PARTICIPATION IS NEEDED!



As most of you know, I really enjoy making compilation CD’s. Whether they are for me, a loved one or for somebody I just met, I really think it is a lot of fun to put them together.

The one that I am thinking about tackling today or sometime soon needs participation from everyone.

I am sure most of you know the power of the clap track. If not, it is something that you really should try and find, because nothing can make a great pop song like a good clap track. You can take all the La’s, Dee’s, Doo’s and Da’s you want, but without a clap track, you are just selling yourself a little bit short.

Anyway, the new compilation I am putting together is tentatively called “Clap Tracks for Jesus.” A collection of great clap tracks.

This is what I have so far:
- Rock the Casbah – The Clash
- No New Tale to Tell – Love & Rockets
- Diamonds in the Dark – The High Dials
- Disconnect the Dots – Of Montreal
- Let’s Go – The Cars
- Seems So – The Apples in Stereo
- I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
- 12:51 – The Strokes
- (Drawing) Rings Around the World – Super Furry Animals

Yeah, I know, this is all over the place, but this is all off the top of my head and it is also where you come in. Either e-mail me or post a comment with a list of songs with great clap tracks.

Maybe your song will make the CD and be sent to the heavens for all to clap to.

I stole this from the reader because I would of only announced one show going on sale this weekend. Can you guess which one?



ACOUSTIC STRAWBS
FitzGerald's, 10/29

ALIEN ANT FARM
Metro, 10/4, all-ages, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

JAKE ARMERDING
FitzGerald's, 10/27

ATMOSPHERE
the Vic, 10/5, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

AVENGED SEVENFOLD
House of Blues, 11/9, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

ANDREW BIRD, HEAD OF FEMUR
Logan Square Auditorium, 11/26, all-ages

BLACK CROWES
Riviera, 10/30-31, 18+, on sale 5 PM Friday (8/27)

BLOODHOUND GANG
Metro, 10/17, all-ages, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

BLUE OCTOBER
Double Door, 11/3, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

BRAVERY, INTERNATIONAL NOISE CONSPIRACY
the Vic, 10/4, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

CAGE
Abbey Pub, 11/18, 18+, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

CALLA
Empty Bottle, 10/30

DERRICK CARTER
Smart Bar, 11/5, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

LANCE CASHION
Smart Bar, 9/15, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

CHEVELLE, TAPROOT
Aragon, 10/14, all-ages, on sale 11 AM Saturday (8/27)

CONVERGE
Logan Square Auditorium, 11/9, all-ages

MARSHALL CRENSHAW
Schubas, 10/21-22

DRESDEN DOLLS
Metro, 10/15, all-ages, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

EMERY, GYM CLASS HEROES
Metro, 10/9, all-ages, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

SAGE FRANCIS
Metro, 10/13, 18+, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

MICHAEL FRANTI & FRIENDS
Park West, 9/24, 18+, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

JOHN DEE GRAHAM
FitzGerald's, 10/28

HACKENSAW BOYS
Martyrs', 9/23, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

HEARTLESS BASTARDS
Schubas, 10/15

HOLOPAW
Schubas, 10/6

PETER HOOK (DJ SET)
Smart Bar, 10/2, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

HOT ROD CIRCUIT, PIEBALD
Metro, 10/30, all-ages, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

JETHRO TULL
Civic Opera House, 11/20, on sale 11 AM Saturday

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, THE JUAN MACLEAN
the Vic, 10/21, 18+, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

AMOS LEE
Park West, 10/25, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

LOW LIFE
Abbey Pub, 9/7, 18+, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

MAE
House of Blues, 10/16, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

RHETT MILLER
Abbey Pub, 10/28, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

MINISTRY, REVOLTING COCKS
House of Blues, 7/2/06, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

NINA NASTASIA
Schubas, 9/5

LES NUBIANS
House of Blues, 10/18, 18+, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

DOLLY PARTON
Chicago Theatre, 10/28, all-ages, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

REVEREND HORTON HEAT, SUPERSUCKERS
Metro, 12/3, 18+, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

SEXSMITH & KERR
Schubas, 9/18

SHANTI GROOVE
House of Blues Back Porch Stage, 9/22, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

DUNCAN SHEIK
Double Door, 10/28, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

SON VOLT
the Vic, 10/15, 18+, on sale 10 AM Saturday (8/27)

TOSSERS
Double Door, 10/8, on sale noon Saturday (8/27)

UNITED STATE OF ELECTRONICA
Schubas, 10/13

WILLOWZ
Subterranean, 10/1

This also needed to be added

Here are a few links that I thought I would share. The next post should be with some updated concerts.


Sufjan Stevens in the Illinois Times
http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:4595

Dave Matthews finally sees the light:
http://www.theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4134&n=2


Iron Maiden vs. Ozzy
http://www.nme.com/news/113464.htm

BBC - 10 years after BritPop



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4144458.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4151510.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4146424.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4134418.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4745137.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4136296.stm

DON'T PANIC!!!




Since this is supposed to be about baseball too, I guess I should post something about my White Sox recent fall to mediocrity.

As of today, the team is on their longest losing streak of the year, 5 games. Over the last 35 games they are 17-18. Is this reason to panic? Is this reason to fall down and realize that the city of is just doomed when it comes to baseball? I hope not, but it is making me come back to reality.

