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Cultural Stimuli in CHI
Issue 65: peculiar flavor
A classic Midwestern snowstorm wrapped Chicago in a deep, quiet, icy whiteness this weekend, wreaking havoc with planes, trains, and automobiles — not to mention slowing intrepid pedestrians who tried slogging
through the knee-high drifts. The snow may be slaking off (for now), but don't expect things here in the city to snap back to normal any time soon — this week is chock-full o' the strange and uncanny. Author Dan Gleason waxes poetic about in flagrante delecto with a homeless person while, at Rotofugi, the Coctails (of the musical variety) are turned into mod action figures. Uptown at Mess Hall, Finnish hardcore-metal fans are treated to a vegan reindeer meat dinner, and the queer reign of the Chicago Kings ends with a final drag burlesque performance at Metro. Say bye-bye to the ordinary and hello to Chicago's version of the Surreal Life — and, as always, spread it!
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flavorpill CHI is an email magazine covering a hand-picked selection of music, art, and cultural events — delivered each Tuesday afternoon.
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Serious holiday stress requires a serious holiday wine. Stock up on bottles from Rioja, Spain's own Napa Valley, famed for its expressive reds and whites that capture a passion for life, culture, and flavor. Sign up at www.VibrantRioja.com and you'll be entered to win a guided wine tasting for 20 at your home. |
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Spotlight
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The Coctails
Party like it's 1995 with jazz/garage/pop/fun-squad the Coctails. Tuesday, they launch their own line of action figures (designed by
'tail Archer Prewitt), and play an in-store performance at Rotofugi. On
Sunday, they perform again at the Abbey Pub. How mod!
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| Daily Updates |
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| LECTURE |
Design Matters Series: Charlie Lazor
| when: |
Tue 12.13 (6pm) |
| where: |
Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312.397.4010) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Minneapolis-based architect and Blu Dot Design co-founder Charles Lazor has
gone from designing fabulous, modern, flat-packed furniture to helping revolutionize prefab housing. Tonight, he discusses his FlatPak House, a modular wonder of
glass, concrete, metal, and fiberboard that is affordable, environmentally
conscious, and easy to ship. Plus, it can be constructed on any site regardless of
climate or terrain, and custom-configured to fit any design fanatic's needs. (AM)
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| ALSO ON TUE |
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MUSIC: Emo-Folk
The Good Life w/ Euphone and the Narrarator
Tue 12.13 (9pm) Abbey Pub (3420 W Grace St, 773.478.4408) map $14
Event Info |
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Cursive's lead punishment-glutton Tim Kasher abandons the prog-emo twinkle 'n thrash of his usual Saddle Creek band, paring down the intricate
arrangements in favor of stripped-down, confessional chamber folk. The man's still plenty miserable, at least. (TG)
 
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| PHOTOGRAPHY |
Jessica Rowe, Jason Salavon, and Brian Ulrich: On the Scene
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Unlike the MCA, the Art Institute has been slow to recognize and collect the work of contemporary Chicago artists. The venerable institution has been opening its doors to the city's tremendous artistic talent, however, with shows like On the Scene, which features the work of three emerging artists: Jessica Rowe, Jason Salavon, and Brian Ulrich. Each artist has a distinct visual vocabulary — Rowe focuses on domestic narratives, Salavon creates abstract photos by combining hundreds of film and TV stills, and Ulrich documents the malaise of consumer culture. The exhibition is a small, positive sign that the AIC is starting to take chances on the here and now, rather than hedging its bets with the tried and true. (AF)
Note: This exhibition runs through Sat 1.28.06 (schedule).
