One week to go...

New shows return Feb 12. In the meantime, here's another rerun show, but please remember that the great thing about reruns is: if you haven't seen (or heard) it before, it's new to you...

Also in new newsy news, I have started a written blog of musical musings (which sounds incredibly pretentious, but trust me, it's awesome): Susan Rocks Chicago, which I will try to update regularly. A new album review is on its way shortly (later today), so stay tuned!

And, as always, go check out one of the many awesome shows happening this week!

<3, Susan.

UPCOMING SHOWS:
2/5 - Elephant Gun @ The Whistler w/ Thee Hardy Mums (FREE SHOW!)
2/5 - The Picture Books @ Hideout
2/5 - Tortoise @ Empty Bottle
2/6 - Big Science @ Metro w/ Pet Lions
2/7 - Los Campesinos @ Logan Square Auditorium w/ Titus Andronicus
2/7 - Press Gang @ Beat Kitchen
2/11 - Catfish Haven @ Beat Kitchen
2/11 - The Joans @ Bottom Lounge

PLAYLIST (PREVIOUSLY AIRED):
Buzzcocks – Boredom
Devo – Girl U Want
Cities and Thrones – A Most Dangerous Game
The Useless Wankers – You Got Nothin'
Ryan Adams – Gimme Sunshine
The Thermals – Here's Your Future
Material Issue – Goin' Through Your Purse
The Living Blue – The Beat of Her Drums
Airiel – Thrown Idols
The Code Kids – Can't Complain
New Ruins – Booklung
Cream - Politician
Michele Ari – My Sleeping Beauty
CSS – Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
Pixies – Gigantic
Noah and the Whale – Death By Numbers
Mitch Hemann – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Unscheduled Hiatus - New Shows Feb 12!

So unfortunately our technical difficulties have been extended for a while. They should be resolved in time for the Feb 12 (Valentine's Day!) show, so hang in there with us until then! :) To keep you from getting bored in the meantime, I have another previously aired episode of the show for you, and a week of live music picks to keep out the Chicago cold!
<3, Susan.

UPCOMING SHOWS:
1/29 - Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power @ Empty Bottle
1/30 - My My My @ Bottom Lounge w/ Color Radio
1/30 - The Smith Westerns @ Beat Kitchen
1/30 - Arctic Fox @ Silvies (Free)
1/31 - The Blissters @ The Elbo Room
1/31 - Les Savy Fav @ Epiphany
1/31 - The Heartless Bastards @ Martyrs

PLAYLIST (PREVIOUSLY AIRED):
The Raveonettes – Attack of the Ghost Riders
The Sweet – Ballroom Blitz
Tenacious D – Tribute
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Me and Mia
Interpol – Evil
Louis XIV – Finding Out True Love Is Blind
Be Your Own Pet – Black Hole
Tight Phantomz – Ninja Talk
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
King Sparrow – Bones and Skin
Dandy Warhols – Get Off
The Zombies – I Want You Back Again
The Fratellis – Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy
My My My – Sadder at the Seams
Headlights – Cherry Tulips
Johnny Cash – I’ve Been Everywhere
The Unicorns – Les Os

Shock! Horror!

So due to extreme technical difficulties, I will be unable to upload a new podcast this week. The problem should be resolved by next week, but in the meantime, please enjoy a Krazy Klassik from the Indiesomnia! archives, check out the Valentine's Day Contest, and go see some awesome live shows this week!

UPCOMING SHOWS:
1/22 - Animal Collective @ Metro
1/23 - King Sparrow @ Reggies Rock Club
1/24 - Kings of Leon @ House of Blues Chicago (Cancer Benefit)
1/24 - Rufus Wainwright @ Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA Benefit)
1/24 - Snowsera @ Beat Kitchen
1/24 - The Code Kids @ The Red Line Tap

PLAYLIST (PREVIOUSLY AIRED Nov 27, 2008):
The Blackouts - Something...I Can’t Say
The Dirtbombs - Chains of Love
Cat Power - Living Proof
Nada Surf - Do It Again
T.Rex - Rock On
Andrew Bird - Imitosis
Franz Ferdinand - The Fallen
Dresden Dolls - Coin-Operated Boy
Black Lips – O Katrina!
Divinyls – I Touch Myself
Flight of the Conchords – Ladies of the World
LaBelle – Lady Marmalade
The Innocent – Beautiful Lie
The Stranglers – Golden Brown

Playlist and Podcast for January 15, 2009

January is already halfway gone, which means it’s time to gear up for the First Annual Indiesomnia! Valentine’s Day Contest! There are details in this week’s show, which can be downloaded here, or played via webstream on the right-hand side of the page. The winner will receive their choice of either an amazon giftcard or an itunes giftcard. Please find the OFFICIAL RULES of the Indiesomnia Valentine’s Day Contest below!

