One thing I've long admired about Chicago music scene is the community. Fairly removed from music industry bigshots on the coast, there is not an overwhelming sense of competition, no ruthless fight to seize some limited opportunity for a big break. Talent, creativity and social graces correlate to your happiness and ultimately success.Bassist Janis...

TigerFace. It's not an image I often think of, but in the context of the music of Marco Benevento, its easy to make some quick associations. The head of the beast. Large, majestic, iconic, dangerous. Yes, Marco's music is all of those things; well, maybe not so dangerous... but there's certainly enough risk taking contained...

It will be a busy August for Terrapin Flyer founder, guitarist and vocalist Doug Hagman. He'll hit the road for 9 shows in 11 days with an all-star cast in a routing that spans both Jerry Garcia's 70th birthday and the 17th anniversary of his death (including at stop at Chicago's Abbey Pub on 8/4). By the end...

There are few musicians that I've encountered that are more comfortable in their own skin as Tom Constanten. Joining the Grateful Dead as a keyboardist at a precarious time as they transitioned between the height of their cultural importance to the peak of their musical importance, he contributed greatly to the band's most innovative and...

The 40th anniversary of the landmark Grateful Dead 1972 spring tour of Europe was indeed something to celebrate. Of course, re-listening to my favorite shows was on the agenda to commemorate the occasion. But I also found myself reflecting, and diving into a series of written pieces: tweetsreviewingeach show on the tour from Jesse Jarnow (@bourgwick)...

Dial up any classic rock station in the world and you'll likely hear Jon Anderson within an hour or two. As lead singer of the prog-rock stalwarts Yes, his iconic voice weaves through the musical lives of baby-boomers and Gen Xers everywhere.But sidelined by his former Yes bandmates after an extended illness -- in...

With their funky New Orleans sound worked out annually at the citys Mardis Gras and Jazz Fest celebrations, there has been eighteen years worth of solid festival seasons for Galactic. As we approach the summer, the band will see action at Milwaukee's Summerfest, High Sierra, Forecastle, All Good, Floyd Fest, Japan's Fuji Rock Festival, moe....

One of the best parts of running a blog like The Barn Presents is that occasionally you get turned on to music in some of the most interesting ways. A few months ago when Danny Van Deurm left a short message on The Barn's facebook wall, advising me to check out his band, Bonzo Terks,...

Mark Karan's musical history has the narrative flow of a great book. The guitarist has spent years shuttling between the Bay Area and L.A., working in studios and on stages, laying down tracks with some of the world's most successful musicians. The road has been filled with twists and turns, unfolding with an almost...

Dedication. Hard work. Vision. Networking. All words often associated with success in business, but they equally apply to the way that Jim Boukas has built up a Chicagoland jamband empire of sorts over the last seven years. By constantly tweaking the formula, breaking new ground, trying his hand at new things and fostering relationships with...