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,…

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…

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 (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,…

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…

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…

Appearing at Metro, Saturday, January 4, 2025: Nicholas Tremulis & the Prodigals present Boneyard Rhapsody #65, featuring DJ Joe Shanahan & special guests. This promises to be a wall-rattling, roof-shaking, night of live music. To preview the event, I met…

Gilian from Hi Ho and Birdy from Sweetie jumped in my car at the end of 2024 to talk about their free show at Schubas (also including Reckoner), happening on 12/30/24 (New Year’s Eve Eve). We’d originally planned to go…

John E. Streetz, Head of the Streetz Artz Alliance, has been curating craft shows at suburban craft breweries for years. Odds are, you’ve probably been to one (either planned or accidentally). They’re great events that pull in an eclectic mix…