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Netflix is getting funnier

April 27, 2016 | Kevin

Netflix continues to deliver the goods with exclusive shows from Marvel’s Daredevil, Orange is the New Black, and more but the VOD service is delivering the comedic thunder with new series and a season renewal.

Stand up star Maria Bamford has always been public about her struggles with mental health in her albums and specials, but her new scripted series coming to Netflix called ‘Lady Dynmite’ goes into greater gritty detail of the her problems. It looks like the dysfunctional become delightful with the Bammer in this trailer for the first season which uploads on May 20th.

A ridiculous comedy about a kid’s camp is going to be funny for another year. Netlfix confirmed today the continuation of the ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ series in 2017. The original film’ came and went in theaters in 2001 but grew to become a cult sensation directed by David Wain and written by Michael Showalter, both cast members of MTV’s ‘The State’. The teen movie spoof about oddball summer camp helped launch the careers of Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, and other noteworthy actors. It was revived as a prequel mini-series for Netflix last year, called ‘Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp’. That short run season had a lot of original cast members including Janeane Garofalo, Michael Ian Black, and Molly Shannon coming back to reprise their roles from the film. Another silly season is on the way. ‘Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later’ which plays directly off a joke from the original movie.

If that is not enough, the Net of Flix has also recently put up some must-see stand up specials from Patton Oswalt, Jimmy Carr, Theo Von, and Chicago’s own Hannibal Burress. So if your neighbors hear you laughing loudly and ask you to keep it down, just tell them to catch up on these shows, they will get it.

While we’re talking comedy, Keanu the new action farce from Key & Peel hits theaters this weekend and it has a hidden guest star. Read more here…

@kevkellam

Yes, Keanu Reeves Voices Keanu the Cat in ‘Keanu’

April 27, 2016 | Marconi🍕

(from slashfilm.com)

The kidnapped kitten at the center of the new comedy Keanu is obviously named after Keanu Reeves, the seemingly immortal star of Speed, Point Break, The Matrix, and John Wick, but we now know that the actor himself has a tiny cameo in the film. Keanu Reeves plays Keanu the cat. Well, technically he voices Keanu the cat in a scene where a character hallucinates during a crazy drug trip. However, this cameo almost didn’t happen and we have Mr. Reeves’ sister to thank for its existence. (READ MORE HERE)

I’m excited because Keanu, which is the big screen debut of beloved comedy duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s. If it’s 1/3 as funny as their Comedy Central show this will be hilarious. Plus wouldn’t it be cool to have a celebrity doing the voice of your pet? Currently the best my 20 LB cat “The Creme Puff” gets is me doing a bad English accent demanding things and mostly asking me to be quiet while she takes her naps. “Shut up you sorry excuse for a human. I’m trying to get my beauty rest before I eat my dinner!!” *me apologetic slinks away. Am I still typing??… – @marconibologna

‘Harry Potter’ henchman becomes MMA fighter

April 27, 2016 | Marconi🍕

(from redeyechicago.com)

Which “Harry Potter” actor has graduated from the wand to his bare hands?

Josh Herdman, who played Gregory Goyle, right-hand man of the villainous Draco Malfoy in the eight “Harry Potter” films, won his debut MMA fight Saturday at the City Pavillion in Romford, east London. (READ MORE HERE)

He looks a lot different than he did in the HP films and although it’s hard to think of him beyond his character his newly chosen profession as an MMA fighter got me to thinking…What about a Harry Potter WWE style league? Harry takes on Lord Voldemort in hand to hand cage style matches. WANDS DOWN HANDS UP!! I would totally watch that!! What’s not to say that once it’s is a success, (and it will be obviously) that more leagues would emerge. X-MEN league, HALLS OF JUSTICE league and so on!! Hulk Hogan I just found an idea for you to invest your $120 million in… – @marconibologna

Animals Singing Pixies

April 27, 2016 | <3 Lauren

Stop. That was ONLY 1 minute and 49 seconds?! It felt like an eternity :X

Thanks Insane Cherry, now let’s see what your dog, cats and goats can do with Alt J!

<3 @thelaurenoneil

Garbage is ready for PIQNIQ…

April 27, 2016 | Web Team

If you haven\’t gotten your PIQNIQ tickets…what are you waiting for? Get \’em HERE and then let us know at @101WKQX who you\’re most excited to see! #PIQNIQ

Free Screening of Purple Rain Tonight

April 27, 2016 | <3 Lauren

Let’s Go Crazy!

See you there! <3 @laurenoneil

Meg Myers on Conan

April 27, 2016 | Lou

Meg Myers stopped by Conan on Tuesday night. And after she crawled across Conan’s desk…

…She played “Motel.”

