Category: Episodes
Gird your loins: The new Daisychain album rips (Episode 1056)
Nickole Regala, Sophia Williams, and Frankie Sripada of the bluesy, psychedelic, raw and authentic, band Daisychain join me for a chat just days before their album release show (6/20) at Sleeping Village and a week in advance of the release…
Wrestling music, Night Spice and Flowers for Dorian: go-to drummer Marc Esses (Episode 1054)
This episode sees the return of drummer, Mark Esses, who’s behind the kit for super-cool bands like Downstait, Night Spice and Flowers for Dorian. We met at El Vado, a Mexican restaurant in McHenry, and we chatted about: Balancing Multiple…
Taste of Randolph preview with Spitalfield at Hide+Seek (Episode 1055)
Taste of Randolph returns this weekend (June 13-15) for its 28th year! The event happens at ground zero for food in Chicago: Randolph Street, between Peoria and Racine. To preview this year’s event, I sat down with Julie Darling (West…
Danimal Farm takes artistic residence in ‘Perseverance Hotel’ (Episode 1053)
Danimal Farm is a solo project created by singer/guitarist Danny Doom, formerly of Milk at Midnight. The album, “Perseverance Hotel,” is a comfortable, sometimes dark, collection of shimmering indie rock and indie pop songs that have stuck with me since…

Malört made impossibly worse by Noon Whistle Brewing (Episode 1052)
Almost exactly one year ago, I visited Noon Whistle’s Lombard Brewpub (800 E. Roosevelt) to understand why they were serving cicada-infused Malort. Sure enough, they got me again. Garlic Butterlört has arrived. In the brewery’s promotional copy, it’s described as…

Comedian Kevin Kellam welcomes you to ‘Kevin and Hell’ (Episode 1051)
I’m joined by comedian/radio host/wrestling journalist/former radio colleague Kevin Kellam, who’s recording a comedy album on stage at Lincoln Hall on August 9. We met outside the Brewed in Logan Square for a Sunday morning conversation that covered everything from…

Live from Legit Dogs (Episode 1050)
The second live Car Con Carne event at Legit Dogs + Ice (322 S. Randall Road, South Elgin) happened on 5/15/25. Appearing at the event, and on this episode: Karen Shook, Carson from Obscurity Brewing, Aaron Williams, comedian Chris Bongat,…
Bellhead follows up on earlier promises with ‘Threats’ (Episode 1049)
Bellhead (Karen Righeimer and Ivan Russia) is a favorite of mine. The post-punk duo continues to take massive evolutionary steps forward with each new release; the new EP, “Threats,” is their finest moment yet. Rather than meet in my car,…
Instrumental duo El Bisonte visits Chicago from Louisville (Episode 1048)
El Bisonte is a spectacular bass and drum instrumental duo (Henry Ignacio – bass and sounds; Blake Lowery – drums) from Louisville, Kentucky. I caught up with them last weekend before they headlined “Goatstock” in Norridge, and we talked about:…
UR Mom was in my car last night (Episode 1047)
I’m hanging with UR Mom for this episode. Me and UR Mom have a lot to get into, including the just-announced Summerfest date! Maura Wolf (vocals, rhythm guitar), Tommy Hinds (guitar) and Alex O’Malley (drums) joined me to talk about…