Metro to release first volume in new bootleg series later this month

Music venues generally aren’t in the business of releasing bootlegs, but the Metro has just announced it’s bucking tradition by releasing the first in a planned series of discs featuring tracks recorded at the venue. The aptly titled Metro: The Official Bootleg Series, Volume 1 will be out July 22 and contains live cuts from big local names (like Alkaline Trio) to more historically significant recordings (like Guided By Voices' “Fair Touching” from their final show, which is also on the band's concert film The Electrifying Conclusion). Also notable is a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Freedom" by Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlain, and Kurt Elling from a 2003 homeless fundraiser show.

The bootleg comes at a pricy $20—though that’s pretty affordable, considering the mark-up on unofficial bootlegs—but all the profits raised will go to Rock For Kids, a Chicago charity that provides music lessons to underprivileged youth. To celebrate, the venue is holding a listening party at Smart Bar on July 22 from 6 until 9 p.m., and the CD can also be picked up at the Rock For Kids booth at the Pitchfork Music Festival. Here’s the disc’s tracklist:

 1. The Flaming Lips, "Race For The Prize"

 2. Guided By Voices, "Fair Touching"

 3. Sleater-Kinney, "You're No Rock 'N' Roll Fun"

 4. The Decemberists, "We Both Go Down Together"

 5. Indigo Girls, "Galileo"

 6. Alejandro Escovedo, "I'll Follow You Down"

 7. The Sea And Cake, "Jacking The Ball"

 8. Tortoise, "Along The Banks Of Rivers"

 9. Alkaline Trio, "Radio"

 10. Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, Kurt Elling, "Freedom"