INCOMING: Mudhoney and Hooveriii To Play Chicago's Avondale Music Hall 10/20/23

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

HOOVERIII CONFIRM FALL U.S. TOUR SUPPORTING MUDHONEY Includes New York City On October 28 And Los Angeles November 14 WEST COAST HEADLINE DATES KICK OFF MARCH 21 + TREEFORT MUSIC FESTIVAL MARCH 25 & 26 A Round Of Applause - Out Via Reverberation Appreciation Society Psych-rock band Hooveriii have been confirmed as the direct support for Mudhoney on their forthcoming tour of the U.S. I'll be out to shoot stills at the Chicago show (10/20/23 - Chicago, IL - Avondale Music Hall), so check back with ChiIL Live Shows soon for our photo filled recap. The dates kick off October 13 in Spokane, WA and conclude with a 2-night stand in Seattle, WA on November 18 and 19.  Along the way the tour hits Chicago, New York City, and Dallas, TX.  Hooveriii previously opened for Mudhoney on their 2022 European tour.  On March 21 the band kick off a West Coast headline run in Sacramento, CA that concludes on April 1 with a show at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneer Town, CA. Hooveriii are also confirmed to play this year’s Treefort Music Festival in Boise, ID on March 24 and 25.   Tickets are on-sale now and all dates are listed below.   Hooveriii (pronounced "Hoover Three") released A Round of Applause in the summer of 2022 and featured the singles “Twisted & Vile, “The Pearl” and the album’s opener “See.”  “a sunny, playful pop song that showcases the six-piece eschewing singer-songwriter self-seriousness in favor of infectious bliss” Flood Magazine "Glossed with studio sweetened guitar slices, a tumbling rhythm, and vocal harmonies the band pushes closer to fellow L.A. compatriots Communicant and Frankie and the Witch Fingers, with echoes of Ty’s widescreen productions of late"  Raven Sings The Blues "Their sound is a unique blend of psych-rock and krautrock, and while the band wears obvious influences like Thee Oh Sees or Can heavily on their sleeves they still provide a fresh take on the genre."  New Noise  "space-rock that’s as boundary-less as space itself."  Buzzbands LA  "(Hooveriii) explore the crossroads of prog and psych... a lot of fun to listen to."   When You Motor Away  Though created in large part by founder Bert Hoover, Hooveriii has grown to include  Gabe Flores (lead guitar and vocals), Kaz Mirblouk (bass and synths), James Novick (synths), and Owen Barrett (drums). Photo by Alex Bulli  Time after time, we all talk about … well, time — often in aphorisms and cliches. X is “a waste of time,” while Y is “time well spent.” We are all apt to lose track of time but, perhaps in equal measure, we have plenty of time on our hands. We think we have all the time in the world -- until we remember that time flies, after which our time runs out and we’re dead (for a long time).  Since 2020, internal clocks have had to be readjusted with the pace of life ebbing and flowing.  For Los Angeles psych-rock sextet Hooveriii (pronounced "Hoover Three") that adjustment seeped its way into their songwriting and ultimately their forthcoming album, A Round of Applause. Though created in large part by founder Bert Hoover, Hooveriii has grown to include  Gabe Flores (lead guitar and vocals), Kaz Mirblouk (bass and synths), James Novick (synths), Casey Sullivan (vocals and synths) and Owen Barrett (drums). Together they looked at this newly found time as a gift. As a result, A Round of Applause isn’t just another “COVID record” that dithers on subjects like isolation and community. Instead, Hoover broadened the scope of the band’s new record by not only reflecting on time as a concept but also allowing the band to flourish creatively. “There's a struggle with what your relationship to time is,” said the chill, amiable and down-to-earth Hoover. “It's a back and forth. On the one hand, it's like, ‘Fuck it, time doesn't matter.’ But then there's also, ‘Oh shit, I’m running out of time, and I'm scared.’ ” (“Out of My Time,” the second song on the record, is its thematic cornerstone). Prior to delving into A Round of Applause — Hoveriii’s second album through The Reverberation Appreciation Society —this band of space voyagers stuck to a routine of issuing about two releases a year (including singles, live albums, etc.). The routine worked well, so why tamper with it? Yet after the rise of a certain five-letter word that starts with a C, they realized that time really shouldn’t be taken for granted, cliché be damned. Finding additional inspiration via Nick Cave, who once said that dabbling with new ideas continues to fuel his near-50-year career, the band decidedly took a different approach with their new album and gave themselves the freedom to explore in the studio.    The end result is A Round of Applause, an expansive and even, at times, experimental record. Across the 11 tracks, Hoover stresses the importance of sequencing, so the record feels inviting instead of jarring - it segue almost seamlessly not only from song to song but within the songs themselves.  Whereas 2021’s Water for the Frogs was akin to a jam-band record — most of its seven songs are about five minutes long, including a closing track that lasts nearly 10 — A Round of Applause has broader appeal. Hooveriii consider the new record, which occasionally pays homage to the Canterbury scene, to be a palette cleanser of sorts.  “I am not really a playlist guy or a singles guy,” Hoover admits. “I’m really into the album experience. … So yeah, we made a pop record. But also, to me, this record is very progressive as well, and I thought that that provides a nice balance.” Hoover previously referred to Water for the Frogs as his band’s equivalent of Iggy Pop’s The Idiot. Playing with that idea he says A Round of Applause is the kindred spirit of Lust For Life.   The record cherrypicks from an array of genres — pop, girl-group ditties, synth-ish keyboards and funk —but the end result is a cohesive long-player with songs that revolve around the Spanish Inquisition (“Stone Man”); or follow “the legendary Peruvians who run long distances in the Andes Mountains (“The Runner”). “I let my imagination run wild,” Hoover said. Elsewhere on A Round of Applause, the Hooveriii frontman finally recorded a song, “The Pearl,” that he wrote in 2017. “It sounds like a Harry Nilsson jingle like to me, a fantasy song,” he continued. “It's more like a nursery rhyme than a song with an important message. You know, it's just like keeping things fun. … Nilsson didn’t take everything so fucking seriously. We want to avoid that self-seriousness. We're a bunch of goofy musicians.”  The aforementioned songs deal with external cultures and circumstances, to a large extent. But on “See,” the opening track, Hoover turns inward. “I got a lot of people in my life, including myself, that I feel take things for granted,” he said. “ ‘See,’ to me, is a song about not doing that.” Finally, Hoover pointed out that “Twisted and Vile” is one of the heavier songs on A Round of Applause. Written around the same time as “The Pearl,” he disclosed that David Bowie’s work inspired the Hooveriii song’s classic-rock-sound. “It’s a song about trying to figure out your place in life,” he said. Hooveriii derived the album title from the late-‘80s Roky Erickson song “Click Your Fingers Applauding the Play.” “That’s too much of a mouthful,” Hoover qualified. “My title, A Round of Applause, just came one day, and we were like, ‘Yo, that sounds like a Gentle Giant record.’” Reflecting the mostly lighthearted and uplifting record, A Round of Applause closes cheekily — but not sarcastically — with the sound of people clapping. Hoover adds graciously: “We've been lucky so far. I don't think we really have a, you know, ‘bad song.’ ” Maybe one will, someday. But Hoover doesn’t dwell on that; after all, his band has more records to make — and time is of the essence. Hooveriii Tour Dates  3/21 - Sacramento, CA - The Starlet Room  3/22 - Arcata, CA - Miniplex 3/23 - Portland, OR - Lollipop Shoppe 3/24 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival  3/25 - Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival 3/26 - Seattle, WA - Substation  3/28 - Bend, OR - Silver Moon Brewing 3/29 - Redding, CA - The Drip 3/30 - Oakland, CA - Stork Club  4/01 - Pioneer Town, CA - Pappy & Harriet's  Touring with Mudhoney 10/13/23 - Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge 10/14/23 - Missoula, MT - Zootown Arts Community Center 10/15/23 - Billings, MT - The Pub Station Tap Room 10/18/23 - Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club 10/19/23 - Milwaukee, WI - X-Ray Arcade 10/20/23 - Chicago, IL - Avondale Music Hall 10/21/23 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme 10/22/23 - Detroit, MI - Magic Bag 10/24/23 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop 10/25/23 - Rochester, NY - Photo City Music Hall 10/26/23 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall 10/27/23 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom 10/28/23 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge 10/29/23 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts 10/31/23 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall 11/1/23 - Atlanta, GA - EARL 11/2/23 - Nashville, TN - The Basement East 11/3/23 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone 11/4/23 - Dallas, TX - Sundown at Granada 11/5/23 - Austin, TX - Antone's Nightclub 11/9/23 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad 11/10/23 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom 11/11/23 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress 11/12/23 - San Diego, CA - Casbah 11/14/23 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom 11/15/23 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall 11/17/23 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater 11/18/23 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile Showroom (21+) 11/19/23 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile Showroom (All Ages) A Round Of Applause tracklist  See  Out of My Time Twisted and Vile Water Lily Time - The Outlaw My Directive Stone Men Iguana  The Runner Crusin’ The Pearl  Find Hooveriii here: Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook

