Features Stories

Song Premiere | Ryan Joseph Anderson's "Molly The Flood"

This Friday marks the release of City Of Vines, the second LP from Chicago singer-songwriter Ryan Joseph Anderson.We are happy to premiere the track "Molly the Flood" from the forthcoming album, a slice of expertly produced Americana brimming with warmth and some killer hooks.  Think of the folkier early Wilco mixed with...

Recap / Photos | Blues On The Fox 2017

Words: Robin Zimmerman | Photos: Michael LepekOn a beautiful, breezy June evening, a pair of powerhouse performers kicked off Auroras 21st Annual Blues on the Fox festival in fine fashion.Rising star Shemekia Copeland, along with the iconic Mavis Staples, treated the crowd to a satisfying mlange of music, which ran the gamut from blues and...

Photos / Video / Recap | The Wailers + Mungion @ Sideouts 6/10/17

By: Zach StoneThe Wailers were a legendary headliner, but openers Mungion provided as much fireworks at an early summer night at Sideouts Bar & Eatery in Island Lake.While the City of Chicago may claim Mungion nowadays, the band also has ties near this McHenry County location and that connection was...

PHOTOS / RECAP | The 2017 Chicago Blues Festival

Words: Robin Zimmerman | Photos: Michael LepekFrom the new Muddy Waters mural on State Street to inspired appearances by second-generation performers, the Windy Citys vibrant blues legacy was on full display at the 33rd Annual Chicago Blues Festival.2017 marked the inaugural year at the Millennium Park location. But, as blues fans made their way around the...

Roll Tape! Should “Record Everything” Replace “Keep Your Publishing” As A Band’s Golden Rule?

By: Steven Jurgensmeyer, Founder/Editor at AllMusicBooks.comIt was a trend started forever ago, in jazz dens, bluegrass festivals and folk haunts. Fans would recordsecretly and not so secretlytheir favorite musicians of the day, who plied their trade set after set, night after night. The Grateful Dead famously took that notion to the Nth...

REVIEW | Yonder Mountain String Band - Love. Ain't Love

By: Nick DraperWhen it comes to Yonder Mountain String Band, a Colorado-based jamgrass band that manages to balance both a modern and throw-back sound, most acolytes will lead with tales of their live performances. They bring true talent and emotion on stage, traits that have netted them no shortage of boosters over the years....

PHOTOS / SETLIST / RECAP | Pat Metheny @ Ravinia 6/14/17

By: Philamonjaro StudioDespite severe storm conditions, Ravinia Festival presented "An Evening with Pat Metheny".  Weather didn't dampen the fans' enthusiasm for a night of initmate jazz.At 61, Metheny shows no signs of waning.  His is still at his peek performance, playing with the same enthusiasm that has made him among the most...

Review / Videos / Setlist | Dave & Tim @ Northerly Island, 6/10/17 & 6/11/17

Words: Alex Wood | Photo: LacubanabooRarely in history have two acoustic guitarists commanded a 30,000 capacity venues attention as Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds do.The two sold-out nights at Northerly Islands Huntington Bank Pavilion were amongst the most sought-after tickets for Dave & Tims tour, and the shows didnt disappoint.Saturday, June 11Saturday night began with...

Review / Videos / Full Show Audio | U2 @ Soldier Field 6/3/17 & 6/4/17

Words: Alex Wood | Photo: @tbergnationU2 sold out two shows at Soldier Field as part of their Joshua Tree Tour, with sets centered around a full performance of their seminal 1987 album.The stage setup matched the bands epic sound, featuring a gigantic, rounded screen the entire width of the football field, in addition to a smaller,...

Review / Photos | The Record Company @ Thalia Hall 5/24/17

By: Robin Zimmerman | Photos: Howard Greenblatt_DSC5226Explore tomorrowsverse's photos on Flickr. tomorrowsverse has uploaded 2780 photos to Flickr.The Record Company proved Chicago is second-to-none during a recent pair of sold-out shows at Thalia Hall. Following their fiery opener, Youve Got Me on the Move, lead singer Chris Vos proclaimed that This is the first...