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| READING |
Dan Gleason
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Writer Dan Gleason has a peculiar mind. "Peculiar," of course, is courteous parlance for "heavily damaged," and both of these terms extend to Gleason's short stories. Primarily the kind of first-person confessionals that a creepy drifter at a Dairy Queen might share, Gleason's stories are fiction, but they're much more fun when accepted as truth. While their subjects vary, the stories' titles always give an indication of what follows — so no complaining that you didn't know what to expect from "The Unexpected Gratification I Received from Taking Part in the Sexual Act with a Homeless Person." At live readings like this evening's, Gleason's singular delivery often makes it difficult to judge if the magic is in the writing or the recitation. (QH)
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| RELEASE |
The Coctails Action Figure Release Party
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Like a slumbering Godzilla, long thought extinct, dead, or retired, Chicago's legendary jazz/garage/pop/fun-squad, the Coctails, emerge for a holiday show-slash-action-figure release party. Joining the ranks of the Spice Girls, Kiss, and Sid Vicious, the Coctails have now been immortalized with limited-edition figures (of the 12-inch variety made famous by G.I. Joe). As the band members have already been captured as the three-foot, papier-mâché dummies now adorning the Empty Bottle, miniaturization is no longer a novelty for them — but live performance is: the in-store appearance at Rotofugi is only their second show since their 1995 finale. If your perverse notion of maturity prevents you from enjoying tonight's toys, the Coctails also play a holiday show at the Abbey Pub on Sunday 12.18 (9pm, $12 / $10 advance). (QH)
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| DJ |
Synesthesia Christmas Party 2005
| when: |
Thur 12.15 (9pm) |
| where: |
Darkroom (2210 W Chicago Ave, 773.276.1411) map |
| price: |
$10 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Visions of synthesizers dance in partygoers' heads at this holiday soirée. Synthesthesia, a loose collective of Chicago's visual artists and musicians with serious electronic-music fetishes, is celebrating the holidays with a showcase of live performances and DJs. Local electro-pop outfit the Assassins storm the stage with their twisted, New Order-inspired beats, followed by Venue, a new band on the local Brilliante imprint that conjures up a similar blend of dance and rock. Sets of sleazy beats from Tobias, Venue's Brock Manke, and the Assassins' Aaron Miller keep the dance floor bouncing in the interim. (PS)
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| DJ |
Tetine
| when: |
Thur 12.15 (10pm) |
| where: |
Sonotheque (1444 W Chicago Ave, 312.226.7600) map |
| price: |
$12 |
| links: |
Event Info | Tetine |
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The sage Shaquille O'Neal once said, "Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk." Tetine, the performance art/electronica duo forming the core of the UK's Slum Dunk collective, live by that motto. Members Eliete Mejorado and Bruno Verner, both native Brazilians who have since relocated to London, created Tetine in São Paulo in 1995 by combining various cultural and artistic currents. Lying at the intersection of performance art, video, and dirty electronica, a Tetine concert comes off as a Latin American version of Fischerspooner, with the raw sounds of baile funk infusing the squelchy beats. (PS)
 Besides Shaq, which sports figure's sage advice would you seek, and why? Our four favorite responses of 50 words or less each win a pair of tickets to tonight's show.
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| ALSO ON THUR |
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RELEASE: Photography Book
Industry of the Ordinary: Text Book: Notes around the Margins
Thur 12.15 (5-7pm) Museum of Contemporary Photography (600 S Michigan Ave, 312.663.5554) map
Event Info |
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If the everyday just seems a little too, well, everyday, allow art
collective Industry of the Ordinary's new book, Text Book: Notes around
the Margins, to elevate your understanding through clever
installations, photographs, and playful sculptures. The first 100 guests
receive a special gift. (TG)
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DJ
Ohm: Holiday Xmix Party
Thur 12.15 (7-9pm) Chicago Cultural Center, Randolph Cafe (77 E Randolph St, 312.744.6630) map
Event Info |
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Holiday tunes, sure. Electronica, why not? But holiday electronica? Local
DJs and laptop twiddlers dial up their favorite tunes, while a "robotic
karaoke jamboree" invites attendees to sing holiday songs through a vocoder. Admit it, you're curious. (TG)
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| MUSIC: Garage Anthems |
(International) Noise Conspiracy
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Sweden's (International) Noise Conspiracy offer an infectious mishmash of
hyperactive garage rock, '60s soul, and politically charged pop-punk. Their
latest disc, Armed Love, was produced by bearded genius Rick Rubin
(whose studio magic revived Johnny Cash and, more recently, Neil Diamond, for a
new generation) and recently released stateside after its 2004 European debut. (I)NC vocalist Dennis Lyxzén and company
put on stellar live performances, infused with anti-capitalist politics and
straight-up rock n' roll bombast. (AM)
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| COMPETITION: Hip-Hop Duel |
The Fourth Annual All-City Battle
| when: |
Fri 12.16 (9pm) |
| where: |
Abbey Pub (3420 W Grace St, 773.478.4408) map |
| price: |
$17 / $15 advance |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Chicago rappers better stop boasting and start backing it up for this "all-city" showdown, sponsored by the 'heads at the Bassment and Reverse. Three members of the city's hip-hop elite — Kanye-associate Rhymefest, underground legend E.C. ILLA, and Capital D of All Natural — play Simon, Paula, and Randy to pick the lucky rhyme-spitter who'll walk away with the $1,000 grand prize. Performances by local group Mass Hysteria and California's Ras Kass break up the verbal crossfire. (PS)
In what year did the Bassment first open for business? The first two correct responses each win a pair of tickets to tonight's face-off.
