By Matt Harness
A darling of the local music scene back in the 1990s, Moonshine Willy is back together to help Bloodshot celebrate its 15th birthday party on September 12 at the Hideout.
Founded by Mike Luke, Kim Docter and Nancy Rideout, the band grew to an oversized outfit, now counting more than dozen alumni. Then life – specifically songwriter Kim Luke’s first pregnancy – interrupted Willy and the band eased into retirement as the decade closed. Willy recorded three LPs with Bloodshot before hanging out the closed sign.
Mike and Kim now reside in Santa Cruz, but they are coming back to Chicago to reunite with old friends and play some music.
Beachwood Music recently caught up with Kim.

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Posted on August 28, 2009

By Matt Harness
Depending on who’s counting, Lean Forward is the Bottle Rockets’ 10th studio album; their third with Bloodshot Records. Their last effort, Zoysia came out in 2006, so it’s about time these guitar-driven rockers – whose sound is reminiscent of gravel in a blender – returned with some new material.
Released to positive reviews on August 11th, the record rocketed to No. 1 on the sales chart of the Alliance of Independent Media Stores in its first week. (The Alliance is comprised of 28 stores in 21 cities with the goal of highlighting independent music.)
And that’s without the help of Chicago’s independent record stores, who have never cooperated with AIM, according to Alliance ringleader Eric Levin, of Criminal Records in Atlanta.
So much for the record stores. Let’s take a look at what the critics have to say about Lean Forward.

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Posted on August 20, 2009

By Matt Harness
It’s been a slow last couple of weeks for Bloodshot bands in Chicago. But here are some treats in the lead-up to the label’s 15th Anniversary Beer-B-Q at the Hideout next month. Look for plenty more stuff in the next few weeks as Beachwood Music has been busy piecing together a series of previews, including a look inside the Moonshine Willy reunion.
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Artists: Dollar Store and Meat Purveyors
Date: August 20
Venue: Abandoned Convent
Samples:

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Posted on August 14, 2009

By The Beachwood Nigerian Affairs Desk
Act now!

Greetings,

I am Ms. Britney Rowley, a co-recording producer for late Michael Jackson the great legend King of Pop who has just passed away on June 25, 2009. While I was working with Mr. Jackson, he deposited some funds for charitable trust organizations with a secured private institution and up till date nobody knows about the existence of these funds.
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Posted on August 13, 2009

By E1 Music
Randy Bachman has become a legendary figure in the rock and roll world through his talents as a guitarist, songwriter, performer and producer. He has earned over 120 gold and platinum album/singles awards around the world for performing and producing, and he’s coming to Schaumburg on September 5th at the Septemberfest. He’s available for advance phoners on Tuesday, August 18th from 1 p.m. EST to 3 p.m. EST – please let me know if you’re interested in talking to one of music’s greatest performers, need any jpegs, tickets, and we’ll talk soon!
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Have songs, will travel. That’s Canadian music icon Randy Bachman’s motto. As one of the most respected songwriters in popular music, the legendary guitarist and founder of the Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive has logged a lot of miles over the years.
Whether rock, pop, country or jazz, Randy has worked with many of the finest tunesmiths in the music business. His track record as a songwriter is staggering with more than a dozen Top 20 singles to his credit including three Billboard #1 singles – “American Woman,” “No Sugar Tonight,” and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” (a #1 record in over 20 countries) – and two Billboard #1 albums: American Woman and Not Fragile.

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Posted on August 11, 2009

By The Beachwood Back To School Affairs Desk
“If children go to school with birthday sex on their mind, they can’t learn anything.”
1. The Original

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Posted on August 11, 2009

By The Beachwood ‘Palooza Affairs Desk
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Posted on August 10, 2009

By Matt Harness
Bloodshot Records toasted a Grant Park crowd at Taste of Chicago and will again next month at its anniversary party at the Hideout. But the label has a small presence at this weekend’s Lollapalooza.
Bloodshot alum Neko Case, who is playing Lolla on Sunday, is the label’s only connection to the ‘palooza.
But Elia Einhorn and his Scotland Yard Gospel Choir will be playing a little-known private show for industry folks, including some of the Lolla bands, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel. SYGC, which arranged for some of their fans to join them at the intimate show, has a new album out Sept. 15.
Beachwood Music: What’s the deal with this private party?
Elia Einhorn: They knew we would be in Chicago and asked our manager. We’ve been on the other side of it at another festival. It’s going to be awesome hanging out and getting out of the heat. The last time we came through one of these we left with Pumas and jeans that cost like $300. It’s stuff you wouldn’t buy on your own. It’s nice to be considered a tastemaker. It’s going to be insane.

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Posted on August 7, 2009

By The Beachwood Palozza Affairs Desk
The previews are in.
Jim DeRogatis: “Ah, you say, but Lollapalooza isn’t really about the big marquee bands; it’s about the opportunity to sample a whole lot of music in the one of the most beautiful parks in America over the course of one very long weekend.
“True enough. But even with 142 sets scattered over eight stages during 33 hours of music, my personal list of good-to-sure-bet highlights seems skimpier this summer than in years past – though I’m of course always open to pleasant surprises.”

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Posted on August 6, 2009