Chicago Artists Month 2014 Call for Participan​ts

Call for Participants The 18th annual Chicago Artists Month (CAM) will take place in October 2014. Artists, arts organizations and community organizations in all creative genres are encouraged to participate by producing events that fulfill the criteria and respond to the theme, "Crossing Borders." Application deadline: June 16, 2014.   About Chicago Artists Month Chicago Artists Month (CAM) is a month-long festival that showcases the creativity in every Chicago neighborhood during the month of October. Now in its 18th year, CAM offers a platform for Chicago-based artists and performers working in all media to promote and showcase their work, initiate collaborations and engage new audiences. CAM is a program of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Park District and hundreds of community partners.   In previous years, CAM events have included exhibitions and performances, behind-the-scenes studio tours and neighborhood art walks, theater and dance productions, films, markets, classes, parades and conversations. Presenters include museums and artist collaboratives, galleries, theaters, film clubs, yoga studios, cultural centers, coffee houses and other organizations throughout the city. CAM 2013 highlights included the EdgeUp Festival in Uptown and Edgewater, a fashion show and restaurant crawl in South Chicago, theater performances in Pilsen, community arts conversations in Little Village and mural painting in Portage Park.   Theme: Crossing Borders The CAM 2014 theme is Crossing Borders. Proposal are encouraged, but not required, to engage the theme. Crossing Borders - actual physical borders, or conceptual, genre or societal borders - can be liberating, creative, transgressive, stimulating, hazardous, affirmative or all of the above. Often, crossing borders is life-changing. CAM encourages participants to plan their program as a mash-up, crossing borders literally and figuratively - between neighborhoods and nations, within artistic genres, media and social scenes.   Criteria   CAM 2014 is an open call for submissions, from which up to 300 events will be selected and 12 will be featured. Programs must feature two or more Chicago-based artists, take place in a public venue, between September 27 and October 31, 2014. Private homes and studios must be part of a larger event, such as an open studio or neighborhood art walk. Selection criteria include quality of work and diversity of artists/ media/neighborhood/demographics. Preference will be given to cross-neighborhood or cross-genre collaborations.   Selected programs will be listed on the CAM website, www.chicagoartistsmonth.org, and in a print guide produced by Newcity, with additional marketing and publicity to be determined.   Featured Programs / Featured Artists   Twelve CAM submissions will be selected as Featured Programs, based on the following criteria:   Artistic Excellence Diversity (artistic genre, media, discipline, geographic, demographic) Preference to Multi-Arts Collaboration (between neighborhoods, genres, demographically, or other) Scheduling considerations Embodying the theme, Crossing Borders   Featured Programs will be invited to nominate participating Chicago-based artists as the 2014 Featured Artists will be selected.   How to Participate To apply, go to www.chicagoartistsmonth.org/partner to create an account or log in to your existing account   Go to YOUR DASHBOARD, click on the type of event you plan to submit.   Event choices are: Art Walk, Exhibition, Learning/Making, Performance, Studio Tour/Open House.   Complete the fields and submit your preliminary information.   When you submit your information, be careful to spell and punctuate everything correctly. Once approved, you will be able to edit your listing, add graphics and links. This is the information that will be used for press and media.   Submission Deadline is June 16, 2014   Meet & Greet, Cross Borders All those interested in participating in CAM are invited to a Meet & Greet on June 4 4-6pm at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.). The vision and logistics for CAM 2014 will be discussed and collaborations and "border crossing" will be facilitated. Click here to RSVP by June 1.   If you are new to CAM and have questions about presenting an exhibition or event this year, contact us for more information.

One On One with Casey Donahew

"...We've done it on our own as outlaw outside the system..." ~ Casey Donahew

Howdy, y'all!

 

This rock chick has gone Texan country for this special One On One interview with her new friend, Casey Donahew, lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of Casey Donahew Band, blogspot readers. Using the "...no holds barred..." approach with his music (as well as life), it has given this musician and the band an upper hand when it comes to delivering honest country/rock music that has a message for his fans. That same approach also has made his a staunch supporter of the U.S. Constitution's 2nd Amendment - the right to bear arms, and in the belief that people have the right to stand up for what they believe which is why he named the current release "Stand Off". And SouthSide has been told this album is another collection of "...pure Texas country..." Recently, this reviewer was lucky enough to sit down with Casey Donahew before arriving to Chicago where he and the band will be headlining the Riverfront Mayfest on Sunday May 18th and chat about the new album, life in the Texas music scene and could this rock chick be a little country too. Also appearing at this 3-day kick off to summer fun and music will be local acts such as sixteencandles bands, The Hot Sauce Committee, My Name Is Jonas and many more.

