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Upcoming shows I'm likely to be at:

May 12 El Perro del Mar Schubas
May 14-27 Trip to Europe
May 27 Los Campesinos! Empty Bottle

Recently added to my iPod:

Bobby & Blumm-Everybody loves...
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy-Ask Forgiveness
Cut Copy-In Ghost Colours
The Cuties-Ah-Ah-Aah
The Foals-Antidotes
Frightened Rabbit-The Midnight Organ...
The Indelicates-American Demo
Islands-Arm's Way
Jukebox The Ghost-Let Live And Let G...
Karl Blau-AM
Last Shadown Puppets-The Age of the ...
The Maytals-Never Grow Old
The Maytals-Sensational Ska Explosion
Northern Portrait-The Fallen Aristoc...
Portishead-Third
Russian Circles-Station
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir-I Bet you...
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir-s/t
Silver Jews-Lookout Mountain, Lookou...
The Submarines-Honeysuckle Weeks

Podcast #85 brings few similarities but lots of great music from Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Cut Copy, Northern Portrait, Submarines, Silver Jews, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, & Bobby & Blumm.

>>listen

Sprout of Northern State

On Apr 29 the indie hip hop of NY's Northern State packed Schubas. Check out my photos and videos of the band and its openers D*R*I and Star.

>>view

Podcast #84 is a quick blast of indie pop featuring new music from The Indelicates, Islands, Tokyo Police Club, Ladytron, Brix E. Smith, & The Maytals.

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Elia Einhorn of The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir

On Apr 21 The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir continued its Schubas residency bringing choir members to the forefront and showcasing some of Chicago's finest musicians. Check out my photos and video of the show.

>>view

Podcast #83 is just mellow enough. Features new music from Jealous Girlfriends, Dean & Britta, Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan, Sun Kil Moon, Long Blondes, Battle Royale, Apes, & Genesis. Yes, Genesis.

>>listen

Philip Dickey of Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin returned to Chicago on Apr 16 for a night of solid, if only a bit tried, indie pop. Check out my photos and video of the band along with openers Via Audio & The Silent Years.

>>view

Kelly Waldrop of The Besties

On Apr 11 The Besties headlined a schizophrenic bill at The Note in Chicago. Check out my account and photos of the band with openers Ash in Pensacola, Mean Ohio, & My My My.

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Converge

On Apr 6 Chicago got the all-ages matinee hardcore experience featuring Converge, The Red Chord, Baroness, Genghis Tron, & Stabbed By Words. Check out my photos of the show.

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Podcast #82 is bound to confuse with new music from Los Campesinos!, R.E.M., Lisa Bouvier, Ministry, Genghis Tron, Billy Bragg, Drew O'Doherty, & Make Believe.

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Steve Austin of Today is the Day

A small but enthusiastic crowd welcomed Today is the Day, Lair of the Minotaur, Mouth of the Architect, & Complete Failure on Apr 1st for an intense night of metal. Check out my photos and video.

>>view

Podcast #81 visits some big names and some smaller ones you're going to want to remember. Featuring music from The Long Blondes, Vampire Weekend, Jonathan Richman, We Are Scientists, White Denim, Tapes 'n Tapes, Hot Chip, & Tobias Froberg.

>>listen

Podcast #80 features both kinds of music -- indie pop and indie rock. Listen for Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Santa Maria, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Villains Of Verona, Andrew Bird, Bottomless Pit, & Fuck Buttons.

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Ari Up of The Slits

The Subterranean filled up on Mar 19 for a high energy gig featuring The Slits, Old Time Relijun, Shellshag, & Post Honeymoon. Check out my photos and video.

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Geoff Farina of Glorytellers

Geoff Farina and his Glorytellers drew a small crowd and brought a diminutive opening act named Who Shot Hollywood to Chicago on Mar 18. Check out my photos and video from the night.

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Jonathan Richman

On Mar 11th Jonathan Richman brought drummer Tommy Larkins, opener Vic Chesnutt, and a Spanish guitar to Chicago for a night of music and conversational assides. My photos aren't much, but check out the video.

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Podcast #79 cover all the bases with new music from The Rosebuds, Evangelicals, Dirty On Purpose, Retribution Gospel Choir, 4-Skins, Cockney Rejects, & Black Fortress Of Opium.

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Podcast #78 packs great indie pop in little bands featuring music from Strip Squad, Elias and The Wizzkids, Bella, White Rabbits, Glorytellers, The Mountain Goats, The Magnetic Fields, & Meanwhile, Back in Communist Russia...

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Podcast #77 matches a run down host with perky music from Holly And The Italians, Taken By Trees, Say Hi, Arctic Monkeys, Switches, Flogging Molly, The Tossers, & Buck Owens.

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Eric Elbogen of Say Hi

An all-ages crowd showed up early on Feb 22nd to catch Say Hi with disparate support acts Brad Peterson and The Villains of Verona. Check out my photos and video of the show.

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Louisville pals Endpoint and Sunspring pay a surprisingly serious tribute to the music of Rick Springfield. Read more, listen to Endpoint's "Jessie's Girl," and download the full 7" with artwork here.

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Podcast #76 is high on the buzz of The Virgins, Black Kids, Jupiter One, The Young Tradition, Josh Fix, The Forms, Ida, Cat Power, & Emmett Miller.

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Roosevelt's Inaugural Parade broke through the gender barrier to create post-hardcore that was both pensive and surging. Click to learn more and listen to "Darkened Sky" from the band's 1995 7".

