Indie Tales
It's tough being an independent anything these days, but the music
business is one area where the internet has somewhat democratized our
ability to acquire independent music. Fortunately YouTube.com (owned
by mega-corp Google) has been a place where music enthusiasts can
sample an album before buying it. However the New York Times is reporting the video channel will soon be restricting video plays of indie labels
who don't agree to terms of their proposed new music service. In the
new world of music money making it could be a make or break deal.
Marc Ribot, a guitarist who has played with Tom Waits and Elvis
Costello told The Times, "If we can't make enough from digital media to
pay for the record that we've just made," Mr. Ribot said, "then we can't
make another one." Stay Tuned, but maybe not on YouTube.com
WhySoWhite at MSMF, July 26
07•2014
Blue Light Special
Big kudos to the organizers at Riot Fest for considering the budgets of Chicago music fans
by coming up with a layaway plan to help manage the cost of festival tickets. By now you've
probably heard the Humboldt Park-based festival (now in its 10th year) has taken the mantle
from Lollapalooza as the "only fest that matters," with it's line-up of The Cure, Jane's
Addiction, The National, Weezer, The Flaming Lips, Social Distortion, Slayer, The
Offspring, Paul Weller and nearly 80 other bands performing over 3 days (Sept 12-14).
"Even though we always keep tickets prices as low as we can, we want make things a little
easier for you," organizers told IE. "Some of you are students or are on budgets, so now you
can buy Riot Fest tickets on layaway (insert your own K-Mart joke here)."
Ticket buyers can split up their purchase in 33% increments in July, August and September
and budget their purchase over 3 months. Details? Visit www.riotfest.org
Summer Festivus
We've all heard about the mega-festivals this summer, but some of the
"best-kept secrets" or constantly under exposed suburban-based Fests
include FitzGerald's annual American Music Festival (July 2-5), now in its
33rd year in Berwyn. Always a great value, this year's AM Fest features a
salute to the 20th anniversary of the legendary Bloodshot Records, with performances by bands from its roster over two decades, including legendary
Rank & File founder Alejandro Escovedo and the Sensitive Boys, plus The
Bottle Rockets, and Robbie Fulks. Ticket details can be found at
www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
About an hour's drive from Berwyn is the Main Street Music Festival
(July 25th and 26th) in Kankakee. Where most festivals are programmed for
a niche audience, MSMF really connects with it's community with an impressive mix of alternative, hip-hop, blues, funk, and soul. Headliners this year
include Shock G of Digital Underground, Matthew Sweet, and Lionel
Young Band, plus 18 other bands. City of Kankakee Director of Economic
Development, Bill Yohnka is especially impressed with Chicago funk band
WhySoWhite. "In our fifth year as a team running this festival we have connected with lots of acts that have come through Kankakee., none have ever
embraced the cause of our underdog city the way these guys have." Ticket
info for MSMF is available at www.merchantstreetmusicfest.com
Zombie Fuel
EDM, Inc.
Electronic music and culture are hardly a new movement. The
larger genre's roots date back decades, including its storied past in
Chicago with house music and more. Yet with the announcement
of EDM as a massive $6.2 billion dollar industry and growing, it's
no surprise that more and more industry is taking notice of what
was once an underground counter-culture.
Over the course of June 18th and 19th at the Cosmopolitan
Hotel in Las Vegas, a bevy of panels and presentations all zeroed
in on the current state of the electronic movement at this year's edition of the EDMbiz music conference. From live events to sponsorships, history to future projections, fans to festivals, the EDM
culture and business was dissected and reflected upon in minute
detail.
Dynasty Podcasts and Jaime Black was onsite for the conference
for Illinois Entertainer, and caught up with four panelists (including Jake Udell manager of Chicago's Krewella) for interviews
about all things electronic music, culture, lifestyle, and more.
Albums We Won't Be Reviewing
ROBIN THICKE
Paula (Interscope)
Rock's discography is littered with the remains of great breakup albums, Bob
Dylan's Blood On The Tracks, John Lennon's Walls And Bridges and Beck's Sea Change
come to mind as great music made from unrequited love. But don't put Robin Thicke's
Paula among great break-up albums. Why? Because it's Robin Thicke. He's no Lennon, Dylan or Beck.
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illinoisentertainer.com july
2014
Rob Zombie, Fuel Arena: July 19
Photo: Joe Gall
A Rob Zombie concert is a spectacle of spectacular proportions. The
man, and the band (including guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D and drummer Ginger Fish), puts on one helluva show. Spectators are treated to
dynamic pyrotech