Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Music / Post No Bills Sound Opinions live on stage
Posted by Peter Margasak on 01.10.07 at 05:11 PM
I can’t imagine many things that generate less excitement than watching two rock critics talk--and as the TV version of their show Sound Opinions is no longer on the air, I’m probably not the only one who feels this way--but if gazing at the Tribune’s Greg Kot and the Sun-Times’s Jim DeRogatis sets your heart a-thumping, here’s a chance to watch them go at it in the flesh. The Chicago Cultural Center is hosting a live taping of their WBEZ show on Thursday, January 25, at 7 PM, to commemorate its first anniversary on the station. The real treat, however, will be an appearance by Robbie Fulks--along with his firebrand of a wife, Donna--who will salute Valentine's Day with a typically eclectic collection of love songs. Audience members will be asked to share their favorite songs about love, both pro and con. You can reserve seats online or call 888-859-1800.
Comments (5)
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Something even less exciting... "Peter Margasak's segment in Passport (12/29) was especially tedious -HHHHEEELLLPPP!!!!!"
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If the show was so tedious, why were you listening and why are you reading this blog, FOOL?!?!?!?
For all of their shortcomings, I think Kot and Dero are amazing. Do they focus on the same bands too much? Of course. All critics do. Peter loves talking about Tortoise and Califone. So it goes. But Sound Opinions literally changed my life when I was a kid. I grew up only listening to hip-hop and hated 80s metal, grunge, etc. But one night while staying at my grandfather's home he set out a little radio by me bed for me to listen to and I messed with the dial until I heard the weirdest sounds I had ever heard in my life. It turned out to be The Flaming Lips and the show that was featuring them was Sound Opinions. I've since been lucky enough to talk to Kot and Dero on several occasions at shows (they are two of the most approachable people I've met for their level of "fame") and they both blushed at my tale and told me how much stories like that meant to and then in the next second I am arguing with Dero over how I think Interpol sucks. So, unless they have their show sponsored by Wal-Mart (ala Tavis Smiley) at some point, Kot and Dero will always get a pass from me. And, for the record, their television show was a hell of a lot better than anything else on Chicago public television at the time. They probably put more politics on the air through talking about music, for instance, than a whole fucking year of Bob Sirot ever did with Chicago Tonight. God I loathe that man.
I wasn't passing judgment on these two fellas, who are indeed approachable and friendly. (We'll withhold judgment's on Jim's taste). I just mean watching two guys talk about music isn't very scintillating. I don't think listening is that wonderful either, but then, I'm an asshole.
Like everything it comes down to personal taste. I, personally, find their show to be refreshing and if it didn't exist I think it would be a big void in the world of radio. Then again, I only listen to it on the internet because I never listen to the radio, commercial or not. Who called Peter an asshole? And I think less judgment needs to be held back on Dero's taste and more judgment handed down on his horrible, just god awful, horrible band. Music critics should never be in bands. Period.
