Pitchfork

It's a Quinceañera for Thrill Jockey! And, in the spirit of this fifteen year milestone, the beloved and venerated Chicago record-releasing institution has-- as promised-- planned a massive hometown fiesta.

With barely a month to recover from their upcoming London gala-- which goes down November 11 and 12, in conjunction with All Tomorrow's Parties-- Thrill Jockey will host a homecoming shindig at the Windy City's Logan Square Auditorium December 14 and 15.

Who's invited? You, of course, plus a hearty portion of the Thrill Jockey roster: The Sea and Cake, Califone, the Fiery Furnaces, Trans Am, Arbouretum, Freakwater, ADULT., the Zincs, Bobby Conn, Brokeback, Eleventh Dream Day, Archer Prewitt, Pit Er Pat, Field Music offshoot and new signing School of Language, Thalia Zedek, Angela Desveaux, Fred Anderson Trio, and Frequency.

Conspicuously absent: Chicago's own Tortoise (who will, however, perform at the London event). But members of Tortoise do play in the Sea and Cake and Brokeback as well-- and "surprise guests" are promised-- so let's not rule them out quite yet. They're slow creatures, after all.

Also making an appearance: the previously mentioned and recently Forkcasted Super Epic Thrill Jockey Mega Massive Mix put together by Gregg "Girl Talk" Gillis and Frank Musarra under the Trey Told 'Em banner. Folks who attend the Chitown or LDN parties will receive a copy of the mix, which mashes every last doggone Thrill Jockey artist ever into one 70-minute mindfuck. Super epic mega massive, indeed.

If a trip to Chicago or London isn't in the cards for you, you can still score the Mega Massive Mix-- in very limited quantities, we must warn-- through Trey Told 'Em or Thrill Jockey's mail order. And let's not forget the cover-swapping 7" box set, Plum, packed with hot Thrill Jockey artist-on-artist action and available at the anniversary shows. Plum hits UK shops December 3 and U.S. ones the day after.

Finally, just to keep you on your toes, Thrill Jockey is not revealing when each of the aforementioned acts will play in Chicago. So, you know, best to arrive early and take it all in, no? When jockeying for thrills, after all, is it not best to embrace the unknown?