INCOMING: Elvin Bishop At Chicago's City Winery Wednesday, April 6, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

BLUES LEGEND ELVIN BISHOP AND HIS BIG FUN TRIO TO PERFORM IN CHICAGO!

 “Deceptively loose but always tight…the raspy chuckle in Bishop’s singing and the sharp sting of his guitar are forceful and fresh, enduring and fun.”--Fresh Air, NPR

Rock & Roll and Blues Hall of Famer Elvin Bishop will bring his Big Fun Trio -- Bob Welsh on piano and guitar and Willy Jordan on cajón (a hand-played Peruvian drumbox) and vocals -- to City Winery in Chicago on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The Big Fun Trio’s Grammy-nominated Alligator Records release, Something Smells Funky 'Round Here, is rootsy, spirited, humorous and soulful, performed by serious musicians hell-bent on having a good time. Bishop, a natural storyteller, is as slyly good-humored and instantly crowd-pleasing as he was when he was scoring Southern rock-styled hits during the 1970s or cutting award-winning blues albums over the last 30 years. His most recent award-winning Alligator Records release, 100 Years Of Blues , was recorded with Bishop’s friend, Grammy-winning harmonica master Charlie Musselwhite. 100 Years Of Blues, was recently nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.

Concert information is as follows: 

Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Venue: City Winery

Address: 1200 W. Randolph St.

City: Chicago, IL

Phone: 312-733-9463

Showtime: 8:00pm

Ticket price: $35-$58

Website: www.citywinery.com

*See website for complete performance information

Ever since Elvin Bishop first hit the scene with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band back in 1965, he’s blazed his own musical trail. Whether he was playing raw, eye-popping blues, or penning the evergreen radio hit Fooled Around And Fell In Love, or touring the world for decades delivering his original, good-time countrified blues, Bishop has always inspired his fans with his rowdy guitar playing and witty, slice-of-life songs. Rolling Stone calls Bishop “a legendary guitarist” whose playing is “impeccable and spirited…a distinguished American player.”

