| PERFORMER | DATE | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| L'Altra | Saturday, December 13, 2008 |
Chicago indie-pop group fronted by dual vocalists Joseph Costa and
Lindsay Anderson returned to the Airplay Show after 6 years for a set
of deeply appealing and intimate music. Many of their songs are launch
on a bold yet controlled trajectory, tempered by ethereal moments
steeped heavily in instrumental and emotional concentration.
Compositionally elegant and undiluted music.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Lori Crasnic Listen: |
| Maps & Atlases | Sunday, December 07, 2008 |
Hailing from our home Chicago, Maps and Atlases are a four piece math
rock group whose unique sound is blended with virtuosic instrumental
playing and warm, pop-ornamented vocals. Guitarist, Erin Elders, told
Guitar Player magazine in an interview that, "Our [Maps and Atlases]
goal was to put existing technical elements in a new context, and
create something artistically unique, but still accessible." And surely
enough, Maps and Atlases have showed consistently that they are able to
broaden the horizons of the genre while still working off the
influences of bands such as Don Caballero. This year, with the help of
Sargent House Records, Maps and Atlases have released and distributed
their 5-song EP entitled "You, Me, and the Mountain."
Engineers: David Sumberg & Christian Gero Listen: |
| Conductive Alliance | Thursday, December 04, 2008 |
Return visit by this Chicago quintet whose work encompasses a broad
range of musical influences ranging from minimalist classical to the
folk infused stylings of African Kora music. They've released a couple
self-titled EPs on Reformer
Records since forming in 2007, primarily acoustical, yet
sonically adventurous nonetheless.
Engineer: Adam Clark Listen: |
| Pizza Box | Saturday, November 29, 2008 |
Live in-studio performance by local duo Pizza Box. Consisting of Matt
Weir and Jason Hallen (formerly Osama bin Ladies) we looked forward to
witnessing an excessive yet well-orchestrated assemblage of
loop-loop-looping gadgetry and noisy distorted vocalizations. This was
a fun one for sure. No recordings or shows to speak of (yet), but
expect big things...
Engineer: Lori Crasnic Listen: |
| The Golden Sores | Tuesday, November 25, 2008 |
Don't be put off by the biblical reference in the name, the Golden
Sores remind more of a Sangha gathering than the mayhem of the Middle
Ages. The drone duo from Chicago play two long pieces of hazy guitar
sounds, high frequency buzzing, metallic echoing and sonic
reverberation that will make you stagger in circles, even if you're
sitting down.
Engineers: Lori Crasnic and Adam Clark Listen: |
| Douglas Ferguson | Saturday, November 22, 2008 |
[Excerpted from C.T. Heaney's review. Read
the whole thing on our blog.] An experimental musician now
based out of Austin, Texas who releases his atmospheric soundscapes on
his own label, Distillery Records. Ferguson's guitar constructions
feature windswept, reverberating textures which are no doubt influenced
in part by the arid desolation of his native Texas . . . [He] stands
behind an assemblage of wires and tubes, a graveyard of analog audio
technology Frankensteined together and resuscitated into a living
whirlwind of sound. He carries a guitar, but does not pick or strum in
the conventional manner of innumerable singer/songwriters of
generations past and present; rather than playing it, he seems to be
mining it, scratching, flicking and beating it in search of something
undiscovered . . .
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie | Tuesday, November 18, 2008 |
Minneapolis space-rock band To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie wowed us last
year with their debut full length album The Patron on Kranky Records,
which got listed as WNUR's #4 album of 2007. We were very pleased to
welcome them in for this performance on their extra day in Chicago
during their fall tour. And a great, spacey performance it was. Not
unlike the rippling waves or tides in and out, the undulating
atmospheric lines of Mark McGee weave a lush sonic fabric. Paired with
Jehna Wilhelm's ethereal washed-out vocals, the result is spacey and
intense. This deliberate and simple combination survives brilliantly
without a shard of excess.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Death Factory | Tuesday, November 18, 2008 |
Michael Krause has been combining drones, with static, with
oscillations, with electronic signals, with manipulations of old radio
and tv sound excerpts about nuclear weapons - for quite some time now.
Under the name of Death Factory, this Chicago artist fills noise venues
with harsh dissonances and feedback. Grim but well constructed. For the
Airplay show he further enhances the sound with the help of Right Eye
Rita's sparsely distributed violin improvisations.
Engineers: Lori Crasnic & Adam Clark Listen: |
| Nathan Xander | Saturday, November 15, 2008 |
Return visit from this Chicago songwriter who is ditching the band this
time and playing all by his lonesome. WNUR's C. T. Heaney wrote a great
review of Xander's Swifty, Surely mini-lp from last year (read it on
our blog)
and we're pleased to welcome him back for this performance.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Kinetic Stereokids | Friday, November 14, 2008 |
On-the-rise, young trio with members from Flint, MI and Chicago who
create dark, hypnotic indie-pop with hiphop beats and ambient
soundscapes. It's not uncommon for artists mixing electric and acoustic
to try to get their electronic sounds to imitate the acoustic ones
while still maintaining a sonic distinction. The Stereokids take this a
step further by making their acoustic parts sound like the electriconic
ones, the very ones that are performing the mimicry. Also, there's a
nice sense of orchestral control the band wields over their electric
grooves and beats that's perhaps more nuanced than that of the band's
less successful peers. An example of this is seen in the percussionist,
who uses brushes as he joins in the fray instead of banging away with
drumsticks like his fuse-jamband drummer nemesis. Overall, they are a
cool live band.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Fake Fictions | Saturday, November 08, 2008 |
They are Chicago's own jangle pop band and they can make you dance,
swirling or stomping, on every-single-damn song. On "Krakatoa", their
latest album (which you can actually stream on their web), Nick and
Sarah still friskily alternate when singing about silly, but important
stuff like lasers, coffee, soirées and somewhat evil
volcanoes, while Ben holds the beat tight!
Engineer: Lori Crasnic Listen: |
| A Light Sleeper | Saturday, November 08, 2008 |
Return performance by this chamber-rock group from Chicago. Their sound
is minimalistic in overall design like one of our other Chicago faves,
Town & Country, but there exists a stark, mathy Slint-like
complexity too. Minimal like you need to round everything up to make it
whole; yet there's an overlapping, overlooping circular fluidity in the
inner-workings that's delightfully involved. A quandary for sure. This
will be their third performance on Airplay in as many years, but having
since added a third bandmember, they should be prepped for the tertiary
level of expectation. Check out their website to obtain a copy of their
hand-packaged compact disc.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth
Listen: |
| Marnie Stern | Monday, November 03, 2008 |
Her first record, "In Advance of the Broken Arm" made her a superstar
among art-rockers and noise-rockers alike. Greek mythology, diamond
ceilings and grapefruits were all drowned out in Marnie's high-pitches
and finger-tapping. This year, her second album "This is It.." has more
of the same stuff going on, except layered on higher speeds. When she
came on Monday, she gave us a taste of what it means to be a guitar
goddess.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Blueberry Fist | Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
New indie rock band from Chicago stopped by WNUR's studios to lay down
some live tracks for the first time. The band's explosive, anthemic
pop-punk songs suggest an auspicious start and I think we'll be hearing
more good things in the near future. Blueberry Fist will kick off a
mini midwest tour in early '09 ending up back in Chicago with a show at
Union Rock Yards.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Mississippi Gabe Carter | Saturday, October 11, 2008 |
A little piece of the Mississippi Delta right here in Chicago and on
your airwaves. Gabe Carter returned to the Airplay Show for a solo set
you can simply drown in. Simple, honest lyrics sung waaay back on the
beat and a deep raw twang on the electric guitar. Really nice short set
that left us wanting more. Check out his album Midnight Dream
available on CD
Baby.
Engineer: David Sumberg Listen: |
| John Statz | Friday, October 10, 2008 |
A great songwriter and a swell guy. He's also one of the hardest
working musicians to cross our path. Case in point: John's from
Madison, WI and this is his 4th visit to WNUR in just over 1 year. He
says he's a history buff and there's no doubt it comes out in his songs
(WWI being a topic for example) which is just one more reason his music
is genuine Americana. Like in the past, this set finds John on solo
guitar and vocals.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| The Suite Unraveling | Saturday, October 04, 2008 |
Composer and guitarist Lily Maase in close collaboration with her
bandmates: saxophonists Evan Smith and Peter Van Huffel, bassist Matt
Wigton and drummer Fred Kennedy. The resulting music is lively and
danceable, raw yet intimate, and leaps easily from jazz to indie rock
to the avant garde without losing its own sense of style.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| 357 Ensemble | Saturday, October 04, 2008 |
Nick Anaya (sax and percussion), Chris Dammann (contrabass), and Dylan
Andrews (percussion) came in for a solid session of anything-goes jazz
and improv.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Chester | Saturday, October 04, 2008 |
Solid performance from this loud, rockin band with ties to Northwestern
University. They organized a free show of other NU bands to play Bill's
Blues in Evanston.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Chicago Calling Festival Radio Broadcast | Thursday, October 02, 2008 |
WNUR participated again in the annual Chicago Calling festival put on
each fall.
The evening featured live audio/visual connections between WNUR and Mills College (Oakland, CA) and Richmond, Virginia. The complete line-up was: performers at WNUR: performers at Mills College: performers in Richmond, VA: Engineers: Sam Wadsworth, Lucas Segall, and Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Zelienople | Wednesday, October 01, 2008 |
A WNUR favorite makes it's way back into our studios for the nth time.
Zelienople plays minimal "rock" music that's heavy on the drones and
atmospheric washes of sound. A great set as always.
Engineers: Christian Gero and David Sumberg Listen: |
| Svarte Greiner | Wednesday, October 01, 2008 |
Solo project by Norwegian guitarist and sound artist Erik K. Skodvin.
This featured some very familiar ambient sounds mixed with stuff you've
never heard before. We think he used a really old hearing aid as a
contact microphone on the head of his table-top guitar. Awesome!
Engineers: Christian Gero and David Sumberg Listen: |
| Charlotte Hug & Fred Lonberg-Holm | Sunday, September 28, 2008 |
Third visit by swiss violist Charlotte Hug performing duet with local
free-improv champion Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello. They played three sets
of wide ranging, emotional sound that stretched the limits of string
playing.
Engineer: Lucas Segall Listen: |
| Joe Scott | Saturday, September 27, 2008 |
Thick, undulating rhythms and ambiance performed by
multi-instrumentalists Joe Scott and Brant Mccrea of Chicago. Nice set.
Joe expressed his appreciation for WNUR and we express our appreciation
for Joe.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| 3rd Time's A Charm | Saturday, September 27, 2008 |
Local up-and-comers play a loud set of pop punk and rock.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| La Brecha | Friday, September 26, 2008 |
Rock en Español made possible by WNUR's El Zilencio.
Engineer: Mike Corsa |
| Howling Poppies | Tuesday, September 23, 2008 |
Indie-pop trio from Chicago with ties to NU. Nice harmonies and
semi-Weezer-like nerd angst lyrics.
Engineer: Adam Clark Listen: |
| Alex Cuba | Monday, September 22, 2008 | Broadcast of WNUR's Continental Drift program in conjunction with the World Music Festival 2008. An excellent performance and interview with award winning, Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba. His soulful jazz and pop tunes caress your earhole and give you one final definitive reason you should have paid more attention en clase española. Cuba tours like a mo-fo, but mostly in Canada right now. |
| The Names That Spell | Saturday, September 20, 2008 |
Self-proclaimed "off-pop" band from Chicago spun a well-crafted matrix
of intricate beats, clever lyrics, and uncommon instrumentation. Nice
uke and proggy hibberty jibberty.
Engineer: Adam Clark Listen: |
| Cordero | Saturday, September 20, 2008 |
Cool set from Brooklyn rock band that sings in English and en
Español. They were in town playing at the World Music
Festival and they had just released de donde eres
on chicago's Bloodshot Records.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Crystal Gravy | Saturday, September 13, 2008 |
Super-solid, Headhunting funk band from Chicago that played an enormous
set that tore the roof off the sucker and gave up the funk. Check out
the nice Fela Kuti insert.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Tomorrow Music Orchestra | Sunday, September 07, 2008 |
Creative orchestra music from this ever-exciting large ensemble from
Chicago led by bassist and composer Matthew Golombisky. This was their
5th live performance on WNUR and they marked the occasion by eating
cake (actually, it was Matthew's birthday...)
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Facing Winter | Saturday, September 06, 2008 |
Heartfelt acoustic pop from this Chicago based group.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Origin of Animal | Wednesday, August 27, 2008 |
Well conceived and multifaceted octet performance from this
Chicago-based collective. Lots of jazz and improv mixed in with
pre-composed pieces performed on 2 celli, 2 drumkits, bass, keys,
(s)ax, and vox.
Engineer: Adam Clark Listen: |
| New Ghosts | Monday, August 18, 2008 |
Cool Chicago rock band that achieves a big, full sound while
maintaining a plaintive, free space.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Jennifer Peterson | Saturday, August 16, 2008 |
Sophisticated solo set from this Chicago singer-songwriter.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Nave | Saturday, August 09, 2008 |
Large and classy Chicago ensemble who played a mix of Pop, Rock, Soul,
Jazz, R&B
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Adam Clark Listen: |
| Good Old Fashioned Sinners | Saturday, August 09, 2008 |
Darkish, noisy-at-times, psych band from Chicago brought to our
attention by WNUR's Rock Show. Nice instrumentation, electronical and
acoustical, and a weird sense of humor.
Engineer: Adam Clark Listen: |
| Stnnng | Saturday, August 09, 2008 |
5 guys from Minneapolis whose sputtering, angular noise rock is a
friendly reminder to all of us about our inner voyeuristic desires to
witness creative destruction. Every song is like cavemen inventing
fire, but instead of using it to see in the dark, they start throwing
it at each other. The sound is colossal and advanced, but the only
thing proto-post-pre-post-anything about Stnnng are the sociopathic and
post-apocalyptic sentiments in the barrage of verbiage exploding out of
vocalist Chris Besinger. A Stnnng performance is like spinning a top:
it whirs around balanced and normal for a while until precariously it
starts to get off-kilter, and then next thing you know, it's crashing
into things and way out of control. Oh, and it's pronounced "Stunning".
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Hasan Abdur-Razzaq and Ryan Jewell | Wednesday, August 06, 2008 |
Detroit free improv duo featuring the honking, squeaking saxophones of
Hasan Abdur-Razzaq and the tintinnabulations of Ryan Jewell's
percussion.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| The Jagz | Saturday, August 02, 2008 | |
| Pastilla | Friday, August 01, 2008 |
Rock en Español brought to us by El Zilencio.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Plastic Boner Band | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 |
The Plastic Boner Band is the operational handle of Chicago based noise
dude Sam Henry. Playing relentless monster riffs of drone/noise guitar
his music is loud and snotty, but deliberate. It rocks, in the best,
least clichéd sense: it is meant to be offensive and
assaultive, and revels in pulling it off. (from DOKURO)
Engineer: Adam Clark Listen: |
| Hellblinki Sextet | Monday, July 28, 2008 |
Hellblinki Sextet's music is an eclectic aural salad of
outré cabaret fare, Gypsy folk, discombobulated blues, Nino
Rota-inspired circus music and oddball punk a la Nick Cave &
the Bad Seeds and Tom Wait's (during the Rain Dogs period). The band
from North Carolina might not be breaking too much new ground but it is
one of the more entertaining players in this country's loosely
organized neo-cabaret scene. (from Isthmus)
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| John Statz | Sunday, July 27, 2008 |
Once, twice, thrice John has trekked to E-Town to find a mic in our
studios and we're always happy to have him. He brought with him is
guitar and banjo and his newest CD recorded at the Uncommon Ground one
day in Chicago immediately after playing our show. We really didn't
have anything to do with the recording of that album, but somehow, we
like to think we helped make it possible or inspired it...or something.
Engineer & Interviewer: Ron Lewis Listen: |
| Bending The Map | Saturday, July 26, 2008 |
Chicago electro-acoustic trio Bending The Map makes their debut
appearance on the Airplay Show. Featuring the keyboards and mallet
percussion of Ray Coyle, the drums/percussion of
Christopher Bruce, and the live electronic manipulations of
Spacebrewer, Bending the Map stretches out into minimalism, ambient
music, and micro-improv territory. While some pieces are closer to the
hypnotic vibrations of experimental psychadelic rock, most of
Bending the Map's sound is an extension of great improvising
electro-acousticians like MEV and AMM. Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Tropa Solar | Saturday, July 19, 2008 |
Mosaic blend of musicians from Pilsen and Little Village in Chicago's
South-West-Side. Tropa Solar performs both in Spanish and English and
composes pieces in a political and social content. Influenced by a
fusion of Trova, Jazz, Rock and Urban Folk.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Teddy Presberg | Saturday, July 19, 2008 |
Teddy Presberg and the Red Note Revivalists are a mixture of fusion
jazz, funk, and rock styles. Teddy's guitar work draws not only from
influences such as Luther Russell, Miles Davis, and perhaps a touch of
Frank Zappa but also benefits from the close coordination between the
Red Note Revivalists. Constant eye-contact and small gestures
illustrated an intricate semi-spontaneous collaborative feel between
the group. Your head constantly bobs to their grooves and its probably
because their instruments were really thumping in their hands too.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Conductive Alliance | Saturday, July 19, 2008 |
Chicago quintet whose work encompasses a broad range of musical
influences ranging from minimalist classical to the folk infused
stylings of African Kora music.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Le Loup | Sunday, July 06, 2008 |
A special in-studio performance from Washington, DC chamber rock sextet
Le Loup. Combining complex instrumental arrangements with ethereal,
nuanced multi-vox harmonies, Le Loup caught our attention in a big way
last year. Their masterful debut album Throne of the Third
Heaven of the Nations' Millenium General Assembly was on
WNUR's list of Top 10 rock albums of 2007. For that album and in past
shows, the band played as a smaller group, sometimes as small as a
soloist or duo (with singer/banjoist Sam Simkoff the anchoring/founding
member) but for this radio performance it was the first time they got
together to play these tunes in a special six-member arrangement. They
were prepping for their huge show at Millennium Park the next day. Pow!
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Charles McPherson | Saturday, July 05, 2008 |
Phone interview with this legendary saxophonist and Mingus sideman
Interviewer: Aaron Kuper |
| Thank You | Thursday, July 03, 2008 |
Sounding a bit like our favorite Krautrock bands of the seventies,
Thank You pulls off a simpler, fiercer version of the long-form rock
jam that comes closer in sound to more current bands like Brooklyn's
Parts & Labor or Oneida. The fact that two of them, Jeffrey
McGrath and Michael Bouyoucas, can each stretch out on guitar and
keyboard (simultaneously on occasion) gives them a broad sonic pallet
they employ skillfully in their inventive, original compositions.
Paired with the full-on assault of Emmanuel Nicolaidis on the drums,
the band achieves, and is able to sustain, a heightened level of
intensity that makes their tracks both epic and powerful. Two of these
guys, Michael and Emmanuel, played in former Airplay band More Dogs
back in '06.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Daniel Kraus | Saturday, June 07, 2008 |
Chicago filmmaker joined us live on-air to talk about, among other
things, his Work Series, a collection of
non-fictional portraits of real people in their real jobs. His second
feature, Musician, is a remarkably revealing
glimpse into the life and work of one of the Airplay Show's frequent
past guests, saxophonist Ken Vandermark. We're thinking Daniel was
actually our first guest who is a professional film director, so check
out this Airplay first. Musician, as well as the
first Work Series film, Sheriff, are now available
on DVD.
Interviewer: Mike Corsa Listen:MP3 (128K) |
| Dosh | Thursday, May 29, 2008 |
Returning to the Airplay show after more than 3 years is Anticon
recording artist Dosh from Minneapolis. Dosh first came in as a solo
act (his name is Martin Dosh after all) but now he's got the duo thing
going with coconspirator Mike Lewis. Dosh uses live instruments, found
sounds, and assorted knobs & dials to make music that's got the
spontaneity and style of your favorite diy electro-pop band with the
same meticulousness and care employed by the founding fathers of
concrete tape manipulation.
Engineer: Matt Mahon Listen: |
| Coltrane Motion | Wednesday, May 28, 2008 |
Making their second appearance on the Airplay show in as many years are
these electro-punk rockers from Chicago who can make a hell of a lot of
sound for just a duo. They put on a great show too, in case you've yet
to see them, with lots of jumping and dancing and arm waving, in part
because they're really into it, but also because they're controlling a
homemade theremin that makes music from their movement straight from
thin-air. The songs are heavy on the grooves & beats, but don't
let it fool you, these guys can rock.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & David Sumberg Listen: |
| The Teenage Prayers | Saturday, May 24, 2008 |
Soulful NYC rock band who came in for an explosive live set after their
Schubas show. Every one of their songs had the drama and scope of a
Queen ballad and the wild, jaunty attitude of a Southern Rock anthem.
They just put out their second album, Everyone Thinks You're
the Best which was produce by former Airplay guest Steve
Wynn.
Engineer: David Sumberg Listen: |
| Jenny Gillespie | Saturday, May 10, 2008 |
Chicago singer-songwriter who with a set of folk and folk-rock songs.
It's solo and acoustic so go chill out on the back porch while you
listen. Jenny was currently working on a new album called Light Year to
be released in the summer.
Engineers: Theron Humiston & Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Sybris | Wednesday, May 07, 2008 |
Killer Chicago rock band that seems to have one show every night from
now until the end of time. This is a great set featuring songs of their
new disc Into The Trees.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Jason Seed Elixir Ensemble | Saturday, May 03, 2008 |
Composer Jason Seed on guitar and vocals alongside members of the
Chicago and Milwaukee Symphonies and jazz musicians in a rock(ish) kind
of thing. Their last album, Where the Corners Meet, was awarded Jam
album of the year by the Independent Music Awards and their upcoming
album, Three, will be released in June. An incarnation of their large,
ever-rotating lineup will perform with former Airplay guest The
Gentlemen of NUCO at MCR on the campus of Northwestern University on
Saturday, May 3.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Little Ones | Friday, May 02, 2008 |
Los Angeles 5-piece who stopped by last week to play a few songs of
delightful power twee-pop. They had just put out a new ep called Terry
Tales & Fallen Gates and were at the middle mark of
their big US tour.
Engineers: Lucas Segall & sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Ari Hest | Saturday, April 26, 2008 |
New York based singer-songwriter Ari Hest recently
defied all conventional reasoning about the preferred path taken by
artists-in-the-spotlight by breaking ties with his former major label
Columbia and independently venturing onto the web to bring his music
directly to the people. In his online subscription-based music series
called '52', Ari Hest will be releasing 1 song each week this year.
Right now, he's at 16.... Not unlike the music-loving patrons of the
days of old, you can support Ari in his now-independent quest by simply
visiting him on the internets. |
| Scotland Yard Gospel Choir | Thursday, April 24, 2008 |
Chamber-pop ensemble from Chicago led by songmeister Elia Einhorn that
first played on Airplay back in April '06. Since then, they've been
been making a serious name for themselves as a hard-working, inventive,
and grandiose collective with an ever-rotating, often expansive lineup.
Engineers: Sam Wadsworth & Jenny Listen: |
| John Statz | Tuesday, April 22, 2008 |
Return visit from this Madison, WI singer-songwriter who played some
songs from his last album Our Love Was Made For Canada.
Statz's substantial acoustic tracks make Our Love... an album for the
outdoors if there ever was one, a profound piece of Americana.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| The Frame Quartet | Saturday, April 19, 2008 |
Live performance plus special in-depth discussion from this quartet of Chicago luminaries. With Ken Vandermark on sax and clarinet, Fred-Lonberg Holm on cello, Nate McBride on bass, and Tim Daisy rounding out the quartet on percussion, this collabo is sure to produce its fair share of "ooohs" and "aaahs" from listeners of the jazz and improv. In addition to the live performance (which is what you've come to expect from the Airplay Show we hope) you'll also hear Ken and the band discuss in detail the compositional and performance techniques employed throughout the two pieces. They walked us through each composition, "playing segments of music, then showing how they function when incorporated into the fabric of a complete performance," to quote Ken himself. A very unique session indeed. Engineers: Mike Corsa and Lucas SegallListen: |
| Nick Shillace & Eric Carbonara | Friday, April 18, 2008 |
Nick is from Detroit and Eric is from Eastern PA and they both play solo acoustic guitar, but their styles are very unique to each musician. Both of these guys have been on Airplay in the past, but this is the first time they came in together. We've known Nick for his deceptively complex American Primitive finger-style guitar playing. Eric sometimes stretches the boundaries to incorporate latin and raga-style guitar playing too (and for some projects, he stretches the boundaries to the extremes...) This set has both musicians face-to-face, playing solo back and forth, duking it out. If this were a Western, we'd all be running for cover. These guys are both really cool and we owe them a lot for continuing to share their music with us over the years. Engineer: Mike CorsaListen: |
| bastardgeist | Thursday, April 17, 2008 |
Before he performed on-air, we were dumbfounded by how Bastardgeist
produced his strange, polyrhythmic experiments. We know now, they're
due in no small part to a traditional kalimba and his own, unique
ethereal voice. This set also features Sam from one of Airplay's
favorite bands, Volcano! playing percussion. The result is futuristic
and tribal at the same time, a lost project by Moondog perhaps, or the
way the Dirty Projectors would sound if they powered down and rid
themselves of all the non-essentials. It's was a short set, but odd and
engaging, and one of our recent favs.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Saturday Nights | Wednesday, April 16, 2008 |
Chicago indie rock band who just released their sophomore record, Goodnight
Magic Fingers after 2 years in the works. Album reviewer Brad
Robb says, "Goodnight Magic Fingers is as cerebral
as it is sonically dense. If Nabokov swapped literature for modern
indie rock, his name would be the Saturday Nights."
