Rocker Hotties of the Week - Moneypenny

This week's Rocker Hotties are Chess Hubbard and Jessica Gonyea of Moneypenny. Otherwise known as DJ Mother Hubbard and A-Cup, these two hit the Chicago dance scene running, opening for Robyn back in 2008. They've released another single off their upcoming EP and they've got a bunch of dates mostly in Chicago in the coming months.

Enjoy the sights and sounds.





Moneypenny - Destroy

TGIS Jams!

This has been a Friday feature, but I work Saturdays now. So does Riley. The significance of Friday has been diminished for us. We would still like to share some music though and Friday or Saturday, work or not, as R. Kells says, "it's the freakin' weekend."

Big week upcoming for My Morning Jacket with their performance of each of their albums in their entirety in a five night run at Terminal 5 in New York. I'm looking forward to hearing about those shows (maybe getting down for the Evil Urges performance?). This past week MMJ performed at Ed Sullivan Theater as part of their 10/12 appearance on the Late Show w/ David Letterman. Head over to The Steam Engine to download the entire performance. All this MMJ action though got me digging up their version of 'Gideon' from the 8/17/10 show in Chicago we attended. Let that lead us off today. You can download the entire Chicago show here.

My Morning Jacket - Gideon (live 8/17/10 Chicago, IL)

Had a chance to catch these guys at Schuba's this summer at a post lollapalooza show. Good tune.
Rogue Wave - Lake Michigan (live 1/8/08 Los Angeles, CA)

With the NHL season just underway here's a classic hockey song (rumored to being made into a movie).
Warren Zevon - Hit Somebody! (The Hockey Song) live 12/2/00 Philadelphia, PA

I think Riley was gonna go to this show but didn't make it. Here's The Walkmen from their 10/13/10 show at Metro.
The Walkmen - Canadian Girl (live 10/13/10 Chicago, IL)

And finally, one from the Drive By Truckers recent performance at Pabst Theater in Milwaukee. One of my favorite DBT songs.
Drive By Truckers - Where the Devil Don't Stay (live 10/1/10 Milwaukee, WI)

Rocker Hottie of the Week - Cheyenne Marie Mize

Louisville native and frequent Bonnie "Prince" Billy collaborator, Cheyenne Marie Mize, is releasing here solo debut album today. Entitled, Before Lately, we included a track from the album in last Friday's TGIF Jams. Be sure to check it out and go get her full length solo debut.

In the meantime enjoy some pics and listen to her sing with Bonnie "Prince" Billy.

Cheyenne Maire Mize & Bonnie Prince Billy - Beautiful Dreamer

TGIF Jams!

Cheyenne Marie Mize - Best

Alain Johannes - Return To You

Cut Copy - Where I'm Going

Bonjay - Jamelia (Caribou Cover)

Apache Beat - Another Day

Upcoming Releases

Sufjan Stevens The Age of Adz; 10/12 Release
Pre-order at Asthmatic Kitty.
Sufjan Stevens - Too Much









Belle and Sebastian Write About Love; 10/12 Release. Pre-order at Matador Records.
Belle and Sebastian - Write About Love











Kings Of Leon Come Around Sundown; 10/19 release. Pre-order at RCA Records.
Kings Of Leon - Pyro

Happy Genius Heroes Radio Recap 10/7

Fun show today. Happy Birthday wishes to big bro Krystof is always a good excuse to lead with some GNR. It was a nice to treat to have Mr. D join us in the studio and I think we got in some good music today as well. Always a pleasure to get a couple phone calls from listeners as well, it being a day off on campus.

I mentioned the link to the website today on the air, so for those of you checking in for the first time, do some exploring. I would encourage you to use the artist labels to find info on specific bands or just roll back through the archives using the links at right.

A few highlights from today's show for your continued listening pleasure or if you couldn't make the early live broadcast.

Phosphorescent - The Mermaid Parade

Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union

The Tallest Man on Earth - King of Spain

The Decemberists feat. Shara Worden - The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid

Happy Genius Heroes Radio Show!

We've been relatively quiet for awhile now at Happy Genius Heroes. We had some tech hangups, some extended travel, and some general life changes of the contributors that made this whole thing tougher to keep going.

Things have settled down some and we're ready (I think) to get some action going here again.

