Tom Schraeder's Chicago Lovefest...literally. (Chicago I Love You Festival Sept 1 to Sept 30 at Lilly's))

I've known Tom Schraeder(of Tom Schraeder and His Ego) for about a year now. I know a few things about him. He prefers no to be called "singer songwriter. He is NOT a fan of the recently disco band Muse, and when he sees something he can do to help people out, or in general make things better here in Chicago, he does it. That's a very admirable trait. I saw him organize the music for a benefit for The Boys and Girls Club and heard artists who played it say, "sure anything for Tom". Tom thought to himself, wow there no lengthy Chicago artist based festival that allows all forms of artists to showcase their work. So what does Tom do? Tom puts on a festival himself.
 Chicago I Love You is happening this whole month of September at venerable Chicago bar/venue Lilly's  , 2515 N. Lincoln Ave,  who are equal partners with Tom for Chicago I Love You. Chicago here's your chance to show the musicians,  artists, photographers, filmmakers,writers,comedians that you really appreciate what they do. Thanks again to Tom for being both forward and up thinking on this one. He has invited Dedicated Ears to be one of the blog sponsors and I couldn't be prouder. More exact details to come, but there is a basic frame work below of this great festival

Calendar of Events - Chicago, I love you / September 1 - 30
9.1 - Launch Party featuring 10:00 Tom Schraeder / 11:00 Stoop Goodnoise / 12:00 Natureal
9.2 - Announced August 25th
9.3 - 9:00 - 92 Tales / Bailout Pictures / Y La Bamba (dj set from Portland)
9.4 - Earphoria Open Mic 7 - 9:15 / 9:30 Songwriters in the Round featuring: Derek Nelson / Julie Meckler / Gia Margaret
9.5 - 9:00 Wednesday Jazz Series w/ Corbin Andrick featuring Nick Broste Trio /
9.6 - Comedy Night: Danny Kallas / Kenny DeForest / Adam Burke / Natalie Joe / Jason Folks
musical guest - 11:00 The Microphone Misfits
9.7 - 10:00 Grandkids / 11:00 The Kickback / 12:00 Audiences / Announced August 25th
9.8 - 10:00 Sarah Holtschlag and The Crosscuts / 11:00 Mike Fleming and The Berwyn All-Stars / 9:00 Ty Maxon
9.9 - 9:00 DJ Pat Sansone / DJ Mark Panick
9.10 - 9:00 Windy City Story Slam w/ Alex Bonner
9.11 - 7:00 Earphoria Open mic / 9:30 "Songwriters in The Round" featuring Matt Kerstin (Brighton, Ma)
9.12 - 9:00 Wednesdays Jazz Series celebrating Chicago, I Love You with Corbin Andrick and guests
9.13 - 10:00 Mike Levowitz / Megan Gailey / Jamie Campbell / Liza Treger / Stan Morrow / Jason Folks - 11:15 NRG Ensemble
9.14 - 12:00 Magicks / 11:00 Moritat / 10:00 Ami Saraiya and The Outcome / 9:00 Gabe Liebowitz (Dastardly)
9.15 - 12:30 -3:00 DJ Matt Roan / 12:00 ZiPS / 11:00 The Canoes / 9:00 Nick Miller and The Neighbors / 10:00 Edgars Legzdins (Plane) / 8:00 Lilttle Light
9.16 - 10:00 Ronnie Kwasman (Margot and The Nuclear So and So's)
9.17 - 7:00 Earphoria Open Mic / 9:30 Songwriters in the Round with Gabe Liebowitz (Dastardly)
9.20 - Joe Fernandez / Anthony McBrien / Matt Riggs / Charlie Bury / Jason Folks
musical guests - 11:30 Natureal / 9:00 Weeping Willows
9.21 - 11:30 Brighton, Ma / 10:30 Bears of Blue River / 9:30 Clip Art / 8:30 Will Phalen
9.22 - 10:30 When Clouds Attack / 8:00 Rego / 12:00 Moxie Motive / 9:00 For All The Sweet Children / 11:15 Distant Cities
9.24 - 9:00 Tribute to Letterblue Productions featuring Act Naturally / Tom Schraeder / Q and A's
9.25 - 7:00 Earphoria Open Mic / Songwriters in the Round featuring Jeremy David Miller announced August 30 / 11:30 Rambos
9.27 - James Fritz / Caitlin Bergh / Bob Palos / Joe McAdams / Jason Folks
musical guest - 11:15 Bumpus
9.28 - 11:00 Glass Lux / 9:00 Glad Fanny / 12:00 Volcanoes Make Islands / 1:00 Bob Rok
9.29 - ego? Announced August 30th
9.30 - ego? Announced August 30th 

