Joyful Noise Move Sneak Peek-20 Free Family 4 Packs For Our Readers!

ChiIL Mama's stoked to be able to offer our readers a free, sneak peek at the movie, Joyful Noise, this Monday, 1/9/12.  We'll pick 20 winners for family 4 packs, so spread the word.  Tell all your friends and get in out of the cold, for a warm hearted story.  Be the first to see and hear this moving, music filled movie.

Enter here through 12:01 on the 8th.  Winners will be notified by e-mail and their names will appear in the Rafflecopter widget on this page.  Good luck!

*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up right here (if you've gone through RSS feed or are scrolling down the blog and don't see it, click on the actual page title and it should pop right up).   Entries are easy.   Winning rocks!   Start your new year off right with a free movie night!

Recommended Empty Bottle Shows This Week-Wed (Tonight), Thurs, Sat

1035 N. Western

We'll be hittin' the bottle This week...The Empty Bottle that is.   Tonight, one of our favorite local musicians, Bruce Lamont, is up with other notable hard core/ metal legend, Scott Kelly!   Tomorrow we'll try to swing by early to catch Playfully Yours from Cincinnati.   We had a chance meeting, outta town last week, with band member Maxx, and look forward to checkin' out their live set.   *Show is still FREE WITH RSVP through TODAY.

We just shot Bruce Lamont's solo stuff and amazing Yakuza set at Reggie's Rock Club, and will have those live photos up today at both ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows (along with another recent Empty bottle show by The Buddies.) 

Empty Bottle Tonight
WED . 1/4/12 ( 9:00pm , $8 buy )
Scott Kelly label: Neurot related: Neurosis
Bruce Lamont label: At A loss related: Bloodiest,Circle of Animals,Yakuza
Winters In Osaka
Che Arthur label: Past/Futures

From Empty Bottle's Site:  Hardcore / metal legends NEUROSIS are currently in Chicago working on new recordings for release this year and we are honored to welcome SCOTT KELLY to the Empty Bottle, taking a break from recording to perform a solo set here tonight. KELLY has influenced a whole generation of musicians wanting to take heavy music into new realms and with his various projects - BLOOD AND TIME, TRIBES OF NEUROT, doom metal super group SHRINEBUILDER and as a guest vocalist on MASTODONS last four studio LPs. We can’t wait to hear what happens when he takes the stage solo. 

Our own BRUCE LAMONT’S last LP, Feral Songs for the Epic Decline, out last year via At a Loss was highlighted in SPIN’s “20 Best Metal Albums of 2011.” In their words, “thanks to LAMONT’S unholy army of loop pedals, Feral Songs is a dissonant, ritualistic swirl of Middle Eastern scales, mystery slams, ghostly moans, snaking reedwork and acoustic guitars…equal parts bustling and bleak,” and we’re always pleased when he takes the stage here. WINTERS IN OSAKA return to the Bottle, having gone past their punk influenced noise roots, the outfit is now creating quieter, spookier ambient/drone music and has added members of HARPOON and BONGRIPPER to the fold. Chicago by way of Alabama gritty and earnest songwriter CHE ARTHUR returns performing songs off his most recent release via Past/Futures, Like Revenge. (AV Club) (Brooklyn Vegan Chicago) (Reader)


THU. 1/5/12 (9:30pm, Free with RSVP, $8 buy)
Playfully Yours
The Halamays
Wonky Tonk

Check out one of Playfully Yours' YouTube Videos 

Playfully Yours musician, Maxx, sited Thrill Kill Cult as one of their influences, when we had a chance meeting in Cincy last week.   Then, weirdly enough, New Years Eve & Day, Thrill Kill Cult came up 3 more times in other unrelated conversations.

*Note to Maxx--never underestimate the power of a crappy day job for networking.   Talk about your passion often and doors will open.   BTW, to add to our prior conversation, Chicago has some seriously sweet thrift stores to expand your rock wardrobe without blowing the beer $$.   Our favorite is the Unique Thrift Store Chain & the best of those two are at Diversey and Kilbourn or Addison & Kimball.   If transportation is an issue...there are two worth a look close to Empty Bottle.   Check out Village Thrift on Milwaukee Ave., just north of Armitage and a few doors north of there, Family Thrift.

