By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

The new record from Chicago staple Kelly Hogan – I Like To Keep Myself in Pain – is scheduled for release by Anti- Records on June 5th and she’s already had quite a run in lead-up publicity. Here are a few links to early reviews as well as interviews she’s given, followed by videos for songs on the new album as well as some recent performance video.
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“The album makes it clear that the alt-country label is obsolete as a description of Hogan’s music, a beautiful blend of classic soul, pop, jazz, and country,” Robert Loerzel writes for The A.V. Club. “Hogan’s trusted collaborator Scott Ligon, a whiz on guitar and keyboards who also plays in NRBQ, joined her in the studio. So did legendary keyboardist Booker T. Jones, veteran session drummer James Gadson, and bassist Gabriel Roth, a.k.a. Bosco Mann, the band leader for Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings.”

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Posted on May 31, 2012

By Vic’s Drum Shop

Time and technique.

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Posted on May 30, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Crystal Fighters at the Empty Bottle on Sunday night.

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Posted on May 28, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. The Adicts at the Metro on Thursday night.

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Posted on May 25, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

A loose collection of whatnot.
1. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Keys to the City Piano Festival got under way this week and here’s something we wish they would have promoted more and would do for just one day, which happened to be yesterday: Pianos in Public Spaces.
Steinway & Sons placed pianos at a few locations around the city (well, mostly inside museums) for anyone to play. What a wonderful idea.
Here’s one performance captured on video. According to the CSO, the players are Mike Hudson (black hair, glasses) from Schaumburg and Steve Solomon (hat, striped shirt) from Chicago. They are at the Art Institute.

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Posted on May 24, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

A loose collection of whatnot.
1. “In just the last few years, a Chicago scene that has long been segregated and known for its ‘hater’ reputation has made great strides in shedding that stigma and becoming more unified,” according to gowherehiphop.
Or, as one of the interviewees says here, “Gettin’ it in in the city of wind.”

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Posted on May 23, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

Livewire from the Chicago Drum Show at the Kane County Fairgrounds last weekend.
1. Rolling in the Deep.

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Posted on May 22, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Gentleman Jesse at the Empty Bottle on Saturday night.

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Posted on May 21, 2012

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. La Sera at Township on Tuesday night.

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Posted on May 18, 2012

Congress Still In Play With Massive Roster Expansion

“As reported here Monday, the eighth annual Riot Fest will take place in Humboldt Park from Sept. 14 to 16, as well as its usual venue, the decaying Congress Theatre,” Jim DeRogatis writes on his Pop N Stuff WBEZ blog. “Now it’s tapped some of the biggest names yet for its raucous stages.
“Included in the first round of acts announced by promoters: Rise Against, Iggy and the Stooges, Elvis Costello, the Offspring, A Day to Remember, Coheed and Cambria, the Descendents, Gogol Bordello, the Jesus and Mary Chain, the Dropkick Murphys, NOFX, the Gaslight Anthem, the Alkaline Trio, AWOLNATION, the Promise Ring, Gwar, August Burns Red, Frank Turner, Built to Spill, Less Than Jake, Reverend Horton Heat, Fishbone, NOBUNY, A Wilhelm Scream, Screaming Females, Teenage Bottlerocket, Off With Their Heads, Deals Gone Bad, White Mystery, Larry and His Flask, The Story So Far, Japanther, and reunions from Chiodos and Slapstick.”

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Posted on May 15, 2012