Former Whistler bartender and current Relax Attack Jazz Series curator Jordan Martins is showing some of his fantastic artwork at the Rational Park Gallery now through February 12th. Get over there and check it out.
—Billy
Glad Cloud is a monthly series that celebrates the rich landscape of Chicago musicians working with ambient music. Tonight at the Whistler we present three acts:
Slow Step (11:00pm): Danny Van Duerm and Reid Karris were introduced to each other’s music while performing together with the Chicago Scratch Orchestra. Interested in exploring each other’s sounds, they created Step Slow, a project that sways between atmospheric soundscapes and wall-of-sound, free-jazz.
Justin Walter & Erik Hall (10:15pm): In the above video you can see Justin improvising with his Electronic Valve Instrument, a loop pedal, and Bolasol’s new app Werkbench. Justin comes to us from NYC with “music that’s good for crossing the ocean in a small boat, sleeping in a spaceship, looking out castle windows, biking through fields of tall grass, walking though the woods, wearing headphones and being in a world of amazing.” Justin will be joined tonight by frequent collaborator and multi-instrumentalist Erik Hall of In Tall Buildings, Wild Belle, and NOMO.
Matthew Dotson (9:30pm): Matthew’s music occupies an interesting juncture between ambient, noise, and rhythm-based electronic music.
If you’re a musician interested in performing at our monthly Glad Cloud series, visit our website for details.
—Billy
Cocktails and ragtime tonight at the Whistler! The Great Crush — featuring Marc Riordan on piano, Dan Thatcher on bass, and Jeff Kimmel on bass clarinet — presents the songs of ragtime genius Scott Joplin (1868-1917). During his brief career, Joplin wrote 44 original ragtime pieces, one ragtime ballet, and two operas. One of his first pieces, the “Maple Leaf Rag” (which you can listen to above), became ragtime’s first and most influential hit, and is recognized as the archetypal rag. You can hear it and other classic rags while enjoying an old timey cocktail tonight at the Whistler.
—Billy
Thanks to Chicago Magazine for naming The Whistler as one of the Top 10 Bars in Chicago:
Inventive cocktails at reasonable prices. DJs, live music that spans genres, or Movieoke (exactly what it sounds like) every night, sans cover charge. What’s not to like?
And an extra special thanks to our amazing staff: Eric, Matthew, Charles, Alex, Aay, Joel, Dave, Michael, Anthony, and Stephen. You guys make this such a special place and we’re lucky to have you in our family. We’d also like to give a shout out to all the former Whistler staffers who made the Top 10: Danny Shaprio and Mickey Neely (Scofflaw), Ken Zawacki (Maria’s), and Laurent Lebec (Big Star). We love you guys and wish you continued success!
—Billy & Rob
Lone Ranger
Matt Duncan
Soft Times
10 Plays
Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Matt Duncan plays tonight at the Whistler (9:30pm, no cover charge). His music is a laid-back mix of ’60s R&B and ’70s yacht rock … it’s the perfect Sunday night soundtrack if you ask me. Duncan’s new LP, Soft Times, comes out January 15th via Soul Step Records.
—Billy
I'm Poor (Loose Dudes cover)
UnGnomes
9 Plays
via Luca Cimarusti, Chicago Reader:
The first time the Ungnomes appeared on my radar was when someone linked me to a video of them covering a song by a band I used to play in (the late and not-so-great Loose Dudes). I was both baffled and flattered that a group of kids in high school would go out of their way to cover a band that not only had been broken up for almost two years, but really wasn’t very cool to begin with. It turns out the Ungnomes are fronted by Jimmy Langford, the 15-year-old son of local legend Jon, and they’re actually pretty awesome. They absolutely put my high school bands to shame.
The Ungnomes play straightforward punk rock that owes a lot to west-coast bands of the 80s, like Black Flag or the Adolescents. The songs are speedy and snotty, and lyrical subject matter ranges from childish nihilism (“Religion is stupid!”) to childish commentary on local politics (one song is called “FuckKill Rahm”). They’re by no means breaking down any boundaries or forging new musical frontiers, but that’s what makes it so great. This is spirited punk rock made by excited kids, and listening to it makes me excited. The music is played with a lot of skill too; what I hear are four young musicians with bright futures ahead of them. You can listen to their new album, Grape Drink, in its entirety on their Bandcamp page.
The Ungnomes have been hopping on a lot of gigs at legitimate venues lately. Once again, they’re doing a lot better than I was when I was their age. They play an all-ages show this Saturday, January 12, at Martyrs’ at6 PM with Twin Peaks and Rubber.
I’m told these kids formed a band after seeing a Loose Dudes concert, which makes perfect sense when you hear their killer cover of “I’m Poor”. They play tomorrow at Martyr’s, where maybe they’ll threw bags of baking soda into the crowd while playing “Cocaine” like they did at their first gig.
—Billy
Our 3rd annual lunar calendar is now available at the Whistler. It features a gorgeous 2’ x 3’ black and white design by Plural. You can find it on the backside of the January issue of the Whistler Monthly, so stop by the Whistler soon and get your FREE lunar calendar before they’re all gone.
—Billy
via Stones Throw:
Dam-Drum is a handheld drum machine and sequencer with four unique sounds selected by Dam-Funk. This is a collaboration with Dam and Bleep Labs, who designed and built the drum in Austin, Texas.
Version 2.0 features four new drum sounds - three based on the Roland R70 and a pitchable bass tone modeled after a Juno 106 - with new buttons and a matte circuit board.
Like the Dam-Drum version 1, released summer 2012, this version is handmade and limited edition. Includes a case and function controls instruction sheet. Requires a 9 volt battery (not included).
This year I’m starting my Christmas list early. Look ma: only $99.00!
—Billy
Tight track — and goofy video with Philip Seymour Hoffman — just dropped today by Netherfriends and Fess Grandiose.
—Billy
STANDING STONE ($8) — MacGavin’s Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Lemon, Angostura Bitters, Don’s Spices #2
Esquire’s Cocktail of the Week is the Standing Stone, which is our twist on a tropical, scotch sour. Although it hasn’t been on the Whistler menu for some months, we’d be happy to make one for you anytime, as it’s still one of our favorite drinks. The single malt scotch provides a lightly peaty nose up front, while a large measure of Angostura Bitters forms a bridge to the intense flavors found in Don’s Spices #2. This infamous secret ingredient was created by Don The Beachcomber in 1937 and was only recently decoded by author and Tiki historian Jeff “Beachbum” Berry in his book, Sippin’ Safari. Berry discovered that Don’s secret blend consisted of Jamaican pimento berry (allspice) and Madagascar vanilla, which we found to be the perfect compliment to the peaty scotch featured in this drink.
Visit Esquire.com for the recipe.
—Billy
OLD SALT ($10) — Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, Burnt Sugar, Sea Salt, Granulated Honey, Angostura Bitters
An “‘old salt’” is a raconteur, or teller of sea stories. Much of the history and traditions of the naval services have been passed down from generation to generation by these grizzled, old sea salts. Here at The Whistler, bartender Eric Henry tips his cap to these storytellers with a salted caramel flavored Old-Fashioned. So sip on one of these while you spin a yarn and remember the old salt’s motto: “Never drunk on duty — never sober on liberty.”
—Billy
