We admit we were stoked earlier this week by the news that Ryan Adams would be doing a show at The Black Orchid. However we thought it was a little weird that ticketing information for the show seemed spotty. It was listed on WXRT's site ... and then it wasn't. And on Ryan Adams' own website, it was the only show with no info on how to get tickets, and now it has completely disappeared. Phone calls to The Black Orchid only met with a message saying they had no information on the show. What's up? more ›

Ryan Adams just announced that Chicago is included in a brief string of dates next month to promote his latest, Easy Tiger. This is not so surprising in itself, although we doubt Jim DeRogatis will be in attendance, but we admit we're a bit taken aback by his choosing to play at The Black Orchid. The Black Orchid is easily the smallest room he's played in Chicago in years, and it's lush environs should prove the perfect counterpart for the introspective songs that seem to be Adams' recent fare. more ›

There's so much going on across the Ist-a-Verse that it's almost impossible to keep track these days. Fortunately, we do it so you don't have to! Londonist took a walk through Oliver Twist's London, thanks to a gorgeous map layer for Google Earth. They also caught up with modern-day fictional London, with the Fantastic Four and 28 Weeks Later. It was a week of insanity over at DCist. They started the week off with... more ›

Yawn. That’s our initial response to the free music at the Taste of Chicago this year. We know not every concert should cater to us alone, but should we suffer because of the need to cater to the balding, khaki-wearer’s bland taste in music? Thanks, XRT, for taking this to a new level of disinterest. Who’s having the BBQ? That’s where we’ll be instead of Grant Park. The Taste of Chicago has released the Fourth... more ›

Freezing cold? Check. Snowstorm on its way? Check. Another week of great music in Chicago despite (or "to spite") the weather? Check. We're not going to employ any lame Valentine's Day digs or puns. It's Wednesday. Who cares? OK, that was a dig. Anyway, Flosstradamus is one of our favorite DJ teams around, anywhere, right now. Their files may be digital, but the beats they throw down are organic as hell. Their sets literally mash... more ›

In the US, February marks Black History Month, and while there are no shortage of opportunities to learn about important and significant people of African descent this month, the purpose and history behind the event is sometimes lost. While Africans have been present in North America at least since colonial times, black history had barely begun to be studied — or even documented — when the tradition formally began in 1926. It wasn't until later... more ›

It's been over two decades since Tipper Gore's PMRC started censoring music with parental advisory stickers and other politicians jumped on the bandwagon equating music with the downfall of youth in America. Yesterday, the University of Chicago Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture released the findings of their survey regarding hip-hop culture primarily focusing on Black youth's attitudes towards sex, music, and even (gasp) politics. Rap and hip-hop have been used to... more ›

We hope you’ve been saving your money, because the shows we’re looking at this week are a bit pricey. We’ll be scanning Craigslist for someone looking to offload their tix cheap. Why, oh why, isn’t there a Hot Tix for shows? Now removed from the avalanche of hype that surrounded their last shows here, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah returns to town for a pair of shows at The Vic. Expect fewer people who “heard... more ›

As Roger Ebert continues his recovery, more and more people are contributing to our Get Well Roger photo group on Flickr. Thanks to all the bloggers and writers who’ve helped spread the word about our project, including the folks at ABC-7, Oscarwatch and RogerEbert.com. The best part about this is hearing from all the folks who’ve been affected by Ebert’s writing over the years, both in the Flickr group and on our original post. More... more ›

Even though this story is a few days old, we can't get it out of our head. And so much like an earworm, we thought that by sharing it, we'd give it to you and get rid of it for good*. more ›

Touch & Go finally released the set-times for this year's big ol' anniversary show/Hideout Block Party. Saturday is THE day to go, but all three days have got stellar acts. Come to think of it, while Saturday hosts the heavy-hitting legendary bands, Friday night is the one to don the ol' dancing shoes and get your groove on. We are so psyched for this. Friday, September 8 9:00pm !!! 8:00pm Ted Leo + Pharmacists 7:00pm... more ›

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An article in The Chicago Journal last week detailed the efforts of a Japanese television crew that sought to document the last vestiges of the Maxwell Street blues scene. The authenticity of the current scene could most charitably be described as “in question” (if for no other reason but its presence on Canal Street rather than Maxwell Street. Fortunately, the flag for Chicago blues is still carried nightly by an army of local musicians in... more ›

Everybody loves his mashup albums these days. There have been countless revolving around Jay-Z and his "farewell" The Black Album, from The Slack Album (Jay-Z meets Pavement) to The Black and Blue Album (Jay-Z meets Weezer, a.k.a. Rivers Gets a Cap in his Ass) to Danger Mouse's justly heralded Jay-Z meets the Beatles project The Grey Album. (Chicagoist thinks these albums come into being when the DJs behind them think up a clever album title.) There was even the Jay-Z-Metallica mashup The Black on Black Album. Jay-Z � we're getting real tired of typing "Jay-Z" � ever the brilliant marketer, made all this possible by making a-cappella versions of Black Album tracks readily available. more ›

� Summer Time = Fair Time more ›