Gossip Wolf: 1980 Records releases new tapes by the Clams, Magic Ian, and more
Plus: The Neon Marshmallow fest rises again, Lil Kemo gets a promotion, and more
By J.R. Nelson @JR1Nelson and Leor Galil @imLeorSign up for our newsletters Subscribe
The cover of the Clams' new self-titled cassette
This wolf's been a fan of local label 1980 Records since early 2013, when head honcho Bill Tucker gave us the scoop on an imminent compilation of previously unreleased T. Storm Hunter songs called Hair Mown Aftershocks. Tucker recently passed along several new 1980 cassettes, including a collection of experimental recordings by Maximum Pelt label founder Magic Ian, solo piano material by quirky singer-songwriter Miki Greenberg, and a self-titled EP by local garage weirdos the Clams. The Clams tape, with its heady mix of shoegaze and psych tinged with country, especially slays! The whole batch comes out Fri 7/18, and you can grab all of them from the label's CHIRP Record Fair table at the Pitchfork Music Festival.
It's been a hot minute since the noiseniks who organize the Neon Marshmallow fest last blazed our eardrums with an expertly curated series of experimental-music gigs—the most recent was November 2012, to be exact. More than one of Gossip Wolf's pals called Thurston Moore's set a total classic! Anyway, a bevy of noise merchants from Chicago and beyond will invade the Burlington from Thu 7/31 through Sun 8/3, including Hair Police, Telecult Powers, Locrian's Andre Foisy, Insect Ark, and Alex Barnett. Neon Marshmallow's website has the complete lineup and a link to buy $30 four-night passes.
Gossip Wolf has noticed that bop king Lil Kemo recently became King Kemo, in what appears to have been a peaceful transfer of power. Now that's what we call royalty!
Last month self-described "new wavey" rapper Kit released a nine-song EP, Lownt God Rising, that's entirely produced by Supreme Cuts. And he's already working on new material—this wolf ran into him while he was taking a break from a studio session at Foodsmart in Logan Square. Here's hoping the tracks he's working on now are just as killer as the new EP's chilly "Rise."
Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or e-mail gossipwolf@chicagoreader.com.
Related Stories
-
Gentleman Caller record a song cycle about Maryse Meijer’s short stories
Plus: Gossip Wolf premieres a future power-pop classic from the Rubs, and the Clams drop an album seven years in the making.
- May 16, 2017
-
Local label Maximum Pelt throws a release party for three of its bands
Plus: London dance imprint Lobster Theremin reissues Chicago Jim, and Teklife producer Boylan drops a bunch of new tracks.
- Nov 5, 2014
-
Gossip Wolf: Booker Matt Kimmel leaves the Burlington (and Chicago, for now)
Plus: Emo royalty at American Football, a new Swearwords EP, this year's We Are Hip Hop Festival, and more
- Aug 6, 2014
-
Open Mike Eagle and Kit expand Chicago hip-hop, inside and out
Mike Eagle no longer lives in Chicago but this city is still on his mind in his new album, Dark Comedy, while local rapper Kit keeps going down a dark, strange path with Lownt God Rising.
- Jun 11, 2014
-
Gossip Wolf: Locrian's Andre Foisy teaches yoga for your grimmest chakra
Plus: New music on the way from Catholic Tapes, local MC Kit, and Netherfriends
- Feb 26, 2014
-
Alex Barnett plays tonight, gets ready to drop brand-new LP
Local synth composer Alex Barnett gets ready to release his new collaborative LP.
- Nov 29, 2013
-
Bopping makes its move
Chicago hip-hop's latest hot dance is more fun than footworking, and it's already got a star in Lil Kemo—all it needs now is a crossover hit.
- Oct 1, 2013
-
Ride the New Wavey with local rapper Kit
The Chicago transplant discusses his dark spin on rap and R&B after dropping his debut solo mixtape, New Wavey.
- Jul 31, 2013
-
Gossip Wolf: Ryley Walker's first seven-inch finally arrives
Plus: A new album from Moonrises and some old, unheard material from T. Storm Hunter, aka Batstew creator Mark Tucker
- Feb 20, 2013
-
Gossip Wolf: Radar Eyes prep two new singles (and a baby)
Plus: Roommate plays the Cure, Neon Marshmallow returns next month, and more
- Oct 23, 2012
-
Pushing the radio forward
Supreme Cuts create the kind of beats that are making pop music sound like the underground
- Jun 26, 2012
-
Music Notes: a Maestro Subgum vet keeps it in the family
- Jun 10, 2004
More by J.R. Nelson
-
Glam goofballs Lollygagger throw everything at the wall on their new video album
Plus: Rapper Solo Sam releases an EP with a companion cookbook, and Why? Records cofounder Davis Blackwell drops his debut full-length.
- Sep 17, 2019
-
Saxophonist Hunter Diamond debuts four free shows’ worth of new material at the Whistler
Plus: Matthew Rachman Gallery opens a new exhibit of Wesley Willis’s artwork, and Camp Smokey Bear returns with another free day of top-shelf local hip-hop.
- Sep 10, 2019
-
Once Riot Fest has you, how does it treat you?
The festival grounds themselves provide a pretty different experience than, say, Lollapalooza or Pitchfork.
- Sep 5, 2019
- More »
More by Leor Galil
