Posted in DIY Scene Episodes LGBTQ+ Lombard salon

Exploring Lombard’s underground (no, really) with Unmasked Coven and James the Boneless (Episode 1023)

There’s cool shit happening in Lombard. For this episode, I had a chat with four interesting and amazing creatives: From the Unmasked Coven, a queer + neurodivergent-owned space: owners Sarah and Faeth. Also from Unmasked Coven: Jesse, the person behind…

Dyslexicon on Car Con Carne with James VanOsdol
Posted in Episodes

Dyslexicon shows fangs with ‘Dracula at Sea’ (Episode 1022)

Dyslexicon is the soul-searching and emotionally-driven creative outlet of multi-instrumentalist Dan Hart. It’s metal. It’s punk. It’s prog. It’s cool. Dan joins me just as the second Dyslexicon album, Dracula at Sea, is available for streaming. At one point during…

Posted in Authors Episodes Record store

The Flip Side: Where Chicago Rocked (Episode 1021)

I love a good record store, and for this episode, I’m focused one of the greatest record stores in Chicago history: The Flip Side. The Flip Side: Where Chicago Rocked is a new book about the birth, innovation, success and…

Eric from Milwaukee band Seances
Posted in Episodes Milwaukee post punk

Milwaukee band Seances conjures up modern post-punk (Episode 1020)

I’m a sucker for broody, synthy, hooky post-punk, and that’s what you’ll get on the debut from Milwaukee band Seances. The album, “Power is a Phantom,” comes out on February 13th, and I’m joined for lunch by Eric Arsnow -singer,…

Aud Whitson on Car Con Carne
Posted in Episodes

From iPhone voice notes to EP: Aud Whitson (Episode 1019)

Kansas-based singer/songwriter Aud Whitson is about to release her stark, authentic EP, “A House That Can’t Get Quieter,” on February 7. I caught up with her while she was in Chicago to talk about her songwriting, as well as the…

Neal Rosner of Chicago prog band McLuhan
Posted in Episodes prog

Chicago prog band McLuhan rereleases lost 50-year old gem (Episode 1018)

The fairly obscure, cult favorite, 70s Chicago prog band, McLuhan may very well be the least likely band to have entered 2025 with a string of live dates … but here we are. 50+ years after the release of McLuhan’s…

Liar's Club hosts fundraiser for L.A. fire victims
Posted in benefits charity Episodes

Liar’s Club hosts benefits for L.A. fire victims (Episode 1017)

Liar’s Club (1665 W. Fullerton) is set to host two fundraisers for victims of the L.A. fires: Friday, January 24, and Sunday, January 26. The Friday event, featuring Local H, Viceroy and Tuff Sudz, is sold out. The Sunday event,…

Posted in Episodes hot dogs Pizza Wicker Park

Celebrity chef collabs return to Piece Pizzeria for PAWS fundraiser (Episode 1016)

Slice to Meet You returns to Piece Pizzeria (1927 North Avenue)! The fundraiser benefiting Paws Chicago, the Midwest’s largest no-kill shelter, kicks off with “Bill and Doug’s Excellent Adventure, a collaboration between Piece and iconic Chicago chef Hot Doug. Piece…

LiveWire Lounge, featured on Car Con Carne.
Posted in Avondale dive bars Episodes

Avondale live music bar LiveWire keeps rocking (Episode 1015)

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,…

Josh Noel, author of “Malört : The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit," on Car Con Carne
Posted in Avondale dive bars Episodes liquor Malort spirits

The Malört episode, with author Josh Noel (Episode 1014)

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…