Quenchers is preparing for next week’s launch of Soundtrack Serenade, a musical series that caters to both local music fans and movie buffs. The second Tuesday of every month, a different movie soundtrack will be performed from start to finish by a local band. The whole thing kicks off next Tuesday at the Logan Square bar, with local cover band Androgynous Mustache performing the soundtrack of High Fidelity. more ›

We went into the musical High Fidelity with no preconceived notions. We hadn’t seen the movie. We hadn’t read the book. So there was no way we could see the problem with the subject material onstage, right? more ›

The Tribune ran a list of "Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago Transit." more ›

We were headed south on Western Avenue Friday night, on the way to view our fellow Chicagoista's photography opening, when we heard a familiar voice playing a song off the request lines. It was Johnny Mars, doing his first shift back at XRT since he was "squeezed out" back in 2001 (Feder). more ›

This weekend, we were in one of Chicago’s many fine drinking establishments, arguing with one of our friends about music. In the midst of a second glass of Maker’s, we lamented that the number of “crap” years in Rod Stewart’s career had now outpaced any cred he’d achieved thanks to Every Picture Tells A Story and his work with The Faces. Our friend – citing “the Stevie Wonder question from High Fidelity” – argued that Rod (and other rockers of his advanced age) had earned the right to “take it easy”, and it was perhaps asking too much for him to get his Celtic United-loving ass off his yacht to make some relevant music. more ›

What would Batman Returns have looked like if it were filmed in Milwaukee? Would High Fidelity still resonate with you if it had been filmed in Madison? Do the Blues Brothers have the same soul if they’re from Oshkosh? We may be about to find out, as Wisconsin hasn't been keeping its eyes on its own paper and just totally copied off of us. Screen Magazine, a periodical we turn to for the lowdown on... more ›

Chicagoist looks for any excuse to put off doing actual work. Unseasonal temps certainly fit the bill. So we're spending our day staring out the window and letting ourselves get distracted by: more ›

Brendan Canty where have you gone? On the road with Bob Mould to work your ass off. Thursday’s show at the Metro reminded Chicagoist why we live for live music. Also touring with Bob this round are Rich Morel on keyboards and Jason Narducy of Verbow and Rockets Over Sweden. more ›

Liam Davis, Frisbie more ›

Hey, remember those elementary school book fairs, when you got to skip math for the day and go to the library to stock up on the Berenstain Bears and, later, Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume? Chicagoist does, which is why we’re so excited for this weekend’s Printer’s Row Book Fair. Billed as the “largest free literary event in the Midwest,” the Printer’s Row Book Fair is the ultimate book fair for grown-ups and kids... more ›

Do you feel intimidated walking into Reckless Records? Did you cry soft tears of recognition during the “I Just Called To Say I Love You” scene in High Fidelity? Well sob no more, friend. This month’s Illinois Entertainer features an indie record label fakebook so you’ll never confuse Polyvinyl Records with Black Vinyl Records ever again (there’s a version of it posted online as well). We know there are a few labels around town they missed but perhaps these are the only ones who bothered to fill out the questionnaire. The guide tells you which labels accept unsolicited demos (almost all of them do) and what type of music they feature. more ›

Chicagoist was out at Martyrs’ last night for the launch of the Chicago Music Commission, which kept the focus not so much on the “commission” but on the “music.” The soft-sell approach was probably best considering the crowd of “extras from High Fidelity” (in the word of one Chicagoist writer), ex-hippies and others with nothing better to do on a Tuesday night. It was a night to “solidify the base” as political consultants like to... more ›

John Cusack is undoubtedly one of Chicagoist's favorite hometown boys. (Well, maybe this would be a more appropriate distinction for the non-existent Evanstonist, but we'll count it anyway.) And his quintessential performances � the ones that really feature his trademark endearing, heart-broken, obsessive compulsive sensitive guys � come in High Fidelity's Rob Gordon and Rob's predecessor, Say Anything's Lloyd Dobler. In fact, that whole film is nicely summed up by its tagline, "To know Lloyd Dobler is to love him. Diane Court is about to know Lloyd Dobler." more ›

The new Batman movie, Batman Begins, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Christian Bale, is going to be doing some shooting in Chicago. Tomorrow there is an open casting call for extras so it's your chance to be in the movie. Here's the dillio: Joan Philo is the extras casting director (she's also done High Fidelity, Chain Reaction and ER) and will be looking for "students and all ethnic groups" for one- and two-day exterior shots, mostly at night. They are also looking for people willing to work with their cars. more ›

Chicagoist just loves receiving mix tapes � or mix CDs now, *sigh* � and analyzing the meaning behind every agonizing choice. As the recent Tony Award winner Avenue Q notes, �A mix tape./ He made a mix tape./ He was thinking of me,/ Which shows he cares!/ Sometimes when someone/ Has a crush on you/ They'll make you a mix tape/ To give you a clue.� And when making the tapes, we definitely abide by the rules of one Rob Gordon: �You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch.� more ›

In Wicker Park, Josh Hartnett stars as an investment banker who moves back to the titular Chicago neighborhood to recover from heartbreak. This plan is foiled when he becomes infatuated with a woman he believes to be his love. Hmm, I think I liked this movie better when it was called Vertigo. You'll have to wait until September to play "Spot the hipster" on the big screen, but you can catch the trailer now at Yahoo! Movies. more ›