Something Smells Funky 'Round Here was produced by Bishop and recording engineer Steve Savage and recorded at Bishop’s Hog Heaven Studio in Lagunitas, California. Bishop wrote or co-wrote five songs (including two by the entire trio). The album mixes rousing new originals, reinventions of three Bishop classics and some unexpected, soul-shaking covers. The potent title track -- a tongue-in-cheek State Of The Union address as only Elvin can deliver -- kicks the album off with Bishop aiming his lyrical truths at those in power. The humorous but piercingly direct lyrics take aim at the current political scene while Bishop’s deep blues guitar playing drives the point home. Jordan sings lead on four songs, including blistering reinventions of Jackie Wilson’s Higher And Higher and Ann Peebles’ I Can’t Stand The Rain . Welsh, whose guitar or piano playing highlight every song, pounds the ivories on his own Bob’s Boogie. “This album fell together easily,” says Bishop. “Everything I visualized about the songs – from Bob’s playing to Willy’s singing, came true. Bob and Willy are great musicians.”

Elvin Bishop formed The Big Fun Trio in late 2015 with his friends Bob Welsh and Willy Jordan. After playing just a handful of live dates, the group’s instantly crowd-pleasing music and undeniable chemistry took the blues world by storm. With the release of their self-titled CD in 2017, media and fan response was immediate and overwhelming. DownBeat celebrated Bishop’s “verbal hijinks, outstanding guitar work and country boy friendliness.” OffBeat said The Big Fun Trio was “intricate, funky and uplifting,” declaring them, “consistently great.” With its top-shelf musicianship and front-porch vibe, the album earned a Grammy Award nomination.

The Big Fun Trio quickly discovered the more they played live, the more fun they had making music together. So a follow-up recording was an easy decision. The new album, Something Smells Funky 'Round Here , finds the group fearlessly laying it all on the line. According to Elvin, “With a trio there’s no place to hide­—you’ve got to be pourin’ everything you got right out front. You need to be totally into it all the time. It’s really cool to see how people react to the goin’-for-it feel of the music.”

With Something Smells Funky 'Round Here, Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio are clearly having a very good time. Having spent almost three years performing, these three tremendously talented musicians continue to inspire each other to new heights. As Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio take their music back on the road, fans will once again have a chance to experience the big fun first hand. According to Living Blues , “Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio has wonderful chemistry and are a joy to hear.”

 

INCOMING: Circle Jerks Tour Dates and Zander Schloss of Circle Jerks Releases Debut Solo Album Song About Songs

  ChiIL Live Shows and New Release On Our Radar

Zander Schloss of Circle Jerks Shares “Dead Friend Letter” Music Video

On 40th Anniversary Tour with Circle Jerks

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we've dug the Circle Jerks for decades and were happy to see them playing Riot Fest in Chicago last fall. They're back out on tour again and shows are selling out fast. Still, even punks have a mellow side and we're thoroughly enjoying Zander Schloss's melodic new release too. Check it out!

Zander Schloss has released his long-awaited debut solo album Song About Songs via Blind Owl Records. The album marks the beginning of a new chapter for the longtime Circle Jerks bassist and known Joe Strummer collaborator, who calls the album his “polar opposite version of punk rock.”

Schloss has also shared the music video for the recent single “Dead Friend Letter” with Under The Radar saying, “‘Dead Letter Friend’ initially appears as one of the record’s sunnier arrangements, tinged with warm melodicism, pastoral harmonies, and a stark, intimate vocal style from Schloss. Yet, beneath the welcoming fingerpicking and gentle melodic lull, Schloss explores dark lyrical territory, tracing the outline of a man’s suicide letter and his final goodbyes. The resulting track is stark and simple, but hits like a startling gut-punch, painting a sincere and heart-rending character portrait.”

Stream/purchase Song About Songs HERE

Watch “Dead Friend Letter” Music Video HERE

The singles leading up to Song About Songs have been praised by many including BrooklynVegan who called “Dead Friend Letter,” “a lovely dose of early '70s style folk rock,” and Atwood Magazine who did a deep dive into “I Have Loved The Story Of My Life,” (which singer-songwriter Bedouine makes an appearance on) saying, “The song touches on themes of gratitude, on sentimentality, on magic, and on memories and paints such a vivid tale in both its lyrics and its video presentation. It details the life of one who’s lived so widely and experienced such a great deal.”

There was also plenty of excitement around the release of the title track which Northern Transmissions dubbed Song of the Day, and was further praised by Punktuation!, antiMusic, Ghettoblaster, and Blabbermouth among others. Schloss also recently appeared on Damian Abraham’s (of Fucked Up) podcast Turned Out A Punk.

The “I Have Loved The Story Of My Life” music video features uncanny marionettes of Schloss from the many different phases of his life, including his acting roles in numerous Alex Cox films, his time working with Joe Strummer, playing bass with the Circle Jerks and Weirdos, all leading up to present-day Zander Schloss. WATCH HERE

Schloss has an impressive résumé that includes his featured acting performance alongside Harry Dean Stanton and Emilio Estevez in Alex Cox’s 1984 cult classic feature Repo Man; work on the soundtracks for Cox’s later films Sid & Nancy, Straight to Hell, Walker; and Highway Patrolman. He is well known as touring musical director and guitarist for Joe Strummer of the Clash, with performances on Strummer’s first solo single “Trash City” and album Earthquake Weather. He also has appearances on record with Low & Sweet Orchestra, Magnificent Bastards, Thelonious Monster and in concert with the Weirdos. In 2021-22, he will be seen on stage during the Circle Jerks’ pandemic-delayed 40th anniversary tour.

But Song About Songs, which features the Los Angeles-based performer as singer, guitarist, and writer of nine striking original compositions, displays a revelatory new aspect of his work. It will surprise listeners accustomed to hearing Schloss in an aggressive hardcore format, but the St. Louis-born musician notes that his early musical inspirations came from a distinctly different realm.

