So many phone calls and e-mails flooded the city aldermans' offices that the ordinance will not be put up for a vote tomorrow! WhooHoo!! The ordinance is supposed to be rewritten before it comes up for a vote again, most likely next month. The thing that gets me is that it's the big venues that this ordinance should apply to; they are the ones most likely to have people get hurt. The current regulations the city has are sufficient for preventing another E2 tragedy, but they need to be enforced; something's that's always a problem in Payoff City.
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/05/vote-on-licensi.html
This Events Promoter Ordinance that's being fast-tracked through the Chicago City Council is bullshit. It's like it was designed to kill the local music scene, which are the only shows I can afford to go to at this point in time, but it would also discourage smaller venues that don't have 500+ permanent seating from booking some nationally-known indie bands, plus the wording is so vague it could apply to anyplace live music is being played, including weddings. If this passes, we could very well be stuck seeing nothing except Live Nation shows from here on in or else smaller show prices will be jacked up considerably. Here's the link to a petition and if you're in Chicago, call your alderman and tell them you support a diverse music scene and they should, too.
http://savechicagoculture.org/2008/05/09/stop-the-promoters-ordinance
There's information on the site on how to find your alderman and their contact information. You can download a copy of the proposed ordinance.
Earlier last year, I was complaining to a friend of mine about all the crappy music coming out and how I must be old because I would rather throw on some old Black Flag or Jimi Hendrix than check out anything new. As the year went on and I got past the Fall Out Boys, Plain White T's, Andrew Birds, Jens Lekmans, Beiruts and other so-called "lovable losers," I found alot of stuff that didn't seem determined to bring me down. So much so, that I have expanded my expanded Top 10 because I just couldn't decide who to leave out. In no particular order, here are my favorite albums from 2007:
1. M.I.A. - Kala
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
3. Tinariwen - Aman Iman
4. National - Boxer
5. Mavis Staples - We'll Never Turn Back
6. Dee Dee Bridgewater - Red Earth
7. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
8. White Stripes - Icky Thump
9. Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty - Now You Know
10. Antibalas - Security
11. Grinderman - s/t
12. Sinead O'Connor - Theology
13. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
14. Battles - Mirrored
15. Angels Of Light - We Are Him
16. Jesse Sykes - Like, Love, Lust And The Open Halls Of The Soul
17. Baroness - Red
18. Neurosis - Given To The Rising
19. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
20. El-P - I'll Sleep When You're Dead
Comments
That is a great eclectic mix!
Yeah, it's a good one, I could get with it.
Hey, you're back! I'm glad you dig the list and I hope you have a great new year!