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Five Chicago Record Stores To Host Schmilco Listening Parties

Wilco will release Schmilco on Friday, September 9 but a handful of local record stores will be hosting listening parties three days prior.Fans can also purchase a vinyl copy on Tuesday, September 6th as well. They also promise contests including "white label Schmilco vinyl, slipmats featuring Joan Cornell artwork + some shocking...

Chicago's Brooklyn Bowl Gets New Neighbor, Potential Open Date

We have been anxiously following the story of the new West Loop outpost of Peter Shapiro's Brooklyn Bowl since rumblings began about four years ago.Last summer, construction began on the multi-purpose establishment.  Today, we have some new information about what to expect at the location, and (even more exciting) when.Crain's Chicago Business...

Worth The Wait, JRAD Drops Media Bomb From Freaks Ball 2016

In the days after Joe Russo's Almost Dead performed for three nights at Brooklyn Bowl for the Freaks Ball, I searched high and low for top quality media of the affair.  After all, between the setlists, the guest appearances, crazy antics, prolific teases, debuts, (non-Dead) covers and sold out goodness of a three...

Download & Recap | Fruit Bats @ Beat Kitchen 6/2/16

By: Alex WoodRecording By: Brian EmerickFruit Bats released the excellent Absolute Loser this year, the bands sixth record in 15 years. To promote it, the group performed at Beat Kitchen for an intimate hometown show.For those unfamiliar, the band revolves around the songwriting and distinctive voice of Eric D. Johnson, a previous teacher at Old...

Notes From The Jazz Underground Writes Itself

This playlist from Notes From the Jazz Underground is based on the August 12th broadcast.According to NTFJU host Paul Abella, "this week was an enigma of a show."  While the typical show comes together with over five hours of prep, this one was ready to go in two hours flat. &...

The Grateful Dead Has Inspired A West Side Playground

A West Side park got some new playground equipment as part of deal that's been over a year in the making -- and there's a Grateful Dead connection.The new "Sunshine Daydream" playground was funded as part of a donation from AirBnB that was suggested around the time of last summer's Fare Thee Well concerts...

Spafford Breaks Out | An Interview With Brian Moss

By: Carmel O'Farrell (@carmelocorn)What was the last nationally known jamband to come out of Arizona?  Hell, it's been awhile since any band has risen from the Grand Canyon State.  But I can assure you, Spafford is about to break out.The foursome is about to make their first trip to...

New Greensky Bluegrass Album Out 9/23, First Track Available

Tomorrow's Verse is a big fan of Greensky Bluegrass' 2014 release If Sorrows Swim. Really big.So to say that their next LP is highly anticipated is an understatement.Today, we finally have some details, thanks to a report from Billboard.The album, Shouted, Writted Down & Quoted, will be out September 23.  It will...

Weekend With Umphrey's McGee | A Midwest Adventure

Words: Ryan Mannix | Photos: Brian LirotIn certain circles, you might hear the (half) tongue-in-cheek lament, that "Umphrey's hates Chicago."While it's true that the band's appearances in the city limits have slowed to a trickle (a festival appearance and instant-sell-out club date are on the menu for Labor Day weekend), could it also be true...

VIDEOS | Car Seat Headrest In Chicago

Words: Alex Wood | Video: seijinlee + PitchforkCar Seat Headrest brought their energetic brand of indie rock to Chicago in July for two separate performances, one at Pitchfork Music Festival and one at Empty Bottle.Begun as a solo recording project for songwriter Will Toledo, now 24 years old, the band has taken critics and...