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| CABARET/BURLESQUE |
Showoff: A Chicago Kings Celebration
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The peaceful, if provocative, reign of one of queer Chicago's royal families ends tonight. A troupe of 30 drag kings (think Hilary Swank, with a lot more skill and sass, not to mention outrageous costumes), the Chicago Kings are throwing a burlesque blowout at the Metro for a final send-off. Combining elements of musical theatre, vaudeville, and dance, the Kings stage an extravaganza that dissects politics, personal relationships, and gender issues with color and flair. After four years of intense shows around Chicago, this may be your last chance to see some of these lovely ladies sporting serious 'staches. (PS)
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| ALSO ON FRI |
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FILM
Antonio Gaudí (1985)
Fri 12.16 (6:15 & 7:45pm) Gene Siskel Film Center (164 N State St, 312.846.2600) map $9
Event Info |
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Forgoing narration in favor of an eclectic orchestral soundtrack, Hiroshi Teshigahara's classic Antonio Gaudí is an exuberant reflection on the work of the iconoclastic architect, whose influences ranged from Romanesque architecture to the vibrant culture, textures, and landscapes of Catalonia. (AM)
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MUSIC: Art Pop
Pit er Pat
Fri 12.16 (9:30pm) The Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave, 773.276.3600) map $8
Event Info |
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Pit er Pat make dark, airy, keyboard-driven music that, in a perfect world, would accompany health-class filmstrips — a manic staccato of pinball machinery, made sexy by Fay Davis-Jeffers' vulnerable vocals. (JCF)
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| MUSIC: Banned from Wal-Mart |
The Frogs w/ Mommy and Daddy
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In over 15 years of lo-fi tomfoolery, Dennis and Jimmy Flemion, the brothers
comprising Detroit's Frogs, have stretched Ween's brothers-playing-
funny-rock-music formula to within an inch of its life. Releases like Racially Yours (the self-proclaimed "Most Offensive Album of All Time") and a gay-love concept album called It's Only Right
and Natural prove the Frogs' startling(-ly funny) ability to probe the
limits of social acceptability. Of course, the whole dog and pony show
wouldn't work if the brothers Flemion weren't such top-notch musicians — there's a strange melancholy in Dennis' melody as he commands you to "wear those nipple clamps" that's simply delicious. (TG)
Note: Spastic electro-pop duo Mommy and Daddy open.
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| ALSO ON SAT |
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SHOPPING
Facets Multimedia Clearance Sale
Sat 12.17 & Sun 12.18 (11am-6pm) Menomonee Boys & Girls Club, Drucker Center (1535 N Dayton Ave, 773.281.9075) map
Event Info |
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Film-geek wonderland Facets Video purges its inventory in this giant warehouse sale. Up for grabs are brand new copies of foreign, independent, and documentary films, along with anime, Hong Kong action flicks, and more rare and out-of-print cinematic treats. (AM)
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| SHOPPING |
The First Annual Empty Bottle Garage Sale
| when: |
Sun 12.18 (12-4pm) |
| where: |
The Empty Bottle (1035 N Western Ave, 773.276.3600) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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The changing of the seasons signals the yearly tradition of purging the home
to make room for hibernation, and now the Empty Bottle — an
institution that plays nightly home to hundreds of musicians and locals
alike — has gotten in on the act. Come root through the venerable
venue's junk box during the Bottle's first-ever "garage sale." Fourteen years'-worth of used audio equipment, retired bar machinery, and vintage
club memorabilia is up for sale, alongside donations from the employees'
own homes. Oh, the finds to be found! (JL)
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| MULTIMEDIA |
Hardcore Histories: Finnish Hardcore Pancake and Vegan Reindeer Meat Dinner
| when: |
Sun 12.18 (6-8pm) |
| where: |
Mess Hall (6932 N Glenwood Ave, 773.465.4033) map |
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Event Info |
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If you're sitting around feeling conflicted about whether to proactively attack your holiday shopping or continue rockin' out, consider alleviating that age-old holiday stress by celebrating the holidays and Finnish hardcore with a DIY grilled-pancake and mock-reindeer feast. Pairing potluck-style dining with underground-music experts, Mess Hall's long-running Hardcore Histories series encourages participants to bring and share their own records and culinary creations for a lecture and dinner. Reviving oral traditions in order to propogate underground history, the series delivers holiday cheer with a creative, healthy dose of rawk. (JL)
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| FILM |
Scrooged (1988)
| when: |
Mon 12.19 (time TBA) |
| where: |
