Go ahead and wear your Yo La Tengo fandom like a badge of honor. For a band that seems to live at the outer-fringe of mainstream attention, they're actually not hard to listen to or even get in to. Despite some lovely pop hooks, the music is cerebral and doesn't pander one bit --part of...

It's something of a Rolling Stones tradition to "warm up" for stadium tours with some club gigs. For me, it's sort of encouraging -- kind of a proof that the show isn't about fireworks, catwalks or video screens.The Stones deliver in this Chicago performance at the famed Double Door, running through...

I have to admit, I hadn't listened to Soundgarden in a long time. Then, as if all worked out in advance, I recently saw that they were returning to Chicago in 2013 and within about an hour, this live show recorded in Chicago during their 90s heyday just kind of fell into my lap. So,...

This show is surprisingly listenable given the era and circumstances in which it was recorded. And what a setlist! I can't decide if catching a mid-seventies set like this would be preferable to a full workout of Quadrophenia or Tommy. Alas, I wouldn't see The Who until the 1989 reunion tour, when they were...

Just dug this one out to accompany an upcoming feature on the site. No doubt those in attendance got their money's worth. Thirty songs worth of CSNY goodness.The StreamDownload entire show (mp3 .zip)[/box]

File this under curious, but somehow every source on the Internet, including Bob Dylan's own setlist site, have this show occurring at the Fox Theater in Chicago. Of course, there is no Fox Theater in Chicago, at least not presently and circa 1990. I guess Bob and his people could have just listened to this awesome...

There are rumblings of another one of these collaborations soon, maybe this time with Jon Fishman (!) on the kit. Here's a taste of the original Kottke and Gordon tour from the Park West in Chicago back in 2002, where percussion was not required.  Pound for pound -- this could be the most satisfying of Phish...

Another one in our Retro Jamming series covering great Chicago music of yesteryear. One of the all-time greats in one of the city's now defunct landmark theaters. He's on to stadiums now, but this is stadium sized sound.The StreamDownload Entire Show (.zip mp3)

As I've stated before, Chicago music fans need to cherish every moment that we still have access to Northerly Island as a concert venue. In its relatively short history, it's been host to a handful of acts per year but I'm not sure any were as "special" as this September 11, 2007 gig by the great Stevie...

We're reaching back all the way to the very beginning for this very early Wilco recording. There is some debate as to wheter this is the band's third ever show, or possibly maybe sixth or seventh. One thing is for sure, having a recording that sounds this good from so early in the band's history...