Nov 25, 2014
Whatchoo Talkin' 'Bout Wills Tower Jam?Words:@312mrg| Photos: Daniel Peterson courtesy of musicfestivalcentral.comIt takes two elevator combinations to get to the 99th floor of the Willis Tower. Somewhere around floor 40 of my first, I struck up conversation with a guy from Philly who had just arrived in Chicago on Saturday and was just...
Nov 19, 2014
One of the most unique events that we covered in 2013 was Otter Presents' grand experiment in venue selection married with super group curation: The Top Of The Tower Jam. Hosting a party 99 stories in the sky, essentially putting a band-for-a-night in a venue-for-a-night, makes for memories that definitely stands out.With a lineup that mixed...
Sep 9, 2014
Photos by Rickie KostinerStreet festivals have always been a Chicago summer rite of passage. We've got four, maybe five months of weather to support them and plenty of places for them to pop up and take on different neighborhood flavors.But it wasn't too long ago that they all pretty much boasted a similar lineup...
Dec 12, 2012
Digital Tape Machine played a late night show on Saturday night to cap a short Midwest run, and several choice videos have emerged. With sporadic shows due to commitments of its principals, its always nice to have a record of what the all-star team has to offer. We're lucky to have them call Chicago...
Sep 27, 2012
In 2011, Umphrey's McGee New Year's Eve experience was snatched away from Chicago, but the band played a pair of holiday shows at the Aragon Ballroom on Thanksgiving weekend. This year's Labor Day gig at the Congress will serve as the final time hometown fans get chance to catch the band in 2012.But... Chicagoans can still...
Sep 27, 2012
The fourth edition of the Abbey Pub Full Court Press Jam series is back next week (October 5th to be exact, click HERE for a chance to win tickets) and with it comes all the great things we love about the previous all star jam sessions.a full complement of talent from the top bands...
Jul 12, 2012
Update (7/30): We have learned lineup of one of the bands at FCP3 (and it looks great): Kris Myers of Umphrey's McGee, Ray White of Frank Zappa, Jesse Clayton of MathGames, Bryan Doherty of Digital Tape Machine, Nicholas Gerlach of Cosby SweaterOne of the trademarks of the Abbey Pub's Full Court Press series, whose third edition...
Jul 12, 2012
Words & Photos: Dave WecksteinThe best Super Jams are representative of what can be achieved on a whim when you mix together the right ingredients -- classic songs performed by some of your favorite musicians in a truly collaborative setting. While the concept was just getting its legs for its first installment this past winter,...
Jun 25, 2012
We've creeped past the solstice marker and are entering the heart of festival season in the Midwest. The oddest trend for 2012 seems to be festivals moving locations, which no less than five of the fests that we are tracking declaring a new home this year. Here's our roundup of the most intriguing camping and / or...
Jun 6, 2012
North Coast Music Festival, the Labor Day weekend event entering its third year in Chicago's Union Park has staked its reputation on eclectic lineups and an outside-the-mainstream sensibility. But while the inaugural festival in 2010 seemed to carve out a spot for edgier and crossover jambands, last year's lineup seemed heavily tilted towards EDM. It seemed...