22 CHICAGO READER | AUGUST 26, 2005 | SECTION THREE mondaThe Treatment y 19

continued from page 18 demolished the worst stereotypes about noise music—that Rock, Pop, Etc. | Hip-Hop it all sounds the same, that anybody can do it, that it’s an expression of brute masculinity. For Maja Ratkje and Hild Sofie Tajford, noise isn’t a way to voice nihilism but a kind of celebration, a place where music making runs amok but not afoul of pleasure and purpose. On the cover of their forthcoming Voluptuous Vultures (PsychForm), they’re sitting serenely amid pastel ceramic statuary, but there’s nothing soft or calming about the sounds on the album. Like the best Japanese noise acts, the duo ride waves of crushing, explosive sound like a thrill-seeking surfer, but they also draw on more traditional musical training to increase the density, rigor, and complexity of their pieces. Ratkje is one of the most astonishing singers on the Festivals planet, sounding at times like Diamanda Galas or Shelley Hirsch, and Tajford is a superb French horn player. More often than not those elements are masterfully manipulated, either through Ratkje’s multitracking or Tajford’s chopped-up samples. On their 2003 debut album, Syklubb Fra Haelvete (reissued in the U.S. last Estrojam year by Important Records), and All Men Are Pigs (Gameboy), a more recent collaboration with fellow Norwegian noisemonger Lasse Marhaug, they emphasize In addition to music at several venues and workshops on exhibits, and a burlesque show. For details on the latter events electronic elements; the new disc is my favorite because women’s participation in the arts and the music industry, this see the performing arts listings; for more information on the the unplugged elements in their impossibly broad year’s Estrojam festival also features film screenings, visual art entire festival call 773-489-6534 or go to www.estrojam.org. soundscapes sometimes come to the fore. Mike Svoboda, an exciting new-music trombonist and former Chicagoan, will open with a solo set; after Fe-mail’s set the three will Bottom Lounge | 3206 N. Wilton | 773-975- Singer, Misty McElroy, Dana Powell, & perform a series of improvised duets. a 8 PM, WEDNESDAY21 0505 or 866-468-3401 Kristin Cox. $10 with sliding-scale fee. A Renaissance Society, University of Chicago, 5811 S. Ellis, Student Center, DePaul University | 2250 N. Sheffield | 773-325-7400 773-702-8670. F —Peter Margasak 10:00 Octopus Project, Hazzards, Sybris FRIDAY23 & Helen Money with Triplette, Estrojam 6:00 “DJing, Street Dancing, and a ROYKSOPP Torbjorn Brundtland and Svein Berge, 2005 Art Fair, music videos & speakers. Bit of Breakdancing.” Workshop childhood friends who’ve worked together off and on since $10. 18+ 8:00 Estrojam 2005 Film Fest participants include Screamin’ the early 90s, have just released The Understanding Bottom Lounge | 3206 N. Wilton | 773-975- (see Movies). $10. A Rachael Cain & Viola Elizabeth Elkins. (Astralwerks), the follow-up to their 2001 debut as 0505 or 866-468-3401 Chicago Filmmakers | 5243 N. Clark | 773- $10 with sliding-scale fee. A Royksopp, Melody A.M . Without abandoning the 293-1447 Metro | 3730 N. Clark | 773-549-0203 or 312-559-1212 cinematic ambience of earlier recordings, the Norwegian THURSDAY22 10:00 Film Fest Afterparty featuring the electronica duo has expanded its sound to include lush Girlie-Q Variety Hour & Hellcat Hussies. $8. 6:00 Alina Simone, Kristen Shout, pop arrangements and downcast love songs, with vocal Circuit Nightclub & Rehab Lounge | 3641 N. Sisters O’Brien, Shelley Miller, cameos taking a front-and-center role; Karin Dreijer (of 6:00 Amy Ray c ,the Reputation, the Halsted | 773-325-2233 Emily White. $8. A the Swedish band the Knife) in particular stands out on Organ, Reptoids, 8 Inch Betsy. Uncommon Ground Cafe | 3800 N. Clark | “What Else Is There?,” the album’s most seductive, $14. 