The Bears Of Blue River - Dames (album review) Released Oct 2011

Chicago's Bears Of Blue River are back again with an album full of  hummable pop songs which utilize equal parts indie and 50's era rock-n-roll. Fronted by Gavin Wilkinson, the Bears are in a raucous mood on tracks like the album opener "Boy Toy".  The first lyrics Gavin sings are, 'As I left the Polish bar, you got up and out your car you looked up at me and with your eyes you swore at me' to which Margaret Alexandra Gard replies 'You foolish little man, with your life set to plan
spend some time with me and a few tricks you will see', as two lovers who are together in spite of each person's shortcomings. The raw choruses of 'Good Spark' create a full sound, as this track has a bit harder edged guitar. My favorite track is the closer, 'Blue Ribbon', which is a track the band has had around for some time as a single of sorts. Gavin sings 'And I tried hard and I got barred and it sure was a lesson, a story I'm addressing. Undressing I need from some nice thing, a prize little jewel to prove I'm no fool.'  Dames has a really good balanced sound, and features the attention on the band and not the production.

I have seen the Bears Of Blue River play with almost every band configuration, and they are a band well worth seeing.
Support local music!

Mutts Separation Anxiety LP Release Party Thur. Aug.2 at Fireside Bowl

Fireside Bowl 2648 W. Fullerton Chicago
Thur Aug 2  just $5 ages 17+ party starts at 8pm

Come join me at the bowl for this great line-up. Mutts will be playing a bunch of songs form Separation Anxiety and you can buy a shiny see through vinyl of said album. I have seen pics of it and it looks pretty sweet. If you haven't seen Mutts before this is a perfect chance to see why everyone is talking about their live show. The rest of the bill is pretty stout as well you can check 3 of the four bands music out below. It's 17 and older so no need to try to sneak your underage friends in. Thanks to August at NoVo for the invite as well as Mike and the guys from Mutts.

From the official release: "It's a celebration of the release of Separation Anxiety, the first installment of our 2012 Double-LP project. WE (YOU) DID IT! Check it out: http://kickstart.muttsmusic.com/ All Mutts releases will be on sale for just $12 vinyl and $5 CD. Plus drink specials brought to you by Phantom Note Productions for their 1-year anniversary show. We're excited that three of our favorite bands are joining us for this special night. So come early and treat your ears."

10:30 MUTTS
9:30 HIDDEN HOSPITALS
 8:45. THE EMPTY SPACES (KC)
8.00  AUDIENCES 

Tom Schraeder and Do312 Present: Ultra Violet Petting Zoo THIS Sun. 7.1

Tom Schraeder put his money where his mouth is in organizing the music for The Ultra Violet Petting Zoo, a fundraising festival for the Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club of Chicago. Now here is a cause we can all agree on. So keep the cause mindful when you pass through the doors (suggested donation is $5 and they are taking stuffed animal donations to hang). This is a family friendly event that has a petting zoo, rides and a boatload of great bands. Tom will be debuting his electronic project, ALLOUT SHELTER. Also notable is the sub-two-minute-song punk stylings of Vortis kicking off the music lineup at 2:15. I have seen them before and I highly recommend you catch their set. I have also seen Brighton MA, Sleepy Kitty (St. Louis), and White Mystery and all played really good sets. The fest will be held at 2501 W Irving, just west of Western.

From the official festival release, "A one-day music festival featuring some of Chicago's finest bands giving back to the city we love. 'The Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club Carnival' celebrates its 65th year as the cities largest and longest running carnival. With 28 carnival rides, 12 bands and a petting zoo - the Ultra Violet Petting Zoo was created to transcend genre and to make a difference in our future. Last year 'Chicago Mixtape' and I helped raise enough money to keep 1500 kids off the streets. This year, Do312 will be curating the event with me and we're expecting, with your help, to break last years record. Our city's youth programs are being phased out and together we can all make a difference!"

