Lots of great links, video and audio from around the web in this edition.The typical "Rock Star" story usually has the tribute band member joining the real band, but the tables were turned as Dean Ween (Mickey Melchiondo) joined The Pod at Tonic Room. Here's a three song video playlist:Chicagoist lists the 8 best...

Does listening to certain music ever make you feel smarter? That's how I feel whenever I listen to Tortoise. They fill a certain intellectual space that other bands don't -- coupling instinctive listening and responding with something that requires a bit more brain power. Is it jazz? Rock? Something else? Why does this grab me...

They're calling in the "National Endowment For The Brents" -- and it's yet another example of Chicago musicians coming together for a great cause. As friends of Brent Puls describe the situation:Our friend Brent Puls-- songwriter, painter, nerd, one-time rapper(?!), and "sexy-sax" man-- has had some medical issues of late.Basically, a childhood gut...

Head For The Hills is hitting the road hard this year and that's great news for Chicagoans, who seemingly just got a taste of their slick and modern bluegrass stylings. Their fall tour will bring them back to Martyr's (10/12), after a summer's end gig that found them at City Winery last month.If the August...

This installment of Notes From The Jazz Underground features the playlist from two shows, first August 30th and the September 6th.Once again, Paul's playlists provided some Spotify puzzles so I had to make a handful of substitions and supplements (with some videos below). Some quick things to look out forOne of the videos features...

Furthur played three shows at the Lock'n festival this past weekend welcoming a bevy of festival guests.  There was so much jam focus, collaborations were all but inevitable.  Sure, we would have loved to see Neil Young, who was scheduled to play before Crazy Horse's guitarist was sidelined with a hand injury, make...

Most Shows Spell Something. Not really, but some spell something backwards (if you just consider the first letter of each song played). Which is exactly what Phish did for their Friday night show at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO. Check out the hidden message in their setlist by starting at the encore...

There's always a local component toNotes From The Jazz Underground, but this week's show stayed particularly close to home, featuring a ton of Chicago Jazz and and interview with sax player Frank Catalano.Frank spoke with host Paula Abella about his new project with Percy Jones (Brand X, Brian Eno, Soft Machine) and Jimmy Chamberlin (...

The Cult swung through Chicago on their Electric 13 Tour, delivering their classic album in the first set and a another full set to boot. Wyatt Brake was on hand and he got back to us with this report.The CultHouse Of Blues - Chicago, ILAugust 27th, 2013First Set (Electric Album)Wild Flower,Peace Dog,Lil'...

Photos and additional reporting by Adam McCallThere's something going on in Aurora.Wait... Aurora? Home of Wayne's World? Closer to Joliet than Chicago? Well, actually, yeah.We've been hip to the fine Two Brothers Brewery for a while now. Their brewpub is situated in the old Burlington Northern Roundhouse at the end of the line...