Engineer: Lucas Segall Listen: |
| Jason Steele Ensemble | Saturday, March 29, 2008 |
Their second appearance on the Airplay Show. Jazz guitarist and
composer Jason Steele impressed us with his intricate, well-conceived
debut album last year called "Some Wonderful Moment", with its
interwoven and returning themes and thoughtful juxtaposition of moods,
styles, and instrument combinations. Steele was joined in this set by
frequent Airplay performer Matthew Golombisky on bass along with
Charles Rumback (drums) and Charles Gorzynski (sax) who recently
appeared on Airplay as the duo Colorlist.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Nathan Xander | Friday, March 28, 2008 |
Like his recent mini-album, Swiftly, Surely, this
set is suffused with bright harmonica bursts and shadowy, difficult
lyrics. It serves as both a reverent nod to Xander’s
influences and a window into his own individualism. This is a delicate
balance; many a young songwriter apes his predecessors at the cost of
ingenuity, and perhaps even more plunge into the waters with little
knowledge of the debt they owe to their forebears. Xander walks the
line ably, dancing (slowly) with the past but moving (surely) toward
the future. [excerpt from C. T. Heaney's review of Swiftly,
Sureley. Read the whole thing here.]
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Squid Fist | Saturday, March 22, 2008 |
Experimental Minneapolis trio that we compared to an improvised
explosive device when they debuted on Airplay back in June of
’07. There’s no doubt that noise-improv group Squid
Fist remains one of the most unpredictable and uncompromisingly
aggressive bands we’ve heard in a long time.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Pillars & Tongues | Friday, March 21, 2008 |
Chicago trio featuring members of the now disbanded ensemble Static
Films whose multi-layered and spontaneously composed chamber music
results in a haunting minimalism that reminds us of fellow Chicagoans
like Tiny Hairs and Town and Country. Pillars and Tongue’s
hushed, elongated pieces are absent of traditional beginnings and
endings allowing the listener to focus on the beautiful ambiance and
textured ebb and flow of each passage.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Paul Giallorenzo / Brian Labycz / Marc Riordan | Sunday, March 16, 2008 |
Electro-acoustic trio from Chicago with Labycz on electronics, Riordan
on drums, and Giallorenzo on synthesizer and electronics. At times, the
sound of Riordan’s percussion became the source for
Labycz’s reprocessed, remixed digital output. The result was
a dynamic and often dense improvisation that completely deconstructed
what little boundaries there were between the acoustic and electronic
instrumentation. Each of these musicians plays regularly in Chicago.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Rock Falls | Saturday, March 15, 2008 |
Subdued folk songs from singer-songwriter Annie Reese backed up by Dan
Schneider and Gary Pyskacek (of Pedal Steel Transmission and
Hummingbiird, two former Airplay guests.) Reese’s soulful,
melancholic vocals compliment beautifully their minimal finger-picking
accompaniment in the American primitive vein using ukulele, baritone
guitar, and banjo.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| The Moshier-Lebrun Collective | Saturday, March 08, 2008 |
Chicago-based quartet with Josh Moshier (p), Mike Lebrun (ts), Robert
Meier (b), and Hans Moscicke (d) conceived in early 2007 that plays a
blend of straight ahead and adventurous jazz. Their first recording,
Mr. H Junior, showcases new compositions by Josh Moshier and Mike
Lebrun and you can get it on CD Baby.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Rempis Percussion Quartet | Monday, March 03, 2008 |
After last year's highly praised Rip Tear Crunch, Dave Rempis and his
dual-percussionist quartet had set the bar extremely high, churning out
an emotionally charged level of intensity that caught the ear of
critics and fans alike. One year later, Hunter-Gathers, part of 482
Music's Document Chicago series, has proven that the Rempis Percussion
Quartet is one of the most "now" groups in the scene today; they have
recaptured the energy from their debut release and built upon it in a
masterful 2 disc set of live music. Somewhere between the biting fury
of Peter Brotzmann and the complexly swinging style of Fred Anderson,
Dave Rempis has established a unique and versatile voice, that, when
backed with an unprecedented set of chops, has produced some of the
most satisfying playing in the genre today. Frank Rosaly and Tim Daisy
are a tour-de-force, bringing soul-gripping rhythm and power and an
intangible sense of cohesion. Hunter-Gatherers is one of free jazz's
most shining accomplishment this year, from a band for whom the sky is
the limit. - Mike Szajewski, WNUR Jazz
Engineers: Sam Wadsworth & Adam Clark Listen: |
| Tomorrow Music Orchestra | Saturday, March 01, 2008 |
Full creative big band from Chicago returns for their 4th performance
on the Airplay Show. When Airplay regular Matthew Golombisky first
brought in the group about 2 years ago there were about 9 or 10
members. Since then, they've fluctuated in size (up to 20+ pieces) and
fortunately our performance space grew to accommodate them. The
Tomorrow Music Orchestra plays a kind of jazz rarely heard in these
times when small combos are much more practical for an average venue.
Their compositions are written by different members of the ensemble and
range in style from heavy groove-based funk tunes to sweeping
orchestral pieces. This performance featured a drummerless lineup with
Golombisky playing bass and conducting.
Engineers: David Sumberg & Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Colorlist | Friday, February 29, 2008 |
Chicago duo that synthesizes ambient, manipulated sounds with avant
jazz. Colorlist features two former Airplay guests, Charles' Rumback
and Gorzcynski whose duo performance on Airplay in the beginning of
last year feels like it could have been the nascent beginnings of this
group's relaxed, sublime sound. They've got a new album out called
"Lists" on Belgian electro-acoustic label Off! Records.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| High End Trio | Monday, February 25, 2008 |
Upbeat and funky Chicago non-trio (there were like 5 people in
there...) that gives you a little bit of everything, from bebop to
hip-hop, reggae and rock. Tight horn lines and high-energy solos give
the High End Trio space to break out like a freewheeling jamband and
bring it all back with James Brown precision.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Ken Vandermark | Saturday, February 23, 2008 |
Interview with this internationally known and respected multi-reedist
and Chicago music luminary, recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship "genius
grant" in 1999, the focus of a recent documentary film,
presenter/organizer of area concerts, and leader of innumerable
ensembles including The Vandermark 5, Powerhouse Sound, and The
Territory Band, to name just a few. Ken Vandermark is at the forefront
of jazz and improvised music. This interview took place during WNUR's
annual Phoneathon fundraiser, so that's why we keep asking for money.
The chat was very interesting though, and Ken expounded on a number of
topics including his recent and upcoming projects and the challenges
facing improvised music today.
Interviewers: Mike Corsa, Adam Clark, Michael Szajewski Listen: |
| Undertow | Wednesday, February 20, 2008 |
Anything-goes Chicago trio featuring Michael Baker (bs, pno), Josh
Beatty (ts, as, ss), and Henry Mayer (prc) that stretches the
boundaries of jazz into skronky, atonal free improv, but also heavy
groove-based jams. This performance was recorded live on the WNUR Jazz
Show.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Shooting Spires | Sunday, February 17, 2008 |
Side-project of Parts & Labor's bassist/vocalist BJ Warshaw
from Brooklyn that's got him working his magic on loopy, oscillating
electronics, while his band catapults each and every song into a burst
of pure sonic energy. Soaring choruses juxtaposed with short, crunchy
noise explosions make Shooting Spires' live show a special treat. Check
out their new self-titled disc on P&L's Cardboard Records.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| A Tundra | Friday, February 15, 2008 |
Chicago band returns to Airplay after about two years. A little prog, a
little math--rock to keep you honest plus short bursts of glorious
mayhem. We like their new album a lot, "Man or Woman, Laughing or
Crying" (Staticstation) with its unique primal quirkiness.
Engineer: Ann Jaworski Listen: |
| Kinetic Stereokids | Thursday, February 14, 2008 |
Up and coming band and from Flint, MI that now also calls Chicago home.
They create dark, hypnotic indie-pop with hiphop beats and ambient
soundscapes. This live set is more rockin' than some of the studio
tracks from their Basement Kids album, but we attribute that to the
afterhours (it happened in the wee hours Thursday morning...)
Engineers: Trevor Ewen & Mike Corsa Listen: |
| San Agustin | Saturday, February 02, 2008 |
Incredible, improvising, instrumental rock trio originally from Atlanta
made their Chicago debut after more than 10 years in existence. First
stop, WNUR. This is a great set.
Engineer: Lucas Segall Listen: |
| Ra Ra Riot | Friday, February 01, 2008 |
On the rise 6-piece chamber/indie-rock band from Syracuse, NY who
played on-air right before playing a SOLD OUT show Schubas. And if they
hadn't come here, they'd still have a functional kick drum pedal...
Engineer: Christian Gero Listen: |
| Guy King Band | Sunday, January 27, 2008 |
Former Willie Kent and the Gents guitarist who arrived with his
accomplished blues quartet. This set is a masterfully diverse
collection of blues tunes from upbeat, funky numbers, to the deepest,
darkest blues grooves. Thanks to WNUR's Blues Show for setting this one
up.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Glenn Bach | Saturday, January 26, 2008 |
Laptop artist who relocated from Southern California to Milwaukee and
now teaches sound art at UWM.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Glenn Bach & John Kannenberg | Saturday, January 26, 2008 |
Ambient electronic composers from Chicago and Milwaukee respectively.
Kannenberg, who runs Stasisfield.com, came in for a solo set a couple
months prior, but this time came back with friends.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| JoAnne Pow!ers w/ Jaimie Branch & Marc Riordan | Wednesday, January 23, 2008 |
Fierce and fiery free improv trio of JoAnne Pow!ers (sax) from Madison,
WI with Jaimie Branch (trumpet) and Marc Riordan (drums) from Chicago.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Organ Wolf | Tuesday, January 22, 2008 |
Chicago rock band that plays organ-drenched jams that'll make you
remember summertime. Their latest disc is called "I Didn't Come Here
and I'm Not Leaving (So You Can Just Kiss My Ass That's What You Are)"
Engineers: Christian Gero and Ann Jaworski Listen: |
| Little Women | Saturday, January 19, 2008 |
Brooklyn based jazz quartet that sounds like an unholy skronkfest.
Scare your parents and put this on.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Cathy Santonies | Saturday, January 19, 2008 |
Cocky, loud, girl-rock band from Chicago. Our studio was freezing that
day, but they were troopers. Great set.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| All The Creatures Of The Sea | Tuesday, January 15, 2008 |
Rocktronica duo from Chicago that plays quirky, danceable beats and
groove.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Ann Jaworski Listen: |
| Christy & Emily | Friday, January 11, 2008 |
Wurlitzer-guitar duo from Brooklyn featuring Emily Manzo and Christine
Edwards who play quirky, original indie-pop songs.
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Bailiff | Friday, January 11, 2008 |
Three-piece Chicago band that pounded out a handful of seriously heavy
blues-rock numbers.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Tim Daisy & Frank Rosaly | Tuesday, December 18, 2007 |
Drums/percussion duo from Chicago who stretch the boundaries of
improvised music. We believe the floor of our studio became one more
instrument in their seemingly unlimited percussive arsenal. Tim and
Frank play constantly here in Chicago in innumerable improvising
ensembles. They make up half of the incredible Rempis Percussion
Quartet.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| backGammon | Saturday, December 15, 2007 |
Electro-acoustic improvising ensemble from chicago that'll make your
left temporal lobe stage a coup d'état against the rest of
you. It'll finally realize, you've been suppressing it for far too
long.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Darts & Arrows | Saturday, December 15, 2007 |
Genre-busting chicago quintet that takes folk/pop instrumentals and
turns them into improvised explorations
Engineers: Trevor Ewen & Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Helen Money | Wednesday, December 12, 2007 |
Founding member of chicago rock band Verbow who makes hypnotic,
distorted rock music by sending a solo cello through fx and a guitar
amp.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Haptic | Tuesday, December 11, 2007 |
Laptop/electronics trio from Chicago (featuring Adam Sonderberg, Steven
Hess, and Joseph Mills) brought with them special guest Salvatore
Dellaria for an epic rumbling sonic exploration.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| D Numbers | Saturday, December 08, 2007 |
Santa Fe band uses sampling and looping of their instruments "on the
fly" to create multilayered, electrifying instrumental soundscapes in
real time.
Engineer: Lucas Segall Listen: |
| Mind Vs. Target | Saturday, December 08, 2007 |
Jazz trio from Asheville, NC featuring Shane Perlowin on Guitar, Joseph
Burkett on bass, and Michael Libramento on drums.
Engineer: Jenny An & Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Ernesto Diaz-Infante | Sunday, December 02, 2007 |
San Francisco luminary who broke out a trance-inducing, minimalist
performance on solo acoustic guitar. He also co-founded Pax Recordings.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Gentlemen of NUCO | Saturday, December 01, 2007 |
Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra members perform Radiohead's
"OK Computer" on strings and concert percussion.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Adam Clark Listen: |
| Zing! | Saturday, December 01, 2007 |
Distinctive "improv-meets-rock-meets-jazz" sound produced with all
members experimenting with their natural acoustic sounds and the
employment of pedals and electronics of various kinds.
Engineeer: Matt Mahon Listen: |
| Silences Sumire | Saturday, December 01, 2007 |
IDM/electronica artist from Chicago that braved the Chicago Winter to
play a performance on our studio floor.
Engineer: Matt Mahon Listen: |
| The Thing | Wednesday, November 28, 2007 |
Free-jazz juggernaut featuring muscians from Norway/Sweden: Mats
Gustafsson (reeds), Ingebrigt Haker Flaten (bass), & Paal
Nilssen-Love (drums).
Engineer: Matt Mahon Listen: |
| John Kannenberg | Tuesday, November 27, 2007 |
Minimalist electronic guru from Chicago. He serves as the designer,
creator, and curator of netlabel
stasisfield.com
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Life & Times | Saturday, November 17, 2007 |
On two prior occasions these Kansas City rockers have graced our
studios and we were very pleased to have them back. Featuring members
of Shiner, Ring, and Cicada, their lush, driving alternative rock is
engaging and fearless.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Mississippi Gabe Carter | Saturday, November 17, 2007 |
Excellent solo performance from this local bluesman. Gravely voice and
raw-to-the-bone guitar licks. It's safe to say this was our first guest
booked based on YouTube videos alone.
Engineers: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Jimmy Bennington | Friday, November 16, 2007 |
Second Airplay appearance for this area drummer. He was joined by Ben
Boye on piano and Dan Thatcher on bass for this adventurous improvised
set.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Mannequin Men | Wednesday, November 14, 2007 |
All their gear just got stolen so everything they played with was
backup/borrowed--the squeaky kick drum pedal was particularly
quaint--but the whole thing fit very well with their set of upbeat,
unpredictable and clever garage rock nuggets. In a time when lots of
bands are being too serious and adding cellos or whatever, ManMen just
want to rock out and kick ass. We approve 100%.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Safes | Saturday, November 10, 2007 |
Chicago garage/power-pop trio comprised of brothers Frankie, Michael,
and Patrick O'Malley. Soaked in the attitude of UK punk yet tempered by
the charm of this downhome Midwest, The Safes' setlist was brimming
with raw, bare-bones rock--songs that were upbeat, in your face, and
uncomplicated, the way rock outta be.
Engineer: Matt Mahon & Sam Wadsworth Listen: |
| Sars Flannery | Thursday, November 08, 2007 |
Evanstonian on the rise played solo on guitar and vocals. This set
features a handful of originals plus a nice cover of Nico/Jackson
Browne's "These Days".
Engineer: Sam Wadsworth & Matt Mahon Listen: |
| Broken Things | Saturday, November 03, 2007 |
Chicago quartet led by guitarist Bill MacKay combines elements of jazz
and rock music with downright hummable melodies to make songs that
sound familiar even though you're hearing them for the very first time.
MacKay's compositions are much more nuanced than your typical jamband.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Hope Littwin | Saturday, October 27, 2007 |
Duo performance and interview with singer-songwriter and guitarist Hope
Littwin who brought her friend Jenny to play string bass. Hope was on
WNUR's Folk Show back in '05.
Engineers: Sam Wadsworth & Matt Mahon Listen: |
| White Hot Knife | Friday, October 26, 2007 |
Chicago rock quintet grinded out a hard-hitting set of polished, loud
rock.
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| The Metapuffs | Thursday, October 25, 2007 |
Garage/pop-punk band from Chicago that swaps lead singing
responsibilities between male/female vocals. Melody-driven songs that
still have a bite to them.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Mars Williams & Clifton Hyde | Wednesday, October 24, 2007 |
Chicago's legendary reedsman Mars Williams teamed up for the first time
with Brooklyn guitarist Clifton Hyde for an intense set of improvised
music. The brutality of this performance made us wimper like little
girls. This set kicked off the 2nd Annual chicago Calling Festival on
Eric Rick's jazz show.
Engineer: Jack Novak Listen: |
| 2nd Annual Chicago Calling Festival (first night) | Wednesday, October 24, 2007 |
The performance WNUR presented as part of the 2nd Annual Chicago
Calling Festival was a large, improvising ensemble with a dancer and
special guests reading poetry. Performers included: Asimina Chremos, Ed
Roberson, Mars Williams, Clifton Hyde, Jerome Bryerton, Jon Godston,
Paul Hartsaw, Joel Wanek, Bill MacKay, Jayve Montgomery, Dan Godston,
and more!
Engineer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Costa Music | Monday, October 22, 2007 |
Very cool set from the brainchild of Joseph Costa who was a co-creator
of another awesome Chicago band from the the early 00s, L'Altra. This
set is lingering, mellow, and sublime.
Engineers: Mike Corsa & Jack Novak Listen: |
| Rudresh Mahanthappa | Saturday, October 20, 2007 |
Interview with this Brooklyn jazz musician and saxophone phenom.
Rudresh taught us a thing or two about number theory and cryptology and
how he's basically smarter than any musician you've ever met.
Interviewer: Mike Corsa Listen: |
| Sea Wolf | Saturday, October 20, 2007 |
Los Angeles rock band's leading member Alex Church brings rich,
absorbing lyrics, subdued singing, and an old jangly guitar to his
band's uncommon assortment of acoustic folk instrumentation,
multi-layered, and blended thoughtfully.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| John Statz | Friday, October 19, 2007 |
Acoustic solo set from Madison, WI songsmithy John Statz who was a
sport and let us put him in our rink-a-dink interview studio to play
and sing.
Engineer: Dillon Styke |
| David Singer | Thursday, October 18, 2007 |
Chicago singer-songwriter David Singer brought his band in for a nice
set of laid-back rock music.
Engineer: Matt Mahon Listen: |
| Thollem McDonas | Friday, October 05, 2007 |
San Fran bay area luminary Thollem McDonas turned our old electric
keyboard into a pile of rubble. Alright, we need a piano. Nice set,
though.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Yea Big + Kid Static | Tuesday, October 02, 2007 |
We asked them to "bring it" and . . . they brought it. In-your-face
performance from Chicago hip-hop duo. F the CC.
Listen: |
| Perry Robinson & Jimmy Bennington | Friday, September 28, 2007 |
A demonstration of the purity of improvised music; two artists,
uninterrupted and unrestrained, communicating on a level and in a
manner that only the power of music can compel. Rare radio performance
from legendary free jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson with backup on
drums by Chicago drummer Jimmy Bennington.
Engineers: Trevor Ewen & Matt Mahon Listen: |
| Allos Musica | Tuesday, September 18, 2007 |
Clarinetist James Falzone leads this eclectic trio which fuses Maqam
and Arabic musical forms with jazz and improvised music. On percussion
was former Vandermark 5 drummer Tim Mulvenna and rounding out the trio
was Ronnie Malley on oud.
Engineer: Trevor Ewen Listen: |
| Tomorrow Music Orchestra | Saturday, August 25, 2007 |
A unique Airplay event: a performance from the Tomorrow Music Orchestra
led by bassist Matthew Golombisky. Our new digs made it possible for
all 20+ musicians to comfortably fit in (and stretch out a little?)
Great creative big band.
Listen: |
| Scott Fields | Wednesday, August 22, 2007 |
Patient, full of space and constantly developing. Great solo set from
this improviser (loosely) based in Chicago. Thanks to the Jazz Show for
making this one happen.
Listen: |
| Leaves | Wednesday, August 22, 2007 |
Fearless modern jazz with a foundation in deceptively intricate
compositions. The performance featured special (and former Airplay
Show) guest Jason Steele
Listen: |
| Consortium | Saturday, August 18, 2007 |
Chicago folk-rock band with a laid-back, intimate sound and story-like
lyrics that pull you in
Listen: |
| The Conformists | Friday, August 17, 2007 |
Killer performance from this Illinois noise-rock band with mathy
freak-outs that make you just wanna do something dangerous. Like climb
a building or, you know, eat fire.
Listen: |
| Soft Circle | Tuesday, August 14, 2007 |
Brooklyn based one man band, Soft Circle, aka Hisham Akira Bharoocha,
is a former member of Black Dice and Lightning Bolt. The
percussion/electronics combination in this set leaves you helplessly
entranced and enchanted.
Listen: |
| High Places | Tuesday, August 14, 2007 |
Chilled out avant-folk jams sometimes taking on a broken groove that
sounds like jangly, multi-layered blip hop. Really great set. Thanks to
Hisham for setting this up.
Listen: |
| Bruxism | Monday, August 13, 2007 |
An ethereal, electro-acoustic improvised set conjured by Carl Testa and
Anne Rhodes. New Haven, CT musician Testa played bass, bass clarinet,
and electronics and Anne Rhodes was on voice.
Listen: |
| Baby Teeth | Saturday, July 28, 2007 |
Abraham Levitan of chicago's Baby Teeth came by for a solo set.
Soulful, harmonized vocalizations breaking out in supercatchy rock
songs.
Listen: |
| Zelienople w/ Grouper | Saturday, July 28, 2007 |
Dense drones, minimal layered soundscapes, and hypnotic sheets of
sound. This was a special first-time collabo between Chicago's
Zelienople and Portland's Grouper.
Listen: |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, July 14, 2007 |
Ashtray Boy (from Australia and Chicago) have played on Airplay 7 times
in 13 years--perhaps the only Airplay Show band to have played in three
different WNUR studio locations. Ashtray Boy's sparse and reflective
rock songs are very unique. Randall Lee is like some powerful Aussie
mystic, his deep, haunting voice hypnotizing you immediately. This set
seemed to remind everyone of the good ol' days.
Listen: |
| Blink | Monday, July 09, 2007 |
Blink is Jeff Greene (bass), Quin Kirchner (drums), Dave Miller
(guitar), and Greg Ward (alto sax). Their pieces are composed as well
as improvised and definitely take some cues from modern composition,
rock, and even electronic music.
Listen: |
| Squid Fist | Saturday, June 30, 2007 |
The law of this Minneapolis noise-factory states that: All else equal,
(Your_Radio) + (Squidfist_Performance) = (Sonic_IED).
Listen: |
| The Armor Class | Saturday, June 30, 2007 |
Members of this ambient-electronic group of Chicago are IDM warriors of
the meta-dance school so show'em some respect. 'Sides, they've got a
Dexterity of like 17, so don't mess with them.
Listen: |
| Jim Elkington | Thursday, June 28, 2007 |
Chicago guitarist-singer for the band The Zincs stopped by for a nice
(and rare) solo/acoustic set.
Listen: |
| Mike Tamburo | Wednesday, June 27, 2007 |
Basically one of the hardest-working musician to cross our path. He
makes epic droney/loopy/guitar-and-dulcimer pieces.
Listen: |
| Jason Steele Ensemble | Saturday, June 23, 2007 |
Satisfying an often lacking position in creative jazz music; their
performance is totally accessible, but still manages to surprise you at
every turn. Chicago based group.
Listen: |
| A Light Sleeper | Saturday, June 23, 2007 |
This Chicago duo strips out all the nonsense and filler when they
create their minimal rock jams, and like a 45 on 33, they play it out
all slow-like. Second Airplay performance.
Listen: |
| The Engines | Wednesday, June 20, 2007 |
Four heavyweights of jazz and improvised music, each an irreplaceable
asset to the Chicago jazz/improv community. It's no wonder that this
collaboration results in a cosmic collision of ideas.
Listen: |
| The Late Severa Wires | Monday, June 18, 2007 |
Santa Fe group put together by the good folks down at High Mayhem
pummeled our airwaves mercilessly for almost an hour.