As Veteran Los Angeles music journalist and critic Chris Morris writes in the album’s liner notes, “Played tenderly, with a striking intimacy, the subtle and affecting material on Song About Songs may well come as a surprise to listeners who know Zander Schloss only from three decades of bash-it-out work with the Circle Jerks and other punk units….Here, we get a long overdue look at a hitherto unheard side of his musical personality. It bears the thrill of discovery.”

Schloss is currently on the road with the Circle Jerks for their pandemic-delayed 40th anniversary tour. See full list of dates here: https://www.circlejerks.net/tour

 

Song About Songs tracklist

1. My Dear Blue

2. Not So Long Ago

3. Sin Of Wasting Time

4. Old Cliches & Diamond Rings

5. Dead Friend Letter

6. I Have Loved The Story Of My Life (featuring Bedouine)

7. The Road

8. Married To Sadness

9. Song About Songs 

Follow Zander Schloss: Facebook - Twitter - Instagram

credit: Geoff Moore

CHRISTONE “KINGFISH” INGRAM BRINGS 662: JUKE JOINT LIVE TOUR TO CHICAGO'S VIC THEATRE Sunday, March 27, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

Grammy Award Nomination:

Best Contemporary Blues Album: 662

“Exceptional album...astonishing creativity.”

662 #1 Blues Album Of 2021

—MOJO

“Christone “Kingfish” Ingram has already made his mark as one of the best, and undoubtedly most exciting, blues guitarists in the world.”

—Guitar World

“Ingram plays guitar with dramatic, searing tone and sure-handed authority. And that's just in the studio; he's even scarier live.”

—NPR Music

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram will celebrate the release of his Grammy-nominated Alligator Records album, 662, with a live performance at The Vic Theatre in Chicago on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Ingram’s headlining tour, entitled Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Presents 662: Juke Joint Live, has already taken the 23-year-old guitarist, vocalist and songwriter across the U.S. and Europe, with many more dates to come. In addition to the Grammy nomination (his second in two years), 662 was named the #1 Best Blues Album of 2021 by UK tastemaker magazine, MOJO. Rolling Stone declared, “Kingfish is one of the most exciting young guitarists in years, with a sound that encompasses B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and Prince.”

Check out the video for Long Distance Woman

Concert information is as follows:

Date: Sunday, March 27, 2022

Venue: The Vic Theatre

Address: 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.

City: Chicago, IL 

Phone: 773-472-0449

Showtime: 7:30pm

Ticket price: $38.50

Get your tickets HERE 

Upon its July 2021 release, 662 debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, and it's remained on the chart ever since. NPR's Morning Edition ran a 7-minute feature on release day. Buddy Guy called him “the next explosion of blues.” 662 was recorded in Nashville and co-written and produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge. It features 13 songs (and one previously released bonus track) displaying many sides of Ingram’s personality, as well as his one-of-a-kind guitar and vocal skills. 

According to Ingram, "662 is an ode to my roots, a nod to the area where I was born and raised. The title track, 662, encompasses how a small corner of the earth influenced my view of life and music. It also points to the growth I have had since my debut album. As much as I have been fortunate to get 'Outside Of This Town' (the title of his breakout single from his 2019 Grammy-nominated debut album, Kingfish), I do want people to know that the '662' will always be a major part of who I am."

Since the release of Kingfish, Ingram has quickly become the defining blues voice of his generation. From Clarksdale, Mississippi to stages around the world, the young musician has already headlined two national tours (Fish Grease I & II) and performed with friends including Vampire Weekend, Jason Isbell and Buddy Guy (with whom he appeared on Austin City Limits). He was interviewed by Sir Elton John on his Apple Music podcast Rocket Hour, and recently released songs with Bootsy Collins and Bobby Rush. In January 2021, Ingram was simultaneously on the covers of both Guitar World and DownBeat magazines, and graced the cover of Living Blues in late 2020. NPR Music says Ingram’s playing is “astounding…it’s almost like he's singing through the guitar.”

On 662, Ingram creates contemporary blues that speaks to his generation and beyond, delivering the full healing power of the music. No Depression calls Ingram, “a young bluesman with an ancient soul and a large presence in the here-and-now.” Living Blues says, “By any measure, Kingfish is one of the brightest new stars of his generation.”

INCOMING: Monster Magnet’s “Celebration of Powertrip” US Tour Begins March 20th

**Postponed Due to Coronavirus Closures**
All tickets will be honored for a later date TBD

Chi,IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

MONSTER MAGNET 

Kicks Off North American Tour in Two Weeks!

Nebula and Silvertomb to Support

ChiIL Live Shows will be out to catch MONSTER MAGNET in Chicago at The Metro. Don't miss this. 

Psych rock legends MONSTER MAGNET will return to the road in North America this spring to celebrate their historic release, Powertrip.  Their live set will feature select cuts from this seminal album as well as MONSTER MAGNET fan favorites.  Support on the tour will come from Nebula and Silvertomb. The tour begins March 20th in Brooklyn, NY and runs through April 18th in Sayreville, NJ. A complete list of dates can be found below.

MONSTER MAGNET W/ Nebula and Silvertomb:
3/20: Brooklyn, NY @ Elsewhere
3/21: Boston, MA @ Sinclair
3/22: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
3/24: Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theater
3/25: Toronto, ON @ The Opera House
3/27: Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop
3/28: Chicago, IL @ The Metro
3/29: Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
3/31: Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater
4/1: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar
4/3: Vancouver, BC @ The Rickshaw
4/4: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
4/5: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
4/7: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
4/8: Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda
4/9: Las Vegas, NV @ The House of Blues
4/10: San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
4/13: Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
4/15: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
4/16: Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
4/17: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Sound Stage
4/18: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

The release of Powertrip marked MONSTER MAGNET’s commercial breakthrough, seeing them achieve mainstream success due largely to the hit single, "Space Lord". Other hit songs on the album include "Powertrip", "Temple of Your Dreams", and "See You in Hell". The album itself reached #1 on the Heatseekers Charts, #21 in the German Charts, #65 in the UK Charts, and #97 on the Billboard 200. The album was certified gold by the RIAA on January 25, 1999.

