That's All KidsBrandon has thoughts on the end at
his blog. We continue to be floored he pulled this great month long festival off. It was amazing. The money that was raised and the awareness for these organizations can only be matched in the fact their was some great shows and wicked-fun times. However
MusicWithMeaning presents itself next year - it's bound to be kick ass.
And In The EndWell that's it.
MusicWithMeaning7 is over. 8 bands found out (the hard way) what it takes to be in the rock biz, sort of. They will never forget the initiation HeWhoCorrupts dropped on them. It was one for the books as they say. Now it is time to reflect and give thanks. So many people helped out with this thing besides Machine Media, mad love goes out to all the raffle sponsors,
HeWhoCorrupts,
Charlie Deets, Fall of Autumn, See No Evil and countless others. To the media and volunteers that pushed things forward behind the scenes, your great. All the bands deserve credit for getting in on this for charity event. We can honestly say that in the heap of bands we saw we're positive that more then a few of them will be successful in the biz. Lastly to Brandon and Kelsey, you did it, you're not crazy - you are now Chicago Legends in our book. Thanks.
Look for a few follow up post and stay tuned for MusicWithMeaning8!
Learn How To RawkTonight at McGaw - DePaul. 8 bands get learned on live show pointers.
27 and 28 UpdatesBrandon writes about the 2
Empty Bottle shows. He raps about illegal sex, polish buffets and going deaf.
Night 27 and 28 were solid shows. If we started a music venue it would be like the Bottle. 1 more night to go.
Mighty FineOf the 3 bands we saw, it was delicious.
Fake Fictions are beautiful, like a summer time crush at 18. All City Affiars can sing...well. And the dancing ain't bad either. Canasta is gravy. Like the best sausage gravy on some buttery biscuits. If the Decemberists can do it, so can
Canasta. They filled up the tiny stage and filled up Betty's with glorious alt-pop. We left before the Pumps,
MusicWithMeaning is great, but it has worn us thin.
And We Bid Ye FarewellAfter 29 nights, 33 events, and over 100 performers, it's time for night 30, event 34 and the last 8 bands.
The final night is being set up by HeWhoCorrupts records and of course Machine Media. The spot is once again McGaw Hall at DePaul. 8 bands will play 2 rooms in an event dubbed
Efficiency Training in which bands, "will be tortured, critiqued, and possibly drenched in water balloons during and after their performance," according to
HeWhoCorrupts. Here is the skinny on some of the bands.
Wind or Ghost - Great lead voice, heavy Indie sound, expansive, rolling noise.
Chicago Thrash Ensemble - Just five dudes from chicago who like to play fast. this band features ex and current members of quite a few bands including hewhocorrupts, synnecrosis, the littleman complex, and off yourself. get into it.
6 other bands thay are young, heavy and push-the-limits. End
MWM7 in a powerful way. 5:30 McGaw corner of Fullerton and Halstead.
Sounding SaucyFirst off this blog has had much to say about Charlie Deets as of late. His show at the Bottle last night will not change that. In fact we may be talking about him for weeks to come. Bringing a electro-clash vibe and an on-stage show worth the cover,
Deets dropped a sound that really reminded us of 1994. The beats had elements of Beck, Beastie Boys and Nine Inch Nails. Something in there reminded us of Marilyn Manson and yes, Smashing Pumpkins. (sorry Deets) (man 1994 was a solid year) Deets was nothing short of acoustically blinding and the addition of video behind him was stellar.
Fetor is crazy (if they're still called that)- correction Brandon Weatherbee is crazy. His voice slices cheese like a butter knife and his on-stage stories are hilarious. His band mates kill as hard as him and together when their sound is tight, abrasively perfect.
Penthouse Sweet is Indie Rock you can bring home to mom. It was enjoyable.
Machine Media RulersI found this on Deet's/RobotDestroy
pic page. It sums up the whole
MWM7 month in a single frame. Well it sums up the energy the 2 people that run the damn thing have anyway. Just a couple days left of musical bliss.
Star-Studded ShowIf you haven't caught the buzz swarming around Thurs. nights show at Betty's Blue Star Lounge, let me be the one to drop it in front of you - THIS SHOW IS BIG.
4 of the cities hottest bands take the stage, a diverse array of styles each one and reputations definalty proceeding them. We recommend getting their a tit early cause this one might sell out. Here's a look at each band.
All City Affairs - At first glance you might think ACA is a little cheesy, but after the mash-up of styles seep into your brain and the whirling of lone-band member Peter Andreadis starts to jive with the music, you'll understand that any cheesiness is just part of the style. ACA is Andreadis' prerecorded work played as he commands your attention crooning onstage. All Cityaffairs is fun.
