Chicago 6 Corners

Q&A with Alex White
Secret to White Mystery is No Mystery

Story and interview by David Shuey / main page photo by Yuri Alexander, December 18, 2009

It's a drizzly October 20th, and on a whim I decide to see Japan punk legends – and Kurt Cobain favorite – Shonen Knife at Bottom Lounge. The all-female power trio shred the crowd in two in their bizarre neon pant-suits, but it is the opening act, White Mystery, that leaves me scratching my head. But only after rocking it.

The young duo comes on stage in a wave of red curls for their bustling sound checks. White Mystery go straight into the music, but not before the drummer hunts down a plug to get his own fan working (see pic after bump). Very DIY. Seems the air currents not only cool down brother Francis White, they also blow tresses to-and-fro for dramatic effect as his sister, the established Miss Alex White, blows away the crowd with killer licks and raw power vocals.

Still, this is no Chicago's answer to the White Stripes in reverse. (Switch the genders on the drum kit and guitar/vocals duty, turn the black hair bright orange, etc. Eh, okay, maybe that's a stretch.) Their spectacle is transparent. As witnessed again one month later at Empty Bottle, White Mystery IS a burning line of music, leaving a skid mark in your own scalp as it proceeds to nail the bored arm-folder in the back row. This was evident down in front, as C6C pal Scarlett and I joined a pond of head-bangers and dancers, including legendary Dan the Fan – a WM regular, I notice, after two shows (also see pic below). Even the kids can bare witness, as seen on Chic-A-Go-Go.

After a back-stage all-ginger head photo-op, we ask for an interview. Below is an exchange this month with Miss Alex White about where her and her brother are from and where they're going.

C6C: Off the bat: By all appearances, real and imagined, you're brother and sister. Real Deal, or another Fantastic Hoax in order to garner the killer rock 'n roll name, "White?"

Alex White: Real deal. We were born at Swedish Covenant Hospital to the same parents in Chicago in 1985 and 1987 respectively. The last name "White" is Pennsylvanian Dutch. Click here for baby photos.

C6C: How would you describe your current musical direction as White Mystery? Is it a FEEL you're going for, or is your fast-paced combination of stripped down guitar/vocals/percussion a vehicle to carry the SONGS forward?

Alex White: The musical direction is FORWARD and the feel is POWER. 

C6C: Follow-up question: And "stripped down" or "garage rock" -- these are terms bandied about for certain bands. Do you embrace it? Is it by necessity, i.e., keeping things simple and economical? Or is that a preferred musical direction?  (i.e., when you get huge, will you go straight for the keyboards & electronics?)

Alex White: Both terms have been used in print to describe White Mystery as well as my history of musical projects, including Miss Alex White and Hot Machines.  I prefer the two piece format, though I've played with a full band and the Mucca Pazza horns in Miss Alex White & Red Orchestra.

 

C6C: What are some of your favorite 2-pieces? And if not digging that, what are some of your favorite "family" bands in history? Bee Gees? The Osmonds? Partridge Family? 

Alex White: Chicago locals The Yolks, Smith Teenage Dream – a sibling two piece with Hal from the Smith Westerns and his brother Cadien who shreds.

 

C6C: I noticed that hair plays a big part in your shows -- a perfect combination of auburn color and movement. What bands of the past do you look to for Hairspiration? Would you ever consider Locks for Love if the red curls ever got in the way of "the music"?

Alex White: An agreement was made in October 2007 to stop cutting our hair and it's been that way ever since.  There are also White Mystery buttons with my real hair pressed in them that only twenty five special people have.  Click here to see.  Francis donated his hair twice to Locks for Love when it was longer than his shoulders, and my personal hairspiration is Poison Ivy from the Cramps.  There is a photo album of red head friends on the White Mystery MySpace.

The Arts of Life Holiday Wine Tasting at WineStyles

By Emily Grider, December 12, 2009

Join The Arts of Life at the Loop's WineStyles for a lovely night of tasting holiday wine. The Arts of Life, an arts studio for adults with and without developmental disabilities, will showcase winter-themed art that is also available for purchase – a perfect gift for the fast approaching holiday season! The Arts of Life will  provide hors d'oeuvres at this event with the $20 ticket price, as well as a live performance of Christmas songs by one of their talented artists.

