PopTodd

No Chicago?

I find out about these guys the same way that you are finding out about them: somebody told me. And, I don't think that these folks are major, necessarily, but they are damn good. Hope that you dig them like I am digging them.

I wouldn't say that I'm an expert. Not even close. But I do like to find new bands that have that favor. It just sounds so different from the usual fare that it's refreshing. And, when I find stuff like this, I like to share, just in case there is anyone else interested. Let me know if you grab any of this... what you think.

There is a treasure trove of free downloads of some pretty fantastic music from a cadre of new/current artists at these web sites: http://kikodinucci.com.br http://www.jucaramarcal.com/downloads http://www.passotorto.com.br/site/Downloads.html It's a collective or something, I think -- they all play on each other's records and they all make some pretty fantastic music.Just wanted to give the heads-up for anybody whop might be interested. I've downloaded quite a few, myself, and everything that I've picked up has been good to great. RIYL: Tom ZéBeto VillaresCaetano VelosoTimbaladaGal Costaetc.

I agree. But that isn't gonna stop me from taking advantage of the situation.

Lookie what I just found in the library Sale bin! Brand new... spine hadn't even been cracked!

Thanks for pinning the thread!

FLAVOR CHANNEL Unreleased and rare recordings from one of my favorite Chicago bands of the 1990s. They released one album, but really should have had more and should have made a bigger impact, even locally. I busted my ass trying to find these tracks, but persistence paid off and I got even more than I bargained for. A real treasure trove here. The sound is pretty all over the place, combining straight-up indie pop-rock a la The Smiths, with surf guitars, virtuosic stride piano solos, skronk jazz saxophones, and straight 4-on-the-floor punk piledriving rhythms—in any combination, on any given

I went to see a double bill: Stereolab/Tortoise at Lounge Ax. There were 2 shows that evening, as the bands took turns opening for each other for each one. I was going with a friend of mine who also loved Stereolab, but neither one of us had heard any Tortoise at that point. We were eating dinner across the street from the club and talking about how excited we were to see Stereolab for the first time. But, as we might wind up seeing them twice that evening, I really hoped that Tortoise just wouldn't suck, and I said so to my friend. He agreed with me and we talked about this topic for a couple

Possibly. I'm 46 years old. Was only there for a few shows when I was at Mizzou and SIUC. I was there in the Late 80s/Early 90s. You must remember The Unconscious, eh?

Oh, I almost forgot: I was 19 years old and working with the Teamsters, loading trailers at a Pat Metheney Band show at Ravinia Festival, outside of Chicago. It was hot as hell and we were busting our asses. Sweating up a storm. I was a big Metheney fan at the time so, as long as I had a pass for working, I thought that I would slip in to the dressing room, if I could, to meet Pat. I did. Lyle Mays, too. They were both very appreciative of the work that I was doing on that hot night and so they gave me a Corona out of their own personal stash to thank me. Now, as a fan, that was a big deal to

At one of my old band's shows, I met Larry Damore (Pegboy/Bophal Stiffs) and John Haggerty (Pegboy/Naked Raygun), because they were there to see Taggerty's roommate's band, who was sharing the bill with me. I was interviewing a band, Dillon Fence, for the music rag that I wrote for in college. We were backstage at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis, when Exene Cervenka popped her head in, and gave us all a huge smile and hello. Like she was so, so happy to see us. Really one of the sweetest things that I've ever seen. (Dillon Fence were opening for X.) The guys in the band told me that she was

You can't listen to it as a Big Star album, because it's really not a Big Star album. It's so bleak. And, while I am not trying to convince you to give it another try—you like it or you don't—I'm trying to let you know that it's okay. There is nothing power pop about it. It is, very simply, the sound of a band, and a man, falling apart. And, IMO, it's as beautiful as it is bleak. Painfully personal. Maybe that is part of why you can't get into it. Or maybe not. But yeah, it is a difficult record. I just happened to be in a really bad place when it first heard it and it spoke to me.

I just won tickets to see Cate Le Bon & Tim Presley tomorrow night at Lincoln Hall!!!