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A-Freak-A: An Afrobeat Playlist For A Sound and a Movement

Contributed by Gee Forjay (@312mrg)Afrobeat is a sound and a movement, music and a state of mind. It's the joyous awakening of a continent from a colonial nightmare and the crushing realization that the nightmare isn't over yet. It's anguish and happiness whipped together with traditional drums, cheap guitars, and even...

When Bieber Met Gordon, How Nickleback Sucks (The Money Out Of Fans' Pockets), Why MTV Is Vapid

Justin Bieber hanging out with his Jewish Grandmother (aka Phish's Mike Gordon) via @dankanter instagram.Everybody hates Nickleback, right? Everybody except BusinessWeek who goes into detail about the band's "genius" business modelThese types of deliberately viral videos typically do suck, but this one is funny and right on the money.

Infographic: The History Of The iPod - Eleven Years of Features and Cost

I usually not a big fan of these types of "giant" infographics, usually created by shady Internet companies to generate link bait, but this one is actually informative and pretty well laid out. It brings me back to my very first iPod (3rd generation, 10GB... which I pronounced the greatest invention in the history of...

Video: Chicago Band Leadfoot Takes On Ween @ Harte's 10/27/12

Not sure how this show slipped under my radar, considering I had previewed dozens of shows from all over Chicagoland over Halloween weekend. But rest assured, we'll be keeping closer tabs on Leadfoot and the happenings at Harte's in Evergreen Park in the future.On Saturday, October 27th, the Chicago jamgrass outfit dedicated the entirety...

Setlist: Bob Dylan @ United Center, Chicago, IL 11/9/12

SetlistBob DylanUnited Center - Chicago, ILNovember 9th, 2012Watching The River Flow (instrumental), To Ramona*, Things Have Changed*, Tangled Up In Blue*, Blind Willie McTell, Make You Feel My Love, The Levee's Gonna Break, Desolation Row, Highway 61 Revisited, Forgetful Heart, Thunder On The Mountain, Ballad Of A Thin Man, Like A Rolling Stone, All Along The...

Cornmeal Returns To Vic Theater For Thanksgiving Show 11/23/12 With Support From YMSB's Jeff Austin, Van Ghost

The Cornmeal Thanksgiving in Chicago tradition has been going strong for many years, and even with some changing of the guard, the band is making a return to the Vic for the 2012 edition on (Black) Friday Novemer 23rd.Last year's festivities included a show opening for Umphrey's McGee on Saturday and a rare club gig...

Stream or Download: Bob Dylan @ Chicago Theater 11/9/90

File this under curious, but somehow every source on the Internet, including Bob Dylan's own setlist site, have this show occurring at the Fox Theater in Chicago. Of course, there is no Fox Theater in Chicago, at least not presently and circa 1990. I guess Bob and his people could have just listened to this awesome...

Strange Arrangement Hints At Hiatus; 11/21 Chicago Gig with Greensky Bluegrass @ Park West May Be Last For A While

We were out-of-our-minds-with-joy when last January's Strange Arrangement / Greensky Bluegrass co-bill at the Park West was announced. Not surprisingly, the gig itself more than lived up to the hype, with the closing encore of "The Shape I'm In" featuring members of both bands totally bringing down the house.Though Wednesday, November 21st will be a...

Photo Set: Umphrey's McGee @ Riverside Theater "Milwaukee's Beast" 10/27/12

It pleases me to no end to feature the photography of Adjomi Photography on the site. This time, with the Jefferson Waful palette of colors and Halloween mashup costumes and antics to provide some extra juice, Adam has really outdone himself.Check the complete setlist and videos here or download a the entire show from...

moe. Returns to Chicago - Riviera Theater 2/9/12

For the second winter in a row, moe. will make a Feburary stop at Chicago's Riviera Theater.  Here are some highlights from their last proper Chicago gig, after hitting the burbs on the Fourth Of July on a festival bill with Leftover Salmon.If that's not enough, they are scheduled to wrap their short...