PLAYLIST:
Shipwreck – House of Cards
The Flying Lizards – Money
IAMX – Sailor
Local Natives – Airplanes
The Fratellis – Henrietta
? and the Mysterians – 96 Tears
Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
Belle and Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Cities and Thrones – Conduct Unbecoming
The Kills – Love Is A Deserter
The Living Blue – Walk Talk Rhythm Roam
Material Issue – Valerie Loves Me
Andrew Bird – Fake Palindromes
Electric Six – Gay Bar
The Gories – Charm Bag
braam - Blackout
Iggy Pop – The Passenger

UPCOMING SHOWS:
1/15 – The Hold Steady @ House of Blues
1/16 - Bully in the Hallway @ Bottom Lounge
1/17 - The Living Blue @ Double Door
1/17 – Local Natives @ The Horseshoe
1/18 - The Innocent @ Empty Bottle
1/20 – The Killers @ UIC Pavillion

**THE INDIESOMNIA! VALENTINE’S DAY CONTEST – OFFICIAL RULES**
(1) For entries to be considered, participant MUST email indiesomnia@gmail.com by 11:00 pm CST on Friday February 6th, 2009. Please include your full name, address, telephone number, and email address, the song/artist/album info, and a brief response (100 words or less) to the question, “What is the weirdest song you’ve ever made out to?”
(2) Entries become the property of Indiesomnia and may be used at the producer’s discretion for artistic purposes related to the programming and production of Indiesomnia.
(3) Entering the contest implies consent to these rules. You must enter to win.
(4) Contest winner(s) will be notified via email no later than February 12, 2009.

Playlist and Podcast for January 8, 2009

And it’s that time of the week, once again! Plenty of good shows to check out, and plenty of good music to listen to on this week’s podcast. It can be downloaded here, or played online via webstream by clicking on the player on the right-hand side of the page. Enjoy!

<3, Susan.

PLAYLIST:
William Shatner – Common People
Deep Purple – Hush
The Beauty Shop – I Got Issues
Greenskeepers – Lotion
Ben Folds Five – Army
Bird Names – Nazi Beach Party
Robots in Disguise – The Sex Has Made Me Stupid
The Cars – Good Times Roll
Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
Johnny Cash – Hurt
The Locals – Tidal Wave
The Dresden Dolls – Girl Anachronism
Noah Harris – The Sparrow and the Wolf
Oh, Alexis! – Outlawed Bingo
The Goldstars – The Race
Bee Gees – Lonely Days
The Brandnames – Black and White Camera

UPCOMING SHOWS:
1/8 – The Locals @ Martyrs w/ Waif, Pale Figures
1/9 – The Fray @ Metro (Sold Out)
1/9 – The Brandnames @ Cigars and Stripes (Berwyn – Last Show)
1/10 – Bird Names @ Empty Bottle
1/12 – Mayor Daley @ Empty Bottle (Free show!)
1/13 – Greenskeepers @ Sonotech (James Curd DJ set)

Playlist and Podcast for December 18, 2008

Just in time for your last-minute shopping and holiday office parties, it’s the Christmas Edition of Indiesomnia! The show is available for download here, or you can listen to the show as a webstream by clicking the flash player on the right-hand side of this page. As always, the playlist follows, along with a few picks of the litter of live music to see this week—you’ve earned it! Also, check out a few musical holiday treats, like Chicago Rock Music Examiner’s list of Christmas songs that “won’t make you wish the season would end”, and a free non-denominational holiday album available here. And be sure to stay tuned next week as we roll out the New Year in style with some live music previews and a special treat!
Ho ho ho!
<3, Susan.

PLAYLIST:
Holly Beth Vincent – Punk Xmas
Beck – Tropicalia
Bird Ate My Donut – Winter
Dead Kennedys – Holiday In Cambodia
Sufjan Stevens – Get Behind Me Santa
Eagles of Death Metal – Wannabe In LA
The Kinks – Father Christmas
Snowsera – 24
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
The 1900s – Winter Las
Gabriella Cilmi – Sweet About Me
Silversun Pickups – Kissing Families
Shoes – This Christmas
The Safes - Annalisa
The Raveonettes – The Christmas Song
Pet Lions - Trinidad
The Velvet Underground – I’m Waiting For The Man

UPCOMING SHOWS:
12/18 – Eagles of Death Metal @ House of Blues Chicago
12/18 – Bon Iver @ Vic Theater
12/19 – The Safes @ Quenchers
12/20 – Bird Ate My Donut @ Underground Lounge
12/21 – Pet Lions @ Bottom Lounge
12/23 – Snowsera @ Schubas w/ Color Radio, the Rikters

Podcast and Playlist for December 11, 2008

So another week has come and gone, Chicago politicians are corrupt as usual and there may be big changes in Illinois in the days and weeks to come. Lucky for you, there’s a new podcast to keep you warm. In a statistic I just made up right now, 9 out of 10 Illinois governors think Indiesomnia is (bleeping) golden. And so can you! Just click here to download the new show. The playlist and a rundown of some sweet shows to check out this week follow.
<3, Susan.
PS~I don't know who to credit with this photo, but s/he totally deserves major kudos. It is totally boss. Well done, mysterious internet paparazzo. Well done.