@TheLouLombardo

Plants don’t want you to stop texting: A potted plant can charge your cellphone

April 26, 2016 | Kevin

Arkyne, an Italian green energy company is really emphasizing the ‘green’ with the reveal this week of a cell phone charger that is powered by a potted plant. There has been DIY versions of this floating around the web for years which utilizes multiple potatoes but this new device called Bioo Lite has a developed apparatus inside the base of a plant’s pot that has real potential. Yes, if this tech can be fully realized maybe you can just plug battery-low phone into a tree at the park while you are out and about. Jokes aside, this is truly incredible. This does have some new challenges like if you forget to water your plants, does that mean you will not have any juice to power your phone or tablet? No matter what expect to see a lot of people with potted plants on the CTA in the near future. Watch this video for a full display of Bioo Lite in action.

If your excited for the future, you will appreciate our weekly 2 hours of new music discovery, Qued Up. New songs from new bands and some you already love. Listen to it every Sunday 7-9pm or ondemand here with Audioboom. – @Kevkellam

NFL draft sponsors raising their game in Chicago

April 26, 2016 | Marconi🍕

(from redeyechicago.com)

e NFL draft returns to Chicago this week with a bigger game plan designed to get fans, and a growing roster of sponsors, a lot more pumped up than a Tom Brady football.

(READ MORE HERE)

Things you might over hear out of towners say at the NFL DRAFT:

5. Hey where’s Bear stadium? 4.Is there really a lot of crime here? 3. When do we get to meet The Fridge? 2. Where do I get one of those Ditka sweater vests? 1. What you guys have against Ketchup? Please add to this list. I left out any Jay Cutler or Deep Dish mentions, but we’ve heard them all right? – @marconibologna

Fred Savage jokingly tries to give away art from his Chicago-area home

April 26, 2016 | Marconi🍕

Though the iconic New York Jets jacket he wore on “The Wonder Years” found a home at the National Museum of American History, Chicago-area native Fred Savage said he hasn’t had luck convincing his mom to get rid of the other stuff she’s been saving over the years. (READ MORE HERE)

I really just want Winnie Cooper’s number though. Will settle for Snapchat username. Ahem… – @marconibologna

Read pages from The Simpsons’ Prince episode

April 26, 2016 | Marconi🍕

(from nme.com)

Pages from The Simpsons episode that was set to feature Prince have been shared by show writer Al Jean. The episode never made it to TV but is being dubbed ‘The Prince episode’. In the wake of Prince’s death on Thursday (April 21), Al Jean has shared excerpts from the original script (READ MORE HERE)

See script below as tweeted by Al Jean (rumored to have been written by Conan)

Another Peek at Spider-Man!

April 26, 2016 | Lou

The latest trainer for “Captain America: Civil War” shows off a little more Spider-Man. It’s out next week!

@TheLouLombardo

Meet the Latest Supergroup, Levee Walkers

April 26, 2016 | Lou

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Duff McKagen of Guns ‘N Roses and Barrett Martin of Mad Season/Screaming Trees have hooked up to form Levee Walkers. What do they sound like? Consequence of Sound has a couple of songs hoy can check out HERE.

Trent Reznor & Eddie Vedder set to appear in ‘Twin Peaks’ TV series

April 25, 2016 | Kevin

Twin Peaks is one of the weirdest and darkest TV shows of all time, and it’s getting an upcoming revival on Showtime with tow big names from alternative music. The show which had it’s first run on network television in the early 90s, was a sensationally weird hit about an unsolved murder in a deeply odd town with nightmarish tones and deep mythology that rivials ‘Lost’. It isn’t enough that the show is coming back, but it’s got a huge cast of confirmed performers including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. Rolling Stone has the full story here.

If you don’t know enough about this show or simply want revisit it, check out this video from Screenrant detailing how the murder mystery in a small town was created.

If you enjoy classic alternative like NIN & Pearl Jam, then you should listen our 2 hour, weekly time machine with Bryan called Alt_Backspace. Listen to weekly episodes Sundays 10a-12pm or … @kevkellam

Queued Up #173

April 25, 2016 | Web Team

1. Mumford & Sons and Baaba Maal – There Will Be Time
2. Aurora – Conqueror
3. New Beat Fund – No Type
4. Garbage – Empty
5. SWMRS – Figuring It Out
6. Cage The Elephant – Trouble
7. The Kills – Doing It To Death
8. Holy White Hounds – Switchblade (Queued Up Artist Showcase – 5/4)
9. Mutemath – Used To
10. Chris Cornell – Nothing Compares 2 U
11. Meg Myers – Motel
12. Dreamers – Drugs
13. Coldplay – Up & Up

1. Finish Ticket – Color
2. Wild Belle – Throw Down Your Guns (local)
3. Bishop Briggs – River
4. Nothing But Thieves – Wake Up Call (Queued Up Artist Showcase – 5/4)
5. Jack Garratt – Worry
6. The Last Shadow Puppets – Aviation
7. Blaqk Audio – Anointed
8. Hot Hot Heat – Kid Who Stays In The Picture
9. Young The Giant – Amerika
10. Honne – Someone That Loves You (ft. Izzy Bizu)
11. Weezer – King Of The World
12. Atlas Genius – Stockholm
13. The Wild Wild – When We Were Young
14. Foo Fighters – Darling Nikki

4.24.16 – Alt_Backspace

April 25, 2016 | Web Team

1. The Church – Under The Milky Way
2. Green Day – J.A.R.
3. Prince – When Doves Cry
4. U2 – Staring At The Sun
5. New Order – Regret
6. Screaming Trees – Nearly Lost You
7. Veruca Salt – Volcano Girls
8. Talking Heads – Burning Down The House
9. The Clash – Clampdown
10. Collective Soul – Gel
11. Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians – Balloon Man
12. Love and Rockets – So Alive
13. Blur – Tender
14. Garbage – Push It (PIQNIQ)

1. Morrissey – Suedehead
2. Nirvana – Sliver
3. INSX – Don’t Change
4. Rusted Root – Send Me On My Way
5. Depeche Mode – Walking In My Shoes
6. Prince – Let’s Go Crazy
7. Jesus and Mary Chain – Head On
8. The Cure – Close To Me
9. Talking Heads – Life During Wartime
10. The Verve – Lucky Man
11. B-52’s – Rock Lobster
12. Catherine Wheel – Judy Staring At The Sun
13. Beck – Sexx Laws

SNL’s Tribute to Prince

April 25, 2016 | Lou

Jimmy Fallon hosted SNL’s hour long tribute to Prince over the weekend. It included his appearances on the show, sketches about him and video of Prince performing at the SNL 40th anniversary party.

Check out the entire show below and more over at Gothamist.com.

@TheLouLombardo

Pearl Jam and Friends at New Orleans Jazz Fest

April 25, 2016 | Lou

As if Pearl Jam wasn’t enough. They were joined by Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nathan Followill from Kings of Leon for their “Rockin’ in the Free World” encore on Saturday at New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Thankfully, there’s YouTube.

@TheLouLombardo

VIDEO: Coachella 2016 performances from 101WKQX Artists

April 23, 2016 | Kevin

Coachella is presenting it’s second weekend this year out in Indio, California with celebrities making appearances and people getting distracted by fashion, but the music is what it’s all about. Some alternative darlings made their dent in the fest and official performance videos were posted recently. This same festive good time will be ever present on June 18th at PIQNIQ, more on that here.

The Arcs – “Outta My Mind”

This live version will this joyful backup singers makes the chorus really pop for Dan Auerbach and company. .

Meg Myers “Motel”

We had the absolute pleasure of having Meg perform an intimate private set in our Studio & earlier this year (watch that 36 minute set here) so to see bring that vibrant talent to the big tent with palm trees blowing behind her band.

Joywave -”Destruction”

These Piqniq veterans bring a lush bottom end to this song with one of the funkiest bass lines in alternative right now. Singer Daniel Armbruster is proud of it, he proclaims on stage here that “this is the greatest song ever written”….um he may be right about that. Also check out that solid gold microphone?!

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats “Out on a Weekend”

Rateliff and the Sweats delivered the goods at our recent No Dough Show at Basecamp. Not a single hip was without a shake and that same feeling continues here in California

Miike Snow “Gengis KLahn”

This Swedish outfit will be a part of the Lolla ‘16 line up this summer, so take in their live performance of this balld of selfish lovers. The horns and back up singers give it a real presence that differs in a unique way from the recorded version.

Miike Snow “Gengis KLahn”

Silversun Pickups “Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)”

It was worth staying up late to catch this set on a live stream. It was worth it to forget that I spilled snacks in my lap while singing along with this track of SSPU’s ‘Better Nature’ album. Despite the tech issue, Nikki Monninger powered through a tech issue on her vocal, which shows these guys are just pros . “Feel my body swoon, to hear you say my name”

Of Monsters & Men “Wolves Without Teeth”

OM&M have certainly become a force to be reckoned with. They previously performed on Coachella on a side stage but bring their Icelandic six-piece to the main stage here.

@kevkellam