JC Brooks Stories

PREMIERE | JC Brooks Band - Red Black + Blue EP

JC Brooks exploded into Chicagoans' consciousness in 2010 with a smooth-as-silk re-imagining of Wilco's "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart".  It was a damn near perfect introduction to the version of retro-soul that he and his band The Uptown Sound were offering just year into the Obama era.But digging deeper after this intro,...

Obama’s “Hometown” Playlist Includes JC Brooks, Chance The Rapper, Tom Waits and More

Throughout his presidency, Obama was known for assembling playlists that showed a keen taste of music, both old and new.The Obama Foundation has continued this tradition by posting a new playlist to Spotify featuring songs inspired by his hometown of Chicago.Guest-curated by Chance, Mavis Staples, Jennifer Hudson, Nick Offerman, Dan Ackroyd and more,...

Album Reviews | April 2017 Releases

By: Alex WoodThe biggest month for music yet this year, our capsule reviews for April combine 31 excellent releases that should be on any music fan's radar. Father John Misty- Pure Comedy [4/7]With Pure Comedy, Father John Misty continues to be one of the most clever, brilliant songwriters in modern times. Its immediately less accessible...

Are We Experiencing The Golden Age Of Chicago Street Fests? Photos & Video From Boulevard Festival 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...