WHAT TO WEAR DURING AN ORANGE ALERT?

Listening:
1. Secret Cities: Beach Boy-esque sounds from North Dakota of all places! Listen to: Boyfriends (mp3)
2. Goodwill Falcon: Williamsburg, Virginia is home Carter Mahnke (aka Goodwill Falcon). He finds the harder more electronic edges of the Postal Service/Owl City sound to rest in. Listen to: Gameboy Camera (mp3)
3. Kathryn Calder: We all know the big three in New Pornographers, but this summer Kathryn Calder is going to make some noise of her own. Listen to: Slips Away (mp3)

Episode Thirteen: Suckers Wear Sunglasses

* The Black Keys "The Next Girl"
* Frank Hinton "Co-morbidity"
* Sunglasses "Stand Fast"
* Woodsman "When the Morning Comes"
* Rebekah Silverman reading "Carnivalia" by Glenn Shaheen
* Suckers "Wild Smile"

Additional music by tonspender.

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One of the aspects of the local venue/bar The Whistler (home of the Orange Alert Reading Series) is their appreciation of local art. Every season the allow a local artist take over their front window and thus creating an ever-changing aesthetic for the venue. Over the winter they featured Jana Kinsman, and in my opinion she created their best display to date. Jana is a hybrid illustrated/designer and love capture everyday scenes and characters. For me there is something warm and friendly about her illustrations, and I had to reach out and ask her a few questions.

Orange Alert (OA): I love the display you did for The Whistler. How did that come about and how did you decide what you would do?

When you hear the name Peggy Sue I am sure you don't typically think of stylized anti-folk pop. However, on June 1st Yep Roc Records is going to change the way everyone pictures Peggy Sue. You see Peggy Sue is a trio from Brighton UK consisting of best friends Katy Young and Rosa Slade, along with drummer Olly Joyce. The two trade off soulful, near r&b vocals over the top of genre blending folk-pop. The resulting sound is what makes up the bands debut album Fossils and Other Phantoms.

Peggy Sue will be performing here in Chicago at Schubas on June 14th.

The Moon is Made of Cheese... by Snacki (Parking Block Press, May 2010)

The latest chapbook from the independant art book publisher Parking Block Press is a beautifully drawn collection of some of life's most ironic truths. The Moon is Made of Cheese... by Snacki contains nine (ten if you include the cover) drawings or illustrations that bring thruths like "Sharks can't stop swimming or they'll die..." or "Your eyes and nose... Never stop growing..." to life. Filled with what looks like spray paint of yellow, faint brown and blue, spots and dots, these drawings are fun and fascinating.

Stacie Chappell "Earthbound" 48x48

Listening:
1. 1,2,3: This new Pittsburgh band have released a demo track and the internet is falling in love. Listen to: Confetti (mp3)
2. Mock & Toof: Being released this Tuesday, the new album from Mock & Toof is filled with warm and cozy pop tones. Listen to: Farewell to Wendo (mp3)
3. Milagres: What is it about Brooklyn? I know I've asked that before, but seriously. Milagres owes a few "Thank You's" to Eels, but still this is really good. Listen to: Outside (mp3)

Reading:

This week we have an action-packed episode featuring five writers! One of the writers, Ben Segal, is involved in a very cool project called Potential Books Book. Here is Ben's short explanation of the project, " the short version of the idea is that we are asking people to imagine their ideal non-existent book and to write a blurb for it. We're then compiling those blurbs as a little book." You should check it out and submit something.

Episode Twelve: Disco Edition!

* Jungol "Two People"
* Kathryn Regina "Three Weeks Later"
* Mike Young "No Such Thing As a Wild Horse"
* A Lull "Weapons of War"

When I start to see a writer's name appear in multiple locations, at many of my favorite literary sites, I begin to get curious about that writer. This weeks interview is with Eric Bennett, a writer currently living in New York with his wife an kids. His stories aren't those you might expect from someone living with his wife and kids and that might be why I find him so fascinating. Bennett writes dark and almost disturbing tales that captivate and repulse all at once.

Orange Alert (OA): Your fiction covers some wild subjects how would you classify your work?
Eric Bennett (EB): I’m not sure how to answer that question other than to say I enjoy writing dark stories about deeply flawed characters. Mostly I write about the things people do to keep loneliness or anguish from eating them alive. My wife says my stories are disturbing, which I must admit, is the classification that pleases me most.

Matthew MacDonald and Vanessa Murnaghan create the most gentle and quit music together under the banner of Owl. Matthew handles the beats, electronics, and general rhythm while Vanessa supplies the haunting vocals. Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada, Owl has just released a free full-length album called Chants (the vibrations in the streets keep me weak in the knees). This is a headphones album that will force you to explore the intricate edges of each sound.

You can download the album here.

Tracklisting:
01. Morning Eyes
02. Airport
03. Sandi With an I's Song
04. Roadtrip
05. She Is
06. Goodbye Bye
07. Travels