The biggest recent development is that we have a radio show now. Pretty cool, right? Yesterday saw the debut of Happy Genius Heroes Radio on WBSL 91.7 in Western Massachusetts and streaming live on the internet HERE.

The show will run from 7-8am EDT every Thursday. We'll be playing all kinds of music. If you read this blog even a little you have an idea of the type of stuff you can expect to hear. So tune in, check it out. Send us a note if you'd like to hear something or you have any suggestions.

The link again to listen on the interwebs is HERE.

MAC users might need the flip4mac plugin to listen. You can get that HERE.

I'll remind you again, but until next Thursday morning...

Stay clean. Stay safe.

-JL

My Morning Jacket 8/17/10 Chicago, IL Pictures

A little late I know. Better late than never? Fun show. Ran into A LOT of familiar faces. Some good extended jams on some of the more familiar tunes (Gideon). We got to here a song from Carl's new solo album and a new tune that MMJ has been playing lately, 'Circuital'.

Always good times with these guys. Riley went on to see them again 8/29 in Pittsburgh. I dunno if any a/v materials made it from that show, but here's a couple more decent pics from Chicago.



-JL

Delta Spirit @ Metro, Chicago, IL 6/19/10

We've been to a lot of shows in the past 16 months or so since the inception of this blog. Delta Spirit was one of our earliest reviews after Riley saw them at Double Door last Feb. and I saw them at Bowery Ballroom a week later. Their debut album Ode To Sunshine has been in heavy rotation for much of that time. It was truly a treat to see them perform a little over a year later in support of their latest release, History From Below.

The Romany Rye opened the evening with an impressive set that I'm certain had the lucky folks at Metro early enough to catch them saying, "I need to get those guy's album." I know I said it. Hometown favorite Ezra Furman and The Harpoons took the stage next for a high energy set that got the crowd ready for the main attraction.

It was about 10pm when Delta Spirit took the stage and opened with a little 'People Turn Around' teaser. Their performance was awesome. They mixed tracks from their new album with favorites from the old and while I admit I don't have the new one I was impressed with those tunes. Sophomore efforts can be tough but it appears that Delta Spirit has matched their debut LP in terms of consistent song quality.

Lead singer, Matt Vasquez led the energetic crowd through a solid showing of jams fast and slow. Despite the bands' constant touring and recent success you get a sense that these guys are truly appreciative of the fan support...and Chicago gave them a healthy dose. The band and the crowd fed off each other's energy and it made for a memorable show. One of the best concerts I've seen in awhile. Vasquez went so far as to meet fans in the Metro lobby as they exited the building. Great to see that after such a fun show. Now I gotta go get that new album...

Delta Spirit - "People C'mon"




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Joe Ely @ Fitgerald's, Berwyn, IL 6/17/10

There's not a whole lot that can get me to make the trip out to Berwyn, but the with two very enjoyable evenings under my belt at Fitzgerald's in the past few months (this one and The Radiators show back in March) I'm beginning to appreciate this little gem of a venue just outside of Chicago's city limits.

Colin Gilmore opened up the evening playing a number of tunes from his soon to be released, Goodnight Lane. After his set the crowd continued to fill in for the night's headliner, Joe Ely.


Ely would be playing a solo set; just him and his guitar and the occasional harmonica. Having the chance to see him perform up close you got the sense that you were witnessing something special. Here was a guy who has played with everyone from The Clash to Bruce Springsteen and who has been on the road for thirty-plus years. He rattled off some of his hits from over the years; "Dallas", "Up On The Ridge", and "Me and Billy The Kid", all the while mixing in the occasion story or joke between songs. After all the years on tour you could tell Ely is right at home on stage with his guitar and a roomful of fans.

He played two encores to the enthusiastic Fitzgerald's crowd finishing with his clever little number "Gimme A Ride To Heaven" about picking up Jesus Christ as a hitchhiker and getting his car stolen in the process. When it was all over and I was headed back home the show left me with a mix of emotions. I had thoroughly enjoyed the performance, but was also left with a tinge of sadness as I wondered who will take up the role of the traveling troubadour when heroes like Joe Ely have passed? They just don't seem to make 'em like that anymore. I'm not sure I have an answer and I hope Ely has years of touring ahead of him, but it was a special treat to be in his presence for the evening.





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