By: Howard GreenblattFitzGeralds was packed with fans who came out to pay respects for the late Lonnie Brooks, who passed away April 1st at the age of 83, and love for his son and fellow guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks.Ronnie gave the love right back in an emotion-packed two set performance ...

Words: Nick LaMantia | Photos: Kevin Hiller | Videos: Brandon GroszMadison, Wisconsin always seems to draw a fun and boisterous crowd, and this weekends pair of String Cheese Incident performances were no exception. Two high-energy dance parties broke out at the historic Orpheum Theater.The Friday night show started off with a bang, as...

Words: Tim Kelly | Photos: MIchael Lepek | Video: Nunu ZomotSeveral hundred people got a real treat in Chicago at the fantastic Thalia Hall in the Pilsen area as Southern Soul Assembly performed an intimate two-hour show for the sold-out house.  Southern Soul Assembly is basically a supergroup of southern rock singer songwriting giants: &...

By: Michael LepekNew Orleans may be a long way from the Emerald Isle, Martyrs' went the funk route with Big Sam's Funky Nation for their St. Patrick's Day celebration.Big Sam got his start as a member of The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  With this band, Sam is always high energy with his...

By: Heidi Peters PhotographyLos Lobos had already re-scheduled a pair of show in Downers Grove once (these were originally set for mid-February), so when guitarist David Hidalgo injured himself prior to their March dates... the show must go on.Luckily Dave Alvin of The Blasters has had enough history with the band to fill in...

Photos: Zach StoneKeller Williams & Leo Kottke joined forces for a pair of sets, and a little collaboration at Park West on Friday night.Zach Stone was on hand for Tomorrow's Verse to capture some of Keller's kinetic solo performance.The Shut The Folk Up & Listen Tour is a perfect name for a pair...

Photos: Zach StoneAfter Wilco's summer stop in at Pritzker Pavillion. I had a good long thought about the bands pure Chicago-ness.There was plenty of Summer Lovin' from their hometown fans on that evening, but Wilco has traditionally funnelled its love of the city into a winter residency -- dubbed Winterlude -- and by Februrary...

By: Tara Gracer PhotographyPink Talking Fish are exactly as advertised. and sometimes a little more.As implied by their name, the band delivered a roller coaster mix of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish covers over two big sets in Chicago on Saturday night.Tara Gracer was on hand to capture all the action from...

Words: Philamonjaro Studio | Photos: Liz LaurenChicago Opera Theater (COT) presented Stewart Copeland's "The Invention of Morel" in a co-world premiere with Long Beach Opera for three nights: February 18th, 24th and 26th at the Studebaker Theater in The Fine Arts Building 410 South Michigan Ave.Rock fans remember Copeland as the...

Sure there are a lot of funk bands out there?  But there's probably only one that bill themselves as "the world's premier undead funk ambassadors".Here Comes The Mummies brought their mummified funk to a fairly packed House Of Blues on Saturday night.The super talented Tara Gracer was on hand with her camera...