Posted in Episodes

Lucky Boys Confusion, the Dog and Everything ready for Metro show (Episode 834)

There’s a treasure trove of Car Con Carne favorites set to play Metro on May 6, 2023: Lucky Boys Confusion The Dog and Everything Night Spice Take the Reins Stubhy (LBC) and Dan Monahan (The Dog and Everything) join me…

Posted in Episodes Logan Square Restaurateurs

Sweet Cobra hits 20 year mark, eats food at Big Kids (Episode 833)

On the heels of releasing what may be Sweet Cobra’s finest album, “Threes,” drummer Jason Gagovski jumps in the car to talk about the new-ish release and the band’s history. Joining us for the conversation is Stephan Jurgovan, GM of…

Posted in Episodes Food Network reality TV

‘Wanna Pizza Me?’ – Local pizza-making hero appears on Chopped (Episode 832)

John Carruthers of Crust Fund Pizza made it to runner-up on Chopped Season 54, Episode 14: “Wanna Pizza Me?” John addresses the unforgiving Chopped counters early in the episode: “You have not one second longer than those clocks say” We…

Posted in crowdfunding documentary Episodes Kickstarter Video Games

Video Game Hall of Famer talks decades-long journey to make passion project a reality (Episode 831)

The decades-long process to bring an arcade game to market is chronicled in the forthcoming documentary film, “Ghostlord and the Quest for Dark Presence.” The game in question is “Dark Presence,” the brainchild of Galloping Ghost owner/International Video Game Hall…

Posted in Episodes 1990s

Triple Fast Action returns with self-titled rarities collection (Episode 830)

One of the most revered Chicago bands from the 1990s, Triple Fast Action, returns with a collection of demos and rarities, appropriately titled “Triple Fast Action.” The 3-record, 2-CD, collection is available on 4/21 (preorders are happening now on Bandcamp)….

Car Con Carne podcast host James VanOsdol with River from wht.rbbt.obj, 2023
Posted in Episodes

Bluesy, smoky, sexy and raw: wht.rbbt.obj (Episode 829)

River from wht.rbbt.obj joins me to talk about her band, which sounds like “Amy Winehouse meets the Black Keys and challenges them to a game of strip poker.” In short, I love this band. See wht.rbbt.obj at Summerfest on July…

Posted in Comedians documentary Episodes

Emmy-winning comic Dwayne Kennedy talks about Chicago’s comedy scene (Episode 828)

“Out of the Loop” is a new documentary about Chicago’s stand-up comedy scene (available on streaming services 4/11/23). The people speaking in the doc represent a “who’s who” of Chicago comedy, including Hannibal Buress, Jeff Garlin, Deon Cole, Erica Clark,…

Posted in Episodes Geneva steak

World-class FoxFire steakhouse approaching 20th anniversary in Geneva (Episode 827)

This episode finds me at FoxFire (17 W. State St., Geneva, IL) for a conversation with owner/chef K.C. Gulbro. Chef Gulbro talked about the restaurant’s longevity in the Geneva area, the only “right” cooking temperature for steak, the FoxFire menu…

Posted in emo Avondale Episodes

The Academy Is returns for Wrigley Field, UK shows (Episode 826)

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…

Posted in Episodes business Comics Restaurateurs River North

Challengers Comics celebrates 15th anniversary at Club Lago (Episode 825)

This episode sees the return of longtime friend and Challengers Comics + Conversation co-owner Patrick Brower! For this conversation, we met at Club Lago in River North (331 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654). Owner GianCarlo was kind enough to…