Describing the Casey Donahew Band as a "...rockin' Texas country experience...", blogspot readers, Casey immediately told this reviewer that he and the guys "...always put on a show that people will come back to see ...[it's] entertaining and it's exciting..." The main ingredients SouthSide likes to see whenever she's rockin' at a live show. However, will her rock persona fit within this band's country music? Casey believed so since he enjoys getting the crowd screaming and moving instead of sitting down (or standing in front of the stage). The goal is "...try to keep them moving..." he mentioned over the phone, "...there's something for everyone..." at his shows. Something that his fans everywhere have come to expect from Casey and the band. She then asked him what inspires him when writing and/or creating his songs to which he said "...from life and what's happening in the news..." In a way, he's constantly searching for that one great line for his songs ...it's part of the same formula he's been using for over 12 years, blogspot readers. The album title - "Stand Off" is actually twofold. Besides it being the summation of Casey Donahew Band's music career, the musician is also personally making a political statement for example like the issue of gun ownership. "...we're strong believers or the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms..." To be honest, blogspot readers, when reading the band's bio, she didn't know to ask Casey a question about this without sounding offensive with her own personal belief about the subject. Yet he took the lead on this by stating to her that he wants people "...to understand it's okay to own a gun..." which does include being a responsible owner as well but don't read that statement as if he's trying to make you get one. He merely want the opposing side to stop telling others like him that it's wrong to own one.

That being said, she wondered which songs should fans listen just to get a feel for Casey Donahew Band and its music. SouthSide liked the fact that this artist and the band caters to a wide variety of music tastes within his songs, blogspot readers. For example, he had some rock-n-roll mixed with his Texas country ...there's even some love ballads as well as revenge songs too. "...a good mix of what the band is about..." says Casey who suggested listening to anything off the last two records. SouthSide highly suggests checking out the following - 'Whiskey Baby' and the ballad 'Small Town Love' (the current single) to which you will get to hear the two completely different sides to Casey and his songwriting styles. Just for fun, this reviewer asked him if he had the chance to work on a collaboration with any musician who would it be. Instead of answering with one name, he gave her three which would have produced one interesting album if you combine Rob Thomas (rock) with John Mayer (alternative) and Garth Brooks (country). And since he lives near the Forth Worth area of Texas, he related to SouthSide about the music happening not only there but in Austin when she asked him about his local music scene. "...[you] can go to Austin and find music every night of the week there ...[it] has a wide spectrum of music..." and then mentioned a venue in Fort Worth - Billy Bob's, a popular country and western nightclub there calling it the "....largest place for honky tonk music..." Sounds like a fun place for SouthSide to learn how to Texas two-step whenever she gets the chance to visit Forth Worth, blogspot readers. Can't forget about Dallas either since big acts swing by to play at the Cowboys AT&T Stadium too.

Still at the end of the day, Casey Donahew and the band is about catering to their fans, blogspot readers, by interacting with on social media sites (i.e. Facebook, their band site, et al) as well as meeting them in person. With the use of social media, independent bands like Casey Donahew Band can get immediate feedback from their fans about songs and past to present performances. And what about the Chicago fanbase? SouthSide will let Casey answer that question "...we're excited to get back to Chicago ...it's a pretty good fanbase..." but more importantly, he cannot "...wait to get back on the stage at Joe's and put a good show..."

Check out Casey Donahew Band performing at either the Riverfront Mayfest or at Joe's this weekend, blogspot readers, if you're in the Chicago area. If not, visit http://www.caseydonahewband.com for dates when he and the band will be performing live at a town near you.


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

RIOT FEST 2014

Hey, blogspot readers, guess who's celebrating 10 hot rockin' years with a HUGE festival bash and carnival?

 

Answer ...Riot Fest, of course, and the organizers just released the lineup!

 

This 3-day festival scheduled for September 12 - 14 at Chicago's Humboldt Park will feature bands like Slayer, Taking Back Sunday, Metric, The Cure, Jane's Addiction, Rise Against, Weezer, Pussy Riot (with Nadya & Masha), Tegan & Sara, Circa Survive, Gogol Bordello, We Came As Romans, The Orwells, Cheap Trick, Die Antwood, The Offspring, Wu-Tang Clan, The Flaming Lips and many, many more (plus others yet to be announced).