Listen: |
| Thollem McDonas | Tuesday, June 12, 2007 |
San Fran bay area pianist steers his genre-mixing between mere casual
dabbling and gratuitous hodge-podgery. The result is decidedly tough to
pigeon-hole.
Listen: |
| Black Bear Combo | Friday, June 08, 2007 |
4-piece marching band that is sooo punk-rock. Funky, wild at times and
deceptively complex. Plus, they play a mean supercharged Tango.
Listen: |
| Awesome Color | Saturday, June 02, 2007 |
Explosive, full-on rock music from this trio out of Brooklyn. Second
appearance on Airplay.
Engineer: Matt Mahon Listen: |
| Slink Moss | Saturday, June 02, 2007 |
Filmmaker/ cartoonist/ singer-songwriter-drummer plays genuine pop
Americana.
Listen: |
| Dark Fog | Wednesday, May 23, 2007 | Chicago psych-rock prophets escorted us to other planes of consciousness. |
| The New Ghosts | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 |
Chicago band makes shimmering rock songs with an epic, orchestral
quality.
Listen: |
| To Live and Shave in L.A. | Thursday, May 10, 2007 | Woah. TLASILA continues to amaze us by being some of the coolest, most cutting edge performers we've seen. Unusual, unstoppable, and totally indescribable. Last year's album, “Noon and Eternity” made top record of the year at WNUR. |
| The Wiitala Brothers | Wednesday, May 02, 2007 |
Duo from Chicago played live instruments accompanied by pre-recorded
ones for a nice set of folk-rock indiepop. And unlike most band names,
this one actually describes the band. (They're brothers, get it?)
Listen: |
| Berry | Tuesday, May 01, 2007 |
Greenville, IL indie-rock band plays a nice long set to support their
new Empathy EP.
Listen: |
| Ettrick | Monday, April 30, 2007 |
Ettrick is made up of two drummer/saxophonists which makes for a very
cool improv dynamic. It was exciting having these guys back in after
their album "Infinite Horned Abomination" made WNUR's #4 of '06.
Intense, abrasive sax-skronk. On the abrasive scale going from Kenny G
to Kaoru Abe they rank a solid Brotzmann (it's a weighted scale...)
Listen: |
| Retardos de la Mour | Saturday, April 28, 2007 |
Raw-to-the-bone gay-slanted punk rock n roll band from Chicago graced
our brand new performance studio for its first live set.
Listen: |
| Eric Carbonara | Saturday, April 07, 2007 |
Eric came in with Mike Tamburo and to play live on Airplay but our new
studio wasn't finished yet so they had to play in the interview booth.
It was cool though; they were troopers. And the set turned out well.
Eric played beautiful solo acoustic guitar--classical,
world-influenced, and raga-style too. Nice.
Listen: |
| Mike Tamburo | Saturday, April 07, 2007 |
Mike's nth performance at NUR which makes sense 'cause he tours more
than any artist we've ever seen. He played a (rare?) solo-dulcimer set
from our interview booth. Check out Mike's huge new 7-disc box set,
"Language of the Birds and Other Fantasies".
Listen: |
| Primordial Undermind | Tuesday, February 27, 2007 |
Trio from Austin, TX returns to Airplay with long-form psych jams
infused with a strategic smattering of free jazz and eastern music.
Listen: |
| Zing | Saturday, February 24, 2007 |
Chicago quintet blends jazz and improv with ambient and
electro-acoustic sounds to make music that sometimes jams and sometimes
scatters freely.
Listen: |
| Rivulets | Thursday, February 22, 2007 |
Nathan Amundson returns with this version of Rivulets with guitar, vox,
and minimal percussion. Deep, melancholic, and hauntingly beautiful.
Listen: |
| Kaspar Hauser | Saturday, February 17, 2007 |
Chicago rock quartet churns out a handful of solid, upbeat rock-pop
songs with nice hooks and backing vox.
Listen: |
| Xyzr_Kx | Saturday, February 10, 2007 |
We were fortunate to have Chicago artist Xyzr_Kx help us out by
performing during our phoneathon fundraiser. Assuming the role of both
a singer-songwriter and an electronic music DJ, Xyzr_Kx wields both a
guitar and a laptop to bravely and beautifully bridge indie-rock with
electro-pop.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Joshua Manchester & Clifton Ingram | Wednesday, February 07, 2007 |
Ethereal micro-improv duets for prepared guitar and drumset.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Algernon | Tuesday, February 06, 2007 |
Chicago quintet plays jams that have a foundation primarily in the
jazz/improv, but also draw heavily from chicago post-rock.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Dragones | Sunday, February 04, 2007 |
Latin rock band brought in by WNUR's El Zilencio.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Kevin Drumm & Jim Dorling | Saturday, January 27, 2007 |
Two noise Gods smite our airwaves with 'test equipment' and saxophone.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Charles & Charles | Saturday, January 27, 2007 |
Chicago improvising duo of Charleses Rumback and Gorczynski (on drums
and sax respectively) who reach past acoustic improvisations to
incorporate synths and programming giving their music a distinct,
otherworldly sound.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| C. Spencer Yeh | Saturday, January 27, 2007 |
Burning Star Core mastermind rips it up on violin and voice w/
electronics to produce a dense droning improvisation.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Drakkar Sauna | Sunday, January 21, 2007 |
Kansas folk-pop duo who pounded out 5-6 short and delightfully
eccentric anthems for guitar(s), synth, bass drum, and foot-tambourine.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Information Superhighway | Saturday, January 20, 2007 |
Chicago quartet plays chilled out pop songs that are heavy on the
jazzimprov.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Spires That in the Sunset Rise | Friday, January 19, 2007 |
Trio now based in Chicago employing a multitude of unique percussion
and drone instruments to make beautiful, dark avant-folk music. They
lay soft, deliberate vocal lines over a textured sonic landscape to
inspire powerful jams that are mesmerizing if not downright hypnotic.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Andy McWain / Jamie Branch | Friday, January 19, 2007 |
Duo performance from Boston pianist Andy McWain and Chicago trumpeter
Jamie Branch. McWain's dexterous playing style dominated and destroyed
our sorry excuse for a piano and gave us a great set in the process.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Brenmar | Friday, January 19, 2007 |
Chicago's Brenmar (aka Brenmar Someday aka William Salas) covers a
broad spectrum from danceable and beat-oriented to ambient and
atmospheric all of it created by working with found sounds, digital
& analog synths, microphones, samplers, and old dusty records.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Paul Metzger | Saturday, January 13, 2007 |
Awesome set from TVBC guitarist Paul Metzger who brought his amplified
plastic guitar for this session. Spastic, atonal free improv a la Derek
Bailey, spare and crunchy.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Forgotten Works | Saturday, January 13, 2007 |
Erik Wivinus playing mesmeric ragas for solo acoustic "wood" guitar.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Maradona | Friday, January 12, 2007 |
Solid indie rock from this Chicago quartet. brought to us by WNUR's
rock show.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| The Curtains | Thursday, January 11, 2007 |
Great simplistic pop from the Asthmatic Kitty band.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Son of Gunnar, Ton of Shel | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 |
Electro-acoustic improv from Icelandic guitarist Steini Gunnarson
playing prepared guitar/processing and saxophonist (formerly of the
chicago improv scene) Aram Shelton also playing with FX.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Braintree | Friday, January 05, 2007 |
Math/prog duo from Chicago plays a collection of concert etudes.
Devilishly complex and clever.
Listen
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help?) |
| Uke of Spaces Corners County / Shep and Me | Monday, December 18, 2006 |
Uke makes jangly psych-folk, vaguely political, with lo-fi caterwauling
vocals and subdued guitar work. They played on the Expansion Experiment
with Shep and Me.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| The Other Planets | Saturday, December 16, 2006 |
Quirky New Orleans rock band's second appearance on the Airplay Show.
They combine funked-up rock, prog, free jazz, and a special odd brand
of humor to kick out some delightfully unpredictable jams. They're fast
and bulbous, got me?
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Leaves | Friday, December 15, 2006 |
Leave's music is superchill. Their sound is way laid-back and even
though the most pronounced stylistic references are from jazz (the
instrumentation is bass/drums/sax with fx/guitar) there's an undeniable
chicago post-rock feel.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Tomorrow Music Orchestra | Saturday, December 09, 2006 |
We're not ones to try to set records on our program, however the number
of people in the Tomorrow Music Orchestra we were able to cram into the
little box we call our studio made us debate whether to call Guinness.
The TMO played three pieces for jazz orchestra that were arrangements
of tunes by The Other Planets (who came in to play the following week).
This performance was made possible by the Ears & Eyes Festival
in Chicago.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Herculaneum | Tuesday, December 05, 2006 |
Killer jazz quintet from Chicago with horn lines that can fry two eggs
and rhythms that'll make you want to wiggle your toes.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Indian Jewelry | Saturday, November 25, 2006 |
Texan troublemakers Indian Jewelry making dream-like droned-out jams
that border on electronica but warbling, fuzzy synthesizers give it
that rock aesthetic. Lots of layers make it sound dark and brooding
without being too chaotic.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Skeletons and the Kings of All Cities | Monday, November 20, 2006 |
Quirky rock 4tet that's anything but your standard bass-axe-axe-drums
ensemble. There's something delightfully odd about their songs that you
can't put your finger on, upbeat, and at times downright danceable, but
not without serious creativity.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Jessica Rylan | Monday, November 20, 2006 |
Intense solo performance from this Boston area noisician. Feedback,
microphones, and diy electronics blast this set off the musical map.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Mike Tamburo | Saturday, November 18, 2006 |
Two epic pieces by this Airplay Show regular from New Kensington, PA.
Mike plays a variety of instruments/devices with an emphasis on guitar
and the hammered dulcimer. Check out this set for the washes of
feedback & drone loops along with finger-style guitar playing.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Shot x Shot | Saturday, November 18, 2006 |
Philadelphia quartet fits squarely in the jazz/improv camp, but draws
nicely from post-rock textures and ambiance. This is a great set from
some cool up-and-coming improvisers.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Michael Young | Friday, November 17, 2006 |
Solid, intricate sound from this Minneapolis guitarist. It's
fingerpickin good.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Nick Schillace | Friday, November 17, 2006 |
Detroit area guitarist who is a master of American primitive
Fahey-style guitar music. His third appearance on the Airplay Show.
Nice.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Helen Money | Saturday, November 11, 2006 |
Trippy psych-rock made on solo acoustic cello sent through tubes and
pedals and loopy guitar fx and released as pulsing, hypnotizing sheets
of sound.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| The Electrics | Thursday, November 09, 2006 |
International improvising ensemble skillfully devour and spit out the
entire history of European free improv in the course of this one
blistering exchange of sounds and do so without even breaking a sweat.
(Actually, the second part could not be further from the truth. At the
end of this performance, it looked like they'd all just run a marathon
around the inside of the little hardwood box we call our studio . . . )
Sture Ericson (reeds); Raymond Strid (drums); Ingebrigt Haaker-Flaten
(bass).
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| The Aperion Ensemble | Monday, November 06, 2006 |
Trio incarnation of The Aperion Project, a Roger's Park based "outlet
for original instrumental music". The word Aperion comes from Greek
meaning "boundless" or "formless substance". Not a bad way to describe
the mostly improvised music of this group.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Alec K Redfearn's Dualistics | Friday, November 03, 2006 |
Offshoot of Alec K Redfearn & The Eyesores. Ranges everywhere
from weirdo pop songs inspired by gypsy music to jangly avant-folk
freakout jams.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Hummingbiird | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 |
Formerly Pedal Steel Transmission (who graced our studios back in Feb,
'02), Hummingbiird is like a band-er-fly emerged from its cocoon and
impossible to pin down. There's some rock, a little psych, that great
chi-town chamber-pop sound, and some americana, all rolled up and
smoked to perfection.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Cavallanti / Tononi / Williams | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 | A nice improvised set from chicago saxophonist Mars Williams playing with two members of the Italian Instabile Orchestra: Daniele Cavallanti on tenor and Tiziano Tononi on drums and percussion. Three free jazz heavyweights just crashing into each other. They played two pieces and the second one also features a beautiful wooden flute and hand drum duet that emerges from the cacophony. This was the first time the three had played together and you can tell there was that spark. |
| Suishou no Fune | Sunday, October 22, 2006 |
Amazing, epic performance by this ambient, psych-rock band from Tokyo.
Their first time in Chicago, and as a band, their first time in the US.
Gentle, wistful guitar melodies up against walls of sound. Admittedly,
communication was a bit tough, but through the sheer power of the music
(plus a lot of hand signals and diagrams) our lowly engineers were able
to get it all on tape. Thank goodness.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Tom Brosseau | Friday, October 20, 2006 |
If the artists we have on Airplay are salsas, Tom Brosseau would be the
ultra-mild. Way-laid back songsmith originally from ND with spare and
gentle guitar and vox. Spare and gentle is just a nice way of saying
dude sounds like a lady.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Binges | Monday, October 16, 2006 |
Swallow-you-whole percussion and diy electronics from these chi-town
improvising noise-makers.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Ettrick | Saturday, October 14, 2006 |
Brutal, oppressive free jazz skronkfest. Two drummer-saxophonists who
are sure to piss off your uptight neighbors.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| I Ching Quartet | Tuesday, October 10, 2006 |
A little blues a little folk and a modern approach to an old-timey
sound. The perfect soundtrack for the approaching Chicago winter.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten / Jeb Bishop | Thursday, October 05, 2006 |
Norwegian bassist transplanted to Chicago, Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten, is
joined by Chicago trombonist Jeb Bishop. I wonder if the name "jeb
bishop" is problematic for radio announcers in Norway . . .
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Arrah and the Ferns | Saturday, September 30, 2006 |
Folk-rock with catchy songs and a pleasant vibe all around.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Layne Garrett | Saturday, September 30, 2006 |
Guitar tricked out with FX and manipulations. Solo stuff everywhere
from drones to folksy sounds.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Daniel Menche | Tuesday, September 26, 2006 |
Portland noisician/sound artist who did like a remix of a remix of
something. Lots of clattering and tribaly beats and drones.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| The World Without Magic | Sunday, September 24, 2006 |
Solid indie rock with sweeping vocals and delightful keyboards.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| BIGBIGcar / David Adamson | Saturday, September 23, 2006 |
David "Moose" Adamson from BIGBIGcar played us a great set with his
acoustic guitar, drums, and drum machine.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Jayve Montgomery & Joel Wanek | Wednesday, August 30, 2006 |
Nice long set from two chicago improvisors. It covered a wide sonic
spectrum from minimal percussion plinking to more intense moments.
Check these guys out at Cafe Mestizo on Sunday nights for the
avant-garde jam.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Bridge 61 | Friday, July 21, 2006 |
The second set from this Chicago jazz/improv quartet. The tunes they
played for the set a year ago ended up on CD. Hopefully it'll happen
with this one too. Vandermark (reeds), McBride (basses), Daisy (drums),
and Stein (bass clarinet).
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Awesome Color | Friday, July 21, 2006 |
Solid performance from this Brooklyn band that's been getting a lot of
attention recently. Raw, the way it outta be.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Charlotte Hug & Fred Lonberg-Holm | Thursday, July 20, 2006 |
Swiss violist Charlotte Hug joins Chicago cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm for
three freely improvised pieces. At times, soft and sustained, at
others, jittery and frenetic. Nice.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Dan Godston / Bill MacKay / Joshua Manchester | Wednesday, July 19, 2006 |
Three Chicago improvisors come together for one huge piece that has it
all. Everybody plays percussion. A whole room full of it.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Sharks and Seals | Saturday, July 15, 2006 |
Local experimental pop group with some nice meandering and looped
guitar noises.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| 774th Street Quartet | Tuesday, July 11, 2006 |
Great Saxophone Quartet with Aram Shelton, Guillermo Gregorio, Keefe
Jackson, and Thomas Meyer. Ranges from free improv to composed pieces.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Baby Teeth | Wednesday, June 07, 2006 |
Great soulful music from Chicago. If you want something to jam to, this
is probably it.
Listen
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help?) |
| Eleventh Dream Day | Wednesday, June 07, 2006 | One of the best rock bands from Chicago ever. And they still got it after all these years. Their first recording was on a WNUR comp, and now they've come full circle (I like to think). interview follows performance. |
| Robbie Lee | Saturday, June 03, 2006 |
Owner and operator of I & Ear records Robbie Lee plays some
improvised guitar for us. Really good.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone | Saturday, June 03, 2006 |
two accomplished musicians play interesting music for viola and guitar
with seamless changes from composed to improvised sections.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Nethers | Friday, June 02, 2006 | pleasant folk psych duo |
| Spunky Toofers | Saturday, May 27, 2006 |
Local noise maker Daniel Park creates a mantra for our distracted days
by manipulating circuit bent intruments and souls.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Anaananaan | Friday, May 26, 2006 |
the easiest band name to say 10 times fast.
Listen
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help?) |
| Mike Tamburo | Monday, May 22, 2006 |
Mike Tamburo comes back for the nth time and give us a piece of guitar.
Listen
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help?) |
| Charlie Schmidt | Saturday, May 20, 2006 |
Former protoge of John Fahey plays some Fahey and some originals in
this true Airplay gem.
Listen
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help?) |
| Tuxedo Killers | Saturday, May 20, 2006 |
sweet as a leprechaun rawk, talking' fuckin' rawk. dig? From Austin,
TX.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Good Stuff House | Thursday, May 18, 2006 |
great drone trio with members of Zelianople.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Tomorrow Music Orchestra | Saturday, May 13, 2006 |
Local bassist Michael Golombisky plays with 9 people in our apparently
cramped space. orchestral jazz.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| PAL | Saturday, May 13, 2006 |
Local Politi-rockers rock their little hearts out and end with a
"Psycho" cover.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Magic Carpathians | Friday, May 05, 2006 |
Amazing experimental psych duo from Poland.
Listen
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help?) |
| Tanakh | Wednesday, May 03, 2006 |
Band of Italians and one American transplant by the name of Jesse Poe.
They made me a drawing.
Listen
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help?) |
| Stnnng | Saturday, April 29, 2006 |
Stnnng apparently had some record dude listen to this when we broadcast
it. I hope it worked out for them. Heavy post-punk with a touch of
Fugazi
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Office | Monday, April 24, 2006 |
Local band is apparently about to blow up and playing a month long
residency at Schuba's. Wish them the best and send us lots of money.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Detholz! | Saturday, April 22, 2006 |
Local geek-rockers love their guitars and gear, and play like they love
life. Try the Cars on Methanphetamines.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Wilderness | Monday, April 17, 2006 |
Baltimore's The Wilderness play simple, repetative, and jangle music
with pounding tribal drums and emotionally yelled vocals. Similar to
PiL and the Lungfish. Good stuff.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| More Dogs | Wednesday, April 12, 2006 |
Baltimore's mad masters of the marimba (actually vibraphone, but
mibraphone sounds stupid)More Dogs manufacture melodies meticulously
and mix in minutes of mayhem. on Monitor records.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Choir Boys | Tuesday, April 11, 2006 |
Laptop (Max/MSP programming), clarinet, and flugelhorn improvisations
and compositions. Very creepy and interesting
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Doppler Shift | Tuesday, April 11, 2006 |
Local jazz fusion group.
Listen
Online: (need
help?) |
| Dirty Projectors | Sunday, April 09, 2006 |
Amazing Acoustic set from Dave Longstreth and buddies from the Dirty
Projectors.
Listen
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help?) |
| Scotland Yard Gospel Choir | Saturday, April 01, 2006 |
Listen
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help?) |
| The National Trust | Thursday, March 30, 2006 | National Trust comes in for a third visit, this time with a new dance-floor ready sound. They DJ'd the spit out of the station later, too. |
| Girl Talk | Saturday, March 25, 2006 | Pop mash-up artist Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk shows everyone his laptop chops and tells us why what he does is nice and legal. Performance and interview |
| Town & Country | Saturday, March 11, 2006 |
Local Thrill Jockey improvisers and languid "space-jangle" musicians
come in for the upteenth time and perform for only 2 microphones...and
our hearts.