 

This relaxing event is being held at the WineStyles South Loop location (1240 S Michigan Ave # D) on December 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. and 10% of all purchases made that night will benefit The Arts of Life studio.

As an aside, The Arts of Life studio will also utilize this opportunity to collect gift donations for their studio's holiday party! Donate a cool gift that one of the artists will love – hats, socks, brushes, pins, art books, toothbrushes, etc. – and receive a web-only exclusive from The Arts of Life Band! All donations from this event go straight to the artists' enjoyment of the holidays.

What: Holiday Wine Tasting Benefiting The Arts of Life
Where: WineStyles South Loop Location, 1240 S. Michigan Avenue, #D
When: Tuesday, December 15, 2009, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Offering: Just $20 gets you wine, appetizers, art and holiday jubilation
Advance Tickets: Available here.

RIP: Mercury Cafe Closes Doors due to 'Economic Times'
P.S. We'll Miss You

By David Shuey, October 9, 2009 

My Spidey sense must be off. I biked by Mercury Cafe this week after-hours, half-glanced through their large Chicago Avenue windows, and didn't notice anything amiss. I'm sure the thought passed me, as it sometimes does, "Good 'ol Mercury Cafe. I should stop by more often. I'm glad to see them open and burgeoning during this shitty economy." *

How wrong I was.

Minutes ago, after glancing at an email thread from Chicago Indy Media discussing where to host their next meeting, Mitchell Szczepanczyk broke the news: They're closed. My caffeinated heart sank. Indeed, on their website, the owners confirm the fact:

IT IS TRUE --- MERCURY CAFE IS CLOSING IT'S DOORS BY OCTOBER 4TH.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. UNFORTUNATELY THE ECONOMIC TIMES PROVED TO BE A BIT TOO MUCH.

C6C has met there since our inception. At our last Chicago 6 Corners planning meeting there this summer, the place was humming more than ever. And as the Mercury Cafe owners said in the above post, it was a great place for groups to connect: "It was nice to see that everyone from books clubs to knitting clubs to Muslim/Jewish open mic to feminist meet ups could find the place comfortable enough for themselves."

I'm sad. So many memories are there. You could always get a table or couch. Internet was free. Refills were cheap. The sandwiches were to die for. The art was authentic, local, and plentiful. (I have some photos of their Bike Art display I should find and post.) 

And it really seemed like more and more people were going there. Like they made it over the hump. Guess not.

Apologies that there's no real reporting on this, beyond the fact you can't go there anymore. And the obligatory/obvious opinion: It sucks. If you have anything to add, please put it on the comments section, or write one of our editors and we'll post it. Also, if anyone is in contact with the owners or one of the charming baristas, and wants to write something up, we'll be happy to share.

Photos of stuff you can buy and a list of other West Town coffee ships after the jump:

Better Than Your Garden-Variety Chicago Saturday: 2nd Annual Brew Not Bombs Benefit + Local Favorite The Gnomes at Bottom Lounge

By Scarlett Stoppa (with bits by David Shuey), September 16, 2009

Local indie bands! Home brew and vegan pizza-making contests! Brew and pizza samples! Raffle prizes! And all for just $8, with proceeds to benefit Cob Connection and Iraq Vets Against the War.

What: Brew Not Bombs II
Where: 3951 W. Fullerton (map)
When: Saturday, September 19, 2009, starting at 5 p.m.
Offering: Local bands This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb, Defiance Ohio, Sass Dragons, the Read, Al Scorch, and The Rust Belt Ramblers. Good Samaritan sponsor – and one of the handful of locally produced beers – Half Acre.

