By: Carmel O'Farrell (@carmelocorn) | Photos: Kristine Condon (@kristinebobean)TAUK first caught my attention back in 2013 at Summer Camp Music Festival.  They played an energetic set opposite Trey Anastasio Band as buckets of rain drenched Three Sisters Park.  While most of the festival crowd gravitated to TAB, it was fairly obvious to...

By: Ryan MannixA conversation with John Scofield can lead to so many places.  We started chatting about Country For Old Men, the beautifully named (and beautiful sounding) latest release from the guitarist, whose erstwhile jazz chops get a chance to pay homage to Country & Western greats via the tunes...

How Do You Afford Your Rock and Roll Lifestyle?An Interview With The New Mastersounds' Simon AllenBy: @312mrgWales and England have just finished their Euro Cup match in France.  You might not care, but New Mastersounds drummer, Simon Allen was intently tuned in. For Allen, Skyping from Leeds, the football match meant...

Words: Ryan Mannix | Photos:Kristine CondonFor a band whose best moments occur in when all of its members areon the same page, contrasting styles provide a critical part of their sound.Umphrey's McGee's Brendan Bayliss offers afluid counterpoint to fellow guitarist Jake Cinningers jaggedness, more influenced by 70s rock. His solos are characteristically rooted in...

Words: Ryan Mannix | Photos: Kristine CondonCinningers guitar technique is precise, yet expansive. Stylistically and technically, he has no boundaries. Combine amastery of jazz harmony with a love of 80s-stylemetal shreddingand he canreally open things up. Hes capable of anthemic, melodic licks, and repetitive odd-time feels.Jakes one of the most creative, and unique guitarists playing...

By: Ryan MannixSteve Kimocks Last Danger of Frost may sound like completely different music than what he's delivered to Chicago-areaaudiences in the past, but this may beas close to the true artist as it gets. Self-recorded, thealbum blends acoustic instrumentation with electronic soundscapes for a lush pastoral sequence crafted more for a seated audience than...

Nth Depth with Nick CassarinoBy: @312mrgProof that the harder you work, the more you will be rewarded -- the Nth Powerbeen busting ass for the better part of threeyears together, afterforming at Jazz Fest in 2012 and immediately clicking.The 4 Ns-- Nigel Hall (keys), Nikki Glaspie (drums), Nate Edgar (bass) and Nick Cassarino (guitar) -- knew...

By: Ryan MannixDr. Dogs newest album, Psychedelic Swamp, is Part Two of a concept that has been sixteenyears in the making. The album is presented as a message from a character namedPhrases, who sent the band a cassette tape detailing his existence in TheSwamp, hoping to reach the masses. Unfortunately,the communicationsoaked in the mud...

What Does It Mean to Be?: An Interview with Tom Hamiltonby @312mrg Tom Hamilton returns to Chicago this week at one of the city's most perfect venue, Schubas, for a Thursday night show. [We're giving away some tickets... So go grab yourself some].By now, his -name should be familiar. Youve possibly seen him with...

A Chat With Dopapod's Rob CompaBy: Ryan Mannix | Videos: mk devo | Photo: Faraz ChaudryDopapod guitarist Rob Compa, is a skillful, diverse and interesting player. He blends rapid fire classic rock guitar shredding with some truly out jazz inspiration.Gypsy and country influences are also evident in his approach.  And he's got...