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Podcast #75 might rock you just a little with music from Cassettes Won't Listen, Colin Clary, Tullycraft, Blueblood, Stately Gentlemen, These New Puritans, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Okkervil River, & iLiKETRAiNS.

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Wesley Miles of Ra Ra Riot

Ra Ra Riot graced Schubas one last time before claiming the fame and fortune it's due. Click for my account, photos and video of the band and openers The Virgins & Essex Chanel.

>>view

Bruce Foxton of From The Jam

A some-what reunited Jam made an impressive run through its greatest hits for a Chicago crowd on Feb 4th. Hugh Cornwell (of The Stranglers) opened. Click to check out my photos and video of the bands.

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Podcast #74 is a delightful mix of indie pop and post punk featuring music from Pale Young Gentlemen, Math And Physics Club, Darren Hayman, Fireflies, Minutemen, Menomena, CSS, & The Field.

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Philip Dickey of Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

No cover, $1.25 PBRs, and warm weather brought the Chicago hipsters out on Jan 28 for a show that featured Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, The Blue Ribbon Glee Club, Black Apple, & Notes & Scratches. Check out my photos and video.

>>view

Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen

On Jan 20th, Schubas' Tomorrow Never Knows series ended with a bang provided by The Walkmen, White Rabbits, & White Denim. Check out my account, photos, and video of the show.

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Jay Ryan of Dianogah

On Jan 27th, Chicago relived its glory days of mathrock domination. Check out my photos and video of Dianogah, Bear Claw, & Quatre Tete.

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Calvin Krime's Kids Incarcerated 7" toned down the math, up'd the tension, and completely blew my mind. Listen to "Blood Flows Slow (Fight Song)" and see what I mean.

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Calvin Krime's Pretty in Pink 7" would have made my best releases of 1995 list if I had made one. This EP is an excellent slab of midwestern mathrock, and you owe yourself a listen.

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Podcast #73 catches up with new and not so new music from Ben Lee, The States, Mannequin Men, Bears, The Charade, The Owls, Bill Monroe, Tom Ashley, & Lydia Lunch.

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Proudentall's first 7" exemplifies the band's roots as a complicated and mathy quartet. Listen and find out why I fell in love with this band in 1997.

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Paper Brigade Records documented a slice of the Kansas City scene with this 1998 split 7" featuring The Anniversary and Proudentall.

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Susan Voelz and Ted Cho of Poi Dog Pondering

A five-piece acoustic version of Poi Dog Pondering played a sold out show to reopen the renovated Hideout. Check out my photos and video of the show.

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Figdish was a fantastic Chicago power-pop band swept up by the majors in the mid 90s. This week I ripped a 7" the band recorded for Happy Tails Records in 1993.

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Podcast #72 returns to form with tunes from Les Savy Fav, The 1900s, Head Of Femur, Pants Yell!, Afternoon Naps, 2 from The Lucksmiths & Le Loup.

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Wanna hear a story about strange visitors and an all-girl pop band from Champaign? Or maybe you just want to download the Corndolly 7" that I riped this week. Either way, click on.

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I may be a little late, but here is my top 20 songs of 2007. Is my list just as arcane as everyone elses? Find out for yourself.

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The 2007 countdown wraps up with podcast #71. Hear #6 - #1 from Los Campesinos!, Sakert, Bishop Allen, Pelle Carlberg, Ra Ra Riot, & Jens Lekman.

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Thanks to the magic of my new USB turntable, ripping 7"s to my computer is now a breeze. I'd like to share my good fortune with everyone. We start off with The Big Wheel by Chicago's 8 Bark.

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The countdown continues in podcast #70. Hear #13 - #7 from Oh No! Oh My!, Ted Leo, Elias and The Wizzkids, Brunettes, Okkervil River, Bright Eyes, & Architecture In Helsinki.

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Mike Reisenauer and Bret Randall of Pale Young Gentlemen

On Dec 20th, Pale Young Gentlemen played a free show to grateful Chicago fans. Check out photos and video of the band and openers Fetor & Radar Eyes.

>>view

We're counting down the top 20 songs of 07 in podcast #69. Listen to MONSTER JAMS 20 thru 14 from Gravy Train!!!!, Palomar, Stars, Mystery Jets, LCD Soundsystem, John Vanderslice, & Great Lakes Myth Society.

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Adrian Jewett of The Most Serene Republic

A wintery night didn't keep fans away from a fantastic triple bill at Chicago's Beat Kitchen. Check out my account, photos and video of Arts & Crafts' Most Serene Republic, Mock Orange, & Blueblood.

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Jeff Tuttle and Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan

Metal shook the Subt on Dec 12th when Dillinger Escape Plan showed up with A Life Once Lost, Genghis Tron, & Digital Leather. Check out my photos and video of the show.

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Podcast #68 is a delightful little affair featuring music from Babyshambles, A Smile And A Ribbon, The Siddeleys, The Legends, Deer Tick, Phosphorescent, & Clare & The Reasons.

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Podcast #67 couldn't possibly be cohesive with music from Shellac, Matt Pond PA, Siouxsie, I, Synthesist, Canon Blue, Most Serene Republic, & Chuck Woods.

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On Dec 2nd The Paul Green School of Rock Music students performed as the Ramones for a Chicago crowd of proud parents and a few out-of-place onlookers. Click for my account, photos, and video of the show.

>>view