Homeroom - Events

Godzilla 101

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:55:50 -0600

Join us as we explore the great lizard's filmography and track how "Gojira" came to represent so much more than just a a scary monster. Featuring Larry Mayo P.h.d Presented in cooperation with the "Japanese American Service Committee":http://www.jasc-chicago.org/

Ten x Ten Exhibition at LivingRoom Gallery

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:28:34 -0600

Join Homeroom and Spudnik Press celebrate the release of Ten x Ten. Featuring work by: Brian Hofmeister Colin Palombi Jeremy Tinder Joe Tallarico Justin Santora Krista Franklin Liz Born Lovercraft Nate Beaty Revise CMW

Songwriter Showcase with Antony & the Tramps and Ramah Jihan

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:29:29 -0600

"Antony & the Tramps":http://www.antonyablan.com/ and "Ramah Jihan":http://ramahjihan.com/ will be featured at Homeroom's last event of the Spring Semester.

Songwriter Showcase with Shelly Steffens, Donny Mahlmeister and Brian Sulpizio

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:35:08 -0600

Shelly Steffens and Donny Mahlmeister of "A Tundra":http://www.atundra.com/home.php and Brian J Sulpizio of "Health&Beauty":http://www.myspace.com/healthandbeauty will be our featured songwriters at our Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic. Steffens crafts modern rock songs rooted in Chicago's post-rock tradition. She finds ways to make the awkward sound lyrical and the unpredictable seem obvious while keeping the listener on his toes with unconventional arrangements and melodies. Sulpizio's songs are often driven by a plucked guitar that dances over the beat. With influences that span modern jazz, Afrobeat and contemporary indie-rock, Sulizio distills his tastes into a focus and expressive style that incorporates improvisation.

Winter Waltz

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:08:40 -0500

Homeroom will be hosting a Winter Waltz and Fundraiser on Saturday, December 10th, and we would love to invite you. The event will feature music by "Weepin’ Willows,":http://www.youtube.com/user/weepinwillows "Ami Saraiya,":http://amisaraiya.com/ and DJ Verb, traditional dance cards; and food catered by "Bin Wine Cafe;":http://www.binwinecafe.com/ complimentary drinks including a special Homeroom punch. To purchase tickets, please visit winterwaltz.eventbrite.com or click "here":http://winterwaltz.eventbrite.com/

Steampunk 101

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:45:30 -0500

Homeroom presents: Steampunk 101 featuring: Joe Mason Joe Vorteque Fay Kabian Steampunk has made its way into lots of fiction, art, movies, music, fashion and more. But what exactly is it and where does it come from? This movement that reenvisions history with anachronistic Victorian technology inspires modification of objects to reflect an aesthetic of brass goggles, airships, gears, steam-powered devices and more. Learn about steampunk or further your pre-existing preconceptions about it at this event that promises to make the past the future.

Rrap Kryeziu Solo Show

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:29:17 -0500

EEE participant Rrap Kryeziu will be presenting a solo show of his paintings at Saki Records. Come view the work of this amazing 17 year old prodigy.

Songwriter Showcase with Colin Tyler and James Berthiaume

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:21:38 -0500

"Colin Tyler":http://www.colintylermusic.com is a multi-genre singer-songwriter with a broad vocal range and poetic story-telling. Having spent time in touring bands of differing genres, recording in various studios and being fully immersed in the music industry culture, he has arrived at a unique point in his career giving him a very different perspective. His music seeks to avoid the superfluous and strike the core of the sentiment. Tyler speaks of moving beyond perfectionism is seek of raw and messy emotions. James Berthiaume sings and writes for the "Get.":http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Get/49783289825 Berthiaume brings Americana melodies, chord progressions and harmonies to indie rock forms. Even when his lyrics are forlorn or melancholy, Bertiaume always seems to be enjoying himself as though he cannot contain the joy of singing about a love that falls apart. His songs provide comfort and can uplift the most downtrodden.

Songwriter Showcase w/ Matt Priest and Dann Morr

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:09:04 -0500

Matt Priest of "Canasta":http://www.canastamusic.com/ and Dann Morr of "Wells-next-the-Sea":http://www.facebook.com/wellsnextthesea?v=info will be featured at our Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic. While playing bass with Chicago veteran rockers Canasta, Matt Priest crafts straight forward pop anthems. He avoids the superfluous, but uses careful arrangements and subtle turns to provide depth. Priest, who also plays trombone, seduces listeners through slow developing melodies and a musical exuberance that seems to emerge regardless of his subject matter. Canasta recently performed a tribute set to Belle and Sabastian, and his songs might be understood as an American extension that British indie-pop outfit. Sometimes, the hardest to write are mid-tempo songs that are void of extreme emotions. But this is where Dann Morr excels. Morr's songs give the sense of time moving along, indifferent to the lives that occupy it. Morr's voice never strains or strays, but is firmly lofted above plucked guitar and violin. Notes of melancholy and tepid optimism color his compositions, and strong imagery plants the listener somewhere solid, if just for a fleeting moment. Photo by Eduardo R. Ortiz Romeu.

MIxology 101 featuring Mike Ryan and Roger Kamholz

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:09:12 -0500

Mike Ryan (Head Bartender at Sable restaurant) Roger Kamholz (Food and Drink writer for Chicagoist.com) Topics discussed will include: The history of the cocktail in America The recent revival of craft cocktails The cocktail scene in Chicago The origin of the term "Mixology" What distinguishes a Mixologist from a Bartender How to make a good cocktail and more...

