Originally from Cleveland, Ohio Rodescu Hopkins II has been ripping up the Mid-West for the past five years. Currently based out of Chicago, you can see Rodescu at The Comedy Bar, The Laugh Factory, or at The Cards Against Humanity Comedy Theatre.

Rodescu also produces a very popular storytelling show called “We Still Like You” and runs Chicago’s most popular open Mic “ Trigger Warning”. Follow Rodescu @RodescuHopkins on all social medias.

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producer Bobby Evers and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast recorded and produced by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

For this week's episode, Features Co-Director Mick R (@thasoundblog) spoke remotely with Bev Rage (@BeverlyRage) of Bev Rage and the Drinks. Tune in for a lively conversation about how Bev is coping while sheltering at home, staying connected with bandmates and fans, and how segments of Chicago's queer community have adapted to the disruptions created by COVID 19. 

Produced by Mick R

Photo Credit: Bev Rage

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

For this week's Shelter In Sound, Features Co-Director Jessi D spoke with Shannon Nico Shreibak, the Associate Marketing Director for the mainstay Chicago venue, the Empty Bottle. They discuss the Bottle's live-from-the-rooftop and quarantine-friendly streaming series Music Friendly Distancing, joining the movement to save national venues through NIVA, and Shannon's career highs. This podcast features tracks from local artists Disappears, Ganser, Cafe Racer, and Tasha, who have all had appearances on the Bottle's rooftop for Music Friendly Distancing.

Produced by Jessi D

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

This week creative indie duo Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham of Ohmme spoke remotely with Features Co-Director Mick (@thasoundblog) to discuss staying connected with fellow musicians, giving back through their music, and the themes of their new album Fantasize Your Ghost. Tune in to get the inside scope on their new material ahead of the album's release later this week!

Fantasize Your Ghost will be out via Joyful Noise Recordings on June 5th.

Produced by Amanda Mayo

Photo Credit Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

For this week's Shelter In Sound, Features Co-Director Jessi D spoke with Andy Weber, one of the founding members of Smashed Plastic. They discuss the founding of his vinyl pressing plant in 2018 and how the pandemic has affected his industry, the trends he's seeing in how music is consumed, and the quirks of the Chicago music scene. This podcast features tracks from local artists ROOKIE, Mute Duo, and Impulsive Hearts, who have all had records pressed at Smashed Plastic.

Produced by Jessi D

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

For this week’s episode Chicago based hip hop and experimental artist Nnamdi Ogbonnaya aka NNAMDÏ (@NnamdiOgbonnaya) spoke remotely with Features Co-Director Mick (@thasoundblog) about the response to his new record Brat, solidarity efforts between independent artists, tour cancellations, and the future of live music. Tune in for a fun and engaging listen!  Brat is out now via NNAMDÏ’s own Sooper Records.

Produced by Robert Patterson

Photo credit Nnamdi Ogbonnaya

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

This week Danielle Sines of Impulsive Hearts spoke remotely with Features Co-Director Jessi D about how the bandleader has been staying busy while sheltering at home. Tune in to hear Danielle talk about her volunteer work with Girls Rock! Chicago, her reactions to the new Fiona Apple album, and the overlap between her work as a musician and her job as a therapist. Impulsive Hearts' latest album Cry All the Time is out now via Midwest Action.

Produced by Amanda Roscoe Mayo

Photo Danielle Sines

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

This week Julia Steiner of Ratboys spoke with Features Co-Director Mick (@thasoundblog) remotely while they safely sheltered in their apartments across town. Listen to Julia talk about her band’s adventures in streaming live shows from her basement, how her band ended up playing a Bernie Sanders rally, and what she plans to do once the Shelter in Place order is lifted in Illinois. Ratboys plays a live set over Twitch every Fri & Sat @ 8pm CST. Visit https://www.twitch.tv/watchratboys for more info.

Produced by Robert Patterson

Photo Credit: Julia Steiner

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

This week, local R’nB artist Jordanna spoke with Features Co-Director Jessi D through the magic and safety of the internet. They discuss her experience thus far sheltering in place with a particular focus on responsible social media use while in isolation. Jordanna also kicks around some interesting ideas on releasing music entirely online, including her new single “Same Old Thing,” which drops Monday, April 27th.

Produced by Jessi D

Photo credit: Jordanna

In the 20-some years since he graduated college, Andrew Huff has been a public relations professional, a journalist, the editor and publisher of Gapers Block (a Chicago-centric online magazine that ran for 13 years), a professional blogger for corporate clients, and host of 20x2 Chicago, a show in which 20 interesting people have two minutes each to answer one question. He's also cohost of Tuesday Funk, a long-running monthly reading series where he's known for his topical haiku. He lives in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood with his wife and three cats, and is currently trying his hand at writing fiction.

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producer Bobby Evers and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast produced and recorded by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.