Anders Osborne placed top ten in The Barn's year-end best list for two years running. The few last times he passed through the area, it was with an acoustic in hand: a solo gig and the Southern Soul Assembly, both at SPACE in Evanston.So it was appropriate that Anders brought the full Electric New...

By Alex WoodOver the last few years, Andrew Bird has continually moved toward a more traditional, folk-oriented sound. His most recent touring band, The Hands Of Glory, reflects this change, perfectly relaying Birds vision through mature, full-band arrangements.Birds date at The Chicago Theater marked his first return home since December, and the artist was...

Photos: Rickie KostinerPreservation Hall Jazz Band is a lot of things. An institution. An unbelievably great time. A slice of the real New Orleans. A wide range of tones, sounds and rhythmns. Now I can officially add to that list: photogenic.Yep, there is something about seeing generations of men, who embrace, live and tour...

Photos: Rickie KostinerRobert Randolph dropped into town for another in a series of electrifying Chicago performances and Rickie Kostiner was on hand to capture some of the exciting moments for a photo gallery for The Barn.SetlistIntro, Motions, Working Title, All That Matters, Payback, La Tormenta, Fly, Blankets, Freak OutPark West proved to be a...

By Alex Wood / Photo: John RiordanOn Saturday night prior to Sundays rainy Lollapalooza performance, White Denim played an electric set at Chicago's The Empty Bottle. The official aftershow was the bands first performance at the small venue, the energy from which was felt in the music and the sold-out audience alike.Like most of the...

By Alex WoodParquet Courts played an ambitious set at The Empty Bottle for their Lollapalooza aftershow, despite the performance being before their festival set.With the sold-out show following their excellent full-length Sunbathing Animal, expectations were high. Fortunately, the set retained all the qualities that make Parquet Courts such a great band in the studio....

It was a bit of a disappointment to learn that one of the top live music photographers in Chicago would be heading back east this summer, but I wished Mr. Adam McCall the best of luck as he relocated back to Maryland.Sure, we're a Chicago-based blog, but when somebody this talented offers stunning shots...

On a summer night in 1982, Garcia & Kahn brought their acoustic show to the grand Auditorium in Chicago.Two compact sets and a nice little "Reuben & Cherise" encore.  There's not much to dislike here in this rare audience recording.  Enjoy.Download Entire Show

Umphrey's McGee played their first ever show at the long-standing "wine-and-cheese" venue Ravinia Festival in Highland Park last night. The set featured an acoustic interlude, including a lengthy "In The Kitchen", a cover of Toto's "Africa" and the closing of both the second set and the encore with a string quartet sit-in.Here's the full...

Photos: Eric FischerTruly outstanding shows don't just achieve that status by virtue of a single song choice or inspired jam. The best of the best are a collection of moments -- some arising spontaneously as the music is created, some as punctuation in the continuing narrative of the band's career.Over the course of the...