From the Desk of SouthSide

Hey, blogspot readers, it looks to be a VERY busy spring/summer with the following events happening soon. Start making your plans now to attend...

On May 1 thru May 6, it's the 6th Annual CIMM (Chicago International Movies & Music) Festival! This event will feature 70+ films, 50+ bands, 99+ events at venues spread across town in one fabulous city! For more information, visit http://www.cimmfest.org.

On Memorial Day weekend (May 22 - 26) at San Antonio Recreation Area (located in Bradley, CA) it's Lightning in a Bottle International Music & Arts Festival. And this year, the organizers are boasting a HUGE lineup featuring Moby (DJ set), Little Dragon, Gramatik, Gold Panda, The Human Experience, Sol Rising, Slow Magic and many many more. Tickets on sale now.  For more information, visit http://www.lightninginabottle.org.

On June 5 - 8 at Mulberry Mountain (located in Ozark, Arkansas), it's Wakarusa! This event features 4 days, 5 stages and 100+ bands such as Bassnectar, Umphrey's McGee, Papadosio, Boombox, The Knocks, The Revivalists, Manic Focus and many many  more rockin' the stage ...some performing multiple sets. For more information, visit http://www.wakarusa.com.

August 2014 at House of Blues Chicago, it's the annual I AM (Independent Arts & Music) Fest which will feature 10 bands rockin' this venue's legendary stage as well as local artists, vendors and craftsmen during the one-day festival. This one of a kind event has had bands like I Fight Dragons, The Energy Commission, A Birdsong Valentine, Social Focus, Eagle Trace, RayIsDude and more ...perhaps this year, it could be your band opening in one of the two slots left ...that is if you survive the battle of the bands first. Now is the time to sign-up and be a part of history, blogspot readers! Contact Kayla at kayla@elboroomlive.com for details. For more information, visit http://www.iamfest.com.

Sept 5 - 8 in Milwaukee, WI, it's the 4th annual Yellow Phone Music Conference, a 4-day gathering of talented artists and music professionals featuring those who are positive, forward thinkers and engaging discussions such as Social Media Habits ...Oh What A Web We Weave, Let's Make A Deal! - Record Companies And Modern Age, and So ...This Agent Walks Into A Bar... - just to name a few of what will be discussed this year. For more information and registration, visit http://www.yellowphoneMKE.com.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

Pink Floyd's The Wall

Everyone has problems ...but none like Pink's...

Recently, SouthSide and a guest attended a special CIMMFest (Chicago International Music and Movie Festival) "meet up" at Logan Theater which was also sponsorted by DO312. Attendees of this free (with prior reservation) were treated like VIP celebrity guests with movie snackes, samples of Logan's hot snacks (mini pizza slices, cheese poppers, and chicken fingers) and Red Bull-inspired cocktails. This reviewer tried the Red Bull Red (fruit punch-like flavor) with vodka before viewing Pink Floyd's The Wall. Though having seen this iconic rock movie many times on the small screen (i.e. TV), this was a rare opportunity to finally view it on the big screen.

 

This 1982 movie, directed by Alan Parker, combines live action with sparse dialogue and animation (directed by Gerald Scarfe) in telling a story of a rock star named Pink (Bob Geldof) and the construction as well as deconstruction of his "wall". Ironically, the wall is the main character of this movie since it symbolizes alienation or separation that Pink has experienced throughout his life ...thus making him quite of a depressive human being who emotionally detached to and with everyone around him including his own wife (Eleanor David). This construction of his "wall" is told in random flashbacks stretching from the death of Pink's father, J.A. Pinkerton (James Laurenson), an officer killed in combat during World War II to his rigid school boy days where he's humiliated in front of the class by a teacher (Alex McAvoy) for writing poems in class and in between his overprotective mother (Christine Hargreaves) who smothers her only child while growing up.

 

Even after getting married (be sure to spot Roger Waters as Pink's best man), there's another layering of bricks added to the "wall" between Pink and his wife, who ultimately has an affair with a fellow peace demonstrator (James Hazeldine) while Pink's on tour. This truly sends the rock star over the edge and have a mental breakdown as he trashes his hotel suite scaring off a groupie (Jenny Wright) out of the room. This gradually begins Pink's hallucination of "worms" gnawing at him and sanity thus transforming him to this neo-facist dictator side. Yet back in reality, his manager (Bob Hoskins) tr4ies pump the rock star back to life with drugs so he can continue the show after he and the hotel manager (Michael Ensign) burst into the room discovering what has happened. Meanwhile, inside Pink's mind, he's imagining more of his neo-facist side where he's at a rally and then his followers randomly attack ethnic minorities all over town. Soon, that side of him grows out of control and we're suddenly thrust back to present reality to find Pink cowering next to the toilet having another breakdown in between incoherent mumblings of his poetry. As the guard opens the stall door, we are now witnesses to his "trial" in which the major characters of his life (the teacher, wife and mother) present testimony against him to the "court". His ultimate sentence, blogspot readers, is the destruction of the "wall" thus exposing Pink and his fears to all.

