Ryan Adams is trying to make the stage his happy place.At center stage on Thursday in Chicago, the noted pinball enthusiast was flanked by vintage Asteroids and Berzerk machines. A phalanx of his beloved guitars sit at the ready. He addresses his bandmates with the casual jocularity of their friend, not their boss --...

One of the remarkable things about Bob Weir's long career has been his physical transformation. Once, he could be the only member of the Grateful Dead that could be considered the "cute" one. The one-time short-shorts wearing, pink-polo sporting, whisper-thin spitting machine has slowly morphed to affected a style resembling the frazzled, unkempt Garcia look...

Wilco returns to Chicago this December for a six-night residency at the Riviera.Announced via XRT this morning, the Wilco Winterlude dates will conclude the bands 20th Anniversary tour in their hometown. The band will change their set list nightly, performing songs from every era of their discography throughout.Wilcos last Chicago residency took place...

As a unique voice in jazz, it can sometime be hard to pin down exactly what Bill Frisell is up to at any given time. Always prolific, the guitarist's many projects and releasse can often go unappreciated or slide under the radar.One way (perhaps my favorite way) for artists like Frisell to get a...

We recently got a great peak into the artistry and creative process of Oliver Wood for our Barn interview. This weekend, Chicago got to see it first hand as The Wood Brothers delivered a set of their original music along with a couple of covers on October 4th.The band brought opening act Chris Kasper...

Words & Photos: Alex WoodLucius built a fan base by making music as unpredictable as their live show, with each song and performance full of surprises. Their show at the Metro was no exception, notably featuring guests Jeff and Spencer Tweedy.For those unfamiliar, Luciuss set-up isnt that of your typical indie band.Two female...

Purposeful Communal Intent: An Afternoon With The Winyl Exchange At Penrose Brewing Co.By: Brian R. Brinkman -@sufferingjukeThe criticisms of our time are such that theyve become clich.We have no time, yet all the clocks. Were increasingly surrounded by digital technology thats meant to connect us, and yet were all the more isolated...

We're experiencing a bit of a String Cheese renaissance around these parts lately. First, we've been covering the potential three night run that we are expecting them to drop on Chicago any moment now. Then, we had the pleasure of catching them at September's Phases Of The Moon festival and were able to share some...

In the 19 years since Jerry left us, the benchmark for primo, psychedelic, improv-heavy, Grateful Dead interpretations had been held by the Phil Lesh Quintet.  While other of Phil's ensembles, including Furthur, have reached for those deep lysergic spaces, none have done it with the consistency or audacity of the Q.So it was ironic...

You can point to the first Bonnaroo as a potential Ground Zero for the music festival explosion that has gripped America in the dozen or so years since its inception. While many festivals that have emerged in its wake -- both big and small -- have chosen to replicate its key elements, very few, not...