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 ›

When sub-genres become popular amongst a wider musical audience, two possible outcomes can occur. The first is that a style of music that's influential, if rough around the edges, gains a greater melodic focus and recording fidelity previously non-existent. For instance, contemplate the musical lineage between a Flipper record and Nirvana's Nevermind. That's a good -- nay, a great -- outcome. The second, and far more common, unfortunately, outcome, is that those influences are diluted to pablum sold to the masses. Without naming names, emo fans know how their scenario turned out. Luckily, the best revivalist bands can return a wayward genre to its economic roots without releasing the musical equivalent of a purist's screed. This is where the new release from Chicago's The Part Five comes into play. more ›

Archie Powell & the Exports need your help. The local pop-rock quartet will shoot footage for their next music video a week from Sunday, February 27 at Quenchers Saloon, and they need some bodies to fill the place up. The whole thing kicks off at noon, and in exchange for your services, AP&E will provide you with free beer and of course a good time. It’s still a secret what song they’re making the video for, but their official site hints that it’ll be a single off their debut full-length, Skip Work. If you’re interested in being in the video and can commit to showing up, RSVP through the event’s Facebook page. more ›

Since we know that Chicagoans take their beer seriously and, well, why the hell not argue about it a little more, All About Beer has released an article about the 150 best places to drink a beer. A half-dozen or so Chicago joints show up on the rundown and since it sparked a bit of argument around the Chicagoist offices, we thought we'd open the floor to the Peanut Gallery and get your take as well. more ›

On this week's entry to the Chicagoist Podcast Series, 4 solid days of conversation and conventions about the country's craft brewing culture wasn't enough for us. The Craft Brewers Conference came to town form the 7th-10th of April, and some of us are still in recovery and detox mode. more ›

Lab Partners are the last band we expected to hear on local label Pravda Records since they're better known for releasing Chicago-based power-pop and jokester rock like The New Duncan Imperials. Lab Partners, out of Dayton, fall into neither of those categories. Instead they hit the distortion pedal hard and conjure up thick waves of melodic shoegaze that owes much of its existence to both The Jesus And Mary Chain and Spiritualized. Their most recent album is aptly titled Moonlight Music since it's easy to envision the band playing against the speckled backdrop of a midnight ocean surging and swirling behind them. more ›

Knife Of Simpson has been kicking around the grimier corners of Chicago for close to a decade now. They're the kind of band that plays raw rock and roll dedicated to the true values of the red, white and blue. They drink dollar beers from sweaty mugs and their shots are all whiskey, American. they're the blue clooar intelligentsia that are mad as hell and aren't gonna take it anymore. They are freaks. They are outsiders. They are the greatest enemy of "the man" and all He stands for. more ›

During this frigid, dark and desolate time of year, we've got to find really good reasons to pry ourselves from the comfort of our warm, cozy dwellings. That awful trek from doorstep to CTA stop--face down and muscles tensed--must be worth something. For beer enthusiasts, Quenchers Saloon entices the brave soul off the couch and into the elements en route to Stout Fest 2010. more ›

• Drawing Room mixologists Charles Joly and Timothy Lacey will be setting up shop at Nacional 27 (325 W. Huron) for a "Latin Happy Hour" this evening from 6-9 p.m. Joly and Lacey will be serving up complimentary cocktails made from Cabana Cachaça and Adam Seger's Hum Spirit.
• Kendall College's Monday Night Dining Series this evening will focus on Midwestern cuisine: local artisan cheeses, fall fruit cobbler and roasted pork loin with apple and cornbread dressing are part of the menu. Goose Island will also be on hand to pour some of their brews for the dinner. Dress for the dinner is business casual, RSVP here or by calling 312-752-2328 (900 N. Branch St.)
• Quencher's 29th annual European Beer Tour is now underway, running through Friday. the tour allows participants to sample, at their own pace, 6-10 beers from 12 different countries. The short tour ($35) includes 6 beers and various parting gifts. The long tour ($60) includes 10 beers and more parting gifts. (2401 N. Western)

Weekend before last we were at a birthday party at Quencher's and the bar was at least four deep with customers the entire length. It was the third consecutive year that the hosts of this party set a record bar ring for the bar. Normally, we'd be sampling from Quencher's extensive beer menu, but we're getting old and wanted a drink fast. $2 cans of LaCrosse Lager was music to our ears. more ›

One never needs an excuse to drink a selection from Unibroue. We're on record with our claim that the Quebec brewery is the best in North America, and it's because the quality of their brews is unsurpassed and of the highest standard of all we've sampled. Even their entry brews, like La Fin du Monde, would be considered a reserve line for another brewery. Maudite is one of our favorites. We're sticklers for balance: we... more ›