Posted in Arizona Episodes garage rock

‘If Elvira & Wednesday Adams did shots of snake venom at a bachelorette party’ – The Darts (Episode 733)

“Garage-punk-rock grrls will make your head slam and your feet shake. And then there’s the music” The Darts play Liar’s Club on May 28 (along with Mystery Actions and the Rumours). In advance of that, Nicole Laurenne from the Darts…

Photo - Tina Hagerling
Posted in 1980s Episodes synth pop

Dialogue with Howard Jones in advance of ‘Dialogue’ tour (Episode 732)

Howard Jones returns to the Greater Chicagoland area on July 2 for a show at the Des Plaines Theater (with Midge Ure!).
Photo credit – Tina Hagerling

Posted in Episodes Greek food

LBC 25, Riot Fest and Mr. Ms. & the Infusions: Stubhy (Episode 731)

Two weeks from the day this episode was recorded, Lucky Boys Confusion will play a sold-out 25th anniversary show at Bottom Lounge. Didn’t get tickets in time? No worries: The band was just announced as part of this year’s Riot…

Posted in Episodes festivals indie labels

PravdaFest is coming! (Episode 730)

PravdaFest celebrates the 38th anniversary of Chicago-based Pravda Records on June 24 & June 25. Sketchbook in Skokie is playing host to epic Pravda reunions and performances, including: FRIDAY 6/24 Boom Hank Hushdrops Steve Dawson Josh Caterer SATURDAY 6/25 Handcuffs…

Posted in Episodes

Chicago Podcast Day is coming! A solo podcast episode (Episode 729)

A podcast guest canceled at the last minute, but the show must go on … I’m podcasting tonight from the home office/studio. I talk at length about podcasting and Chicago Podcast Day (happening 5/21/22 at 2112 in Chicago), my record…

Posted in alcohol Episodes rum spirits

Star Union Spirits in Peru, IL embraces history, delivers award-winning spirits (Episode 728)

The Chicago Rum Fest is this Saturday at Logan Square Auditorium (2538 N. Kedzie). Joining me to talk about the event, as well as their own spectacular line of spirits, are Jeff Yosowitz and Bob Windy of Star Union Spirits….

Posted in Episodes

New optimistic side suits Chicago’s Fort Frances (Episode 727)

David McMillin of Fort Frances returns to Car Con Carne, as the band’s new song, “If You Look Hard Enough” is gathering attention. The song is the band’s self-described “most optimistic” tune yet, and it’s available in two versions: full…

Posted in breweries Brewpub Episodes

Liv Warfield (Prince/NPG) eats sandwiches in car; plays SPACE on Tuesday (Episode 726)

For this episode, I’m joined by the fiercely talented Liv Warfield. Liv’s a powerful solo artist who is perhaps best known as a member of Prince’s backing band, New Power Generation (NPG). We talked about her time and memories with…

Posted in Episodes R&B

Diplomats of Solid Sound release new live EP, plan Pravda Fest performance in June (Episode 725)

Diplomats of Solid Sound are Iowa City’s Ambassadors of Funk and Soul. With over 50 million streams to their credit, it’s clear that music fans crave the neo soul/r&b/funk sounds the band delivers. With a new EP on the way…

Posted in Episodes

Introducing Leonora, the band FKA The God Awful Small Affairs (Episode 724)

With their band, the God Awful Small Affairs, recently renamed Leonora, Missy Preston comes on Car Con Carne to talk about the very first Leonora song, “Wrong Car.” The self-described “subverted murder ballad” is the perfect launching point for this…