Now, I’m no Largehearted Boy when it comes to aggregating lists - David is remarkable at that - but I have enjoyed finding offbeat compilations of the best ‘n’ worst of 2007. The “independent music” world encompasses everything from tours to records to fashion to drama, and if you’re willing to invest a little time […]

It’s not true in all cases, but in most I think it’s fair to assume that solo artists have to work a bit harder at just about everything than full bands do. Granted, there’s far less compromise to accept, but there are also long, lonely drives across BFE to gigs, leading bands of jaded for-hire […]

I interviewed Sean Moeller from Daytrotter the other day, and one his many wry observations about the state of the music industry today was that far too many musicians can’t make a living on their music because they insist on living in Brooklyn or West Hollywood and can’t afford their multi-thousand dollar rents. Chicagoans don’t […]

Wilco announced this morning that they will play a 5-night stand at the Riviera Theater in Chicago this coming February, a residency during which the iconic band will explore its entire recorded catalog in treating the hometown fans to a unique setlist every night. While tickets are a very reasonable $35 per night, looks like […]

It comes on the “Best Shows” list, which I hesitated to post before the very end of the year but did anyway. Boy, was I jumping the gun, because Richard Hawley’s set at the Abbey Pub last night was almost the best show I saw all year. The crowd was perhaps the sparsest I’ve ever […]