 

If you haven't seen this movie on the big screen, SouthSide would like to state how utterly amazing and awesome it was to see it in theater. Compared to viewing it on DVD, she never realized during the opening scenes how cold and uninviting the hotel hallway was where we first meet Pink crashed in front of the TV ...or how terrifying yet politically symbolic the animation wonderfully depicted our society especially while explaining the reasons for war (Goodbye Blue Sky) and our materialistic nature (What Shall We Do Now / Empty Spaces). It was incredible to behold and at the same time be squeamish while watching Pink shave off his body and head hairs and eyebrows amidst his transformation to his neo-facist side. Notably, this actually did happen when former bandmate Syd Barrett came to the 1975 recording of Wish You Were Here with shaved off eyebrows, body and head hair. SouthSide never realized the kind of horrible life Pink experienced when growing up without a father ...something he longed for in which you can hear the anger in his voice during the song explaining how the high command informed his mother the news of his father's death and Another Brick In The Wall part 1. Still there was a newfound appreciation for this movie especially when watching the iconic anthem - Another Brick In The Wall part 2.

 

All of us in one way or another can related to Pink and his "wall". Each one of us some sort of wall and/or multiple personalities adding and layering bricks as they come ...that we don't allow others to see because we might be afraid of being caught showing feelings ...feelings of an almost human nature. In honor of Roger Ebert, SouthSide would like to post an excerpt from this legendary critic who "...described The Wall as 'a stunning vision of self-destruction' and 'one of the most horrifying musicals of all time...but the movie is effective. The music is strong and true, the images are like sledge hammers, and for once, the rock and roll hero isn’t just a spoiled narcissist, but a real, suffering image of all the despair of this nuclear age. This is a real good movie.'..." He along with fellow critic Gene Siskel gave this movie two thumbs up and then added it to his list of great movies in 2010. The Wall was also the chosen movie for opening night of Ebertfest that same year.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

April 2013 update

Hey, blogspot readers, more exciting events/shows rockin' April have recently come across SouthSide's desk.

As always, all shows are 21+ unless noted...

April 4:

Reggie's - rock out to this exciting lineup featuring performances by Polkadot, Cadaver, Downtown Brown, Ideamen and Flood Damage with Psychostick headlining

17+ / 8p / $10 adv/ $12dos

April 5:

Fitz's Spare Keys - attend the return of Trippin Billies featuring opening act Justin The Flow

$8 / $5 with college ID

for tickets go to http://www.yourticketstand.com

April 6:

Nebbia Gallery (902 N. California) - here's your chance to experience a Victorian salon with friends ...the merriment, beverages, music and pleasure. Guests are encouraged to come as you are OR dress in your finest Victorian style or go with your own retro style. Music by Lords & Ladies Vaudevillain Disc Jockey Extra-Ordinaries with featured burlesque performance by the lovely Alice Dolly

($10 suggested donation) - sample snacks and food, delicious, homemade and Russian.

This is a BYOB event ...also it's open mic

115th Bourbon Street - attend the Tristan Speaks Benefit to help raise money for Autism Speaks, AERO School Cooperative, to the development of a program to raise pool awareness in their city as well as other various charitable organizations.

Ticket prices include - appetizers, full buffet, draft beer, house wine, soda, water, complimentary valet, The Mason River and other live entertainment ...raffles/silent auction too

$25 Adults / $15 children - presale

$35 Adults / $20 children - dos

Children 5 and under - FREE

email - tristinspeak@yahoo.com for tickets and other inquiries

April 11 - 26:

AMC Loews Theaters 600 - Chicago Latino Film Festival that represents a great diversity of themes and genres of Latino film making from around the world.

April 12:

The Mutiny - it's Chicago's Hardcore Night featuring Eske, Cenobites and Owl with Stab, Twist and Pull

FREE

 

Township - rock out with Blackbox, The Dead On and Feed Me To Monsters

$8

April 14:
Subterranean - check out Chris "Masta" Shen as he rocks with new band Moon ...the lineup will also feature performances by Kinski and Treasurer

April 18 - 21:

various locations - it's the Chicago International Music &  Movies Festival featuring 70+ films, 50+ musical acts, 99+ events

visit http://www.cimmfest.org for details and tickets

 

April 19 - 21:

Links Hall / Constellation (3111 N. Western) - attend the extension of the monthly Works-In-Progress series, Fraction: Dance In Progress event where we are whole will be performing. This group is a shared bill between 4 of Chicago's emerging choreographers - Francesca Bourgault, Ashley Deran, Lauren Warnecke and Jessie Young as they finish what was started in Fraction. Individually, each will create their own distinctly unique atmosphere yet collectively together you the audience will see seven (7) pieces deliver a delicious, rish evening of dance.

