The Record Fair previously known as the WLUW Record Fair . . .

This year's Record Fair, now known as the "CHIRP Record Fair" to benefit the Chicago Indie Radio Project, is coming up April 12 and 13th. Check out the website for more details, or read on below:

Formerly the WLUW Record Fair, this annual vinyl extravaganza brings you two days of shopping for quality rare and used records from a slew of Midwestern vendors. The 6th annual version of this can't-miss event for Chicagoans in the know and vinyl enthusiasts from around the country takes place at Pulaski Park Fieldhouse on April 12th and 13th. In addition to even more great dealers and a wider range of entertainment, this year's fair will benefit the Chicago Independent Radio Project, working to bring a brand new community radio station to Chicago.

The CHIRP Record Fair dealers range from genre specialists with tons of rarities to generalists with something for everyone. The music selection isn't limited to vinyl – CDs, DVDs, even 8-tracks abound, and the dealer lineup is rounded out nicely by a select batch of poster artists, crafters, and independent publications. This year's expanded entertainment lineup will range from live bands and DJs to dancers and circus performers. Food, games, and general revelry make this an action packed weekend for everyone, not just vinyl collectors.

The CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights runs Saturday, April 12th from 10AM-6PM and Sunday, April 13th from 10AM-5PM. Admission is $7, or $5 with an ad or flyer. A special $25 pre-admission session from 8-10AM on Saturday allows collectors early access to the dealers, and offers unlimited access all weekend long. Pulaski Park Fieldhouse is located at 1419 W. Blackhawk.

Destroyer

Salon.com professes its undying love for Destroyer. I wish I could figure out how to share in their enthusiasm.

Under Surveillance

The latest episode of WLUW show Under Surveillance with host Kevin Fullam has an interesting discussion with professor Timothy Shary of the University of Oklahoma of youth-oriented films and music. Per Kevin, they examine the film Juno and Hollywood's depiction of teenage pregnancy over the years, as well as look at the Beatles homage Across the Universe and the relationship between music and youth-themed films during the last few decades (such as Saturday Night Fever, Breakin', and Swingers, the latter of which sparked a mini-swing music revival in the mid-90s). Listen online here.

Andrew Bird, NYT Blogger

How about this- Andrew Bird is curently blogging for the New York Times about the songwriting process as he gears up to record a new album. His first blog post is up today.

Interpol

You know Interpol has moved on to an entirely different level of fame when singer Paul Banks gets a supermodel girlfriend and it's reported by People magazine.

Helio Sequence

I must say, I'm really enjoying the new Helio Sequence album, Keep Your Eyes Ahead, their first album in almost 4 years (Ben Weikel had to take that time off to drum with Modest Mouse, after all). Much like last year's Band of Horses album, it's not ground-breaking by any means, but it's just really solid indie pop, and I keep finding myself going back to it over and over. The title track rules. Catch them at Schubas on May 15.

Jumping the Gun

Via Gaper's Block: Someone should tell TimeOut Chicago that April Fool's jokes work better on, you know, April Fools Day.

Lollapalooza tickets?

According to the Lollapalooza website, early-bird tickets are supposed to go on sale today, but it doesn't indicate when. Guess I'll just have to keep refreshing throughout the day.

UPDATE: Tickets are on sale, and holy crap, $175 is the early bird pricing? Radiohead or not, I think I'll wait until a lineup is revealed before dropping any serious cash.

DMX on Politics

The good people at amillionmonkeys point to this hilarious conversation with DMX about Obama and the current election. Quality stuff.

Back!

I've returned from CR to the awesome news that DJ Lazer is (still?) in town. Best. News. Ever.

I've got the day off to update the website (finally!), so hopefully some excellent new shows have been added since I've been gone. After being forced to listen to hours of Ben Harper and Jack Johnson by the surfers on the beach and in the hostels, I'm craving good music again. Though randomly, we were watching a surf movie one night (basically just surfing set to music) and amongst all the emo punk music that made up the soundtrack was . . . the Black Kids. Go figure.

Lazer's in Chicago

Former, sidewinding PFFR co-host, DJ Lazer, will be returning to home base Chicago for the rest of March. Rumors abound concerning his appearance at halftime during the Windy City Rollers Roller Derby Bout on March 29th.

Fresh from the dirty NY scene, he has recently stumbled through Sally Shapiro, Mr. Oizo, Kissy Kamikaze, and Even Eye shows.

Will he be going to see Justice @ the Riviera Theatre on 3/20?

Costa Rica!

Guess what? Nicole's going on vacation! I'm escaping the Chicago winter for some tropical warmth in Costa Rica, leaving tomorrow morning and returning on Sunday, March 23. Chances of blogging during this time are slim to none while I'm out learning how to surf, so check back in 10 days for a recap on the Costa Rican indie rock scene (a short recap that will surely be).

P4K Fest

Alright, I bought my 3-day pass for Pitchfork and will now see how the lineup will continue to play out before deciding which days to keep and which days to sell. So far no band has me freaking out, Pitchfork's love affair with Brandon Cox continues, and I'm still holding out for a Don't Look Back band on Friday night that will really blow my mind (c'mon Pitchfork, let's reunite the Dismemberment Plan to play Emergency and I! Please?). Time will tell.

