryl resting her head to the sweet sounds of Bon Iver.
Apryl took this one of me. Proof I was there, I think.
Acts that I listened to at least a few songs from: Jay Reatard (well, one song), Caribou, Fleet Foxes, Dizzee Rascal, The Ruby Suns, Vampire Weekend, !!!, The Hold Steady, Jarvis Cocker, Animal Collective, The Dirty Projectors, Boris, HEALTH, Apples In Stereo, King Khan & the Shrines, Les Savy Fav, The Dodo’s, M. Ward, Spiritualized, Bon Iver, Dinosaur Jr, and Spoon.
As much fun as Pitchfork was, our thoughts certainly were with everyone at Blues on the Bluff. It would have been nice if our schedules had worked out so we could have attended. Despite the sadness, I’m sure it was also a great time for all those overlooking the Mighty Mississip!
July 17, 2008
Rest Peacefully
I just got a message from Judy and Brian from WEVL that longtime WEVL programmer Cap’n Pete died (apparently due to foul play) on Wednesday. Host of Capn’ Pete’s Blues Cruise every Friday night, his on air stories were even more enjoyable than his song selections. I feel very privileged to have known him personally. He was such a generous, kind person that it’s hard to imagine that anyone would want to hurt him. I don’t think I have heard a more infectious laugh than his, and it saddens me that I will never get the chance to hear it again. His loss will certainly be felt by all that knew him on and off air. Please keep his family in your thoughts.
Click here to check out a few photos I took of our late friend.
July 8, 2008
Viva L’American Death Ray Music – Cancelled
For whatever reason, Memphis’ Viva L’American Death Ray Music had to cancel their free show at the Empty Bottle. Luckily, Headache City always put on a good show:
