[fblike style="standard" showfaces="false" width="450" verb="like" font="arial"]For fans, Mark Hague is the type of musician you just have to love. A key member of two of Chicago's premier jambands (and possibly cooking up a third?), he brings the attitude and perspective of a superfan to what he does on stage. And...

These days, my music obsession exposes me to hundreds of new bands a year. There has always been a wealth of talent, but nowadays barriers to entry have been brought so low, I can now actively seek out, and enjoy, an extremely wide variety of high quality music with a few mouse clicks or finger...

Weve all had at least one of our favorite bands take an extended break from recording, only to emerge with the fabled reunion album a label that practically telegraphs disappointment from the minute you read it.The Bad Examples leader Ralph Covert has spent a large part of the last decade exploring other outlets: a...

When details started to emerge about Shoe Fest, the first year festival taking place at Stonehouse Park in Earlville, IL on September 9th - 11th, I almost had to pinch myself.There is no denying the overwhelming amount of musical talent in and around Chicago, and the quality festivals taking place all around the region...

As the self-proclaimed "Keeper Of The Flame", Melvin Seals is committed to honoring the Jerry Garcia Band songbook and carrying it forward through performance.Deliberately crafted with songs that span decades, songwriters, and styles, and with only a handful of overlapping tunes from the Grateful Dead's vast repertoire, it is no wonder that fans consider...

While VH1 would have you believe that the typical bands career narrative might flow like three-act play (discovery, fame, downfall), Cathy Richardsons is more like a Dickensian novel. From Chicagos western suburbs to the national stage (many times over), the hallmarks of her career have been opportunities presented and seized, a revolving cast of colorful...

Mr. Blotto bassist Mike Bolger considers himself a very lucky man. "If you're lucky, you get to really enjoy and connect with music," he tells me. "Luckier than that, you are able to play it. Even luckier you get to be in a band... and write your own stuff. Still luckier you get to play...

Even casual readers our site may notice the affection and attention we lavish on bands that dabble in improvisational rock. We do this because we unabashedly love these bands, though not at the expense of all other music. It seems, however, that fans of jambands can't get a break when it comes to respectability amongst...

Over the past year, Little Big Fat made the subtle transition from "band" to "recording artists." With the October release of their debut, On A Stick, LBF offers another side of its fusion-y improvisational rock to the world. After gigging with some of its material for nearly five years, On A Stick is an attempt...

Jeff Massey brings the same energy and enthusiasm to a friendly conversation that he brings to the stage. Engaging, reflexive and honest, the same qualities that make Steepwater Band music so exciting came through in this discussion. It was a privilege to speak with him about The Steepwater Band and his role in it --...