Cob Connection is a local nonprofit practicing a veg-friendly translation of the popular Chinese proverb: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Through one of their after-school programs local young adults convert vacant lots into thriving community gardens and farms, develop farmers' markets, and donate a portion of their crops to the local food pantry. That's almost as tasty as their $25 organic market basket filled with chard, kale, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, herbs, tomatoes, and more! Become a Facebook fan of "Cob Connection - Urban Organic Produce," show up any Saturday between 10:30am and noon (bring your own bag) at the site on the corner of Crystal and Kedzie (between North and Division on the west side of Kedzie), or call The Cob directly at 773-346-1205 to get your basket and connect with this great organization.

And if you still happen to be riding the Iraq War fence, the collective opinions of 1700+ Iraq War veterans may just help you make up your mind.

David Shuey says: "I happened to catch the Iraq Vets Against the War Benefit at Epiphany Church last fall. It was breathtaking. Before Mucca Pazza came out to raise hell, the entire crowd was entranced by one ex-soldier talking about hell – and humanity. The stuff you don't see on TV. Everyone was completely silent, and some moved to tears by the stories. But it's not depressing, it's real – and provides context, much more than your standard anti-war speech. One was about being hugged by an Iraqi under the strangest circumstances, I remember. On the stage were people, some barely of drinking age, who saw the counterproductive 'regime change' and nation-building bullshit firsthand, then reversed their minds on why they were there. I admire that."

Both are worthy causes – and did you catch that part about CRAFT BEER?

Same night, different channel: The Gnomes.

There's little in the world more magical than a songwriter rich with allusion, and Andy Larson, The Gnomes' frontman and songsmith, is rolling in it. Noting his fondness for the jellyroll-style entendre perfected by Mississippi Delta bluesmen like Bo Carter, you might even call him filthy rich. But, like Shakespeare, he's more than a bawd. He’s a lover, intoxicated by the world around him, a balladeer eager to pay homage to life’s intoxicants – whiskey, zen, gin, the night sky, music & musicmakers, "human emotion & physical love," unconditional love, and, of course, cunning wordplay & delicious irony (a la “Elizabeth Kubler Ross Has Died”). He drinks them all in and, with gnominous benevolence, crafts songs that leave us tipsy. And our pain...“a memory, and memory's history.” For this show, and on the forthcoming album Gnomes III, Andy says: listen for a veer between late-Beatles-inspired introspective pop and garage rock paeans to physicality "Human Emotion / and Physical Love." There's a psychedelic waltz thrown in for slow dancers as well called "The New Aire."

Who's Rockin' Indie-Style: The Gnomes
Also Playing: Soft Targets, Last Fast Action, and Hey Zeus
Where: Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake (map)
When: Saturday, September 19, 2009. The Gnomes play second, at approximately 10 p.m.
Free CD: Sayeth the always endearing Gnomes, "We'll be previewing songs from forthcoming 3rd release. Get a free copy of Gnomes I or Gnomes II [ed. note: their excellent first 2 albums] with admission. See you there!"
What? Even More Free Stuff: Free MP3 download of "The New Aire" here.

David adds: "I said it all in my previous Gnomes write-up here. They'll make you drunk-happy, or a happy drunk. You won't even need the beer. Also, rock 'n roll heaven dwellers Richard Wright (and Sad Syd) would have loved that homage cover on the left. Animals mastermind Roger Waters would sue. "

Canadian Biker Ladies Down Shift to Chicago, Handlebar

Almost four years ago a talented and driven group of writers, photographers, designers, artists and bikers relaunched a magazine for pedal-powered people in Vancouver, BC. Soon after, in true grassroots fashion, they asked people here to write stories and send photos about Chicago bike haunts, such as Handlebar and Cal Liquors. The magazine grew (both online and physically), distribution extended beyond Canada, to several cities in the States. Then it showed up in Chicago – free and widely available thanks to distribution by local gear-heads like T.C. O'Rourke.  

And this week, you can meet, drink, chat bike history, and talk about bike collaborations (hey, you too can write stories and get published in 14 North American cities) with the publisher, Amy Walker, and reps from Momentum Magazine. Or as Amy put it:

Do you live in Chicago? If yes, the 3 ladies of Momentum (Amy, Tania, Mia) are coming to visit you! Come down to the Handlebar for a low-key celebration of bike culture in Chicago. Thanks to the wonderful and incredibly organized T.C. O'Rourke for arranging this party! For those of you that pick up Momentum for free in Chicago, you can thank the lovely T.C for delivering them - by bike - all around the city.

