Portfolio

Sundries

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel:
I try to avoid any book that I see people reading on the train. It's not so much a stance against popular culture as it is an egomaniacal need to feel above whatever it is others are interested in (I should probably take this up with a therapist sometime). When Susanna Clark's massive tome made its US debut, dozens of readers lugged it around for months. I wrote it off as an extension of the Harry Potter phenomenon and thought nothing more of it. A pity, really, as now that I'm lugging the book around myself, I find it quite engaging. With lots of characters, side-stores and footnotes (that go on for pages) Clark has crafted a pleasant world to get lost in.

A Young Adult Novel that I Cannot Mention:
A dear friend just signed a two book deal with a respected publisher. I was honered to read the first draft and offered lots of suggestions and notes. Fortunately, the book really is good. There's nothing worse than having to tell a friend that their book, band, artwork, poetry, or similar expression is . . . really great! No, really, you're totally talented!

I've been in that position more than once. It's hard to maintain a pleasant countenance when, deep down, you feel rather nauseous about the whole thing. This experience was pleasantly different. I'll plug it when it's actually in book stores. For now, I've been sworn to secrecy.

Chris Thomas King
In college, I spent countless hours listening to old, scratchy recordings of blues and folk music. I'd scores of albums, many of them from the amazing Smithsonian Folkways catalog. Sadly, in the days before albums were easily ripped to hard drive, I sold the entirety of my collection to (a very happy) used record store. I needed the cash to support an incredibly stupid relationship. Chris Thomas King, with his extraordinary rendition of the classics, has reunited me with the music that once meant so much to me. I've more or less forgotten about the girl.

His Name is Alive
Fuzzy, geek-synth, electronica from Michigan. With sexy vocals. I downloaded Detrola the other day but have yet to listen to it extensively. I think it's good, but it requires a certain situation (and headphones) to be properly appreciated.

Information Aesthetics
I've been on the job interview circuit for the last couple of months. In countless conversations I'm asked "What sites to you read regularly? Where do you draw inspiration?" The answer, inevitably, is Information Aesthetics. It's the sort of site that looks great to prospective employers and has the benefit of actually being a source of great inspiration.

Audio

Greasy Skillet on NPR:
Prior to consolidating everything here at Machine Chicago, I maintained an online journal called Greasy Skillet. An early adopter of "audio blogging" - a precursor to the current phenomenon of podcasting - the site was featured in a nationally broadcast NPR segment.In all likelyhood, this is as famous as I can ever hope to be. As such, I've been shouting from rooftops in an effort to draw public attention toward my brief appearance in the limelight.

The Audible City:
A monthly audio program (that appears quarterly of late) I produce for Gapers Block, an online Chicago-centric magazine.

Ira Glass:
This American Life recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. A decade on the air, all of it here in Chicago. Though the program has never been about the city of Chicago itself, many residents take pride in the fact it originates here. Published: Feb. 20, 2006

Mark Greenberg:
Mark Greenberg and the Coctails have been in rehearsal for two reunion shows (though they've done it so often they no longer use that term) this week. When he isn't practicing, Mark makes his own music in a studio packed with strange and exotic instruments. Published: Dec. 12, 2006

Liz Armstrong:
Liz Armstrong's weekly column, Chicago Antisocial, has been in the Chicago Reader for nearly a year. In that time, it has received a great deal of attention Ñ some of it very negative. There's something about Armstrong's recounting of art happenings and interesting loft parties that generates criticism. We talked about it over coffee (Yerba Mate tea for Liz) at Mojoe's Cafe Lounge in Roscoe Village. Published: Sept. 5, 2005

Lisa Labuz:
Every morning, Lisa Labuz rises before dawn. Her workday at Chicago Public Radio begins at 4:30am. For the entire morning, she skillfully handles news, weather, and NPR feeds. For tens of thousands, she is the first voice heard each day.Published: Jul. 25, 2005

Sam Prekop:
Sam Prekop; artist, photographer and the driving force behind Chicago's The Sea and Cake, has just released his second solo album, Who's your new Professor? In an interview recorded at his Pilsen studio, he discusses the similarities between the creative process and the perfect cup of coffee. Published: Apr. 18, 2005

Lonnie Bunch:
As President of the Chicago Historical Society, Lonnie Bunch has a unique view of Chicago. For him, the city is not merely a place with an interesting past, it's history in the making. Dave sat down with Lonnie to discuss Chicago's troublesome history of segregation, a massive artifact that isn't what historians of the past thought it was, and the incredible affection that Chicagoans have for their city.Published: Feb. 18, 2005

Chicago In Korea:
After watching hundreds of episodes of the television show "M*A*S*H" hundreds of times, Dave started to notice something: Though not a single main character hails from Chicago, the city is mentioned repeatedly throughout the series. Not just passing mentions, but entire scripts and monologues are devoted to Chicago. Published: Jan. 21, 2005

Neko Case:
Having just released her first live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, Neko Case is already back in the studio. Dave Elfving tracked her down in Arizona; they talked of politics, music, art, and, obviously, the new live album. Published: Nov. 12, 2004

Studs Terkel:
Dave sat down five years ago with Studs to discuss Woody Guthrie; he revisits that interview and presents in its entirety here to give you an unfiltered look at this amazing man. Published: Sept. 10, 2004

Jay Ryan:
Even if you don't know his name, you know his work. Jay Ryan's posters have been plastered all over Chicago - in record stores, coffee shops, music venues and in bedrooms, art studios and cubicles. His distinctive illustrations and handwriting grace his work and give his posters that edge, the kind that makes you want to tear down the poster even though the show advertised isn't over yet, just so you can have a piece of his work. In the second installment of The Audible City, Dave Elfving talks with Jay Ryan. Published: Jul. 16, 2004

All content ©2006, Dave Elfving. Fortunately, you may use any or all of it provided that use complies with this Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.