Erik chats with Birdy V, vocalist and guitarist of Chicago-based duo, Sweetie. Sweetie has been lighting up stages around the city and burbs since 2019. Their sound is a sonic cocktail of punk and garage rock, balanced with a drop of blues, Their sound draws comparisons to The Distillers, Misfits, and the Cramps.
In the episode Erik and Birdy chat about what’s in a name, producing the video for their track “Devil Girl”, finding a different and rewarding path as musicians and performers working with Chicago’s drag performance community, and dealing with the challenges women in the music industry are still facing in 2022.
Featured tracks:
Danny Boy
Devil Girl
Catholic Boy
Mamma
Check out Sweetie’s Bandcamp site.
Soundcloud
The Rock in Chicago Show is available on Spotify, Soundcloud, Apple, Google, and podcasting platforms everywhere.
Sweetie’s video release show is this Saturday at Liar’s Club
GUEST LIST
Birdy curated an amazing playlist of some her favorite bands from Chicago along with a spotlight shoutout with ten of her most favorite.
Guest List playlists are available from the Rock in Chicago Spotify and YouTube Channels.
| Track Name | Artist Name(s) |
| Boney Fish | Heet Deth |
| Mighty Methuselah’s Salami | Lollygagger |
| Hahaha | Glitter Moneyyy |
| SCD | Glitter Moneyyy |
| Victim of Circumstance | Mystery Actions |
| Window Shopper | Won’t Stay Dead |
| 202 | Crash Birmingham |
| Brother | Meat Wave |
| Wolf Like Me | Local H |
| Nothing Special | Local H |
| Winter in Chicago | Flatfoot 56 |
| Stampede | Flatfoot 56 |
| No Avail | Aweful |
| White Knuckles | The Kreutzer Sonata |
| I’m a Squash Man | The Eradicator |
| Copaganda | Torch the Hive |
| Do Right | Lydia Loveless |
| Search and Destroy – Iggy Pop Mix | The Stooges |
| Romanticize Me | Pissed Jeans |
| TV Set – Remastered | The Cramps |
| Beat Your Heart Out | The Distillers |
| Melody | Impulsive Hearts |
| Well Actually | Shannon Candy |
| Attack of the Crab Women | Daikaiju |
| Guided By Angels | Amyl and The Sniffers |
| I’m Not A Man | Suzi Moon |
| Bleeding Heart | Aweful |
Featured Artists
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Heet Deth
Their newest album Heet Deth Hooray! will get you pulled over on the highway; it’s that good. This duo knocks it out of the park and they put on a great live show!
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Lollygagger
I am GAGA for Lollygagger. No matter what the venue, they come at you full-force. Get ready to get your face melted! Fingers crossed that bassist Kinsey will let me brush his hair sometime.
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Won't Stay Dead
We’ve been working really closely with this band lately and I LOVE THEM. Violet has filled in on drums for me and a few times, and I’ve become good friends with her and Saffron lately. I think they’re both probably definitely witches, but like, I’m totally cool with that.
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Glitter Moneyyy
These gals used to be a Chicago band, but recently moved to LA. I’m still counting them on the list though! Weaponizing female sexuality and feminism in the BEST way. I love them.
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Mystery Actions
A group of rad musicians that all look like they’re straight out of the Lost Boys. These gals are super talented and nice as hell. I adore them.
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The Eradicator
The Eradicator is one of my favorite bands to see live and play with. It is the perfect marriage of humor and tune-age, and I cannot get enough of it. Finding the sweet spot between hilarity and great music is hard to do, and The Eradicator NAILS IT.
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Aweful
I don’t know what else to say besides Aweful is NOT awful.
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Flatfoot 56
This band I consider to have been one of my first ‘punk’ shows and induction into the scene. Their music gets me so energized that I used to listen to them before rugby games to get amped up. Also, Joe and I first played live together to do a Flatfoot cover set, so there will always be a soft spot in my heart for them.
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Shannon Candy
Shannon Candy’s song ‘Well Actually’ came along for me at the perfect time. I was feeling down and frustrated about how I’d been treated pretty consistently by dudes in the scene, and her song is a big F. U. to all the guys in the scene that are garbage to the female musicians.
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Crash Birmingham
Emma is so young and plays the shit out of the blues. I am obsessed with her.