By: John 'Nunu' ZomotFormer Jerry Garcia Band organist Melvin Seals is no stranger to the Chicago area.  He appears frequently as a special guest with the local Dead tribute staple Terrapin Flyer.But it's been a minute since he's brought his JGB project through the city -- so it was nice to get a...

Photos: Adam MiszewskiI'm going to say it.  Beyond just their name, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong has a jambandy aesthetic that makes String Cheese Incident seem reserved, self-serious and demure by comparison.But good on them for just embracing the fuck out of it.  And you can't say the audience hasn't responded. The...

By: John 'Nunu' ZomotAs a music veteran, Stanley Clarke can fly a little bit under the radar, but when he pops up you best pay attention.The man is an absolute beast on the bass.  City Winery goers were treated to a full-on clinic during his March visit with his talented touring ensemble....

Kung Fu have become perennial visitors to the Chicago area, and their loyal local fanbase packed Martyrs' on Easter Eve for a fantastic show full of extended jazz-inspired solos, danceable favorites, and straight up heavy grooves.It seems the band and venue have worked out a mutual attraction, as their regular spring visits have created...

JC Brooks exploded into Chicagoans' consciousness in 2010 with a smooth-as-silk re-imagining of Wilco's "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart".  It was a damn near perfect introduction to the version of retro-soul that he and his band The Uptown Sound were offering just year into the Obama era.But digging deeper after this intro,...

Words: Alex Wood | Photo: @comedyjunkie1Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo announced an intimate, one-off acoustic performance at Beat Kitchen last week, with tickets selling out instantly the next morning.Though Weezer will perform at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater with Pixies this summer, this 300-capacity performance naturally felt like the polar opposite, an extremely rare opportunity to see...

By: Philamonjaro StudioOn a Saturday night in Chicago, fans were treated to a rare concert by New York's favorite garage punk band, The Fleshtones.Having first debuted at CBGB in 1976, they were a part of the beating heart of the NYC punk scene.In 2018, the band harnessed energy from that storied era when they touched...

Words: Kevin Kelly | Photos: Michael LepekFor a chilly night in Chicago, it didn't take long for the Riviera Theatre to heat up as Galactic hit the stage.  Shortly after 9pm, Stanton Moores ever-consistent rhythm signaled a punchy start to the show, as each of Galactic's core members grabbed at least one shining moment...

By: John 'Nunu' ZomotWhen pianist Mike Garson hooked up with David Bowie in 1972 years ago on the US leg of the Ziggy Stardust tour, the initial gig was supposed to last just eight weeks.Over four decades later, even after Bowie's passing, Garson is leading a tour celebrating the body of work that he remained...

By: Michael LepekIt's nice when you can scratch a couple items off the bucket list.  On a recent trip to New York City, I was able to go for a pair: experiencing a show at the original Brooklyn Bowl and seeing a live performance of the seminal West Coast funk-jazz (or is it jazz-funk?)&...