Hoorah two weeks are over celebratory CHICAGO FAP thread!

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Continued from the emails that have been flying back and forth, so that any other Chicago ILXors who get on in the next couple of days can came too if they want.
So far the plan is to go to this:
> > ***Ira Glass, host of This American Life, and
> > illustrator Chris Ware will be
> > presenting a story they wrote and illustrated
> > together. The presentation takes
> > place July 17 at 10:45 PM on the roof of the Harris
> > Theater, 205 E. Randolph.
> > Along with the story presentation, there will be two
> > musical groups in
> > attendance: The Aluminum Group and 8th Blackbird.
> > The event is free and open to
> > the public.***
So now the mission is to:
1. Decide when and where we are meeting beforehand for boozing and pre-party dorkiness.
2. Convince amateur1st to come despite his allergy to Ira Glass by saying that, dude, it's only for like an hour and it's free and it's outside and you get to drink beer with sexy ILXors and their sexy girlfriends, so who cares if Monsieur Glass is there? You can stand at the back of the crowd and heckle for all I care.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Friday, 16 July 2004 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, our friend and drummer Ben might come too. Those of you who came to my bday party met him.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Friday, 16 July 2004 13:51 (twenty years ago)

Ben's gonna be there? Fuck that, man. I'm out.

― jaymc, Friday, 16 July 2004 14:30 (twenty years ago)

can't we do something earlier so i don't have to go to that thing?

NB i won't be able to check my email tomorrow, so can NA call me and let me know what's happening?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 16 July 2004 14:31 (twenty years ago)

I'M DOWN FOR WHATEVER, WHENEVER, FOOLS.

(yes, I will call you and give you the heads up)

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Friday, 16 July 2004 14:32 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, I think the sensible thing to do would be to meet early (like 7-ish?) and then those of us who wish to traipse over to Millie Park can do so. (I have to admit, I would be disappointed if I didn't go.)

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 16 July 2004 14:35 (twenty years ago)

That sounds good. Now the question is where?

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Friday, 16 July 2004 14:43 (twenty years ago)

Millie Park

I like that--makes me think Thoroughly Modern Millie Park. There's something so quaintly early-20th-century modern about the spectacle of this park opening extravaganza.

― mck (mck), Friday, 16 July 2004 15:07 (twenty years ago)

i will be at schubas for the new year show, anyone who fancies a pint with me there is more than welcome to attend. i'll be the painfully thin guy sneaking back into the main bar area to grab secret smokes while my lady friend is (hopefully) thinking i'm going to the john. please don't tell her.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Friday, 16 July 2004 17:55 (twenty years ago)

Why don't we meet somewhere to eat? You guys know better than we do. Amateur1st, any good diners near there?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Friday, 16 July 2004 18:34 (twenty years ago)

near where?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 16 July 2004 18:51 (twenty years ago)

So...where do we want to meet? It doesn't seem like there are any good cheapo normal bars in the Loop, just sports bars and shit. What is the Bergdoff like? I'm guessing lame, but I just don't know what else is down there. Let's come up with a plan, people!

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Saturday, 17 July 2004 18:10 (twenty years ago)

The only other place I could find on Metromix that looks halfway passable is Monk's.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Saturday, 17 July 2004 18:19 (twenty years ago)

so what is the plan? and is there any cheap parking around there? or free?

c'mon people

― todd swiss (eliti), Saturday, 17 July 2004 21:11 (twenty years ago)

the plan as of this moment (5:40 PM CST) is to meet at 7:30 at the artist's cafe, 412 s. michigan (by the old fine arts theatre). i doubt there will be any cheap parking, or much parking at all for that matter.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Saturday, 17 July 2004 21:40 (twenty years ago)

although you can try the garage on monroe... but given the events in the new park it might be pretty full.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Saturday, 17 July 2004 21:40 (twenty years ago)

PICTURES! Sadly, very few of my pictures of people came out. People move, and get blurry, and look like they have more than one nose in the photos. Inanimate objects, not so much.

