An upcoming Wilco show at Ryman Auditorium, and an associated ticket giveaway here at WNXP, gave us the inspiration for this #ThematicStatic featuring all bands and artists making music in Chicago. The Windy City has played host and home to innumerable great musical acts, like Tweedy & Co. Your requests spanning the decades to very present day prove that Chicago, tied-for-2nd-largest city, continues to serve as a hub for creatives — many of whom sing about the city itself!
Take a listen (👇🏼) to the February March 2 #ThematicStatic show and get your requests in this week on Twitter or Instagram @WNXPNashville.
#ThematicStatic Playlist – 3/2/23
Earth, Wind & Fire – “Let’s Groove” – Matthew’s request is a cold classic!
Whitney – “No Matter Where We Go ” – This duo played Nashville at East Side Bowl in the fall, were you there?
Oui Ennui – “Matchuline ’82” – Patrick, who’s lived in Chicago for nearly 16 years and has served in multiple capacities for volunteer-run radio station CHIRP, got me hip to this artist he calls “Chicago’s most important music producer of the last two years, full stop.”
Urge Overkill – “Sister Havana” – Dale and Andrew wanted to hear one from this ’90s alternative band.
Beach Bunny – “Entropy” – Mike asked for “Karaoke” but I picked another song from BB’s 2022 record Emotional Creature. The band played our Sonic Cathedral last May!
Baby Huey – “Hard Times” – Billy, thanks for reviving the legend!
Cheap Trick – “Dream Police” – MC on Instagram asked for this very song by this band and it sounded so good on the radio. I hereby request/promise more Cheap Trick on WNXP.
Horsegirl – “Billy” – Stephanie summoned these modern students of grunge, who are playing with another Chicago band Lifeguard at Third Man’s The Blue Room in July!
Dehd – “Bad Love” – Another group of esteemed Sonic Cathedral alumni. Dehd was requested by Maggie.
Umphrey’s McGee – “In The Kitchen” – A longtime Chicagoan who now makes music in Nashville, Jason Paradise, requested this song of his notable jam-rock pals’. According to Jason, it was written “on the corner of Addison and Racine, about the city’s least favorable season.” So the first verse goes:
I was short on opinions and I wanted to know
“In The Kitchen”
If you’d still be here tomorrow
‘Cause it was cold in the kitchen and the lights were low
As winter wrapped around Chicago
Andrew Bird – “Pulaski At Night” – The literary mastery of violin loops also sings lovingly about his city on this one. Requested by yet another Chicago-to-Nashville transplant, Mike.
KAINA – “Apple” – Chicago artist Kaina Castillo released her second album with this bop on it just about this time last year.
Retirement Party – “Shoulder It” – Phil asked for this one specifically. Your midday host Justin Barney also a fan of this modern emo-leaning group, so request it on a future show, mine or his!
Twin Peaks – “Good Lovin'” – Adam, Chris and Linzy all wanted this band on WNXP so LET IT BE DONE!