I’m sure everyone knows this by now but if not Aretha Franklin has pancreatic cancer. I’m not a religious man by any means, in fact I was asked recently what I believe in and I replied “people”. Yes I believe in people, especially people like Aretha Franklin. So whatever it is you believe in, whatever it is you do when times are tough for someone and you hold them deep in your heart, just know Aretha Franklin is a true legend, she is the Queen of Soul and she needs some people to care and love for her right now.

Here are a few of my favorites tunes she has performed over the years, enjoy and lets hope for a full and quick recovery!

December 4th, 2010 is a day that just might go down in party history, I had the great pleasure of hosting the Brew-B-Q II: Electric Brewgaloo / Sagittarians Unite throwdown. The day was part BBQ and part birthday celebration for myself. First guests arrived at 1:30PM on 12/4/10, last guests left at 5:00AM on 12/5/10.

Here’s what went down. . .

LOWDIVE made three 5 gallon kegs of amazing beer including a Belgian Chocolate Coffee Stout, a Chocolate Vanilla Stout, and a Rye Pale Ale. STONE came through with a keg of their Arrogant Bastard Ale. Also RIGHT GIN were in the house with batches of delicious cocktails! Kegs were flowing from 1PM til about 8PM

Won & Tooch supplied the taco bar! From what I understand they grilled up over 30 pounds of beef and 20 pounds of chicken. All of the food was gone by 7PM. That’s a ton of food!

DJ Intel rocked the 1′s & 2′s for like 8 hours straight! The tunes were slamming too, anything from deep Meters to Air, great job holding it down! Intel seriously was working the decks from 2 til damn near 10PM.

Ramsey Judson played upright bass while rapping along to beats, if you haven’t seen Ramsey’s sticker around town you obviously aren’t paying attention. PARTY FOUL ALERT: I was paying too much attention playing host instead of watching the board and didn’t get the line from his beat so it sounds kind of weird. Here’s a tune he performed regardless. . .
Ramsey Judson by WestTownRecording

****** Around 9PM there was a natural reset in the party, those that came early left and a whole new batch came in. I took advantage of a 2 hour lull in drinking to catch up on water and coffee. The following takes place sometime between 11:00PM and 5:ooAM. I recorded everything, a ton more on the hard drive******

For my birthday I had to do it right, so I got the band back together. Literally 4 days prior to the party I reached out to a few musicians whom I have performed with in the past. To my surprise I was able to get Ava Fain (Family Lifted, East Village Project, Bumpus) on vocals,  Afra Williams (East Village Project) on vocals, Sorin Brouwers (Family Lifted, PALA) on guitar, Roger Panella (Jordan Years, L’orchestre Super Vitesse) on guitar, Jeremy Cunningham on drums and of course myself on bass. We did a handful of Chaka Khan tunes and a Lynn Collins tune. There was no rehearsal for this band, in fact a few of the musicians had never met prior to this performance and I was easily into my tenth hour of partying. Here’s a sample. . .
Stop on By – WTR All Stars by WestTownRecording
You Got the Love – WTR All Stars by WestTownRecording

At the conclusion of our set, I received a very special treat by Ms Ava Fain singing me “Happy Birthday”!! Getting old has never felt sweeter. Happy Birthday – Ava Fain by WestTownRecording

The Congregation followed with their scorching blend of soul and R&B.  They were just featured in Metromix today in fact and have a record release party this Saturday December 11th @ Reggies! I had the pleasure of recording the album Not for Sleeping which is being released, please join me for what will be an amazing show! Here are two of my favs from Saturday, check it out!
Been Down So Long – The Congregation by WestTownRecording
High Class MF – The Congregation by WestTownRecording

An hour or so after The Congregation set, Ms Gina Bloom performed the following birthday song for me. My heart is still a pitter patter. . .
Birthday Song – Gina Bloom by WestTownRecording

The night came to a close after the sensational performance by the hottest group to come out of WTR, Spanish Cafeteria! This band just showed up at the party around 3AM, apparently they are all related featuring Gina, Wes & Illy Cafeteria on vocals, Logan Cafeteria on drums, Chuck Cafeteria on keys, Roger Cafeteria on guitar and Mr Cafeteria on bass. . . Their rider only allowed me access to one track for the blog. Damn lawyers!
World Keeps Turning – Spanish Cafeteria by WestTownRecording

I am also proud to announce the first official “Last Guy Standing” award to Mr Logan Schutts for being, well you guessed it, the last guy standing at the party! I have found myself in his shoes many a time and feel it only appropriate to say, yeah this dude can hang. Check out Logan playing drums with afrobeat/funk band Crystal Gravy this Saturday December 11th @ Nicks in Wicker Park.

So there ya have it folks, what started at 1PM ended at 5AM. I spent all day Sunday cleaning between naps. As of Monday the place is pretty damn close to being back to business as usual.

As always if you haven’t “liked” West Town Recording already, you can do so here. . . Also add me as a friend, I’m far from shy. Please keep in mind that all of this happened at my slanty shanty in Chicago’s Humboldt Park, kind of crazy that I’m still throwing house parties 18 years later. . .

Much love, thanks for one hell of a party! I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such talented people, don’t ever stop!

-Mr Andersen

What a night! I’m still getting great feedback about the party, can’t wait til next year! First person arrived at 9:09PM, last person left at 5:38AM not a bad run!

Below find Baby n Hide covering the Kanye West tune “Runaway“; The Sometimes Family performing their tune “It’s A Wonder We Don’t Die From Dancing” and The Drunken Years performing their song “The Winner”.

There are all sorts of pictures on facebook from the party, look me up and you can see more if you were there that night.