Sarah, Mark (John's brother), John, and Renee (John's SO)
http://giganticmag.com/images/popups/DSCF0003.jpg

Fireworks! (The source of much controversy. Don't ask)
http://giganticmag.com/images/popups/DSCF0010.jpg

Michigan Ave. is pretty.
http://giganticmag.com/images/popups/DSCF0014.jpg

The Amoco Building is dramatically tall.
http://giganticmag.com/images/popups/DSCF0016.jpg

The 11 million dollar giant metallic bean.
http://giganticmag.com/images/popups/DSCF0024.jpg

The enven-more-million dollar Frank Gehry-design music pavilion.
http://giganticmag.com/images/popups/DSCF0025.jpg

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 18 July 2004 14:21 (twenty years ago)

Sorry, guys. I have a problem. I'm trying to get better about it. Hope the rest of your evening went well -- did you go to Hollywood Grill?

― jaymc (jaymc), Sunday, 18 July 2004 16:20 (twenty years ago)

We went nowhere but home. We had a friend coming in on a late plane, and suddenly realized that we had better go. We looked for you!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 18 July 2004 16:51 (twenty years ago)

hollywood grill was good. the whole evening was fun.

yay faps

― todd swiss (eliti), Sunday, 18 July 2004 17:08 (twenty years ago)

also, my architect is about louis kahn.

i cant believe that i forgot.

― todd swiss (eliti), Sunday, 18 July 2004 17:58 (twenty years ago)

the chris ware thing was good. basically a better-than-average "This American Life" segment, with illustrations by Chris Ware, which makes a lot of difference. the site-specific stuff was fabulous. i felt privileged.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Sunday, 18 July 2004 22:19 (twenty years ago)

I've had Lost Chicago on my list of things to buy for a while now, but it got bumped way up after that little presentation.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Sunday, 18 July 2004 22:28 (twenty years ago)

Probably the most successful Chicago FAP I've been a part of, and the second-most successful FAP in general (after NYC July 4 craziness (but to tell you the truth, this might have been more fun due to less craziness and generally less drama (except for the Aluminum Group debate))). Hoorah! And I got cheeze fries!

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 11:46 (twenty years ago)

i don't know why it has to be reified (??) as a "fap"; it was just, y'know, some people hanging out.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 19 July 2004 15:36 (twenty years ago)

FAP!

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 15:37 (twenty years ago)

~~FAP~~

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 19 July 2004 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Duck season!

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 15:41 (twenty years ago)

is everyone having fingernails for dessert in the first picture?

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 19 July 2004 15:54 (twenty years ago)

hm i wouldn't be surprised if those were on the menu at THE ARTIST'S SNACK SNOP

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 19 July 2004 16:07 (twenty years ago)

for $30.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 16:15 (twenty years ago)

with a dirty spoon

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 19 July 2004 16:17 (twenty years ago)

i don't know why it has to be reified (??) as a "fap"; it was just, y'know, some people hanging out.

I think this was one of the central issues in our difficulty planning the night.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 19 July 2004 16:27 (twenty years ago)

??? i don'understand

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 19 July 2004 16:31 (twenty years ago)

Well, I think some people were thinking of it as an Official ILX FAP (and thereby making every effort to include everyone) and others were thinking of it as Just Some People Who Happen to Know Each Other From ILX Hanging Out.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 19 July 2004 17:07 (twenty years ago)

I like to try and include everyone no matter what.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 17:23 (twenty years ago)

You're a better man than I.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 19 July 2004 17:33 (twenty years ago)

I was going to post amateurist's comment (about the artist's snack shop) to the excelsior thread, but it's probably only funny to those familiar with it...in some strange way I'm glad to hear that it's the same as it ever was.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Monday, 19 July 2004 17:41 (twenty years ago)

Much mockery was made of the Artist's Cafe, rest assured.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 18:02 (twenty years ago)

Yikes! Ok, the Fake Fictions (me + Sarah + Ben) are apparently playing our first show this Saturday (the 24th) at the Pontiac Grill on Damen, right outside the Blue Line Damen el stop, at 10 PM. We would happy if some people we knew came. It will probably be sloppy and nerve-wracking, but hopefully also fun and loud.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Monday, 19 July 2004 20:48 (twenty years ago)

Heads up: everyone in New York is moving to Chicago next year. The whole city. I've not met a single person out here who's not moving to Chicago next year. Be prepared to hear a whole bunch of people referring to convenience stores as "delis" or "bodegas" and constantly going "It closes that early?" and "You only pay $3000 a month for this closet?"