YouTube Assembly: Catie Olson and Meg Duguid presenting a "10 Course Meal"

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 23:58:01 -0500

*Meg Duguid* and *Catie Olson* have scoured YouTube's vast horizons to each create a 10-course feast for the eyes and tummy. Meg will be presenting a visual Food Explosion! where visions of sugar plums will dance in your head. Her menu includes sweet exotics like Gummy Army Men and a Chocolate Covered Espresso Bean. But it doesn't stop there, save room for a seasoned sonic tasting presented by Catie (aka DJ Meals!) Decades of delectables, including crunchy potato morsels, will be served with complementing tastes of wine. Catie Olson is multi-disciplinary artist born in Decatur, Illinois, the pleasant home of two chicken cars. She received her BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1995 in Agriculture, ventured to Chicago and received her BFA at the School of the Art Institute in 2000. Catie organizes SpiderBug, a mobile short film festival, along with her husband, EC Brown. The pair also run Floor Length and Tux, an apartment art space. Catie has an animation that will be shown in the International Pancake Film Festival in Boston upcoming in July. She has shown work in Chicago including Heaven, Swimming Pool, antena and minidutch galleries. "catieolson.com":http://www.catieolson.com "floor length and tux":http://www.floorlengthandtux.com "Spiderbug":http://www.spiderbug.org Meg Duguid was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and received her BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and her MFA in from Bard College. She has performed and exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, the DUMBO Arts Festival in Brooklyn, and 667 Shotwell in San Francsiso. Duguid has screened work at Synthetic Zero in New York, Spiderbug in Chicago, and at the Last Supper Festival in Brooklyn. Duguid lives and works in Chicago, IL where she runs Clutch Gallery, a 25 square-inch white cube located in the heart of her purse. "megduguid.com":http://megduguid.com/home.html

YouTube Assembly: "Power" w/ Daniel Tucker and Deborah Stratman

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:29:04 -0500

POWER: On and Off the Grid Deborah Stratman is a Chicago-based artist and filmmaker interested in landscapes and systems. Her films, rather than telling stories, pose a series of problems - and through their at times ambiguous nature, allow for a complicated reading of the questions being asked. Many of her films point to the relationships between physical environments and the very human struggles for power, ownership, mastery and control that are played out on the land. Most recently, they have questioned elemental historical narratives about freedom, expansion, security, and the regulation of space. She has exhibited internationally at venues including the Whitney Biennial, MoMA, the Pompidou, Hammer Museum and many international film festivals including Sundance, the Viennale, Ann Arbor and Rotterdam. "pythagorasfilm.com":http://www.pythagorasfilm.com Daniel Tucker has worked as a cultural and political organizer in Chicago for over ten years, initiating a number of large-scale local projects and events. His particular focus has been on documenting social and cultural movements and the places from which they emerge. Most of his work exists in a blurry line between documentary, advocacy, journalism, curating and art-making and deals with themes of political imagination, localism, hidden history, economy and community. All of his projects utilize careful consideration of audience and distribution and involve significant research and relationship building to have effective and lasting impact. "miscprojects.com":http//:miscprojects.com

YouTube Assembly: NSFW with Fred Sasaki and Buki Bodunrin

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:26:33 -0500

Make sure the boss isn’t looking! This YouTube Assembly is NSFW! Adebukola Bodunrin and Fred Sasaki have compiled the best of the worst, horrible to hilarious, boredom busting videos. An evening ranging from the tragic to the comedic; Fred will present the fabulous taboo, featuring hot Jewish girls, a Japanese erection, and dancing! Keep watching as Buki sticks it to the man with a collection featuring regular folks making videos while on the clock, those damn kids subverting and taking advantage of corporate identity, and even more dancing!

Songwriter Showcase featuring Maria Jenkins from Hollows and Stephen Ucherek of Village

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:22:14 -0500

Maria Jenkins of "Hollows":http://hollowschicago.com/ is clearly influenced by the Beach Boys, Mod rock and other 60's music. But to describe her and Hollows as simply a girl group throw back would be to miss the subtleties that make her songs unique. A punk aesthetic and a lyrical sense of self awareness give Jenkins's songs an adroit edge. Her voice cuts through thick keyboards and guitars to deliver sophisticated melodies that develop throughout the course of the song. Jenkins builds tension through slightly disonate refrains before releasing with yells and sweeping choruses. With a voice that seems unafraid to fight the rising tide, Stephen Phillip Ucherek of "Village":http://www.myspace.com/villagegroup writes like he's in a state of self exorcism. Like with Pavement or Hendrix, guitars seem like they are on the verge of bursting free, even in Ucherek's more subdued songs. A sweet melancholy, more than a deep despair, provides the depth, and the lyrics provide more of a setting than a story.

Footwork 101 featuring Miles Raymer and members of FootworKINGz

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:59:16 -0500

Miles Raymer (columnist for the Chicago Reader) Trevell "TJ" Johnson and Stephan "Stepz" Gregory of the FootworKINGz (as featured on MTV"s "American's Best Dance Crew") Miles will give a genealogy Footwork as a musical genre, tracing its roots back to early Chicago House and Juke. TJ and Stephan will explain Footwork as a dance style by showing video and doing live demonstrations of specific steps and techniques. Don't miss this chance to engage in an exciting underground dance and music culture that is unique to Chicago.