Also if you haven’t already, LIKE WTR on Facebook and sign up for the mailing list. Enjoy!

Runaway by WestTownRecording

Baby and Hide cover the new Kanye West tune “Runaway”, totally hilarious cause I thought it was a Pavement tune as they were playing it, d’oh!

It’s a Wonder We Don’t Die From Dancing by WestTownRecording
The Sometimes Family hit it with their tune “It’s A Wonder We Don’t Die From Dancing”, I Love when Rebeca starts the call and response at the end of the tune, good shit.

The Winner by WestTownRecording

The Drunken Years performing their tune “The Winner”. The goal for the evening was to get drunk, I think we achieved said goal.

Thanks for another great Halloween Bash!

Yours truly,

Mr Andersen / The Ghost of Billy Mays

You read it right folks, I will be dusting off the suit, clearing the throat and rocking a mic at the Arts of Life Charitable Chili Cook-Off this coming Saturday November 6! Check out the list of sponsors including HALF ACRE BEER COMPANY, CHICAGOIST, WEST TOWN RECORDING, and BLACK DOG GELATO!!!

The Arts of Life, Inc. is committed to providing high quality, innovative services for developmentally disabled adults. The studio focuses on its artists’ needs and strives to exceed expectations. The Arts of Life will continue to be characterized by both dedication to its artists and excellence in the field of developmental disabilities.

Please join us! Facebook event link here!

Saturday November 6, 2010 5PM-8PM
The Arts of Life
2010 W. Carroll Ave
Chicago, IL

-Mr Andersen

West Town Recording is pleased to celebrate our 5 year anniversary with yet another party (10/30/10)! This one will be different because everyone will be in costume. . .

Featuring performances by Baby & Hide, The Sometimes Family and The Jordan Years. A late night jam is anticipated featuring any number of musicians that will be in the house.

This is an invite only event, to be invited email WestTownRecording@Gmail.com and convince me!

-Mr Andersen

Wes Restless was through West Town Recording last night getting the new Jordan Years record together. Here’s a vid on the new HD Flip Cam, ENJOY!

-Mr Andersen

WHAT: CHICAGO SOUL SHOWCASE, an evening of Windy City soul featuring The Jordan Years, The Congregation, The Sometimes Family and Keith and The Complications at Double Door. These four bands are teaming up to show that soul music is alive and well in the city that’s rhythm and blues legacy was built by the brothers Chess and cemented by innovators such as Curtis Mayfield.

EVENT DETAILS:
Wednesday, September 29th 2010, 9pm
Double Door
1572 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
Tickets: $7 / 21+
Advance tickets available at Ticketfly.com: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/13377

BIOS:

THE JORDAN YEARS (11:45PM-12:30AM) – Formed in 2008, Chicago soulsters The Jordan Years have a throw-back sound that harkens back of the golden age of Motown and Stax Records. In late 2009, they released their debut 7″ vinyl which has received spins on such top radio stations as WXRT and WBEZ.  To support their record, they took to the stage, playing a number of the hottest clubs in Chicago including Double Door, Martyrs’, Subterranean, Lincoln Hall and Darkroom. In addition to their own showcases, The Jordan Years have displayed their versatility by stepping in as co-producers of the comedy/variety show The City That Works with comedy legends Schadenfreude. They’ve performed as house band to the sold out Dre Day ‘10 (a night celebrating the music of Dr Dre) alongside female MC Psalm One (Rhyme Sayers), backed up Grammy winner Rhymefest as part of the TBS Just For Laughs Festival and were featured as house band to the 1st Annual Miss Wicker Park Pageant at Double Door.

THE CONGREGATION (10:45-11:30PM) –  The Congregation plays a righteous combination of blues, soul and rock & roll. They do it the old-fashioned way, the way Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Howlin’ Wolf, Aretha Franklin, The Animals and Bo Diddley did it– real instruments, raw and powerful vocals, pure soul. Barely a year old, this female-fronted soul powerhouse has been working hard and moving fast –in March of 2010 they competed in, and won, Underground Wonder Bar’s Annual Talent Search. This fall they will be releasing their self-produced debut EP, Not for Sleepin’.

THE SOMETIMES FAMILY (9:45-10:30PM) – The Sometimes Family, a Chicago soul band, tickles your limbs and sets them in motion. Live, they put on an energetic show and strive to pull you in as they set the scene with emotional stories of heartbreak and love. Lead by Rebecca Sometimes, inspired by the likes of the Jackson 5 and the Fifth Dimension, this vocally-driven group features thumping, incredible bass, beautiful flute lines, rhythmic organ and guitar, and show-stopping drums. They would love to see you sometimes.

KEITH & THE COMPLICATIONS (9-9:30PM) – “The most rockin’ soul band you’ve never heard of…”–GapersBlock.com

MORE INFO:
773-256-9300; WestTownRecording@gmail.com
www.TheJordanYears.com/photos-pictures/
Photos, CDs, videos, and additional materials also available
West Town Recording blog and other content – www.WestTownRecording.com
The Congregation – www.TheCongregationband.com
The Jordan Years – www.TheJordanYears.com
The Sometimes Family – www.TheSometimesFamily.com
Keith & the Complications – www.myspace.com/KeithandTheComplications

Theryl “Houseman” DeClouet of Galactic fame was backed by The Jordan Years very own Michael Cole on keys, Wes Restless on vocals and myself on bass. Martyrs will never be the same, love the sound there by the way, BAG END!!!! Expect to see more WTR live dates at Martyrs, this could be the new North side home.

-Mr Andersen

“West Town Recording – Your Soul Provider” iron on t-shirt now available! If you like our website header then you’ll love this shirt! Visit the STORE to get yours now!

-Mr Andersen