Why are there not more Bob Dylan cover bands?Isn't it universally acknowledged that he has the deepest catalog of songs of any beloved artist? And let's face it, the bulk of his repertoire is written in a way that is just begging to be interpreted. Given that recent Dylan performances have left his rabid...

This installment of Notes From The Jazz Underground features the playlist based on the December 27th show.Another week, another birthday tribute.  This time to guitarist John Scofield for his birthday.  Luckily, there'a a lot to draw from as Sco has collaborated with some of the very best.In this playlist, you'll find...

Dark Star Orchestra set the flux capacitor back to 1983 for the sold out crowd at Chicago's Vic Theater on Friday, but then used the time travel juice from a pair of special guests to reach back ten more years during an extended encore.The Grateful Dead's May 15th performance at Greek Theater in Berkeley served...

Words / Photos: Alex WoodAs Califone walked on stage, drummers Joe Westerlund and Rachel Blumberg fiddled with a hodgepodge of small, electronic noisemakers, opening the show with layers of gurgling electronic noise.Out of these noises came Dont Let Me Die Nervous from 2000s Califone EP, a track that showcases the bands full range of dynamics...

Tim Rutili is the mastermind behind Califone, the sole constant in the Chicago bands influential 15-year existence.Califones latest release, Stitches, marked a new direction for the band with a cleaner production value, prominent vocals and more direct, personal lyrics. Around the time of its release, Califone embarked on an intimate living room tour, something...

If you've got the songwriting gift and are starting to get damn good at it, I suppose there are three paths you can go down.1. Grab a guitar and hit the road as a one-man-show. Refuse to dilute your vision with other musicians.2. Be a band leader. Step out in front of a team committed...

I expected to have a bit more coverage of this show closer to when it happened, but I hope that this makes up for it a mere two months later.Slowly, in the weeks that followed Leftover Salmons November 15th gig at The Vic, videos from YouTuber MyTallTripod have surfaced. Not only do these look...

Guest Post by Paul Abella.  Paul is a musician, radio host, pundit and early supporter of The Barn Presents.  As a jazz guy who actively embraces and celebrates jambands like Grateful Dead and Phish, and even champions jammers on our local scene, his sensibilities are a natural fit for the site.  We...

This installment of Notes From The Jazz Underground features the playlist based on the December 20th show.Frank Zappa's birthday is December 21st. As is tradition, host Paul Abella goes for wall-to-wall Zappa...kinda.The set kicks off with some recordings from Frank himself (plus, I've substituted his version of "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" for the...

In the 90s heyday of post-bop bands, Ken Vandermark and The Vandermark 5 were amongst the best. Theyre a Chicago band that sounds like Chicago, with music that stays busy and energetic, blending an array of eclectic jazz styles into one.At the time of this performance, Vandermark had been playing Tuesday nights at The Empty...