Fake Fictions - On the Fake Fiction's website they say they might sound like the B-52s or the Cars and we can't deny that. But we hear some surfer rock in there too, so it's generally some bubbly music that you want to swing around too and pretend you are a sophomore at some small New England Liberal Arts college dancing on the quad as this howls out someone's window.
The Pumps - Their music is a combination of riveting half-angelic/half-demonic vocals, rare and unconventional songwriting (which takes the best of keyboard driven pop and dissects it like a dead pig in biology class, only to sew it back up with its limbs in all the wrong places) and explosive live shows (which leave all the confused music snobs bloody and begging for more). (
from)
Canasta - The positive ink that has been dropped on these cats speaks for itself. Glowing praise from WXRT, PopMatters and the Onion have marked this band as a supernova about to explode. Idyllic Indie-Pop that might bring about audio comparisions to the Decemberists or Belle and Sebastian, their orchestrall-chamber-twee is nothing short of sweeping, nothing less than engulfing. Not afraid to mix in elements of ambient, country and jazz,
Canasta's sound is typical all-over-the-map Indie with precise, lusciouss lyrics. It might not be long before Spin calls this 6-piece a band to catch.
Empty Bottle Night 2Come see
Charlie Deets,
Fetor and
Penthouse Sweets. Extensive sounds, inexpensive beer. Yes!
Penthouse Sweet/ Bottle Show 2 Previewed in ReaderIt's a shame
this local quartet is reduced to begging for a label on its
MySpace page ("please someone put our goddamn record out")--its second self-released EP, See You in Bed, is loads better than most of the label-approved indie schlock that swamps my desk. Their songs have a touch of Small Faces, a dash of Guided by Voices, and more than a pinch of the Replacements--nothing you haven't heard before, but they sound rightfully proud of their glamourless glam rock, and there are startling guitar and organ bits to turn your head. Somebody out there knows how to sell this stuff. This show is part of the Music With Meaning benefit series. Fetor and Charlie Deets open. (from
Monica Kendrick)
Pics From A Few Nights BackKamil sent me these great shots from the Beat Kitchen of Sally and de Triomphe
. Check out more on the
pic blog or at
his page. Here is a sample.
Machine Blog Update BonanzaUpdates like crazy on
Brandon's Machine Media Blog. From
nights 21-25 he recounts it all. His hatered on Sparks, his love for the Hungry Brain and how sweet it is to get paid to spin records are all covered. (for the record - we love Sparks)
Man Of Many FacesCharlie Deets does it all. He plays shows under his name, is in very well-respected band
Sally, makes kick-ass concert posters and
shutter-bugs now and again.
He will be playing solo at the
Empty Bottle on Wed. night along with Fetor and Penthouse Sweets. Deets will bring an inventive, cool noise to the stage. If you have seen Sally you know they bring a strong experimental Indie sound. Expect no less from Deets. Maybe not as heavy, more atomospheric, yet directed. Many faces, many sounds.
Tuesday Night Bottle Of SoundCome to the
Empty Bottle. Hear CrushKillDestroy, Beard and This Is Cinema. Be happy.
Empty Bottle Night 1CrushKillDestroy is a booming thundercloud coming off the mountains onto the peaceful plains. "Not many bands can state their mission in their name alone, but Chicago's Crush Kill Destroy are up for the challenge. Their moniker isn't an expression of hardcore violence, but rather a theory put into action. Crush Kill Destroy play aggressive, confident, angular rock music that can crush, kill, and destroy any preconceived notions about what rock music's structure may be or how it should be attacked." (
via)
Beard has a violin player. But they don't play soft. They are aggressive and strong. Beard sounds like crazy voices in your head.
This Is Cinema make us want to sit down with a novel by Joyce, a tumbler of Gin and enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon. Airy, gliding, wandering.
Empty Bottle has $2 Old Style and PBR. Mix with good music and your Tues. night is booked.
300 FlavorsThe after-Intonation party at
Delilah's was full. Brandon and Kelsey spun some stealthy stuff. We all had different forms of Sparks' buzzes from the Intonation Fest. Brandon and Kelsey were coming down, I was still flying. Delilah's has 300 kinds of beers, 300 kinds of whiskey. I asked for a beer similar to Old Rasputin - he gave me a delicious creamy
Unibroue. 3 of those is like 6 regular beers. I was drunk
. MWM heading into its final run.