Finally...we'll be hittin' the bottle again Saturday.   Check out our prior feature here for all the details.

SAT. 1/7/12 (12:00pm, $8 buy)
'Occupy Chicago' Fundraiser featuring

When Flying Feels Like Falling (our favorite underager snarky punks)
Cathy Santones
Waste
Going Backwards
Bajas
Giveback
Ephemeral Sunrise

WITCHES, WIZARDS, SPELLS AND ELVES: Free Family 4 Pack January 21 & 22 ONLY!

One weekend-4 shows only, come bring the littles and check out a fanciful hybrid of magic, mythical creatures, Shakespeare and chamber music!  If your kids are anything like ours, they already adore tales about WITCHES, WIZARDS,
 SPELLS AND ELVES.   
  
We have a family 4 pack to your choice of dates, for one lucky winner.   We'll announce our winner on Friday the 13th. 
  
*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up right here (if you've gone through RSS feed or are scrolling down the blog and don't see it, click on the actual page title and it should pop right up).   Entries are easy.   Winning rocks!   Start your new year off right with music, myth and Shakespearean stage magic!

Midwest Hype CD Release This Thurs & Free Tixs To 4 Clip Art Mondays at Schubas & Bluegrass and Blues Fest

 Midwest Hype

Check 'em out here on Reverbnation

It's Free Ticket Tuesday at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows!  
Marie is our 4 Pack Ticket Winner to see The Ice Cream Vendors at Beat Kitchen this Sunday at Noon.  Congrats!   Every Sunday at noon, Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids are all ages (with parents) and just $6!   ChiIL Mama is stoked to be a sponsor.  

Midwest Hype Thursday at Schubas

We'll be there to shoot stills and can't wait to see the guys in action again.   Did you catch 'em at North Coast Music Festival?

    •    Midwest Hype (Record Release)
    •    Otis
    •    Thursday 01/05/2012 9:00 PM
    •    18+
    •    $10.00 ($15.00 With CD. See link below)

Buy a ticket along with a new CD for only 5 extra dollars by clicking this link

Midwest Hype combines a blend of Funk, Reggae, Rock, Jazz, and Hip-hop they call "Urban Garage Jazz." They have an intense, high energy show with music that never drags and personalities that keep a smile on every face.

 photo by Brad Meese

Then we have a special ongoing treat to thaw your January urge to hibernate.   We have 2 free tickets to Clip Art's month of Mondays, residency at Schubas. 

 All shows are 8PM/$6/18+

1/9 - w/ Algebro + Any Kind
1/16 - w/ Dick Prall + Paper Thick Walls
1/23 - w/ Briar Rabbit + The Sometimes Family
1/30 - w/ Baby Teeth + Jennifer Hall

*Wait for Rafflecopter to load up right here (if you've gone through RSS feed or are scrolling down the blog and don't see it, click on the actual page title and it should pop right up).
  

When Flying Feels Like Falling Occupy Chicago Benefit At The Empty Bottle This Saturday

When:  
Saturday, January 7, 2012
 (all ages)
Time:  
11:00am until 4:30pm


WE ARE THE 99%
Come help WFFLF support the Occupy Chicago movement by attending this benefit show at The Empty Bottle!

There will be some awesome bands playing!

Doors: 11am
Show: 12pm
Buy tickets at the door: $8

All Ages
BUT The Empty Bottle is a 21+ club so
**ALL MINORS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT**
( 1 adult can be the chaperone for a group)

LINE UP:
Ephemeral Sunrise- 12:00pm-12:25pm
Give Back- 12:35pm-1pm
The Bajas- 1:10pm-1:35pm
Going Backwards- 1:45pm-2:10pm
Waste- 2:20pm-2:45pm
THE CATHY SANTONIES- 2:55pm-3:25pm
WHEN FLYING FEELS LIKE FALLING- 3:35pm- 4:15pm (under age punks who rock hard)

A Big thanks to the School Of Rock for providing the back-line!