PLAYLIST:
Buzzcocks – Boredom
Devo – Girl U Want
Cities and Thrones – A Most Dangerous Game
The Useless Wankers – You Got Nothin’
Ryan Adams – Gimme Sunshine
The Thermals – Here’s Your Future
Material Issue – Goin’ Through Your Purse
The Living Blue – The Beat of Her Drums
Airiel – Thrown Idols
The Code Kids – Can’t Complain
New Ruins – Booklung
Cream - Politician
Michele Ari – My Sleeping Beauty
CSS – Music Is My Hot Hot Sex
Pixies – Gigantic
Noah and the Whale – Death By Numbers
Mitch Hemann – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

UPCOMING SHOWS:
12/11 – The Code Kids @ Cobra Lounge
12/12 – Noah and the Whale @ Empty Bottle
12/12 – Oasis @ Allstate Arena (with Ryan Adams + The Cardinals)
12/14 – CSS @ Metro
12/17 – The Living Blue @ Empty Bottle
12/17 – Tractor Kings @ Schubas (with New Ruins)

Playlist and Podcast for December 4, 2008

Well, well, it's that time of the week again--I hope you enjoy the podcast as much as I did making it. A special super-huge thanks goes out to Frank of Chicago Rock Music Examiner and Windy City Rock for the listing--Indiesomnia is one of the Best Rock Radio Shows in Chicago!

The playlist for this week's show follows, and you can download (for free, as usual) the podcast right here. As a new feature, I've added a list of upcoming live shows I've mentioned on this week's podcast--so go out and see some music, already! ;)
<3, Susan.

PLAYLIST:
The Raveonettes – Attack of the Ghost Riders
The Sweet – Ballroom Blitz
Tenacious D – Tribute
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – Me and Mia
Interpol – Evil
Louis XIV – Finding Out True Love Is Blind
Be Your Own Pet – Black Hole
Tight Phantomz – Ninja Talk
The White Stripes – Icky Thump
King Sparrow – Bones and Skin
Dandy Warhols – Get Off
The Zombies – I Want You Back Again
The Fratellis – Got Ma Nuts From A Hippy
My My My – Sadder at the Seams
Headlights – Cherry Tulips
Johnny Cash – I’ve Been Everywhere
The Unicorns – Les Os

UPCOMING SHOWS:
12/4 - King Sparrow @ Bottom Lounge
12/9 - Tight Phantomz @ Empty Bottle
12/10 - Ted Leo @ AV-aerie
12/10 - My My My @ Subterranean

Promoter's Ordinance Update

Good news! There was an amazing outpouring against the Chicago Promoter's Ordinance (which was to be voted on tomorrow) by people who support our local music scene. As a result, the Ordinance (at least as-worded) has been tabled, and the vote will not take place tomorrow. More can be read about the whole situation here.

Good work! But we should still all keep an eye open to make sure a future incarnation of the ordinance won't be as crippling to local music as the last one was.

Local Music and the Promoter's Ordinance

So normally I don't deal with politics in my blog or on my show. But on this particular occasion, it's a matter of some concern.

This Wednesday (May 14), the Chicago City Council will have the chance to approve an ordinance that could deal a serious blow to Chicago's creative community (music, arts, theatre, culture at large). Bad news.


Some of the implications of this ordinance include:

- Any event promoter must have a license from the city of Chicago and liability insurance of $300,000.

- The definition of "event promoter" is loosely defined, meaning it could apply to a band, singer, or visiting theater company.

- An event promoter must be licensed and will pay $500 to $2,000, depending on expected audience size.

- Applicants for a license must be over 21, have fingerprints taken, submit a background check and more.

- Smaller venues are targeted, as venues with 500 or more permanent seats are exempt.

- Police must be notified at least seven days prior to an event.


You can read more about it on my good friend Frank's LOCAL MUSIC BLOG, Windy City Rock, by clicking the WINDY CITY ROCK link on the right-hand side of the page, or by going here.


Please sign your name and add your comments opposing the Promoter's Ordinance to the petition here.

Help to save our city's Local Music Community!

OMG Showz!!!

Here are some shows you should most definitely check out...

Fri May 9 - The Kills at the Metro
Fri May 9 - Presidents of the USA at the Abbey Pub
Sat May 17 - Cake and Andrew Bird (part of U of C's Summer Breeze Music Festival)
Thurs May 22 - Headlights at Schubas

Tues June 3 - Elsinore at the Double Door
Thurs June 19 - The Beauty Shop at Beat Kitchen