How was your Inauguration weekend? Ours ruled. FMC was the co-beneficiary (along with the Chicago Public Schools marching band program) of an incredible show at the Black Cat right here in Washington, DC.
The Big Shoulders Ball: Chicago Celebrates Change was organized by our favorite Windy City club The Hideout and Interchange - a nonpartisan, all-volunteer group that engages the public in the democratic process through underground music and art. The Hideout chartered two buses to transport performers, staff, friends and participants to DC to celebrate the swearing in of Barack Obama as President and show us District dwellers how they do it in Chicago.
The sold-out Inauguration Eve show featured performances by Andrew Bird, Tortoise, Ted Leo, the Waco Brothers, Eleventh Dream Day, Jon Langford, Sally Timms, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Ken Vandermark, Freakwater, Icy Demons, Judson Claiborne and guest speaker Thomas Frank, author of What’s the Matter with Kansas? Our very own Jean Cook performed with the Wacos and sat in with Jon Langford and Sally Timms on the Mekons classic "Memphis, Egypt." Suffice it to say, she rocked.
Big Shoulders received glowing coverage in media outlets big and small - from the New York Times and the Washington Post to hip music sites like Pitchfork and Brooklyn Vegan.
If you were there, thanks so much for spending this historic (and raucous) occasion with us. If not, well… maybe next Inauguration?
FMC Flickr photos
Washington Post review
New York Times review
Pitchfork review