January 8th, 2009 by Berklie in Carousing
As in “months without an update.” And here we always thought that reaching eleven was supposed to be a good thing. We could quickly slap something together about 2008 simply to play us out, but that just wouldn’t give prop’s to everything that we’ve seen and recorded this past year (that we didn’t find the time to post… grrr). Instead, since we’re feeling rough, we’re feeling raw and we’re in the prime of our lives, we’ll go with a Year in Review photo montage set to our “Single of the Year, 2008” some time next week. And, yes, that was a hint as to our winner.
February 17th, 2008 by Berklie in Travel, Carousing
PRB “play” in Boulder, mixed with BCBS “work” in Denver? Done and done. We love it when a plan comes together… especially when we can trawl down Pearl Street on the company’s dime. Cha-ching! Though we made sure to stop by our usual haunts (Juanita’s, Boulder Book Store, and Walnut Brewery), we also made time for the “new” kids on the block (The Kitchen, Tee & Cakes, and Frasca) during our week out west. Regrets? Missing the lingerie show that J and LH walked into at Boulderado’s Catacombs. Grrr… now, why’d we decide to stay at Conor O’Neills instead?
And a big thanks, D, for making us feel right at home at “never to be missed when we’re in town” The Sink (most favorite place of all time up on The Hill). Quick note to The Hill, though: WTF happened to you? Honestly, if you were a person, you’d be “Strung Out” Yasmine. Can’t believe that we used to call you “home” back in the day. (What’s up, 11th and College?!) Get it together… we’ll be back later this year to see how you’re coming along with your rebuilding project. You will be rebuilding, won’t you?
Photos, videos and post »
February 7th, 2008 by Berklie in Music, Chicago, Politico
Was it home-cooked loyalty, after his fundraising BBQ at Berklie HQ’s building during his senatorial campaign? Nope. Was it “The Speech?” Nope. Was it Obama Girl? Well… Nope. Was it Obey Giant’s kick-ass promo work? Nope. Was it the fact that Barack Obama is actual change we can believe in? Yes. And after having our voices heard at the polling place on Super Tuesday (we didn’t fall for the “magic pen“), we headed on down to Martyrs’ to see a different voice heard.
WXRT handed us some “All Access” passes to attend their taping of Bob Mould’s “Live from Studio X” session. He played tracks from his upcoming release District Line, made us happy with some classic solo and Sugar tunes, told us that we could drop him a line at his blog or at his part-time, and talked about how almost nothing compares to the joy of grilling.
Photos, videos and post »
January 18th, 2008 by Berklie in Athletics, Chicago
…the mighty Bl-a-a-a-ckhawks. Everybody! Any time that you get a chance to watch hockey at the United Center, from the sweet United Airlines suite… you take it. And when it’s a game that you would actually pay to go see anyway, it’s bonus level time! Thanks, Mighty D.R., for the last-minute (oh, who are we kidding… last-second) set of “owner’s box” tix to see the Blackhawks club the Blues. And we mean club. “Red ice!” By the way, was it wrong to get three desserts “to go,” from the Fruit and Dessert Table? Nah, we didn’t think so either.
Photos, videos and post »
January 11th, 2008 by Berklie in Music, Chicago
Chicago Public Radio host Tony Sarabia, of “Radio M,” debuted CPR’s soon-to-be monthly “CPR Presents” event series at the newly-remodeled (read: finally, finally clean and comfortable) Victory Gardens Biograph this past week. Their inaugural engagement? An in-depth historical account of, question/answer session with, and acoustic/electric performance by Chicago’s own Office. “Oh, yes, it was beautiful…”
SKS, RaeRae, TL and I gazed at the works of art that defined Scott Masson’s initial Office offering as an artistic endeavor, and not a band, at its outset in 2000 at Goldsmiths University of London (no joke, TL); took note of personal details shared by the Office staff; listened intently to wicked-good tracks from Office’s first commercial release, A Night at the Ritz; and, finally, wondered quietly “where, oh where, could Alissa be?” Hmm…
Photos, videos and post »
December 2nd, 2007 by Berklie in Music, Chicago
Portage Theater? Nope, never had been… but we pretty much follow Tegan and Sara anywhere they play in Chicago. (Twice in 3 months? Nice!) And, honestly, we’re damned glad that we do. Portage Theater turned out to be the most laid-back venue to which we’ve been for a show. Crowd the stage? Take unlimited stills? Record multiple tracks? Check, check, and check… not a problem. We could probably have brought in some of our comfy, old, wave pool lifeguard chairs for an even better view, and it would still have been all good.
