Here’s a video of Bubamara, the song we opened with at the AREA Chicago #8 release party…

Thanks to everyone who showed up, to AREA, and to my friend Dan for filming!

Some may not like plastic mouthpieces, but I quite enjoy mine.  It’s comfortable, and I don’t get that terrible metal after taste from some of the metal mouthpieces I’ve used in the past.  If you came to our show, you’ll know I still get a good and loud sound out of my horn… and the bright pink just looks awesome.

Kelly’s actually got a sale going on right now — with 50% off a good deal of their products… Just FYI.

kellymouthpieces.com

(psst! Hey Kelly! If you’re looking for a spokeswoman… *AHEM* … I could use a glow-in-the-dark one too!)

It was truly a great show, if I do say so myself!  We have some spectacularly amazing musicians and we had a spectacularly amazing crowd!  We are truly and completely grateful to everyone who came out to support AREA Chicago and us as well!

We want to thank Daniel and B from AREA for helping arrange this show!

In case you missed it, we’ll have some video up soon — a big thanks to my buddy Dan for filming — as well as some pictures!  If you have pictures or video or whatever from that night, please email us copies!  You can send them to me at: erini [at] erinichristine [dot] com, subject: “RB Photos” or something thereabouts.

Thanks again!!

This is our first gig and we would love all the support and smiling faces out there rocking out with us!

We’ll be playing a 20-minute set beginning at 9:30pm. Don’t miss it!

Official Press Release:
Release Party on Friday May 1st, 2009
7:30pm-11:30pm
@ St Paul¹s Cultural Center*
2215 W North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 (773.278.7677)
Hosted by NNWAC
*This space is not wheelchair accessible
$5 Donation requested at the door

7:30-9:30pm – DJs Dan & Jay, Readings from Neighborhood Writing Alliance’s contributions to AREA #8 and a temporary bazaar of low-cost, fair-trade and fun-filled items (featuring Resistance Coffee, Mark Shipley, AREA Chicago, JustSeeds, TWINE NFP, and more)

9:30-11:30pm DJs Dan & Jay + Special May Day Premier of the new Reading band (http://readingband.wordpress.com)

Refreshments Available/BYOB Not allowed

In this issue of AREA contributions by/about:
Mark Messing, Elanor Laskiw, Meghan Strell, Mucca Pazza, Neighborhood Writing Alliance authors, Bert Stabler, Timothy Sarrantonio, B. Loewe, Latino Union, Kari Lydersen, the occupation of Republic Windows, UE, Rachel Wallis, Congress Hotel Strike, Unite HERE, Lauren Cumbia, Labor History, Chicago Political Workshop, Mark Shipley, Erotic Massage, 183 definitions of capitalism, Rodrigo Paredes,Temporary Services, Bail-out Protests, CORE, Dave Marques, Half Letter Press, InCUBATE, Kristen Cox, Daniel Tucker, NFP vs For Profit, Florence Johnson ,Sara Black, Robin Hewlett, Backstory Cafe, Elise Zelechowski, Pilsen Alliance, Rebuilding Exchange, Delta Institute, David Wolf, the punk scene and the financial crisis, Lee Ann Norman, Insite Arts, Alice Kim, Erica Meiners, Ajitha Reddy, Activist Nuns, Raechel Tiffe, Food Not Bombs, Sergio Zetina, Mark Saulys, Dale Asis, Rebecca Zorach, Southwest Youth Collaborative , San Lucas Workers Center, ARISE Chicago, protesting the Milton Friedman Institute, ourmfi.org, Crossroads Fund, Harishi Patel, Jill Doub, the Non-Profit Industrial Complex, Patrick Dunn, Free Street Theater, Subprime Mortages, Damon Rich, history of red-lining in Chicago, NTIC, Logan Square Neighborhood Association, Neily Jennings, Solidarity Economies, Ashley Weger, Wade Tillett, Neil Brideau, Larry Shure, Marisa Holmes, Town Hall Talks, Creative Time, Nato Thompson, Ed and Rachael Marszewski, Amanda Guiterrez, Mike Bancroft, Nance Klehm, Anne Elizabeth Moore, Coya Paz, Shannon Stratton, Edra Soto, Deborah Stratman, Dan Peterman, Marianne Fairbanks, Nicole Garneau, Amy Partridge, Sara Black, Elvia Rodriguez-Ochoa, Salome Chasnoff, Amanda Du, Boone Public School Funding, Sheila O’Donnell, Jeanne Kracher, Marshall Sahlins, Toussaint Losier, Bruce Lincoln, Kara Elliott-Ortega, Lauren Berlant , Yali Amit and more.

We’re still going strong and it’s been awesome getting to play with all of you.

*****

Last week I participated in reading band in a way I hadn’t before….
I was a beer drinking spectator!  And, I also help with a very small bit of the percussion (just helping keep the beat).
While it’s always fun playing with everyone — regardless of my own personal skill level — it was nice to sit back and observe the group.

*****

So, for you band nerds who are interested in joining us — follow the links on the right or leave a comment here (they’re all screened) and give me your contact info.  We’d love to have you join us!

-Erini

I’ve also got some goodies from our January rehearsal…

After much deliberating and discussing and dialoguing and discourse… we’ve come to an agreement, and because we love you (and reading band) SO much, we’ll be meeting twice a month starting this month!

This mean that if you can’t make it next Tuesday, February 10th, no worries!  You can still come play with us on Tuesday, February 24th!

We’ll still be meeting at our usual location and time.

Those interested in learning about the nonprofit we’ve been working on starting should stick around on the 10th (or email Mark or myself) for more information!  The nonprofit group is hoping to start meeting more this month and work on getting a lot done!

Last month we had a great turn out, with a variety of musicians, videotaping, intermission and “going to make copies” music, as well as beer drinking spectators! (Thanks to Gregg for reminding me that I left out the “beer drinking” part.)
Can’t wait to see what this Tuesday brings!

See you there!

Erini

I hope you had a great holiday — enjoyed a bit of a break, ate some great food, visited with friends, family, and other loved ones, and that maybe you snagged some sweet loot too.

Anyway, we’ve welcomed in the new year and are looking forward to some great things happening in 2009.  What better way to start them off than with the first reading band rehearsal of the year.   Join us on the second Tuesday — next week, January 13th — from 7-9p at our usual location (sign up here!).

Also for 2009, we are still pushing forward with the nonprofit for the reading band, and will be scheduling meetings soon.  If you’d like more information, feel free to talk to myself, Mark Messing, Andy B, Andy T, or Tabitha after rehearsal on Tuesday — or you could email any one of us and we can fill you in on what we’ve been discussing thus far.

Lastly, a shameless plug!
This Thursday (tomorrow), our very own Andy T (one of our talented percussionists), will be preforming with his band Gabriel Lyon and the Notary at Reggie’s Rock Club.  The show starts at 8pm and is 17+ (just in case you wanted to take your kid sister or brother); tickets $8 at the door.  This is their premiere show, so we’re all very excited and happy for them!
Reggie’s is located one block from the Chinatown Red Line stop — 2109 S. State Street.

We’ll see you on Tuesday, if not tomorrow at Andy T’s show!

Take care and have a great week!

-Rini

Just a quick reminder: Reading band will be back on Tuesday, January 13th!
All are welcome!