This entire season so far has been great. The ballpark is selling out 2-3 times a week and promotions such as “Mullet Night” have Whitesnake fans excited again, but all of this will go for nothing unless they get things together and make some moves.

A couple of key players have cleared waivers and are hopefully “available” for the right price. Eddie Guardado of the Seattle Mariners and Ken Griffey Jr. could be huge if the team could pick either one of them. The likelihood of them grabbing both are about as likely as Axl Rose getting back together with Slash and playing Mr. Brownstone in my backyard tonight. So, yeah, it is really unlikely. If I had to choose out of the two, which would have a greater impact on the team, I would have to say Jr.

A quality left handed bat that can hit homeruns and drive in runs, yeah that could help. The fact is that guys like Everett are just not that good and you can see Crazy Carl falling back to his old self again. Although, the guy does find a way to get clutch hits. I seriously have not seen somebody get as many clutch hits as he does but only hit .240 on the season, it is kind of amazing.

The pitching has been pretty good still, but it is a long season and after that last start, it sounds and looks like Garland might be coming back to Earth. Buehrle will be Buehrle and that is always a good thing. The Cigar Twins (Contreras & Hernandez) are actually pitching very well as of late, but still have that one inning that gets them both. The bullpen is quality. Everyone has their problems, but on a whole they have been great, one of the most reliable in the game.

Anyway, Sox fans, here me out, don’t jump just yet. If you find yourself feeling blue, just follow these simple steps and you will find yourselves in bliss once again.

1) Don’t pay attention to the team on the northside. As a Sox fan, their problems are not yours, so stop giving them the attention they are trying to take from you. Let them make their fight for the wild card, but as a Sox fan, pay attention to the Indians, Twins, Yankees, Red Sox, A’s & Angels. Those are the teams you are going to have to worry about.

2) Despite their recent problems, they still have the best record in baseball. They have still beat some quality teams and are still on pace for the best record in franchise history. It could be worse, they could be called the Royals

3) Something is going to happen in the next week. Either they will acquire Griffey Jr. or they will get Eddie Guardado. Either player will help them out and both have playoff experience.

4) Sox Park/Comiskey go there. It is a great place to see a game. There is a lot of baseball left to play and there are some good matchups coming to town in the next few weeks. Detroit, Yankees, Angels, Twins, yeah, there is still some good baseball left to be played, so get to the ballpark and head on over to Jimbo’s before or after the game. If you get shit on by a bird, he will give you a free beer.

5) They play Metallica and AC/DC at the ballpark. Do I have to explain this one?

6) The Sox Pride Crew. Yep. That’s it!

Upcoming Shows that go on sale this weekend

DRESSY BESSY, Swords and Talkdemonic, Tuesday, Sept. 13 ($10, 21+) at Schubas.

BECK, Tuesday, Sept. 20, and Wednesday, Sept. 21 ($36, all ages) at Riviera.

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, Youth Group, Wednesday, Oct. 12 ($22.50, all ages) at Riviera.

DOVES, Tuesday, Sept. 27 ($22, all ages) at Riviera Theatre.

RIVER OAKS, Julian's Ride, Cosmic Haze, Wednesday, Sept. 7 ($7, 21+) at Double Door.

FIERY FURNACES, Friday, Oct. 7 ($17, all ages) at Logan Square Auditorium.

PONYS, Friday, Oct. 28 (greatest day ever) ($10, 21+) at Empty Bottle

My recommendations would be Doves and Beck. The Riviera can be a pretty cool place to see a show, if you are in the right spot. If you are standing in a bad spot, it is awful and usually too crowded.

2005, what albums have you been listening to? What is your favorite release of the year thus far?

so until next time, ask yourself this...

Here is a list of some shows that are either going on sale this weekend or are already on sale.

THE ARCADE FIRE, Wednesday, Sept. 28 ($21, all ages) at Riviera Theatre.

THE DETROIT COBRAS, Reigning Sound, Saturday, Nov. 19 ($12, 21+) at Double Door.

FEIST, Wednesday, Sept. 7, and Thursday, Sept. 8 ($15, 21+) at Schubas.

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, Mark Gardener, 9/20 ($15, all ages) at Metro.

DIRTBOMBS, 9/3 ($12, 21+) at Double Door.

LONGWAVE, 8/5 ($10, 21+) at Schubas.

SOCIAL DISTORTION, 9/23 ($25, all ages) at House of Blues.

MICHAEL PENN, 9/24 ($15, 21+) at Schubas.

BUILT TO SPILL, 10/8 ($20, 18+) at Metro.

COLDPLAY, 8/13 ($34 - $69, all ages) at Alpine Valley.

DECEMBERISTS, Cass McCombs, 10/18 ($17.50, all ages) at Metro.

DECEMBERISTS, Cass McCombs, 10/19 ($17.50, 18+) at Metro.

NINE INCH NAILS, Queens of the Stone Age, 10/7 ($42.50 - $47.50, all ages) at Allstate Arena.

OF MONTREAL, 9/2 ($10, 18+) at Abbey Pub.

SIGUR ROS, 9/21 ($33. all ages) at Chicago Theatre.

SUFJAN STEVENS, 9/16 ($15, 18+) at Metro.

TORTOISE, 8/12 ($12, 21+) at Empty Bottle.

PAUL WELLER, 9/20 ($28.50, 18+) at the Vic.

WHITE STRIPES, 8/29 - 31 ($43, all ages) at Auditorium Theatre.


who wants to go?