the WHISTLER

Based out of Kansas City, Antennas Up is touring this spring fresh off of song placement in the best selling iPhone app ‘Tap Tap Revenge 3’ and an official showcase at South By Southwest.

Antennas Up tour with an entire multimedia production that includes an interactive light and music show. Their tech-centered show started with a slight obsession with guitar effects pedals and morphed into a mini-mountain of effects and lights connected by over 1000 feet of cable. The band controls audio backing tracks, lights and video through one central box. Not only do they manipulate light and images during their shows, they have audio tricks in their sleeves as well, transforming bassist and lead singer Kyle Akers’ bass into a synth/guitar using pedals. With the ability to switch to a bass line in the computer, he can free himself to play harmonic leads with a wild guitar tone, pushing his instrument beyond its intended purpose.

Akers explains, “Of course the live show’s cornerstone is the music. But to us, the show is about
more than just what songs we perform. We want to set our show apart from what you would typically expect to see going to a club on a random Friday night. When people walk in and see a band with full stage production, it makes an impact. And what’s great is, we bring our entire setup with us, and are able to duplicate it in every room across the country.”

Emerging from the depths of the jazz jungle is a cunning keyboardist, Greg Spero, with his own interpretations of Radiohead and Miles Davis selections, thus the title, “Radio Over Miles”. The performances are built with energy and intrigue, and have phenomenal moments of release. “Sly” is a great go‐to selection for it’s overall efficiency in performance, charisma, and production. “Blue in Green” has a nice odd‐metric touch, and gives serious jazz heads a dose of their medication. “Yesterdays” also has a nice union of Radiohead‐feel to a Miles staple, although the tail end goes into Michael Jackson/Stevie Wonder jam‐land… If you’re into Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Soulive, Keith Jarrett, Miles Davis, and Radiohead (of course), then you’re in for a well‐deserved treat.

All 45s of acid rock, bubblegum, french pop, krautrock, fuzz funk, 70s one-hit wonders, astral folk, garage rock, danceable groovers, sweaty soul, hard boogie, psych-pop and more.

Dave Miller (Algernon) and Jeff Parker (Tortoise), two of Chicago’s most in-demand guitarists, team up with Jake Vinsel and Quin Kirchner (both of NOMO) to create jazz as they see it. The night will feature new music from Dave Miller, and the compositions of Paul Bley, Paul Motian, and Charles Lloyd.

“Over the past few years Dave Miller has emerged as one of the most flexible and ubiquitous guitarists in Chicago…he’s comfortable with postbop, free jazz, and swing…” —Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

Live jazz every Wednesday

Glad Cloud celebrates the rich landscape of Chicago musicians working with ambient music, be it acoustic, electric, or both. Curated by Benjamin Mjolsness, the series provides an opportunity for ambient artists to colour the air, walls, and liquids of the Whistler in a deliberately non-intrusive manner. Visitors enjoy their cocktails and companions while the music envelops the room around them; performing artists are able to work on new approaches to their music. 8-10pm.

WILSHIRE awakens from its WELL DESERVED hiatus—(8 years, grandpa!)— and is dusting off the ol’ TASCAM 4-track, re-learning how to TUNE its guitar, & frantically running SCALES for a reunion gig at the WHISTLER on April 13th. CRICKETS, do-wop pop-noise, MULTIPLE drummers, HARMONIES parts 1, 2 & 3 (!!), plus saxes, TRUMPETS!!! & their ilk… what don’t this ALL-STAR BOY BAND do!? Featuring REID COKER (The Judy Green), Chris Sherman (FRUIT BATS), Nathaniel BRADDOCK (Occidental Brothers DANCE BAND International), CHRIS!! Warland (Ancient Greeks) & BRAD FRANK (Pillar to Post). Let’s not be STOOPID. Let it be, at the WHISTLER!!!

GILLIAN LISEE is a singer, multi-instrumentlist & covers-artist from Chicago IL. Her resume reads like a Charles Dickens bibliography: Califone, Fruit Bats, Orso, The Judy Green, Roommate, et al… Sure ‘nuff ‘n yes she do! Gillian does not take requests…

DEAN RANK is a designer & filmmaker in Chicago. His personal work has screened at festivals and arts spaces around the world includingthe European Media Arts Festival, Animator Festival, The Wexner Center for the Arts, The Aurora Picture Show and many more.

DJs CBS = Reid COKER + Jim BECKER + Chris SHERMAN

Cains & Abels: We live in Chicago, Illinois, and we try to have a lot of fun with our friends. We do rock and roll. The album that we made during 2008 is out now on States Rights Records. The album is called Call Me Up, and it’s about wanting to connect with people in a universal way. It’s also about wanting to connect with specific people in a very small, desperate way. Some of it is a little sad, but it’s also really uplifting.

Featuring: Scott McClanahan, Spencer Dew, Sam Pink, Ben Tanzer, & Brandon Will

The Orange Alert Reading Series is a extension of the arts and culture website What to Wear During an Orange Alert. The series began at the Whistler in November 2008 and has featured some of the top poets and fiction writers from Chicago and around the Midwest. Hosted by Jason Behrends. 3rd Sunday of every month, 6-8pm.