03 May 14

 

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide returns to the heart of Rogers Park venue district (along the CTA’s Morse Red Line stop) to visit the grand stage of Mayne Stage. Tonight, songtress Elle Casazza was set to perform in the middle lineup featuring The Flips (http://www.theflipsmusic.com) and Canasta (http://www.canastamusic.com) that was sponsored by CHiRP Radio.

She’s a sassy, sultry songtress named Elle Casazza, blogspot readers, who pumped soulful jazz to contemporary pop vocals into her songs amidst a full band backing her. There was plenty of heat being felt as her voice melted the lyrics during the beginning of the set in which perfectly created a pleasant music atmosphere for her audience. Her style wonderfully complemented the smoky jazz/adult contemporary vibe (with a little of edgy blues rhythms) energizing the room around SouthSide. There was some hip swaying moments ...definitely some toe tapping tunes here and there, blogspot readers, as this reviewer enjoyed the danceable beat especially when debuting her new song. While steaming up the mic with her sultry voice within the band’s downtempo rhythm, SouthSide suddenly noticed something about Elle’s performance. She got it. She understood how soulfully dynamic and sultry this vocalist’s voice can get, blogspot readers, but what she couldn’t understand was why didn’t she demonstrate that vocal power and strength when it truly counted. In other words, sometimes there was no “wow” factor in this performance. There were a few opportunities, in this reviewer’s opinion, in which she should have popped the lyrics to life with a strong tour de force of vocal (of what SouthSide) calls “oomph”.

 

For example – “The Body Knows”, that particular song called for Elle to really pop the lyrics to life ...showing off just more than how sultry her voice gets with the neo-soul jazz accompaniment behind her. She could have added a little spice and/or vocal improv (aka beat-bop) while the band members performed their rockin’ solos during the song’s instrumental bridge, blogspot readers. Musically – the number was great but lyrically, Elle could have done more. On the flipside, when performing “Say Something, Elle did put on a little “wow” factor for the audience but sort of lost it when doing the title track to the album “For Your Pleasure” where the band somewhat overpowered her vocally. Good thing she had back up vocalists assisting her on this particular song or SouthSide wouldn’t have been able to hear her. At least, she did end with a little “wow” factor. This reviewer was sorely disappointed that she didn’t totally go “crazy” while covering Prince’s hit song “Let’s Go Crazy”, blogspot readers. Musically it wasn’t the right fit for her vocal style since Elle wafted between “soft”, “normal” and “loud and hardcore” at the same time while singing the lyrics. SouthSide didn’t know if she was trying to sing and/or talk or both her way through the cover song even though it finally sparked some of her fans to dance. On the other hand, the band rocked ...right down to the infamous electric solo despite not hearing Elle screaming “...crazy...” at the end. Overall, blogspot readers, Elle Casazza performed a good show. She does rock the stage vocally as well as musically yet a few songs could use some “wow” factor vocally (especially when covering a Prince song) amidst her neo-soul/adult contemporary sound. There’s danceable rhythms for you tap your feet to or shake your hips.

For more information, visit http://www.ellecasazza.com.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

20 Sept 11 - CHIRP Radio

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide has many friends who also support the local scene (and beyond) ...and CHIRP Radio is one of them.

CHIRP aka Chicago Independent Radio Project is a unique web radio station located here in Chicago. It's a non-profit, volunteer-run, music-, arts-, and culture-focused radio station transmitting live from our studios in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood from 6AM-3AM seven days a week, 365 days a year. It's their mission is to provide "...Chicago residents with a community radio station focused on the representation of local people, events, and issues alongside a wide array of local and independent music..."

They seek to promote localism, diversity, and independence in public broadcasting via programming and web content curated, created, and produced by Chicagoans as well as aim to consistently expand the breadth and depth of our on-air and online voice by incorporating the multi-faceted voices of the community.

CHIRP does have a goal - a physical spot the FM dial on the radio and they are working hard to convince Congress and the FCC to remove such existing barriers to grant low power FM radio licenses in urban areas, including Chicago. For now, CHIRP will operate the station in its online format until a broadcast license can be secured, at which time that functionality will be added to the online presence.

CHIRP Radio also wants you, blogspot readers, to know that it does not air commercials, and receives no funding from corporations or the federal government. It is mainly supported by special event revenues, small grants, and listeners like YOU and SouthSide.

Her friends at CHIRP Radio are asking listeners to help contribute as much as they possibly can during their Autumn Harvest fundraising campaign happening now until September 30th. And with your generous donations (which is tax-deductible), you will be supporting and helping this local independent station with its endeavors of keeping the music (not normally heard on the mainstream stations) alive and working in getting their LPFM license. But they don't want you to go home empty-handed without receiving a "thank you" gift or two:

A handy stainless steel bottle opener for a $60 gift
A freshly designed CHIRP T-shirt for a $120 gift
Both a bottle opener and a T-shirt for a $180 gift
A fashionable CHIRP Messenger Bag for a $240 gift
Or receive all of the above with a $365 donation!

Make your tax-deductible contribution and become a supporter of the best radio station in Chicago by visiting http://www.chirpradio.org/donatenow today.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide