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Contest | Old Shoe & Chicago Farmer Meet-and-Greet @ Schuba's 11/26/14 [Black Wednesday]

Old Shoe made a name for themselves playing weekly in Chicago, plugging away at a weekday residency at the old Ace Bar -- gigging with their pals and cultivating a loyal following.But these days, their local shows seemed to be tied to major events, even as the places they play get higher in profile....

When Can We Expect the Uber / Spotify Partnership in Chicago?

Spotify and car service Uber have announced a partnership allowing users to choose music from their Spotify accounts through the stereo of Ubers cars.Users will see a music bar on the bottom of their Uber app after requesting a ride if matched with a music-enabled Uber. By tapping the symbol, users can immediately choose...

Like A Good Neighbor - Riot Fest Forms Charitable Foundation to Benefit 26th Ward

Improvements and repair to Humboldt Park following the combination of rain and foot traffic from Riot Fest are now completed, according to Riot Fest organizers.Ground damaged from the three-day festival this past September have been reseeded, with topsoil added and aerated, and fencing has been installed to protect the recently repaired areas within the...

Setlist / Review / Video | Kevin Barnes Covers Bowie at MCA 11/20/14

By: Alex WoodIts kind of intimidating to be inside the body of David Bowie, Kevin Barnes said before performing Queen Bitch.The song opened a short set of acoustic Bowie covers performed by Of Montreals singer at the Museum Of Contemporary Art as part of the David Bowie Is exhibit.Of Montreal has consistently drawn...

Setlist / Photos / Video / Audio | Mavis Staples Tribute Concert @ Auditorium Theater 11/19/14

A parade of stars, including many Barn favorites, took the stage with Mavis Staples last night in Chicago in tribute to the living legend for her 75th birthday. The trusty Wyatt Brake was on hand with his camera and grabbed a handful of shots.Video of Widespread Panic's two song slot courtesy of YouTuber Adam...

Ticket Giveaway | The Debut Performance of... vs. Godzilla

There's a thriving jazz community in Oak Park and just when folks might have started to get complacent, it's time for them to face the most fearsome monster yet. The Open Door Rep will host the debut performance of vs. Godzilla on Saturday night. Described as "Chicago's newest hyphenated jazz band - merging the sound...

Internet Archive Is Now a Full Service Arcade Emulator

We are heavily indebted to The Internet Archive for hosting so much of the music we feature here on the site. It is a treasure trove of audio for acts both big and small and a great resource for discovery and, well, archiving.Sure, this feature is just one facet of the site's overall mission...

Preview | Top Of Tower - Skydeck Allstars 2.0

One of the most unique events that we covered in 2013 was Otter Presents' grand experiment in venue selection married with super group curation: The Top Of The Tower Jam. Hosting a party 99 stories in the sky, essentially putting a band-for-a-night in a venue-for-a-night, makes for memories that definitely stands out.With a lineup that mixed...

Fort Frances Condenses Sufjan Steven's Chicago To Single Instrument

Sufjan Stevens' "Chicago" earned a place of honor our our Great Chicago Mixtape. It's lush arrangement and chamber-rock sensibility makes it a distinctive choice in that playlist.But what if that was broken down, disassembled and rearranged with only a single instrument?That's what Chicago trio Fort Frances attempts to do on their cover of...

Setlist / Recap | The New Pornographers @ The Riv 11/14/14

New Pornographers have remained a mainstay in the indie-rock scene since their first release in 2000. Their sixth album, Brill Bruisers, was released this year and widely considered amongst their best, most inventive records in years.Multiple New Pornographers members have gone on to enjoy huge success outside of the band, including Neko Cases solo career...