Music Box Theatre (3733 N Southport Ave, 773.871.6604) map |
| price: |
$9.25 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Christmas is the time of year when the world's candy-coated fluff smothers us into sentimental submission — but there's no one better to swap out seasonal mistletoe for sour grapes than Bill Murray. Easily besting The Muppet Christmas Carol as the greatest contemporary retelling of Dickens' classic (nice try, Swedish Chef), Scrooged casts Murray as Francis Xavier Cross, a callous TV executive and first-class ass, who receives a visit from three ghosts on Christmas Eve — and, well, you know the rest. Mary Lou Retton, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Lee Majors each terrorize or are terrorized by Murray, whose performance alternates between cool apathy and schizoid apoplexy. (QH)
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| THEATRE |
The Eight: Reindeer Monologues
| when: |
Now through Fri 12.23 (Fri & Sat: 11:30pm / Sun: 7:30pm) |
| where: |
Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W Belmont Ave, 773.327.5252) map |
| price: |
$20 |
| links: |
Event Info |
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Santa may expertly defy the rules of time and space, but he's not above the law. In Jeff Goode's play, the jolly one is accused of letting power go to his head (along with a bit of bad blood to his "North Pole"). When Santa faces accusations of sexual indiscretions with his hooved companions, the gossip begins to fly. As with all good celebrity sex scandals, a media circus is set off, and scores of ancillary players emerge to spin their versions of the events. (ASM)
In The Eight, which reindeer accuses Santa of sexual harrassment? The whopping first 24 correct responses each win a pair of tickets to a performance of this show.
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| ART |
Stephanie Serpick
| when: |
Now through Sun 1.1.06 (Sat & Sun: 12-6pm) |
| where: |
Country Club Chicago (1100 N Damen Ave, 773.960.1811) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info | Stephanie Serpick |
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Don't let Country Club's snobby-sounding name fool you — the alternative art space in Ukrainian Village couldn't be more welcoming. The five artist/designers who program the space have begun to regularize their exhibition schedule, so expect to see more stunning shows like Stephanie Serpick's in the coming year. Back from a year's residency at London's Florence Trust, Serpick creates haunting, meticulously crafted oil paintings that combine forms from Victorian architecture and Gothic typography (she's also a graphic designer) with Richter-esque, blurry photographs of building fires and twinkling street lights. Rendered in a palette soaked in maroon, aubergine, and deep, dark blue, the paintings are somber, subtle, and chillingly beautiful. (AF)
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| ART |
Deborah Stratman and Rob Ray: Ahbyezyana
| when: |
Now through Thur 1.12.06 (Thursdays: 6-9pm) |
| where: |
Vonzweck (1626 N Humboldt Blvd, 773.208.7222) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Vonzweck, the living room-turned-sometime gallery of Philip Von
Zweck, is the perfect space to experience the atmospheric whisper of
Ahbyezyana, the latest collaboration between artist Rob Ray and
filmmaker Deborah Stratman. The site-specific, multimedia installation
was inspired by Stalker, the 1979 cinematic masterpiece by
Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky. Ahbyezyana (Russian for "monkey")
is the name of the "telekinetic haunting" that redeems the otherwise-doomed
spiritual journey of the titular Stalker, and affirms faith as the conceptual
pillar of spiritual existence. As such, the Vonzweck installation becomes a site
for introspection and meditation on the pulse of the human spirit. (CC)
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| ART |
Jenny Roberts: Terra Incognita
| when: |
Now through Sat 1.14.06 (Saturdays: 12-5pm) |
| where: |
Lobby Gallery (731 N Sangamon St, 312.432.4327) map |
| price: |
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| links: |
Event Info |
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Upon a cursory glance, Jenny Roberts' current show at Lobby Gallery, Terra Incognita, doesn't seem remarkable: lumps of common, forest-green AstroTurf are scattered like obdurate plastic islands along the floor and down the stairs of the gallery, spilling forth onto the sidewalk outside. Spend some time pondering the conceptual underpinnings of the installation, however, and Roberts' "unknown territory" contains a world of ideas: a witty rejoinder to Carl Andre's minimalist, hard-edged floor sculptures; a winking nod to the lobby (the vestibule, not the gallery) as a transitional space that merits little attention; and a visual punchline that plainly exposes man's perverse habit of covering surfaces with man-made, "natural-looking" ground cover. (AF)
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ART BINGE: Chicago Goes on a Buying Spree |
