Features Stories

What Does It Mean to Be? | An Interview with Tom Hamilton

What Does It Mean to Be?: An Interview with Tom Hamiltonby @312mrg Tom Hamilton returns to Chicago this week at one of the city's most perfect venue, Schubas, for a Thursday night show. [We're giving away some tickets... So go grab yourself some].By now, his -name should be familiar. Youve possibly seen him with...

Jerry On Jerry: The Unpublished Interviews - A Review In Eight Tweets

Occasionally, if I'm inspired, rather than take the time to write up a full  review up here on the site, I'll take the the twitter feed to get some quick and dirty thoughts on something right out into the ether.To say that I was inspired by Jerry On Jerry: the Unpublished Jerry Garcia...

A Chat with Dopapod's Rob Compa

A Chat With Dopapod's Rob CompaBy: Ryan Mannix | Videos: mk devo | Photo: Faraz ChaudryDopapod guitarist Rob Compa, is a skillful, diverse and interesting player. He blends rapid fire classic rock guitar shredding with some truly out jazz inspiration.Gypsy and country influences are also evident in his approach.  And he's got...

Review / Video| Umphrey's McGee Plays All-Improv Set @ Orpheum Theater

Words: Carmel O'Farrell (@carmelocorn) | Photos: Kristine Condon Photography| Video:shinepigeon 2.0On Thursday, January 28th, Umphrey's McGee kicked off their two night run at the Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI. This was unquestionably the most anticipated show of winter tour with a promise of a full set of music that would be100% improvised.With special guest...

Review / Setlist / Video | Tedeschi Trucks Band & Leon Russell @ Chicago Theater, Jan 22 & 23, 2016

Photos: Adam MiszewskiI need to come clean. When the Allman Brothers Band dissolved in 2014, my first thought was whether Derek Trucks would reform the Derek Trucks Band.Sure, I was a huge fan of the Tedeschi Trucks Band over the course of their first two albums...but wouldnt it be great for him to fill...

Review / Setlist / Video | Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band @ United Center 1/19/16

[Update 1/25] Since Bruce had to cancel his MSG weekend gig due to the blizzard, he's offering a free MP3 download of the Chicago show as consolation. Check it out at nugs.net (for a limited time).The start of this week was kind of a struggle for me. Granted, it largely consisted of #firstworldproblems --...

Review / Video / Stream / Download | Greensky Bluegrass Opens 2016 @ The Vic

By: @WeirScrewed| Video:izeoftheworldphotos"Who hustles harder: Chicago or Detroit?" was the question asked by Greensky Bluegrass over their four show run, spanning the extended New Year's weekend with two shows eachat Michigan's Royal Oak Theater and Chicago's Vic Theater.Not sure about the city's hustle, or even those of the fans in each, but...

Review / Photos / Setlist | Steve Earle @ City Winery 1/4/16

Words & Photos: Alex WoodThough notorious for his storytelling during live shows, Steve Earle gave the audience at City Winery something far more special than a few pastime tales during his solo performance on Monday.Earle used the show to run through his discography chronologically, performing one song off each album he had released since...

Review / Photos | Lettuce, Turbo Suit & Future Rock NYE @ The Riv

By: Carmel O'Farrell (@carmelocorn) | Photos: Ab PhotographieNew Years Eve is a special night for most live music fans. If we aren't traveling the country to join our favorite band on the road, we hunker down and enjoy the acts that come to us. Either way, we suit up, pop some bottles, and try to keep...

Review & Video | 30db @ Tonic Room 12/19/15

By: Carmel O'Farrell (@carmelocorn) | Photo: Megan Sanders | Video: Charles IzenstarkOnce again, Tonic Room in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood brought a unique Umphrey's McGee side project to its intimate stage.On Saturday, December 19th,it came in the form of 30db, which consists of Umphrey's lead vocalist Brendan Bayliss and mandolinist Jeff Austin. It's been years...