Order MONSTER MAGNET’s latest Napalm Records release, 2018’s Mindfucker, HERE + watch the video for the title track below.

CITY WINERY CHICAGO ANNOUNCES ERIC ROBERSON, VAN HUNT, NANCY AND BETH AND MORE ON SALE THURSDAY, JANUARY 17th

 ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

CITY WINERY CHICAGO ANNOUNCES 

GRAMMY-NOMINATED ERIC ROBERSON RETURNS, R&B ARTIST VAN HUNT, AND MEGAN MULLALLY AND STEPHANIE HUNT PERFORM AS NANCY AND BETH

PLUS: ULTIMATE FLEETWOOD MAC COVER BAND TUSK, WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE FUNKADESI, CHICAGO-BASED STORYTELLERS WITH TEN-PIECE BAND STORY JAM AND GRAMMY-NOMINATED TRUMPETER AND SINGER VICTOR GARCIA

PUBLIC TICKETS ON SALE THURSDAY, JANUARY 17; ON-SALE NOW TO VINOFILE™ MEMBERS

**All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8 p.m., unless noted.**

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces the return of Grammy-nominated independent R&B artist Eric Roberson and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Thursday, January 17 at noon. All tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Chase the winter blues away with a host of wonderful concerts on tap at City Winery Chicago. I'll be out in person to cover Paris Combo and Rachael Yamagata this month for ChiILLiveShows.com. Check back soon for my full review. 

New Shows On Sale 1/17/19:

Victor Garcia
Tuesday, February 19
$12/$15/$18/$22

Grammy-nominated musician Victor Garcia is best-known for his extraordinary trumpet talent. Beyond this, he sings and plays percussion, bass, and congas. His songwriting, arrangements and charts have led him to professorial positions at Roosevelt University, Loyola University, and the University of Illinois in Chicago. As a young talent, he has performed with some of the greats including Aretha Franklin, Arturo Sandoval, the Temptations, and more. Garcia has recorded on dozens of albums, three of them Grammy-nominated. He released his debut album, The Grind/The Groove, in 2018.


Funkadesi 
Sunday, February 24; 7:30 p.m.
$15/$18/$22/$25

Chicago’s high energy World Music funk party band Funkadesi returns to City Winery. The ensemble blends their unique signature Indian styles — bhangra, Bollywood, Indian folk — with reggae, funk, and Afro-Caribbean grooves. The six-time winner of The Chicago Music Awards, Funkadesi has been lauded by critics and fans alike, even catching the attention of President Obama who noted, “Funkadesi really knows how to get a crowd going.” Expect a mix of lush ambient sounds, paired with the band’s signature diverse dance tunes.


Van Hunt
Tuesday, March 26
$18/$20/$22/$25

Van Hunt, a Dayton, Ohio-born musician, made his way to Atlanta where he drew acclaim for his production efforts and crafty songwriting, featured on recordings by such diverse artists as Dionne Farris, Rahsaan Patterson, and Cree Summer as well as the platinum-selling soundtrack, Love Jones. His own self-titled debut album arrived in 2004, instantly establishing Hunt as a distinctive and original talent with its idiosyncratic melding of R&B, soul, funk, pop, and rock ‘n’ roll. Hunt received a 2005 “Best Urban/Alternative Performance” Grammy nomination for his breakthrough hit single Dust that was featured on his debut album. Hunt has released four other studio albums since, some of which reaching Billboard’s Top 50 R&B/Hip hop and Heat Seekers charts, as well as “The Best Albums of 2011” by The New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, and a league of other music publications.

Story Jam
Sunday, April 7; 12 p.m.
GA $18 advanced seating/$22 day of show, plus $20 brunch buffet option

Story Jam is an exciting music-lit show that features Chicago's top storytellers, original songs written for each story, and a ten-piece band. The personal stories represent a range of cultural, racial, and individual experiences; and the band is comprised of some of Chicago's best musicians. Stephanie Rogers is producer-songwriter.

Tusk - The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Experience 
Sunday, April 7 
$32/$35/$38/$45

Tusk covers all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac, which has featured the talents of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and others over the years. The five seasoned, well-respected musicians comprising Tusk have been making music together in various combinations and styles, in original outfits and in cover bands, for over twenty-five years.


Eric Roberson 
Thursday-Saturday, April 25-27
$45/$48/$55/$58

Independent rhythm and blues/soul singer-songwriter Eric Roberson (Erro to his family and friends) is the first independent artist to be nominated for a BET Award in 2007 and has subsequently been nominated for two Grammys under Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the songs “A Tale of Two” and “Still,” both from his critically acclaimed album, Music Fan First.


Nancy and Beth
Monday-Tuesday, May 6-7
$40/$45/$50/$55

Emmy® Award winning actress Megan Mullally of “Children's Hospital,” “Party Down” and “Will & Grace” met fellow actress Stephanie Hunt (“Friday Night Lights,” “Californication”) while in Austin filming the independent movie Somebody Up There Likes Me. The minute the two started singing together they realized they had something special...and those that have come out to see their band, Nancy and Beth, agree! Within just three months of its inception in 2012, N&B had already played such fabulous venues as Royce Hall in Los Angeles and been featured as a musical guest on Conan.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on January 17 at noon. Only members of City Winery Chicago’s signature VinoFile™ program have access to ticket sales today in addition to receiving: a waiver of ticket service fees; free valet parking; Restaurant Loyalty Rewards, such as a free pair of VIP concert tickets for every $500 spent on food & beverage in the restaurant; exclusive membership-only events; and access to the proprietary City Winery Virtual Sommelier™, which helps make suggestions for wines one might enjoy based on past consumption at the venue.

