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Review / Setlist / Video | Andrew Bird @ Fourth Presbyterian Church 12/15/16

By: Alex Wood | Video: the1stMikeC | Photo: @jamesrichardsivAndrew Birds Gezelligheid performances at Fourth Presbyterian Church are a tradition of sorts in Chicago, ringing in the holiday season with a solo performance from the violinist as gorgeous as the intimate setting itself.Having attended at least one of Birds church dates nearly every year...

Review | Aqueous & Mungion @ Lincoln Hall 12/17/16

By: Ryan MannixIt was another snowy winter night in Chicago with two up and coming jam-rockers ready to impress a packed house.Lincoln Hall is one of the cleanest, most comfortable, and best sounding rooms in the city, so it was a real treat to see these two bands at their shreddiest. A year...

VIDEO | Frank Zappa Interviewed By Alan Thicke, Appearing On Dance Fever

Here's a conversation that may be happening again in the Great Beyond -- an unlikely pairing of one of the world's most colorful musicians and one of its most vanilla television personalities, the recently deceased Alan Thicke.Thicke Of The Night was a syndicated talk show that was produced during the 1983-84 season. &...

LISTEN: Ryley Walker Plays New Tune, Explains Improv on NPR's World Cafe

Ryley Walker is a top contender for Tomorrow's Verse artist of the year in 2016.  Local, versatile, improvisation-loving and extremely prolific, we are so happy to see that he's still creating.In fact, he explains in interview bits between songs in this World Cafe performance, that he prefers to keep wriring to "keep his brain...

Discussions Underway For Music Festival At White Sox Park

Last summer, the music world was bowled over by the runaway success of Chance The Rapper's Magnificent Coloring Day Festival.Despite not having headlined at a Chicago venue bigger than a theatre, headlining and curating a festival style event at the south-side MLB ballpark (the now newly christened Guaranteed Rate Field) proved to...

VIDEO: Railway Gamblers on Audiotree

Full disclosure:  I know some of the guys in Railway Gamblers personally.  Some of them have even submitted stories for the site.But I think that fact sort of proves my point.  Earlier this year, I was given a rough mix of one of the first cuts from the forthcoming A...

Review / Photos / Video | The Brendan & Jake Holiday Show @ Park West 12/10/16

Words & Photos: Tara Gracer | Video: Michael JacobsonNow in its 14th year, The Brendan and Jake Holiday Show has become an annual tradition for family and friends from all corners of the United States.  Like its predecessors, this edition found its snowed-in attendees with spirits lifted through cheerful song and levity.&...

RECAP / PHOTOS / VIDEO | Dopapod & Pigeons Playing Ping Pong @ Bottom Lounge 12/10/16

By: Ryan Mannix | Photos: Faraz Chaudry | Video: izeoftheworldphotosDopapod roared into Chicago on the heels of a lengthy winter tour with something to prove. Original drummer, Neal Fro Evans, returned to the band a few months back.His return left some fans upset at the loss of Scotty Zwang, and some curious as to how...

Summer Camp Music Festival Announces 2017 Dates & Location

After some rumors and thoughtful deliberation, the 17th annual Summer Camp Music Festival will remain at its home, Three Sisters Park, in Chillicothe, IL.We are very excited to see what's in store for the festival in 2017.Summer Camp Music Festival Founder and Director, Ian Goldberg, released this statement today:Dear Summer Camp...

Review / Setlist / Video | Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats @ Chicago Theatre 12/7/16

Words: Alex WoodPhoto: senecameridthNever was the powerful mass appeal of recent Nathaniel Rateliff single S.O.B. more apparent than his Chicago Theatre performance on Wednesday evening.Hosted as the annual WXRT Big Holiday Concert, Rateliff and his band, The Nightsweats, were joined by soul legend Mavis Staples for what turned out to be a...