18+ 773-929-3680 beautiful track. Annie opens. a 9 PM, Metro, 3730 N. Bottom Lounge | 3206 N. Wilton | 773-975- SATURDAY24 0505 or 866-468-3401 9:00 Scream Club, Brazilian Girls, Anna Clark, 773-549-0203 or 312-559-1212, $19, 18+. Oxygen, Breakbone Dance Company & —Monica Kendrick 10:00 Numbers, Limited Express (Has 4:00 “Women in the Arts/Music Business others with Pussy Galore. $15, 18+. Gone?), King Cobra, DJ Mother Hubbard, & Activism: Politicizing the Artistic.” Metro | 3730 N. Clark | 773-549-0203 or Tamale. $10, 18+. Workshop particpants include Stacey tuesday 20 312-559-1212 Uncommon Ground Cafe 3800 N. Clark Seisser Trio & Confusion. 773-935-5700. Darkroom 2210 W. Chicago: Wednesdays, BECK Ever since 1998’s Mutations, a mature album or a A : Fri 9/16, 7 PM, Scott Celani, Hayward 10 PM, I-Ron and Alo spin hip-hop with quick diversion depending on who’s talking, Beck has been Williams, Andy Zipf, Noah Earle. Sun 9/18, 7 Weeds 1555 N. Dayton F : Music at 9:30 weekly guests F . 773-276-1411. expected to bounce back by making another Mellow Gold PM, Pete Schmidt, JD Duvall, Tony Piscotti. PM. Fri 9/16, Khaos Theory. Sat 9/17, or Odelay—a party record with absurd, inept raps and Tue 9/20, 8 PM, Radoslav Lorkovic, Andy Skittles. 312-943-7815. HotHouse 31 E. Balbo: Sat 9/17, 11 PM, room-shaking production. Midnite Vultures, his full-band White. Wed 9/21, 9 PM, Adam Fitz. Mr. Greenweedz & G. Riot. 70s soul homage, came close, but that was followed by the 773-929-3680. Wise Fools Pub 2270 N. Lincoln: 312-362-9707. confessional, non-sample-based Sea Change. The new Music at 10 PM Fridays and Saturdays, 8 Guero (Interscope) isn’t the magic return to form either; Underground Lounge 952 W. Newport: PM Sundays through Thursdays. Fri 9/16, Kitty Moon 6237 N. Clark F : Thursdays, it’s more like the album where Beck tries to drop the comic Music after 9 PM. Sat 9/17, Matt Santos. Sat KB, Sounddrifter. Sat 9/17, Doko Benjo, 10 PM, Breakdance Chicago DJs spin hip- shtick but not the fun. Like most of Beck’s discography to 9/17 and Thu 9/22, 10 PM, Flabby Hoffman Franchize. Tue 9/20, the August. hop. 312-927-5844. date, it’s both impressive and inconsistent. There are some Caravan. 773-327-2739. Wednesdays, the Jack, Red Pop Fury. Thu real stinkers: “E-Pro” is a clunky reworking of “Devil’s Lava 859 N. Damen F : DJs spin 9 PM-2 9/22, Musical Outfits, Ghettobillies. Haircut,” and “Hell Yes” ought to end the propagation of Underground Wonder Bar 10 E. Walton: AM nightly. Fourth Thursday of every inept white rapping for all eternity. But “Que Onda Fridays, 8 PM, Heather Horton. Fridays and 773-929-1300. month, Tone B. Nimble, Alo, SP-1, Shon Guero,” with its lowrider groove, paints a vivid portrait of Saturdays, 11 PM, Lonie Walker & Big Bad Dervis. 773-772-3355. LA’s Latino street life, and the terse, stuttering “Black Ass Company Band. Sundays, 8 PM, Joe Tambourine” effectively expresses a bleak romanticism. Thomas & Elliot Taggart; 10 PM, Jen Porter Hip-Hop Morseland 1218 W. Morse: Supper The Brazilian-tinged and darkly beautiful “Missing” & the Fabulous Band; 1 AM, Steve Kouba. club and bar. Thu 9/22, 10 PM, DJ proves that Beck can write a serious ballad without Mondays, 8 PM, Steve Kouba. Tuesdays, 8 Abbey Pub 3420 W. Grace: Sun 9/18, 10 Copperpot & K-Kruz spin hip-hop F . sounding like a sad sack, and on “Earthquake Weather” he PM, Lonie Walker. Wednesdays, 8 PM, PM, Ladybug Mecca, Peven Everett (18+). 773-764-8900. does the Isleys more convincingly than on the admittedly Heather Horton; 11 PM, Lonie Walker & Big 773-478-4408 or 866-468-3401. enjoyable minstrel routine “Debra.” McRorie opens. See Bad Ass Company Band with Jordan The Note 1565 N. Milwaukee: DJs spin also Wednesday. a 6:30 PM, Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Taggart. Thursdays, 8 PM, Miga; 1 AM, Betty’s Blue Star Lounge 1600 W. Grand: after live shows until 4 AM nightly (until 5 Racine, 773-275-6800 or 312-559-1212, sold out. A Vince Willis. 312-266-7761. Music 10 PM-4 AM nightly (until 5 AM AM Saturdays). Tuesdays, midnight, Alo, I- —Peter Margasak Saturdays). Sundays, Peter Rabbit, Brut Ron, Fuego, Shadow & more perform at continued on page 26 Vida 1248 W. George: Thursdays, 9 PM, Tim Force. 312-243-1699. an open mike for MCs F . 773-489-0011. CHICAGO READER | SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 | SECTION THREE 23