Photos: Wyatt BrakeThe Black Crowes may be over, but Chris Robinson keeps chugging along. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood may be a bit more mellow and heady than the band that put him on the map, but they came to the Park West on Friday with two full sets of original material mixed with covers (...

Photos: Rickie Kostiner (from 1/31/15 show) This is the story of losing touch and reconnecting. About making poor choices but also being true to yourself. About nostalgia and living in the moment.And yes, it's also a review of String Cheese Incident's Friday night show at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.String Cheese Incident is a...

Words & Photos: Alex WoodSteve Earles third of four nights at City Winery found the songwriter performing a well-constructed acoustic set that felt like a guided tour through the history of roots music.The show began with a preview of Earles new blues record, Terraplane Blues. Aint Nobodys Daddy Now featured country twang over a...

So I guess Tonic Room is now the official place to be in Chicago to see former members of Ween in an intimate setting. It has hosted Deen Ween, often times unexpectedly, several times over the last couple of years.Stick another feather in their cap then, for snagging Aaron Freeman to play their small...

Robert Randolph is just so many things. He and The Family Band popped in for a pair of shows at City Winery this winter as a part of the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival. He's the bandleader, a brilliant soloist, more-than-capable singer, master of ceremonies, and part-time comedian.He was even the inspiration for his...

Words & Photos: Kelley Lauginiger - @peapodmcgeeIt might have been the start of a blustery, cold weekend in Chicago, but The String Cheese Incident brought the heat as they visited for three nights on their Winter Carnival Tour.The line wrapping around the building on Thursday night was full of love and hugs, reuniting estranged...

By: Alex WoodPanda Bear- Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper[1/9]Animal Collectives Panda Bear has released a string of consistently quality solo records, and The Grim Reaper is no exception. Though the opening notes recall the slow, trippy harmonies of Person Pitch, the record becomes decidedly more upbeat than the 2007 release. Electronic noises form the...

More to come from this show, but first here's the setlist and song timings from opening night if the run...Outside & Inside (10:26)Best Feeling (18:31)White Freightliner Blues (4:48)Mouna Bowa (8:43)Barstool (5:56)Way That It Goes (8:11)Joyful Sound (11:55)Come As You Are (12:25)Colliding (13:09)Miss Browns Teahouse (14:12)Pygmy Pony (11:50)Black Clouds (11:30)Master Blaster (Jammin) 8:46 *Stevie Wonder coverImpressions (9:43)...

Let's talk about String Cheese Incident and the Midwest.During their hard touring days, you could count on several swings through the area per year.  A Chicago Cheese fan could easily catch a multiple night run (or two) right in their home town, plus be on the lookout for a few driving stops around...

By Alex WoodKishi Bashi debuted his new string quartet at Athenaeum Theatre on Thursday as part of the Tomorrow Never Knows festival.The songwriter and violinist was joined by two violas, a cello and a violin, as well as his touring guitarist guesting on banjo when needed. In addition to vocals, Kishi Bashi conducted the...