I’m going to Chicago this weekend to spend some time with the kiddo. We are doing typical Chicago stuff: A street festival in Andersonville (pride-related), Architectural tour, Cubs-Cardinals game at Wrigley, Gospel Brunch at House of Blues.
The trip got me thinking that for being the County’s 3rd largest City, Chicago isn’t as well known for musical genre’s as other Cities. Of course the Chicago Blues is well known from perhaps the 40’s and 50’s, mostly fueled by the great black migration. Some hip-hop artists recently have become well known, such as Chance the Rapper. And of course Wilco is based in Chicago too.
Back in the 80’s there was a thriving punk scene, but it didn’t really break much nationally. In fact there is documentary on that era unironically called “You Weren’t There” that looks at these 80s Chicago punk bands. It includes the band Da! which was kind of an arty punk band, maybe inspired by The Gang of Four. A good friend of mine was the guitarist.
Anyway what other artists do you think of when (or if) you think of Chicago music?
Also, drop ‘em if you got ‘em.
and, if i'm being honest with myself...
Yep: Chicago = Kanye (and to a lesser extent, Twista).
Last time I was in the city, it was at the end of September 2008, and "Love Lockdown" had just been released, the White Sox forced a game 163 with the Twins, and Obama was close to being elected.
To me they're all related.
Actually, that wasn't the last time. I was there again the next year.
But that was the first time I was there for any extended time as an adult and the only time I've been downtown much (the next time was near the airport).
These guys were all over Chicago when I lived there.
Totally loved their first album.
It's interesting how many Chicago bands weren't actually from there. Wilco was a St Louis band that relocated. Poi Dog Pondering was a Hawaiian band.
Also Liz Phair from Lake Forest, Urge Overkill was more of an Evanston Band.
Replacements, Prince, Soul Asylum, those were Minneapolis dudes. 2/3 of Husker Du from St. Paul with Bob Mould a Macalester attendee.
Billy Corgan grew up in Elk Grove Village, I think.
Liz Phair was from Wilmette. (My college roommate went to high school with her.)
Winnetka actually (I get all those suburbs confused up there). Elaine's cousin lived down the street. They all went to New Trier High School.
Yes. They're all the same.
Totally random list of the day
1. Gris-Gris Gumob Ya Ya
2. Jump Sturdy
3. I Walk On Gilded Splinters
4. Loop Garoo
5. Iko Iko
6. Junko Partner
7. Tipitina
8. Right Place, Wrong Time
9. Such A Night
10. Goin' Back to New Orleans
duh.
Yeaaaaah
I guess
Weren't most of the members of Journey from Chicago?
nah, think they're all California
Yeah. Get them confused with Styx.
Some quality music there
01. "Answering Machine (Solo Home Demo)" – The Replacements – Let It Be
02. "Lady" – Herman Jones – Purple Snow: Forecasting The Minneapolis Sound
03. "The Bridge" – Sonny Rollins – The Bridge
04. "Nothing To Say" – Black Diet – Find Your Tamborine
05. "You Really Got A Hold On Me" – The Beatles – With The Beatles
06. "Arnika" – Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People EP
07. "Warm Beer And Cold Women" – Tom Waits – Nighthawks At The Diner
08 "Pink + White" – Frank Ocean – Blonde
09. "I Will Return" – Warm Ghost – Narrows
10. "Lookout Joe" – Neil Young – Tonight's The Night
1. Shirley Collins “Pretty Polly” Lodestar* (2016)
2. DJ Shadow “Midnight in a Perfect World” Endtroducing... (1996)
3. Coldcut “Pan Opticon”* Let Us Play! (1997)
4. Ha Ha Tonka “In a Big Country”* Reverb Nation Free Download (2009)
5. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy “Hummingbird, Pt. 2”* Hummingbird (2012)
6. Fiona Apple “Every Single Night” The Idler Wheel Is Wiser... (2012)
7. Massive Attack “(Exchange)”* Mezzanine (1998)
8. Jane's Addiction “Jane Says” Nothing's Shocking (1988)
9. Ray Charles* “You Win Again” Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music (1962)
T. Smashing Pumpkins “Zero” Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)
Holy Oldies Week Batman! Only one song first released this decade, by a singer who I follow due to her work in the 90's.
*Notes:
1. This album is the audio equivalent of Dutch "Salty Licorice"... Superficially repellant enough to keep the rest of the family from touching it, but with charms that arise if I power past that displeasure; but I can only take a few [songs/pieces] at a time. Song is "Traditional", from the 1760s if not earlier, though this "modern" version dates to the 1920s. Ms. Collins herself only dates to 1935.
3. Great piece sampling a ton of mid-90s British protests. "Guilty of violence... guilty of violence against the earth."
4. Big Country cover, from their 1983 debut.
5. Leon Russell cover, from his 1970 eponymous album.
7. Horace Andy on vocals, reprising his 1970 single "See a Man's Face"
9. Mr. Charles was born in 1930.
Can’t believe nobody’s mentioned Curtis, a Chicago native who grew up in Cabrini-Green:
John Wright, whose South Side Soul is one of my favorite albums, moved to Chicago with his family at age 2. On a different end of my record collection, the Smoking Popes are from Lake in the Hills.
I know you've all been waiting for this.
Eleventh Dream Day
Originally from Kentucky. Tough. Loud. Literate.
Junkie blues. 4 albums. Band eventually morphed into Caliphone.
First thought for me:
Hey Presale going on right now for Sleater-Kinney at the Palace Theater. October 15.
Go to palace theater website. Presale code is hurryonhome
O.k. I'm a little disappointed no one noted that I captured the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot towers in that House of Blues image.
I did not realize the HoB was right next to Marina City. Then again, the only two Chicago venues I’ve been to for a concert are Symphony Center and The Hideout.
I'm alternating Dessa's latest and Craig Finn's "I need a new war" vinyl so far today.