Listen
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| A Tundra | Saturday, February 25, 2006 | Local band A Tundra play a style of rock that jerks you by the emotional collar. Includes members of now-defunkt Candyland Riots. This band is aaaallll band. |
| Coltrane Motion | Monday, February 20, 2006 | |
| The Life & Times | Saturday, January 28, 2006 | |
| Low | Friday, January 27, 2006 | Slowcore greats Low came in for a second helping of Airplay. This time they filled up the Logan Square Auditorium with their fans and their plaintive and thought-provoking style of music. Oh yeah, and they're Mormon. |
| Holy Fuck | Thursday, January 19, 2006 | |
| Odawas | Wednesday, January 18, 2006 | |
| Wooden Wand and Friends | Monday, January 16, 2006 | New York-turned-Knoxville Psych-folk artist Wooden Wand showed up with friends: Jess from his band the Vanishing Voice and Keith Wood from Hush Arbors. the result? A lovely folk performance with tender harmonies and the occasional fuzzed guitar. |
| Telenovela | Tuesday, January 10, 2006 | |
| Tatsu Aoki and Jonathan Chen | Monday, January 09, 2006 | |
| Archeology | Thursday, January 05, 2006 | |
| The Other Planets | Wednesday, January 04, 2006 | |
| Michael Columbia | Tuesday, January 03, 2006 | Local rock fusion group includes members of Icy Demons and Bablicon |
| A Light Sleeper | Monday, January 02, 2006 | |
| Michael Young | Thursday, December 08, 2005 | |
| Herculaneum | Thursday, December 08, 2005 | Members of Michael Columbia and friends make up this Jazz fusion group. |
| Tarantula AD | Thursday, December 01, 2005 | Hard to believe it's just a trio that storms through these killer instrumental rock anthems. This music is epic the way prog should be. |
| I Need Sleep | Monday, November 21, 2005 | Upbeat, downright dancable punk-rock music from this Chicago foursome. This band glows in the dark. |
| Mike Tamburo | Friday, November 18, 2005 | Mike has become a semi-regular guest to the Airplay show this past year, and we're always glad to have him. Mike's long-form solo guitar works are simply beautiful |
| Mung | Thursday, November 17, 2005 | |
| Useful Monsters | Friday, November 11, 2005 | Chest-slapping, foot-stomping, gibberish-babbling funkimprov. There was nothing that could've prepared us for this one. Also, it was radio, but they wore costumes anyway. |
| Yea Big | Saturday, November 05, 2005 | |
| John Parish | Tuesday, November 01, 2005 | Hauntingly beautiful laid-back rock music from this Thrill Jockey recording artist and his band. This set makes you feel like your sitting at a campfire. (This was also the first set--that we can remember at least--where damaged equipment and the fear of electrocution made the set just that much more exciting.) |
| Ghost Family | Sunday, October 30, 2005 | |
| Charlotte Hug | Wednesday, October 26, 2005 | Swiss violist who incorporates a wide range of extended technique played a nice acoustic set for us. Hug performed at WNUR's 2005 Jazzfest and we were lucky enough to get her into the studio as well. |
| Arriver | Tuesday, October 18, 2005 | Dark and proggy rock from this chi-based group. |
| Joni Laurence | Monday, October 17, 2005 | |
| J+J+J | Monday, October 17, 2005 | Wicked funny lyrics and beats that'll get your bump on. Chicago music hasn't had as much personality since Wesley. Bubblepob + electro = J + J + J |
| Nick Schillace | Friday, October 14, 2005 | Melodic acoustic guitar solos. Folky, but in a good (ie Fahey) way. |
| Life Partners | Thursday, October 06, 2005 | |
| Olam | Saturday, September 24, 2005 | |
| Fe-Mail | Tuesday, September 20, 2005 | |
| Harris Eisenstadt, Sara Schoenbeck, & Jason Ajemian | Tuesday, September 20, 2005 | |
| MONO | Friday, September 16, 2005 | |
| Mazen Kerbaj, Vic Rawlings, Mike Bullock | Friday, September 16, 2005 | |
| Free Music Ensemble (FME) | Wednesday, September 14, 2005 | |
| Fissure | Friday, September 09, 2005 | |
| Mike Tamburo | Monday, September 05, 2005 | |
| Nick Schillace | Monday, September 05, 2005 | |
| New Electric | Saturday, September 03, 2005 | |
| Aural Intuition | Wednesday, August 31, 2005 | Daniel Godston, Jayve Montgomery, and Joel Wanek return for their second performance on Eric Ricks' jazz show. Godston plays trumpet, Montgomery is on drums, Wanek is on bass and they're all playing small percussion. Just by listening you might not realize just how many instruments are being used. Lots of cool homemade and unusual percussion. |
| Pattern is Movement | Tuesday, August 23, 2005 | Deceptively complex rock compositions from this Philadelphia band--just when you think they've latched onto a pretty pop groove, they whip out some progtastic, mathy goodness. |
| Keenan Lawler | Wednesday, August 17, 2005 | Excellent improvisations for solo guitar |
| Early Day Miners | Wednesday, August 17, 2005 | Secretly Canadian group brings their folk-tinged rock to the masses. |
| Sourave Chatterjee and Dhananjay Kunte | Sunday, August 14, 2005 | Sitar/tabla concert put on by Lotus Beat |
| Electrelane | Wednesday, August 10, 2005 | Brighton, England, four-piece bring their metronymic grooves to the station. |
| QMR Plus | Saturday, August 06, 2005 | Lively quartet whose music traverses the spectrum of modern jazz styles |
| Black Bear Combo | Saturday, August 06, 2005 | |
| Mr. Tiny's Electric Toy Band | Saturday, July 30, 2005 | Los Angeles-based electronic pop music that soothes the ears and the soul. |
| Home Recording Project | Friday, July 29, 2005 | |
| Mike Tamburo | Wednesday, July 27, 2005 | Beautiful guitar music. That's all that needs to be written. |
| Jessica Bailiff | Friday, July 22, 2005 | In-studio performance by Kranky recording artist Jessica Bailiff |
| Annelies Monsere | Friday, July 22, 2005 | Blue Sanct recording artists plays nice songs on acoustic guitar. |
| The Danglers | Friday, July 22, 2005 | |
| Daniel Godston/Joel Wanek/Jayve Montgomery | Wednesday, July 13, 2005 | |
| Aural Intuition | Wednesday, July 13, 2005 | |
| The Siderunners | Thursday, July 07, 2005 | |
| The Evil Connection | Friday, June 10, 2005 | |
| Bertrand Russell's Capital T | Saturday, June 04, 2005 | Minimalist improvisors Jonathan Chen (violin, electronics) and Philip Shultz (electronics). |
| Na | Thursday, May 26, 2005 | |
| Trio Actuelle | Saturday, May 14, 2005 | Trio of James Falzone (clarinet, launeddas, tin whistle), Jeremiah McLane (accordion), and Eric Platz( percussion). On the cusp of improvised/folk with Middle Eastern and French music influence. We've decided that unlike most of our guests, these guys were real musicians. |
| Phantom Limb & Bison | Friday, May 13, 2005 | Live at Sonic Celluloid III |
| Cheer-Accident | Friday, May 13, 2005 | At Sonic Celluloid III |
| Olivia Block | Friday, May 13, 2005 | This is a performance from WNUR-FM's annual Sonic Celluloid gig. This is where some of our favorite artists perform at the Block Cinema along with silent films. Olivia Block falls under our favorites catagory |
| Molar | Friday, May 13, 2005 | Yet another performance from our 2005 3rd annual Sonic Celluloid. Bands perform live with silent films. Molar droned and psyched us to no end. |
| Phantom Limb and Bison | Monday, May 09, 2005 | Music made with sine wave oscillators, electronics, guitar, EMS synthi, radio feedback, contra-bass clarinet, alto sax, and orchestral bass drum. One long minimal/noise piece which made our studio shake (seriously, it shook.) |
| ADULT. | Sunday, May 08, 2005 | |
| EKG | Tuesday, May 03, 2005 | |
| Why? | Thursday, April 28, 2005 | |
| Trizzo | Saturday, April 23, 2005 | Brooklyn-based trio of guitar, keyboards, and drums. Fun. |
| Chicago Luzern Exchange | Saturday, April 16, 2005 | Three quarters of the group stopped by (the Chicago part, not Mark Unternahrer, tuba player from Switzland) for a set of dynamic improv shorts which reminded us why it was so cool to be in Chicago. |
| Dave Rempis/Nate McBride/Jason Adasiewicz | Wednesday, April 13, 2005 | Very cool set from this sax-vibes-bass trio. Just the right amounts of subtlety, variety, and complexity. Originally aired on the jazz show. |
| Fessenden | Tuesday, April 12, 2005 | Joshua Convey, Stephen Fiehn, and Steven Hess perform one hour-long piece of flowing, atmospheric improv. |
| Gutbucket | Sunday, April 10, 2005 | A bracing combination of punk, jazz, klezmer, ska, raggae and more. Awesome. |
| James Chance | Thursday, April 07, 2005 | A phone interview with this 70s No Wave legend aka James White who lead the Contortions, the Blacks, & Flaming Demonics. (They're all the same.) |
| Parts & Labor | Wednesday, April 06, 2005 | Williamsburg, Brooklyn heroes came to show WNUR there's only one way to rock. |
| Bear Claw | Monday, April 04, 2005 | 3-piece Chicago band came in to support their new Steve Albini-produced record. They rocked hard after we managed to get their enormous kick-drum and speaker cabinets through our doorway. |
| Bubblegum Shitface vs. Rotten Milk | Sunday, April 03, 2005 | Local noisemakers face off. We're not sure who won, but we were all covered in blood by then end. |
| John Ellis | Sunday, April 03, 2005 | Half-hour interview with New York jazz saxophonist and his band. |
| Jim Baker | Friday, March 25, 2005 | Local improvisational keyboardist plays his vintage ARP2600 analog synthesizer, making sounds that will both shock and awe you |
| Radian | Wednesday, March 23, 2005 | Amazing Austrians make their second appearance on WNUR, supporting their excellent Thrill Jockey release Juxtaposition. |
| Pit er Pat | Tuesday, March 22, 2005 | Local three-piece plays delightful keyboard-based art rock. |
| Nightingales, The | Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | Recently reunited British post-punk group recntly toured the U.S. for the first time, and made WNUR one of their stops. Nice. |
| Sam Prekop & Archer Prewitt | Monday, March 14, 2005 | A pair of brief minisets from Chicago rockers who've done time in The Sea and Cake, Shrimp Boat, and The Coctails, among others. |
| Henry Grimes, Marshall Allen, & Avreeayl Ra | Thursday, March 10, 2005 | Free jazz legend Henry Grimes and space jazz guru Marshall Allen (Sun Ra Arkhistra) stopped by on their Spaceship on the Highway tour. Chicago drummer Avreeayl Ra shared in their cosmic jam. |
| Rivulets with Zelienople | Saturday, March 05, 2005 | |
| Panoply Academy of Legionnaires | Saturday, March 05, 2005 | |
| Dave Douglas | Sunday, February 27, 2005 | Interview with this New York trumpeter known for his work in groups with unusual instrumentation and personnel just started his own label called Greenleaf Music. |
| Bird Show | Saturday, February 26, 2005 | Ben Vida of Town and Country, Central Falls, and more performs a beautiful solo set. |
| Mia Doi Todd | Friday, February 25, 2005 | Singer-songwriter visits Airplay for first time in over 5 years. Really good songs on solo acoustic guitar. |
| Michael Columbia | Saturday, February 12, 2005 | Chicago duo whose psychedelic/electronic/rock/jam music has left us searching for an accurate description. They're definitely good. |
| Phill Niblock | Friday, February 11, 2005 | The minimalist titan came on to play a few of his pieces and give us an in-depth interview. |
| Michael Yonkers | Tuesday, February 08, 2005 | Creator of the lost '60s psychedelic classic "Microminiature Love," Michael Yonkers still rocks hard, even when it's just him and his fuzzed-out guitar. |
| Carol Genetti and Eric Leonardson | Saturday, February 05, 2005 | Carol Genetti and Eric Leonardson have both played Airplay before. But never together! Local improvisors, Genetti on vocals, Leonardson on his very own springboard. |
| Yuko Nexus6 | Saturday, February 05, 2005 | Japanese sound artist Yuko Nexus6 utilized field recordings and vocals to explore the sensation of being in a foreign place. It was really good. |
| Man Man | Friday, February 04, 2005 | Man Man from Philadelphia. 14 minutes of solid performance, followed by the the greatest thirty seconds in the history of recorded music. |
| Japanther | Thursday, February 03, 2005 | Texas rockers Japanther came showed us ever so briefly how to love again. |
| The Nightingales | Tuesday, February 01, 2005 | |
| Bridge 61 | Saturday, January 29, 2005 | Featuring local improvisors Ken Vandermark, Jason Stein, Nate McBride, and Tim Daisy, Bridge 61 conquered Airplay with characteristic ferocity. |
| The Life and Times | Friday, January 28, 2005 | Featuring Allen Epley (formerly of Shiner), this Kansas City trio performed shimmering rock music. |
| Jason Ajemian and Nori Tanaka | Tuesday, January 25, 2005 | Local improvisors bring the pain on drums and bass |
| Mike Krause | Tuesday, December 07, 2004 | |
| Andrew Morgan | Tuesday, November 23, 2004 | |
| Thalia Zedek | Thursday, November 18, 2004 | |
| Zelienople | Wednesday, November 17, 2004 | |
| Stuart Dempster & Jeb Bishop | Friday, November 12, 2004 | In conjunction with the Outer Ear Festival of Sound 2004. |
| Dosh | Monday, November 08, 2004 | |
| Joshua Manchester | Saturday, October 30, 2004 | |
| Volcano! | Friday, October 22, 2004 | |
| Bernhard Gal | Saturday, October 02, 2004 | |
| Lasse Marhaug | Saturday, October 02, 2004 | |
| Boykin/Seigfried/Wing | Friday, August 27, 2004 | David Boykin (reeds), Karl Seigfried (bass), Alex Wing (guitar). |
| Black Stool | Saturday, August 07, 2004 | |
| Thax Douglas and Ben | Saturday, July 24, 2004 | |
| Jakob | Saturday, July 03, 2004 | |
| Elephant Micah | Friday, June 25, 2004 | |
| Vollmar | Friday, June 25, 2004 | |
| Templo Diez | Saturday, June 19, 2004 | |
| Philip Jeck | Friday, June 11, 2004 | |
| Tomato Box | Wednesday, June 09, 2004 | |
| Funkstörung | Tuesday, June 08, 2004 | |
| Cerberus Shoal | Saturday, May 29, 2004 | |
| So Percussion | Saturday, May 22, 2004 | |
| Heroine Sheiks | Thursday, May 20, 2004 | |
| So Percussion | Wednesday, May 19, 2004 | |
| Ova! | Saturday, May 15, 2004 | |
| Happy Mother's Day | Saturday, May 15, 2004 | |
| Bevel | Saturday, May 08, 2004 | |
| Neung Phak Monopause | Thursday, May 06, 2004 | |
| Troyer | Sunday, May 02, 2004 | |
| Elliot Sharp | Saturday, May 01, 2004 | Excellent solo guitar set from longtime downtown NYC improvisor and composer. He uses an Ebow and a slide. Look it up. |
| Need New Body | Thursday, April 22, 2004 | Great set from these Philly guys. Reminds me of Chrome, kinda. Seeing them live is an experience, believe you us. |
| The SSION | Saturday, April 17, 2004 | kinda like Lisa Suckdog for the New Generation. It's good, brings some color into your face. |
| Brenden Massei | Saturday, March 20, 2004 | |
| Francisco Lopez | Saturday, March 20, 2004 | |
| Red Eyed Legends | Saturday, March 20, 2004 | |
| X27 | Friday, March 12, 2004 | |
| TV POW | Tuesday, March 09, 2004 | |
| Killer Dreamer | Monday, March 08, 2004 | |
| Japanther | Monday, March 08, 2004 | |
| Faun Fables | Saturday, March 06, 2004 | |
| Sin Ropas | Wednesday, March 03, 2004 | |
| Cheer Accident | Tuesday, March 02, 2004 | |
| Cheer-Accident | Saturday, February 28, 2004 | |
| Russian Futurists | Saturday, February 14, 2004 | |
| Rope | Saturday, February 14, 2004 | Trio now based in Chicago featuring two Polish expatriates who started the band back in their homeland a number of years back. They play a form of gothic noise rock that offsets brutality with sparse, menacing passages of suspenseful quietness. Very interesting stuff. |
| Volcano (I'm Still Excited) | Friday, February 13, 2004 | |
| Unicorns | Sunday, January 18, 2004 | |
| Maneshevitz | Saturday, January 10, 2004 | |
| No Doctors | Thursday, December 18, 2003 | No Docs' third set for Airplay, its becoming a yearly thing. Its quite good though, much better than their sets for any other radio station. |
| Kate Simko | Saturday, November 22, 2003 | |
| Fleischman & Kleine | Saturday, November 22, 2003 | |
| Christian Kliene | Saturday, November 22, 2003 | |
| Phil Durrant | Tuesday, November 18, 2003 | |
| Robot Ate Me | Friday, November 14, 2003 | |
| Oneida | Tuesday, November 11, 2003 | |
| Hale Zukas | Saturday, November 08, 2003 | |
| Aspera | Saturday, November 08, 2003 | |
| Rebecca Gates | Saturday, November 08, 2003 | |
| Chris Brokaw | Saturday, November 08, 2003 | |
| Walkmen | Saturday, November 08, 2003 | |
| Aspera | Saturday, November 08, 2003 | |
| Bobby Bare, Jr. | Saturday, November 01, 2003 | |
| Young People, The | Monday, October 20, 2003 | |
| Old Time Relijun | Monday, October 20, 2003 | |
| High Strung, The | Monday, October 13, 2003 | |
| Brian Jonestown Massacre | Monday, October 13, 2003 | |
| The Fever | Friday, October 03, 2003 | |
| Born Heller | Thursday, October 02, 2003 | |
| Steve Wynn | Saturday, September 20, 2003 | |
| Fulcrum Collection | Tuesday, September 16, 2003 | |
| Winter Blanket | Wednesday, September 10, 2003 | |
| Norfolk and Western | Wednesday, September 10, 2003 | |
| National, The | Saturday, September 06, 2003 | |
| Flaming Fire | Sunday, August 31, 2003 | |
| Atombombpocketknife | Friday, August 29, 2003 | |
| Azita | Saturday, August 23, 2003 | |
| W.A.C.O. | Tuesday, August 19, 2003 | |
| This Moment In Black History | Saturday, August 16, 2003 | |
| Primordial Undermind | Monday, August 11, 2003 | |
| The Mobius Band | Saturday, August 09, 2003 | |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, August 02, 2003 | |
| Party of Helicopters | Saturday, July 26, 2003 | |
| Nautical Almanac | Tuesday, July 22, 2003 | |
| Salvo Beta | Saturday, July 19, 2003 | |
| Dead Meadow | Sunday, July 13, 2003 | |
| Sightings | Friday, July 11, 2003 | |
| Elephant Micah | Monday, July 07, 2003 | |
| Alice Peacock | Sunday, July 06, 2003 | |
| static films | Sunday, July 06, 2003 | Mark Trecka of Static Films plays solo by the moonlight. |
| Canyon | Monday, June 23, 2003 | |
| Glass Candy | Saturday, June 21, 2003 | |
| Qui*x*otic | Wednesday, June 18, 2003 | DC band whose KRS record really showed us some skills... |
| Greg Davis & Steven hess | Tuesday, June 17, 2003 | |
| The Tossers | Saturday, June 14, 2003 | These Chicago celt-punkers played without Bones (the drummer who they make fun of a lot) and the bass player, so they played an hour & a half worth of Irish folk songs--and they ROCKED doing it. |
| Michael Zerang & Eric Leonardson | Tuesday, June 10, 2003 | |
| The Slats | Monday, June 09, 2003 | |
| Nick Collins | Tuesday, June 03, 2003 | |
| Glenn Kotche | Saturday, May 31, 2003 | |
| Point Line Plane | Thursday, May 29, 2003 | |
| Olivia Block | Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | |
| Yowie | Sunday, May 25, 2003 | |
| Paradise Island | Thursday, May 22, 2003 | |
| Calla | Saturday, May 17, 2003 | |
| Tijuana Hercules | Saturday, May 17, 2003 | |
| Tamion 12Inch | Friday, May 16, 2003 | |
| Demolition Doll Rods | Friday, May 09, 2003 | |
| The Lesser Birds of Paradise | Friday, May 09, 2003 | |
| Michael Hurley | Thursday, May 08, 2003 | |
| Dan Raeburn | Saturday, May 03, 2003 | Interview |
| Panthers | Thursday, May 01, 2003 | |
| The Race | Saturday, April 19, 2003 | |
| M. Ward | Friday, April 18, 2003 | |
| Eugene Chadbourne (Interview & Performance) | Wednesday, April 16, 2003 | |
| Bobby Birdman with the Badger King | Saturday, April 12, 2003 | |
| The Badger King | Saturday, April 12, 2003 | |
| Fire of Space | Friday, April 11, 2003 | |
| Artificial Memory Trace | Friday, April 11, 2003 | |
| Dropp Ensemble | Tuesday, April 08, 2003 | |
| Oh, Beast | Monday, April 07, 2003 | |
| Stewart Walker | Sunday, April 06, 2003 | |
| Greg Shiff | Sunday, April 06, 2003 | |
| Triple Threat Djs | Saturday, April 05, 2003 | |
| Crooked Fingers | Monday, March 31, 2003 | |
| The Dishes | Saturday, March 29, 2003 | |
| Pita | Friday, March 21, 2003 | Great mini-set from Viennese glitch/electronic/experimental superstar who was in town for his Lampo-sponsored performance at 6ODUM. |
| The Conformists | Tuesday, March 11, 2003 | |
| MOTO | Saturday, March 08, 2003 | |
| A Whisper in the Noise | Friday, March 07, 2003 | |
| Sugarman 3 | Friday, March 07, 2003 | |
| Oxes, The | Wednesday, March 05, 2003 | Math. Hard math. Do the math. |
| Cass McCombs | Wednesday, March 05, 2003 | Indie twang from NY, with The Oxes backing. |
| Bosco & Jorge | Saturday, March 01, 2003 | |
| Siegfried/Boykin/Reed | Saturday, March 01, 2003 | |
| Vee Dee | Thursday, February 27, 2003 | |
| Damo Suzuki | Sunday, February 23, 2003 | |
| Racebannon | Saturday, February 08, 2003 | Vocally intense craziness from Bloomington, IN, on the Secretly Canadian label. |
| Swearing at Motorists | Saturday, February 08, 2003 | From Dayton, OH. Dave Doughman. 'Nuff said. |
| Vee Dee | Friday, January 31, 2003 | |
| Turn Pale | Saturday, January 25, 2003 | |
| Ancient Greeks | Saturday, January 18, 2003 | |
| Grandpa's Ghost | Thursday, January 16, 2003 | Mellow set from experimental St. Louis rockers. |
| Phil Mosberg Quartet | Saturday, January 11, 2003 | |
| Grey Ghost | Saturday, January 11, 2003 | |
| Mystery Girls | Tuesday, January 07, 2003 | Garage-punk from Green Bay. If the MC5 were only 17 years old again. |
| Single Unit | Monday, January 06, 2003 | |
| Miss Alex White | Wednesday, January 01, 2003 | Local young rock n' roll from a young musician playing in a powerful guitar and drums duo. |
| Go, The | Saturday, December 28, 2002 | Detroit muscle rock of the finest caliber. Straight out of the garage the way you adore it. |
| Tears, The | Friday, December 27, 2002 | These kids from Green Bay rock the garage/punk styles for real. |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, December 21, 2002 | Return set from the Australian/Chicago, and now Canadian band! |
| Unstable Ensemble | Saturday, December 14, 2002 | |
| SS Puft | Friday, December 13, 2002 | |
| Tan as Fuck | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 | |
| World/Inferno Friendship Society, The | Thursday, December 05, 2002 | Fun 9-piece band from NY. |
| Fort Rile Dog | Saturday, November 23, 2002 | |
| Burning Star Core | Saturday, November 23, 2002 | Experimental music. |
| Mick Turner | Saturday, November 23, 2002 | |
| Daniele D'agaro | Saturday, November 09, 2002 | solo improv clarinet set from this Italian jazz musician. |
| Mono | Wednesday, November 06, 2002 | |
| Drekka | Monday, November 04, 2002 | |
| Jessica Bailiff | Monday, November 04, 2002 | |
| Pelican | Saturday, November 02, 2002 | Pelican!!! |
| Radian | Saturday, October 26, 2002 | |
| Destroyer | Saturday, October 26, 2002 | |
| Ex-Models | Thursday, October 24, 2002 | |
| Afflictions, The | Thursday, October 24, 2002 | Really fun, upbeat funk-punk garage rock music! |
| TV POW | Tuesday, October 22, 2002 | |
| Otomo Yoshihide & Sachiko M | Tuesday, October 22, 2002 | interview |
| Rex Hobart | Sunday, October 20, 2002 | performance and interview |
| Chris Mills | Sunday, October 20, 2002 | performance and interview |
| Zelienople | Saturday, October 19, 2002 | |
| Little Wings w/ Calvin Johnson | Saturday, October 19, 2002 | |
| Pleasant Grove | Saturday, October 12, 2002 | |
| Plastic Letters | Saturday, October 05, 2002 | |
| Christmas Decorations | Saturday, October 05, 2002 | |
| David Krakauer | Friday, September 20, 2002 | World Music Festival performance. |
| Birth | Monday, September 16, 2002 | |
| Rope | Saturday, September 14, 2002 | Trio now based in Chicago featuring two Polish expatriates who started the band back in their homeland a number of years back. They play a form of gothic noise rock that offsets brutality with sparse, menacing passages of suspenseful quietness. Very interesting stuff. |
