Dec 18, 2012
Two bands will be covering the near western suburbs on the weekend before Christmas, but the holiday may not be foremost date on their calendars. Instead, doomsday will be the more appropriate way to mark the occasion, when Chicago products Cole DeGenova & The People's Republic and The Heard blow it out on Friday, December 21...
Dec 18, 2012
It's something of a Rolling Stones tradition to "warm up" for stadium tours with some club gigs. For me, it's sort of encouraging -- kind of a proof that the show isn't about fireworks, catwalks or video screens.The Stones deliver in this Chicago performance at the famed Double Door, running through...
Dec 12, 2012
There was a unique show featuring Brendan, Jake, Kris and Joel from Umphrey's McGee at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium (aka the Shredd AquariUM) on Tuesday, December 12th. From the photos and videos that emerged, it looked like quite an other worldly environment -- billed as a Holiday Family Celebration, it promised an evening of...
Dec 12, 2012
Digital Tape Machine played a late night show on Saturday night to cap a short Midwest run, and several choice videos have emerged. With sporadic shows due to commitments of its principals, its always nice to have a record of what the all-star team has to offer. We're lucky to have them call Chicago...
Dec 11, 2012
In 2010, when I first conceived of a holiday mix tape, the concept seemed like fertile ground -- there were a number of much celebrated holiday takes from my favorite jambands, and all I had to do was assemble them. The playlist just sort of fell togetherA few leftover tracks turned into the seed for the 2011...
Dec 8, 2012
The annual Christmas show...12.08.2012 Brendan and Jake, Park West, Chicago, IL, USAOne Set: Puppet String, Gulf Stream[1], Nothing Too Fancy > No Comment > White Pickle, Uncle Wally[2] > Dear Lord[2], Rocker[2], Black Water[2], End of the Road[3], Sitting On the Dock of the Bay[4], Susanah[5], Hajimemashite[2], Christmas Time Is Here[6], Karma Police[7], She[8], August &...
Dec 7, 2012
Some nice looking videos from the front of the venue have emerged from this sold out Sunday night show. Here are the complete song lists:Band Of HorsesFor Annabelle, The First Song, Lardeo, Electric Music, The Great Salt Lake, Feud, Is There A Ghost, Heartbreak On The 101, Cigarettes, Wedding Bands, Everything's Gonna Be Undone,...
Dec 7, 2012
Last month's Live Music Blog feature, the five part What Bands Should Be Bigger Than They Are was one of the most enjoyable reads of November. Equal parts validation of some of my favorite under-the-radar acts, controversial picks that make you think, and short list of new bands to check out, I eagerly awaited...
Dec 7, 2012
We've got one more update from the action packed Chicago Thanksgiving Weekend 2012. Saturday night at Martyrs featured sets from two of Chicago's very own: Henhouse Prowlers and Family Groove Company.Each band delivered their own set before coming together at the end of the night for an extended post-encore jam that touched on...
Dec 6, 2012
Listening to this offers a weird and wonderful trip through a time machine and is a true fly-on-the-wall experience. A year before he decided to have a go at playing rock music with his buddies in The Warlocks, Jerry Garcia was riding high in the folk scene and giving banjo lessons. I can...