Dave Chamberlain

Chicago's Bass by the Pound crew--the leading local drum `n' bass promotion entity--has big upped itself, taken a small hit, and big upped itself again.

The initial good is couched with a little bad. On Friday, September 3, Bass by the Pound brings the legendary (and slightly infamous) Metalheadz to the Metro, including master metal-mouth Goldie. (For those late to the scene, no other drum `n' bass DJ has done more--both artistically and commercially--than Goldie or fellow Brit LTJ Bukem.) That show, which includes sets from Photek, Total Science, KC, local darkstepper DJ? Acucrack as well as the BBP crew, will also be the final 18-and-over show presented by the promoters. With only Bass by the Pound even attempting to overcome the city-led war against the younger set, it likely marks the final 18-and-over d 'n' b show anywhere.

The problem, according to Phil McFarland (aka Glyde), is as simple as finance. "When the shows don't succeed financially it's very hard to come back from. To have a few go wrong would be enough to put us out of business completely. So we've got to cool off [on the 18-plus] shows in order to keep doing shows at all. It hurts us to have to admit it, believe me."

All is not bad, however. In fact, soon Bass by the Pound will inhabit Sonotheque every other Saturday, an upward move which gets kicked off on October 9 with a performance from the abovementioned LTJ Bukem, with perma-MC Conrad. And on a completely different note, McFarland is also part of the ownership group that will soon open Small Bar Wicker Park, in the space formerly occupied by Ohba. In addition to the normal bar accoutrement (more than sixty beers, food, pool table, etc.), Small Bar Wicker Park will be the first establishment in Wicker Park to show live English Premier League Soccer games. Small Bar Wicker Park plans to open over Labor Day weekend.

Supporting Scott:

Those familiar with the Touch and Go Records family will be saddened to hear that Scott Giampino, the label's longtime publicist before he and his wife Ali (one of The Billions Corp.'s agents) relocated to Seattle two years ago, was the victim of an arson attack. Though Scott, Ali and their young son Max escaped without harm, the Giampino's house was completely destroyed by the fire, with a toll that included more than 3,000 records and the couple's two cats.

Seattle, it seems, is not without mercy. As reported in the Seattle Times, several benefit concerts are already in the works, a local record store held a donation drive, and there's even been a bank account opened in their name to encourage cash donations. The Seattle fire department almost immediately connected the arson to a rash of similar crimes that have plagued Seattle this summer, and the ATF has even formed a task force to investigate.

Anyone out there who knows Scott or Ali and is interested in helping can contact me at chamberlain@newcitynet.com, and I'll forward the pertinent information.

In the Groove:

Though it's not a local record, the musically open-minded would do well to seek out Up, Bustle and Out's seventh record, "City Breakers," a project from Bristol, England's 500cc Revolutionary Productions. (There is a Chicago connection: local distributor Groove is handling the record domestically.) Flexing perhaps the most seamless and organic melding of hip--hop, reggae and dub-reggae, "City Breakers" alternately kicks with New Jack bass and sparkles with the dark and twisted studio sorcery that dub-master Mad Scientist once promoted. The music notwithstanding, "City Breakers" amply features the skills of MC Blaze, a Jamaican-born rapper with a--get this--oddly sensual but thug-like vocal posture. This isn't Lil Kim, nor does it resemble the scattershot rhymes of new-breed UK rappers like Dizzee Rascal or Wiley. She fits well alongside bass-throated Ras Jabulani and more traditional toaster DJ Mexican. Eight years ago, Bristol was the world hotbed of jungle and trip-hop; though Up, Bustle and Out dishes out a different flavor, a musical evolution has clearly happened.

End of summer:

Though the entire lineup for The Hideout's annual Block Party, coming September 24-26, has yet to be fully fleshed out, it's not too early to get excited for the September 26 lineup. Dubbed "Sunday Bloodshot Sunday: a Bloodshot 10th Anniversary Show," the Hideout will present an entire day of bands from the local insurgent country record label, including fan (and Raw Material) favorite Split Lip Rayfield, Bobby Bare and Wayne Hancock. Other announced performers include the rapidly ascending Marah (September 24) and Mouse on Mars (September 26).

(2004-08-17)

Also by Dave Chamberlain

Tip of the Week
It's nothing short of crazy that Tub Ring started out as a punk band more than a decade ago, in 1992, and it's borderline insane that widespread notoriety eludes this incredibly creative five-piece
(2004-08-10)

The gospel truth
The Polyphonic Spree never set out an agenda to be a happy band"
(2004-08-10)

Pete Rock
The master DJ outdoes himself by following up 1998's "Soul Survivor" with "Soul Survivor II," featuring a veritable who's who of talented rappers
(2004-08-03)

Tip of the Week
This festival--held within the confines of the triangular park--has grown in size and scope every year, but this year outdoes virtually every other city street fest
(2004-07-27)

Rock City
(2004-07-27)

Honorable mention
(2004-07-27)

Tip of the Week
(2004-07-20)

Tip of the Week
(2004-07-13)

Raw Material
(2004-07-13)

Tip of the Week
(2004-07-06)

Raw Material
(2004-07-06)

Tip of the Week
(2004-06-29)

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