| Rick Kurek | Monday, September 09, 2002 | Rocker from Australian band Brother gives us a solo acoustic set. |
| In Potentia | Saturday, September 07, 2002 | |
| Marcus Schmickler | Saturday, September 07, 2002 | Cologne-based laptop musician who has played with the likes of Pita, Fennesz, John Tilbury, and plays his stuff on the show. |
| Aspera | Saturday, August 31, 2002 | |
| Arco Flute Foundation | Saturday, August 31, 2002 | |
| Cells, The | Saturday, August 24, 2002 | |
| Enon | Thursday, August 22, 2002 | |
| Landing | Monday, August 19, 2002 | |
| Service Anxiety | Monday, August 19, 2002 | |
| MC5 | Saturday, August 17, 2002 | movie interview |
| Koataro Fukuki | Friday, August 16, 2002 | |
| No Doctors | Thursday, August 08, 2002 | |
| Laura Oppenheimer & Tatsu Aoki | Tuesday, August 06, 2002 | |
| Drillchop 9 | Sunday, August 04, 2002 | |
| Greg Hamilton | Sunday, July 28, 2002 | |
| Chuck Falzone | Saturday, July 27, 2002 | |
| Soledad Brothers | Saturday, July 20, 2002 | Bluesy dirty rock from this up and coming trio. |
| Mittens on Strings | Saturday, July 20, 2002 | Southern-style rock from this young band featuring Airplay engineer David "The Badge" Badger. |
| Kill Me Tomorrow | Friday, July 19, 2002 | Killer rock set from this San Diego trio. |
| Jamie Hodge | Saturday, July 13, 2002 | |
| Jason Ajemian & Matt Bauder | Saturday, July 13, 2002 | |
| Ben Miller's Regeneration | Saturday, July 13, 2002 | |
| L'Altra | Friday, July 12, 2002 | |
| Sounds Like Braille | Saturday, June 29, 2002 | Appleton, WI dudes that mix prog and post-rock like only people from Wisonsin can. And I don't mean with cheese. |
| Jon Mueller and Steve Hess | Saturday, June 22, 2002 | Jon is in Pele. Steve is in Bosco & Jorge. Just goes to show you can't pigeonhole people down. They perform a drum duo improvisation. |
| Crack! We Are Rock | Monday, June 17, 2002 | Sultry vocals, crazy thumping electronics. It comes from San Fransisco, so, you know... |
| Rivulets | Sunday, June 16, 2002 | One man, one guitar, from the cold regions of Duluth, MN. He chills and warms our hearts at the same time. |
| Clyde Federal | Sunday, June 16, 2002 | Ol' Airplay engineers seem to be in bands. Mike S. was in this one. They're pretty good! |
| Triage | Saturday, June 15, 2002 | Dave Rempis from the Vandermark 5 comes in with Tim Daisy and Jason Ajemian for jazztastics. |
| Frontier | Friday, June 14, 2002 | The space rock of Chicago returns to Airplay. |
| Rivulets & Haley Bonar | Friday, June 07, 2002 | |
| National Trust | Saturday, June 01, 2002 | A hot and wet set from Neil Rosario and Co. Really, it got drenched during the mix. 1) 2) Making Love In The Natural Light 3) State Line Road Tracks 1 and 2 from the "Dekkagar" CD (2002). Track 3 from National Trust precusor Dolomite's 1995 album "Easter Someday". |
| Hair Police | Thursday, May 23, 2002 | Lexington, KY wackos who are as loud as they are short. And they're pretty short. |
| Jonathan Chen, Jennifer Walsh, Mark Unternahrer | Tuesday, May 21, 2002 | |
| Jon Langford and Sally Timms | Sunday, May 19, 2002 | Jon and Sally perform their anti-death penalty songs for a Chicago hungry for justice. |
| Occasional Detroit | Thursday, May 16, 2002 | Hip-hop/Rock/Experimental group from Detroit suburb. |
| Defender | Saturday, May 04, 2002 | A return performance from this Chicago "space rock" group. This time they had a new line-up. |
| Brenden Massei | Saturday, May 04, 2002 | Return performance from soft-spoken singer-songwriter. |
| Static Films | Friday, May 03, 2002 | A little too noisy to be pop, a little too poppy to be noise... |
| Jason Roebke Trio | Saturday, April 27, 2002 | Jason Roebke, bass player to the stars, brings his trio to the station. |
| Greg Kelley & Kurt Johnson | Tuesday, April 23, 2002 | |
| Soulfire | Sunday, April 21, 2002 | Soulfire records DJs the R & B flashback show, bringing you some deep down and funky cuts. |
| Goem/Kapote Muziek | Saturday, April 20, 2002 | Dutch experimental trio performs with aplomb. |
| Magas | Thursday, April 18, 2002 | Jim Magas from Lake of Dracula went solo, and now he is sweeping the ocean with his critical beats. Check out his record store in Chicago if you're in town, Weekend Records and Soap. |
| Mecca Normal | Wednesday, April 17, 2002 | K and Matador records staple make an appearance. Ths duo's been around, but we think they still got it. |
| Neil Halsted | Tuesday, April 16, 2002 | Short and sweet performance from member of Mojave 3. |
| Virgil Moorefield and Emily XYZ | Tuesday, April 16, 2002 | |
| Forty-Piece Choir | Sunday, April 14, 2002 | |
| Hella | Saturday, April 13, 2002 | Awesome minimalist math rock set from California based duo. |
| Xiu Xiu | Saturday, April 13, 2002 | Industrialized keyboards meet Byrnesque vocals in this somewhat dark set. |
| Lesser Birds of Paradise | Saturday, April 13, 2002 | Moody country with its highs and lows. Watch out. |
| Poem Rocket | Thursday, April 11, 2002 | NYC duo (formerly a trio) play a electro pop/noise set with rocking and beautiful moments. |
| Rico Bell | Saturday, April 06, 2002 | Solo performance from member of the Mekons. Played ballads on acoustic guitar - kinda like Bowie playing country music. |
| OLO | Monday, March 25, 2002 | Instrumental "post" rock from this Chicago group. |
| V for Vendetta | Saturday, March 16, 2002 | |
| Town and Country | Saturday, March 16, 2002 | Great set from local group |
| Bob Falesch | Tuesday, March 12, 2002 | |
| Mountain Goats, The | Friday, March 08, 2002 | |
| Okkervil River | Thursday, March 07, 2002 | Alt-country from this Jag Jaguwar group from Austin, TX |
| Josh Abrams | Tuesday, March 05, 2002 | You may know Josh Abrams as a member of Town and Country and a regular on the Chicago Jazz/Free Improv circuit. This is an excellent set. |
| Bride of No-No | Saturday, March 02, 2002 | |
| Central Falls | Saturday, March 02, 2002 | |
| Scout Niblett | Tuesday, February 19, 2002 | Adorable, yet artistically sound Cat-Power-esque Scottish singer-songwriter plays for you |
| Nolimetangere | Tuesday, February 19, 2002 | |
| Watchers, the | Saturday, February 16, 2002 | Local "super" group played a great set of crazy, spastic funk |
| Adam Sonderberg and Boris Hauf | Tuesday, February 12, 2002 | Live performance of electronics, saxophone, and "junk" |
| Pedal Steel Transmission | Saturday, February 09, 2002 | Rock from a Chicago band with the DIY ethic |
| Zbigniew Karkowski | Friday, February 08, 2002 | Performance and interview with this laptop artist. |
| Aerospace Soundwise | Tuesday, February 05, 2002 | Interesting "sound art" performance |
| Vandermark 5 | Saturday, February 02, 2002 | Live concert and broadcast by these famous Chicago improvisers |
| Forty-One Rivers | Saturday, January 26, 2002 | Features ex-member of Ex-Chittle. |
| Papa M (interview) | Friday, January 25, 2002 | Live interview with former member of Slint, Tortoise, Palace |
| Carol Genetti | Tuesday, January 22, 2002 | Live performance of voice and Nick Broste on violin |
| Troubled Hubble | Saturday, January 19, 2002 | Quirkiness and punkiness abound in this performance by Chicago suburban group |
| Neon Hunk | Monday, January 14, 2002 | Electronic Duo |
| Jon Langford | Sunday, January 13, 2002 | |
| Detachment Kit | Saturday, January 12, 2002 | Local group plays "post post-something" set |
| X27 | Saturday, December 22, 2001 | Local no-wave group rocks out. |
| Jay Bennett / Edward Burch | Sunday, December 16, 2001 | Ex-Wilco guitar man shows why its better to be your own boss than be in the most successful alt-country band in the world. |
| Eric Roth Trio (Jazz Fest '01) | Saturday, December 08, 2001 | |
| David Boykin Group (Jazz Fest '01) | Saturday, December 08, 2001 | |
| Fred Anderson Trio (Jazz Fest '01) | Saturday, December 08, 2001 | |
| Chicago Underground Quartet (Jazz Fest '01) | Saturday, December 08, 2001 | |
| Waxwings, The | Wednesday, November 21, 2001 | |
| Varnoline | Sunday, November 18, 2001 | |
| Tony Conrad (interview) | Friday, November 16, 2001 | |
| National, The | Sunday, November 11, 2001 | These indie rockers returned for another helping of Airplay, bringing a pretty good set along with them |
| Elk City | Sunday, November 11, 2001 | Indie rock group from Brooklyn that have a long history I never heard about. Rockin'. |
| Trailer Bride | Saturday, November 10, 2001 | Chapel Hill alt-country that still sounds good… |
| Nerves, The | Saturday, November 10, 2001 | Local rock trio that own a lock of Iggy's hair (but from what part of his body?) |
| Danny Black's Healthy White Baby Boy | Saturday, November 03, 2001 | The male from the now-defunct The Black's in his new band |
| Stereo Total | Friday, November 02, 2001 | Silly french-pop with videogame-esque samples. |
| Viza Noir | Friday, November 02, 2001 | |
| Kasper T. Toeplitz | Thursday, October 25, 2001 | |
| Eric Roth and The Silver Schmateez | Tuesday, October 23, 2001 | |
| Reynols | Tuesday, October 23, 2001 | |
| Cheyntara | Monday, October 22, 2001 | |
| Elephant Micah | Thursday, October 18, 2001 | Excellent alt-country set from Mittens on Strings member Joe O'Connell. Check out the cover of Madonna's "Like a Prayer." |
| Panicsville | Thursday, October 18, 2001 | Expansion Experiment performance by this Chicago noise/freakout duo |
| Flirts, The | Wednesday, October 10, 2001 | |
| Shams, The | Friday, October 05, 2001 | |
| Blind Spot Trio | Friday, October 05, 2001 | |
| Oneida | Thursday, October 04, 2001 | Most excellently rockin' set from this Brooklyn band |
| Idaho | Thursday, October 04, 2001 | Soft poppy indie performance by this trio. |
| Luc Ferrari | Thursday, October 04, 2001 | Unrecorded interview with French musique concrete pioneer. |
| Zulu as Kono | Sunday, September 30, 2001 | Texas avant-prog from Austin. A screamin' good time. |
| No Doctors | Saturday, September 29, 2001 | |
| Sandra Binion and Leroy Jenkins | Thursday, September 27, 2001 | |
| Rob White | Monday, September 24, 2001 | |
| Dan Friel | Sunday, September 23, 2001 | |
| Scout Niblett | Friday, September 14, 2001 | Soft and pretty sing-song acoustics from this British songtress. |
| Ambivert | Thursday, September 13, 2001 | |
| Milkbaby | Tuesday, September 11, 2001 | |
| Acid Mothers Temple | Monday, September 10, 2001 | Legendary psychedelic Japanese group's amazing performance. |
| Me Decade, The | Saturday, September 08, 2001 | |
| EKG Trio | Thursday, September 06, 2001 | Chicagoans Ernst Karel, Kurt Johnson, Kyle Bruckmann join together, and powerful music ensues. |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, September 01, 2001 | |
| My Name is Rar-Rar | Saturday, September 01, 2001 | Ex-Sorry, ex-Flying Luttenbachers. Crazy rock. |
| Sleepytime Gorilla Museum | Tuesday, August 28, 2001 | Californians mix gothic soundscapes, bashing metal, and terrifying lullabies into prog-like structures. |
| Devil in a Woodpile | Saturday, August 25, 2001 | |
| Cock E.S.P. | Sunday, August 19, 2001 | |
| Steve Shelley | Friday, August 17, 2001 | Interview with legendary Sonic Youth drummer. |
| Nad Navillus | Saturday, August 11, 2001 | |
| ABCs, The | Tuesday, August 07, 2001 | |
| Ken Saydak | Sunday, August 05, 2001 | |
| Check Engine | Saturday, August 04, 2001 | |
| Defender | Saturday, August 04, 2001 | |
| Brendon Massei | Saturday, August 04, 2001 | |
| Silver Measure | Thursday, August 02, 2001 | |
| Jason Narducy (of Verbow) | Saturday, July 28, 2001 | |
| TRS-80 | Saturday, July 28, 2001 | |
| Ken Haebich and Jim Gailloreto | Thursday, July 26, 2001 | |
| Edith Frost | Saturday, July 21, 2001 | Drag City recording artist plays beautiful music with folk and country influences. |
| Helen Mirra and Ernst Karel | Thursday, July 19, 2001 | |
| Spokane | Monday, July 16, 2001 | Quiet, Low-esque Trio from Richmond. Features member of Drunk. |
| Diane Izzo | Saturday, July 14, 2001 | |
| Matt Marque | Saturday, July 14, 2001 | |
| National, The | Sunday, July 08, 2001 | |
| Clogs, The | Sunday, July 08, 2001 | |
| Oval | Friday, July 06, 2001 | German electronic superstar Markus Popp creates a feast for the ear with only a laptop. |
| Miles Tilmann | Saturday, June 30, 2001 | |
| Andi (Mouse on Mars) & Vert -Andi Toma & Adam Butler | Wednesday, June 27, 2001 | |
| Post Office | Saturday, June 23, 2001 | |
| Blacks, The | Friday, June 22, 2001 | |
| Lou Mallozzi | Thursday, June 21, 2001 | director of Experimental Sound Studio performs "Power Down", w/ Mark Booth, Sandra Binion, & Terry Kapsalis by phone |
| Starship Beer | Wednesday, June 20, 2001 | |
| Tiny Hairs | Thursday, June 14, 2001 | |
| Sacred Baboons | Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | |
| Eric Leonardson | Thursday, June 07, 2001 | |
| Mason Jennings Band | Friday, June 01, 2001 | |
| Ben Vida | Thursday, May 31, 2001 | |
| George McRae Trio | Tuesday, May 29, 2001 | |
| Triage | Tuesday, May 29, 2001 | |
| Neil Hamburger (interview) | Tuesday, May 29, 2001 | |
| Flying Luttenbachers, The | Saturday, May 26, 2001 | Live in the Annie May Swift (WNUR) auditorium with audience once again. Thank you Weasel. |
| Leroy Bach & Edward Burch | Saturday, May 26, 2001 | Great set from Bach of Uptighty, Wilco, and Five Style and songwriter Burch. |
| Butcher Shop Quartet | Saturday, May 19, 2001 | w/ Dylan Posa, performed Stravinsky's "Rites of Spring". Great! |
| Robbie Fulks Band | Saturday, May 19, 2001 | Third Airplay appearance (fourth WNUR appearance) and first with his band (or, at least, the rhythm section). Robbie's wit is present in both his lyrics and the leisurely between-song banter. Of note, "She Took A Lot Of Pills And Died" was Esquire magazine's Song Of The Year in 1995. Robbie Fulks - guitar, vocals; Lorne Rall - bass, Gerald Dowd - drums; 1)White Man's Burbon 2)(Theme from) Ben (Michael Jackson cover) 3)That Bangle Girl 4)She Took A Lot Of Pills And Died 5)So Long Been Good To Know You (peppy vaudeville number celebrating longtime Airplay producer Eric St. Clair's last day at WNUR). 1,3 from "The Very Best of Robbie Fulks" CD (2000). 2 - unreleased cover. Originally intended for a CD to be titled "To Michael, Love Robbie". 4 from "Country Love Songs" CD (1995). 5 - unreleased. Wonderful set. |
| Scott Rosenburg/Todd Margasak duo | Thursday, May 17, 2001 | |
| Polkaholics | Saturday, May 12, 2001 | polka polka polka |
| Couch | Friday, May 11, 2001 | nice Germans - Matador recording artists (German label Yo-Yo Kitty) |
| Nobukazu Takemura | Thursday, May 10, 2001 | Thrill Jockey electronic musician from Tokyo in his second Airplay appearance. |
| Luke Vibert | Thursday, May 10, 2001 | AKA Wagon Christ, AKA Plug. Excellent drums and bass DJ from England on the WNUR decks. His second Airplay appearance but first actual performance. Streetbeat's Kate Simko conducts a short but interesting interview afterwards. |
| Lux | Saturday, May 05, 2001 | |
| Kleenex Girl Wonder | Saturday, May 05, 2001 | 6th Airplay appearance I think. Full band. Just after the release of their 4th album "Smith" 1)"Reunited Airlines" with a, ahem, dedication to departing Airplay hosts Eric St. Clair and Christian "CJ" Johnson 2)?? with U.S. Maple "cover" outro 3)"Bling Bling" |
| Bus Ratch | Friday, May 04, 2001 | Japanese Turntable Trio |
| Dave Fischoff | Saturday, April 28, 2001 | |
| Ribbon Effect | Thursday, April 26, 2001 | |
| Gregorio/Stackenas/Baker/Corbett | Wednesday, April 25, 2001 | |
| Adam Sonderburg/Boris Hauf | Tuesday, April 24, 2001 | |
| Disaster Action Team | Sunday, April 22, 2001 | |
| Joost Buis/Wilbert de Joode | Thursday, April 19, 2001 | |
| Lozenge w/ Boris Hauf | Thursday, April 19, 2001 | |
| Illusion of Safety | Thursday, April 12, 2001 | |
| Town and Country | Saturday, April 07, 2001 | Excellent local avant-pop ensemble with Ben Vida (guitar), Josh Abrams (bass), Jim Dorling (harmonium), Liz Payne (contrabass). This was shortly after the release of their second album "It All Has To Do With It". |
| American Dream | Saturday, April 07, 2001 | |
| T.V. Pow | Thursday, April 05, 2001 | |
| Ben Miller | Saturday, March 24, 2001 | |
| Cheer-Accident | Saturday, March 24, 2001 | third radio station in three days - first WHPK, then WZRD, then WNUR |
| Triage | Thursday, March 22, 2001 | |
| John Butcher | Tuesday, March 20, 2001 | |
| Rosenburg Skronktet | Sunday, March 18, 2001 | |
| Philip Viper | Saturday, March 17, 2001 | |
| Shelton/Dibble Quartet | Monday, March 12, 2001 | |
| Ruby Keeler | Saturday, March 10, 2001 | |
| Chris Devin's Debacle | Saturday, March 10, 2001 | |
| Orso | Saturday, March 10, 2001 | Perishable recording artists from Chicago. Julie Liu on violin. Dark, moody string-based music. Cool stuff. |
| Roni Size Reprazent | Friday, March 09, 2001 | Roni Size, DJ Krust, DJ Die, SUV, Dynamite, Onnalee live in the studio! - produced by and originally aired on Streetbeat. Great set! |
| Lake Effect | Tuesday, March 06, 2001 | Tim Daisy group w/ electronics |
| Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble | Friday, March 02, 2001 | featured Savoir Faire - violin, viola/ Tomeka Reid - cello/ Josh Abrams - bass |
| MOTO | Saturday, February 24, 2001 | |
| Tijuana Hercules | Saturday, February 24, 2001 | |
| Wichita Shut-ins, The | Sunday, February 11, 2001 | |
| Sixto | Saturday, February 10, 2001 | |
| Kim | Saturday, February 03, 2001 | |
| David Boykin & Niki Mitchell | Saturday, January 27, 2001 | |
| Flying Luttenbachers, The | Saturday, December 09, 2000 | Latest incarnation of Chicago demagogue Weasel Walter's long-standing ensemble now leaning more toward prog-rock than free jazz, death-metal, or punk. Live in auditorium with audience. Weasel moved to San Francisco shortly after this performance. A definite loss for the Chicago music scene. |
| Intelligibles, The | Saturday, November 25, 2000 | |
| Toe | Saturday, November 18, 2000 | Tatsu Aoki (bass) and Dave Pavkovic (drums). |
| Fire Show, The | Saturday, November 18, 2000 | Former members of Number One Cup. |
| We Ragazzi | Saturday, November 11, 2000 | Chicago (and later Brooklyn) new wavey trio with Farfisa organ shortly after the release of their "Suicide Sound System" CD. |
| Fetch | Saturday, November 11, 2000 | |
| Handsome Family, The | Sunday, November 05, 2000 | |
| Bosco & Jorge | Saturday, October 28, 2000 | Recently moved to Chicago from Oklahoma, this duo play John Fahey style acoustic guitar tunes. Very enjoyable. |
| Wisdom of Harry, The | Friday, October 27, 2000 | Former member of The Weather Prophets. Matador recording artist. Set starts with "Gonna Make My Life Right" and I believe ends with his putative theme song "The Wisdom of Harry". |
| Faust | Tuesday, October 24, 2000 | |
| High Dependency Unit | Saturday, October 07, 2000 | New Zealand trio who opened the show for Shellac in Annie May Swift auditorium in front of live audience. Introduction by Steve Albini. Great set! |
| Shellac | Saturday, October 07, 2000 | Live in auditorium with audience. Dare we say legendary trio of Steve Albini (Big Black, Rapeman and producer of many a famous band) on guitar, Bob Weston (Volcano Suns, Juliana Hatfield Band) on bass, and Todd Trainer (Rifle Sport, Brick Layer Cake) on drums. |
| Shellac (pt. 1) | Saturday, October 07, 2000 | |
| High Dependency Unit (radio mix) | Saturday, October 07, 2000 | |
| Pan American | Saturday, September 23, 2000 | Mark Nelson from Labradford moved to Chicago and started this excellent solo project. |
| DAT Politics | Wednesday, September 20, 2000 | |
| Circle | Sunday, September 17, 2000 | Great psychadelic rock band from Finland. Purportedly one of Bjork's favorite bands. |
| Oval | Saturday, September 16, 2000 | Electronic musician from Germany Markus Popp. Cool abstract electronic music. |
| Weasel Walter/Jeff Parker/Michael Zerang | Saturday, September 09, 2000 | Free improv live in our auditorium with audience. Percussion (Zerang), drums (Walter), and guitar (Parker). |
| Handsome Family, The | Saturday, August 26, 2000 | Third Airplay appearance I believe. Another great set...1) "A Beautiful Thing" 2) 3) "The Giant of Illinois" 4) "Drunk By Noon" 5) 6)cover of "Knoxville Girl" 7) "Weightless, Again" 8) 9) 10) 11) "Tin Foil" 12) "Arlene" 13) "Amelia Earhart" |
| Hot Dog City | Saturday, August 26, 2000 | Featuring former members of Urge Overkill (Kriss Bataille - a longtime Airplay fan) and Electric Airlines (Jon Roeser - who formed that band with his brother Ed from Urge Overkill). Set ends with a great cover of The Rolling Stones' "Connection". We gave away a t-shirt to the first caller to correctly name the album "Connection" is on (A: "Between The Buttons") |
| Adam Sonderberg, Gerry Bryerton, Carol Genetti | Saturday, August 19, 2000 | Local improvisers with Genetti on voice. |
| Lynx | Saturday, August 12, 2000 | Great angular instrumental rock quartet who just moved to Chicago from Boston. |
| Frontier | Saturday, August 12, 2000 | This time they were augmented by tablas player Corey Ireland. |
| Tijuana Hercules | Saturday, July 29, 2000 | Atlanta ex-patriate John Vern Forbes (Mount Shasta, Phantom 309) and his new swamp rock ensemble with two percussionists playing tin cans and such. |
| Bob Weston | Saturday, July 15, 2000 | |
| pita | Thursday, July 13, 2000 | |
| Chicago Underground Duo | Saturday, July 08, 2000 | A last great set from Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor this just after the release of their great "Synesthesia" CD. They appeared on the cover of The Wire in Nov. 2000. Chad Taylor moved to NYC in May of 2001. |
| Plastics Hi-Fi | Saturday, July 08, 2000 | |
| Entertainment | Saturday, July 01, 2000 | |
| Centro-Matic | Tuesday, June 27, 2000 | |
| Uz Jsme Doma | Saturday, June 24, 2000 | Though they were formed in 1985 in The Czech Republic, it wasn't until the Velvet Revolution of late 1989 that these punkers were able to become the ambassadors of Central European rock. Powerful set. |
| Guillermo Gregorio/Josh Abrams/Jeff Parker | Saturday, June 17, 2000 | Gregorio plays some of his compositions aided by Abrams (bass) and Parker (of Tortoise, Isotope, and New Horizons Ensemble) on guitar. Great set. |
| Lozenge | Wednesday, June 14, 2000 | |
| Sam Prekop | Saturday, June 03, 2000 | Solo set from The Sea and Cake (and former Shrimpboat) frontman. Sam played acoustic guitar and sang occasionally with some pre-recorded electronic music backing tracks. |
| Rebecca Gates/Sam Prekop | Saturday, June 03, 2000 | Solo set from the woman who was The Spinanes (Sub Pop, Portland Oregon). Now Thrill Jockey recording artist living in Chicago. Set concludes with Sam joining Ms. Gates. |
| Tom Frank (The Baffler) | Saturday, June 03, 2000 | |
| Solex | Thursday, June 01, 2000 | Great set from Dutch DJ and Matador recording artist included a cover of Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Cutter". Her drummer played the spoons. 1) The Burglars Are Coming! --> 3:23 2) Escargot! --> 6:33 3) The Cutter - [Echo And The Bunnymen] --> 10:03 1,2 from "Pick Up" album (1999) 3 - unreleased cover song. Elisabeth Esselink - keyboards, vocals Robert Lagerdyle? - spoons |
| Nerves, The | Saturday, May 27, 2000 | Thrill Jockey recording artists and Seeds-ish trash rock trio - 2nd Airplay appearance |
| Haymarket Riot, The | Saturday, May 20, 2000 | |
| Butterfly Child | Saturday, May 20, 2000 | 2nd Airplay appearance for Irish ex-patriate Joe Cassidy. |