Photography Exhibition of Diego Campos, Paulina Pei and Allison Steffens

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:03:39 -0500

Emerging and Established Artist Exchange participant Diego Campos has curated an exhibition that will feature his work, and the work of Paulina Pei and Allison Steffens. Pleaes join us from 6-9 to view these young photographers in their first professinal show.

View from Jackson and Loomis

Wed, 18 May 2011 12:32:53 -0500

Whitney Young student Yiyang Hou and film curator Christey LeMaster, will present a film screening on May 21st. As part of his mentorship, Yiyang has been watching film and video work and helping out at The Nightngale, a microcinema run by Christy LeMaster, at 1084 N Milwuakee. The program Yiyang has curated for the space will feature his first experimental video, called ASHES OF THE WHALE, and the work of his classmates. all students of Whitney Young art teacher, Nancy Klark. See program details below.

Britney Spears 101

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 17:11:30 -0500

Liz Mason, Chris Smit, and Judy Hoffman will each speak on topic of Britney Spears. "Liz Mason":http://lizsmasoniclodge.blogspot.com/ has been self-publishing zines for fourteen years. Her work has been printed in such publications as The Chicago Tribune, Punk Planet, Venus, Lumpen and The Zine Yearbook. Her most recent published work is "Caboose #7: Britney Spears 101," which focuses on her experience undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer, as seen through the lens of consumerism, celebrity obsession and public scrutiny. "Christopher Smit,":http://smitwork.com/ PhD, is an Associate Professor of Media Studies at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His newest book is "The Exile of Britney Spears: A Tale of 21st Century Consumption." His work on disability, aesthetics, culture, and popular music can be found in a variety of texts and journals. He is also an award-winning singer-songwriter and musician who currently fronts the band The New Midwest. Judy Hoffman is an award-winning filmmaker and cinematographer, as well as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago in the Department of Cinema and Media Studies and Department of Visual Arts. Hoffman has worked on films about such topics as Howard Zinn, Studs Terkel,the Dalai Lama and Chicago politics, just to name a few. She is also the director of Stages: 3 Days In Mexico, about Britney Spears’ 2002 concerts in Mexico City.

Songwriter Showcase featuring Chris Salveter & Angela Mullenhour Curated by CHIRP

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:53:09 -0600

"CHIRP":http://www.chirpradio.org/ (Chicago Independent Radio Project) curates this evening of songwriters. "Chris Salveter’s":http://www.myspace.com/judsonclaiborne songs are patient, stripped down, and disarming, and are almost enchanting in their simplicity. He writes, “the songs herein are mostly narratives about my strange and beautiful travels, encounters, adventures, family, lovers, and dreams.” Textures and melodies stray in and out of his music, but stays true to a single, albeit winding, path. "Angela Mullenhour":http://www.myspace.com/sybris has one the most distinctive voices in Chicago. As lead singer for "Coins":http://www.myspace.com/angellencoins and "Sybris":http://www.myspace.com/sybris, Mullenhour can effortlessly shift between indie crooner to fierce iconoclast. Her songs are journeys with whimsical detours and schizophrenic outcomes -- passion gives way to a timid beauty before leaping into a contemplative shriek. With a stage presence that cannot be ignored, Mullenhour is an unmistakable force in Chicago music.

Homeroom Fundraiser w/ Blasted Diplomats, Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Tiny Cover Band and My Damn Butterfly

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:12:29 -0600

Homeroom will be hosting a fundraiser with some of Chicago's best and most innovative cover bands. The evening will include a raffle for local record stores. "Blasted Diplomats":http://www.myspace.com/blasteddiplomats are one of Chicago's rowdiest bands, and will be playing some of their favorite covers. "The Blue Ribbon Glee Club":http://blueribbongleeclub.org/ is composed of nearly thirty singers and sings some of your favorite punk and rock hits. "Tiny Cover Band":http://www.facebook.com/pages/TCB-tiny-cover-band/317076105560 uses tiny instruments to play an assortment of pop hits. "My Damn Butterfly":http://www.myspace.com/mydamnbutterfly one of Chicago's most ecclectic a cappella choirs, has been performing in Chicago since 2000. The five-woman ensemble has been billed at many of the city's top music venues.

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Mark Jumper and John Lennox

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:48:42 -0600

Tyler Cannan of "Saki Records":http://sakistore.net/ curates the evening that features Mark Jumper of "Bob Dey's Tank Engine Man":http://www.myspace.com/tankengine and John Lennox of "Panoramic and True":http://www.myspace.com/panoramictrue. Mark Jumper's songs fly all over the map -- his songs range from from stripped down and lo-fi to physchelic and strange to garage rock. A Kinks influence can be heard in his singing and arrangements. Jumper also writes with a modern irreverence that seems to defy any sense of the sacred or pure. It's hard to predict what we'll get when he performs, so you'll just have to show up and find out. Originally from Montreal, John Lennox moved to Chicago in 2006. After two solo albums, Lennox formed Panoramic and Ture, which released the very well received self titled debut in 2010. Lennox's songs are clearly influenced by British pop and rock. The forlorn gait of his compostions at times recalls Belle and Sebastian. Lennox's lyrics suggest a soul that will be forever searching for and sometimes finding beauty. Check out a video "here":http://vimeo.com/16409467 of "I Love You Too."