Earlier on Thursday; our stylist spies in Wicker Park’s Art + Science told us that Sara had been in for a pre-show touch-up, so we knew that she’d be rocking her killer cut that night, extra special. (Don’t worry though, Claudia [pronounced “Clowdia,” don’t you know], we’re certain that Sara will be coming back to you, flowers in hand, when she’s back at home in Montreal.) And with effort like that, here’s to a successful Juno Awards, ladies… we’ve got The Con down for an almost-certain nomination as being the “Alternative Album of the Year” (you’re our flat-out “Album of the Year, 2007”), eventually beating out whomever you’ll be up against.
Photos, videos and post »
November 16th, 2007 by Berklie in Music, Chicago
“We broke free on a Thursday evening, we put the pedal to the floor. Headed south on Western Avenue, and listened to the engine roar…” Last night our sights were set on dinner at Bite; to be immediately followed by the evening’s much-anticipated, special event at The Empty Bottle: The Mountain Goats were back in Chicago to play this tour’s last stop. Hello and goodbye.
Between albums at the moment, Heretic Pride will be released Feb. 19, 2008, the setlist was completely up for grabs and ended up spanning the entire catalog. (Three encores help make that happen.) John and Peter brought out a big gun this tour, borrowing muscle from Superchunk’s Philly Boy Roy Jon Wurster. As a result, in spite of The Empty Bottle’s “acoustics,” TMG commandeered the local airwaves.
Photos, videos and post »
November 14th, 2007 by Berklie in Music, Chicago
Band of Horses (heretofore simply Horses) was playing a “sold out” show at Metro last night, and we had no tickets? Please. We know people. Sometimes they don’t call us back (WTF?!), but we know people. And this time… they came through with last-minute tix. “You never know who you’ll run into.” Ta!
Their one-month-old release, Cease to Begin (7.7/10 by Pitchfork), was “sparkling” to hear in person. And with how hot and humid Metro was, it almost felt like actually being in BoH’s transplanted-native South Carolina, catching “Garish Fever”… slow-moving ceiling fans and everything. Memo to BoH: we’ll forgive y’all for touring “on the road with Zune®” this one time. (They still sell those relics?)
Photos, videos and post »
October 27th, 2007 by Berklie in Travel, Carousing
It was time to “get the hell out of Dodge” and head to… dart, please… Beijing, China (though some would still say “Peking,” but they’d be o-o-o-ld). Gathering up Mighty D.R. and a couple of United First tickets; we were off. However… nobody told us that the entire city was, even this late in the game for 2008’s global party, still under construction. Chicagoans, though, have experienced this kind of disappointment before. Just ask the Griswolds (thanks, Marty Moose!). And the Olympic venues? Let’s just say that if they were webpages… they’d look like this. Get crackin’, boys!
Thankfully, there are a few things that have been finished for, oh, 2,000 years or so. We’re going to let others debate whether or not the Great Wall can be seen from space with the naked eye (at least until our Virgin Galactic tix are printed “as early as 2009,” that is)… but we can personally say that it’s fully-deserving of its “New 7 Wonders” status. The wall-building techniques lovingly showcased on South Park a few years back are really nothing short of astonishing when seen up close (and, no, we’re not talking about the true fact that “peasants who died working were buried inside the wall”). Sprinkle in visits to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Wangfujing… and you’ve got yourself a worth-while visit.
Photos, videos and post »
October 14th, 2007 by Berklie in Music, Chicago
The M.O. had some “all access” passes for Ted Leo and the Pharmacists at Metro, so why not make the time? We missed Ted’s set at Lollapalooza (when he cut his hand but still managed to spin at The Hideout afterwards, where we caught up with him), so it was most excellent seeing him back in full force. And… we went “retro”: relying on the Berkphone® for all photos, etc. (Berkcam® requested the night off in preparation for our big trip to Beijing, China next week.)
Proving he meant it when he told us that Daft Punk had the set of the night at Lollapalooza back in August, Ted broke out a sweet rendition of “One More Time” at the Metro show. Ugh… where are you Berkcam®? Afterwards, the remainder of the crew headed to The Mutiny to catch The Mekons. Rest assured that nobody drove through Taco Bell en route, to collect on Ted’s $500 in free food.
Photos, videos and post »
Older Posts