I started my week seeing JD & The Straight Shot for the third time in three years. Previously I had seen them at huge venues (United Center opening for The Eagles and Huntington Bank Pavilion opening for a Don Henley solo show) where I had to take pictures from far away. When I heard they’d be playing the much much much smaller City Winery here … Continue reading JD & The Straight Shot at City Winery 6/11/19
On “Bullets In The Bower” Portland-based duo Small Million turn a campfire ballad into a synth-drenched dreamscape. Ryan Linder’s production shows dynamic range, starting with a cold, isolated vocal. He then turns up the heat and brings in the trap beats and synths. The sounds blend perfectly with the vocal performance of Malachi Graham. She can bring it low when she needs to, but her … Continue reading Small Million-Bullets In The Bower
I spent my 4th of July eve in Berwyn, where I was checking out Fitzgerald’s American Music Festival for the first time. Tuesday was the last of four nights of music covering three spaces at the club-an outdoor tent that holds 1,000 or so but felt like 5,000, the sidebar, which was packed every time I tried to enter, and the main club which is … Continue reading 37th Annual American Music Festival at Fitzgerald’s Nightclub
When the American Music Fest started in Berwyn, Ronald Regan had just become president and the trickle-down economy was headed for the toilet. But the owners of Fitzgerald’s found cause for celebration in music and threw a party that I’m sure they never thought would become what it is today. Bringing in the best and brightest in folk/Americana music, the festival has grown from a … Continue reading The 37th Annual American Music Fest at Fitzgerald’s
I had a funny thing happen a couple weeks ago. I was looking at concert listings to fill out my monthly calendar for May, and I happened upon the Old Town School Of Folk Music’s page for a series of shows The Mountain Goats are playing at the end of the month. Each show is being opened by Erin Rae, of whom I had never … Continue reading Erin Rae-Putting On Airs
