Sincere Engineer is on Car Con Carne before playing this year’s Riot Fest!

Showoff released their self-titled major label debut 20 years ago. With only an hour to go before taking the stage to celebrate the album’s anniversary at Beat Kitchen, Chris, Dan and Dave jumped into my car. Discussed in this episode:…

The band Vortis jumps in my car, and I spend some extra time talking with music journalist friend Jim DeRogatis about the R. Kelly story he broke

Excellent Chicago band. Iconic Chicago pizza.

Another in-car performance! Another killer Chicago area craft brewery!

Chicago stories told by a guy who’s seen and done it all

“The punk kids didn’t like us very much… and the kids who were into the math-y/emo type stuff… we were like ‘fart and dick joke’ guys (to them). We never really fit in anywhere.”

Naked Raygun is simply one of the greatest bands to emerge from Chicago. They helped define the Chicago punk sound in the 1980s with a handful of timeless albums and legendary live shows.

Proving there is still justice to be found in the world, Raygun’s legend continues to be discovered and the band’s catalog is finding its way into a new generation’s streaming playlists. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that one of the band’s most high-profile evangelists is Dave Grohl, who frequently shares the story of seeing Naked Raygun back in the 1980s at the Cubby Bear in Chicago.

Maybe my favorite Smoking Popes interview in 25 years…

This week, I’m joined by 50% of Descendents (Stephen and Bill) outside this year’s 350 Fest in Tinley Park.