With influences ranging from African music to dub, Pit er Pat creates a sound marked by its starkness. ALARM contributor Jeff Terich speaks with the Chicago trio about its newest album, High Time. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Music Features’ Category
Feature: Pit er Pat infuses ethnic influences with sparseness
Monday, June 8th, 2009Zach Hill: Compositional inspirations inform demented tech-pop debut
Thursday, April 30th, 2009
Inspired less by drummers and more by instrumentalists such as John Coltrane, Jimi Hendrix, and Ornette Coleman, drumming virtuoso Zach Hill begins his journey as a bandleader with Astrological Straits. (more…)
Feature: Odd Nosdam Modifies Signature Sound for Skateboarding Video
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Element Skateboards and Odd Nosdam strayed from the norm with the skateboarding video This is My Element, featuring instrumental hip hop that takes into account the skaters’ tricks, nuances, and personality, resulting in a mesmerizing accompaniment. (more…)
Interview: Built on Respect Uses DIY Punk Passion to Aid Tibetan Refugees
Thursday, April 9th, 2009
Heidiminx, the founder of online forum Punk Rock Domestics and fashion line Franky & Minx, has recently founded a nonprofit organization called Built on Respect, dedicated to supporting human rights.
Her current mission finds her in India for three months, helping Tibetan refugees learn English and basic computer skills, with support in the hardcore community from groups such as the Cro-Mags and Sick of It All. (more…)
Q&A: Numero Group Unearths Soulful, Funky Treasures of Decades Past
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009When Numero Group, a Chicago-based reissue label, opened its doors in 2003, its mission statement was clear: “We wanted to dig deep into the recesses of our record collections with the goal of finding the dustiest gems begging to be released from their exile on geek street.” (more…)
Q&A: Orange Tulip Conspiracy Necessitates Musical Unpredictability
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009
As one of the principal songwriters in Estradasphere, guitarist/composer Jason Schimmel has always loved combining disparate styles in new and jaw-dropping ways.
But with Estradasphere on hold and a wealth of solo material, Schimmel now leads Orange Tulip Conspiracy, a similarly constructed but substantially different enterprise. (more…)
Q&A: Kevin Hufnagel of Dysrhythmia Finds Inspiration in Composer John Cage
Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Photo credit: Ed Marshall
Whirlwind guitarist Kevin Hufnagel, one third of math-metal trio Dysrhythmia and half of atmospheric duo Byla, has released a beautiful, melancholy collection of solo tunes centered on acoustic guitars and percussion.
Online editor Scott Morrow catches up with Hufnagel to discuss his recent drought of solo material, his upcoming projects, and his unusual recording techniques. (more…)
Feature: Ra Ra Riot Overcomes Tragic Loss
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009
Syracuse indie-rock outfit Ra Ra Riot talks about the tragic death of its drummer and lyricist and how its members have pushed forward to make music better than ever in his honor. (more…)
Ten Albums to Anticipate This Spring
Monday, March 2nd, 2009As the weather stops being oppressive in the Northern Hemisphere, a number of potentially great albums from countless genres are on the way. Here’s a list of ten that have us excited, including efforts from Isis, MF Doom, Coalesce, Prefuse 73, Mr. Lif, and more. (more…)
Q&A: The Bakerton Group and Clutch Drummer on Musical Duality
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
In the 1990s, eccentric heavy-rock four-piece Clutch created a side project and “alter-ego” blues/jam band called The Bakerton Group. On February 17, The Bakerton Group released El Rojo, produced by J. Robbins and released on the band’s own label, Weathermaker Music. (more…)
Ten Random Songs from the iPod of Online Editor Scott Morrow
Monday, February 23rd, 2009Begrudgingly, online editor Scott Morrow has joined this decade with the purchase (not by him, mind you) of his first iPod. To celebrate this sign of the end times, here are 10 random songs from his newfangled contraption. (more…)
DIY Venue Spotlight: Q Café
Friday, February 20th, 2009
This café exists to make a positive impact on the local, national, and global communities.
For the local community, Q Café holds weekly all-ages shows, monthly visual art exhibitions, and a variety of other events, many of which benefit the local homeless population as well as foundations such as World Aid and the Save Darfur Coalition.
For the national and global communities, organic fair-trade coffee is served and 10% of all the proceeds are donated to various non-profit organizations around the world. The café can also be rented out for personal occasions. (more…)
Feature: Celestial Psych-Hop Artist Koushik Allows Disparate Style to Speak for Him
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
Psychedelic, down-tempo hip-hop artist Koushik Ghosh tells ALARM about how he got involved in music at the age of 14 and talks about the old-school hip-hop artists that have inspired him. (more…)
DIY Venue Spotlight: The Lollybot Collective
Friday, February 13th, 2009
The Lollybot Collective is the first roaming DIY venue that we have featured.
Founders Matthew Pritchard and Jeffrey Nolan seek out spaces around the city to showcase various artists and performers. Their event line-ups and themes have carried out their goal of a guaranteed good — and free — time for everyone who attends. (more…)
