And now three reasons to stop crying about Jay Cutler’s thumb (which, to be fair, is pretty freaking sad) and see some music tonight…
1. Chicago’s Summer Girlfriends craft a sound just how you’d imagine based on their name alone. The quartet jam some rad indie-pop slash rock, which could soundtrack your summer fling and/or end of said fling. The band goes for the soul with riddonkulously catchy mo-town melodies and shimmering surf guitars…at least based on the two tracks they’ve released on their Facebook. Still, the songs are quite promising, and to say we’re excited about their upcoming Addenda Records release would be an understatement. LISTEN: “Shockwaves”
Listen up, record nerds. CHIRP has decided to enhance your music buying experience by turning it into a group activity with its first ever Record Crawl on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Crawl participants will enjoy special discounts and gifts along CHIRP’s planned route.
The fun kicks off at 11 a.m. at Atomix Coffee (1957 W. Chicago Ave) where crawlers can pick up their golden crawl badges and receive 10 percent off coffee. Then, mosey on down to the first stop of the day: Permanent Records on 1914 W. Chicago Ave.
After a few days of cold, torrential downpours and wind that could mess up a perfectly nice beach, some sunny garage pop is just what the Doctor ordered.
Chicago quintet Summer Girlfriends aim to bring us out of our near-winter funk with the gruff guitar riffs and bouncy back beats contained on their track “Bad Dreams.”
An all female group that describes their influences as “sunshine, tequila, and Slayer”? You win my heart every time.
You can listen to “Bad Dreams” on Summer Girlfriends’ Facebook page. And you can catch them next at the CHIRP benefit show at the Whistler on Monday, November 21 along with LLP faves Swimsuit Addition.
Lovable dream pop duo Tiny Fireflies get the animated treatment in a fan video for “So Sad to Say Goodbye” from their recent EP Change. The video features jaunty ink and water color-style figures going for a stroll during a rain storm. Somehow it just works mixed together the light-as-air background music provided by Tiny Fireflies. If this video whets your palate, you’ll want to check out Tiny Fireflies tonight, live and in person with the Cross Record at CHIRP Night at the Whistler. The show is free!
Their insurance is covering some of the costs, but not all, so they’re asking listeners and supporters alike to give a little bit if they can. That’s where you come in.
Have some cash to spare? Head over to Chirpradio.org and donate. Or if you prefer paypal, send a payment to chicagoindieradio@gmail.com.
You can’t deny how much CHIRP does for the local scene, so supporting them supports the scene as a whole, no doubt. As the song goes, “Give a little bit … Give of little bit of your money to CHIRP.”
In 2001, a four-day, female-centric indie rock festival known as Ladyfest Midwest landed in Chicago with a mission to raise funds and treat spectators to sights and sounds of famed lady rockers such as Le Tigre, Tegan & Sara and Bratmobile.
Ten years later, the organizers have announced an anniversary edition to take place August 19-21 boasting talented local female musicians. The festival will also once again raise funds for the Chicago Women’s Health Center.
The festivities kick-off on Friday, August 19 with a dance party at Northwest side club Late Bar, 3534 W. Belmont Ave., featuring guest DJ’s Sam O’Rama from Laurie’s Planet of Sound, Maybenauts’ drummer and CHIRP DJ Emily Agustin, and Rebecca Crawford from Permanent Records. Crawford is also one of the original organizers of Ladyfest Midwest 2001.
The big weekend is upon us and, boy, is it a doozy. Saturday is the fourth edition of Record Store Day and, yes, we’re excited. There will be music booming from every corner and crevice all over town and that doesn’t even account for our many revered venues. Check out our Record Store Day guide for all that good in-store information, featuring your favorite local bands like Tyler Jon Tyler, Ornery Little Darlings, the 1900s and more.
All that RSD excitement aside, in this edition of Weekend Diversions, we’re talking up Mike Watt at Schubas, Hollus at the Double Door, and the big, big, big RSD post-party at Bottom Lounge featuring Light Pollution, among many, many others. Let’s get to it.
Listen up, record nerds. 
If you were outside last Friday night, you probably witnessed the massive storm that provided Chicago with its 
In 2001, a four-day, female-centric indie rock festival known as 
