(Photo by Carson Masterson)

(Film viewed as part of the Chicago International Film Festival) Dystopian fiction done right feels just plausible enough that you can envision those events playing out in real life. Just ask Margaret Atwood. Director Chie Hayakawa’s new film, “Plan 75,”…

(Film viewed as part of the Chicago International Film Festival) “Rounding” is a psychological thriller that slow-burns its way through the emotional and physical unraveling of a medical resident wrestling with PTSD and trauma. Visually, the film offers plenty of…

(Film viewed as part of the Chicago International Film Festival) ‘Shorts 3: After Dark — Things Aren’t What They Seem’ collects eight horror shorts from U.S., U.K. and Mexico filmmakers. Of those eight, half are worth recommending. Of those, two…

(Film viewed as part of the Chicago International Film Festival) Look, getting older sucks, and it’s something that’s even harder to deal with when you’re an independent musician. At some point, bands who’ve yet to break through their respective “scene…

I’m conducting an experiment: Is it possible to walk into a record store with $10 and walk out happy? I explained the concept here. When it comes to record shopping, Half Price Books is always a roll of the dice….

I’m conducting an experiment: Is it possible to walk into a record store with $10 and walk out happy? I explained the concept here. After leaving Squeezebox in Evanston, I headed north for a mile and a half to visit…

Record collecting isn’t a cheap habit to feed. I’m well aware that I’ve spent a fair amount of money on vinyl over the past few years. That ongoing expense got me thinking: is it possible to walk into a record…

Chicago Podcast Day wrapped up a couple hours ago, and I’m elated to say the first-ever event was a success. The idea became a priority for me when I realized nothing like it existed in Chicago. Beyond that, I felt…

Q101 is returning to 101.1. The news comes on the week of my 15 year anniversary of being fired by Q101.