Band list:

2:00 -   2:15 - Vortis
3:00 -   3:30 - Give Back
3:45 -   4:15 - Stoop Goodnoise
4:25 -   5:05 - Sleepy Kitty
5:10 -   5:30 - Microphone Misfits
5:35 -   5:55 - The Zips
6:05 -   6:50 - Brighton, MA
7:00 -   7:25 - Natureal
7:40 -   8:15 - Mazes
8:30 -   9:15 - White Mystery
9:30 - 10:00 - Allout Shelter

Hemmingbirds Beat Kitchen Show and 'Perpetuator' Video

Hemmingbirds invited me out to their show at Beat Kitchen on June 14th. They played quite a few new songs including the 'Perpetuator', which has an infectious guitar hook. Some of these new songs have some huge crunching guitars and I am excited to hear them on the album the guys are tracking now! It's fun to see a band perform over a course of years and see them just get tighter and tighter knit like these guys have. Thanks to the guys for the invite! See them play live.  I also enjoyed the set by Champaign band Dirty Feathers a nice psych pop/progressive/soul mash up, and also Brooklyn indie rockers Shake The Baron.

Here is Hemmingbirds  video for 'Perpetuator' with a straight ahead but effective story line.  The lights are a nice touch.

Pretty Little Empire at KDHX Twangfest (Blueberry Hill Thur June 8 2012)

Our family scheduled our St. Louis vacation around seeing the guys in  Pretty Little Empire play again. This time I saw them at KDHX Twangfest at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room. I hadn't been there before and it was a cool place to see a show with excellent sound. They played some new songs. (Below is a pic of Wade's set list).  They played as a five piece for a few songs as their producer extraordinaire, David Beeman (Native Sound) joined them playing a few different instruments. The guys said that David has the pulse of what the band wants to do with their sound and are looking forward to finishing up recording with David. This new sound is a more textured sound with influences of early 80's post rock as well as Latin rhythms. The guys never disappoint live, so run (don't walk!) to see them play. They always have a great turnout of enthusiastic fans that acts as a bit of an extended family. I always enjoy talking with these people.

I also caught the set by Wussy who played an early 90's quirky indie rock that really cooked when they were jamming. They had an ease on stage with one another that only comes from a band playing together for a long time. Check out both Pretty Little Empire and Wussy videos from this show below courtesy of KDHX.  Thanks to them for the great show and the video.

Pretty Little Empire Video Shoot for "All I Know" Nov. 4 2011

In the wee hours of the morning before the shoot for this video, Pretty Little Empire invaded Chicago in a vehicle with no heat and stayed the night at a friends house where neighbors were partying like rock stars. The band have jobs, so they don't get to party like rock stars all the time. Yet this video for "All I Know" is indicative of the high quality and passion that the band has to make music fit for a rock star. The band shot a video for "Now Is The Time" at the same film studio with director Justin Hayward and his crew a year prior.



I was fortunate to sit in on the shoot for "All I Know" and see how Justin Hayward and his crew worked. Having gone to film school with Hayward, it was great to catch up a bit and also pick his brain about his vision of this video. As you watch, you are seeing a very jumpy narrative that is compliments of Justin's thought to change the frames per second for which the crew also either sped up or slowed down the playback music and the band played to the adjusted speed.  The photo above is a shot I took of their recording and mixing rig. It was amazing to see the nuances in the lighting on the Red MX(pictured below). Director Hayward said of this camera, "It's what "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (David Fincher's) was shot on, so if we used the files to their full potential and blew it up that big, it would look that sharp."

Hayward also says of the shoot "We shot the video at SP Films  (Chicago) at their gracious allowing. It was all motion control which means the camera was connected to a machine that's connected to a computer, so we can program the moves to do the same thing exactly over and over. That's how we were able to cut the different actions of the band while maintaining a smooth action of the background and mikes and equipment." RED camera and the slow tracking shot were pretty amazing. In the playback monitor it all looked so professional. As I said, the band and Hayward shot a video a year ago in the upstairs space at this studio. This recent shoot was in the big studio downstairs and their control of the lighting was pretty impressive. It was as if they were painting the shadows on. Check out the photo below.

The band in between takes

I was also able to hang with the guys from the band and they told me the above story about their ride and the raging house party they endured after getting in late. The guys are hard at work on a new album on which there will be some surprises. Thanks to Justin Hayward and crew/SP film for being so nice and letting me sit in on them while they shaped this video. Also again a big thanks to Justin, Will, Wade and Evan for the invite.

The RED camera Justin Hayward spoke of above

Ariel view from upstairs lounge area.

Justin's retro mic and Evan's drums.

The painting of light