Watch H.R. interview himself (below) on AOL.com. Although watching H.R. perform now with Bad Brains is powerfully disappointing, Hey Wella
Multi-Instrumentalist and Multi-Culturalist Jamie Saft Speaks with Under Your Skin
Enlisted by John Zorn, Bobby Previte, Merzbow, Dave Douglas, Bad Brains, the Beastie Boys, and dozens of other influential and notable artists, Jamie Saft is a massive talent. His work on assorted guitars and keyboards transcends countless genres, and his next solo release — Black Shabbis on Zorn’s Tzadik label — combines traditional Jewish music with metal.
DIY Venue Spotlight: Rererato
Rererato is undergoing new management, but the former managers liked to think of the events that took place as private house gatherings that just so happened to be open to the public. Art showings, music performances, figure-drawing classes and TV-show productions have all occurred in the space that used to be a Hare Krishna temple.
To follow up on the venue’s status, check its website or MySpace page. For now, click onward for our DIY spotlight.
What We’re Doing This Weekend
This week brings Winnepeg breakbeat deconstructionist Venetian Snares back to Chicago. If you can’t spot one of our editors catching him at Reggie’s Rock Club, you might find one or more watching the tight jam freak-outs of Family Order or the good-time Gypsy-rock marching tunes of Mucca Pazza.
BPM Counter: Five for Your X-mas List
This week, Sean-Michael Yoder has some new electronic jams to throw on that winter playlist. The list includes Justin Martin showing some maturity on his third release, the electro-house / UK funky / disco house of Agent 86, and a history lesson from the boys of Metro Area.
Q&A: Grails Descants on Doomy and Divergent Recording Sessions
With cinematic soundscapes, engaging Indian melodies, film-noir mystique, 1960s psychedelia, and crushing heaviness, Grails is an instrumental rarity.
Dub Trio Plays Intimate and Engaging Set
At the November 21st Dub Trio show, the crowd was thin, possibly because the band had already played Chicago several times this year. Although the initial hype may have settled, those in attendance actively anticipated the band’s third Subterranean appearance in 2008.
Weekly Burlesque: Beginning Fan Dance with Michelle L’Amour
Who wouldn’t want to learn fan-dance techniques from Michelle?
Weekly Music News Roundup
Pummeling mid-tempo rock icons The Jesus Lizard will briefly reunite; idiosyncratic rapper Busdriver performs live with a jazz band tonight; minimalist folk group Phosphorescent has recorded a disc of Willie Nelson covers. Read on.
BPM Counter: Five Hot New Releases
This week Sean-Michael Yoder brings us new music from Polish producer Marcin Czubala, Kaskade‘s OM Remixes, and the fourth album from LA-based duo I’m Not A Gun.