Where: Handlebar, 2311 W. North Ave
When: Monday, February 23, 2009 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
What For: Meet Momentum Magazine people; drink beer; talk bikes; offer your ideas and talent!

'Words That Kill' Poetry Slam Returns to Rupture Heads (monthly) in Uptown 

September 11, 2009 

Poetry slams. It mashes, inspires, recycles, re-energizes and regurgitates, and, when done in a healthy environment, knocks both the audience and performer upside the head. Slapping around tired thoughts or outdated ways of thinking.

That's what Lethal Poetry intends to do every third Thursday of the Month with Words That Kill at The Spot starting Thursday, September 17. Our friend Mojdeh from Lethal Poetry brought talent and inspired voices to the Friday Night Open Mic during our successful Solstice Party Fundraiser in June. After a three month hiatus, Lethal Poetry is continuing their poetry and comedy series featuring local and national comedians and poets, while adding a Poetry Slam element. Judges. 0.0 to 10.0 scale. Prizes. And a possible Words That Kill Grand Slam Champion title to be doled out later.

Hear that would-be Saul Williams of Chicago? Sounds like a challenge.

Cover:  $5 or canned goods
Where: The Spot (21+ venue located at 4437 N. Broadway. Take Red Line to Wilson. 773-728-8934. See map.)
When: September 17, starting at 7 p.m. (Slam Sign-Up: 6:45 p.m.; Poetry/Comedy Showcase: 7:00 p.m.; Slam: 8:00 p.m.)
Featured Performer: J.W. BAZ

BlackMath Playing for FREE: Online and at Logan's Square Friday

August 21, 2009

All week on NPR's Morning Edition, they've explored the dominant 00's business model of free stuff on the internet. Face it, ever since Napster  – or since the Dawn of Man (see major bone score at 5:00 mark) – we love free. In that chintzy spirit, you can catch our favorite local dark/new wave/electro band, BlackMath for FREE ($0.00) in Logan's Square tonight. (And snag a free download here.)

But wait. Countering the mooch-heavy norm, people have been actually buying BlackMath music. Their initial vinyl LP sold out within weeks at Permanent Records, who offered to press it earlier this year. One can still give direct support and buy their 7" online here.  

If you read our previous post on them, you know what fans we are. So check them out.

Who: BlackMath, Catacombz, Bitchin Bajas, Inyan Kara
When: Friday, August 21, at 9:30 p.m.
Location: Cole's, 2338 N Milwaukee Ave (between Belden Ave & Medill Ave)
Cost: Free. (donation requested for touring bands)

Summer Solstice Art Fest 2009, June 20-27
A Celebration of Arts & Music to Benefit Chicago 6 Corners

By Your Friends at Chicago 6 Corners  (David & Scarlett), June 15, 2009

David Shuey here, offering the gist of the Summer Solstice Art Fest: 7 unique events over 8 nights. The bands will be blazing. The DJs sizzling. The short films, poetry and visual arts, soul stirring. It's BYOB and NO charge at the door, so that means NO excuses. However, if you bring a pocket of $1s and $5s – and your check book and love for art during the week-long auction (UPDATE: see photos here) – then you can personally contribute to Chicago 6 Corners. All proceeds go towards maintaining the website, and keeping you informed on local happenings. 

Who knows? Maybe you'll be inspired and contribute your future talents to the C6C webzine. Reach us here to contact an editor, or see what topic may be of interest.

Where: Scarlett's Pad, 2649 W. Leland Avenue, Top Floor, Chicago, Illinois (just around the corner from the Brown Line Rockwell stop)

Again, click the flyer to the right for schedule or skip below for full write-ups on the bouillabaisse of artists. Ok, Scarlett Stoppa, our Dandy Warhol of curators, kick it ...