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Baron von Something + Dave Onderdonk and Loto Ball Show

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:37:01 -0600

Join us for our regular Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic. "Baron von Something + Dave Onderdonk":http://mbaronmusic.com/ create an unprecedented collaboration combining a direct and traditional rock structure with an intricate and hushed tone. Baron von Something is the musical vehicle for Matt Baron of Coach House Sounds. "Loto Ball Show":http://www.lotoballshow.com/ has been testing the limits with visceral, experimental punk music since the early 90s. Involving himself in various collaborations as an organist, trumpet player, noise punk frontman, and clown for Chicken John's (GG Allin) Circus Redickuless band, Loto Ball makes for a must-see.

Underground Comix 101 featuring Joe Tallarico, George Hansen, and Edie Fake

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:05:43 -0600

Artist and comics aficionado "Joe Tallarico":http://robotcastle.blogspot.com/ will give a brief overview of the genre before sitting down with the 1970's underground Comix artist "George Hansen":http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:JpL3ECGEjKAJ:lambiek.net/artists/h/hansen_george.htm+george+hansen+comics&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com as well as current comic superstar "Edie Fake":http://ediefake.com/ where they will discuss the past, present and future of comics, Comics, and Comix. There will be things to buy for collectors as well as a screening of rare 1920's and 30's cartoons for weirdos and nerds.

Horror 101 featuring Adam Hart and Megan Milks

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:03:40 -0600

Adam Hart will give a talk called, ""What's the Point of a Monster?: Freddy, Jason and the Villains of Horror" in which he will dissect (no pun intended) slasher films of the 70s and 80s and discuss how to understand the purpose of and fascination with monsters and villains in the horror film and how they've changed through the genre's development. Megan Milks will speak on Women in Horror films, specifically the notion of the Monstrous Feminine and how it's exploited in the genre. She'll then turn to some more contemporary horror narratives that attempt to either eschew or satirize these tropes.

Hobos 101: The Return of the Hobo College

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:01:19 -0600

Hark, hark, the dogs do bark! For one night only, the Hobo College of old reconvenes. Topics to be discussed include "Panhandling vs. Mooching"; "Riding the Rails: Over, Under, or In"; "The American Tramp, Then and Now"; "The Secret of the Big Rock Candy Mountain"; and "The Great Windsor-Clifton Beggars Banquet of 1908." True blowed-in-the-glass stiffs will be on hand to lend their expert opinions. Scissorbills and shacks need not attend. Artist, poet, and writer Tony Fitzpatrick relays the lore of the Hobo Alphabet, with a reading and screening from his new book, This Train (Firecat). Gentleman and scholar Paul Durica conducts interviews with rail riders and hobo organizers. Plus songs sung from the I.W.W. Little Red Song Book. All aboard!

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Ami Saraiya and Arthi Meera

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:49:28 -0600

"Ami Saraiya":http://amisaraiya.com/ is at times sensuous and seductive and at others, playful and quirky. Beautiful orchestration, that often includes accordian, is lush and frames Saraiya's rich voice. Dark gypsy waltzes, accordian chamber pop and a touch of Bollywood cheekiness give her songs a rich depth. "Arthi Meera":http://www.myspace.com/arthimeera/music is a Chicago artist with a clear voice and a direct approach to composition. At times, Meera's songs produce a meditative mood -- still and searching. Her melodies, rising and falling, narrate as much as her lyrics. Quietly moving, Meera can create a narcotic effect no listener wants to let go of.

Ten x Ten Gallery Viewing

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:24:52 -0600

Join us in celebrating the opening night of "Ten x Ten":http://spudnikpress.com/10x10 at the LivingRoom Gallery. All ten prints will be on display from January 14th to February 19th. Opening night will run from 6 to 9pm, and will feature music by the "Strictly Jug Nuts":http://strictlyjugnuts.com/ and homemade donuts. The Ten by Ten features prints made by Dee Clements, Sanya Glisic, Kathleen Judge, Angee Lennard, Jeremy Onsmith, Colin Palombi, Joey Potts, Grant Reynolds, Tom Smith, and Sonnenzimmer.

Ten by Ten: The Late Model Races and Christine Kick

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 17:06:34 -0600

Every Tuesday of January 2011, Homeroom and Spudnik Press will be celebrating the release of their collaborative project called Ten by Ten with a series of shows at the Whistler in Logan Square. For a complete list of print artists and musicians participating in Ten by Ten, click "here.":http://spudnikpress.com/10x10 The impetus of the project was to develop a relationship between Chicago bands and printmakers that went beyond show posters. To this end, ten artist/printmakers were asked to choose a favorite Chicago band or musical artist. The bands each recorded a song for inclusion on a compilation. The printmakers then created a 10 inch by 10 inch 3-color print design inspired by the song they commissioned. "The Late Model Races":http://www.jasoncreps.com/ is the brand new project of photographer Jason Creps. Creps might best be known musically as the drummer of the now defunct Low Skies. The Late Model Races specialize in beautiful and subtle instrumentals. "Christine Kick":http://www.myspace.com/christinekick is a self-produced singer and songwriter whose charming vocals and layered arrangements are sure to draw listeners who appreciate quiet, thoughtful, melody-driven music. Her accompaniments showcase string instruments, from guitar to mandolin to cello to ukeleles.

