29 Sep 2008, Posted by Paul M Davis in music, 5 Comments

Internet Rock Stars Don’t Exist

Why the success of Jonathan Coulton is absolutely irrelevant to the music business

17 Sep 2008, Posted by Paul M Davis in music, 0 Comments

Riot Girl

Ra Ra Riot’s Rebecca Zeller shucks off classical convention for rock abandon

11 Aug 2008, Posted by Paul M Davis in music, 1 Comments

Growing Up Emo

Boy wonder Conor Oberst struggles to mature

30 Jul 2008, Posted by Laura Pearson in music, 0 Comments

CHIRP Preps Web Station

As previously reported, the people behind the Chicago Independent Radio Project aren’t ones to sit around and just wait for great radio to happen. Although legislative decisions still need to be made about low power FM, the organization is moving ahead with a more immediate project: launching a web station.

On the CHIRP website, the industrious staff explains their plan: “As we’ve continued with our efforts to make sure we’ll eventually be able to bring a brand new low power FM signal to Chicago, we’ve always assumed that the station’s webstream would be crucial. That’s why we’ve decided to go ahead and launch a web version of CHIRP radio… We’re excited about the prospect of making CHIRP radio a reality even before we get a broadcast license.”

Slated to launch in late summer, the web station will feature “great underappreciated music across genres and eras,” while demonstrating “a true commitment to Chicago’s diverse music and arts scenes.” According to staff member Dustin Drase, the organization is currently working on programming specifics, and the group hopes to have a station launch party sometime this fall.

In another exciting development, CHIRP has found a home for the station in the historic Dank Haus building in Lincoln Square. The organization has been collecting office furniture, supplies, and computer equipment to improve the new digs, but there are still items on the CHIRP wish list. To donate equipment or funds (and stay tuned into upcoming events), visit the official website.

-Laura Pearson

23 Jul 2008, Posted by Paul M Davis in music, 0 Comments

Making Mika Miko

A throwback to a time when punk rock could conceivably change the world, the all-woman five-piece Mika Miko is unapologetically punk rock.