 If you haven't been to Occupy Chicago down at Jackson & LaSalle here's their website!
http://occupychi.org/about-us

11 YEAR-OLD ROCKERS HAUNTED BY HEROES ON NBC'S “THE TODAY SHOW” THIS MORNING

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

HAUNTED BY HEROES rocked NBC’s “Today Show” this morning, January 3, 2012. The segment, filmed in Los Angeles and San Francisco, features the band of middle-schoolers as they play The Sunset Strip Music Festival and other West Coast venues. Haunted by Heroes , whose members all recently turned 11 years- old, have been the subject of national news stories as the world's youngest rock band, and recently released their debut single "Rock Me Roxy," recorded with famed producer Sylvia Massy (Aerosmith, The Black Crowes, Danzig, Prince, Seal, and many others). Their debut album is set for an early 2012 release. "Rock Me Roxy" was also featured in the "Rock Band 3" game.

Here at ChiIL Mama, we know kids rock, and are happy to help spread the word about young talent.  In fact, congrats are in order for Chicago local kids band, Northbrook Garage, who won their studio time to record at Ardent Studios!   We helped spread the word in early December, so thank you to all of our readers who voted.   In another update, from the same Dec. 6th kid band news round up, our rockin' underage friends in Chicago band, When Flying Feels Like Falling (winners of The Next Big Thing contest at The Metro) 

are playing another Chi Town gig this Friday.   The show's an all ages benefit for Chicago Zine Fest and here's the FB event page.

Come see WFFLF at-
DIYCHI presents:

A Benefit for CHICAGO ZINE FEST
January 6th
7-10pm

• Into It. Over It- (Wrote a song about a previous zine fest organizer) Here is his music - intoitoverit.com Here is a comic about him - http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/comic/ramsey-beyer/an-evening-with-evan-weiss/

• Creaturely Features- (Something you may want to see)

• Gunshy-  www.myspace.com/thegunshy

• XLions of TsavoX- Features some Zinesters? Hardcore (sorta)

• When Flying Feels Like Falling - http://www.facebook.com/whenflyingfeelslikefalling

The Spaceship
1804 S. Racine
7pm
$5

Check out WFFLF's main web page here.

all Haunted by Heros photos off their web site 
http://www.hauntedbyheroes.com/

Back to Haunted by Heros:

You may have caught Haunted by Heroes on their Cartoon Network video of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way " (performed with 8 year-old rapper Lil P-Nut, similar to Aerosmith’s collaboration with Run-DMC), which aired nationally in early September, 2011.

Haunted by Heroes is also slated to appear Thursday, January 19 at the Anaheim Convention Center for The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). The band ends the NAMM Show weekend at the Sunset Strip's Whisky a Go Go on Saturday, January 21.  

Check out: their main web site

Haunted by Heros Facebook Page

http://twitter.com/hauntedbyheroes and  
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheThrashersRock

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama for the latest in music and theatre news,  reviews, and loads of nationwide give aways including CDs, DVDs, books, games, toys and more.   We give away loads of Chicago area tickets, but our other freebies are open to the nation.   We shoot a ton of video interviews, live concert footage, and rockin' still photos.  We feature bands for adults, bands full of kids, and rockin' kindie family friendly bands.   Remember to check back in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.    

Don't like to miss much?  Follow ChiIL Mama's facebook page, follow our YouTube Channel, subscribe to ChiIL Mama by e-mail or RSS feed in the sidebar to the right and follow us on Twitter.

Welcome McKenna-American Girl Doll of The Year 2012! (photo filled recap)

"Mom, this is my best day EVER!" my daughter enthused today after our fun filled visit to American Girl Place in downtown Chicago, at Water Tower Place today.   



It was the meet McKenna, American Girl Doll of The Year 2012, party.  The newest member of the American Girl family has a lot in common with my little gymnast.   They're both level 4, entering 4th grade, and all about being strong.  





They've both spent time in a leg cast & on crutches due to a gymnastics related injury!   McKenna's cast even has our last name (MARA) prominently signed at the top...

 

The coincidences were so great that Sagezilla was theorizing that Pleasant Company is watching her and her team mates and immortalizing them as dolls!



You could say, McKenna is a doll we can relate to!   



