Last month's Live Music Blog feature, the five part What Bands Should Be Bigger Than They Are was one of the most enjoyable reads of November. Equal parts validation of some of my favorite under-the-radar acts, controversial picks that make you think, and short list of new bands to check out, I eagerly awaited each [...]

The Cornmeal Thanksgiving in Chicago tradition has been going strong for many years, and even with some changing of the guard, the band is making a return to the Vic for the 2012 edition on (Black) Friday Novemer 23rd. Last year’s festivities included a show opening for Umphrey’s McGee on Saturday and a rare club [...]

Here’s an interesting showcase of five apps that will change concert going A couple of great items from our friends at Hidden Track I really enjoyed reading about the jamband “glass ceiling” vis a vis Grace Potter & The Nocturnals And they offered some sweet video of Eddie Vedder fronting Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers [...]

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 [...]

Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers sucked the audience down a into wormhole on Sunday night.  We entered an alternate reality where popular music valued chops and musicianship over flash and gimmick — a world were Bruce and his primary musical outlet have had unparalleled commercial success over the past 25 years. But alas, we don’t [...]

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 [...]

The 30db / Van Ghost pairing was just one of the many inspired double (sometime triple & quadruple) bills that the Abbey Pub has been programming lately and certainly one of the most high profile, considering the national prominence of the artists involved, yet a strong sense of Chicago hung in the air all night.  [...]

Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival delivered two solid weekends packed with highlights. Fortunately, the good times don’t have to end at the festival, as some of the strongest sets of the festival have been recorded, and we’re happy to share them with you. Three keys sets from 1/21 at the Auditorium are available here in [...]

Months ago, I was pumped about the announcement of two night Umphrey’s McGee run in Chicago over Thanksgiving weekend.  Little did I know at the time, but by the time this extended weekend would arrive, that party would start in Chicago well before UM takes the stage, and continue all the way through to Thanksgiving [...]

Two great links from the Trib’s Greg Kot this week:  20 Years of Pearl Jam Quotes and Celebrating 40 Years of Soul Train in Millenium Park The New York Times asks you to imagine the Rolling Stones without Keith Festival!! Bands That Jam provide 5 must-see shows at this weekend’s North Coast Festival in Chicago.  [...]