According to 1919 Hemphill’s website guy, Al, the venue is a “volunteer-run community and performance space that follows the DIY ethic. We have shows of all kinds; a free store; a book, zine and music library; and we offer an alcohol- and smoke-free environment for all kinds of events and meetings.”
Music
What We’re Seeing Friday: Alfonso Ponticelli, The Most Dangerous Race
Inspired by Django Reinhardt, the legendary face of Gypsy jazz guitarists, Alfonso Ponticelli and his backing band create swinging numbers that hearken to the 1930s.
While he performs in Evanston, a northern neighbor of Chicago, The Most Dangerous Race will be at Chicago’s Metro, playing electronically infused rock songs with strong pop sensibilities.
What We’re Seeing Thursday: Animal Collective
Fresh off the release of its ninth studio album, experimental indie trio Animal Collective hits Chicago’s Metro, a relatively large venue that ideally won’t affect the group’s warm sound.
BPM Counter: First Five of 2009
ALARM columnist Sean-Michael Yoder shares his first five electronic picks in 2009. The list includes Aether’s “melodic” Artifacts, London’s John Tejada with Fabric 44, the pop/dance beats of Hercules and Love Affair’s self-titled album, a Lollapalooza mix, and Jaga Jazzist leader Lars Horntveth’s 37-minute song, “Kaleidoscopic.”
Lymbyc Systym on Live Adaptation and Evolution
Before their beautiful full-length debut of Love Your Abuser on Mush Records, brothers Michael and Jared Bell of Lymbyc Systym made well-crafted, keyboard-driven post-rock for their Carved by Glaciers EP.
Wu Fei Merges Traditional with Avant Garde for Mesmerizing Set in Beijing
Performing in her native city of Beijing, Chinese composer and guzheng virtuoso Wu Fei played at the Stone Boat Café on Friday in support of Yuan, a collection of chamber compositions released on Tzadik in late November.
ALARM contributor and Beijing resident Dan Fuller reports on this performance — from literally inside a stone boat.
Enter to Win Mouthpiece Prize Pack — Discography Collection Out Today!
Seminal ’90s New Jersey straight-edge hardcore group Mouthpiece has announced the release of Can’t Kill What’s Inside: The Complete Discography. To be issued by Revelation Records, the discography is a 24-track collection of the band’s entire recorded output as well as previously unreleased live tracks, exclusive photos, and a complete list of the band’s shows.
It’s pretty badass if we do say so (and we do), and thanks to our friends at Revelation, we’re able to give away not one, but two Mouthpiece prize packs to ALARM readers.
SSION’s Cody Critchloe Lists His Top 10 Women in Rock
Cody Critcheloe, frontman and creator of SSION, has a lot to talk about these days — the mockumentary he’s working on, touring, his art and music videos, his eyebrows…but in an interview with ALARM, he opted to discuss his favorite ladies in rock.
Beneath the eye liner, street jizz, and punk attitude, there lies a softer side to Critchloe. All of these women have genuinely been a source of inspiration for him.
Weekly Music News Roundup
More details emerge about the upcoming Supermachiner release; the Shrinebuilder super-group begins recording; Mono announces a new album; Orange Tulip Conspiracy announces a full US tour for May. Get these and 10 other news bit after the jump.
DIY Venue Spotlight: The Trunk Space
The Trunk Space offers Phoenix an alternative to “diets of TV, commercial radio, and mall fashion.”
This space was originally an art gallery, but its owners’ desire to promote avant-garde and non-commercial forms of expression led them to booking bands and hosting films, improv nights, circus sideshows, burlesque performances…basically, the antithesis of the mainstream culture diet.
The venue also has a full espresso bar, which makes all the experimental activity even more delicious.
What We’re Seeing Sunday: Mike Reed’s Loose Assembly
With a melody-filled free-jazz oeuvre, Chicago drummer Mike Reed gathers a host of exceptional local jazz performers for his Loose Assembly, including saxophonist Greg Ward, vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz, cellist Tomeka Reid and bassist Josh Abrams.