| Sonderberg 5 | Thursday, May 18, 2000 | Boris Sinclair-Hauf (reeds, Kurt Johnson (bass), Adam Sonderberg (guitar), Jim Baker (ARP), Jerome Bryerton (percussion) |
| Grandaddy | Saturday, May 13, 2000 | Taking a break from their tour with Beck to play a set of their melodic space rock. Very enjoyable set. Their CD "The Sophtware Slump" was released two weeks later. 1) Hewlett's Daugher 2) Our Dying Brains 3) Jed The Humanoid 4) Dreaming My Dreams With You [Waylon Jennings cover] 1,3 from "The Sophtware Slump" CD (2000) 2 from "The Sophtware Slump" Japanese bonus track edition CD (2000) 4 - unreleased cover. Jason Lytle - guitar/keyboards/vocals; Kevin Garcia - bass; Aaron Burtch - drums; Jim Fairchild - guitar; Tim Dryden - keyboards. |
| Thax Douglas and Mark Shippy | Saturday, May 13, 2000 | Shi ppy is the guitarist for U.S. Maple. Douglas is the author of "Tragic Faggot Syndrome" which includes many of the poems he wrote (and read) as introductions for the bands performing on the Airplay show. |
| Gold Sparkle Band | Thursday, April 27, 2000 | Acoustic avant-garde jazz quartet from Brooklyn. Cool stuff! |
| Nash Kato Band | Saturday, April 22, 2000 | Former Urge Overkill frontman (and NU alum) stripped to the waist as he fronts his new band. |
| Yabba Griffiths and Traxx | Saturday, April 22, 2000 | |
| Scott Rosenberg/Jason Shiurba | Monday, April 17, 2000 | |
| Weasel Walter | Saturday, April 15, 2000 | |
| Pinebender | Friday, April 14, 2000 | |
| Negativland (Part 1) | Wednesday, April 12, 2000 | Legendary Bay Area pranksters. |
| Negativland (Part 2) | Wednesday, April 12, 2000 | Legendary Bay Area pranksters and sonic terrorists. Part 2. |
| Quickspace | Wednesday, April 05, 2000 | Matador recording artist and indie-rockers from Brooklyn |
| Eric Roth Trio | Tuesday, March 28, 2000 | |
| Astro-B | Saturday, March 18, 2000 | |
| Beauty Pageant, The | Saturday, March 18, 2000 | |
| Mathlete | Saturday, March 18, 2000 | |
| LeRon Jakakko | Saturday, March 18, 2000 | |
| Stella | Wednesday, March 15, 2000 | |
| Tocotronic | Wednesday, March 15, 2000 | |
| Arling and Cameron | Monday, March 06, 2000 | |
| Blacks, The | Sunday, March 05, 2000 | |
| OK GO | Saturday, March 04, 2000 | Featuring former WNUR staffer Andrew Duncan this trio went on to major label / MTV-rotation level fame. |
| Dishes, The | Saturday, March 04, 2000 | All-women Chicago trash-rock quartet in their second Airplay appearance. For a time they were selling t-shirts that said "Have you done The Dishes?" Har har. |
| Northwestern University Percussion Ensemble | Saturday, March 04, 2000 | Members of the NU Percussion Ensemble perform Part One of Steven Reich's "Drumming". Excellent. |
| Zentrifugal | Friday, March 03, 2000 | |
| Kelly Hogan Band | Saturday, February 26, 2000 | Former Jody Grind leader, Bloodshot recording artist, and Atlanta ex-patriate Hogan and her trio. Set includes a terrific cover of The Magnetic Fields' "Papa Was a Rodeo" as well as other great songs from her later in 2000 release "Beneath The Country Underdog"(Bloodshot Records). Rhythm section includes Andy Tompkins formerly of Athens,Ga heroes Flap as well as Smog (circa "Supper"). Drummer Mike Bielington was also in Mr. Rudy Day Band with Tompkins. That's Kelly's dog barking at the end.... 1) I Don't Believe In You --> 3:58 2) Papa Was A Rodeo - [The Magnetic Fields] --> 8:58 3) Gone --> 12:47 4) I Still Can't Believe Your're Gone - [Willie Nelson] --> 18:22 5) (It's A Mighty Thin Line) Between Love And Hate - [Johnny Paycheck] --> 22:47 6) I Don't Want To Hear It Anymore - [Randy Newman / Dusty Springfield] --> 27:49 7) Sugar Bowl --> 32:00 8) All Is Well --> 35:09 1,2,3,4,5 from "Beneath The Country Underdog" (2000). 6 unreleased. 7 from "Because It Feel Good" (2001). 8 from "The Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear" (1996). Kelly Hogan - vocals; Andy Hopkins - guitar, vocals; Mike Bielington- drums |
| MOTO | Saturday, February 26, 2000 | 5th Airplay appearance. Full trio. |
| John Sinclair | Saturday, February 26, 2000 | |
| Box-O-Car | Saturday, February 19, 2000 | |
| Scott Rosenberg/Fred Lonberg-Holm/Eric Leonardson | Friday, February 11, 2000 | reeds/flute (Rosenberg), cello (Lonberg-Holm), springboard (Leonardson) |
| Adult Rodeo | Saturday, February 05, 2000 | |
| u-ziq | Saturday, February 05, 2000 | That's actually a Greek 'mu' so his name is mu-zeek. Two step garage set from DJ Mike Paradinas. This amazing performance followed an interview with London, England's Paradinas, Luke Vibert (aka Wagon Christ, aka Plug) and steel-pedal guitarist BJ Cole by Christian "CJ" Johnson. This one always generated a lot of excited phone calls. Engineers Kevan Harris and Jeff Scurry. |
| BJ Cole / Luke Vibert/ u-ziq | Saturday, February 05, 2000 | |
| Axel Doerner/Kevin Drumm | Sunday, January 30, 2000 | German trumpeter Doerner and Chicago prepared tapletop guitarist Drumm play an enthralling improvised set. |
| Mr. Rudy Day | Saturday, January 29, 2000 | A trio featuring Andy Tompkins from Smog, Atlanta band Flap and Chicago's Kelly Hogan band. No one in the group is actually named "Rudy Day". Like Pink Floyd. Second Airplay appearance. |
| Loraxx | Saturday, January 29, 2000 | |
| Scott Rosenberg | Friday, January 28, 2000 | |
| Viza Noir | Saturday, January 22, 2000 | |
| Sweeder | Saturday, January 22, 2000 | Featuring former members of Mint Aundry and Squashblossom. |
| Wet Gate | Friday, January 21, 2000 | |
| People Like Us | Friday, January 21, 2000 | |
| Sergio Assad | Thursday, January 20, 2000 | One half of the great Brazilian classical guitar duo The Assad Brothers stops off to play a beautiful set for us while in town for the Segovia Series at NU. 1) piece by Brazil's Carlos Villa 2) "Angela" by Sergio Assad. |
| Robbie Fulks/Anna Fermin | Sunday, January 16, 2000 | First, Anna does 1)Butch Hancock's "Bluebird", 2)Doug Sahm's "I Wanna Be Your Mama Again" and 3)her own "Run With You" in her terrific solo set. Then Robbie plays 1) "Sleepin' on the Job of Love" 2) a Johnny Bush cover ("Bottle Bottle Why Do I Love You So Much?"), 3)"In Bristol Town One Bright Day", 4)"She'll Go Down (In Honky Tonk History)", 5)"Let's Live Together", 6)"May The Best Man Win" 7)"Parallel Bars" 1,6,7 from "The Very Best Of Robbie Fulks" (1999), 2 unreleased, 3 from "Couples In Trouble" (not released until 2001), 4 from "Big Thinking" (Robbie Fulks and Dallas Wayne)(2000), 5 from "Country Love Songs" (1996). Lastly Robbie and Anna do duets of 1)"After The Fire Is Gone"(Conway Twitty/Loretta Lynn cover) 2)"We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds"(George Jones/Melba Montgomery cover) 3)"We Didn't See A Thing"(Ray Charles/George Jones cover) |
| Land of the El Caminos | Saturday, January 15, 2000 | |
| National Trust, The | Saturday, January 08, 2000 | Great three song set from former Dolomite frontman Neil Rosario's new band (here just represented by NR and 2nd guitarist Andy Cunningham). NR was previously in Dolomite, 15 Couples, Neil Rosario's Stages of Man, and Red Red Meat (1995's "Bunny Gets Paid" era only). AC was previously in The Corn Kings 1)unreleased track ("You Can't Offer Me Love") 2) Mrs. Turner 3) unreleased track ("End Of The Century Woes") They had just released the great "Make It Happen"/"Cyrile At the Peak of Yarn 7" on Thrill Jockey. Song #2 in this set later appeared on the Dekkagar CD. |
| Mount Shasta | Saturday, January 08, 2000 | Great second appearance from this Skin Graft band from Chicago. Last song is a cover of "Shadowboxing" by Atlanta band Smoke (and not an excerpt from a certain Airplay producer's diary as John Forbes claims). |
| Timeout Drawer, The | Friday, January 07, 2000 | |
| David Boykin/Chris Courtney | Saturday, December 11, 1999 | Tenor sax (Boykin) and conga drum (Courtney). Excellent set from these South-Siders. One of many appearances for David, first for Chris. |
| MOTO | Saturday, December 11, 1999 | 4th Airplay appearance. Paul Caporino (gtr, vocals), Dennis Spaag (bass), Garrett Hammond (drums) |
| Low | Thursday, December 09, 1999 | 1) If You Were Born Today (Song For Little Baby Jesus) 2)One Special Gift 3)Starfire 4)Long Way Around The Sea. Songs 1,2,4 from the rare "Christmas" EP (1999); song 3 from "Secret Name" (1999). Alan Spearhawk (guitar, vocals), Mimi Parker (drums, vocals), Zak Sally (bass). Airplay engineer Kevan "Ruttegger" Harris (nee Harrirri) plays the sleigh bells on the first song with a skill unheard since Coltrane's "Interstellar Space". This set is one of our favorites. Perhaps one of the best things Low has done as well.... |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, December 04, 1999 | Randall Lee, J.Niimi, Carla Bruce and others. Third Airplay appearance. |
| Bone Structure | Saturday, December 04, 1999 | Hypnotic and dark jazz-rock from this quartet of Gregg Bendian (drums/perc), Jeff Gauthier (violins), Steuart Liebig (contrabassguitars), G.E. Stinson (guitars). Their album on Cryptogramophone is hauntingly beautiful. |
| Northwoods Improvisers, The | Wednesday, December 01, 1999 | Mike Gilmore (vibes, cheng, perc.); Mike Johnston (bass, wood flutes); Nick Ashton (drumps, perc.). Originally broadcast on the WNUR Jazz show. Great set. |
| Kleenex Girl Wonder | Saturday, November 27, 1999 | |
| Slaughterhouse V | Saturday, November 27, 1999 | |
| Nobukazu Takemura | Saturday, November 20, 1999 | Japanese electronic musician who was beginning to move in a more beatless, more abstract direction. He had just composed the music for the fall Issey Miyake fashion shows. Cool set. |
| Del Ray | Saturday, November 20, 1999 | |
| November's Doom | Saturday, November 13, 1999 | |
| Pit Hot | Friday, November 12, 1999 | |
| Jim Bourke | Saturday, November 06, 1999 | Great set from this Chicagoan and member of The Folk Music Hall of Fame. |
| Betsy Years | Friday, November 05, 1999 | |
| Bantam Rooster | Wednesday, November 03, 1999 | Short and powerful set from this punk rock duo from Motown. |
| Sweep the Leg Johnny | Saturday, October 30, 1999 | Local punk skronk-tet. |
| Girls, The | Saturday, October 23, 1999 | |
| To Live and Shave in L.A. | Friday, October 22, 1999 | Famed Atlanta noiseman Tom Smith's latest incarnation of TLASILA (with Rat Bastard, Weasel Walter, Nandor Nevai, and a stripper). They brought a fog machine which was much appreciated. Later released as an album by Weasel (remixed) |
| Ida | Monday, October 18, 1999 | Sensitive Providence RI band, two of whom played on the Lisa Loeb hit "Stay". Unfortunately, they didn't play any of the "Dirty Mind" era Prince covers they've been known to bust out. |
| Rafael Toral | Sunday, October 17, 1999 | Terrific Portugese experimental guitarist who later released a CD on Jim O'Rourke's Moikai label. |
| Jonny Polonsky | Saturday, October 16, 1999 | |
| Frisbie | Saturday, October 16, 1999 | |
| Organ Wolf | Saturday, October 16, 1999 | They dressed like Six Finger Satellite but sounded like Booker T and the MG's. |
| Bad Livers, The | Friday, October 15, 1999 | Great set from this bluegrass duo and Touch and Go recording artist of Danny Barnes (banjo) and Mark Rubin. |
| Susie Ibarra & Assif Tsahar | Wednesday, October 13, 1999 | Amazing husband and wife saxophone (Tsahar) and percussion (Ibarra) duo. Ibarra plays the Phillipino "kulintang" instrument at one point in the set. The last song, I believe, is a very slow version of Coltrane's "Giant Steps". Terrific set. |
| Chamber Strings, The | Saturday, October 02, 1999 | |
| Bees Are Black | Saturday, October 02, 1999 | |
| Drive By Truckers | Saturday, September 25, 1999 | Country band from Georgia. Recorded for the Southbound Train show shortly after the release of their second album "Pizza Deliverance". Great set. |
| Diane Izzo | Saturday, September 25, 1999 | |
| Prescriptions, The | Saturday, September 25, 1999 | All-female Chicago punk rock quartet featuring Sarah from The Smoothies and Atsu from The Boredoms. |
| Alkaline Trio, The | Saturday, September 04, 1999 | Popular pop-punk band from the Chicago suburbs. This set was recorded between their "Goddamnit" and "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" releases. Cool! |
| Pistol Whipped | Saturday, August 21, 1999 | |
| Ego | Saturday, August 21, 1999 | This band of lawyers slipped on our icy sidewalk last winter and, well, here they are. |
| Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls | Saturday, August 21, 1999 | Amazing jazz set from drummer Sirota's terrific group around the time of their second album "Propaganda". |
| Lofty Pillars, The | Saturday, August 14, 1999 | Mike Krassner (guitar), Ryan Hembry (bass?), Gerald Dowd (drums), Will Hendricks... |
| Thaxestra | Saturday, August 07, 1999 | Poet Thax Douglas appeared frequently on the Airplay show starting in 1998 reading poems he had written about the day's other in-studio performers. For this appearance, he read a monologue, many of his poems, and - amusingly - selections from a book entitled "The Wooing of A Lady" (Steven Benstead, 1978). Many of the poems Thax read on this day turned up a few weeks later in his book "Tragic Faggot Syndrome". There is even a poem about the Airplay staff; I'm not sure it's complimentary. In any event, for this performance he is accompanied by an all-star group of Chicago's improv-jazz-noise-rock elite: Mark Shippy (of U.S. Maple) on guitar, Ben Vida (of Town And Country) on guitar, and Azita Youssefi (of The Scissor Girls and later Bride of No No) on keyboards. Engineered by Kevan Harris. This enthralling set is highly recommended. 1) "Rambling Monologue" from the book "Tragic Faggot Syndrome". 1:25 - 8:02 2) Excerpts from "The Wooing Of A Lady" by Steven Benstead 8:12 - 11:43 3) Poems (*mostly from the book "Tragic Faggot Syndrome") *Mausoleum --> 12:46 *Mark Shippy --> 13:46 *Reginald Shepard --> 14:21 Tom Foote --> 15:58 Sin Slotch --> 17:03 *Peter Valentine Fenton -->17:47 Brett Sparks --> 18:45 Jason Brownfield --> 19:31 Joseph Meccelides --> 20:01 *Life Without Breath --> 22:41 Monologue: "Humorous Sketch" --> 25:24 *Steve Walters --> 26:06 *Penny Treat --> 27:00 *Christmas Eve --> 27:42 *Valentine's Day Poem For John Matthews --> 29:17 *Replacement for the Lost Cheryl Trykv Portrait... --> 30:26 *David Boykin --> 31:26 Supper Bell Round Up --> 32:46 4) Another Excerpt from "The Wooing Of A Lady" by Steven Benstead --> 36:02 5) More poems: Rod McKuen --> 36:40 *The Airplay Staff 36:41 - 37:25 "That sounds like Rob Zombie" (37:50) Monologue "Golden Hurricanes" --> 39:18 Monologue "Hey Miss" --> 40:54 Monologue "If It Bleeds We Can Kill It" --> 43:16 6) Another Excerpt from "The Wooing Of A Lady" by Steven Benstead --> 45:45 Music continues to 46:25 Thax Douglas - poems; Mark Shippy - guitar; Azita Youssefi - keyboards; Ben Vida - guitar |
| Bull In China | Saturday, July 31, 1999 | |
| Out Hud | Wednesday, July 28, 1999 | Great Sacramento instrumental band. Apparently the powers that be at Kranky Records heard this set while driving down Western Avenue, pulled over to listen more closely, and shortly thereafter signed the band. |
| Trigger Gospel | Saturday, July 24, 1999 | Chicagoan Anna Fermin's band plays a great country-rock set. |
| Black Earth Ensemble | Thursday, July 22, 1999 | Nikki Mitchell (flutes), Savoire Faire (violin & viola), Darius Savage (bass). |
| Robbie Fulks | Saturday, July 03, 1999 | Robbie's second appearance on Airplay: "In honor of Independance Day why don't I play some Songs About Women?": 1)Jean Arthur 2)I Just Want To Meet The Man 3)That Bangle Girl 4)My Tormentor 5)Every Kind of Music But Country 6)Bethelridge I think he made some reference to us as Communists. How did he know? Songs 1,3 from "The Very Best of Robbie Fulks" (not released until 2000), songs 2,4 from "Couples In Trouble" (not released until 2001); song 5 from "Country Love Songs" (1996); song 6 from "Let's Kill Saturday Night" (1998). Wonderful set. |
| Drag City Power Hour | Saturday, June 26, 1999 | |
| Eiren Caffall | Saturday, June 12, 1999 | |
| Vernal Pool | Saturday, June 05, 1999 | Includes an amusing cover of Talking Heads' "This Must Be the Place". |
| Mark Shippy | Saturday, May 29, 1999 | Solo set from one of the U.S. Maple guitarists. |
| Spaceheads | Saturday, May 29, 1999 | Great set from these Merge recording artists from England. |
| Mezodigm | Saturday, May 22, 1999 | |
| Richard Buckner | Sunday, May 16, 1999 | Excellent singer-songwriter in his second Airplay appearance (this one solo). |
| Mia Doi Todd | Sunday, May 09, 1999 | Los Angeles based singer songwriter and Communion recording artist. This was just after the release of her "Come Out of Your Mine" CD. First Airplay appearance - she came back several years later. Lovely set. |
| Intelligibles, The | Saturday, May 08, 1999 | |
| John Fahey | Sunday, May 02, 1999 | |
| Shannon Wright | Sunday, April 25, 1999 | Singer songwriter and Touch and Go recording artist who used to front the Florida-based, Steve Malkmus produced band Crowsdell. Great set. |
| Sank Minoot | Saturday, April 24, 1999 | Spastic Chicago improv duo including Kevin Shea of Storm and Stress. They brought a kitchen timer and that's the sound you hear signalling the end of each one minute ditty. Great. |
| Epictr | Saturday, April 24, 1999 | |
| Lustre King | Saturday, April 17, 1999 | Local hard rock trio. |
| Old 97's | Saturday, April 10, 1999 | Had just released their excellent major label debut "Fight Songs" and this great nine song set includes several songs from that album as well as the great closer "Time Bomb". They played on The David Letterman Show a few months later. Rhett Miller - vocals, guitar; Murry Hammond - bass, vocals; Ken Bethea - guitar. I don't believe drummer Philip Peeples participated. 1)Barrier Reef 2)Jagged 3)Crash On The Barrelhead 4)Big Brown Eyes 5)Alone So Far 6)Indefinitely (with a line from The Buzzcocks "Everybody's Happy Nowadays" thrown in at the end) 7)West Texas Teardrops 8)Murder Or A Heart Attack 9)TimeBomb. 1,7,9 from "Too Far To Care" CD (1997). 2,3,5,6,8 from "Fight Songs" CD (1999). 4 from "Wreck Your Life" CD (1995). Engineers Kris Bigosinski and Kevan Harris. |
| TRS-80 | Saturday, April 10, 1999 | |
| J.Davis Trio | Saturday, April 03, 1999 | Chicago band's set includes a great cover of Roy Ayers "What You Won't Do For Love". |
| Space Bop Vanguard | Saturday, April 03, 1999 | Chicago bop group. Cool stuff. |
| DJ Hive | Tuesday, March 30, 1999 | Drums and bass DJ from Los Angeles. Cool set. His Ultra Sonic Sound had turned up in DJ Spooky's WNUR set 5 months earlier. |
| Angora | Saturday, March 27, 1999 | |
| T.V. Pow | Saturday, March 27, 1999 | |
| David Boykin and Bakari Davis | Saturday, March 20, 1999 | Saxophonist Boykin and drummer Davis later released this entire amazing set (with WNUR uncredited) as a CD "The Nextsperimental Musics of David Boykin" (2001) |
| Rebecca Gates | Saturday, March 13, 1999 | Ms. Gates essentially was Sub Pop recording artist The Spinanes when whe lived in Portland OR. She had recently relocated to Chicago and began recording under her own name at the time of this wonderful set. |
| Robert Johnson and The Browns | Saturday, March 13, 1999 | The Browns "were" Todd Rittman of U.S. Maple basically. Rittman told us that he and Johnson had "composed this piece" specifically for this show. We were honored and touched. |
| Terry Rohm | Saturday, February 27, 1999 | |
| Kelly Hogan Band | Saturday, February 27, 1999 | First Airplay performance from this former member of Atlanta's The Jody Grind. Great. That's her dog barking at the end of the set. - ESTC |
| Versus | Friday, February 26, 1999 | Stellar and beautiful set from these Merge recording artists from NYC. Most of the songs are more mellow keyboard-oriented versions of the guitar-driven rockers on their 1998 release "Two Cents Plus Tax". Also included are "Blade Of Grass" from 1994's "The Stars Are Insane" and "Crashing The Afterglow" from 1999's "Afterglow" ep. 1)Crazy-Maker (I'm Still In Love With Your Eyes) 2)Jack And Jill 3)Blade Of Grass 4)... 5)Crashing The Afterglow. Richard Baluyut-guitar,vocals; Fontaine Toups-bass,vocals; James Baluyut; Patrick Ramos. Engineered by Kris Bigosinski and Kevan Harris. |
| Thax Douglas | Saturday, February 20, 1999 | |
| Today Is My Super Spaceout Day | Saturday, February 20, 1999 | |
| Hot Carl, The | Saturday, February 13, 1999 | |
| Ken Waagner | Saturday, February 13, 1999 | |
| Baltimores, The | Saturday, January 30, 1999 | |
| Hoodoo Hoedown | Saturday, January 30, 1999 | |
| Mr. Rudy Day | Saturday, January 23, 1999 | |
| Butterfly Child | Saturday, January 16, 1999 | |
| Atmospheric Audiochair | Saturday, January 16, 1999 | |
| P.W. Long's Reelfoot | Friday, January 08, 1999 | |
| MOTO | Saturday, December 05, 1998 | |
| David Grubbs | Saturday, December 05, 1998 | |
| Eternals, The | Saturday, November 28, 1998 | |
| Deadly Dragon Sound System (DJ Rik Shaw) | Saturday, November 21, 1998 | |
| Ladybug | Thursday, November 19, 1998 | |
| High Rise | Friday, October 30, 1998 | Power psych rock trio from Japan. Many long guitar solos. |
| Iara Lee | Saturday, October 24, 1998 | |
| Otomo Yoshihide / Kevin Drumm / Yuko "Nexus 6" Kitamura / Jim Baker / Yasuhiro Ohtani | Saturday, October 24, 1998 | |
| DJ Spooky | Thursday, October 15, 1998 | Great NYC based DJ spins live set around the time of his "Riddim Warfare" CD release and two weeks before Halloween. Miles Davis'"Pharoah's Dance" from "Bitches Brew" is a recurring theme in the mix. DJ Hive, Kool Keith, and Alfred Hitchcock also turn up in the 42+ minute mix. Engineered by Jeff Scurry and Paul "DJ Old Style" Dryer. Awesome set. |
| All-Natural | Saturday, September 26, 1998 | Excellent Chicago hip-hop. |
| Jack Logan | Friday, September 25, 1998 | Nice set from this singer/songwriter and Twin/Tone recording artist. |
| Derrick Carter | Thursday, September 24, 1998 | Legendary Chicago DJ gets on the WNUR decks. |
| Nothing Painted Blue | Tuesday, September 15, 1998 | Upland, CA band featuring Franklin Bruno (who had helped christian our new studios back in 1995 with a solo set). Great version of The Go-Betweens' "Lee Remick" in this set. |
| Kool Keith | Sunday, September 13, 1998 | Interview with the hyper-talented slightly unbalanced former member of Ultramagnetic MC's who as a member of that group as well as under his alter egos "Dr. Octogon" and "Dr. Dooom" has recorded several landmark albums in the history of hip-hop ("Critical Beatdown", "Dr. Octagonycologist"). Interview conducted by Christian "CJ" Johnson. |
| Mount Shasta | Saturday, September 12, 1998 | Skin-Graft recording artists and Atlanta ex-patriates. Q: "What is the highest point on Mount Shasta?" A: "John Forbes" First of several Airplay appearances. Great set. |
| Birddog | Saturday, September 12, 1998 | |
| Drag City Power Hour | Monday, September 07, 1998 | |
| Traitors, The | Saturday, September 05, 1998 | Chicago punk band with Marc Ruvolo from No Empathy and Johann's Face records and Noah (later an NU student) on drums. |
| Thax Douglas | Saturday, September 05, 1998 | |
| Richard Buckner / Eric Haywood | Saturday, August 29, 1998 | |
| Buffalo Daughter | Wednesday, August 26, 1998 | Excellent female band from Tokyo and Grand Royal recording artist. |
| FHMZ Trio | Monday, August 24, 1998 | |
| Handsome Family, The | Saturday, August 22, 1998 | Second Airplay appearance from these Chicago greats. They no longer had a drummer at this point. Of note, this was the day we all met Thax Douglas who arrived with Brett and Rennie. From that day forward for the next several years he showed up to read poems about each of the days performers. |
