Suitable for listening after dark: Diagonal (Episode 460)
Suitable for listening after dark: The music of Diagonal. This band’s music was practically made for loud listening on a dark, late night road trip. They’re cool, psychedelic, post-punk and forward-thinking. Show bonus: I put my foot in my mouth…
Howling Bells frontperson Juanita Stein readies new ‘Snapshot’ album (Episode 459)
If you haven’t seen Juanita Stein’s latest video for ‘L.O.T.F,’ do yourself a favor and watch it today. The song, from her forthcoming release ‘Snapshot,’ is fantastic. The Howling Bells frontwoman joins me live from the U.K. this morning to…
It’s a haunted house in an abandoned casket factory: Evil Intentions (Episode 458)
Evil Intentions Haunted House is opening soon, with all sorts of safety restrictions in place. I talked with Haunt Lead Tim Stedman tonight about Evil Intentions, its certifiably creepy location in Elgin, and the comprehensive horror score he created for…
Turning telemarketing calls into comedy gold: Jason Batchko (Episode 457)
Telemarketers suck. In the 90s, Jason Batchko had fun with them by essentially reverse-prank-calling them. He recorded the calls and released them as a comedy album collection, “I’m So Happy You Called!” Pravda Records just did a full rerelease (on…
Band to know: Chicago’s Ballroom Boxer (Episode 456)
Happy Monday! Ballroom Boxer, “the Bill Murray of rock n roll,” is putting out a new EP next week. We’re talking about that, as well as other flights of fancy, on tonight’s Car Con Carne recording. Car Con Carne is…
What does the future hold for the concert business? My chat with concert biz exec Jon Reens (Episode 455)
What’s the future of live music? How bad are things, and when will they get better? I don’t know if my guest tonight will have the answers, but I trust him to come closest to delivering them. Jon Reens, a…
Lost album: Vigil (S/T). Interview with Vigil bassist Gregg Maizel (Episode 454)
Ever think back to a band from your childhood that you hadn’t thought of in years? Have you had it happen where, once you remembered them, you found out that they essentially didn’t exist on the internet? That’s my experience…
YIKES! Enjoy an ice cold ‘diet punk’ with Guardrail (Episode 453)
When you want punk rock, but without all the empty calories, choose diet punk! Self-proclaimed “diet punk band” Guardrail joins me in advance of their forthcoming “YIKES” EP. Car Con Carne is sponsored by C&H Financial Services
From Live Aid to ‘Lockdown Club’: Midge Ure (Episode 452)
Live Aid. Band Aid. Ultravox. Visage. Rich Kids. Solo. Midge Ure is a musical giant, and he joins me today on Car Con Carne. Be sure to sign up for Midge’s Backstage Lockdown Club on Patreon, to get access to Q&A sessions,…
‘Bringing comfort & joy to Chicago hospital patients through the power of live music’ -Sharing Notes (Episode 451)
Sharing Notes is “an organization devoted to bringing comfort and joy to Chicago hospital patients through the power of live music.” This Sunday, I’ll be hosting the Sharing Notes Digital Salon concert event to raise funds and awareness for the…