Curator’s Note: Two years ago I found myself in a particularly blissed-out in-love-with-life moment prompted by the range of creative talents surrounding me. Chicago, it seems, is both a Siren Call to artists and a Renaissance Incubator – rare is the local who  doesn’t possess a range of skills in several mediums. Like a collector, proud of his good taste, I wanted to show off this impressive posse surrounding me. But I also wondered at what might be created if all these creatives came together. New friendships, fresh love, spontaneous collaboration, symbiotic partnerships, dancing, laughter, creative courage where once there was fear of failure – the possibilities were limitless! Out of this dewy-eyed admiration and innocent optimism the Summer Solstice Art Fest was borne. Year One was a modest affair, a few friends, some loose gatherings. Year Two required a schedule, a spreadsheet, more help and several Flickr photo albums. This year’s fest – the 3rd Annual – had me convinced we’d reached the Final Hoorah. Something that had started simple and spontaneous had tangled into a complicated production. Then the art began to trickle in. And I remembered why I love instigating this collaboration: each lovingly produced painting, poem, pot, pinata, photo, poster, song, shoe, bike, book, craft and film represents our human attempts to open hearts, make connections, rally change and express that expansive feeling that comes in those moments when we are overwhelmed with love and wonder.

Chicago 6 Corners would like to extend thanks to all artists and art-lovers who contributed their time and creations to this collaboration, with a special thanks to those who made generous donations of their work for an art auction that will help Chicago 6 Corners to continue covering local issues, events, and people overlooked by both mainstream media and Chicago’s blogosphere.

Save-the-Date: Summer Solstice Art Fest 2009, June 20-27
Click on Graphic Below, Jot Favorite Event on Hand-held/Calendar/Back of Hand, Repeat As Needed

By Your Friends at Chicago 6 Corners, June 10, 2009

Look for updates with links to artists and performers next week!

Call to Action: Write Your Alderman to Increase Citizen Participation in Decisions Concerning Public Assets

By Adam Snow, May 6, 2009

Seven months ago I started an anthropological documentary about democracy in Chicago. This has led me to discover many things about the city (and the state) that have surprised me. The privatization of the city's parking meters to a corporation that hither-to-for was not in the parking business is just the latest in a series of deals that were rubber stamped by the city council with little or no public debate. (See How Much of Our City Is for Sale?)

Last week the Chicago Tribune ran an editorial announcing that undisclosed aldermen were considering an ordinance requiring a 30-day period of review for any proposed privatization of city assets, works, and so on. Since this editorial, I have contacted the office of the city clerk (the office that sets the city council's agenda on these matters) to find out where this proposal is in committee, who the sponsor is, and when it may come for a vote. So far, i have been told 'I will look into it and get back to you'.

Signage of the Times

By James Sandrolini, April 29, 2009 

One needn’t peruse the shrinking daily paper, watch cable news or log into their favorite website to receive the gut-punch that is today’s stark, economic end-times. Possibly the best way to experience our deeply sobering financial zeitgeist is simply to drive around the ever haunted streets of American cities and towns. On this side of the street, signs informing dead-eyed consumers that Everything Must Go!, Prices Slashed! or simply For Lease in place of For Sale. Over there, an optimistic Coming Soon! sign for a business that, like Godot, never arrives. All around us, we know the Big Party of the Reagan/Bush, Sr./Clinton era has crashed to a halt; the hangover is excruciating and the massive bill has come due.        

Only a year or so ago, it seemed like pretty much everything was for sale in the Land of the Free. Super-sized retail chains, giant, monolith condos and thrusting, Freudian skyscrapers pierced U.S. town and city skylines. Gordon Gekko-style, Wall Street uber-capitalism was unquenchable and unstoppable. That was then. These days, with 12 million Americans unemployed, house foreclosures up 81% since early '08 and 1 in 10 Americans on food stamps, few are buying much of anything. Even fewer seem to be buying the hopeful promise of the government economic stimulus package put forth by the hundred-day-old Obama Administration. Meanwhile, the paleolithic Republican Party has no real plan or ideas to counter Team Obama … but that certainly hasn’t stopped the right-wing online juggernaut from barreling full steam ahead like the careening bulls of Pamplona to Obama's dazed toreador.