Feb/103
Chicago Music: Cobalt and the Hired Guns
Cobalt and the Hired guns have stage presents like so many bands wish they could. It is so clear that these guys are loving every moment that they are singing. Their sound is also very unique with the combination of sax, accordion, and a special way to play the drums. Drummer Jesse becomes a one-man percussion section. He has a box, a single drum, a cymbal and anything he can hit these things with including a drum stick, shakers, a tambourine and even sometimes a banana.
Their acoustic set was amazing and was full of the energy of a show. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do, we think that you will. Below are the first couple videos from Cobalt and the Hired Guns. More coming soon. You can see their Chicago Rocks episode here.
You Left Your Sweater:
Feb/100
Chicago Music: Jackpot Donnie
Chicago Rocks took the show out of the studio for the first time. We went all the way to the other side of Chicago to set up base at Jackpot Donnie’s recording studio. These guys are so much fun to hang out with and watch play music. If you want to have a fun night out on the town these guys put on a show. It is impossible to go to one of their concerts and not get pulled into the music. Check out the Chicago Rocks episode here. Also check out their Maybe Hip music videos below. More coming soon.
New Mode:
Jan/107
Chicago Music: Katie Todd and Stephen Wright
Katie Todd and Stephen Wright graced us with their presence for episode 4 of Chicago Rocks. Watching them play music was amazing; It was like a private concert in our home. Katie playing on Lexi’s grand piano and Stephen rocking on his trumpet were music to our ears that day. Stephen also had a brand new mic for his trumpet that very few people have in the world right now. Andrew was extremely happy with the way the sound turned out for Katie’s songs as I’m sure all of you will be too once you’ve heard them.
Watch this episode of Chicago Rocks here, and watch Katie’s three music videos below. An extra fourth video should be up soon.
Mumbled Speech
Jan/100
Chicago Music: How Far To Austin
This band has figured out the key to being awesome. That’s right, the mandolin. There is something about that sound when added to the voices of these two singers that just works.
This was the first band that did an acoustic set and it was amazing being able to hear their music fill the space. We recorded their performance in our two story living room and it sounded like the room was made for this music.
The interview with this band is going to be hard to beat. We drank some shitty beer and relaxed for a couple of hours in front of the camera. This was also the first band where one of the members went right up to the camera to send out a personal message to the audience. It was a hilarious time to say the least.
Watch How Far to Austin on Chicago Rocks here.
Slip Away
Dec/092
Chicago Music: Canasta
Canasta wants to tell you what they have been up to since the show:
Hey there, internets. We’ve been keeping ourselves busy with the new album since our visit to the Maybe Hip studio. We’re having long, passionate debates over late night beers about our choice of album title. But we have an artist working on our cover art for us and the album’s getting mixed over the holidays, so it won’t be long before we’re emailing you, your parents, your co-workers, your friends, and everyone else you’ve ever met to come out to our CD release show next year.
In the meantime, we want to invite everyone to finish off their holiday breaks with us at Simon’s in Andersonville on Sunday, January 3rd at 9pm. Simon’s is one of our favorite places to play because they give us an open tab and two hours to play whatever we want. Including a killer cover of “No Diggity“. Yeah, you heard me. Oh, and hey, it’s Glogg season in Andersonville, and as one of the last old-school Swedish joints in A-ville, you can bet Simon’s has huge tureens of the warm, tasty stuff ready and waiting to be enjoyed. And it will. By us. And you.
Happy holidays, interwebs. Peace.
-Ian, EL, Kyle, Jeremy, Matt, & Michael
www.canastamusic.com
You can now watch the entire Canasta episode here. Also enjoy the Canasta music video below.
I don’t know where this is going
Slow Down Chicago
Patrick Lothian
Dec/091
Chicago Music: Chicago Rocks is going to the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival and so can you
UPDATE: DECEMBER 8, 2009. THE CONTEST HAS CLOSED! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TWO WINNERS:
twitter.com/nessacakes
AND
twitter.com/TheMikeSilver
EACH WINNER WILL RECEIVE 2 VIP TICKETS TO THE CHICAGO BLUEGRASS AND BLUES FESTIVAL ON DECEMBER 12, 2009!!!
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED!!!
Dec/090
Chicago Music: Chris Merritt
Chicago, Virginia, Brooklyn, Oh My!
Chicago in the summer. It seems a distant memory now: getting off an airplane (from Virginia, to Chicago) and into a full car with people I’d never met in a town I’d never played. But alas, these situations seem more and more common in this strange life as an independent, self-proclaimed rock star.
The Chicago Rocks interview went swimmingly, besides the fact that I was fighting some kind of Death Flu From Outer Space. The best part of the experience was getting to know three of the coolest people in Chicago. Patrick, Lexi, and some tall kid that was hanging around the whole time named Andrew (that is, when he wasn’t busy auditioning for American Idol or running off with girls). Later, I played a show with a band called I Fight Dragons, who are a resourceful and friendly people with a rich culture and heritage.
Since then, I’ve done a few things, one being an absurd and crazy thing. First I made a new record called Virginia Is For Hoverers (Part One), which I recorded in (gasp) Virginia. Then I played a few shows and mowed some lawns and stuff. My faithful trio and I played notably at Richmond’s The National, and drew a surprisingly dense crowd (not like, a stupid crowd, I mean, a numbered crowd). I went to Utah and played a show. I went to Norfolk and Maryland and played some shows. Meanwhile I wrote fifty new songs and taught my cats to sit and roll over (really).