Tix are $10 - 20 (are available at the door)

Visit http://www.seechicagodance.com for more info of events happening around Chicago.

April 20:

Reggies - attend Gearbox Fantasique III featuring your favorite pirate host, Thee Bluebeard with live electroswing by The Swingrowers (Italy) and gypspy punk by Crystal Bright & The Silverhands (North Carolina), burlesque by Donna Touch, Red Rum, Lee Na Moo and The Lords & Ladies DJs providing electroswing, gypsy and more in between.

$15 adv / dos

April 26:

Township - check out Thunderunderus with Wizard Castle and Dragon Feeder

 

April 27:

Beat Kitchen - check out Stone Cold Fox as the band makes its debut appearance in Chicago!

$8

 

April 30:

Elbo Room - cheer on Jack Rabbit as the band competes in Round 1 of the I AM Fest Battle of the Bands 2013!

More updates as they come...

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

15 Nov 12 - Double M Gala: Fund Raise the Roof



Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide's in the cinematic spotlight! For tonight's adventure around town, this reviewer took a break from the bands to lend her support for a charitable fundraiser which pits music and movies together under one rockin' festival in the spring. CIMM Fest (Chicago International Movies & Music Festival) brings together just more than movies and music from all corners of the world but it's celebrating the "...inseparable connection between music and movies..." This four-day springtime event features premiere, music-centric films and live concerts at venues like Double Door, Debonair Social Club and The Hideout as well as DJ/VJ sets, Q&A sessions and live film-scoring performancs. Plus there's also Rock and Roll art exhibits and professional and entrepreneurial conference ...but more importantly, a mind-blowing experience that's fun! What's really makes this festival quite unique, blogspot readers, is that each of the venues (18 in all) are located quite close to one another along 5 CTA Blue line rail stops where each one will be hosting either one of  70 films (from 25+ countries) and/or 130 bands. The 2013 CIMMfest will run during the weekend of April 18th through 21st. Blogspot readers can expect SouthSide covering parts of this festival for a future On The Town review.

- Derek's masterpiece in motion

Yet to put on a festival of this size and magnitude, there needs a bit of help from people within the business or interested people supporting their love of unique combination of movies and music. Tonight, CIMMfest organizers held a fun fundraising party on the second level of The Zhou B Art Center (located in the Bridgeport neighborhood) where supporters, artists, producers, directors, DJs/VJs and more were able to converge and raise funds for this upcoming springtime event. There was live art in motion, blogpspot readers, by Derek Carier who was working on his huge masterpiece of intricate triangular shapes of all sizes and colours. SouthSide did take a moment or two to view the other interesting artwork around this room. She like one piece (sorry, don't have any information about it) where various classic albums were displayed on the floor to the mattress springs hanging overhead like a canopy or being used as a makeshift tent. You had to be careful of the sharp hangers of circled-punch out metal sheets that hung overhead in various locations throughout the venue.

Elsewhere inside this former industrial warehouse, there was free flowin' music from the many DJs like Derek Carter (who truly got this event feeling as well as reeling from the hardcore tribal mixes), Justin Long , SHUT EYE and 8FATFAT8 - just to name a few while attendees could mingle around with friends or watch on two huge screens various movie/music projects from last year's CIMMfest. Some being shown were documentary to narrative films or music videos by international artists/bands. SouthSide found some of the movies to be very intriguing and thought-provoking to quite humorous in nature. For example, one (by A Wrong Way Productions) featured a rather interesting look into what happens inside a series of bathroom stalls ...a weird expose of people doing everything from gangland style murder to a Nazi preaching his politics and more besides going to the bathroom. Another in which she liked though not being able to hear this particular video (featuring music by Young Circles)  the images on the screen ran almost in sync with the featured DJ's club remix of Sugar Hill Gang's Lala Song.

Attenion, filmmakers, bands, artists, et al, there's a call for entries for CIMMfest's happening April 18th through 21st. Visit http://www.cimmfest.org or on Facebook, Twitter and/or YouTube sites for more information.

Without your support, blogspot readers, CIMMfest wouldn't be able to celebrate the inseparable connection between music and movies for over four years. This organization needs your help in making Chicago International Movies & Music Festival 2013 the best ever! They want you to be a part of something extraordinary. CIMMfest is a 501(3)c non-profit ...so your donation is tax-deductible. Visit http://www.cimmfest.org for information on how you can help.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide