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 [...]

What happens when you take 12 musicians, with only 2 Deadheads in the bunch, and challenge them to funkify select cuts from the catalog of the Grateful Dead?  That was the question, when Dave Watts and Colorado’s Motet set out to prepare for their 4 night 2011 Halloween run through the Front Range. If rehearsal [...]

1. One of my favorite local blogs, The Are The Imitators, is featuring a sweet photo set from the Dawes / Blitzen Trapper show at the Metro last Thursday 2. Chicagoist Drinkifies several Chicago Bands.  For fun here’s the link to some of our jambands, Chicago based and otherwise:  Umphrey’s McGee (cold Bud Light), Cornmeal [...]

Wilco, Dissected. An interesting breakdown of their career from Consequence of Sound. Don’t just throw away those fruit stickers, make art! Steal your face right off your banana. The cure for the lack of LP Covers in the digital age? VIDEO TIME! Okay, just audio over a still photo of David Cross.  However, I still [...]

In a nice interview with the Montreal Gazette, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy reveals a deep appreciation for Canada’s most famous power trio. Tweedy: (Laughs) Yeah, I love Rush and I have a deep appreciation of them as people and as a band, more so now than when I was growing up, being a punk rock fan [...]

Friend of The Barn Rob Mitchum offers his take on Pearl Jam’s 20th birthday party at Alpine Lullaby versions of your favorite Rock and Pop hits, including Grateful Dead and Wilco Jane’s Addiction returns to the Metro this fall — check some photos of their 1988 appearance at the venerable club (via XRT) The Reader [...]

Umphrey’s McGee welcomed special guest Bob Weir to the stage to open their second set last night at Brooklyn Bowl. They opened the set with a tune long associated with Weir and the Dead “Not Fade Away” and segued into the Umphrey’s original “Glory”. The show was the first of a four night stand with [...]

There is something special when the worlds of rock and classical music collide. After months of preparation, the end products are only performed a handful of times, creating something truly unique for the lucky attendees. The Barn will feature a different rock / symphony fusion weekly over the next several weeks in a new feature: [...]

It took a little while, but I’m ready comment on my experience at Summer Camp Music Festival this year.  I’ll withhold detailed comment on the weather or conditions, but there is enough to say about the music, even with my Sunday only pass, to get on the page.  So, in keeping with The Barn’s sub-theme [...]

Last week, I called Paul Simon a “class act”, after reading this, I may have to reevaluate. Disclosure, in no way does it reduce the awesomeness of the video below. A bevy of Prince covers in honor of his birthday earlier this week. The blogs at The Trib offer an interview with funkiest of the [...]