Victor Garcia, Funkadesi, Van Hunt, Story Jam, Tusk, Eric Roberson and Nancy and Beth join a diverse mix of the most respected names in pop, rock, jazz, blues, world music, theater, dance, spoken word and comedy presented at City Winery Chicago, including previously announced headliners and supporting acts: Steve Earle (Jan. 15); EagleMania(Jan. 16); Paris Combo (Jan. 17); Skylar Grey (Jan. 18); Melanie Fiona (Jan. 19, 7 & 10p); GMiV plays The Beatles with Strings  (Jan. 20, 12p); Jodee Lewis & Jonas Friddle (Jan. 20, 7p); Let Freedom Ring, Chicago! (Jan. 21, 7:30p); The Hot Sardines (Jan. 23); Randy Bachman (Jan. 24-25); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Brunch Series (Jan. 27, 12p);Susan Werner (Jan. 27); Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar (Jan. 28, 7p); Rachael Yamagata with Radnor & Lee (Jan. 29-30); Alejandro Escovedo with Don Antonio Band  (Jan. 31-Feb. 2); Langston Hughes Birthday Celebration (Feb. 3); Ms. Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton (Feb. 4-5); Marcus Johnson with Kathy Kosins (Feb. 6); Marc Roberge of O.A.R. (Feb. 8, 7 & 10 p); Anders Osborne (Feb. 9, 7 & 10p); Fox Crossing String Band (Feb. 10, 12p); Anita Wilson with Dante Hall (Feb. 10, 7p); Ruen Brothers (Feb. 11);Hudson Taylor (Feb. 12); Patrizio Buanne (Feb. 13); 10,000 Maniacs (Feb. 14-16); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Brunch Series (Feb. 17, 12p); Kandace Springs (Feb. 17);Donavon Frankenreiter (Feb. 18, 6:30 & 9p); Procol Harum (Feb. 20-21); Bobby McFerrin & Gimme 5 (Feb. 22-23, 7 & 10p); The Four C Notes (Feb. 24, 2:30p); Steve Earle(Feb. 25-26); Ann Hampton Callaway (Feb. 27); We Banjo 3 (Mar. 1); JD Souther & Karla Bonoff (Mar. 3, 5 & 8p); Aaron Neville (Mar. 4-5); The Ides of March (Mar. 6); Kasim Sulton's Utopia (Mar. 7);  Ron Pope with Caroline Spence (Mar. 8); Ron Pope with Emily Scott Robinson (Mar. 9); Chicago Tap Theatre (Mar. 10, 3 & 7p); Luther Dickinson, Amy Helm & Birds of Chicago (Mar. 11); The High Kings (Mar. 12-13); Eilen Jewell (Mar. 15); Los Lonely Boys (Mar. 16-17); Michael Smerconish: (Mar. 17, 2p); Chris Diffordwith Steve Smith (Mar. 18); Christopher Cross (Mar. 19-20); The Subdudes (Mar. 21-22); Idan Raichel (Mar.23); Freddy Jones Band (Mar. 24); Eighth Blackbird (Mar. 25, 7p);The Tim O’Brien Band (Mar. 27); The Verve Pipe (Mar. 29); Will Downing (Mar. 30-31); David Archuleta (Apr. 2); Tommy Castro & the Painkillers (Apr. 4); Cyrille Aimée (Apr. 5); Willie Nile (Apr. 6); John Parr (Apr. 10); Martin Sexton (Apr. 12-13); Journeyman - A Tribute to Eric Clapton (Apr. 14, 7p); Graham Parker with Adam Ezra (Apr. 18);Carbon Leaf (Apr. 19); Dave Davies (Apr. 21); Chicago Philharmonic Sunday Brunch Series (Apr. 28, 12p); The Spring Quartet (May 1, 2p); Herb Alpert & Lani Hall (May 4-5); and David Bromberg Quintet (May 15).

Opened in 2012, City Winery Chicago is a fully operational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, concert hall and private event space located in the heart of the West Loop at 1200 W. Randolph, in the historic urban Fulton Market district. Once a refrigerated food distribution warehouse, the 1911 building has been transformed into a contemporary 33,000 square foot haven for those passionate about wine, music and culinary arts. The décor evokes the romance of being in wine country, from the exposed stainless steel fermenting tanks and French oak barrels, to the aroma of fermenting grapes. The West Loop’s only fully operational winery has produced dozens of in-house wines sourced from vineyards in California, Oregon, Washington, Argentina and Chile, including a Wine Enthusiast 92-point 2015 Verna’s Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir. With more than 400 unique producers from around the world City Winery is recognized with 2014 and 2015 Best of Awards of Excellence “for having one of the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world” by Wine Spectator. The globally inspired, locally sourced, wine-focused food menu is conceived for pairing and sharing. The concert hall accommodates up to 300 guests, all seated at tables with complete beverage and dining service, ensuring a comfortable “listening room” experience enhanced by a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system. Riedel is the official and exclusive provider of glassware, showing City Winery’s commitment to enjoying quality wine in a quality vessel. American Airlines is the Official Airline and Virgin Hotels Chicago is the Official Hotel of City Winery. For more information, please visit www.citywinery.com.

INCOMING: Paris Combo To Play City Winery Chicago 01/17/2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Swing Français Live and Remixed: 

Paris Combo 

Comes Back to the US for a Tour and with a Red-Hot Remix Album

Called “marvelously eclectic” by the LA Times, Paris Combo are returning to the US for their 20th tour in January 2019. The musically devious Parisians will be showcasing songs from their latest studio release Tako Tsubo, as well as favorites from their previous six albums, and their set will once again highlight their signature blend of swinging gypsy jazz, cabaret, French pop, Latin and Middle Eastern rhythms.