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Chicago's public art collection boasts world-class works by national and international superstars such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Jean Dubuffet, and Claes Oldenburg, as well as large-scale sculptures by Anish Kapoor and Jaume Plensa (as part of the recent Millennium Park spending spree). Commendably, the Department of Cultural Affairs' Public Art Program is actively committed to adding work by edgy, contemporary Chicago artists to this already impressive stable. Recently, a dozen artists — 11 of whom hail from Chicago and its surrounds — were commissioned to create works for the landmark Goldblatt building, a renovated store on Chicago Avenue at Ashland that now houses various city departments. Monday through Friday, new artworks by notable local artists Don Baum, Stephanie Brooks, Rodney Carswell, Carlos Flores, Jin Lee, James Lutes, Thomas McDonald, Michael Piazza, Art Shay, and Tony Tasset — not to mention pieces by New York artists Lane Twitchell and Donald Lipski (who was born in Chi-town) — can be seen by the public free of charge, bragging rights included. (AF)
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DVD REVIEW: Arvo Pärt: 24 Preludes to a Fugue |
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Juxtapositions/Naxos of America
Released September 2005
$22.99 (Amazon)
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One of the few contemporary composers whose impact is felt in the classical world, the avant-garde, and younger, popular music traditions, Arvo Pärt is overdue for the thoughtful attention granted him on 24 Preludes for a Fugue. The Estonian's '60s serialism eventually gave way to a self-termed "tintinnabuli" (little bells) style, incorporating a stark medievalism into instrumental and vocal works. Preludes follows Pärt over three years, capturing this quietly spiritual man's poetic musings on his life and music — as well as his illuminating interactions with musicians — in a series of short, non-narrative segments. Imbued with an affirming love for art and humanity, Preludes and the three short films that accompany it offer fascinating insight into both the oft-marginalized world of contemporary classical music and the soul of one of the most vital creative forces of the last 50 years. (JL)
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DOWNLOADS: Smart-Music.net |
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Smart-Music is one of the Net's most consistent sources for legal, no-guilt MP3s, made available by record labels seeking to spread the word about their artists. The site has recently taken things a step further by offering a full online compilation from NYC's The Agriculture label. The imprint's sound, described by the Smart-Music minions as "backyard breaks roof music," spans ambient, dub, and hip-hop, featuring artists such as DJ/rupture, DJ Olive, and DJ Wally. Other notable new MP3s on the site include a Who Made Who dance-punk remix of Namosh track "Pulse," as well as a soulful micro-house cut from Beckett & Taylor, who recently released a new 12-inch on Matthew Herbert's Soundslike label. (CJN)
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Namosh: "Pulse (Who Made Who remix)" (Dance punk)
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Beckett & Taylor: "Work with What You Got" (Micro-house)
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| Header Design: |
| California | Koa |
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| Editors: |
| Moon Boots | Annette Ferrara | | Paul Giamatti | Jocelyn K. Glei | | Grandma smell | Todd Goldstein | | Doggles | Doug Levy | | Iron Chef | Sascha Lewis | | Jesus action figures | Mark Mangan | | Peter Lorre | Nick Merritt | | Tim Burton | Colin J. Nagy | | Renaissance faires | Lauren Ragland | | Loch Ness monster | Philip H. Sherburne |
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| ABOUT US |
| flavorpill CHICAGO is a free weekly mailer covering music, arts, and cultural events in Chicago. All listings are pure editorial, never paid advertisements. No money is accepted from venues, artists, or promoters. Read more about us, and spread it... |
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| FEEDBACK |
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To let us know about an upcoming event that you think belongs here, please email us at events at least two weeks prior to the date.
To find out more about submitting cover art to run at the top of Flavorpill publications, go to flavorpill.net/design. |
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MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS |
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| Contributors: |
| Imitation crabmeat | Conor Barnes | | Ironic mullets | Caryn Capotosto | | Centipedes | Josh C. Forbes | | Anchovies | Quanah Humphreys | | Popcorn jelly beans | John Lombardo | | Pet cloning | Audrey Mast | | Dave Chappelle | Allen S. Moon | | Roll-up keyboard | Patrick Sisson |
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Production: |
| Haikus | Anjuli Ayer | | Steve Buscemi | Jessica Bauer-Greene | | The Clapper | Kate Estwing | | Wax museums | Sander-Martijn Milks | | Liger | David Morrow | | Coen brothers movies | Jamend Riley | | Sugar-free Jello | Leah Taylor | | Accurate Barbie | Judah Wiedre |
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MORE FILTERED CULTURE |
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