This conversation was long overdue! I sat down with LiveWire Lounge owner Dave Hornyak to talk about LiveWire’s 14 years in business: The highs, the lows, the bands and the $2 PBRs. Looking for a zero-bullshit, low-budget, place to unwind,…

Malört existed long before you made your first “Malört face.” The story of its survival and eventual 21st century triumph is a twisty, fascinating business story laid out in Josh Noel’s new book, “Malört : The Redemption of a Revered…

Reed’s Local (3017 W. Belmont) hits its 10th anniversary mark on April 10. To celebrate, owners Melissa and Joel jumped in the car to talk about its relationship to the Avondale neighborhood, how the bar was launched, whether “dive bar”…

Darkpop, darkwave, electropop artist Brittany Bindrim joins me to talk about her first-ever solo album, “Velella Velella” (out March 8). As we eat tacos from La Traspasada in Avondale, we also talk about: *Brittany’s non-music hobbies *Why the members of…

Speed Babes are celebrating their ninth anniversary as a band by curating the upcoming “I Don’t Wanna Go Fest” at Reed’s Local (1/4/24-1/7/24). The four nights are stacked, including sets from: Daarling / Heet Deth / Watermelon / Precocious Neophyte…

The Horror House (2911 W. Belmont) has been open for just over a year, and has quickly established itself as an essential part of Chicago’s pop culture landscape. As Halloween approaches, I sat down with Horror House co-owner Vinny Malave…

Adam T. Siska of the Academy Is… is my guest this week! He joined me for a chat over dumplings from the Joong Boo Wang Mandoo stand outside Joog Boo Market on the northwest side. It’s one of Chicago’s best-kept…

Horror crawls its way into the Avondale neighborhood this Spring with the arrival of the HORROR HOUSE. It’s a new horror storefront that speaks to me in every possible way, and you can help make its launch even better. The…