 

This looks to be HUGE, blogspot readers! And tickets are on sale NOW!

 

Check out the full lineup list (thus far) at http://www.riotfest.org/chicago.

 

 

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

 

 

Former Relient K Member Releases Acoustic Videos

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide's friend at Tragic Hero Records would like for you to check out former drummer of Relient K - Stephen Cushman recording a couple of acoustic covers by U2 ("With Or Without You") and John Legend ("All of Me").

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeUhnQk78M0

 

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

Supplies For Dreams

 

 

Hey, blogspot readers, SouthSide highly suggests attending this upcoming charity event...

 

Supplies for Dreams will team with Moxie Rock Management for the Dream Loud benefit concert at Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville on Saturday, May 24.

Supplies for Dreams is a nonprofit organization that provides Chicago Public Schools students with critical resources and extra-curricular opportunities ranging from basic school supplies to field trips and one-on-one mentoring.

 

 

Supplies for Dreams has partnered with the Chicago-based music management company Moxie Rock, founded by Cassie Moran, to stage a benefit concert featuring Jose & Me, Common Shiner, Cellrs, The Dead Hands, and The Holy Motors.

 

The concert will take place at Cubby Bear, 1059 W Addison in Chicago, on Saturday, May 24 at 8PM CST.

 

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 day of show; ages 21+

 

For more information, visit the following sites:

http://www.suppliesfordreams.org

http://www.moxierockmanagement.com

http://www.cubbybear.com/events/event/d/24/m/05/y/2014/id/1018


Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

08 May 14

 

“...I've always love my voice...” ~ Brian “Bender” Vecchione

He got the band back together ...after a long year of being apart.

 

 

Yet, the mission was to give this charismatic front man a party he would never forget, blogspot readers.

Tonight, at Lakeview’s Elbo Room, it was a rockin’ family reunion gathered to support and celebrate A Birdsong Valentine’s one-night only performance which also doubled as Brian’s bachelor’s party. Members from such bands Lucid Ground, 72 Hours, We Killed The Lion, A Friend Called Fire, EchoSon, Heavy The Fall, Reverie (now known as Model Stranger) as well as family, friends, past and current Elbo Room employees, and fans packed the basement lounge to relive fond and screamo memories with Brian and the band. And as everyone knows, if a party involves Brian, expect anything wild to happen. Surprisingly, it was rather tame but fun nonetheless which gave everyone a chance to reconnect again. In a way, blogspot readers, you can say Brian did more than just get the band back together. He reunited EVERYONE involved in Chicago’s local scene even if it was for one night...

“...Anyone else want me? I’m off the market...”

 

 

It was suppose to be the performance that was never to happen, blogspot readers, according to a reliable source ...only because the band hadn’t performed together since the last reunion show in 2013. Amazingly for a band that hasn’t been together, A Birdsong Valentine can still rock the stage with its intense guitar riffs and Brian’s infamous gut-busting scream. But don’t expect him to pop the screams on command as much. It took him a little while to warm up the vocals needed for songs like “Sink Or Swim” and “Kill Your Idol” to fully pump out those feelings of rage and frustration into the lyrics. Yes, blogspot readers, it may have been a rough start for A Birdsong Valentine but they did finish strong amidst the fans booing. They were hungry for more out and from this band. It was a very hot show ...and this reviewer’s not just talking about how steamy it felt in the basement either. “...all proceeds goes to A/C for Elbo Room...” says Brian after drinking water. No, she’s talking about the memories flowing from A Birdsong Valentine (as well as The Branded – ABV but one notch higher on the rock scale with less screaming vocals by Brian) to which everyone rocked to their favorite song. Songs like “Dance Inside My Head”, “Shinobi” and “I Am” which was dedicated to Stephen Francis (front man of Model Stranger). Though knowing their performance time would be limited, SouthSide missed hearing other songs like “First Move” and “Drug Pizza” by The Branded and “Knowing The Problem” and “Rest In Peace” by A Birdsong Valentine. However the main focus of this family reunion was to party ...and that’s what everyone did upstairs after the show to salute Brian on his upcoming nuptials, blogspot readers.

Thanks for the memories (and the famous sound bites), Brian, and congratulations to you and your fiancée...

 

 

 

 

Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide

04 May 14

garciaphone

Hola, mis amigos! Bonjour, mis amis!