Featuring the vocals of charismatic chanteuse Belle du Berry, the line-up also includes founder-members, the Django-influenced guitarist Potzi, Australian-born trumpeter & pianist David Lewis, drummer-crooner François Jeannin, as well as virtuoso bassist, Benoit Dunoyer de Ségonzac. They are also joined by Rémy Kapriélan on percussion, vocals and sax for some dates.

Paris Combo's musical roots run deep and varied – Belle du Berry began her musical career in post-punk bands of the late eighties but also cites influences such as Arletty, the French singer-actress of the ’30s, the Surrealists and a panoply of more recent artists including the B-52’s. Potzi’s guitar has multiple influences including Django Reinhardt and his own North African heritage and this, along with François’ ska or Latin grooves creates a fascinating, toe-tapping blend.

Lewis, who previously played with a wide variety of Paris-based bands including Manu Dibango and Arthur H, attributes the group’s approach to Paris’ cosmopolitan atmosphere. Belle, Potzi and François first performed together in Paris as members of a quirky retro revue, “Les Champêtres de Joie” which went on to collaborate at the closing ceremony of the Albertville Winter Olympic Games in 1992. Du Berry and David Lewis met while performing together at the “Cabaret Sauvage” revue and in 1995 the group began to hone their sound playing in cafés and barges along the Seine under the name Paris Combo.

Paris Combo’s eponymous 1997 debut disc arrived as the swing revival was in full bloom, yet the band’s wide-ranging mix of musical influences instantly set them apart from other groups in the genre, winning critical praise and appealing to international audiences.

The mainstream success of their second album Living Room (1999) gave the group unique status as a French indie band capable of drawing crowds not only in France, where the album went gold, but also in Australia and the USA where they performed their songs – always in their native French - to growing audiences, culminating in 2004-5 with three concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.

Returning to performing in 2011 after a five-year hiatus, the group made their US comeback, again at the Hollywood Bowl with symphony orchestra, and went on to release their fifth album, simply entitled 5 on DRG Records.  Media response was enthusiastic and in 2013-14, they sold out venues across the country with their first US tours in a decade and a triumphant return to Australia in 2015. 

Following the 2017 release of their sixth album Tako Tsubo in the US on the DRG/eOne label, the group successfully toured the US, Australia / New Zealand and Europe. On their new record, the chanteuse Belle du Berry leads us through a deliciously varied collection of musical atmospheres, ranging from the intimacy of the live combo to more lush orchestral settings and beautiful 60's retro à la Bacharach with near-psychedelic overtones. The lyrical leitmotif of the album - suggested by the song titles, “Mon Anatomie,” “Spécimen,” “Anémiques Maracas,” “ID d'Heidi,” “Profil” - is the human physique and the way our emotional and physical beings interact. “Tako Tsubo,” the lounge-tinged title track, is inspired by a rare condition known also as “broken-heart syndrome." (Thank goodness Paris Combo have the cure!) Songwriter Belle du Berry indeed sees the human body as kind of « machine », capable of feeling, permuting and expressing an infinite gamut of emotions.

In April 2018 they released Remixed, an original collection remixes of their songs by some of France's most inspired DJ's to coincide with an electrifying, celebratory show at La Cigale in Paris. “After releasing 5 and Tako Tsubo, we gave some of our songs to remixers in our immediate entourage, giving them carte blanche so they could reinterpret them, and in particular, our best-known song “Living Room,” says David Lewis. “We loved the result.”  Fans are sure to feel the same.

01/17/2019 - City Winery Chicago, Chicago, IL at 8:00 pm

Ticket Purchasing or by Phone: (312) 733-9463

Ticket Price(s):
$35-$48

Venue:
City Winery Chicago 1200 W Randolph Street

Concert Start Time: 8:00 pm/ Doors Open: 6:00 pm

Chicago’s Martin Van Ruin Album Release Celebration at Fitzgerald’s 8/17/18

Chicago’s Martin Van Ruin will be following up their acclaimed 2014 debut Every Man a King with the sophomore album Current Day on Friday, August 17. They will be celebrating the release that evening with a show at Fitzgerald’s.

Current Day was recorded over a series of sessions in 2017 at the Music Garage and was recorded and engineered by Mike Lust (Tight Phantomz).

“Fans looking for Chicago’s next Wilco may want to check out Martin Van Ruin.”— American Songwriter

“The Bob Dylan and Neil Young comparisons are inescapable for this new folk rock supergroup.”— Chicago Sun-Times

Martin Van Ruin (Album Release), The Shams Band

Fri, Aug 17 2018, 8:30pm - $10 - Tickets



Doors open at 7 pm.

MARTIN VAN RUIN: 

“Seriously epic folk-pop chops” - Chicago Reader (Gossip Wolf)

“15 Chicago Artists to Watch in 2014” - Chicago Red Eye (Andy Downing)

“Undeniable chemistry reminiscent of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo” - Static Magazine (Kelly McGuire)

Check out their site HERE for more information.



THE SHAMS BAND: 

Drawing heavily from their Kinks, Rolling Stones, and Wilco influences, songwriters Donnie Biggins and Paul Gulyas create whiskey-driven blues, complete with four-part harmonies. It's whiskey-driven storytelling. It's a party. It's rock 'n roll with a banjo. The Shams Band has opened for Drive-By Truckers, Dawes, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and played to sold out crowds in their hometown of Chicago.

https://www.facebook.com/theshamsband/

SAVE THE DATES: 2017-2018 Season Announced for American Blues Theater

American Blues Theater Season

Includes the World Premiere of Six Corners by Keith Huff, directed by Gary Griffin; the Chicago Premiere of Beauty’s Daughter by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Ron OJ Parson; the 16^th annual production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! from Frank Capra’s film, directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside; and Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story by Alan Janes, directed by Lili-Anne Brown and 

music directed by Michael Mahler.

Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we're elated to see some of our long time favorites collaborating on productions with American Blues Theater for their 36th season including Ron OJ Parson directing Beauty’s Daughter and Michael Mahler directing the music for Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story!

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2017 – 2018 Season, “The Beat Goes On.” American Blues’ 32^nd Season will include the World Premiere of Six Corners by Keith Huff, directed by Gary Griffin; the Chicago Premiere of Beauty’s Daughter by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Ron OJ Parson; the 16^th annual production of It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! from Frank Capra’s film, directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside; and Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story by Alan Janes, directed by Lili-Anne Brown with musical direction by Ensemble member Michael Mahler. All performances in the 2017-2018 Season will take place at Stage 773, located at 1225 W Belmont Ave, Chicago.

“From the lyric beats of a poet, the heartbeat of a family man, the patrol beat of a Chicago cop, to the inimitable beat of Buddy Holly & the Crickets, we’re thrilled with the rich and varied stories offered for our audiences,” notes Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside. “We’re honored to have such extraordinary talent on the American Blues stage.”

The 2017-18 American Blues Theater Season up close:

The Chicago Premiere of

Beauty’s Daughter

by Dael Orlandersmith

directed by Ron OJ Parson

July 7 – August 5, 2017

Press Opening: July 13, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.

This Obie Award-winning play by Dael Orlandersmith depicts one woman’s journey through life’s obstacles in an East Harlem neighborhood. Artistic Affiliate Wandachristine takes on 6 different characters during the course of this solo play—some broken, some on the way down, but all memorable.

16^th Anniversary Production of

It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!

from Frank Capra’s film

directed by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside

November 17 – December 30, 2017

Press Opening: November 19, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.

For 16 years, the American Blues Ensemble has treated Chicago audiences to a live 1940s radio broadcast of holiday favorite It’s a Wonderful Life. The incredible cast recreates the entire town of Bedford Falls with Foley sound effects, an original score and holiday carols. The Bedford Falls “residents” extend their hospitality after every performance when audiences are treated to milk and cookies served by the cast.

The World Premiere of

Six Corners

by Keith Huff

directed by Gary Griffin

February 16 – March 25, 2018

Press Opening: February 22, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Late one night, two burnt-out violent crimes unit detectives try their damnedest to close the puzzling murder of a CTA employee.  What should be a simple open-and-shut case, however, evolves into a horrifying mystery and unearths a legacy of violence stretching back years.

The Chicago Revival of

Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story

by Alan Janes

directed by Lili-Anne Brown

musical direction by Ensemble member Michael Mahler

April 27 – May 26, 2018

Press Opening: May 3, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Before the Beatles or the Rolling Stones ever played a note, rock & roll was forever changed by the bespectacled kid from Texas. BUDDY tells the true story of Buddy Holly through his short yet spectacular career and features the classic songs "That’ll be the Day", "Peggy Sue",  The Big Bopper’s  "Chantilly Lace", Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" plus many more.

Additional 2017-2018 Programming

Ripped Festival: Edition 16

Spring 2018

Written and direction by various Chicago artists

Since 2009, American Blues Theater has produced 135 short plays in the RIPPED: the Living Newspaper series. Based on the 1930’s WPA era program that brought Orson Welles, Arthur Miller, Richard Wright and Clifford Odets into public attention, playwrights use inspiration ripped from today’s headlines to create stories performed live on stage.

Arts Education in Chicago Public Schools

The Lincoln Project

Conceived and Adapted by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside from Artistic Affiliate James Still’s Pulitzer-nominated The Heavens Are Hung in Black

American Blues Theater’s innovative and adaptive program aligns with Illinois Learning Standards to engage 5th-10th graders about the life of Abraham Lincoln, specifically the events surrounding the Emancipation Proclamation.  Students watch scenes performed by professional actors, participate in discussions, and most importantly, write their own plays. Since the program’s launch in 2013, over 5,500 students have participated in the program.

Subscriptions

All main stage performances take place at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. The Blue Card – the most affording ticketing offer of the 2017-2018 season is available HERE or by calling 773.654.3103.

About American Blues Theater

Winner of the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious 2016 National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home.  American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves.

The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago.  The 37-member Ensemble has 530+ combined years of collaboration on stage. As of 2016, the theater and artists received 186 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and over 31 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.  

The American Blues Theater Ensemble includes all four Founders Ed Blatchford, Rick Cleveland, James Leaming, and William Payne with Dawn Bach, Matthew Brumlow, Manny Buckley, Kate Buddeke, Sarah Burnham, Dara Cameron, Casey Campbell, Darren Canady, Brian Claggett, Dennis Cockrum, Austin Cook, Laura Coover, Ian Paul Custer, Lauri Dahl, Joe Foust, Cheryl Graeff, Marty Higginbotham, Jaclyn Holsey, Lindsay Jones, Nambi E. Kelley, Kevin R. Kelly, Steve Key, Ed Kross, Warren Levon, Michael Mahler, Heather Meyers, John Mohrlein, Christopher J. Neville, Suzanne Petri, Carmen Roman, Editha Rosario, Sarah E. Ross, and Gwendolyn Whiteside.

American Blues Theater programs and activities are made possible, in part by funding by The MacArthur Funds for Arts & Culture at Prince, the Shubert Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, SMART Growth Grant, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Anixter Foundation, Actors’ Equity Foundation, and the Chip Pringle Fund. ComEd is the Season Lighting Sponsor.