We'll always cover the old favorites, but it's also worth keeping a lookout for artists that may be on their first few swings through Chicago. This feature, 8-UP, showcases eight acts on the way up -- catch 'em before they're big.Check them out in this Spotify Playlist and read a little more about&...

 Beyondify is our periodic feature which features new music before it hits Spotify.  As usual, we mine Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and YouTube for the goods. Here's what we came up with in the heat of the summer.  Father John Misty seems to be a bit divisive among our readers, but I...

By: Philamonjaro StudioThe 80s were alive Saturday night in Chicago -- with Billy Idol (Taste of Chicago), Duran Duran (Ravinia), and The English Beat (Thalia Hall).  While each brought a whiff of nostalgia, it was The English Beat, in their club setting, who probably played to the hardest core of music freaks.From first...

Perhaps the white hair has inspired her, but I guess you pretty much expect the unexpected from St. Vincent. She tweeted this two minute, synth heavy cover of the 80s sitcom theme "Thank You For Being A Friend", self described as a "dirge."I remade the "Golden Girls" theme song into a dirge. #...

On March 25, 1999, musican and bandleader Nicholas Tremulis hosted an event called The First Waltz, a benefit for homless kids at Chicago's Metro, and featuring The Band's Rick Danko.  The all-star, Chicago-driven lineup featured Billy Corgan (and his dad!), Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, Ivan Neville, Lonnie Brooks, Jon Langford, Alejandro Escovedo, and&...

By: Alex WoodExpectations from a Paul McCartney concert should be high.With endless money, a fanbase spanning every living generation and a catalog that includes hundreds of timeless classics, how could the Beatles bassist address the eternal demand for his live performances with a show that meets, if not exceeds, the hype?At Milwaukees Summerfest,...

My Morning Jacket have released a new song, Magic Bullet, as a means of condemning violence and encouraging peace.Posted to SoundCloud yesterday, the track features a funky vibe blending horns, guitar and electronics over a simplistic but powerful percussion section.The song's lyrics predictably focus on dealing with gun violence as a...

Dead & Company returned to Alpine Valley for the second of two shows on Sunday.  Although attendance was down from the Saturday show, the band continued their trend of trotting out huge Grateful Dead favorites.The traditional Sunday "Samson" opened the show, and the second set was a huge "Sugar Magnolia" --> "Sunshine...

By: Dale Foster PhotoGrateful Dead was on a lot of Midwesterner's minds with two nights of Dead & Company rolling through Alpine Valley over the weekend.In the Chicago area, if you were looking for a preview of sorts, one great option was Palatine's Durty Nellies on Friday night.Old Shoe has made a name...

This edition of Notes From The Jazz Underground is based on the playlist from July 8, 2016.There was disturbing news from Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and Dallas last week, and NFTJU host Paul Abella used the power of music to speak to injustice, civil rights and protest.Nearly they whole show revolves around Charles Mingus' "Meditations for...