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 19 July 2004 20:55 (twenty years ago)

are people coming here for school or work?

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 19 July 2004 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Both! Art Instituters, investment bankers, and weren't-doing-much-here-anywayers.

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 19 July 2004 20:57 (twenty years ago)

Between that and yr FAP-love, I am crying little beady tears and craving a Hollywood fried-egg sandwich.

― nabisco (nabisco), Monday, 19 July 2004 20:59 (twenty years ago)

I'm guessing that if you "weren't doing much" in New York, you could make a healthy living of it in Chicago.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 04:48 (twenty years ago)

I think John is exactly right upthread -- next time we have a FAP, it should just be a FAP. I was unclear that it was supposed to be a proper FAP, or I would have planned differently. There should be pints involved, as the name of the event would suggest. There should probably be a certain degree of drunkenness, even. And no big-ass city-wide events -- as fun as that was and as glad as I am that I was there, it wasn't the stuff of FAP. I would have been there anyway.

I'm thinking more like a bar crawl down our favorite Chicago street next time. Clark? (Maybe, but down near Wrigleyville it gets pretty fratty.) Division? (Never really been there myself.) Halstead? Damnit... we don't have enough Chicago ILMers! I want to cruise Halstead Street, coked out of my gourd! Who's with me????!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 06:29 (twenty years ago)

Um... never mind. I just remembered that I'm not homosexual.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 06:30 (twenty years ago)

i like booze

― todd swiss (eliti), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 06:39 (twenty years ago)

I don't care if it was considered a FAP or not. All I know is, you guys are just about everyone we've befriended in Chicago and I like hangin' out with you. And I say, the more the merrier. Bring on the non-ILXors! (Or is that not what we're talking about?) Anyway, yeah, I'm nervous about this show.

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 14:53 (twenty years ago)

i dunno, a "FAP" sounds a little too much like a Magic card gathering or something. i'd rather just hang out.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 15:10 (twenty years ago)

fancy a pokemon

― kephm, Tuesday, 20 July 2004 15:15 (twenty years ago)

Let's have a Magic card gathering!

(j/k)

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 15:55 (twenty years ago)

No Magic cards. Nick has a Playstation, though!

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Tuesday, 20 July 2004 22:43 (twenty years ago)

nabisco does that mean that you're moving to chicago?? who's moving to chicago?? When I'm in st louis (ten days and counting) Chicago is a lot closer and I will be visiting my friend alyson there and you all should meet her too. who's moving to chicago??

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 13:35 (twenty years ago)

For those of you who might have been considering coming to see our first show but weren't sure if you would like our music, we have our demo songs up on our website now: www.thefakefictions.com.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 13:58 (twenty years ago)

i esp. like 'go get em tiger' but i am in massachusetts

― kephm, Wednesday, 21 July 2004 14:10 (twenty years ago)

there's a chance i might be in michigan for a birthday party this saturday, but if i'm in chicago i will definitely make it!

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 14:11 (twenty years ago)

Thanks for kind words, kephm.
Am., or anyone, if you can't make it we won't be offended. I'm still not sure whether I want people we know to be at our first show, since it might make it more nerve-wracking, but it might be good to have some friendly faces in the crowd.
Oh, and we will be playing a Prince cover.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 14:26 (twenty years ago)

holy crap those songs are really great!!

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 14:35 (twenty years ago)

Thanks! You live somewhere in the midwest, right? Hook us up with a show!

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 14:44 (twenty years ago)

(I am shameless.)

