News Stories

Setlist / Video: John Mellencamp @ Chicago Theater 2/17/15

John Mellencamp has been a summer shed staple in the Chicago area for as long as I can remember, so it's good to see him bring the show to a theater in the wintertime. The fact that it was at Chicago's flagship venue is icing on the cake.And while the beginning of his set...

Photos / Recap / Setlist | 10,000 Maniacs @ City Winery 2/14/15

Reporting / Photos: Heidi PetersMore than 20 years after her departure, it's still hard not to think of Natalie Merchant as fronting 10,000 Maniacs.It's been so long that her replacement, Mary Ramsey, has subsequently left and rejoined the band. Ramsey fronted the longtime Maniacs stalwarts for four straight sold out gigs at City Winery and our Heidi...

Setlist / Video: Jason Isbell @ Symphony Hall 2/12/15

Symphony Hall proved to be a lovely venue for Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Although this show was performed without Amanda Shires on Violin, there was plenty of powerful and engaging music to complement the impressive performance space.Here's the full setlist followed by three outstanding videos shot by Sojahsey1.Flying Over WaterStockholmDecoration DayTour of...

How To Dance Without Spilling Your Beer

Sure this is an Australian beer commercial that's over two years old... but it's NEW TO ME.It may look weird, but perfect for those who like to boogie down and have a few suds. It's even been lab tested for those who have to defend their personal space on the dance floor.Actually seems...

Setlist / Photos / Video: Chris Robinson Brotherhood @ Park West 2/6/15

Photos: Wyatt BrakeThe Black Crowes may be over, but Chris Robinson keeps chugging along. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood may be a bit more mellow and heady than the band that put him on the map, but they came to the Park West on Friday with two full sets of original material mixed with covers (...

Setlist / Video: Freeman @ Tonic Room 1/29/15

So I guess Tonic Room is now the official place to be in Chicago to see former members of Ween in an intimate setting. It has hosted Deen Ween, often times unexpectedly, several times over the last couple of years.Stick another feather in their cap then, for snagging Aaron Freeman to play their small...

Album Reviews | January 2015 Releases

By: Alex WoodPanda Bear- Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper[1/9]Animal Collectives Panda Bear has released a string of consistently quality solo records, and The Grim Reaper is no exception. Though the opening notes recall the slow, trippy harmonies of Person Pitch, the record becomes decidedly more upbeat than the 2007 release. Electronic noises form the...

Setlist / Notes | String Cheese Incident @ Aragon Ballroom 1/29/15

More to come from this show, but first here's the setlist and song timings from opening night if the run...Outside & Inside (10:26)Best Feeling (18:31)White Freightliner Blues (4:48)Mouna Bowa (8:43)Barstool (5:56)Way That It Goes (8:11)Joyful Sound (11:55)Come As You Are (12:25)Colliding (13:09)Miss Browns Teahouse (14:12)Pygmy Pony (11:50)Black Clouds (11:30)Master Blaster (Jammin) 8:46 *Stevie Wonder coverImpressions (9:43)...

Widespread Panic - "I Swear It Wasn't Me" [Video & Lyrics]

It's hard to fathom exactly how incredible Panic en La Playa must be to WSP fans who are able to make the trip. Four nights. Stage right on the beach. Staying on site at an all-inclusive resort.After a blowout show on first night of the fourth edition of this destination festival, the band had...

Phases Of The Moon Festival Moving To Arkansas (!) For 2015

It was one of the more exciting stories of 2014 for us. A new fall festival in Illinois featuring a lineup of rock, soul, roots and bluegrass with a heavy jam influence. And no EDM.When Phases of the Moon arrived in September, it was not without it's hiccups, but ultimately delivered a really interesting and...