...and, we're back! What better way than with Wilco?

Well Folks, after a summer interning at Nettwerk Music Group this past summer and putting Kara's Headphones on hiatus to keep a separate blog devoted to my time there, I'm happy to say that I'm back.

Keeping my Summerphones blog, reading up on Billboard, NME, Pitchfork, and various other blogs and music sites taught me a ton. From Spotify to Summer Tours to Warehouse Fires to Amy Winehouse's death so much has happened over the past few months in the world of music, as it always does and I got a taste for just how much news there is to report on. Plus, interning at Nettwerk taught me a ton from pitching songs for music licensing, to creating press kits to social media management for touring artists...

...All the while, I was writing songs for my own band, The Cables and even gigging a bit as Kara Ali along with Ursula Ellis and my good friend Rachel Naar around the Lower East Side. Fat Baby, Rockwood Music Hall---some fun stuff for sure.

In a few weeks I will be going back to Chicago for my final year at Northwestern, and my first year as president of Niteskool Productions, the student music group on campus. Along with being Outreach Chair for WNUR, rehearsing with The Cables again, and sound designing a few shows and movies, I will be planning a bunch of awesome events to promote student music. The first, being Rock at the Rock, which will have artists playing around NU's famed "Rock" in early October. Never thought I'd be ready to leave NYC, but I'm actually looking forward to all that's in store this year!

What better way to celebrate my return to Chicago than with a listen to Wilco's new album--The Whole Love--due to be released September, 27th.

But wait, their 8th full length album comes out the 27th? How could I possibly be listening now? Well, thanks to Pitchfork, I found out the album would be stream-able for 24 hours, today only and completely free on the band's website. (Still a few hours left, one more if you're in the Midwest so get on it people!) I am loving what I hear so far with a variety of sonically fulfilling sounds, highs and lows, with a mix of soothing down tempo folk melodies and catchy upbeat repetitions. The page features a spinning vinyl, with track names to the left as the album is played from start to finish. There is no skip option, no button but pause, and a simple thumbnail of the album artwork in the upper left hand corner. Not only does this give listeners a chance to listen the way the album was intended--from start to finish--but I would venture to say that it's an awesome promotional tool for the upcoming September release. Just as Radiohead released In Rainbows as a free download, and then decided to release King of Limbs days before its intended release date, the free streaming from Wilco only makes fans more excited. In the digital age, why not? 12 tracks and a bonus of pure bliss. Enjoy!

Expect even more intriguing sounds to be playing through Kara's Headphones.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali

COMPANY

This past Wednesday, I had my bi-weekly show at WNUR, where I am routinely a Rock Show DJ and an engineer/booker for Airplay. The indie rock band, Company from Charleston, SC happened to be at the studio, gearing up to play. Consisting of Brian Hannon (guitar/vocals), Kelly Grant (drums), Matthew Royse (bass) and T.J. Ave-Lallemant (Guitar), the band was a smooth blend of math rock and chill out vibes, with a varying dynamic range. Touring with the Cleveland band Filmstrip, another indie band who happened to be at the studio, the band was incredibly comfortable playing live on air and, actually got some callers to inquire about their upcoming shows.

Locally, they go by "Co.", but away from their home base, the band held their own with catchy pop hooks, detailed instrumentation, and strong vocals affected with reverb, reminiscent of the band's self-confessed Idols, Band Of Horses. I also had the opportunity to talk to Atom Gong, an independent fine artist and the man responsible for Company's album artwork. He filled me in on the Band's relationship to Band of Horses, their releases, and his life as an artist. He even gave me and my Co-DJ each "zines" that he had created on japanese hemp paper as unique prints. One of his prints, the album cover for Co's latest EP, is pictured above.

Hope to hear more from these Charleston guys as they develop!

Peace.Love.Music.

Kara Ali

New Music Everywhere!

As a booking agent for Airplay on WNUR 89.3 at the Northwestern Campus, I read up on new music and peruse venue calendars like it's my job. The Kinetic Playground, The Empty Bottle, Uncommon Ground, Reggie's Rock Club, Evanston SPACE, the Metro--all places I've either played or want to play, and all places to find potential artists for Airplay.

I am especially excited when an artist I am familiar with is coming to town, and I just might get the chance to invite them into our studio for a session or an interview. This past week, I was in luck. Indie rock Singer/Songwriter Greg Laswell, who will be having a concert at Evanston SPACE on March 3rd will be walking to our studio for an interview!

I've been following this San Diego based artist since I first heard "Worthwhile" off his sophomore album, Through Toledo and went on to explore "Days Go On" and other songs off of Three Flights From Alto Nido. Just recently, I downloaded Take a Bow, his latest release from Spring 2010, which he toured with Sara Bareilles to promote. "Take Everything" was an instant favorite of mine this past summer, when I first heard it on the Adult Alternative Music Choice channel. I love the descending vocals and the showcase of Laswell's baritone gritty voice. The album is sincere and flowing from beginning to end and I plan to give it a few more listens before Laswell comes to town. I will be extremely excited to conduct an interview with him and hear him play at SPACE. Laswell is currently signed to Vanguard Records, the same label that supports the Indigo Girls, Jesca Hoop, and Matt Nathanson to name a few of my favorites.

Another awesome group that I've been following since their single, "Golden Days" off of Air Stereo, is coming to Evanston SPACE in April. The Damnwells based out of Brooklyn, will be coming to the midwest in promotion of their upcoming album, No One Listens to the Band Anymore. Front man and singer/songwriter, Alex Dezen, has been driving the group forward since its inception in 2001. The band has an interesting history, having been picked up by Epic Records, and then let go upon release of Air Stereo. Subsequently, their third album, One Last Century was released as a free download in 2009. With such an interesting history and a real passion for sharing music freely, The Damnwells are a group to keep watching. No One Listens to the Band will be their fourth studio album and perhaps the title sums up their angst and struggle as a group over the past years. The album will be released with Pledge Music to help raise money to fight AIDS, Malaria and TB. I should be back in NY on spring break around the time of their release party on March 24th at the Bowery Ballroom. I would love to make it out then and I will be lucky enough to hear an acoustic set when they come into our studio at WNUR.

Peace.Love.Music

Kara Ali