Ten x Ten: Blasted Diplomats and Nones

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:31:58 -0600

Every Tuesday of January 2011, Homeroom and Spudnik Press will be celebrating the release of their collaborative project called Ten x Ten with a series of shows at the Whistler in Logan Square. For a complete list of print artists and musicians participating in Ten by Ten, click "here.":http://spudnikpress.com/10x10 The impetus of the project was to develop a relationship between Chicago bands and printmakers that went beyond show posters. To this end, ten artist/printmakers were asked to choose a favorite Chicago band or musical artist. The bands each recorded a song for inclusion on a compilation. The printmakers then created a 10 inch by 10 inch 3-color print design inspired by the song they commissioned. "Blasted Diplomats,":http://www.myspace.com/blasteddiplomats a super-group of sorts, is comprised mostly of Reckless Records clerks. “Blast Mats” for short, play the kind of fun, fuzzy, reference-filled garage that you would expect would establish them as one of the most noteworthy and satisfying workhorse live acts in town. "Nones":http://www.myspace.com/nonessongs is a 4 piece band from Chicago featuring Brandon Bayles on vocals, sax and guitar, Erin Page on vocals and guitar, Tara Noonan on bass and Sara Jean on drums. Their genre-bending sound has been compared to the Stooges, Big Black, Flipper and the Jesus Lizard. The rawness of the music combined with a high-energy live performance makes this band a local favorite. Their first self-released 7” single with hand-printed sleeve displays their DIY approach to their craft. Photo by John Sturdy.

Ten x Ten: Jason Adasiewicz

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:22:49 -0600

Every Tuesday of January 2011, Homeroom and Spudnik Press will be celebrating the release of their collaborative project called Ten x Ten with a series of shows at the Whistler in Logan Square. For a complete list of print artists and musicians participating in Ten x Ten, click "here.":http://spudnikpress.com/10x10 The impetus of the project was to develop a relationship between Chicago bands and printmakers that went beyond show posters. To this end, ten artist/printmakers were asked to choose a favorite Chicago band or musical artist. The bands each recorded a song for inclusion on a compilation. The printmakers then created a 10 inch by 10 inch 3-color print design inspired by the song they commissioned. "Jason Adasiewicz":http://jasonadasiewicz.com/ is a prolific member of Chicago’s jazz and improvised music scene and quite possibly the city’s most busy vibist. Adasiewicz performs with more than 20 working bands, including the Guillermo Gregorio Trio, Fred Lonberg-Holm’s Valentine Trio + 1, Rob Mazurek’s Exploding Star Orchestra, the Nicole Mitchell Quartet and Ken Vandermark’s Double Quartet. Opening up will be "EEE":http://homeroomchicago.org/pages/2-eee-application participant "Dave Miller":http://davemillerguitar.wordpress.com/ performing with his trio featuring Jake Vinsel on bass and Tim Daisy on drums.

Ten x Ten: Netherfriends and Locks at the Whistler

Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:14:56 -0600

Every Tuesday of January 2011, Homeroom and Spudnik Press will be celebrating the release of their collaborative project called Ten x Ten with a series of shows at the Whistler in Logan Square. For a complete list of print artists and musicians participating in Ten x Ten, click "here.":http://spudnikpress.com/10x10 The impetus of the project was to develop a relationship between Chicago bands and printmakers that went beyond show posters. To this end, ten artist/printmakers were asked to choose a favorite Chicago band or musical artist. The bands each recorded a song for inclusion on a compilation. The printmakers then created a 10 inch by 10 inch 3-color print design inspired by the song they commissioned. "Netherfriends":http://www.myspace.com/netherfriends recently signed with indie label Emergency Umbrella. Their debut 6-song EP “Calling You Out,” fuses heavily layered arrangements with group sing-a-longs, spare pianos, glockenspiels and other hard to place, but familiar sounds. The three-piece psychedelic pop band has grabbed attention from the publications Blender and RCRD LBL, and has played at SXSW in Austin, CMJ in New York, and most recently the 2010 Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. "Locks":http://locksism.com/ has taken the concept of "two people with samplers and some instruments" and turned it into a band. The first full length by this unpredictable Chicago duo, The Kitchen-Sink, is post-prog-minimalist song-craft served with an absurdist's eye for detail. Photo by Elise Tanner and photoshoped by Mary Charlene.

Heavy Metal 101 featuring Michael Robbins and Keidra Chaney

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:30:54 -0500

Ever wonder what distinguishes Doom Metal from Black Metal? Keidra Chaney will walk us through a geneology of Heavy Metal including an editorial analysis of what makes “true” metal different than, you know, stuff you’ve probably heard. Poet Michael Robbins will give some personal musings on the value of Metal and talk about what its like to become a Metalhead later in life. Chicago Underground Film Festival Curator and Black Metal Junkie Bryan Wendorf will keep things loud before and after the lecture.

YouTube Assembly with Lori Felker and Nicholas O'Brien

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:19:16 -0500

Oh Snap! Another YouTube Assembly featuring Lori Felker and Nicholas O'Brien. Felker and O'Brien will be presenting on the topic of DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER, delving into many different layers of parody, slander, and character hacking. The night will involve many different depictions and reenactments, all piled together to explore how YouTube has effected and influenced the growing unstable nature of self-dom and common character... types. They will weave a dense history that will at once seem familiar but will also unravel as the night goes on. The event aims to leave viewers uncertain where origins and copies begin and end, eventually complicating the otherwise formulaic paradigms of what constitutes authentic portraits of people and their behaviors.