We came home with the cast/crutches/panda set, with a cool purple ace bandage.   And we also couldn't resist the doll sized gym bag full of miniature snacks, money, ID, school and gymnastics papers and a water bottle.   

The party was a fun one.   We enjoyed a gymnastics demo by the talented girls from Skyline Gymnastics.   
  


Then Sage made an "encouragment mirror" and a dream bracelet at the free craft tables.   We both searched both floors of the impressive huge store for the scavenger hunt items and earned a McKenna poster.   Then we were excited to find that everyone who stopped by customer service got a free, white, doll sized gymnastics duffle.

We can't wait to check out more upcoming McKenna events and activities.   Click here for the Chicago schedule.  McKenna raises the bar for American Girl Doll fans and she'll vault into your hearts, floor you with her sweet accessories, and leave your favorite girl beaming.  

Welcome McKenna, the Gymnast & Newest American Girl Doll!

You're Invited to the Debut of the 2012 Girl of the Year

    •    January 2: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Your girl will flip for our newest Girl of the Year! At this special event, she can be among the first to learn about this new character’s world. Join us for demonstrations, crafts, free giveaways, and more.
     
Start your new year with a new friend!   Here at ChiIL Mama we were elated to be able to review and give away a Kanani Doll in 2011.   She turned out to be THE most popular American Girl Doll of The Year ever! 

 

 
 ChiIL Mama.com Photo Credit

We'll still be celebrating Kanani as one of our top toys of 2011 this week, with a giant, photo filled feature on Kanani visits Chicago.   

Kanani and ChiIL Mama's own Sage Ani prove that American girls aren't all that different even when they live half way around the world from each other!

We took Kanani on the el train and to Chicago favorites.   Then we explored the impressive world of American Girl Dolls downtown at Water Tower Place. 


Kanani, the most popular Girl of the Year doll EVER, visits real life Chicago gymnasts and other American Girl friends at Water Tower Place, Chicago

As the friend of a real 8 year old gymnast, our Kanani has been to a number of meets.    My daughter placed first in state in 2010 and made it to state again in December 2011 in a harder, higher level, beating her own best scores in bars, beam, floor and vault.   In fact, she first got Kanani after a gymnastics show!

Real life American girl gymnast, Sage, who will be entering 4th grade this year, just like McKenna, with Kanani, American Girl Doll of The Year 2010!

 As much as we love our Hawaiian girl from Kauai, she'll have some stiff competition, as little girls all over the world tumble for McKenna, the gymnast, this year.   We're hoping to be able to offer a McKenna doll to one of our lucky readers to kick off 2012 and will keep everyone posted.


*American Girl’s Girl of the Year debut in Chicago — free and open to the public — January 1 and 2.  Bring your daughter down to Water Tower Place today or tomorrow and she’ll be first to meet McKenna through free demonstrations, crafts, giveaways, and more.

Save the dates and celebrate:

For all the girls out there who love gymnastics and their American Girl Dolls...

Meet McKenna!

Celebration
What: A meal and activities for getting to know the ins and outs of McKenna’s world.
Why: Attendees take home an American Girl book.
When: Reserve now for Jan. 13, 16 or 28, Feb. 11 or 20, or Mar. 3 or 27.

 
Take the Challenge Scavenger Hunt
What: Quick challenges are scattered throughout the store.
Why: A free American Girl poster upon completion.
When: Jan. 4, 6, 11, 18, 25 & 25; Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29; Mar. 7, 14, 21 & 28.


Crafts
What: A session to get artsy with inspiration from McKenna’s stories.
Why: Bond with other American Girl fans and emerge with beautiful work to show for it.
When: Jan. 7, 13, 14, 16, 21 & 28; Feb. 11 & 20; Mar. 3 & 27.

ChiILMama.com Photo Credit-all photos

Meet the Author                                       
What: Get to know Mary Casanova, the award-winning writer of the 2012 Girl of the Year books.
Why: Ask questions, show admiration, and get a signature.
When: Jan. 14.





 

From January 1, get the McKenna doll and paperback ($105) in-store at Water Tower Place, 835 North Michigan Avenue or online at americangirl.com. Call 877-247-5223 to learn more.