Lalo Cura

Yep, that’s right, blogspot readers, SouthSide has gone international for this special On The Town review! Making a rare Sunday outing to Lakeview’s Elbo Room, she was there to officially welcome the band garciaphone – currently on its first US tour, to Chicago. This French melodic/alternative rock trio were sharing the stage with other bands like Lalo Cura (from IN) and Sadie & The Stark. And as a bonus feature, this reviewer was granted in depth access interviewing Olivier, Matthieu, and Raphael of garciaphone before rockin’ the Sunday night audience gathered downstairs in the main lounge. But first, this reviewer highly recommends blogspot readers getting juiced by the muy caliente Spanish rock from Lalo Cura. Did SouthSide say "muy caliente"? What she meant to say spicy problano pepper hot! This Latin-infused band featured an energizing performance in which had this reviewer's hips salsa swaying to the intense Carlos Santana-like guitar riffs (by front man and guitarist Rafael) especially  during each song's instrumental bridge thus creating a steamy floetry of sound and rhythmic tempo. Add the sultry heat of a saxophone and docile tones of a flute into the mix as well as the tempered music from the other Lalo band members  and you have one truly rockin' show from beginning to end. For more information about Lalo Cura and where the band will be performing next, visit http://www.lalocurarock.com.

 



"...Your city looks okay..." ~ garciaphone

 

 

 
They're describe as the band with "...songs melodies quiet loud and ...loud...", blogspot readers. Traveling across the pond from Clermont-Ferrand, France, this rock trio aimed to conquer the U.S. one fan at time with their melodic combination of soft and loud songs off the band's current release Constancia. But why this unique? "...because we it's how we like it in life ...soft, loud [and then] louder..." says front man Olivier who started this band as a solo project at first with him doing the guitars and drum beats. And while searching for a name to call his band, he found it by mixing two words which were strange as well as familiar for fans to connect - "garciaphone". "...'Garcia' is very common name ...it's also my family name ...and 'phone' ...[it's] speaking the language of..." different meanings, blogbspot readers, even though he himself hasn't learned (yet) what it (garciaphone) truly means. So where does this concept of playing soft and loud fit into their shows? Well, the trio likes to perform acoustically and amplified within their performance to which they might change up the original setlist to accommodate one cover song. "...playing songs we love..." And how is the band enjoying their first tour in the U.S.? "...we're enjoying it..." says Olivier despite having a few bad days in New York but so far have visited Philadelphia and Cincinnati ...and now Chicago. Compared to performing in France and here, garciaphone immediately noticed something different about the American audience - we're more open to music (and bands in general) and less judgmental than our French counterparts, blogspot readers. This reviewer found that very discouraging when the guys explained that in France, there's already a pre-judgment about your band before you've even hit the stage. It could be your band name ...music and simply you're not interesting or from New York. Here "...people pay attention to the music and what's around the music..."

 

Listen up, France, give garciaphone a chance. This trio opened strong (with track 7 - "Thou Shall Not Talk Shit") as well as finished strong to a very receptive audience at Elbo Room recently. Yes, it was quite different to have Olivier walking amongst the audience while performing an acoustic solo sans being attached to the microphone on stage but it was a very powerful moment to hear his vocals loud and clear over the deafening stillness which surrounded the captivated listeners. He felt right at home as a wandering troubadour on the acoustic guitar serenading the audience with his unwavering yet emotionally passionate voice. Then there were moments when garciaphone combined both quiet and loud at the same time during their set in which featured intense guitar riffs (from both acoustic and bass) and light thundering percussion. Yet what really made the "loud" parts to their music truly interesting, blogspot readers, was how Olivier could turn acoustic rhythms into the electrifying sound of an electric with his special amp. Whenever he did that, it got the band's energetic juices flowing thus bringing out the intense melodic vibe within an upbeat rhythmic tempo. Performing other songs off Constancia like "Bad Sheperd" (track 1) and "Lukoie" (track 8), songs that Olivier recommended to SouthSide earlier during the interview saying "...[they] somewhat [define] what the band is about...", this reviewer also suggested getting wrapped inside the mystery of the title track as well as quiet haunting melodies of track 12 simply titled "Patience". She thoroughly enjoyed how garciaphone's live performance was easily translated from the recorded side yet with more in depth intensity and passion. She highly suggests catching this French trio while you still can before they return home. They will be returning to New York on May 12th to perform with Weird Owl, Les Big Bird and Mirror Queen with Aqua Nebula Oscillator headlining at Pianos.

 

For more information about garciaphone and tour dates/places, visit http://www.garciaphone.com or "like" them on Facebook.

 

 

Until next time, support your local music scene,

SouthSide