Twin Peaks, The Numerators, Street Rash @ The Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago
Muggsy remembers watching the television program, Twin Peaks, back in 1990 (or whenever it was on) and being pretty freaked out in good way. Same thing here.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks, The Numerators, Street Rash @ The Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: White Lung
White Lung, MAGIC MILK, Polish Gifts @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL
Every once and awhile, at least everyday, Muggsy likes to fill his lungs with white hot punk rock.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: Purling Hiss
Purling Hiss, Claps, Spires that in the Sunset Rise @ UW Memorial Union, 800 Langdon, Madison, WI
Muggsy would much rather see Purling Hiss than see Hurling Piss, because he has seen piss being hurled. Not cool.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Music Review: Lady Lamb the Beekeeper
Lady Lamb is not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill apiarist. She is not always gentle like a lamb. She sometimes has bees in her bonnet which she unleashes in small swarms, always at a fitting time when she can deliver the best sting, sweet as honey. As if Aly Spaltro (as Lady Lamb is also known) wasn't a precious enough name for the young singer/songwriter, her adopted moniker certainly suggests something playful and innocent, but her youthful looks belie a soulful voice that sounds an age beyond her 23 years.
The background story is that Lady Lamb began writing and recording songs after hours at the DVD rental store where she worked in Brunswick, Maine. She sold these recordings at the record store next door under the Lady Lamb pseudonym. From that beginning, here we are. This is Aly's first full-length foray and it's pretty fabulous and packed with great songs that are emotionally powerful and driven and showcase an admirable level of lyrical virtuosity.
To be dragged by the hair to the carnival is a strange enough way to travel. Even so, “Hair to the Ferris Wheel” gives a rousing start to a record that never stops spinning. The song starts slow but amps up quickly with a driving drum beat and strummingly loud guitars. "Aubergine" is a leg-kicking tune with fired up horns that build up big only to fall down and start all over again. It's about absence making the heart grow, not fonder, but hollow like an "egg without a yolk". "Bird Balloons" gets Lady Lamb popping with Bjork-like bleats; “I’m a ghost and you all know it”. "Rooftop" delivers as a standout track of guitar with gumption and violin and vocals that soar and tumble down.
Ripley Pine is as strong a twelve song effort as I've heard. It fluctuates between half full and full on while pontificating in the abstract about universal subjects. It lays in the cut at the right times only to hit full force with the backing of a full-band. Shear sheepy brilliance. Baah, rah rah—Chris Auman
The background story is that Lady Lamb began writing and recording songs after hours at the DVD rental store where she worked in Brunswick, Maine. She sold these recordings at the record store next door under the Lady Lamb pseudonym. From that beginning, here we are. This is Aly's first full-length foray and it's pretty fabulous and packed with great songs that are emotionally powerful and driven and showcase an admirable level of lyrical virtuosity.
To be dragged by the hair to the carnival is a strange enough way to travel. Even so, “Hair to the Ferris Wheel” gives a rousing start to a record that never stops spinning. The song starts slow but amps up quickly with a driving drum beat and strummingly loud guitars. "Aubergine" is a leg-kicking tune with fired up horns that build up big only to fall down and start all over again. It's about absence making the heart grow, not fonder, but hollow like an "egg without a yolk". "Bird Balloons" gets Lady Lamb popping with Bjork-like bleats; “I’m a ghost and you all know it”. "Rooftop" delivers as a standout track of guitar with gumption and violin and vocals that soar and tumble down.
Ripley Pine is as strong a twelve song effort as I've heard. It fluctuates between half full and full on while pontificating in the abstract about universal subjects. It lays in the cut at the right times only to hit full force with the backing of a full-band. Shear sheepy brilliance. Baah, rah rah—Chris Auman
The Woodrows: Snake in the Grass
The Woodrows: Snake in the Grass: Snake in the Grass (RoosterCow) 1980 Trust me, you don't wanna be hangin' out in the Woodrows' backyard! Twenty-five ...
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: The Hussy
The Hussy, The Mystery Girls, Fire Retarded, Non-Travelin' Band @ High Noon Saloon, 701A Washington, Madison, WI
It's the LP release party for The Hussy's new LP. So let's get released. Let's party.
Friday, April 12, 2013
What's the Point, Purling Hiss?
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| Photo by Tim Bugbee |
Occasionally, Reglar Wiglar Magazine asks a band, artist or musician: What’s it all about? What's the point and why go on? This week we ask Philly's purveyors of audio sibilation, PURLING HISS:
What’s it all about?
We are doing a 2 week tour to the Midwest including Madison and Chicago. Then a month in Europe in May. All our dates are listed here.
What’s the point?
We have a new record on Drag City that just came out in March. It's called Water on Mars and it's our first release with the label. Also the first studio album with a full band.
Why go on?
We'll continue to support the album by touring throughout the year.
MONDAY 4/15
Purling Hiss, Tee Pee, Axis:Sova @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL
FRIDAY 4/19
Purling Hiss, Claps, Spires that in the Sunset Rise @ UW Memorial Union, 800 Langdon, Madison, WI
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: Iceage
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| Nordic yes, but not the Iceage you're thinking of. |
Iceage, Solid Attitude, Skrapyard @ UW Memorial Union, 800 Langdon, Madison, WI
Just when this town finally gets done thawing out, Iceage come to town.
Monday, April 08, 2013
What's the Point, Sentinels?
Occasionally, Reglar Wiglar Magazine asks a band, artist or musician: What’s it all about? What's the point and why go on? This week we ask Chicago Guardians of Rock, Sentinels:
What’s it all about?
