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Album Review & Show Preview | Railway Gamblers - Heart Of The Sun

By @WeirScrewedRailway Gamblers are a young quartet whose debut album, Heart of the Sun, dropped this week. Fans of Americana and folk-rock, as presented through an indie-rock filter, will find something to like here.From the opening notes of She Rides, elements of all of the aforementioned genres are in play -- a deliberate and...

Review / Photos / Video | Joan Osborne @ City Winery 7/5/15

Joan Osborne Proves She's One of Us During GD50 ChicagoWords: Joann D. Ball | Photos: Philamonjaro StudioThe final day of the week long Weir World celebration at City Winery was programmed with a keen eye for how the shows might progress. Joan Osbornes Sunday brunch show on July 5 offered fans a tasty serving of sustenance and...

Setlist / Photos / Video | Edward Sharpe & Magnetic Zeros @ Thalia Hall 7/3/15

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes offered two hours of music to a sold out Chicago crowd on Friday night, creating an exciting participatory vibe as a part of SilverWrapper's Music Never Stopped 2015 series, centered around the Grateful Dead 50 run.The band even cooked up a cover of The Dead's "Ripple" to acknowledge the occasion....

Grateful Dead 50 @ Soldier Field Chicago Media Post (SBD, AUD, Videos)

It might take days or weeks for me to fully express the range of emotions felt during this past weekend's shows. Until then, it certainly doesn't hurt to revisit what went down over three nights at Soldier Field.Luckily there are a ton of options. Here are some of my favorites.Soundcloud user quinfolk has...

Chicago To Add "Cloud Tax" To Users' Spotify And Netflix Fees

Chicagoans will soon have to pay a cloud tax for digital entertainment streaming services including Spotify and Netflix. The tax, which takes effect in September, will add 9 percent onto existing streaming service fees.The cloud tax was voted into existence this Wednesday by a city Department of Finance tax ruling.The cloud tax is an...

Setlist / Video | Thievery Corporation @ Aragon Ballroom 7/2/15

As promised, Thievery Corporation mixed in a bunch of Dead tunes into their set at Aragon last night. The stage setlist below is courtesy of @boanz on Instagram.The Other One, China Cat Sunflower, Eyes of The World, Scarlet Begonias > Fire On The Mountain, Dark Star and (why not) Drums and Space all made...

Recap / Photos | Busted On Bourbon Street @ Metro 7/2/95

There are plenty of supergroups in town this weekend. Here's one that had a decidedly New Orleans flavor.This band featured Ivan Neville, Papa Mali, Tony Hall, Willie Green and Marc 'Buddha' Balsam.The were on fiya all night, playing a mix of Dead tunes ("Mr Charlie", "Turn On Your Love Light", "Shakedown Street") as...

Setlist / Video / Recap | Gene Ween @ Concord Music Hall, 7/2/15

Since Weens breakup in 2012, frontman Aaron Freeman (better known as Gene Ween) has jumped from project to project, rarely sticking with a band or concept for long.First came Marvelous Clouds, released under the name Aaron Freeman, a collection of cover songs written by poet Rod McKuen. Then came Freeman, a full-band studio album released...

Setlist / Video / Stream / Download | Greensky Bluegrass & Keller Williams Grateful Grass @ Chicago Theatre 7/2/15

More to come on this show but first, the setlist and some media...Keller Williams' Grateful Grass feat. Infamous StringdustersJack StrawBrown Eyed WomenCandymanCold Rain & SnowFeel Like A StrangerBig RiverCumberland (They Love Each Other mashup version)Mr Charlie (Bird Song teases)On The Road AgainHe's GoneSamson & DelilahScarlet BegoniasGreensky BluegrassJuliusDemons"On behalf of the entire...

Local Bands, Hidden Gems Of The GD50 Chicago Before & After Show Scene

We've been adding events to our GD50 Chicago Events Grid since May. Sure, there are plenty of national headliners on the list, but probably a bunch of other names you may not recognize. Kelley Lauginiger (@peapodmcgee) was kind enough to break down a few of the acts that you can check out if you're into...