CMPtv OnStage featuring Romi Lovel

Here's a little flashback to our first local music showcase back in June at the Double Door. We're happy to present Romi Lovel's "Rock Ur World" performed live.

Romi Lovel even hired bucket drummers to share the stage with her.

CMPtv Onstage: Romi Lovel "Rock Your World" from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

CMPtv OnStage featuring Kid Static

Chicago hip hop phenom, Kid Static, performs two songs for your viewing pleasure. Filmed live at the Double Door for CMP's summer local music showcase.

CMP OnStage: Kid Static "Speak the Truth/World Goes Round" from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

Claire Stahlecker @ Uncommon Ground

Chicago Music Project generally tends to stay in their native Wicker Park neighborhood for shows, save for the occasional show at the Metro. So when the guys sent me over to The Uncommon Ground for an their back room session, I was a bit skeptical. I hadn't gone to Wrigleyville in a very long time. But a musician that's able to hold down a month long residency is probably someone worth checking out.

Not knowing quite what to expect, I ordered a beer and enjoyed the show. Taylor Mallory, another young local singer/songwriter, was in the middle of his last song - which he was performing with two guys from Fly Pheonix.

The room filled up and Claire finally took the stage. The way she started engaging the audience pretty much set the tone to how her performance would be. Her songs were all stories of her life, and experiences she's had through her ripe age of 21. Love and heartbreak, self realization and trying to find her place in life were common themes in her music that really seemed to speak to the people who watched and listened attentively.

Although the audience mostly consisted of friends and family for this occasion, it was as though they were listening to her for the first time. She can play the hell out of the guitar and really take you on a journey through her storytelling. Really putting meaning behind her songs has left me with a lingering impression of Claire (and the concept behind singer/songwriters), and at times I think of her raw voice that filled the air with pieces of her life. I felt that for an hour, I too was a part of her life. And I know that if I asked her, she'd tell me I actually was.

BACK FROM A SHORT BREAK

The guys at CMP want to apologize for not having had kept up with the blog this past week, but there's been a lot going on. We realize that all five of you that check this blog have been wondering what the hell is going on. Well here's a brief over view of what's to come:

CMP got a chance to finally do their Unplugged Show at Moonshine - which was a huge success. More to come on that.

I've also been sent out in search of new talent, and got a chance to check out Makeshift Prodigy at Angels and Kings.

Israel and Leo ventured out to Uncommon Ground to see what all the buzz was about a Claire Stahlecker, and got a chance to listen to Taylor Mallory as well. Turns out she's damn good.

Chicago Music Project has a HUGE announcement to make . . . and I'll give you a hint. It involves CMP's first corporate sponsor. Everyone back at the HQ is pretty excited about it and Israel's going to personally write that one up.

So stay tuned . . .

INTERVENTION featuring Natalie Oliveri

In August of 2009 - Natalie Oliveri hosted her record release show for our weekly INTERVENTION party at Moonshine before a crowd of just under 200 people. The staff, the bosses and the audience loved her so much we decided to bring her back for our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations for INTERVENTION.

Check out her hit single "Never Too Late" - shot and chopped by our very own Leo Flores.

Natalie Oliveri "Never Too Late" from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

Chicago Music Project - IN THE STREETS

We caught up with Rashid Hadee - self produced local hip hop legend - on the Magnificent Mile and had him perform "I Get It" right in the middle of Michigan Avenue.

This is rare performance footage, so enjoy and let us know what you think....

CMP In the Streets: Rashid Hadee from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

HOME DISTILLED LIVE - featuring The Steepwater Band

Chicago Music Project recently joined forces with Beam Global - one of the nation's fastest growing liquor portfolios - to present "Home Distilled Live" at Moonshine.

Taking this veteran rock band out of their element and sticking them in an intimate setting such as Moonshine - whose interior decor just screams rock and roll - for a live unplugged show that CMP's camera crews dutifully capture is what Home Distilled is all about.

Although not all these events will be taking place at Moonshine, CMP is looking into the future for other established rock bands that can perform in more unconventional settings for unplugged shows.

Be a part of CMP's first HOME DISTILLED LIVE on October 29th at Moonshine. For about an hour, CMP's cameras will be rolling and Steepwater Band will do their thing with Jeff Masey's epic guitar solos . . . all before an audience of about 150.

So grab a $2 pint of Moonshine's craft beer, a shot of Beam to go with it and enjoy the show!

MOONSHINE IS LOCATED AT 1824 W DIVISION STREET IN CHICAGO'S WICKER PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. FILMING BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 10PM. CALL 773.862.8686 TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE NOW.

Chicago Music Project - IN THE STUDIO

Chicago Music Project spent some time at Rhythm Cafe for some studio time with Chicago's own Natalie Oliveri.

Calling upon several collaborative artists that Natalie has worked with in the past, to include Rico Sisney of Sidewalk Chalk, and an all star ensemble of soul and jazz musicians from throughout the city. Tawney Newsome, singer from local booze rock band Dirty Rooks, made a guest appearance, flexing her vocal skills for Oliveri's "Too Good to be True" and "Closer", along with Ashley Stevenson.

Natalie Oliveri recently released her EP "Eclectic Soul"; showcasing her musical range with her interpretation of a Latin Guajira in "Muchacha" (featuring her former ensemble, Soulatina) and all the way to her versions of folk, soul and R&B. Her diversity in music is a direct reflection of this wonderful city of Chicago from which she was borne.

Check back for our finished product: Chicago Music Project IN THE STUDIO - featuring Natalie Oliveri.

1773 performing for INTERVENTION tonight

Moonshine has graciously allowed CMP to host a weekly event for just about a year now. Featuring DJ Intel on the decks - who's made a reputation for the night by playing only local music - and live performances from some of the city's best musical acts, Intervention has quickly gained ground and become a destination for music lovers throughout Chicago. RSVP HERE

And the drink specials don't hurt either . . .