| Miss Mia / Ratso (from Chic-A-Go-Go) | Saturday, August 22, 1998 | |
| Cords, The | Saturday, July 25, 1998 | |
| We Ragazzi | Saturday, July 18, 1998 | |
| Trailer Bride | Saturday, July 18, 1998 | |
| Janet Choi | Saturday, July 11, 1998 | |
| Municipal | Saturday, July 11, 1998 | |
| Chinese Johnny | Saturday, July 04, 1998 | Featuring the hit "Get Easy". I think it's the last song of the set. Genius. - ESTC |
| Schramms, The | Saturday, June 27, 1998 | |
| Kleenex Girl Wonder (Graham Smith solo) | Saturday, June 20, 1998 | |
| Johnny Dowd | Saturday, June 06, 1998 | Creepy set from this 50 year old country-folk-rocker around the time of his acclaimed CD "Wrong Side of Memphis". Fascinating stuff. |
| Jim O'Rourke | Saturday, June 06, 1998 | |
| Uzeda | Tuesday, June 02, 1998 | Touch and Go recording artists from Sicily. Great set. |
| Terry Callier | Saturday, May 30, 1998 | Chicago soul legend in a (then) rare performance. Wonderful set. Around the time of his collaboration with Beth Orton. |
| Epictr | Saturday, May 30, 1998 | |
| Victory At Sea | Monday, May 25, 1998 | From Boston. Toured with June of '44. |
| Happy Grind Core | Sunday, May 24, 1998 | Wonderful and amusing crazy duo from Hamburg Germany who showed up unannounced one afternoon. |
| Teer Gleene Muck | Sunday, May 24, 1998 | Solo set from one of the Happy Grind Core members. Cool stuff. |
| John Fahey and Jim O'Rourke | Saturday, May 23, 1998 | The legendary and soon-to-be-legendary guitarists perform together in our studio. Fahey plays sparse echo-y tunes from the performance room while O'Rourke plays classical records through some custom-made synthesizer-type of apparatus in the production booth. Beautiful set. |
| Dolly Varden | Sunday, May 17, 1998 | |
| Nikki Sudden | Saturday, May 16, 1998 | With his late brother Epic Soundtracks he founded The Swell Maps. Only Airplay guest with top hat thus far. |
| White Winged Moth | Friday, May 15, 1998 | New Zealand guitar improviser Dean Roberts. Cool set! |
| Pan American | Saturday, May 09, 1998 | Mark Nelson from Richmond,VA's Labradford moved to Chicago and started this great solo project. First Airplay appearance. Wonderful set. 1) Both Ends Fixed 0:30 - 10:40 2) ? 3) Remapping 13:38 - 20:25 4) ? 5) Noun 22:45 - 30:20 6) "This Has Been A Pan American Production. Thank You For Your Attention." 30:00 - 33:51 1 from "360 Business/360 Bypass" CD (2000) 2,4,6 unreleased 3,5 from "Pan American" CD (1998) Mark Nelson - keyboards Engineer Paul Dryer. |
| Calexico | Thursday, May 07, 1998 | Great duo - former members of Giant Sand - from Tucson,AZ. Playing songs mostly from their first two CDs "Spoke" and "The Black Light". There are some instrumentals mixed in but the set list is more or less as follows.... 1)Windjammer 2)?unreleased "leather pants snaking across the floor...more reasons not to call" 3)Trigger 4)?unreleased "he walks right in without saying sorry...the directory...the union men...Liz Taylor, Michael Jackson..." 5)Fake Fur 6)Wash 7)Dobro instrumental (sampled) 8)The Black Light 9)Slag. Joey Burns-vocals,guitar; John Covertino-drums. Engineered by Paul Dryer (aka DJ Old Style). 1,6,9 from "Spoke" CD (1997). 3,5,8 from "The Black Light" CD (1998). |
| Taku Sugimoto, Masahiko Okura, Jim O'Rourke, Kevin Drumm | Saturday, April 18, 1998 | Chicago meets Japan in this terrific improvised performance. Sugimoto was celebrating the release of his great Fragments of Desire (1997) and Opposite (1998) CDs. Taku Sugimoto - guitar; Masahiko Okura - alto saxophone; Jim O'Rourke - guitar; Kevin Drumm - guitar |
| Russell Banks | Saturday, April 18, 1998 | |
| Town and Country | Saturday, April 18, 1998 | |
| Jack the Dog | Saturday, April 11, 1998 | |
| Alejandro Escovedo | Sunday, April 05, 1998 | Great set from this legendary Austin singer-songwriter (formerly of The True Believers). With string quartet. |
| MC Think | Saturday, April 04, 1998 | Second Airplay appearance from this always entertaining Chicago MC and DJ. |
| KG, The | Saturday, March 28, 1998 | Great set from the man formerly known as "Kicking Giant" - Tae Won Yu. From Olympia Washington, K recording artist. |
| DJ Snuggles | Saturday, March 28, 1998 | Cool set from WNUR's Strictly Jungle Streetbeat show. |
| MC Think | Saturday, March 21, 1998 | |
| Charles Kim and Fred Lonberg-Holm | Saturday, March 21, 1998 | |
| Deanna Varragona | Wednesday, March 18, 1998 | Lambchop member recently moved to Chicago. |
| Edith Frost | Saturday, March 14, 1998 | |
| BLUHNT | Saturday, March 14, 1998 | |
| T. Corgahessan Boyle | Saturday, February 28, 1998 | |
| Deadly Dragon Sound System | Saturday, February 28, 1998 | |
| Sue Garner | Wednesday, February 25, 1998 | Nice set from member of NYC's Run-On and Fish and Roses. |
| Chris Fuller | Saturday, February 21, 1998 | Dis and Sixto frontman plays a solo set before his band plays. |
| Sixto | Saturday, February 21, 1998 | Great new-wavey Chicago band featuring members of -dis and Seam. |
| Las Toallitas | Saturday, February 14, 1998 | Talented Chicago-based world-music band. Many styles represented here. |
| Last Poets, The | Thursday, February 12, 1998 | NYC's legendary Last Poets are often credited as being the first rap group. Here they perform one great song. |
| Martin Amis | Thursday, February 12, 1998 | |
| Dianogah | Saturday, February 07, 1998 | Talented Chicago punk rockers. They do a great version of Big Black's "Bad Houses" though they did not play it this time. |
| Delta '72, The | Sunday, February 01, 1998 | |
| Walleye | Saturday, January 31, 1998 | Part Two of our Airplay Salute to The Double Reed with bassoonist Charles Lipp |
| Corvus | Saturday, January 24, 1998 | Featuring oboeist Robbie Hunsinger. From our two part Airplay Salute to the Double Reed (the other half being Bassonist Charles Lipp's Walleye ensemble). |
| Peter Margasak | Saturday, January 24, 1998 | |
| Richard Powers | Saturday, January 17, 1998 | |
| Michael Krassner, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Scott Tuma, Julie Pomerlou | Saturday, January 10, 1998 | Local improvisers Krassner (guitar), Lonberg-Holm (cello), Tuma (Souled American), Pomerlou (violin, Bobby Conn) |
| Red Fire Ant Trio | Saturday, December 13, 1997 | Featuring Tatsu Aoki on bass |
| David Boykin Outet | Saturday, December 13, 1997 | Great set from this Chicago saxophonist's full ensemble. |
| Mountain Goats, The | Saturday, December 06, 1997 | Live at The Empty Bottle - Chicago. Joined for part of the set by Rob Sieracki from -dis and Ex-Chittle. |
| King Kong | Friday, December 05, 1997 | Great goofy party rock from Ethan Buckler's post-Slint Louisville band on Drag City. They had just released their "Kingdom Of Kong" album - most of the songs performed are from this album plus "Business Man" from "The Old Man On The Bridge" and the title track from "Funny Farm". 1)Horny Toad 2)Floor,Door, I Don't Want To Party Anymore 3)Funny Farm 4)Energy 5)Imposter Monsters 6)Business Man 7)Funky Monkey 8)Mars. Engineers Paul Dryer and Mike Sturgess. |
| Guitar Wolf | Monday, November 24, 1997 | Crazy Ramones-style blast of punk rock from Japan. Around the time of the release of their sixth CD "Planet Of the Wolves". Great. Seiji-guitar; Billy-bass; Toru-drums. 1)... 2)Missile Me 3)Far East Man 4)... 5)Let's Get Hurt (Teengenerate cover) 6)... 7)All Through The Night Buttobase! 2 from "Missile Me" CD (1996) 3,5,7 from "Planet of the Wolves" CD (1997). |
| Black Family (later called The Blacks) | Sunday, November 16, 1997 | |
| Jeff Tweedy | Saturday, November 15, 1997 | Wilco frontman (and former Uncle Tupelo member) plays a great set and chats with The Southbound Train Show's Keith Cook about his forthcoming album with Billy Bragg of Woody Guthrie songs. Great set: 1)"Via Chicago" 2)"Hoodoo Voodoo" (Woody Guthrie cover) 3)"I'm Always In Love" 4)"James Alley Blues"(Richard 'Rabbit' Brown cover from 1927) 5)"True Love Will Find You In The End" (Daniel Johnston cover). 1,3 from "Summerteeth" CD (1999). 2 from "Mermaid Avenue, Vol.1" CD (1998) 4,5 - unreleased covers. Engineered by Paul Dryer (aka DJ Old Style). |
| Mark Leyner | Saturday, November 15, 1997 | Author of "Et Tu Babe?" and "The Tetherballs of Bougainville" chats with Airplay's Darren Cahr and gives a reading from a work in progress as well. |
| Mouse On Mars | Thursday, November 13, 1997 | Thrill Jockey duo of Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner from Germany. One of the best sets of the year. Includes parts of "Schnick Schnack Meltmade", "Rondio", and "Twift Shoeblade" all from "Autoditacker" CD (1997). Engineered by Paul Dryer. |
| Bardo Pond | Thursday, November 13, 1997 | Matador recording artist from Philadelphia. Almost like one long psychadelic drone jam with distorted guitars. Cool stuff. Vocalist Isobel Sollenberger plays flute for a bit also, I belive. |
| X-Chittle | Saturday, November 01, 1997 | Rob Sieracki from Dis and Greg from Travis (both of Milwaukee) in their 2nd Airplay appearance as X-Chittle. |
| Helium | Friday, October 31, 1997 | Mary Timony's band when they were recording for Matador. I believe someone from Polvo was in the band. Great set. Engineered by Mike Sturgess and Paul Dryer. |
| Skeleton Key | Saturday, October 25, 1997 | Cool set from NYC with nutty percussion. With Erik Sanko (former Lounge Lizards) and Rick Lee who was in Butter 08 with Miho from Cibo Matto and Russell from Blues Explosion. This set was around the time of their debut CD "Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon" which was nominated for a Best Packaging Grammy. |
| Brian McMahon / Mark Henning | Saturday, October 25, 1997 | Excellent set from this former member of Cleveland's legendary Electric Eels (McMahon). His accompaniast Henning is late of Lawrence, KS greats Zoom. |
| Styrenes, The | Saturday, October 18, 1997 | Former Electric Eels member (pianist Paul Marotta) leads this great rock group (also from Cleveland). |
| Sea and Cake, The | Saturday, October 18, 1997 | Sam Prekop(Shrimpboat), Archer Prewitt(Coctails, Mudhead), John McEntire (Bastro, Tortoise), Eric Claridge make up this great Thrill Jockey band. 1) The Argument 2) The Kiss 3) Civilise 4)Rossignol 5) Leeora. Songs 1,3,4 from "The Fawn" CD (1997). Songs 2,5 from "The Biz" CD (1995). Terrific set. |
| Flexible Products | Saturday, October 11, 1997 | Local noise electronic musicians. |
| T.V. Pow | Saturday, October 11, 1997 | Local noise electronic ensemble featuring Michael Hartman of Gentle Giant Records. |
| Complacents, The | Saturday, September 27, 1997 | |
| Seam | Saturday, September 27, 1997 | Great Touch and Go recording artists led by Sooyoung Park. This set was sometime after "Are you Driving Me Crazy"(song 5) and before "The Pace Is Glacial"(songs 1,2,4). Song 3 is from their first album "Headsparks". Engineer Paul Dryer. 1)Wig 2)Intifada Driving School 3)Pins And Needles 4)Inching Toward Juarez 5)Rainy Season ("ESL") Engineered by Paul Dryer (aka DJ Old Style) Sooyoung Park - guitar, vocals, William Shin - bass, Reg Shrader - guitar, Chris Manfrin - drums. Great set. |
| Bells, The | Saturday, September 20, 1997 | Chicagoan Chris Connelly played/fronted many of the more famous Wax Trax bands from the Eighties (Fini Tribe, Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Pigface). Here he sounds a bit like Wild-Is-The-Wind era David Bowie. |
| Smoking Popes | Saturday, September 20, 1997 | Local pop-punkers who were at the height of their major label -supported popularity yet remained some of the most pleasant, affable, and humorous guests we've had. Great set. |
| William Hooker/DJ Olive | Friday, September 12, 1997 | |
| Mekons, The | Monday, September 08, 1997 | Legendary Chicago band (by way of England) released the song "The Bomb" from this set on their "Hen's Teeth" compilation CD. |
| Foot Soldiers, The | Saturday, September 06, 1997 | Chicago hip-hop. |
| Undergorund Orchestra | Saturday, August 30, 1997 | Rob Mazurek, Chad Tayor et.al. though I don't recall exactly what the lineup was this time. Great set. |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, August 23, 1997 | 2nd Airplay Appearance from Randall Lee's split Australian/US indie pop trio that has at various times featured Liz Phair and Dave Trumfio |
| Gene Coleman, Guillermo Gregorio, Steve Butters | Saturday, August 23, 1997 | Coleman heads Ensemble Noamnesia and this is an all-star cast of Chicago neoclassical improvisers. Argentinian Gregorio was born in Buenes Aires but was living in Chicago at the time of this redording. Gene Coleman-bass clarinet; Guillermo Gregorio-clarinet; Steve Butters-percussion. Great set. |
| Monica Kendrick | Saturday, August 16, 1997 | |
| Archer Prewitt | Saturday, August 09, 1997 | Great solo set from Sof' Boy cartoonist and guitarist for Coctails, Mudhead, The Sea and Cake. This was shortly after the release of his first solo CD "In The Sun". |
| Fuck | Thursday, August 07, 1997 | Matador recording artist indie-rock band. |
| Fred Anderson, Josh Abrams | Saturday, August 02, 1997 | Legendary Chicago saxophonist (and long-time Velvet Lounge proprietor - 2100 S. Indiana) plays a wonderful set with JA on bass. |
| June of '44 | Saturday, August 02, 1997 | Jeff Mueller (Rodan), Doug Scharin (Codeine, Rex, Him), Fred Erskine (The Boom), and Sean Meadow (Lungfish) made up this soon-to-be-legendary Touch and Go band. This was recorded one week before they went into the studio to record their "Four Great Points" record and I think the versions here are actually better than on the ensuing record. Also included are an unreleased track ("Turkish Prison") and "Sharks and Sailors" from the "Anatomy of Sharks" ep. 1) Of Information And Belief 2) Does Your Heart Beat Slower? 3) Turkish Prison 4) Sharks And Sailors. Amazing set. Engineered by Paul R. Dryer (aka DJ Old Style). |
| Eternals, The | Saturday, August 02, 1997 | Former members of Trenchmouth. This is the set with Rik Shaw (ROME, Deadly Dragon Sound System) on organ (he left the band before their return Airplay appearance). Great set. |
| Lotus Crown | Saturday, July 19, 1997 | Featuring Dublin,Ireland Jimi Shields (brother of My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields) who was living in Chicago at the time. Great set. The unreleased song is particularly good. (#4 - "Slow Cuckoo") |
| Barbara Manning | Saturday, July 12, 1997 | San Francisco based singer-songwriter (formerly of SF Seals) and Matador recording artist. |
| Frontier | Saturday, July 12, 1997 | |
| Velour Motel | Saturday, July 05, 1997 | |
| Temple of Bon Matin | Saturday, July 05, 1997 | |
| LuckyJ | Saturday, July 05, 1997 | |
| Chicago Underground Duo (Rob Mazurek/Chad Taylor) | Saturday, June 28, 1997 | |
| Galactic | Saturday, June 21, 1997 | Fantastic funk/acid-jazz set from this New Orleans based group. |
| Third Eye Foundation | Friday, June 20, 1997 | Former Flying Saucer Attack member moved on to this brutal solo drums 'n bass project. |
| Dishes, The | Saturday, June 14, 1997 | All women (or mostly women) trash rock quartet playing an Old Style fueled set. Guitarist Kiki Yablon graduated from NU in 1991. Singer Sarah was listed in 1996 or so as on of Chicago Magazine's "Sexiest Chicagoans". Surprisingly, noone from Airplay was on the list. We're very sexy. |
| Chicago Underground Trio | Saturday, June 14, 1997 | Rob Mazurek (trumpet, Gastr Del Sol, Isotope), Jeff Parker (guitar, Tortoise, New Horizons Ensemble), Chad Taylor (drums) in a great set. Rob later appeared on the cover of The Wire magazine. The first of several Airplay appearances (in various lineups) for Chicago Underground. |
| MC Think (and The Blue Collar Crew) | Saturday, June 14, 1997 | We invited MC Think to appear on the show after hearing his song "Shoplifter" (with DJ Bob) on the first Lumpen Magazine compilation CD "Chicken Bomb". He has been one of our most consistently entertaining guests ever since. |
| Aden (formerly Dingle) | Saturday, June 07, 1997 | Hyde Parkers play pleasant indie-pop. They later signed to Teen Beat Records. |
| Neutrino | Saturday, June 07, 1997 | Chicago loud rock trio. Cool. |
| David Grubbs | Saturday, June 07, 1997 | Solo set from Gastr Del Sol and Bastro mastermind and former SquirrelBait guitarist. At the time he was living in Chicago and recording for Drag City. Jim O'Rourke had just quit GDS but John McEntire remained as drummer on the CD releases. First Airplay appearance. The first half features him on guitar and the end of the set features the harmonium. |
| Whaton Tiers Ensemble | Saturday, May 24, 1997 | Legendary downtown NYC producer (Sonic Youth e.g.) and his multi-guitar ensemble. Atavistic recording artist. One of the guitarists was also the drummer in amusing NYC noise band Splotch (with Carla Bley's daughter) at around the same time. He showed up claiming his name was "Rollo" but we knew better. |
| Cat Power | Friday, May 23, 1997 | Chan Marshall accompanied by Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth, Mosquito, $2 Guitar) on drums (and cymbal sounds on our keyboard) and Tim Foljahn ($2 Guitar) on guitar. This was not long after her stellar "What Would the Community Think?" release. Set includes a cover of Smog's "Bathysphere". 1) They Tell Me 2) Bathysphere 3)... Engineered by Paul Dryer |
| Two Dollar Guitar | Friday, May 23, 1997 | Same lineup as the Cat Power performance with Tim Foljahn replacing Chan Marshall as lead vocalist. Two songs. Lovely, moody performance. |
| Sweder | Saturday, May 17, 1997 | From Chicago, former members of Mint Aundry (Julie Liu) and Squashblossom (Chiyoko). Pleasant indie-pop. |
| Bobby Conn | Saturday, May 17, 1997 | I don't recall his lineup for this time but it may have included Weasel Walter and Chuck Falzone from The Flying Luttenbachers. Third Airplay appearance. |
| Experimental Tokyo | Saturday, May 10, 1997 | Tatsu Aoki brought us this group of experimental electronic musicians and turntablists from Japan. Yuko Nexus6 Kitamura (samples), Satoru Wono (turntabls and samples), and Yasuhiro Ohtani (hand-made instruments and samples). An enthralling sound collage. |
| Polwechsel | Saturday, May 10, 1997 | Radu Malfatti/ Werner Dafeldecker from Austria wth odd instrumentation. Exciting experimental music. |
| Kool Keith (AKA Dr. Octagon) | Saturday, May 10, 1997 | |
| Silkworm | Monday, May 05, 1997 | Three songs from this band from the Pacific Northwest (with former WNUR Rock DJ Tim Midgett on bass and vocals and future U of C law student Andy Cohen on guitar and vocals) who made the rounds of the larger indie-rock labels (Sub-Pop, Matador, Touch and Go). 1)The City Glows 2)Never Met A Man I Didn't Like 3)Give Me Some Skin Midgett on vocals on 1 and 3 and Cohen sang #2. All three songs are from their 1997 release "Developer". Drummer Michael Dahlquist did not play. Great set. |
| Automator (Dan Nakamura) | Saturday, May 03, 1997 | |
| Blastula | Saturday, April 26, 1997 | Atavistic recording artist from NYC. |
| John Huss Moderate Combo | Saturday, April 19, 1997 | Amusing Hyde Park rock group with some catchy ditties. |
| Greyboy All-Stars, The | Saturday, April 19, 1997 | Great funk band from San Diego featuring Karl Denson. |
| Skeleton Key | Saturday, April 19, 1997 | |
| Pinetop 7 | Saturday, April 12, 1997 | Critically acclaimed Chicago band. |
| Alec Empire | Saturday, April 12, 1997 | Atari Teenage Riot frontman, Digital Hardcore impressario, remixer of many bands, occasional Mille Plateaux contributor and all-around swell guy Alec Empire came from Berlin to serve up some digital hardcore on our decks. With Carl Crack assisting. Great set. |
| Ron Dewar/Robert Barry/Josh Abrams | Saturday, April 05, 1997 | This is believed to be the only recorded output of great saxophonist Dewar. Robert Barry was the drummer for the early Sun Ra ensembles in Chicago. Josh Abrams (NU 1994) has played with many Airplay guests (Town and Country, Fred Anderson, Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls, Guillermo Gregorio). I love this set - EStC |
| Palace | Saturday, April 05, 1997 | Louisville's Will Oldham (aka Palace Brothers, Palace Music, Palace, Bonnie "Prince" Billy) appeared as a 12 year old preacher in a 1985 movie with James Earl Jones. At this point he was recording for Drag City and receiving considerable acclaim for his somber tunes. Wonderful acoustic set. |
| Tatsu Aoki and David Pavkovic | Saturday, March 29, 1997 | Chicagoans Tatsu Aoki (bass) and Dave Pavkovic (drums) started this group as a duo and released a few CDs. Also known as "Toe". Tatsu runs a record label and organizes an annual music festival both centered around the theme of Asian American artists. |
| Assembly Line People Program | Saturday, March 29, 1997 | Young Chicago band who opened for Blur later that month at a 2000 seat venue. Good gig for them. Plus, they wear suits. |
| Frogs, The | Saturday, March 29, 1997 | |
| Spring Heel Jack | Friday, March 28, 1997 | Not the annoying ska band but rather the electronic music duo from London, England. Did a great remix 12" for Tortoise in 1996. |
| David Boykin Trio | Saturday, March 22, 1997 | Wonderful set from Boykin (saxophones, first of many Airplay appearances), John Herndon (drums, from Tortoise, Isotope), and Josh Abrams (bass, many,many Airplay appearances). Great set. |
| Boxhead Ensemble | Saturday, March 22, 1997 | Loose collective of musicians assembled by filmmaker Braden King and his associates at Truck Stop Studios originally to create music to accompany his documentary film about Dutch Harbor, Alaska: "Where the Sea Breaks Its Back". |
| MOTO | Saturday, March 15, 1997 | Arguably the definitive MOTO performance. Accompanied by Dennis Spaag (bass, vocals) and Garrett Hammond (from Kill Hannah on drums), Paul Caporino finally has the turbo engine to fire up the mach five MOTO machine. About a third of the set came from requests held up to the performance booth window by the staff....1) Meet Me By The Flagpole 2)Primevel 3)Piano Jazz Radio 4)The Things We Said And The Things We Did 5)It's So Big it's Fluorescent 6)Blast Of Silence 7)Making Love For The Rest Of My Life 8)There's A Worm In The Sky 9)Badger 10)DanceDanceDance to the Radio 11)2,4,6,8 Rock n Roll 12)Birthday Present To Myself 13)She's Gone Nuts 14)Let's Nail It To The Moon 15)Doing TheThings We Want To Do 16)Magic Words 17)Ghost 18)Gagging On the Edge Of Love 19)The Chicks Can Tell 20)L-Stop 21)Dick About It 22)Go Naked 23)This Life Of Mine 24)No Way Street (edit) 25)(edit) Climb Up The Eiffel Tower 26)Chokin On Your Insides 27)All Set 28)You And Me Both 29)Germ Inside 30)She's Not Ready 31)I Can't Stop It 32)I Like Shopping 33)The Street Where Love Lives 34)Midnight At The Guantanemo Room 35)Catholic World 36) Boredom In Action Engineered by Paul R. Dryer (aka DJ Old Style). |
| All Natural | Saturday, March 15, 1997 | First Airplay appearance from this stellar Chicago hip-hop duo of The Capital D and DJ Tone B. Nimble. Excellent set. |
| Minim | Saturday, March 08, 1997 | Featuring Eric Mahle from Mr. Furley and Jen from The Smoothies. |
| DJ Spooky/Ben Neill | Friday, March 07, 1997 | Interview conducted by Christian "CJ" Johnson of these founders of the "Illbient" scene. |
| DJ U-Sheen | Saturday, February 22, 1997 | |
