Music For 18 Musicians

I think I’d read the name Steve Reich recently, that’s why I’m writing what I’m writing at this very moment. Now, I’d heard of Steve Reich before recently. In fact, I’ve heard his name mentioned many times over the years. I never seeked his music out. I was never one to check out modern classical […]

New Year’s Eve At The Village Vanguard

Well we’ve made it. 2013 is nearly over and we’re staring 2014 right in the eyes and saying “Bring it on.” I’m looking back on 2013 not with any regrets or how I would’ve done things differently. I’m looking back and wondering where in the hell did it go? It’s as if someone cranked the […]

Seeing Black Circles: Confessions of a Music Junkie

It’s usually this time of year when I really start to think about my obsession. It’s not something I’m necessarily proud of, but it’s not something I’m ashamed of either. It’s not an obsession that will land me in rehab, jail, or divorce court. There’s no lurid tales of back alley smack shooting, or maxing […]

If Miles Were Jimi: Bitches, Brews, Big Fun, and a Dandy Boxer

I guess you could say I’ve got an affliction. It’s something I can’t seem to get over, and to be honest I don’t want to get over it. You see, I’m in the midst of a Miles Davis binge. It’s more than a binge, though. It seems more like an absolute electric Miles infestation of […]

Thrill Jockey and the Wooden Shjips

I’ll tell you what kiddos, it was a cold one out there today. I think it was a high of 35 degrees today, with a low of 23 degrees tonight. But guess what, it’s smokin’ up in this crib tonight. Thrill Jockey sent me a care package in the form of the new Wooden Shjips […]

“Daddy’s In The Doldrums”

Okay, I’m not really in the doldrums. I’m tired, but not in the doldrums by any means. You know who is in the doldrums? The dad in the song “Daddy’s In The Doldrums” by Secret Machines, that’s who. Secret Machines are a band I discovered back in 2004. I hadn’t heard one note of their […]

If Miles says so…

…then it shall be. I’ve got some picking up to do on this Friday evening. But that’s all right because I’ve got a couple Breakfast Stouts up in the freezer to help ease that cleaning into chill mode. No, it’s not eggs and bacon liquified and fermented over a hot Midwest summer. It’s actually a […]

Antiphon is sorta brilliant…

I’m on my third spin in a row of Midlake’s newest album -and first without former singer/leader Tim Smith- Antiphon. I will admit that when I first heard the album on NPR’s First Listen I was a little worried. Not that the album sounded bad. That’s not it at all. It’s just that nothing was […]

Discovered :: Miles Davis’ Pangaea

If you’ve never been to Jazz Record Mart on Illinois St in Chicago, you don’t know what you’re missing friends. It’s a chunk of vinyl history tucked into a small building that if you blinked you’d miss it. I’ve been there three, maybe four times and each time I end up leaving knowing I could’ve […]

Trick-Or-Treat 2013

Candy schuckin’ was postponed till tonight due to inclement(crappy)weather. Good thing, cause we had a hell of a time. I’ll post more later, but here’s our evening.