Vinyl Phone
According to Uncut magazine , A new “ intelligent turntable ” that allows users to play vinyl from their smartphone is crowdfunding . " According to comingsoontech . com gear website , the LOVE Turntable " reads vinyl with a stylus , connects to Bluetooth & Wi-Fi , and is controlled by your smartphone ." It promises “ the intimacy of vinyl with modernday convenience ”.
On the How It Works section of the site it explains , “ once LOVE is synced with your audio device , put any size vinyl on one of the two complimentary 7 " record bases . LOVE then scans the vinyl to determine disc size and number of tracks . If you ’ d like to start your listening experience with track 3 , simply Press LOVE ’ s top shell three times or select the track through the app . From there , sit back , relax , and enjoy your record .” The LOVE turntable isn ’ t available to buy yet , but intrigued parties can sign up here to be notified when it launches , and receive a 50 % discount on the eventual purchase price ." according to Uncut . Hurry to get your discount though , because the intial offer says early adapators will pay less through early February .
02 • 2017
Blues Clues
Hello , My Name is Timothy
Timothy B . Schmit
Timothy B . Schmit is struggling to find the right words to describe the zenlike wisdom he ’ s attempting to convey in “ Slow Down ,” a jazzy vibraphone-embellished stroll ( featuring Gary Burton himself ) from his latest solo set , Leap of Faith , his sixth . But for an awkward moment , the phraseology seems to be eluding the Poco / Eagles bassist / vocalist . “ In “ Slow Down ,” I ’ m trying to …. trying to …,” he falters , then pauses to stare outside . “ Like , I ’ m looking out a sliding door out the back of my home studio right now , into this beautiful scene ,” continues the 69-year-old , who ’ s known for his wispy , feather-light singing voice . “ It rained all night , it ’ s gorgeous , I ’ m looking right outside the room I ’ ve used to sing in , and it really is a beautiful sight . And it ’ s important to be able to actually not miss that . On a visual level , but on a lot of other levels , too .” Which sums up the musician ’ s songwriting career nicely , either with The Eagles or on his own . Schmit believes he ’ s lived an unusually charmed life , for which he ’ s incredibly grateful . “ So there are times when I ’ m bitching and moaning and complaining about mundane stuff , and I have to sometimes tell myself , ‘ Whoa ! You have nothing to complain about !’”
Continued on page 6
Photo by Curt Baran
Protest Songs
Che " Rhymefest " Smith
The announcement of the 2017 Chicago Blues Festival line-up has stirred more controversy than ever over previous Blues Fest performer selections . While master harpist Billy Branch is featured , along with appearances by legendary harpist James Cotton and heralded local acts Lurrie Bell , Carl Weatherby , Carlos Johnson and Ronnie Brooks are all expected players who frequently perform at the fest , the appearances of Rhiannon Giddens , Gary Clark Jr . and specifically Che “ Rhymefest ” Smith , have inspired some grumbling within the blues community . Local activist and hip hop artist Rhymefest isn ’ t a familiar name to many blues fans and they question why a hip hop artist should headline a bluesfest . However , the talented MC and songwriter has long expressed interest in collaborating with blues musicians and will most likely present music that bridges the distance between blues roots and hip hop fruits . Giddens , a violinist , banjo player and singer in the seminal roots / folk group Carolina Chocolate Drops , plays a mix of country , folk and blues . Clark , an acclaimed rock guitarist , clearly displays his blues roots but doesn ’ t fall into the narrow bluesman definition .
It looks like the Blues Fest committee is aiming to attract a younger crowd and as long as the rest of the shows are filled out with more traditional blues acts , that ’ s not a bad idea . Drawing young fans into discovering blues through the lens of hybrid music is a long tradition and serves to continue , not stifle , the art form . The real concern is the switch from Grant Park to Millennium Park , which only holds 11,000 spectators , while the Fest typically draws hundreds of thousands . How the overflow will be handled and where the smaller stages will be placed are serious questions that really need to be considered .
- Rosalind Cumming Yeates
Tom Morello
With a new President in the White House , we saw this coming on November 9th . Musicians are exercising their first amendment rights and letting us know their concerns for our planet , voting rights , equal rights and healthcare .
Not surprisingly , Chicagoan Tom Morello kicked things off on Inauguration day , January 20 at the Teragram Ballroom in downtown L . A .. Morello ' s Prophets of Rage launched the resistance at the Anti-Inagural Ball MC ' d by actor Jack Black . " The concert delivered a full roster of established and emerging voices , including sets by Jackson Browne and outspoken rapper Vic Mensa , " according to Rolling Stone .
A subscription music protest series , Our First 100 Days launched on inauguration day with new music by Angel Olsen (‘ Fly on Your Wall '). Since the launch , Jason Molina , Women Mitski , Whitney , Toro Y Moi , TORRES , Strand of Oaks , The Range , Tim Heidecker , Will Oldham , The Mountain Goats , Jens Lekman , Cherry Glazerr , Peter Silberman of The Antlers , Bully , and Chicago ' s Twin Peaks have committed music to the series . Our First 100 Days requires a minimum donation of $ 30 and the proceeds will benefit various organizations that support causes includeing All Above All , Cosecha , Hoosier Action , People ' s Climate Movement , and Southerners On New Ground , according to UnderTheRadar Mag . com .
8 illinoisentertainer . com february 2017