| Cibo Matto | Friday, February 21, 1997 | NYC's Miho Hatori (vocals) and Yuka Honda (keyboard, samples) kick it live. 1)Beef Jerky 2)Spoon 3)Le Pain Perdu Of note, "Spoon" wasn't released until 2 or 3 years later on the "Stereotype A" album. 1 from "Cibo Matto" s/t ep - (1995). 2 from "Stereotype A" CD - (1999). 3 from "Viva La Woman" CD - (1996). Engineered by Paul Dryer (aka DJ Old Style). |
| Red Red Meat (with Rebecca Gates) | Sunday, February 16, 1997 | Upon returning from tour RRM was eager to play anything but linear rock music. Hence the exciting improvisation heard here. Former Spinanes frontwoman Gates had just relocated to Chicago from Portland and joins the fun. |
| Matthew Shipp / William Parker | Saturday, February 15, 1997 | NYC free jazz/experimental pianist Shipp and bassist Parker recorded live in Pick-Staiger hall (in order to use a grand piano)for the Airplay show. Great set. Engineered by Paul R. Dryer. |
| David Foster Wallace | Saturday, February 15, 1997 | |
| Bobby Conn | Saturday, February 08, 1997 | With Dylan Posa on guitar and DJ LeDeuce on turntables. Second Airplay appearance. Features a slow spacy version of "The Sportsman". Great set. |
| Aluminum Group, The | Saturday, February 08, 1997 | Some easy listening including a breezy cover of Guns n Roses' "Sweet Child Of Mine". Very enjoyable. Plus, they have easly the best handwriting I've ever seen on a setlist. |
| Mustache | Saturday, February 08, 1997 | |
| Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls | Saturday, February 01, 1997 | Great Chicago jazz ensemble. Josh Abrams - bass; Ted Sirota - drums; Jeff Parker - guitar; Ryan Schultz - bass trumpet; Kevin Kizer - tenor saxophone. Wonderful set. Engineer Paul "DJ Old Style" Dryer. 1) W.R.U. - [Ornette Coleman cover] 2) Song For Mumia 3) ? 4) Wait Songs 1,2,4 from "Rebel Roots" CD (1996). Song 1 is an Ornette Coleman cover song. Song 2 composed by Ted Sirota. Song 4 composed by Jeff Parker. |
| Ben Vida Ensemble | Saturday, February 01, 1997 | Great set from Chicago experimental guitar player Vida. Josh Abrams on bass. |
| Isotope 217 | Saturday, January 25, 1997 | Amazing performance from this jazzier Tortoise offshoot. The first set from this performance later appeared as a bonus track ("Expedition Rhombus") on the Japanese version of the CD "The Unstable Molecule" (1997). Bassist Matt Lux claims that it is one of their favorite/best performances. Sarah Smith-trombone; Jeff Parker-guitar; John Herndon-drums; Dan Bitney-percussion; Rob Mazurek-trumpet; Matt Lux-bass. Set 1 - until they blew a fuse 1) Expedition Rhombus Set 2 2) Phonometrics 3) Audio Boxing Engineered by Bundy Brown with Paul Dryer and Jeff Scurry. |
| Cash Money | Saturday, January 18, 1997 | |
| Stump Steve Silverstein | Saturday, January 18, 1997 | Not a band but a "bit". Steve was an Airplay engineer (and WNUR Rock Show DJ) who knew everything about obscure bands but nothing about famous ones. This bit of comedy demonstrates this oddity/infirmity. |
| Frontier | Saturday, January 18, 1997 | One of the rare bands that brings an elaborate light show to the radio broadcast. |
| Rhymefest | Saturday, January 11, 1997 | 2nd Airplay appearance from this Molemen crew emcee. 1) The Ska Machine 0:40 - 3:18 2) Freestyle (with DJ Jeff Scurry) 3:20 - 7:20 I believe he "name checked" us a couple of times. Huzzah. In 2005 he won a Grammy as co-writer of Kanye West's "Jesus Walks". |
| Edith Frost | Saturday, January 04, 1997 | Beautiful set from this singer-songwriter and Drag City recording artist who had just relocated to Chicago from her native Texas. |
| U.S. Maple | Saturday, December 28, 1996 | Deconstructionist "rock" band then on the Skin Graft label and later on Drag City play most of their "Sang Phat Editor" album live. Includes the famous "Shock the Monkey" ending wherein they tune a boom box to a local classic rock station and get the Peter Gabriel ditty. The gentleman providing the "Take It Away fellas" introduction is none other than special guest host DJ Duane Denison (then of The Jesus Lizard, later ofTomahawk). Engineered by DJ Old Style (aka Paul R. Dryer). Per their set list.... 1) Coming Back To Damnit' 2) Home It's OK 3) Songs ThatHave No Making Out 4) La Click 5) Mountain Top 6) (untitled mute) 7) Missouri Twist 8) Through With 666 9) (discussion). Al Johnson - vocals, Mark Shippy - guitar, Todd Rittman - guitar, Pat Samson - drums. |
| Duane Denison | Saturday, December 28, 1996 | |
| Moonshine Willy | Saturday, December 21, 1996 | Bloodshot recording artists |
| Diane Izzo | Saturday, December 21, 1996 | |
| God Is My Co-Pilot | Saturday, December 14, 1996 | Prolific "homocore" group from NYC. They happily complied with our request for a performance of "Sex Is For Making Babies". |
| Masked Lone Ranger, The | Saturday, December 14, 1996 | |
| Five Live Ones | Saturday, November 02, 1996 | |
| Goblins, The | Saturday, November 02, 1996 | Hilarious Misfits-inspired power rock from these Chicago-based masked pranksters. Interviewed Don Cornelius of Soul Train style by Eric and Christian about The Goblins' self-declared "feud" with Tortoise (they blame the media) and "How To Pick Up A Girl By A Vending Machine". 1)Mr. Beef 2)The Police Are just Doing Their Jobs 3)(Theme From) Chic-A-Go-Go 4)Giant Robot Rock 'n Roll 5)lon band intro 6)The Goblin Time Bomb 7)Creepy Porno Guy 8)interview with the band 9)Ha-Ha-Hanukah 10) Bread And Butter (Newbeats cover). The Phantom Creeper-vocals; Dom Nation-bass; Buh Zombie-guitar; Beau Grumpus-drums. Engineers Steve Silverstein, Paul Dryer, Jeff Scurry, Rich Lynch. |
| Melt-Banana | Saturday, November 02, 1996 | Crazy noise spazz rockers from Tokyo,Japan. At the time of this set, their "Scratch Or Stitch" album had just come out on the Chicago Skin Graft record label recorded by Steve Albini and jim O'Rourke. Yasuko O.-vocals; Agata-guitar; Rika Yamamoto-bass; Sudoh Tokiashi-drums. Great set: 1)"Scratch or Stitch" 2)"RRAGG" 3)"It's In the Pillcase" 4)"Bad Gut Missed First" 5)"Stop the Cuckoo Test" 6)Untitled 7)"Tail in Garbage" 8)"Paint It Black" (Rolling Stones cover) 9)"Plot in a Pot". |
| White | Saturday, November 02, 1996 | |
| Deadly Dragon Sound System | Saturday, October 26, 1996 | The founder of the DDSS DJ Rik Shaw (aka Richard Warfield Smith from the excellent group Rome) on the wheels of steel. A great set. |
| Star Vehicle | Saturday, October 26, 1996 | |
| Rockin' Johnny w/ Traildigger | Saturday, October 26, 1996 | Real deal Chicago blues. Taildragger sings it and tells it like it is. Noone was going to tell him to put out that cigar. Or get rid of that whiskey glass. |
| Number One Cup | Saturday, October 19, 1996 | Great Chicago band. |
| Hatewave | Saturday, October 19, 1996 | Local free jazz multi-instrumentalist and demagogue Weasel Walter drums for this death metal trio. Sasha Tai (nee Lindquist) NU '93 and WNUR DJ on vocals. Brutal and unrelenting the way black metal should be. |
| Tokidoki | Saturday, October 19, 1996 | Peter Schaefer and Nora O'Conner from the WNUR Rock show with their fay pop duos. Very very nice. |
| Double Negative | Saturday, October 12, 1996 | |
| Venus Cures All | Saturday, October 12, 1996 | Three women and one man from Vancouver playing power rock. Appeared on the Ear of the Dragon compilation of Asian-American rock bands. |
| Phantom Creeper | Saturday, October 05, 1996 | |
| Crown Royals, The | Saturday, September 28, 1996 | Funk band with Ken Vandermark on saxophone and former members of The Defoliants, God's Acre, and The Sapphires. Sometimes known as The Waste Kings (when playing more garage rock material). Great set. Includes some songs that were never officially released. Ken Vandermark-saxophone; Pete Nathan-guitar; Mark Blade-bass; Jeff BBQ-drums. 1)Dig In 2)Jiffy Pop 3)Chapter 7 4) Joe Beam 5)Bad Duck 6)Boomerang 7)Look, New Shoes 8)Six Pack 9)Liquid Wrench 10)I'm Up For That 11)Hangin' Thang 12)Boss Nova. Engineer Paul Dryer (aka DJ Old Style) |
| Monitor Radio | Saturday, September 28, 1996 | Wicker Park no-wave-ish group. Exciting set. |
| Squirm | Saturday, September 14, 1996 | |
| Lonesome Organist, The | Saturday, August 31, 1996 | Unbelievable one-man band. Harmonica, drum set, keyboard and vocals all at once with weird carnival sounding music as the result. Later released records on Thrill Jockey and toured with the jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Mind blowing to see and hear. |
| Ting | Saturday, August 31, 1996 | Melissa Martin and some other lovely women from Hyde Park celebrating the release of their single on Won't Go Flat records. |
| Pulsars, The | Saturday, August 31, 1996 | Great set from these pop musicians sometime between the release of their "Teenage Nites" ep and the multi-million dollar contract they received from Almo Recordings |
| Flashlight | Saturday, August 17, 1996 | |
| Chris Mills | Saturday, August 17, 1996 | |
| Brian McMahon | Saturday, August 17, 1996 | |
| New Rob Robbies, The | Saturday, August 10, 1996 | |
| Relaxer | Saturday, August 10, 1996 | |
| MOTO | Saturday, August 10, 1996 | First Airplay appearance. Solo performance (Paul Caporino and drum machine). Great set includes early performance of "The Chicks Can Tell." His great "4-Pac" ep had just been released. |
| ROME | Saturday, August 03, 1996 | DJ Rik Shaw and DJ LeDeuce play their hypnotic trance dub. Elliott Dicks from Nerves was their drummer for a bit as was Doug West of Bobby Conn's band but this performance was percussion-less. They released a great (self-titled) album, a track on the Macro Dub Infection compilation and a song on the Gilles DeLeuze memorial CD. Engineered by Paul R. Dryer (aka DJ Old Style). Excellent set of music. |
| Handsome Family, The | Saturday, August 03, 1996 | Husband and wife team of Brett (NU alum) and Rennie Sparks in their first Airplay appearance. They still had a drummer (Mike Werner) at this point. They released several critically acclaimed records on the local Carrot Top label (run by Archer Prewitt from The Coctails). The songs are mostly from the "Milk and Scissors" CD(1996). Songs 2 and 4 are from the debut "Odessa" CD from 1995. Tracks: 1) Drunk By Noon 2) Arlene 3) The Dutch Boy 4)Giant Ant 5)The King Who Wouldn't Smile 6)Lake Geneva 7) Amelia Earhardt And The Dancing Bear 8)Tin Foil 9) House Carpenter I love this set - EStC. Engineered by Paul Dryer. |
| Mint Aundry | Saturday, August 03, 1996 | Local artist Walter Andersons and NU alum Julie Liu (who has sang and played violin for Seam, Tortoise, June of 44, and Orso among others) lead this quartet. Pleasant country-tinged pop-rock. They had just released their "Celebrated Strong mints" CD. |
| Specula | Saturday, July 27, 1996 | |
| MC Think and DJ Bob | Saturday, July 27, 1996 | |
| Shpiel | Saturday, July 20, 1996 | |
| Brian McMahon | Saturday, July 20, 1996 | |
| Best Cellar | Saturday, July 20, 1996 | |
| Nerves, The | Saturday, July 13, 1996 | Garage rockers in one of their first performances (pre-Thrill Jockey label releases). Excellent Sky Saxon-style nuggets of primal punk rock. |
| Zeek Sheck (Z/S) | Saturday, July 13, 1996 | A very enjoyable set of one woman experimental improv weirdness. |
| Kleenex Girl Wonder | Saturday, July 13, 1996 | Boy genius songsmith Graham Smith returns for his 2nd Airplay appearance and first with his full band. At the tender age of 16 Graham won the top single of the year award for his "Exotic Nitwits Keep Exotic Pets" ep. The set on this day included a (dubious) cover of the theme from the sitcom "One Day At a Time" as well as many of Graham's many great songs banged out by his young band. |
| Vandermark Five | Saturday, June 29, 1996 | Live in the Annie May Swift auditorium with audience. It was hot as hell in there. This was very early in the life of this group - their debut CD "Single Piece Flow" would come out in 1997. Most, if not all, of the set features songs that would turn up on that debut album. 1)... 2) Momentum 3)Data Janitor 4)Billboard 5)Limited Edition Ken Vandermark - saxophone, Tim Mulvenna - drums, Mars Williams - reeds, Kent Kessler - bass, Jeb Bishop - guitar and trombone. |
| Robbie Fulks | Saturday, June 15, 1996 | Outstanding solo acoustic performance in Robbie's first WNUR appearance shortly after the release of his first album "Country Love Songs". He was still on Bloodshot Records at the time.: 1) Rock Bottom: Population 1 2) Barely Human 3) She Took A Lot of Pills (and Died) 4) Cold Statesville Ground 5) Scrapple 6) Goodbye Good Lookin (So Long). Songs 1,2,3 from "Country Love Songs" (1996); Songs 4,6 from "South Mouth" (1997); Song 5 unreleased. Engineer Paul Dryer. |
| Rhymefest | Saturday, June 15, 1996 | Part of the Molemen hip-hop crew of Chicago. Along with Juice (with whom he teamed) this South Sider won many a hip-hop MC battle (including defeating Eminem). He later won a Grammy in 2005 for co-writing Kanye West's "Jesus Walks". |
| Motorhome | Saturday, June 15, 1996 | |
| Bobby Conn | Saturday, June 15, 1996 | First and best appearance on Airplay. With Azita Yousseffi (of The Scissor Girls, and later Bride of NoNo) on piano and Monica BouBou on violin. The performance of "Sherman Stick" was released on the "Camp Skin Graft" compilation a year or two later. This outstanding set also includes covers of Serge Gainesbourg's "Soixante Neuf (Annee Erotique)" and William DeVaughn's "Be Thankful For What You've Got". 1) "Soixante-Neuf" - [Serge Gainesbourg] 2) "Sherman Stick" 3) "Axis 67" (with some of "Godspell" thrown in) 4) Be Thankful For What You've Got" - [William DeVaughn]. Engineered by Paul Dryer. |
| X-Chittle | Saturday, June 01, 1996 | X-Chittle features Rob Sieracki of -Dis (and occasionally The Mountain Goats) and the drummer from Tar. Excellent moody melodic guitar picking and singing. |
| For Carnation, The | Saturday, June 01, 1996 | Brian McMahan of Slint (and briefly NU Class of 1991) leads this band with his brother. Matador recording artist. This is an amazing and austere set. At the end of the set they tuned a radio in the performance room to WNUR to get feedback. 1) Winter Lair 2) I Wear The Gold (both songs were from the "Marshmellows" album of 1996. |
| Scissor Girls, The | Saturday, May 04, 1996 | |
| Poster Children | Saturday, April 27, 1996 | Power rockers from Champaign, IL not long after the release of their excellent "Junior Citizen" CD and "Just Like You" ep. This highly recommended set captures them at an artistic peak. 1) Black Dog --> 3:56 2) New Boyfriend --> 7:56 3) He's My Star --> 11:44 4) Dynamite Chair --> 14:28 5) Speed Of Light --> 17:58 6) Music Of America --> 20:27 7) Straightline --> 23:07 (called "Pink" by Rose Marshack at this performance) 8) Bulletproof --> 25:52 9) Good Cop Bad Cop --> 29:02 10) Wide Awake --> 32:50 11) King For A Day --> 34:55 12) Revolution Year Zero --> 38:53 1,5,6 from "RTFM" album (1997) 2,3,10,11,12 from "Junior Citizen" album (1995) 4 from "Tool Of The Man" album (1993) 7,9 from "New World Record" album (1999) 8 unreleased? Rick Valentin - guitar, vocals; Rose Marshack - bass; Jim Valentin- guitar; Howie Kantoff - drums |
| Mr. Furley | Saturday, April 27, 1996 | Entertaining Chicago power rock band play some great songs. |
| Peter Margasak | Saturday, April 27, 1996 | |
| MX-80 | Saturday, April 20, 1996 | Rare live performance by this seminal weird avant rock band who first debuted out of Bloomington Indiana in 1980 (but at the time of this recording mostly living in the SF Bay area). . Exciting, humorous, and great set. Two tracks from this set later turned up on their Atavistic-released CD: "Always Leave Em Wanting Less". |
| Wolverton Brothers, The | Saturday, April 20, 1996 | Great set from this Atavistic recording artist from Cincinnati. Had a single in the Sub Pop Single of the Month Club. |
| C-Clamp | Saturday, April 13, 1996 | Champaign rockers. |
| Yum Yum | Saturday, April 06, 1996 | Chris Holmes' orchestral pop band which signed to the A&M label and subsequently sold virtually no records. Which is too bad because this set is really lovely. Chris' roommate Tom Frank of The Baffler wrote about Chris and Yum Yum for Harper's magazine. |
| Kleenex Girl Wonder (Graham Smith solo) | Saturday, April 06, 1996 | 1st Airplay appearance. 16 year old Graham Smith solo performance not long after his first record "Exotic Nitwits Keep Exotic Pets" won #1 Single of 1995 on the WNUR Rock Show. Songs 1 and 2 from this set are from that single. Songs 4 and 7 are from his first CD "Sexual Harassment". I believe he was accompanied by his uncle and his mom. Includes several Guided By Voices covers. 1)"The Other Duck Shaped Pentagon" 2)"Sunny Sunow" 3)Atomize (Guided By Voices song) 4)The New York Giants 5)BrightPaper Werewolves (GBV song) 6) Underwater Explosions (GBV song 7)Such A Puzzling Danger 8)What Is Your Posture? 9)Always Crush Me (GBV song) 10)Game Of Pricks (GBV song). Wonderful set. |
| Drag King | Saturday, March 30, 1996 | |
| Falstaff | Saturday, March 16, 1996 | |
| Ben Kim | Saturday, March 16, 1996 | |
| Baffler, The | Saturday, March 16, 1996 | |
| Duane Denison / David Yow | Saturday, March 09, 1996 | |
| Wuling | Saturday, March 09, 1996 | |
| Loraxx | Saturday, March 02, 1996 | Great set of angry power sludge from this young Chicago trio fronted by Arista Strungys. Gerard Cosloy of Matador Records told us that they would be the next big thing to come out of Chicago. Gerard once signed Mecca Normal - say no more. |
| Baubo Performance Group | Saturday, March 02, 1996 | Local performance art troupe with some NU graduates |
| Hot Smokes, The | Saturday, February 24, 1996 | Chicago band with former members of Dolemite. Set included a cover of Rod Stewart's "True Blue". Very enjoyable. |
| Damon Short and Jim Baker | Saturday, February 17, 1996 | Great set from these Chicago improvisers. Damon Short - drums; Jim Baker - piano. |
| Jonny Polonsky | Saturday, February 10, 1996 | At the time JP was recording for American Recordings (Rick Rubin of Def Jam's new label) and opening shows for Frank Black of The Pixies. Enjoyable set of power pop. |
| 40K | Saturday, January 20, 1996 | |
| Mountain Goats, The | Thursday, January 18, 1996 | Outstanding performance by Mr. Darnielle at the culmination of a very prolific period for him. He lived in Chicago at the time and much of his work was eventually released on the Chicago Ajax label. The set includes a cover of Franklin Bruno's "Milkcrate" (both Bruno and Darnielle were part of the "Upland Empire" in southern California earlier in the 90's). 1) Third Snow Song --> 1:31 2) La Tracionera --> 4:58 3) If England Were What England Seems Then We Would Only Have Our Dreams --> 7:00 4) Going To Some Damned English City --> 10:23 5) Alpha Omega --> 12:51 6) Going To Maine --> 14:51 7) Milkcrate - [Franklin Bruno cover from the F.B. "Irony Engine" 7" single on Walt Records NYC] --> 18:52 8) The Recognition Scene --> 21:35 9) Cubs In Five --> 24:16 1 - from "Philyra" 7" single (1994) and "Protein Source Of The Future... Now!" anthology CD (1999) 2,3,4,7 - unreleased. 5 - from "Our Salvation Is In Hand" Theme Park compilation CD (1995) and "Protein Source Of The Future... Now!" anthology CD (1999). 6 - from "Hard Core Acoustic" Shrimper label cassette compilation (1993) and "Ghana" anthology CD (2002) 8 - from "Sweden" album (1994) 9 - from "Nine Black Poppies" ep (1995) John Darnielle - guitar, vocals |
| Flying Luttenbachers, The | Saturday, January 13, 1996 | |
| Steve Albini / Al Johnson / Mark Fisher | Tuesday, December 19, 1995 | Guest hosting stint by Steve Albini, U. S. Maple frontman Johnson, and Skin Graft records impressario Mark Fisher. With phone-in segments with Weasel Walter and some schizophrenics. |
| Mr. Furley | Monday, September 18, 1995 | |
| Franklin Bruno | Monday, August 28, 1995 | |
| Ben Kim | Monday, August 21, 1995 | |
| Neil Rosario | Monday, July 10, 1995 | |
| Alchemy | Saturday, April 08, 1995 | |
| Boy King | Saturday, February 25, 1995 | |
| Weedy | Saturday, February 11, 1995 | |
| Poster Children | Saturday, February 04, 1995 | |
| Juxta | Thursday, January 19, 1995 | |
| Velo Delux | Saturday, December 31, 1994 | |
| Jad Fair and James McNew | Wednesday, December 07, 1994 | Fair is from Half Japanese and McNew is the bassist for Yo La Tengo. Set included "Red Dress" from "Charmed Life". |
| Ashtray Boy | Saturday, November 26, 1994 | |
| Hardvark | Monday, September 26, 1994 | |
| Sea and Cake, The | Saturday, August 20, 1994 | |
| Wendy Fix | Saturday, August 20, 1994 | |
| Throw | Saturday, August 06, 1994 | |
| Mary Jones | Saturday, July 30, 1994 | |
| Coctails, The | Saturday, July 23, 1994 | |
| Squash Blossom | Saturday, June 04, 1994 | |
| These Days | Saturday, May 28, 1994 | |
| Bob Nastanovich | Saturday, May 28, 1994 | |
| Freakwater | Saturday, May 14, 1994 | |
| Flavor Channel, The | Saturday, April 16, 1994 | |
| Los Crudos | Saturday, April 09, 1994 | |
| Twang Bang | Saturday, March 26, 1994 | |
| Veruca Salt | Saturday, January 29, 1994 | |
| Palmolive | Saturday, December 11, 1993 | |
| Charming Beggars, The | Saturday, December 04, 1993 | |
| Dis | Saturday, April 10, 1993 | |
| Big N | Friday, January 22, 1993 | |
| NIL8 | Tuesday, December 08, 1992 | |
| Chisel | Saturday, November 07, 1992 | |
| Repulse Kava | Saturday, October 31, 1992 | |
| Gauge | Saturday, October 17, 1992 | |
| Jim O'Rourke | Saturday, September 05, 1992 | Solo guitar from Jim who at the time I believe was DJing on the WNUR jazz show. Jim went on to leave Chicago for NYC in 2000 after establishing himself as an incredible musician, composer, producer, and collaborator. |
| Seven Tons | Saturday, August 01, 1992 | Chicago punk band with some stalwarts of the scene. |
| Buzzmuscle | Saturday, July 25, 1992 | Chicago punk band with Rob Warmowski from The Defoliants. Perhaps most notable for one of their singles which is in the permanent collection of The Smithsonian (seriously). |
| Shrimp boat | Saturday, June 20, 1992 | |
| Table | Saturday, May 23, 1992 | |
| Drovers, The | Saturday, May 16, 1992 | |
| Jesus Lizard, The | Saturday, July 07, 1990 | Songs from their at-the time unreleased second (and superb) album "Goat": 1) Mouthbreather 2) Nub 3) Karpis 4) Lady Shoes (part of) 5) Monkey Trick 6) Seasick David Yow was drunk as hell, fell face first ino a cassette rack which prompted Airplay hostess Octavia Kincaid to call him a "baby". Tooshay Dr. Kincaid!! David Yow - vocals Duane Denison - guitar David Wm Sims - bass Mac McNeilly - drums |
| Killdozer | Saturday, March 10, 1990 | Hailing from Madison, Wisconsin, Killdozer were one of the great Touch and Go bands during that label's late 80's-early 90's salad days. Their set here was... 1) The Puppy 2) Hot N' Tot 3) Burnin' Love - [Elvis Presley cover] 4) Sonnet 5) Space:1999. Song 1 from "L'il Baby Buntin" (1987) Song 2 from "Uncomromising War On Art Under The Dictatorship Of The Proletariat" (later released in 1994). Song 3 from "For Ladies Only" (a covers album from 1989) Song 4 later released as a single in 1996. Song 5 from their then just-released album "Twelve Point Buck". Octavia Kincaid was the host at the time and her fear-of-incontinence introduction can be heard at the start of the set. |
| Poster Children | Saturday, November 26, 1988 | |
| Smashing Pumpkins, The | Wednesday, November 16, 1988 | |
| Sooyoung Park | (n/a) | |
| William "Upski" Wimsatt | (n/a) | |
| Catherine | (n/a) | |
| Corn Dolly | (n/a) | |
| Rockin Billy | (n/a) | |
| Red Red Meat | (n/a) | |
| Eu Thing | (n/a) | |
| Jason and Alison | (n/a) | |
| Jazz Butcher, The | (n/a) |