$3 PBR and Moonshine Craft Beer Pints

$4 Jim Beam, Sauza Hornitos and Effen Vodka cocktails.

This month, we're featuring local hip hop prodigies 1773 (pronounced seventeen seventy three) as they continue to showcase their sophomore effort "Return of the New". Their second album, which the band refers to as their “real debut”, has been received with high accolades from both domestic and international media.

Watching them perform their music is like going back in time to the days when hip hop was real. Their lyrics boast actual cultural relevance over smart beats and samples. This is what underground Chicago hip hop has become – and 1773 is the face of it.

Come check them out and get yourself immersed some of Chicago’s most honest hip hop around.

CMPtv In The Streets: 1773 from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

ROCKTAPUSSY - chicago’s vinyl vixens bring you SPANDEXXX.

If you’re into the Chicago DJ scene or even just hot chicks in tight clothes, chances are you’ve heard of or maybe even hung out the girls from Rocktapussy. Like the secret agent from whose film their name is derived, Chicago’s sexiest spinning duo — comprised of DJs Mother Hubbard (Chess Hubbard) and A-Cup (Jessica Gonyea) — take care of business with a sense of fashion and charming seduction.

Putting together stylized, high-energy shows that utilize multiple turntables, laptops and mixers, and sporting an indominable socialbility on and off the stage (which is probably a product of having been friends since grade school), Rocktapussy has experienced a quick rise in popularity and essentially created a scene all their own. CMPtv recently caught up with these vinyl vixens at Noble Square’s world-renowned listening lounge, Sonotheque, where Rocktapussy was hosting their newest venture to date, a monthly event geared towards female empowerment and tight synthetic fiber - SPANDEXXX. The event was sponsored by VENUS ezine and UR Chicago. With techniques and a combined musical knowlegde rivaled only perhaps by their good looks and infectous personalities, Rocktapussy deserves your attention. Chances are, they already have it.

CMPtv On The Scene - Spandexxx from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

MATT SANTOS to perform an intimate acoustic show

Many musicians like to practice in studios, some at home and yet others - such as Matthew Santos - like to take the time and practice in front of friends. Well how about a whole bar full of friends?

We caught up with Matt Santos this past Thursday at the weekly "Disappear Here" party at Angels and Kings and informed us that he would be playing an intimate little "secret" show at Moonshine on Monday the 19th.

This serves as a good chance to play in front of people and try out some new songs.

And while it's not certain yet, Matt also hinted to us that he may be playing with Lupe Fiasco on the 29th of October at the Congress Theater. It's something he'd like to make happen and told us "it would be a pretty fun time" to play with his pal, Lupe. If he does indeed do the show, well that would give us all another opportunity to see this rising star perform along with another Chicago gem.

Matt Santos is probably best known at this time in his career for his role in producing the "Superstar" single for Lupe Fiasco and even had plenty of face time in the music video for it.

Since partnering up with Lupe, Matt Santos' musical career as really taken off - allowing him the breathing room to make the music he wants to make and how he wants to make it. Matt Santos' will be having a release show for his new album on December 4th at the Lincoln Hall. Be sure to check it out too.

OUT ON THE SCENE - FRONT 312

Chicago Music Project went out to check out the monthly party - Front 312 - about a year back to check it out. I figured in memory of their 1 year anniversary a couple weeks back we'd throw this one up there. From what we hear, this party has grown into quite a monthly rager.

Enjoy!

CMPtv On the Scene - Front 312 from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

Lupe's label and He Say She Say call it quits . . .

After a brief conversation with one of the writers from Lupe Fiasco's blog we learned that He Say She Say is no longer with Lupe's label, 1st and 15th. It's not clear whether the band was dropped or if it was a mutual decision. But their manager, Derek Berry, is sure that it's for the better.

He Say She Say is an electro duo comprised of Million Dollar Mano and Drea Smith, a happenstance meeting that may have left aspiring singer/songwriter Drea a sociology teacher instead of this duo's better half. Lucky for us, though . . . she's not teaching.

They've come up with several instant hits, including single Crash Test Dummy; performed at Lollapalooza in 2009 and have shaken many an ass at tons of local dance parties throughout the city. We've watched people dance themselves into oblivion @ Sonotheque in Noble Square for the monthly Spandexxx party, and saw Drea entrance 800+ people from on top of the bar at Evil Olive for their Lollapalooza announcement party performance at the weekly REHAB party (now moved to Debonair on Milwaukee Avenue).

Despite the hype, the fact remains that now the electro duo no longer has a label backing them up. Speculation leads us to believe that it's due to inactivity. Maybe it's because half of the band is always on tour, which isn't a bad thing, per se. Just leaves less time for them to work on new material and play shows together.

Nonetheless, Derek Berry assures us that they've continued working on music and have created some tracks sure to leave their other hits in the dust. We're looking forward to it.

He Say She Say "Crash Test Dummie" from Noah Banks on Vimeo.

CMP ON*STAGE featuring The Dirty Rooks live at the Double Door

CMPtv On Stage: The Dirty Rooks "Tell Me Something" from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.

The Dirty Rooks got their whole ensemble together for The Steepwater Band's "Grace and Melody" record release show on "Black Wednesday" of 2008. Enjoy!

CMPtv PILOT fall 2007 - In the Streets

Why not kill two birds with one stone? After Kid Static and Kate were done with their little rendezvous, we took him over to Wicker Park's iconic "crotch" where North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenue meet and had him do an impromptu performance of "Switchblade".

And, viola! In the Streets was born.

Tell us what you think!

CMPtv In the Streets: Kid Static from Chicago Music Project on Vimeo.