Photo Credit: Justin Buschardt LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Work Wife + Mary Hood – “Drown Me Out”Stream / YouTube LISTEN & SHARE: Work Wife – “Creases”Soundcloud / Spotify / YouTube LISTEN & SHARE: Work Wife – “Plastic Windows”SoundCloud / Spotify LISTEN & SHARE: Mary Hood – “Lake Sebago” Stream LISTEN/WATCH & SHARE: Mary Hood – “Come Back Earth”Stream / YouTubeThe first in Brooklyn-by-way-of-Seattle indie pop artist Work Wife’s series of collaboratively-written tracks with other …
The last two years have been tough on everyone. In fact, there are very few of us whose lives haven’t been altered in some way or another as a result of this recent change of events. For many artists, including musicians, Rolling Stone notes that this unexpected change of life events has affected their livelihoods …
Simply titled, “Don’t Stop Believin’ (Marching Band) – SNL” this recent satire featuring Bowen Yang, Zoe Kravitz, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd and Heidi Gardner is the undeniable greatest SOAT (skit of all time). Mr. Yang’s illuminating commentary gives furtive dramatic life to the manic hopes, troglodyte fears and impermissible ambitions of partially informed music bloggers …
The above photo has been floating around Facebook the last few days, to much chortling hilarity. Anyone familiar with the northwest side of Chicago will recognize not just the public Catholicism of this picture, but also the style of boxy, brick-only, housing built in the far north end of Chi-town where tradition holds that homeowners …
Between 1851 and 1910, approximately 1.6 million Swedish people – 86% of whom were under 35 y/o, left the fatherland to establish themselves in the United States. Swedes established the Swedish Lutheran Mission Institute in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1873. A banker in Knoxville (near Galesburg, IL) persuaded the Institute to relocate and it was renamed …
Last weekend I headed to a small Chicago venue called the Beat Kitchen to see Yakuza headline the Forever Deaf Fest. Yakuza has been my favorite Windy City band for quite a while…long before the frickin’ pandemic started. Over the years three musicians have remained constant: Bruce Lamont (vocals, saxophone, clarinet); Matt McClelland (guitar); and, …
I’ve been seeing the TV ad (above) with Matt Damon hawking Crypto currencies recently; the angle of the ad is that participating in cryptocurrency speculation is the (almost literal, per the ad) equivalent of the greatest adventures of discovery the world has ever known. Huzzah! So what does Average Joe Investor make of this? Is …
Not too long ago I wrote about North Park College’s 1985, senior-laden men’s basketball team’s journey to the school’s FOURTH national championship. Coach Bosko led that team in his first year after working as the top assistant coach for many years. Preparing for the 1985-86 season, Bosko now faced fielding his first recruiting class as …
My alma mater, North Park College (now University), completely dominated NCAA Division III Mens Basketball just prior to my arrival on campus. With a cumulative record of 86-10, in 1978, 1979, and 1980, NPC won the national championship three times in a row. Growing up in Minnesota, I never saw any of those early championship …
There are few spirits with more mythology and lore than absinthe. Loved by many, loathed by as many, and known in name only to the majority. Absinthe began as a medicine, became a popular drink, obtained a cult-like status, was made illegal, and has a new life thanks to the rebirth of the craft cocktail renaissance. Absinthe or …
It may be just what we need right now, and it may be a foolish endeavor to hold the games in the middle of a pandemic, but the Olympics have begun! Since fans are not allowed, you will have to sit back and watch the events on TV. If your team or country doesn’t win, you can …
Fusing contemporary reggae with elements of soul, hip-hop and dancehall, breakthrough recording artist Lila Iké teams up with rising dancehall talent Skillibeng for a powerhouse remix of “Thy Will.” Both hailing from Jamaica, these two distinct vocalists continue to gain notoriety as the island’s new generation of promising stars. Today, they unleash the song’s brand new …
With “Se Va,” Zhamira debuts her sensual and urban sides, without neglecting her powerful vocal range. Produced and written by Maya together with Vicente Saavedra and Zhamira Zambrano, the song becomes a strong voice for female empowerment not only in the music industry but in society. Using pop and reggaeton sounds, “Se va” stands out with …
On Saturday, I heard an interview on my favorite radio show, This Is Hell, hosted by Chuck Mertz on WNUR (89.3 FM in Chicago), with Flint Taylor and Jeffrey Haas. These two guys founded the People’s Law Center. Go to episode 1288 to listen to the interview. https://www.thisishell.com/Haas wrote a book about the Fred Hampton murder. The …