Music Copyright 101 w/ Miles Raymer, Thomas Irvin and Johnathan Crawford

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:05:12 -0500

September's 101 will consist of a panel discussion about copyright law as it pertains to music featuring: Intellectual Property Lawyer Thomas Irvin The Chicago Reader's Sharp Darts columnist Miles Raymer Label Owner Johnathan Crawford (of Candy Dinner) Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about how the law protects musicians, songwriters and the profits of the huge corporations that they work for.

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Jody Weinmann and Wolfgang Schaefer

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:02:17 -0500

"Eric Ziegenhagen,":http://www.myspace.com/ericzieg an accomplished songwriter and playwright, hosts our December Songwriter Showcase. "Wolfgang Shaefer":http://www.myspace.com/wolfgangschaefer began writing songs on the toilet to evade his corporate work duties. If the tall buildings in Chicago taught him anything, it was that no one bothers people in bathroom stalls when their pants are around their ankles. Thus, the men's room on the 56th floor of the Sears Tower became a fervent and productive workspace, and served as the springboard for a life more desired. Dusting off the old Martin his father passed down to him, and picking up the pens and notebooks he nearly used to live inside, he began writing music. The result is Wolfgang Schaefer's lyrically driven experiment in modern folk. He supplements his firm roots in Americana with atmospheric, musical poetics and thoughtful, textural, well-constructed story-telling, always finding different ways to say I love you, different ways to say I hate you, and different ways to say that life is hard but moments are beautiful. Jody Weinmann often writes music under the moniker Nueva Cats. Her songs are playful and quirky, and her enthusiam is contagious.

Song Poems 101 with Ed Crouse

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:57:15 -0500

Come explore the weird and nerdy corner of pop music history that is the Song Poem. The practice of setting amateur poems and lyrics to music for a fee goes back even further than recorded music. Multi-talented writer and performer Ed Crouse will take us to the Song Poem’s heyday when, in the back of any cheap magazine, you could find the opportunity have your poetry made into a real vinyl record. The second segment will feature Crouse performing YOUR Song Poems live with the Tiny Cover Band serving as backup. To submit a song poem or vote for other song peoms, go to "songpoemnight.wordpress.com":http://songpoemnight.wordpress.com Ed Crouse is a musical gadfly, activist and semi-retired journalist living in Humboldt Park. He has written about films, music and leather bars for Film Comment, the Village Voice and the San Francisco Bay Guardian and has been in bands such as Logjam, Strip Minors, The Piltdowns and The Continentals.

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Andy Rosenstein and Jeremy David Miller

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:55:46 -0500

"Andy Rosenstein":http://www.myspace.com/clipartsongs plays keyboard for Bumpus, and writes for and fronts Clip Art. Rosenstein’s songs draw inspiration from the pop music of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. He avoids much of the cynicism of contemporary indie music. Instead, Rosenstein writes with an infectious exuberance and a playful naiveté. Even songs about breaking up bounce with optimism. "Jeremy David Miller":http://www.myspace.com/teamrambos writes songs in a blues rock or classic rock tradition, but with a punk anger and frustration. His songs are angry and confrontational, and his guitar lines rip. His grandmother showed him how to write songs when he was five, and he's been writing ever since. He feels he's gotten pretty good at it. Miller says this about his songwriting: "There are two things in life that can come so close to flying; they are swimming and singing. I sing much more than I swim. Yesterday at band practice, I thought, I've got to get loud to get high; I've got to get high to get loud. It worked.

Archaeology of Chicago Music 101

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:01:08 -0500

October's 101 will feature Rob Sevier "(Numero Group)":http://www.numerogroup.com/ Steve Krakow aka "Plastic Crimewave":http://plasticcrimewave.com/ (Secret HIstory of Chicago Music)to discuss the history of Chicago music. Both are venerated historians of Chicago's music, particularly those musicians and songs that most people have forgotten about or never knew about. Please come out to learn the history you never knew.

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Rock Falls and Barilium

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:11:54 -0500

"Rockfalls,":http://www.myspace.com/rockfalls the musical vehicle for songwriter Annie Reese, performs with a hushed, soulful delivery that belies a massive emotional power. Her original compositions are evocative of the croonings of Roy Orbison and Jeff Buckley as well as the intimacy of Iron and Wine, Mazzy Star, and Nina Nastasia. From the hopeful sway of “Message in a Bottle” to the longing of “Tonight, Tonight” her voice is at once timeless and immediate. "Barilium":http://www.myspace.com/barilium is named for a naturally occurring element in gas form, which was named for its narcissistic discoverer. Barillium's music is worldly and whimsical. The cadence is soft, but lively, and the melodies are beautiful and slightly strange.

Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Ed Anderson and Andy Wagner

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:08:03 -0500

Josh Dumas of Notes and Scratches hosts this event. "Ed Anderson,":http://www.myspace.com/1900s writes for 1900’s and Mazes, both acclaimed Chicago bands. Anderson seems to constantly seek a balance between simple and grand. His melodies and harmonies are simple, but build on each other to create a full, deep aesthetic. At times, Anderson’s melodies suggest Americana and country music, and at others, indie pop and rock. His sound is never harsh or brash, but can still startle the audience with unexpected turns. A held note may move from discordant to resolute, and back again, as the music shifts under his voice. Regardless of lyrics that often deal with darker subjects, Anderson’s music is fundamentally affirming and comforting. "Andy Wagner's":http://andywagner.net/ songs possess a sense space and distance. Wagner’s weathered voice drifts through plucked guitars, giving a feeling of time suspended. As a multi-instrumentalist, Wagner sings his stories and moods with a confident patience. At times, his music is packed with regret and loss, but Wagner also conveys a beautiful passivity and numbness that accompanies years of sadness. It's always a great time and a great opportunity to hear some of Chicago's best songwriters in an intimate environment.

Physics for Listeners: a Composer's Concert

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:37:05 -0500

Homeroom brings together six composers, three jazz and three contemporary classical, to write and arrange music for a single ensemble. Keefe Jackson, Frank Rosaly, Guillermo Gregorio, Eric Malmquist, James Falzone and Kyle Vegter will be featured.

Physics for Listeners: a Composer's Concert

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:28:27 -0500

101: Juggalos

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:21:54 -0500

"Derek Erdman":http://www.derekerdman.com/ and Jenny Benevento will discuss Juggalo culture and Insane Clown Posse, the hip-hop group that inspires the phenomenom. Derek Erdman is a writer, painter and battle rapper.

Homeroom Fundraiser at House Red in Forest Park

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:33:03 -0500

Homeroom will be hosting a fundraiser at House Red (7403 W Madison in Forest Park.) The event will feature a silent art auction, music and plenty of information about Homeroom. Also, Homeroom will receive 10% of all wine sales. After House Red, we'll head down to Molly Malone's at 10 pm for sets by the "Wheels,":http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Wheels/167829863372 "Love Raid":http://loveraid.us/ and the "Get":http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/james.berthiaume?v=app_2405167945&ref=ts.

The YouTube Assembly featuring Jesse McLean

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:50:18 -0600

The YouTube Assembly consists of screening web-based video for a live and participating audience. Each event features a guest host presenting a collection of YouTube clips that elaborate on a project or theme in which they have some expertise or interest. In the spirit of the popular YouTube interface, audience members are encouraged to comment on the videos they watch, except out loud and in real time with no anonymity. After the presentation the host then invites audience members to share their own clips. Like karaoke or an open mic, the YouTube Assembly creates a situation in which people take turns entertaining each other, thus bypassing the arguably isolating aspect of online networks like YouTube and encourage real, face-to-face interaction. The YTA is sponsored by Homeroom Chicago and is hosted by the "Nightingale.":http://nightingaletheatre.org/ Thematically based around fan culture, this screening will take a look at both fans and fan-created videos. Through our own cloudy voyeuristic lens, we will explore what it means to admire, to emulate and to obsess. Jesse McLean’s work is motivated by a deep curiosity about human behavior and relationships, especially as presented and observed through the mediation of found footage. Her recent work interpolates the production, proliferation, and consumption of televisual experience, investigating how this transfer of information creates a bind of complex relationships between maker and viewer. Interested both in the power and the failure of the mediated experience to bring us together, McLean's work asks the viewer to walk the line between voyeur and participant. "Jesse McLean":http://jessemclean.com/ received her MFA in Moving Image from University of Illinois at Chicago. Her work has been shown extensively throughout Chicago, as well as numerous film festivals around the country and beyond.

101 featuring Michelle Garcia

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:09:25 -0600

101 is a monthly lecture series organized by Homeroom in partnership with "YouMeThemEverybody":http://www.youmethemeverybody.com/ (a Chicago arts and music podcast). Each event features a different speaker who, in open dialogue with the audience, will give a short talk about not just what they do, but how and why they do it. Occasionally, 101 speakers also discuss other arts and culture makers that inspire and influence them. 101 takes place the second Monday of each month at the Hungry Brain (2319 W. Belmont) from February through May. Michelle Garcia opened "Bleeding Heart Bakery":http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com/ with Vinny Garcia in West Town in 2004. A popular success, the business has thrived, and the enterprise has expanded to three locations around the city. Bleeding Heart's mission, based on the Garcia's strong ethical and activist beliefs, is to use local, sustainable and organic ingredients in all of their pastries. Michelle Garcia will talk about her experience as a punk rock-trepreneur as well as her commitment to local and sustainable food culture. Michelle Garcia is a graduate of the French Pastry School and has spent years traveling, baking, learning and teaching. She was named ACF Regional Pastry Chef of the Year in 2006 and Chef in Focus by North American Pastry Art and Design.