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 14:44 (twenty years ago)

some anagrams for "fake fictions":

NICE OAK STIFF
ATKINS OFFICE
FAT SINK OF ICE
OAFS FITE NICK
I TICK OFF SEAN
IS FATE OF NICK (gasp)

― amateur!st (amateurist), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:01 (twenty years ago)

I'm crushing on you guys pretty hard right now, esp. "We Could Destroy You." (And Sarah your voice is so not what I expected, but I have no idea what I expected, so what does that mean?) I'd come down for the show but 7/24 is my wife's birthday and attention must be paid. Good luck though!

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:08 (twenty years ago)

Did you expect it to be pretty? *sigh* When I was a teenager and lived with my Grandmother, she advised that I never speak around people so I could make more friends. I was like, "WHAAAA?" And she explained it was because my voice is horrible and drives people away. So, at some point I thought it would be a good idea to sing in bands. ha ha

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Ha ha. Also we have the same band acronym as the Foo Fighters and Franz Ferdinand. One of the band names I came up with was the Secret Society, but that was abandoned when I figured out what the acronym for that would be.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:12 (twenty years ago)

That's cool, Begs2Differ, hopefully we'll be playing more shows in the future, and maybe closer to where you live (tho I don't know where that is). We've got lots of Wisconsin connections. I think we're gonna be HUGE in Wisconsin.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Sarah: I think your voice is nice, just maybe higher than I thought it'd be.
Nick: I'm in Madison. You guys could play the all-ages show at the Wil-Mar Community Center, or certainly rock the Annex.

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:29 (twenty years ago)

Begs2Differ, our drummer used to be in the Nouns and the Super8s. Ever heard of them?

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Our drummer lived in Madison for a while and played with bands there, so we'll almost definately be playing up there eventually.
xpost

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Also he was in Best Boy Electric but I don't remember if they were based out of Madison.

― St. Nicholas (Nick A.), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:38 (twenty years ago)

Also we have the same band acronym as the Foo Fighters and Franz Ferdinand.

And the Fiery Furnaces!

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 15:48 (twenty years ago)

The Nouns: yes! (Although I never saw them play, because I've seen no one play, because I have no life.) (Actually I saw Jordan C.'s band both before and after I knew Jordan was in it.) (But still.)

― Begs2Differ (Begs2Differ), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 16:15 (twenty years ago)

i may come, but then i would miss the welles marathon on turner classic movies. that would be sad.

― todd swiss (eliti), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 21:39 (twenty years ago)

You should go in my place, Todd. I have actual unbreakable plans, whereas you probably own a VCR.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 23:22 (twenty years ago)

but will i watch movies that i record off of television?

― todd swiss (eliti), Wednesday, 21 July 2004 23:57 (twenty years ago)

Hey, my copy of The Wild Bunch was taped on VHS off of TCM, and I watch it all the time. Or, well, whenever I want to see it.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Thursday, 22 July 2004 03:28 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...

I've been an enthusiastic Fake Fictions listener of late. And I'm of the opinion that they should do a just-for-me track that consists solely of Sarah singing "wha-oh, wha-oh" and then Nick singing "mighty Green River." And then repeat. I've already looped it together on my computer; it sounds great; I want a songwriting co-credit when it blows up.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 17:58 (twenty years ago)

i just discovered your page, n. and s. i will listen to your music when i get home this evening. p.s. are you playing in front of a wall of cardboard boxes in that picture or is that some elaborate lighting fixture?

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 13 August 2004 18:05 (twenty years ago)

!?!?!

Wow, that means a lot coming from an ILXor whom I respect a lot and who I haven't actually met! Thanks a lot, I really appreciate it! If you want an actual copy of the demo with a cover and everything, you can email me at naamme @ yahoo.com. It's the same songs though, and it might take a little while because our laptop is fucked up and so we can't burn cds right now.

xpost - It's a wall covered with cardboard boxes. It's the Pontiac Cafe on Damen, aka the sight of our first and only show so far. We don't have another show lined up until the beginning of Oct. for now, but hopefully now that we have demo covers, we can start canvassing the area.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:09 (twenty years ago)

"site," duh.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:10 (twenty years ago)

you should wear nice suits like the mormons.

i searched "fake fictions" in google and aside from mentions of your band, i found only a reference to j.l. borges. which is ace. if anyone asks tell them your band is inspired by borges. if you really want to impress you can call your lp the wizard postponed or something.

xpost yes a compliment from nabisco is not to be taken lightly!

