Podcast: Rabble Rabble

By Kriss Stress

WCR has joined forces with Notes and Bolts to bring you a regular podcast full of Chicago music goodness. Check out a stream and overview of the latest episode below.

Here in episode 087 of Notes and Bolts, we're hanging out with Ralph, Andrew, and Matt, of Rabble Rabble and talking recording, bathroom graffiti and pizza haggling. Part 2 of 3 in a trilogy chronicling the sibling bands Rabble Rabble, Magic Milk, and Vamos.

Complete Playlist:
The Stooges: Search and Destroy
Rabble Rabble: Long Hook
Jeff The Brotherhood: U Got The Look
Dead Meadow: Lady
Rabble Rabble: Cole's Bathroom
Led Zeppelin: Bring It On Home
Crystal Antlers: A Thousand Eyes
Smashing Pumpkins: C'mon, Motherfucker
Rabble Rabble: Why Not

Interview: Rabble Rabble

By Rachel Angres

Rabble Rabble have been known to be minimalists in their formula as a four-piece Chicago band since 2009. They have recorded in true DIY style, from playing open-mic sessions at local dive bars and composing them into live albums, to setting up recording studios in a barn upstate with an 8 track tape machine and other vintage gear. The band released their latest tracks, "Why Not" and "Long Hook," as a 7" single last year and recently took a break for a few months, but are returning with new songs at a free show on Monday, April 30th at the Empty Bottle (with Heavy Times and Lion Limb--email rsvp@emptybottle.com for tickets in advance).

We caught up with two of the four members--Ralph Darski (interesting fact: also the co-owner of Cafe Mustache in Logan Square) and Matt Ciarleglio (interesting fact: also works at the Empty Bottle and Bourgeois Pig Cafe):

WCR: Names and instruments you play?

Ralph Darski: Guitar, bass and vocals.
Matt Ciarleglio: Bass, Guitar, backing vocals.

Strangest venue or gig you’ve ever played?

MC: We’ve been pretty notoriously throwing Halloween shows the past few years that have been getting more and more out of hand. Three years ago some guy dressed up like Gallagher essentially threw an entire watermelon at us. And then some dude tried getting naked on stage and I punched him in the face.

RD: That Halloween show Matt is talking about ended up pretty much being a riot. With bottles getting thrown and fists all around. We managed to finish our set however. Another strange gig was one of the first shows we played on our first tour. It was in Kent, Ohio at a pizza/gyros joint. We were expecting to play the hip college bar in the town but the promoter double booked that night so we got moved to the pizza joint. Basically the night consisted of us gettin’ hammered, my amp setting on fire, our van getting stuck in the mud and then we had to argue with the kitchen manager to get some free pizzas as compensation.

Snowmageddon 2011 preview: Glittermouse, Rabble Rabble and more

Posted by Andrew

So apparently there’s some bigass blizzard hitting our city over these next couple of days. I don’t know nothing about it, and apparently neither do the good people over at Betta Promotions, who are keeping at what they do best: hosting free shows. This Thursday you've got two options to combat the snow with some good tunes. 

There’s going to be quite a wide array of bands playing Lincoln Hall, exemplifying the diverse indie scene in Chicago. Opening the show is Pet Peeve, fronted by Romanian born Lorian Toth, who makes no attempt to hide his Eastern European roots. At times they are as aggressive and upbeat as Gogol Bordello, but their Americana and alt-country side means they wouldn’t be out of place on a bill with locals Dastardly. Playing second are Color Radio, whose opening notes to "Newest News" off of their Be Safe, Beware EP evoke the likes of Appleseed Cast before breaking into cathartic guitar-based post-rock dynamics, without the long-windedness of Explosions in the Sky. Headlining the night is Glittermouse, who have been keeping more than busy bringing their brand of arena-sized power-pop to your ears. Grab a free EP off their website now and expect more in the coming months. 

Ticket giveaway! White Mystery, Hollows & more at SubT, 12/18

Have you heard about the “Beats and Blogs” show going down at Subterranean on Saturday, December 18? It's going to feature four of Chicago’s finest, most rockin’ bands – White Mystery, Hollows, Rabble Rabble and Radar Eyes. We’ve been working with Betta Promotions as well as Loud Loop Press and many other top-notch Chicago music sites to get the word out, so it’s bound to be a crazy fun musical party you won’t want to miss. To add to the excitement, we’ve got a pair of tickets to give away!

To get in the running, just shoot us an e-mail with “Beats and Blogs” in the subject line and your first and last name in the body, and we’ll select a winner at random to score the tickets. We’ll be accepting entries until 10 a.m. on Friday, December 10, and we’ll announce a winner once the contest is closed.
Update 12/10 - The contest is now closed. Congratulations to Angela K.! Thanks to all who entered.