I planned to visit a cemetery this morning on the north side of Chicago, situated less than six miles from my house. On Thursday I called the office to obtain lot information. However, as I drove amidst the works of art, aka grave markers, I realized my incomplete coordinate was no reason to search endlessly. …
Entitled The Black Messiah, this entire album is amazing. No matter what race you are you need to hear this great work of art. The vocals, the instrumentals, and the production all come together perfectly. The message hits hard and must be heard right here, right now. This project was written for a Christmas like …
I coordinated volunteers and drove a long van (now deemed unsafe due to being prone to tip on its side) and a short bus to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which is located near Chicago’s Midway airport. The present facility’s size will boggle your mind! Philanthropist Ann Lurie donated money to help construct the building, …
John Lomacang Delivers the Best Sermon Since the Sermon on the Mount. It is titled, “Shaken.” https://www.amazingfacts.org/
The Urban Dictionary has two definitions for Illannoy: 1) The innate ability of Illinois residents with a “better than thou” attitude to upset other Midwesterners; especially those from Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. 2) A state of mind of Wisconsin residents exacerbated when Illinois residents consider Wisconsin “Illinois’ State Park”. Illinois passed legislation so that on …
Good news! They can still rock in Chicago! And still make pizza! I lived my first 26 years near Kimball and Foster in Chicago. I was a child, a teenager, and an adult in Chicago. I have been thoroughly marked by all of the city’s idiosyncracies. One positive thing I still remember and miss was …
I have walked “Pulaski at Night” unarmed and alone and lived to tell about it. Curious, ever-changing, Chicago. On warm nights in September Pulaski could feel like this song that the Youtube algorithm picked out for me. And the algorithm made the perfect choice. Just listen.
Tomorrow, June 13th, Chicago White Sox will “commemorate” the 40th anniversary of Disco Demolition Night with a free T-shirt promotion. The announcement – during Pride month no less – has re-opened the discussion around the destruction of a Gay, Black, and Latinx art form at the hands of a primarily white mob led by white …
From Urbandictionary.com: “Waterboys are men or boys who willingly run errands for girls that they are interested in, however the girls are not interested in them. They do things such as taking her trash and disposing it. Buying and bringing her food. Getting her water. Whether she asks you or not. One key difference between a …
I have been an employee of the Federal government for over 25 years and never planted my arse in a Federally-owned building. Since that arrangement will change in a couple of weeks I have been purging my 10’x10′ cubicle of “institutional knowledge,” various reports, and documents I have not perused in over 15 years. Basically, …
Wife’s on a plane to Europe, kid is watching Fortnite videos on YouTube, I’m on my fourth glass of wine, and so sit down and listen to …. … Ultimate Manilow. I know I’ve been listening all week to Scott Walker (the recently deceased genius if morose musician,* not the other one), but this seems …
INDUSTRIΛL ΛCCIDENT from Wax Trax! Films on Vimeo. According to pitchfork.com, “a documentary about the influential Chicago label and store Wax Trax! Records has been announced. INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT was directed by Julia Nash—daughter of Wax Trax! co-founder Jim Nash and owner of Wax Trax! Films—and it features interviews with Steve Albini, Trent Reznor, Dave Grohl, Ian …
Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was a leader of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He would have turned 90 years ago the other day had he not been assassinated. A Baptist minister, Dr. King championed nonviolence and civil disobedience as means to make society welcome …
At the not so tender age of 15, Bella Rios rocks the tools to be a multi-instrumentalist Singer and Songwriter residing in the insanely tough town of Chicago, Illinois. Having mastered the guitar, piano, bass and saxophone, all before lunch, Bella is no stranger to raw, open musical talent. Her newest superheated single, “Under The …
This is a great work of art, a tasty slice of music and a left hook of political commentary. Every word is TRUE TRUE TRUE. Just like the Jazz Bible says, “Ye shall know the truth, Daddio, and still nothin’ gonna get set free until ye ready to free yo self.” Well, are ye ready …
Beneath the Hollow is a four piece metal animal from Chicago, IL. With their sophomore album Nihilist, the band offers a dark, agressive and hauntingly melodic sonic landscape. I’d go see this band. The vocals on “Nihilist” and “Omens” from the new album sound similar to Corey Taylor of Slipknot, and that is a compliment. …