By Steve Rhodes
Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) has done fine work for her district during her eight years in office, but it was her bravura performance during the Blago impeachment imbroglio that – at least briefly – made her a star. From calling the ex-governor a “pathological liar” who might be in need of medical attention while he was still in office to her eloquent disquisitions on why he deserved to be impeached, Mendoza became a go-to media favorite who nonetheless never drifted into sillyland.
Mendoza also rocks.
In fact, she is quite likely the rockingest member of the General Assembly – perhaps in its entire history. She’s a Roger Waters fan, for godsakes.

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Posted on November 10, 2009

By Matt Harness
As 2009 comes to a close, we at Beachwood Music are hitting some highlights from the past year in Bloodshot land.
Of course, the year was dominated by the label’s cross-country birthday parties. More than 20 different bands played at nine sites.
The celebration started in Pittsburgh in early July and ended with Tempe’s bash in late October. There still remains a possibility of a Seattle stop.
The Deadstring Brothers win the award for presence as the Detroit rockers played in seven of the nine cities. Ha Ha Tonka, Bobby Bare and the Wacos jammed at six, while the Bottle Rockets and the Dex Romweber Duo entertained crowds at four.
Beachwood Music spent a few minutes with Bloodshot co-founder Rob Miller as he looked into the rearview mirror.

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Posted on November 6, 2009

By Don Jacobson
Since I embrace the ethos that no bootlegs shall pass, and because I’m poor, I don’t actually come into possession of a lot of major label music anymore. Only occasionally will I charge up the credit card for an MP3 track of a “big” band these days, and even then it’s usually when I’m reminded of some exceeding great music from years past – from the days when the majors were taking chances with real artists.
So, after many months of making these rare purchases off of iTunes, I found that 15 of them had accumulated on the hard drive – enough for a decent mix CD. After burning it, I looked it over and thought this was actually a dang-ol’ cool collection (and really, don’t we all think that, even when we put in those Styx tracks?) And because my mind’s a blank, I call it The Latest (with a please-don’t-sue-me nod to Cheap Trick).

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Posted on November 2, 2009

By Matt Harness
As a music writer in Chicago, Mark Guarino has seen and heard countless bands.
Why Guarino chose to collaborate with Jon Langford for his soon-to-be-released play All the Fame of Lofty Deeds speaks volumes about the Waco Brother and his pop culture transcendence.
“Because we live in Chicago and he’s always around, I think we take him for granted,” said Guarino, 39, a longtime fan of Langford and his various musical incarnations. “Hopefully one thing the play will do is re-examine his contributions as a songwriter.”
The show is set to run at the Chopin Theater from Nov. 12 through Dec. 20. Beachwood Music spent some time talking to Guarino, an Oak Park native and Rogers Park resident.

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Posted on October 30, 2009

By Scott Buckner
I’d be willing to bet that there have been more songs written, for better or worse, since the dawn of man than there are grains of sand on North Avenue beach. That’s a lot of sand. And a lot of songs, too. The guys in the original Alice Cooper band were my personal musical heroes during high school, and as much as I still love a good Motley Crue-AC/DC headbanging today, my world still stops whenever I hear a really gorgeous song that has somehow managed at various points during the past 20 or 30 years to lilt its way over all that goddamn racket Angus Young and his brother have been graciously gifting to people just like me.
I’m a sucker for the pretty song. Not just the nice-enough song, but the song that makes the planet stop turning for that three or four minutes you’re listening to it; the completely-pretty song that makes you think this is exactly why someone invented music. And really, the entire human race relies upon songs like these to bring proper perspective, order and balance to the world, especially on those nights when you walk into your neighborhood bar to discover the management is letting that godfuckingawful Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne tribute band play until closing time.

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Posted on October 23, 2009

By The Beachwood Impossible Germany Affairs Desk
Selected highlights from October 18 and 19.
1. Wilco will love you, baby.

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Posted on October 20, 2009

By Matt Harness
The biggest news on the Bloodshot Records’ beat is the good news surrounding Scotland Yard Gospel Choir. The good word is everybody’s health is improving.
“Once I realized everyone in the band would be okay, I came alive again,” Scotland Yard Gospel Choir’s Elia Einhorn told the Tribune’s Greg Kot nearly one month after a horrific van crash on I-65.
Unlike a lot of indie-type bands, most Scotland Yard members have health insurance. But the equipment that was destroyed must be paid for out of pocket. If you are interested in helping out, go here. Instead of money, some folks are donating instruments. E-mail Nan to learn more.

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Posted on October 16, 2009

A guide-in-progress. New additions: The great questions posed by BTO, Sammy Hagar, Kansas, Kiss and more!
1. Is everything really gonna be alright?
2. Is it really better to burn out than fade away?
3. Is a dream a lie that don’t come true, or is it something worse?

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Posted on October 13, 2009

By The Beachwood Nolympics Affairs Desk
“Rio” is not just the name of the hit Duran Duran song, but the name of the 1982 album that peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard chart and eventually went double platinum. But we’ll confine ourselves here to the song.
*
Released: November 1, 1982 (U.K); March 1983 (U.S.)
Length: 5:38 (4:40 7″ edit)
Label: EMI
B Side: “Hold Back the Rain”
Charts: Reached No. 14 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100
Covers: Nirvana performed the song during the Hollywood Rock show in Brazil, on January 16, 1993.

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Posted on October 4, 2009

By The Beachwood Blues Bureau
“Blues singer Jesse Fortune, most active in the 1950s and 60s, collapsed on stage while performing Sunday night in Chicago and later died,” the Tribune reported on August 31.
“Fortune, 79, of the 3800 block of West Jackson Boulevard in East Garfield Park, was performing at Gene’s Playmate Lounge at 4239 W. Cermak Ave.”
*
“Fortune, better known as the ‘Fortune Tellin’ Man,’ was born Feb. 28, 1930, in Macon, Miss. He migrated to the West Side of Chicago in 1952 and began performing around the city with blues notables.”

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Posted on September 28, 2009