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 13 August 2004 18:13 (twenty years ago)

Yes, because I hate everything and everybody! Except the Fake Fictions! I spare you, puny mortals! Your enthusiastic guitar-jangling amuses me!

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:18 (twenty years ago)

It amuses me, too, for the record. You guys are cool with a capital K.

― Harold Media (kenan), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:21 (twenty years ago)

oh no i only meant that you have good taste and well-considered opinions

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 13 August 2004 18:21 (twenty years ago)

xpost

can't wait to hear it!

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 13 August 2004 18:22 (twenty years ago)

After all this media hype, it's sure to be a letdown.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:29 (twenty years ago)

FFs: Not to keep making promises or whatever, but I'm pretty sure I can get you a show at the Beat Kitchen: the lead singer of Canasta just accepted a full-time booking job there and he's HUNGRY for the ROCK.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:32 (twenty years ago)

Dope. Do you need another demo or anything?

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:41 (twenty years ago)

i think he just needs a sworn affidavit that you will bring the rock.

― amateur!!!st, Friday, 13 August 2004 18:42 (twenty years ago)

Then it's convenient that our drummer is also a public notary.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:43 (twenty years ago)

I love how ILX is all Chicago-ed out right now. WE CONTROL ILX RIGHT NOW.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:44 (twenty years ago)

Nah, I just directed him to the FF website -- he said that's all he needs.

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:47 (twenty years ago)

Stuff I like about the Fake Fictions. The whole opening of “We Could Destroy You”: those drum highlights in the beginning, that slippy guitar riff, and then the whole opening verse (hence the “mighty Green River” thing)—I think that’s my favorite portion of all this material, not just because it sounds really tight but because it’s a very well-timed and exciting build; you guys sound good when you go off of pop rhythm and tempo and do more dynamic sections like that.. You also seem to have a knack for juxtaposing different sections in sort of unexpected ways, e.g. that switch from slippy-riff to staccato-part, or the switch in “Summertime” from the Wolfie-sounding stop-start bit to the smoothed-out descending part. The way the bass and guitar lock together in the beginning of “Go Get Em Tiger” is nice as well—that upstroke chord the guitar plays while the bass rests, that’s (along with the “wha-oh”s) the real hook there. I think you guys should trade vocals sometimes within a song, and write stuff that exploits your moving-from-section-to-section abilities more. And I keep feeling like the last two syllables of the “if we wanted to” on “We Could Destroy You” should come back down the scale (I dunno why). But, like, yeah, for demos, for a band that I’m assuming hasn’t been playing together for a huge long time, I think these sound really nice—and assuming things haven’t changed dramatically since I left town, I think you guys should do really well over there. When I run out of money and have to move back to Chicago, I’ll carry your amps. And J’s keyboard, too. Then I’ll steal both of your drummers and start a prog-metal/electro group.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:48 (twenty years ago)

I will also remix you all without your permission.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:50 (twenty years ago)

(I almost typed "without your persimmon.")

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:50 (twenty years ago)

Then I’ll steal both of your drummers and start a prog-metal/electro group.

The funny thing is, my drummer would totally be down with this!

― jaymc (jaymc), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:56 (twenty years ago)

Every drummer secretly wants to play prog-metal.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 18:58 (twenty years ago)

!!!

Stop it, you're giving me a swollen head (don't stop). Thanks again. Remix anything you want, just send us a copy.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:00 (twenty years ago)

Also: nabisco, learn to play keyboards, and we'll let you JOIN the Fake Fictions when you move back.

― na (Nick A.), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:06 (twenty years ago)

Stop it, you're giving me a swollen head (don't stop).

= ewww.

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:17 (twenty years ago)

http://www.asstastic.org/images/griffey.jpg

― Harold Media (kenan), Friday, 13 August 2004 19:19 (twenty years ago)

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