Songwriter Showcase featuring Scott Masson and Kent Lambert

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:16:15 -0600

"Scott Masson":http://www.myspace.com/office/ of Office and The Juliets has been working to perfect and subvert the pop for more than a decade. While Masson strictly writes in the pop rock idiom, he can rarely resist the impulse to insert uncomfortable dissonance and lyrics. Even as his elegant melodies breeze through, Masson can be confrontational towards his subject and his audience. At times, his voice seems seduced and seducing, and at others, he seems tortured and cynical towards all things beautiful. While he is occasionally self searching, Masson is more apt to focus on others’ shortcomings and redemptions. Only his love songs are straight forward and reveal his untainted tenderness. "Kent Lambert":http://roommatemusic.com/ of Roommate writes dark, apocalyptic songs with stark atmospheres, both lyrically and musically. His songs rarely stray from a pop realm, but they stretch the form by bringing in unlikely sounds, frightening lyrics or almost disfiguring melodies. At times, he repeats an unsettling sound or disconcerting vocal line against a brighter or more mellifluous counterpoint building the tension to a nearly unbearable level before releasing into beautiful refrain. Much of his sound is accomplished by combining acoustic and electronic sources. Lambert primarily plays the keytar, but he also writes for woodwinds, strings, Theremins, saws, vibraphones and various analog machines along with traditional rock instruments. And yet, the arrangements never seem contrived or flamboyant. Lambert focuses every sound and every word into a singular, linear composition. At Elastic Arts, 2830 N Milwaukee (2nd floor)

Songwriter Showcase featuring Andy Rosenstein and Tyler Beach

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:12:30 -0600

Justin Petertil of Love Raid and Office hosts our regular Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Andy Rosenstein. "Andy Rosenstein":http://www.myspace.com/clipartsongs/ plays keyboard for Bumpus, and writes for and fronts Clip Art. Rosenstein’s songs draw inspiration from the pop music of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. He avoids much of the cynicism of contemporary indie music. Instead, Rosenstein writes with an infectious exuberance and a playful naiveté. Even songs about breaking up bounce with optimism. "Tyler Beach":http://www.myspace.com/leaf_bird/ writes for and performs in Leaf Bird and numerous jazz projects. He plays and sings in a lanquid, gentle style that conveys a deep longing. As an accomplished jazz and soul guitar player, Beach prefers mellow, cascading melodies that sweep over his folk asthetic. He never rushes or forces an idea; Beach's music sips and savours. At Elastic Arts 2830 N Milwaukee (2nd floor)

Songwriter Showcase featuring Eric Ziegenhagen and Isaac David Lyons

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:09:27 -0600

Justin Petertil of Love Raid and Office hosts our regular Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic featuring Eric Ziegenhagen and Isaac David Lyons. "Eric Ziegenhagen":http://ericzieg.com/ has a unique skill for narrative in his songwriting. Ziegenhagen’s lyrics are filled with mundane objects like street corners, breakfast dishes and dresses hanging in a shop window. And his themes are often not much grander than his imagery – he writes of small moments that quickly pass through the day and quirky thoughts that pop into our heads. His songs reveal and explore the deep emotions that so frequently accompany our everyday routines and quiet aspirations. Isaac David Lyons writes piano music much in the vein of Tom Waits. His songs recall taverns and bar rooms from the last century, while his lyrics are simple and humble. Lyons charm lies in the honesty of his songs and the bravado with which he belts out tales of love lost and isolation found.

The YouTube Assembly featuring Mike Wolf

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:23:12 -0600

The YouTube Assembly consists of screening web-based video for a live and participating audience. Each event features a guest host presenting a collection of YouTube clips that elaborate on a project or theme in which they have some expertise or interest. In the spirit of the popular YouTube interface, audience members are encouraged to comment on the videos they watch, except out loud and in real time with no anonymity. After the presentation the host then invites audience members to share their own clips. Like karaoke or an open mic, the YouTube Assembly creates a situation in which people take turns entertaining each other, thus bypassing the arguably isolating aspect of online networks like YouTube and encourage real, face-to-face interaction. The YTA is sponsored by Homeroom Chicago and is hosted by the "Nightingale":http:\\www.nightingaletheatre.org. 1084 N Milwaukee. Mike Wolf presents: YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE LANDSCAPE! (LANDSCAPE IS ALWAYS PEOPLE!) To ask the question "what is my relationship to the landscape?" is to do better already. To know that the landscape is inextricable from people and that nothing is pristine is to do better still. The outlandish dreams of imperial capitalism only obscure the connections between people and land. When we each work for our own outlandish dream and find the wisdom to reconcile it with our neighbors the nightmares of imperialism will finally wither away. There is a lot of good collage material for these dreams on YouTube. Mike Wolf is a Midwestern itinerant cultural worker trapped in modern bohemian fantasies. At the moment he is in the early, agonizing stages of grasping the wisdom of de-colonization.

The YouTube Assembly featuring Jon Satrom

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:59:53 -0600

The YouTube Assembly consists of screening web-based video for a live and participating audience. Each event features a guest host presenting a collection of YouTube clips that elaborate on a project or theme in which they have some expertise or interest. In the spirit of the popular YouTube interface, audience members are encouraged to comment on the videos they watch, except out loud and in real time with no anonymity. After the presentation the host then invites audience members to share their own clips. Like karaoke or a traditional performance open mic, the YouTube Assembly creates a situation in which people take turns entertaining each other, thus bypassing the arguably isolating aspect of online networks like YouTube and encourage real, face-to-face interaction. The YTA is sponsored by Homeroom Chicago and is hosted by the Nightingale. Jon Satrom performs realtime audio/video, spends time data-bending, makes kludgey work-flows, creates colorful glitch-ware, and enjoys working within collaborative projects and open systems. He spends his days fixing things, making things work, and teaching. He spends his evenings breaking things, learning, and searching for the unique blips inherent to the systems he explores and exploits. Satrom is a faculty member at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, runs a small production studio called "Studio Thread":http://studiothread.com/, and is involved in various collective new-media efforts around Chicago.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonsatrom/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0