Jun 24, 2014
Words & Photos: Ashley M. DowningFirstMerrit Bank Pavillion at Northerly Island has quickly become my favorite large venue in Chicago. It reopened last summer after extensive renovations and it now ranks as one of the best spots in the country to see a live show.It sits on the shore of Lake Michigan tucked away...
Jun 21, 2014
Tedeschi Trucks BandWidespread PanicOne SetFishwaterHolden Oversoul >Love TractorHope In A Hopeless WorldSleeping ManRebirtha >JamCrazyShut Up & DriveBlue IndianRed BeansLife Is Like Water (w/Jerry Joseph)Chainsaw City (w/Jerry Joseph)DrumsDark End Of The Street (w/Derek & Susan)I've Been Working (w/Derek & Susan)Stop Breaking Down (w/Derek & Susan)...
Jun 20, 2014
It seems like every time Panic rolls through town, they bring with them another fine souvenir print.The Summer 2014 edition is by Panic poster veteran Chuck Sperry, whose work will also be on display in Paris (!) this year.Though not a tribute to the city like previous offerings, you've got to love Sperry's images, patterns...
Jun 20, 2014
Words: @WeirScrewedPhotos via Joe Purdy FacebookAmericana troubadour extraordinaire Joe Purdy began a two night stand at City Winery on a rainy Wednesday night -- choosing this evening as a showcase of his new album, Eagle Rock Fire.Stylistically, this album is a bit of a departure from his last couple of releases, which have emphasized...
Jun 20, 2014
Words & Photos: Ashley M. DowningOn a brisk Friday evening in May, The Park West in Chicago kicked off its summer season with a wild, music filled event. This show was presented as the official Summer Camp Music Festival pre-party, with all of the musicians in attendance scheduled to play at upcoming fest the following...
Jun 19, 2014
You may want to sit back for this one.Let's start at the beginning. There is a band from Sweden who call themselves Goat.Why Goat? I'm glad you asked. Here's how they explain themselves:Goat are a collective who hail from a small and very remote village called Korpolombolo in deepest darkest Sweden. Legend...
Jun 19, 2014
Jazz is crashing headlong to Chicago's City Winery with two big shows that celebrate the great American genre's past and future.The great Preservation Hall Jazz Band hearkens to the sound's New Orleans roots. Chicago mainstay DJRC will bring his "Funk Of New Orleans" revue to open two nights of the legendary band's performance on...
Jun 19, 2014
I usually reserve these guide to Chicago type posts for multi-day stands of biggest bands that swing through Chicago, but a couple factors led me to create a tidy little one for the big Widespread Panic / Tedeschi Trucks Band gig tomorrow night.1. The Venue. Out-of-towners (or even natives) may not realize that FirstMerit Bank Pavilion...
Jun 19, 2014
Fasten your seatbelts, NCM Fathom and Rhino Entertainment are back for another round of Grateful Dead at the movies, and this time it's another doozy.Rewinding the clock a few months prior to last year's high quality Sunshine Daydream (8/27/72) premiere, this year's offering is a complete in-studio performance from one of the most storied tours...
Jun 11, 2014
The Growth Of Their GrooveWords: @312mrg | Photos: Ashley M. DowningSustained interest in a band is not accomplished easily. To achieve it, a band must be creative, considering the myriad of musical levers at play in a community where one size will not fit all. Tour t0 tour changes in approach or sound, setlist switch-ups, even...