Film and Music

This is cool: Accessible Contemporary Music presents their third annual Sound of Silent Film Festival on March 26th at 7:30pm at The Chopin Theatre, 1545 West Divison. Five modern day silent films will be shown accompanied with their scores performed live.

Didn't Califone do something like this a few years ago? Man, that would have been awesome.

Girls Rock

The Gaper's Block film critic has an interesting review of the new documentary Girls Rock (out now at the Music Box theatre), which I mentioned in an earlier post. I must see this movie now, especially as it fits perfectly into my music documentary kick.

Summer Camp Festival

Well, this is one of the weirder festival lineups I've seen in awhile. It's the Summer Camp Festival 2008 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL (outside Peoria) for three days in May. It would seem to be a typical jam festival with moe., Umphrey's McGee, O.A.R., STS9, and dozens more along those lines . . . then add the Flaming Lips, although that really isn't that out of place considering the jam kids' love for the Flaming Lips . . . but next, factor in the New Pornographers and Girl Talk for an extremely mild touch of indie rock flavor . . . and finally, Blind Melon for our 90s throwback of the fest! So random.

Jim DeRogatis vs. Ryan Schreiber

Here's a fascinating interview with Pitchfork founder Ryan Schreiber by Sun Times' critic Jim DeRogatis on his blog. Jim takes Ryan to task on Pitchfork's upcoming business ventures (2K Sports, Pitchfork.tv) and the possible ethical quandries and conflicts of interest that may be involved. Ryan says we should believe in Pitchfork's integrity because he says they have it (though makes a good point that advertising and editorial departments have always had an inherent conflict of interest, and we have to trust that they are kept separate).

Seripop Show

If you're a fan of screenprinted concert posters a la the Bird Machine and Aesthetic Apparatus, Montreal screenprinters Seripop will be in town on Friday showcasing some of their non-poster work. I bought my first concert poster from a Seripop gallery show in Madison back in college. Now I have a moratorium on buying any more because I have nowhere left to put them. Anyhoo, they proved to be an entertaining duo.

FRIDAY MARCH 7, 2008
7pm - 1am
The Co-prosperity Sphere presents:

RADAR EYES: A SURVEY OF HALLUCINOGENIC PRINTMAKING
curated by Reuben Kincaid and Seripop

Co-Prosperity Sphere
3219 S Morgan St
773-837-0145

Canadian Print duo Seripop (http://www.seripop.com) and Reuben Kincaid (http://www.reubenkincaid.blogspot.com/) are hosting a large group show representing the works of over 40 different experimental printmakers on March 7, 2008. The exhibition contains work sharing asimilar aesthetic highlighting the talents of artists and designers making hand drawn, ephemeral work. Many of the prints depict distortions of perception, altered states of awareness and geometric, sometimes hallucinogenic subject matter or compositions.

For a quick look at a few of the hundred or so works on display please visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/versionfest/sets/72057594136155224/

Show opens at 7pm

At 9pm we will ask for a $5 donation for the hot entertainment

Live music By the Chandeliers and Fought

Beer by Grolsch
Cookies Courtesy: Aron Kincaid

For more information go to: http://www.lumpen.com/CPS/future.html

Take Two

Tinymixtapes has a hilarious send-up of the Pitchfork/2K Sports marriage. I didn't realize 2K Sports was part of Take Two Interactive- I think I have it under pretty good authority that Take Two is rife with fraud and run by the mob.

New Notwist album?!?

This is some pretty exciting news. But also scary, because I could be set up for a massive disappointment.

Upcoming shows

Apparently now that Once's Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova have gotten much national attention due to winning a Grammy for "Falling Slowly", following up with a tour only made sense. Back when the movie came out they stopped by the Old Town School of Folk Music; this time around they've upgraded to the Chicago Theatre.

SWELL SEASON featuring GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IRGLOVA Chicago Theatre, 6/17, on sale 10 AM Saturday (3/1)

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Meanwhile, the 90s are back with upcoming shows from The Presidents of the United States of America (Abbey Pub, May 9) and the Proclaimers (Double Door, May 1). I thought the PofUSA had reformed with Sir Mix-a-Lot and changed their name to just "The Presidents" or something like that?

In a related, mildly amusing anecdote, I share an office at work with a Scotsman, and his cell phone ring is actually "500 Miles" by the Proclaimers. Awesome.

Pitchfork *hearts* 2K Sports

Pitchfork seemed to cross the line from reporting music news to blatant advertising with this news blurb, a plug for a video game that they selected the music for. Not only that, but said video game is sponsoring their SXSW showcase. It's amusing to think of Pitchfork being beholden to corporate interests.

New Venues

Looks like Chicago has a couple new venues coming our way. I noticed when perusing the upcoming shows that there are a few shows booked for "The Bottom Lounge" starting in May. As we all know, the original Bottom Lounge was demolished to expand the Belmont El stop back in 2005; I remember hearing rumors back then that a new Bottom Lounge would be opened in the West Loop somewhere, but haven't really heard anything since. Further research led me to Timeout Chicago's blog: looks like it is reopening on 1375 Lake Street, and the Bottom Lounge's website (currently under construction) has floor plans available for viewing.


There are also upcoming shows booked at a place called "The Mansion", which is apparently at 2408 Kedzie. Further research here led me to this website; apparently it's a Logan Square mansion that rents its space out for parties and events, and the Empty Bottle is booking a few shows there.