Parlour is a neighborhood tavern in North Andersonville, GLBT-owned and operated, that features DJs weekly and live music monthly (2nd Saturdays). Near Clark and Devon, great place!
What’s the point?
Playing out songs from our first full length Music of the Pleistocene as well as prepping new songs for Spring recording with Kris Poulin. Featuring our new-ish drummer Michael Nicasio!
Why go on?
To quote Joe Strummer, "You've got to do what you can do as long as you can do it." Second full length will be out before 2013 is through!
SATURDAY 4/13
Sentinels @ Parlour, 6341 N. Clark, Chicago, IL
Friday, April 05, 2013
I Hate Bands
Muggsy hates bands, what with their smug attitudes and rebellious hairstyles—bands make Muggsy want to gag and puke. This includes all bands: punk rock, metal, techno synth, pre-post hardcore, emo (especially emo) but especially boy bands. If you hate bands as much as me, you'll want to buy this t-shirt to show your solidarity with me. Do it!
Muggsy's Rock Pick: Acid Baby Jesus
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| Flippin' off the Acropolis is punk fucking rock. |
Acid Baby Jesus @ Permanent Records, 1914 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL
First the Greeks gave us Democracy and then, flash forward a billion years, Acid Baby Jesus. Yay Greece!
Thursday, April 04, 2013
Reglar Wiglar Indie Band Naming Guide
5 TIPS TO HELP YOU NAME YOUR NEW BAND IN 2013
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| Wavves, photo by Don Perry |
To give your band that clever twist (and to help you search for yourself on Google) try introducing a few extra consonants or vowels into an otherwise ordinary noun. Where? Anywhere! This method expands on the popular one-word band names of the nineties by giving it a 21st century twiist.
Examples:
Stadiium, Tooothbrush, Clevver
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| NOT the Beetles |
Purposely misspell your band name with a wink and a nod to the kids. This technique (or gimmick) sends the message: “Yeah, we know it’s spelled wrong, we did that on purpose. We could give a flying fuck what the grammarians think. They’re too old to understand anyway."
Magic is a good word to use and it also incorporates TIP #3: Use the Word Magic in Your Band Name. Try pairing that word up to modify an ordinary household object, like a toaster:
Example:
Maggikk Toaster
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| Magik Markers, photo by Rebecca Smeyne |
This is pretty self-explanatory: take the word "magic" and stick it in your band name. Anywhere. Also works with "crystal".
Examples:
Magick Muffin
Krystal Bookcase
TIP #4: UTILIZE EMOTICONS AND KEYBOARD COMMANDS
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| Alt-J, photo by Jory Cordy |
Why not try adding a keyboard command or short-cut into the mix. You can use a straight-up PC command:
Ctrl+Alt+Del
or for Mac:
Command-Option-Esc
WARNING: Mac users: make sure you save any changes before attempting to use this one!
Here's a particularly awesome keyboard command name:
altX+altJ+altX
which renders this little baby right here:
≈∆≈
 |
| Deer hooves, Deer Hoof |
OK, this one may be a bit played out at this point, but some people haven’t gotten the memo yet, so if you are an animal lover, we say go for it.
A good trick is to pick an animal and then incorporate an animal body part.
Use this diagram:
[your favorite animal] + [body part]
For example: Giraffe + Neck = Giraffe Neck i.e. great band name!
TRY ALL THEM ALL!
Now that we've given you some good tips to get started, you can experiment with your own band names. Let us know what you come up with and don't be afraid to try them all on the same awesome band name:
Example:
Maggik Krystal Horsse Ballls ;]
Have fun!
Muggsy's Rock Pick: Metal Alliance III Tour
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| In the beginning, there was hair. |
Metal Alliance III featuring Anthrax, Exodus, High on Fire, Municipal Waste, Holy Grail @ 1st Avenue, 701 1st Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN
Muggsy's dear old Granny McMurphy warned young Muggsy back in '85, that when The Metal allied three times, that would signal the apocalypse. Well...
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: Divine Fits
Divine Fits, Spl:t S:ngle @ The Majestic, 115 King St., Madison, WI
In my search for Spl:t S:ngle, Google gave me one of these "showing the results for split single".
Don't you get indie irony, Google?
Don't you get indie irony, Google?
Tuesday, April 02, 2013
Muggsy's Rock Pick: The Rocket Summer
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| Staring too long at this hairstyle can cause blindness. |
The Rocket Summer, Joe Brooks, Royal Teeth, Tidewater @ Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL
I'm feeling lazy today, so I'm just gonna dip back into the archives and pull this quote out from I. Frank's 2005 Reglar Wiglar review of The Rockets Summer's record Hello, Good Friend:
"This sounds like a young Richard Simmons singing over bouncy guitar and piano pop."
Yes, this pop is very easy to please.
Monday, April 01, 2013
20th Anniversary of Reglar Wiglar Magazine!
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| RW #1, 1993 |
To say that since the Reglar Wiglar's inception in 1993, the world has become a much different place, would be an understatement. To say that the world has become a much different place because of the Reglar Wiglar is a much larger understatement. With the exception of, perhaps the Internet, maybe Bieber—no form of entertainment has done more to change the way we think about music, fashion, culture, religion, technology, politics, and our own sad lives than the twenty-one printed issues and the eight subsequent years of poignant bloggery provided heretofore by this aforementioned publication. To celebrate this historic feat of achievement, we here at the Reglar Wiglar, are going to pull out all the stops with a series of blog posts, status updates and assorted tweets and "likes". This may continue for weeks.
All that will kick off tomorrow. At some point. Probably.
All that will kick off tomorrow. At some point. Probably.
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