Words & Photos: Terry FaloonOn the second Tuesday of each month at Fitzgeralds in Berwyn, I have discovered a place where magic happens. It's a place where a group of kindred spirits meet to tell stories, listen to music and build community. Voicebox happens, and there is a lot to like about this inspiring, entertaining...

By Matt FricksSee Matt's reviews of Thursday & Friday.Last night, STS9 closed out their three-night stand at the House of Blues and treated fans to a perfect mix of old and new. This review will be shorter than the previous shows because there really isnt much else to say. Once again, the band executed...

As a fan of both artists, I was really looking forward to the North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne collaboration... but honestly I had no idea what to expect of this tour, dubbed NMO.Here's what I learned on Friday night.1. Touring with two three-piece bands, with everybody's gear fitting comfortably up on stage, has...

Words: Alex Wood | Photos: TimothyMSchmidt.com @timothymschmidtTweedy, the band consisting of Wilcos Jeff Tweedy and his 19-year-old son Spencer, offers an obvious respite from Jeffs primary group. The five-piece bands performance at The Vic countered the seriousness of Wilcos recent Riviera residency with a relaxed and, above all else, fun set of songs, the band...

By: Matt FricksSee Matt's reviews of Thursday & Saturday.Wow. This band is not fucking around.Following one of the best STS9 shows Ive ever seen, I knew that the Friday show would have a tough time topping the previous nights gig but somehow, it did.And it started even before the show began.I...

By: Matt FricksSee Matt's reviews of Friday & Saturday.STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9) kicked off their three-night Chicago run at House of Blues last night. Surrounded by the hype of "returning to their roots" with Alana Rocklin taking the bass and in the shadow of the band's ominous social media posts of Never miss a...

Even their most hardcore fans acknowledge that there would be no Phish (or certainly a radically different version) without the trail blazed by the Grateful Dead.Starting with the marriage of jazz improvisation with rock instruments and sensibilities, but continuing on through borrowed elements as innocuous as the two set format, mail-order ticketing, audience recording /...

Dead Sounding Phish: A Song Analysis and ComparisonBy: Matt FricksSince the announcement of Trey Anastasio as the lead guitar player for the GD50 / Fare Thee Well / Reunion / Goodbye / Whatever shows in Chicago this July, there has been no shortage of opinions of how well of a "fit" Trey will be in the style of Jerry...

Words / Photos / Video: Kelley Lauginiger - @peapodmcgeeAmerica was founded on forging ahead, taking chances, and maneuvering to the forefront of change. America has survived, however, on babes, laughs, good beer (or at least lots of it), and good ole fashion rock n' roll.There is probably no better intersection in Chicago music to embody all...

By Matt Fricksw/ additional reporting by @WeirScrewedGreensky Bluegrass returned to the Chicago for the first time since the two-headlining-gigs-in-one-night of last summer's Boulevard Festival. The bluegrass quintet graced the House of Blues with two sets that spanned the duration of their career while also highlighting nearly the entirety of their most recent release, If Sorrows...