Redmoon Theater's: The Astronauts Birthday runs 9/9 - 9/26

The exceptional invoative Redmoon Theater begins its three week run of “The Astronauts’s Birthday” starting tomorrow at the MCA. They promise: 113 ROBOTS, 91 ROCKET SHIPS, 3 ASTRONAUTS, 1 DANGEROUS PLANET, 4 CHAPTERS OF SPACE ADVENTURE. JOIN REDMOON IN OUTER SPACE!

The show runs Thrusdays ($15,) Fridays ($20) and Sundays ($20) at 7:30pm each night at the Museum of Contemporary Art Plaza.

Redmoon says “gather in the plaza of the Museum of Contemporary Art and be witness to an ENORMOUS STORYBOOK of EPIC ADVENTURE! See Redmoon bring art outside the gallery walls and delight in our collision of SCIENCE FICTION, COMIC BOOK, SPECTACLE PERFORMANCE, WILD SHADOW, SILHOUETTE PERFORMERS, AND BERSERK MUSIC! Marvel as we take over the entire façade of the MCA with our WEIRD and WONDERFUL tale of a single astronaut’s journey to SAVE THE EARTH. Using the glass façade of the MCA, this MASSIVE shadow play will be rendered as a 5 STORY HIGH GRAPHIC NOVEL for an audience of spectators. Prepare for your transmission. COME AND BE ASTONISHED…”

An Interview With Patrick Oconnor, DJ.

Patrick dj’s this Thursday, 9/9 at the Burlington, 3425 W Fullerton Avenue.

HR – What kind of music do you play and how did you get interested in it?

P – We play classic country that spans from the 50s through the mid 80s. We only play vinyl. I think country sounds a little better on vinyl; it sounds a little more authentic. I grew up in Texas and my only exposure to country was what was playing on the pop country radio stations in the mid 80s and early 90s, which is among the most uninspired, trite, insipid music that has ever been created in the history of recorded sound. So for the longest time I thought I hated country. I was into indie rock and post-punk growing up, but eventually my musical tastes broadened and I got into the 70s outlaw country movement. I really got into Willie and Waylon and Johnny and the boys. That eventually led into Hank and Patsy and Bob Wills and some of the other more popular classic country artists.

A friend of mine from Texas named Shade Degges started up “Tender Tuesday” at Danny’s with Dennis, who I DJ with now. It was at Tender Tuesday when I really got dug a little deeper. Shade moved out to LA and another friend of ours, KC Haywood, took over with Dennis. When KC tragically passed away a couple of years ago Dennis asked me to fill in for a benefit we did for his medical bills. We worked well together so I’ve been doing this classic country night with him for a couple of years now.

Homeroom's Picks for Jazz Fest

Today, 9/3, marks the beginning of the Chicago Jazz Fest. Chicago’s Jazz Fest isn’t like New Orleans Jazz Fest that will feature Dave Mathews Band or Ben Harper. Instead, Chicago’s has a much more narrow scope of jazz. Basically, nearly everything will swing and none of it will be found on pop radio.

Here are a few of Homeroom’s recommended picks:
AACM Experimental Ensemble: Friday, 1:45 at Chicago Cultural Center (78 E Washington.)

Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Orchestra: Friday, 7:10 at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

New Library on Chicago Ave and Ashland opens 9/7

West Town has not had a decent public library for a minute. There was a little one on 1300 block of W. Chicago, but that turned into a restuarant. (Branch something or another that took it’s name from being the former site of library.)

But Tuesday, September 7th, a brand new library will open at 1625 W. Chicago in the Goldblatt’s building. And this is no storefront library, but a large space with lots of books, computers and other resources. It should be a great resource for the community.

"Sameness" a book by alex fuller and gabe usadel

Alex Fuller and Gabe Usadel of The Post Family have recently published a beautiful book called The Sameness.

Here is how the creators introduce their book: "The Sameness,” as originally named by Lois Lowry, suggests a social balance through the rules of order and structure. All of life’s pain and spontaneity disappear through a rigid architecture of overwhelming conformity.

An interview with Gerard Barreto, Recording Engineer, Glamour Studios, Chicago

HR – How did you get into being a recording engineer and what keeps you doing it?

G – When I was in high school, I worked sound for the theater program and I learned a lot about microphones and other technical things regarding audio engineering. My good friend Dave’s older brother Tom would always have recording equipment around their house with which Dave and I would make little sound pieces. Tom recorded a lot of interesting experimental things and it really piqued my interest. I then went to Columbia College Chicago and enrolled in the Recording Department.

I keep recording because I’m always aiming to get the best sound, out of the best instrument, played by the best artist, to make the best possible record.

ICHTHYODYSSEY: a puppet rock opera 9/3 - 9/17

Homeroom probably isn’t alone in thinking that the best part of “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” is the puppet rock opera at the end. I mean, it’s a great movie from beginning to end, but puppet rock operas are awesome the to nth degree.

So we have to tell you about ICHTHYODYSSEY: a puppet rock opera composed and directed by Max Wirt. The production will be put on by the Rough House at the Puppy Tears Festival. The event runs September 3rd through the 17th on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and on Sundays at 7pm. We don’t have a lot of other information, but you contact the folks behind it by calling 408-646-9299 or
emailing reservations@roughhousetheatre.com.

Veggie Bingo to Benefit Algeld-Sawyer Corner Farm on 8/25

Who doesn’t love bingo? And who doesn’t love urban farms? Wednesday you can play bingo while supporting the Altgeld-Sawyer Corner Farm at the Hideout (1354 W Wabansia) starting at 6pm Wednesday, 8/25. The Algeld-Sawyer Corner Farm is a great garden in Logan Square that engages the community to grow and eat produce. So swing on by for a beer and bingo card after you get off work and support the community you love.